C3 History

Donglin once again descended onto the deck of the passenger ship, the blue glow fading away as the mysterious armguard on his arm vanished along with it. The large leather suitcase reappeared as well.

Jie Mu was in awe of Donglin, marveling at his seemingly divine powers. It's no wonder, for how could an ordinary person possess such miraculous abilities?

The passengers on the ship, although unclear about the specifics, had witnessed the moment Donglin prepared to act. Their gazes towards him had transformed, filled with a mix of reverence and fear, as if they were beholding a Celestial Man.

Yu Wen, meanwhile, remained oblivious to it all, still lost in unconsciousness. It wasn't her fault; seasickness had taken its toll, and she had stubbornly refused medication. Luckily, she was able to sleep through it; otherwise, she would have awoken to a tumultuous stomach.

Jie Mu stared at Donglin, his admiration beyond words, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. With such strength, he thought, one could rule over a territory.

Donglin caught Jie Mu's gaze and offered a slight smile. "See? I didn't deceive you. My abilities are on par with the world's most elite."

Jie Mu nodded instinctively, his voice trembling with excitement. "Master, can I learn to do what you do? Can I achieve your level of mastery?"

Donglin laughed softly. "As I mentioned before, if you possess some talent and dedicate your life to it, you might master a good portion of my skills."

Jie Mu's excitement faltered, and he voiced his dismay, "A lifetime? So, I'll only reach your level at the end of my life?"

Donglin gestured dismissively. "Your Martial Arts Aptitude is decent, but your aptitude for Machine Arts might be exceptional. With some fortunate experiences, you could reach this level in a few years."

"It all comes down to your innate talent, fortune, and hard work."

"Aptitude?" Jie Mu was confused. "But Master, you told my father that my aptitude for Machine Arts was excellent, and now you're suggesting it might not be. So, what exactly is my aptitude?"

Donglin replied, "I did say that to Guan, but you know your father—he values loyalty. If I hadn't spoken highly of you, he wouldn't have let you follow me."

"I can perform a simple test on you right now."

With a flick of his hand and a flash of blue light, Donglin revealed a cube resembling black iron in his palm.

"This device is known as the Mechinery Cube. It's a crucial tool for learning and using Machine Arts. In time, you'll discover its profound mysteries."

"Pay attention."

Donglin's fingers deftly manipulated the Mechinery Cube.

The tiny cube seemed to come alive, spinning faster, growing larger with each turn!

Jie Mu rubbed his eyes in disbelief at the astonishing speed.

But it was just Rank Three a moment ago. How did it change to Rank Four? Was it a trick of the hand, or was there something amiss with the cube itself?

The Mechinery Cube's rapid rotation continued unabated, expanding and revealing intricate patterns that began to glow.

The cube itself morphed, casting a phantom-like shadow.

In an instant, both the Mechinery Cube and the ship had vanished, leaving only the vast, tumultuous ocean before him, with waves crashing ashore in a thunderous roar.

Jie Mu, taken aback, stumbled backward.

Donglin clapped Jie Mu on the shoulder, bringing him back to his senses.

Now, the Mechinery Cube had reverted to its Rank Three form. Donglin tossed it to Jie Mu, saying, "Here, take this to play with. Practice whenever you can; it's beneficial for mastering the basics and intricacies of Machine Arts."

Upon receiving the Mechinery Cube, Jie Mu immediately noticed its unique properties.

It appeared to be made of iron, yet the texture was indescribable—neither soft nor hard, fluctuating between the two.

Donglin turned and made his way back to the ship's resting room. He didn't actually need to rest, but he relished the contentment that came with the freedom to sleep at will—a pleasure beyond the grasp of most.

Jie Mu, fixated on the Mechinery Cube in his hand, began to tinker with it. He had experience with Rubik's cubes, yet he couldn't manage the fluidity of Donglin's movements, finding it somewhat challenging to manipulate.

He gazed into the distance, pondering, "Can it truly be spun only by becoming a warrior?"

...

The cruise ship's speed was quite fast. Within a mere two days, a vast seaport came into view for all to see.

Jie Mu stood at the railing, observing the massive harbor drawing closer, his hands finally ceasing their play with the Mechinery Cube.

Having been on Zither Island, he had seen numerous ports, large and small, and had even had the chance to visit one of the Zhao family's trading ports. Yet, compared to this, those seemed insignificant.

His passenger ship felt like an infant beside these leviathans. There were so many colossal ships that one couldn't even count them all.

Some vessels were busy with the loading and unloading of cargo, dockworkers shouting chants as they toiled away. On others, guests milled about, engaged in discussions that were anyone's guess.

In addition to these giant merchant ships, there was a multitude of medium-sized passenger ships and a scattering of small fishing boats.

At some point, Donglin had returned to Jie Mu's side, this time accompanied by Yu Wen.

He smiled and said, "It's time for us to disembark. Once we're off, someone will be there to meet us."

Jie Mu nodded and hurried off, returning shortly from the cabin with a package in hand, rushing as if he feared being left behind.

The ship berthed, and the group blended with the other passengers as they disembarked.

Yet, the other passengers kept a noticeable distance from Donglin Chenmu, the memory of earlier events still fresh in their minds.

As soon as they disembarked, Jie Mu noticed a man dressed in black approach Donglin with a respectful bow, "Dean."

Donglin simply nodded, offering no words.

Jie Mu mused internally, "Dean? What kind of dean?"

He speculated that Donglin Chenmu must be the leader of a significant power. If his claims aboard the ship held any truth, he might well be part of an elite force within the martial arts community.

The man gestured invitingly to the group and took the lead.

Donglin and his companions followed the man to a "black box."

Though Jie Mu and his companions were not wealthy, Zither Island was home to many affluent merchants, and he recognized the object before them as a car.

Cars were an exceedingly rare commodity. Mr. Guan had always expressed a desire to purchase one, but the prohibitive cost had prevented him from doing so.

Yu Wen opened the car door and took a seat in the back, while Donglin settled in the front. Jie Mu followed Yu Wen's lead and sat down beside her. Finally, the guide boarded the vehicle, and with a deep rumble, they were off.

For Jie Mu, this was his inaugural car ride, and his face was a picture of curiosity. He peered around inside, then turned his attention to the world passing by outside the window.

Yu Wen couldn't help but smile at Jie Mu's naiveté. "Have you never even seen a car before?" she teased.

Jie Mu let out a sheepish laugh. "I've seen them, but this is the first time I've ridden in one."

"A car," Yu Wen explained, "is a relic from the Civilization Calendar Era, incredibly valuable. In today's world, only those with true status and power can afford to own one privately."

Upon hearing this, Jie Mu took another look at the car, his amazement barely concealed. It was no wonder that something from the Civilization Calendar Era seemed so extraordinary.

In the Terrin World, there once was a highly advanced era over a thousand years ago, marked by an exceptional level of technological civilization. Even though people back then were physically weaker than those of the present day, cars, cannons, firearms, and unimaginable inventions were commonplace.

Yet, for reasons unknown, the Civilization Calendar Era came to an abrupt end a millennium ago. The specifics of its demise were largely a mystery, but it was widely accepted that its conclusion ushered in a period of war that lasted for centuries.

The Terrin World was plunged into disarray, with high-tech weaponry and inconceivable devices from the Federation Calendar being repurposed for combat.

The details of when the war began, why it began, and how it eventually concluded were lost to history.

But it was universally acknowledged that the grand civilization built during the Civilization Calendar Era was utterly destroyed, and the world was forever altered.

This epoch of conflict became known as the Annihilation Calendar, a time so devastating it threatened to obliterate everything.

Subsequently, the world entered the Recovery Calendar. During this era, nations began to introspect and devoted their efforts to healing the wounds inflicted by the Annihilation Calendar. Slowly but surely, the world began to rejuvenate, ready to rise from the ruins.

At this point in time, the concept of a nation-state had essentially become obsolete, with very few nations able to control vast territories as they once did. Eventually, all existing nations and powers across the globe united to form a federation, effectively dissolving the nation-state system.

Under the governance of a single federation, the world was divided into several regions. Jie Mu resided in Region No.1, during what is known as the Federation Calendar period. Despite the rapid development across all regions since the Recovery Calendar and throughout the three hundred years of the Federation Calendar, none have managed to reach the heights of the Civilization Calendar Era.

In those days, cars were mass-produced, a feat unheard of in the Federation Calendar. Jie Mu was previously unaware of these facts until Yu Wen's thorough explanation left him completely astonished. He was familiar with some history, but this was his first time receiving such an in-depth account.

Donglin, seated in the front passenger seat, offered a gentle smile to the pair after hearing Yu Wen's explanation.

"There's no need for shock," Donglin reassured. "The marvels of the Civilization Calendar Era, though impressive, are not beyond replication or surpassing. It's always easier to build upon the work of those who came before us than to start from scratch."

"The absence of mass-produced cars doesn't mean we lack the technology. Rather, we've achieved new breakthroughs and developments."

"And it's not just cars—there are many more innovations on the horizon."

"In just ten years, maybe even less, the world will undergo a transformation so profound, it will be beyond your wildest dreams. Technological breakthroughs are not confined to a single era but begin at a singular point, spreading across the surface until they encompass the entire world!"

"For us, Machine Arts marks the starting point of it all!"