Chinese Superman

The base is located deep in the mountains of North China. The mountain has been hollowed out and is roughly divided into three layers: upper, middle and lower.

The administrative area, teaching area, living area and other daily areas are mostly located on the upper and middle floors.

The true core, however, lies hidden deep underground.

The place where the relics are stored is located in the core area of ​​the lower level of the base, and is called the National Treasury.

The road to becoming a "national treasure" is longer than Xia Xinghan imagined.

The elevator descended for a full three minutes before slowly coming to a stop.

The moment the door opened, an invisible pressure swept over, leaving one utterly shocked, as if stepping into some sacred place that could not be profaned.

Before them stretched a long, white corridor, its walls gleaming with a cold metallic sheen. Every ten meters, a crimson laser scan line swept across the space. The seemingly smooth walls on either side actually concealed numerous heavy firearms.

Mr. Qian walked ahead, leaning on his cane. Every time he passed through an alloy gate, he had to complete a strict verification procedure.

Iris, fingerprint, voiceprint recognition... at the final gate, even a tiny amount of blood needs to be drawn from the fingertip for instant DNA comparison.

"Boom—"

Accompanied by a deep, powerful mechanical sound, the last heavy alloy door slowly slid open to both sides.

The view behind the door suddenly opened up.

Contrary to expectations of a dark warehouse, it was a brightly lit and magnificent space. With a ceiling height of over twenty meters and an area comparable to several football fields, the bright lights illuminated every corner clearly.

It's practically a high-standard "museum"!

At the entrance, an elderly man in hemp clothing sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed as if he were resting, holding a dark, old bamboo scroll in his hands.

The old man in hemp clothing looked ordinary.

But the moment Xia Xinghan's gaze fell on him, the hairs on his body stood on end.

That's not "seeing" a person.

That's what I saw—

Mountains of corpses and seas of blood, clashing swords and galloping horses, ten thousand troops charging into battle.

The flames of war raged across the sky, the drums of war shook the earth, and banners fluttered in the wind.

It was as if a military sage, who wielded power and strategized to determine the fate of the world, had descended to earth, manifesting himself from the long river of history. His aura of killing was so tangible that it was overwhelming and suffocating.

Xia Xinghan's pupils contracted sharply, and he subconsciously took a half step back.

With another blink, the terrifying illusion receded like a receding tide, vanishing without a trace.

The old man remained an old man, sitting there quietly, his beard and hair as white as snow, his face thin and frail, the bamboo slips in his hand ordinary and unremarkable, like common items on a street stall.

With one hand on his cane and the other holding Xia Xinghan's hand, Old Qian introduced in a low voice: "This is Old Guo, a national treasure. The bamboo scroll in his hand is a national treasure relic—the original copy of 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu."

"Old Guo," Old Qian turned to the elderly man, his tone familiar, "I brought this child in to have a look."

The old man in hemp clothing twitched his eyelids slightly and slowly opened his eyes.

Just one glance.

Xia Xinghan felt as if he had been completely seen through, with no secrets left to him.

Of course, Xia Xinghan knew this was just an illusion. The old man in hemp clothing held a bamboo scroll of "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. He was a master strategist and had a keen understanding of the world, so his eyesight was so sharp that it seemed he could see right through people's hearts.

Soldiers who, deception also.

Those skilled at winning hearts and minds have clear vision; perhaps... this is one of the mysteries bestowed upon the wielder of this national treasure.

Simply put, the bamboo slips of "The Art of War" can be used for psychological attacks!

"This old Guo is probably stronger than Tan Qingyue!" Xia Xinghan thought with a chill.

The old man was surprised to see that the child, who looked to be only about two years old, could regain his composure so quickly in front of him.

"Should we choose items for a toddler's funeral?"

The old man in hemp clothing nodded, asked no further questions, and closed his eyes again.

Just as the old man in hemp clothing guessed, Qian Lao brought Xia Xinghan to the National Treasury not only to let him observe the relics, but also with a selfish motive: he hoped that the relics would choose their owners and that Xia Xinghan would become the true holder of the artifacts.

For students in the Open Heaven Class, such an opportunity requires accumulating 100 credits to redeem!

Mr. Qian nodded to Mr. Guo and gestured for Xia Xinghan to follow.

Stepping inside the treasure vault, Xia Xinghan truly understood what "national heritage" meant.

Rows of specially made display cases extend outwards, each protected by reinforced glass and an alarm system, displaying a variety of relics inside.

The outermost layer consists of Class C relics, mostly restored from Class III cultural relics. They lack sufficient cultural depth, have relatively weak spiritual fluctuations, and have limited viewing value.

As you go further in, Class B relics begin to appear:

The Song Dynasty Yao Bian Tenmoku tea bowl features ever-changing glaze colors inside, as if a deep starry sky has been condensed within it, with the patterns shimmering with a mysterious light.

The jade cabbage from the Qing Dynasty features clearly defined veins in its jade-carved leaves, and the grasshoppers perched on them are lifelike, with their tentacles trembling slightly.

The original Ming Dynasty Zheng He nautical chart, on yellowed silk, faintly glows with a pale blue light, showing the route that once guided the giant ship on its voyages.

Xia Xinghan glanced at them, shook his head, and continued to delve deeper without lingering.

Grade A Relics Area —

The bronze chariot unearthed from the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor is a masterpiece of casting craftsmanship. The eight horses are depicted in a proud posture with their hooves raised, as if they might step into the air at any moment and gallop through the ages.

The Western Han Dynasty translucent mirror has intricate patterns on the back, yet the mirror surface allows light to pass through and reflect these patterns, creating the illusion of another world within the mirror.

The secret-color porcelain bowl from the underground palace of Famen Temple in the Tang Dynasty has a glaze as clear as lake water, serene and profound, with an inner radiance.

Compared to Class B relics, the number of Class A relics has decreased sharply, but each one is a national treasure, with profound cultural significance and a unique artistic conception.

"While Grade B relics are usable, they ultimately fall short of Grade A relics in terms of artistic conception and profound meaning. To create superior martial arts, one naturally needs to study relics of higher grades."

A thought flashed through Xia Xinghan's mind, and he shifted his gaze from the Western Han Dynasty translucent mirror to a deeper area of ​​the national treasure trove.

There... are priceless relics hidden there!

"Human nature, ah. If there are better relics to admire, I don't even care about Grade A relics anymore."

Xia Xinghan's heart pounded with excitement, eager to witness the splendor of the world-class and national treasure-level relics!

There are even fewer display cases for heirloom-level artifacts, but the aura emanating from each artifact is breathtaking.

The plain silk robe unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Tomb is as thin as a cicada's wing and as light as smoke. It flutters slightly in the windless display case, as if surrounded by ethereal mist.

The jade burial suit from the Western Han Dynasty is made of thousands of jade pieces woven together with gold thread, and the inside of the jade pieces seems to have a flowing luster.

The Yongle sword from the Ming Dynasty has a long and elegant blade with exquisite engravings. The gemstones inlaid on the guard have a blood-red luster, and a sharp and unparalleled sword intent can be seen emanating from it.

The Changxin Palace Lantern from the Han Dynasty depicts a palace maid kneeling and holding a lantern, her posture dignified and elegant, with cloud patterns slowly flowing on the lampshade.

The Tang Dynasty silk painting "Guiding Bodhisattva" from the Dunhuang Mogao Caves, though old in color, depicts a compassionate and peaceful bodhisattva. The lantern in his hand emits a soft golden light, illuminating the small space and bringing peace to people's hearts.

The further you go in, the more astonishing the quality of the relics and the pressure they exude become.

Xia Xinghan didn't even stop before heading to the exclusive area for the national treasure-level relics.

Mr. Qian followed silently behind him, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. His gaze swept over the relics along the way, most of which were in a "dormant" state, and he sighed inwardly.

"No resonance whatsoever, no sign of choosing a master..."

"It seems that Xiao Xinghan, as an extraterrestrial life form, ultimately does not have the blood of the Chinese people flowing in his veins, making it difficult for him to gain the recognition of these relics that embody the consensus of civilization." Old Qian deduced the reason, his hand holding the cane tightened slightly, and a deep sense of regret welled up in his heart.