The Puan Empire had a very long history, founded over eight thousand years ago and lasting for nearly three thousand years before finally being destroyed. The territory once held by the Puan Empire was equivalent to the combined lands of the current Holy Alliance and Dark Alliance.
It could be said—
The twelve kingdoms and thirty-two duchies west of the Magic Beast Mountain Range had all been territories of the Puan Empire, so one could imagine just how vast its domain had been.
But the Puan Empire had long since perished!
"Over five thousand years ago?" The white-haired elder was slightly stunned, then let out a sigh. "I cannot accurately sense the passage of time within the Ring of the Earth. I never expected that by the time I emerged, my homeland would have been gone for over five thousand years."
"Grandpa, what are you saying? I'm all confused."
At that moment, Lin Lei felt as if his mind were a porridge. This old man had suddenly appeared, claiming to be a Holy Domain Grand Mage from the Puan Empire that had been destroyed over five thousand years ago. Could there be anything more bizarre and ridiculous than this?
Lin Lei even suspected he might be dreaming.
"Little one," the white-haired elder looked at Lin Lei and said with a smile, "the ring on your chest is the divine artifact I once used, the 'Ring of the Earth'."
"Wait, wait!"
Lin Lei immediately lifted his head and declared, "What Ring of the Earth? The ring on my chest was left to me by my ancestors. It's called—the Coiling Dragon Ring!"
"Coiling Dragon Ring? Was its original name the Coiling Dragon Ring?" the elder asked in surprise.
Lin Lei froze.
"Original name? What original name?" Lin Lei looked at the elder in confusion.
The elder then smiled. "Oh, the Coiling Dragon Ring—probably a name you gave it, or perhaps one of your ancestors did. The truth is… when I first discovered this ring, I searched through all sorts of records but couldn't find its name. So I took the liberty and simply named it the 'Ring of the Earth'. As for its original name, even I don't know it."
"Oh, so you named it yourself, Grandpa. Well, now it's mine, so I'm calling it the 'Coiling Dragon Ring'." Lin Lei was quite stubborn about it.
"Fine, fine, then we'll call it the Coiling Dragon Ring," the elder said with a smile, not bothering to argue with Lin Lei.
"Grandpa, tell me, what exactly happened when you came out of the Coiling Dragon Ring?" Lin Lei continued asking.
The elder smiled gently. "In the year 4280 of the Yulan Calendar, I…"
Hearing this, Lin Lei was secretly startled. "4280? The current year is 9990!"
"In the year 4280 of the Yulan Calendar, I encountered my old rival, the Holy Domain Grand Mage 'Hamlin'. We fought each other. I didn't realize there was another Holy Domain powerhouse secretly ambushing me… In the end, I was defeated. I refused to let my soul be captured by my enemy 'Hamlin' to suffer endless torment, so I sealed my soul within this Earth… Coiling Dragon Ring," the elder slowly recounted the events of that time.
"The Coiling Dragon Ring is truly extraordinary. At first glance, it seems to have no aura whatsoever, yet its functions are on par with a divine artifact. I sealed my soul inside it, and even though Hamlin and his allies searched for a long time, they never discovered me. I owe it all to this Coiling Dragon Ring," the elder said with a smile.
Lin Lei nodded to himself.
The Coiling Dragon Ring did indeed appear very ordinary at first glance. As the inheritor of an ancient family, Lin Lei had some discernment.
Generally, treasures emitted some elemental aura. But the Coiling Dragon Ring was like a piece of dead wood.
"Grandpa, so you're saying that over five thousand years ago, you were ambushed by a Holy Domain Grand Mage and another Holy Domain powerhouse, and in the end, you sealed your soul inside this 'Coiling Dragon Ring'? And this Coiling Dragon Ring is a treasure comparable to a divine artifact?" Lin Lei summarized.
"Yes," the elder nodded with a smile, seeing that Lin Lei had understood.