Prodigal System in the Flourishing City

Chapter 1346: Chapter 1348: The Gateway to a New World

”Elder Yu, what’s going on? Why are you in such a hurry?” Lu Xiaobu pushed the door open and asked.

Upon entering, Lu Xiaobu’s gaze didn’t immediately settle on Elder Yu but rather on the row of glass cabinets beside the wall.

They were beast head bronze statues, all twelve of them!

”Did you get them back so quickly?”

Lu Xiaobu was somewhat surprised.

He had just returned from America, hardly a week had passed!

And yet, besides the promised Dragon Head, the other four beast head bronze statues, known only through hearsay, had returned as well?

”It’s mostly thanks to you,” Mr. Wang was also there, speaking with a chuckle.

”Me?” Lu Xiaobu paused for a moment.

”That’s right, of course. First, we negotiated to buy them at a higher-than-market price, but they still refused.”

Referring to the matter, Mr. Wang was somewhat indignant: ”They were planning to demand sky-high prices if the other three statues returned.”

”And then?” Lu Xiaobu continued to ask.

”Then, hehe!” Mr. Wang suddenly flashed a mysterious smile, which made Lu Xiaobu feel uneasy: ”We brought you up!”

”We told them, fine, we won’t resort to strong-arm tactics, but if they didn’t agree today, tomorrow Lu Xiaobu would come to visit!”

”Then... it was just a matter of transporting them back.”

Mr. Wang was visibly proud!

These guys pretended to be tough, but as soon as Lu Xiaobu’s name was mentioned, they instantly backed down!

What, you say he has nothing to do with this?

Impossible!

He’s the brother-in-law of their family!

”Ridiculous.” Lu Xiaobu rolled his eyes.

Were they treating him like a nuclear weapon?

Always threatening with nuclear deterrence?

Unbelievable!

”Elder Yu, you didn’t call me here just to tell me the items were recovered, right? And why are these placed here? Shouldn’t they be in the museum?” Lu Xiaobu, uninterested in talking with Mr. Wang, turned to Elder Yu.

”The museum has replicas on display, it’s fine,” Elder Yu said, waving his hand.

”Alright.” Lu Xiaobu was resigned.

He knew that many items displayed in museums were actually finely crafted replicas, while the genuine ones were kept safe.

Most visitors couldn’t tell the difference between real and fake anyway.

”I called you here because there’s something odd about the beast head bronze statues,” Elder Yu said again.

”Odd?” Lu Xiaobu was puzzled: ”What’s odd about them?”

”Everyone, come in.” Elder Yu clapped his hands.

Then, a group of researchers entered the room, carefully moved the beast head bronze statues down, arranged them in specific positions, and finally opened the glass covers.

After finishing all this, the staff withdrew.

”There’s nothing strange about it.” Lu Xiaobu frowned: ”Why all the secrecy?”

”Wait, there’s more,” Elder Yu, with a serious expression, retrieved a box from inside his coat.

The very box a mathematician had lost to Lu Xiaobu.

This item Lu Xiaobu always let Xiao Zhi play with.

It seemed that after Lu Xiaobu left, Xiao Zhi brought it back when returning to the base.

Elder Yu started to slowly approach the beast head bronze statues with the box.

Lu Xiaobu finally noticed something unusual.

As the box got closer, those beast head bronze statues began to glow!

Yes, they glowed.

If you weren’t paying attention, you might assume the glow was just a reflection, not actual illumination.

And as the box drew closer, the brightness became increasingly noticeable.

Eventually, when Elder Yu stood with the box right in the middle of the bronze statues, the glow reached its peak.

However, this kind of brightness was very gentle, not glaring at all.

”This is strange!” Lu Xiaobu furrowed his brow: ”Clearly just copper arts and crafts, why do they glow? Have you discovered anything?”

”No,” Elder Yu shook his head with a wry smile: ”We’ve only gotten this far, we know nothing beyond this point. We brought you here to see if you know something.”

This was the result of his discussion with Mr. Wang.

Logically, this information shouldn’t be disclosed.

But Lu Xiaobu was too peculiar; whether it was about the beast head bronze statues or the box, it was Lu Xiaobu who found or gathered them.

Maybe Lu Xiaobu indeed knew something.

Otherwise, why would he have gone to America and ended up dealing with beasts head bronze statues?

”Me? I don’t know anything.” Lu Xiaobu rolled his eyes and said.

But!

Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration.

”Five Elements!”

Lu Xiaobu blurted it out.

It was a term he had just discussed with the system on the plane, so he associated it with this situation.

”Five Elements?” Elder Yu furrowed his brow: ”You mean, mutual generation and restraint?”

”But that’s not correct! Gold produces water, water produces wood, wood produces fire, fire produces earth, earth produces gold! If the glow from the beast head bronze statues is due to this relationship, it should be earth, not a wooden box!” Mr. Wang was also deep in thought.

”Box!” Lu Xiaobu emphasized.

”You’re suggesting the box contains earth?” Elder Yu caught on: ”So the box is suppressing or sealing the earth inside? After all, wood restrains earth!”

”Most likely!” Lu Xiaobu nodded and said: ”Moreover, the box’s material is from Medicine King Valley’s ancient tree, so it’s likely they are of a similar existence.”

”The ancient tree represents wood, the box’s interior represents earth, and the beast head bronze statues represent metal, so there should be representatives for water and fire as well!”

As Elder Yu listened to Lu Xiaobu’s analysis, his eyes were becoming increasingly bright: ”What you’re saying is highly probable!”

”In that case, I have two suggestions. First, uncover this box. Clearly, the box suppresses the earth inside; if opened, it should stimulate the beast head bronze statues.”

”Second, search for the representatives of water and fire. If they exist and are found, they would create a complete cycle system!”

Lu Xiaobu offered his suggestions.

”You and I had the same thought. Regardless of what secrets these items might hold, they clearly possess immense secrets!”

Elder Yu nodded seriously, his eyes also filled with excitement: ”Moreover, from the Medicine King Valley’s ancient tree’s perspective, it’s very likely related to energy, especially the energy used in martial artist cultivation!”

At this point, Lu Xiaobu and Elder Yu exchanged glances, both feeling a bit excited.

If they truly unraveled this mystery.

Would the entire nation practice martial arts? Could the country proficiently grasp martial artist strength?

Furthermore, this energy might even be applied to new technology!

It’s no trivial matter!

This is the doorway to a new world!