Chapter 48: Chapter 46: Mountains and Rivers The Bronze Fragment is about one foot in length and width, surrounded by irregular shapes from the breakage. The surface facing up is engraved with patterns. The patterns have a unique artistic style, forming images that resemble fish and birds. The fish look like koi, leaping high as if crossing the Dragon Gate, while the birds resemble peacocks, spreading their wings overhead. Their tail feathers match the color of this fragment, yet they carry a sense of splendor. "An extraordinary item from the Great Wilderness?" Qin Jin’s expression became serious. Since entering the Great Wilderness, he encountered many things with extraordinary elements, such as Treasure Skills and Crystal Cores. Yet, anything with evident signs of human craftsmanship, unlike natural occurrences, this was the first. "Tell me how you discovered it." Qin Jin’s voice sounded. Qi Ze began to recount the scenes after he reached the Spiritual Spring. Qin Jin listened quietly. "It seems that this Bronze Fragment created a pool with healing properties, merely by the scattering of its power." After pondering for a moment, Qin Jin manipulated the Wish Power. Wisps of golden cloud mist solidified, lifting the fragment from Ding Yang’s hand. Simultaneously, his mighty voice sounded. "Withdraw." "I need to thoroughly investigate this item." "Yes, Lord Sacrificial Spirit." Ding Yang and Qi Ze, without a hint of hesitation, clasped their hands in respect and turned to leave the Sacrificial Spirit Hall. Currently in the Sacrificial Fire Tribe, Qin Jin had sufficient prestige. The Wish Power restriction arose, and Qin Jin leapt down from the cockpit, striding forward to the fragment’s front. The Wish Power lifted, under the swirling golden mist, the micro light emanating from this Bronze Fragment seemed to become brighter. Qin Jin examined it intently. The top side bore the fish-bird pattern, while the underside was a smooth inner wall. "It looks like a fragment of a cauldron-like container." Qin Jin contemplated: "The tribes of the Great Wilderness do not possess the capability to craft such treasures; this is likely forged by the Divine Country Qi Chuan mentioned, or perhaps even more ancient intelligent beings within the Great Wilderness." He reached out, grasping the fragment. Upon contact, a warm feeling spread, Qin Jin keenly sensed that at the moment of touching it, Life Energy suddenly became active. "Just as Qi Ze described." "Is it a peculiar reaction with Life Energy, or... could it influence other energies generated within the body from different cultivation systems?" Qin Jin’s eyes lowered slightly. At this moment, Spiritual Power ventured forth in the form of Divine Intent, surrounded by Wish Power, covered in golden mist, making this Golden Armored Divine General look like a worldly deity. Spiritual Power can detect many things invisible to the naked eye. However... The item before him is likely a fragment of an extraordinary treasure, and Qin Jin was prepared to avoid any impact on his spirit during exploration. Under the protection of Wish Power, the Divine General descended, contacting the fragment, and Spiritual Power began its exploration. At the instant of contact. Qin Jin’s Spiritual Perception sensed a "transiting" feeling, as if merging into water; his Divine Intent did not stop at the fragment’s surface but entered the inner world of the fragment. Darkness enveloped for a few seconds. When the darkness receded, a grand scene appeared before Qin Jin. He plainly saw a colossal cauldron, obscuring the sky and sun, with engravings of Mountains and Rivers, climbing into the sky, heading toward the firmament. Moments later. Alongside a sound of shocking fragmentation resonating through the heavens, cracks appeared on the cauldron body, Mountains and Rivers shattered, exploding with a roar. "Is this fragment from that colossal cauldron?" "What kind of force could forge such a treasure, and what level of personal power does it signify?" "Why did this colossal cauldron shatter?" Various questions surged in Qin Jin’s mind. Upon first arriving at the Great Wilderness and seeing the Great Sun Golden Crow in the heavens, he already sensed the extraordinary nature of this world. Now... The veil of mystery was partially lifted. Qin Jin did not linger in thought. This grand scene, akin to an imprint left on the fragment, disappeared directly upon spiritual contact, after replaying the scene. The true visage of the fragment’s inner world revealed to Qin Jin. At this moment... His Divine Intent, Golden Armored Divine General, stood within a desolate space. With spiritual perception of the surroundings, Qin Jin’s heart trembled. "This is not similar to a Martial Arts Crystal where only spirits can enter." "It is a solidly existent space!" "This fragment has a function akin to space expansion." Within the Starfire Federation, space expansion equipment is not unusual, Qin Jin though personally lacking one, was long familiar with it. It is evident that... The Federation’s space expansion equipment results from technological research into space. Yet, this colossal cauldron fragment is likely crafted through a completely different method, a separate system. The Golden Armored Divine General stood in this space, Qin Jin’s gaze explored the surroundings. All that met his eyes was desolate. No plants, no animals, a dead silence, void. It appears the entire space approximates a size of a hundred meters. The eye-catching feature... is the space’s edge! Beyond this hundred-meter boundary is not a barrier but boundless, devouring darkness. Qin Jin maneuvered a thread of Spiritual Power close to the darkness; upon entering, it vanished completely. More astonishing is the space above. At the upper edge, within the endless darkness, there are ruptured bronze chains, immensely thick, suspended in the air, motionless. Qin Jin rigorously explored this space and after confirming nothing else, thought of retrieving his Divine Intent. Divine Intent withdrew, the departure from this space was remarkably smooth, without any impediment. Opening his eyes, Qin Jin looked at his hand. The Bronze Fragment emitted a gentle, radiant glow. "Desolate Human Race, lacked spiritual cultivation methods in the past, thus unaware despite being amidst treasure." "Even a single fragment houses spatial potential, possessing unique effects; when perfected, the colossal cauldron’s might is unimaginable." He raised his head, gazing outward. "That cauldron can already be called a technique treasure, even an Immortal Treasure; a force capable of crafting such cannot be obscure." "Perhaps..." "In an even more remote era, the Great Wilderness once held a brilliant civilization with complete cultivation systems and manufacturing systems, but for reasons unknown, it eventually crumbled and vanished." Qin Jin mused. Starfire Federation, because of inherited legacies from other civilizations, previously managed to reach the Star Sea, embarking on nearly ten thousand years of expansion. Yet to date, no trace of that civilization beyond what the Federation uncovered has been reported. The two have some similarities. "Exploring the Great Wilderness feels akin to an archaeologist in the Star Sea, searching for traces of other civilizations." "In the future, learning some related knowledge, may cultivate a profession." This thought flashed, Qin Jin’s focus returned to the fragment. "Spiritual Power flowed smoothly, inside is the substantial space." "What about living creatures? Or items similar to mecha, can they be stored inside?" As he thought, Qin Jin immediately began testing. He used Spiritual Power as a bridge, connecting the two. Attempts with items like Crystal Cores and Beast Bones all failed. Yet... When he tried to send the Deep Driller inside, silently, the mining machine inside the hall disappeared, and the Deep Driller entered the fragment’s space. He succeeded.