"Mr. Lin, are you interested in the Sphinx?"
The old ghost thought for a moment and then rephrased his question.
Lin Beichen nodded, signaling him to continue.
Seeing that Lin Beichen was indeed interested, the old ghost was overjoyed and calmed himself before continuing:
"Mr. Lin, the exact number of sphinxes in Egypt is untraceable, but based on my years of research, there are at least several hundred, possibly even a thousand.
However, the one I have here is a replica of the Great Sphinx, believed to be the first Sphinx in Egypt, designated as 01."
Although Lin Beichen did not understand the specifics of Egyptian lore, the information provided by the old ghost was not difficult to verify, so he did some investigation and found some sources.
The Great Sphinx stands out even among the thousand sphinxes.
Because its design is the most exquisite and it is the largest.
The sphinxes most people are familiar with generally have this very appearance.
Few people know that, in fact, the appearances of sphinxes are not identical.
Among the documented statues discovered in Egypt, there are as many as a hundred different faces.
Lin Beichen could feel that the stone used for this sphinx was extremely special.
Each stone carried the weight of history.
If someone could decode history through these stones, they would find that each stone told a different story.
Geological researchers have even asserted that no two stones in the world are exactly alike.
This is not only about their appearance, but also about the unique marks from the passage of time that each stone inevitably carries.
The stone crafted into the sphinx is especially unique because it seems to possess a magnetic field capable of gathering the Power of Faith, even enough to influence human thoughts.
Lin Beichen, attuned to the world, found magical value in many things that others considered lifeless.
"Although I don’t yet understand why this stone affects the human mind, the mental fluctuations it causes could be something I can learn from, to refine my mental techniques and perhaps create a Cultivation Technique that affects perception."
Lin Beichen pondered silently.
In his eyes, this sphinx was no less than a lost ultimate manual.
Even though he could wield the Power of the Five Elements and create a Blinding Technique, it was merely a rudimentary magic trick.
However, if he could unravel the secrets of this sphinx, he could not only improve his skills but also influence his surroundings with his perception, and possibly kill someone with just a glance.
The human soul is something profoundly mysterious.
Although Lin Beichen dared not claim expertise in soul studies, he would still attempt to understand it.
Lin Beichen gently touched the sphinx.
Its exquisite form, overlapping with the worshippers he saw in the Illusion Realm, made it easy to guess that the original owner was likely a faith-based organization.
Many primitive veneration practices had long been lost in the river of time, without record or trace.
Although religions often associate themselves with faith, in reality, religion and faith are not the same.
Before religions existed, early humans already had faith.
They revered all supernatural creations, worshiping them as deities.
For example, thunder in the sky or flames arising without a cause.
Lin Beichen believed that the stone of this sphinx must also belong to these natural wonders.
Some primitive tribes, perceiving its influence on human minds, deified it.
Over countless years, someone crafted it into a sphinx for worship.
After millennia of circulation, it ultimately fell into the hands of the old ghost, who brought it out of Egypt and placed it in Lin Beichen’s possession.
Reflecting on its thousand-year, or even more ancient history, Lin Beichen felt a wave of emotion.
Since the dawn of humanity, there have always been a few more fortunate individuals who took a step ahead of the rest.
"Though my enlightenment is good, I might not have been the first; the first to communicate, the first to write, the first to use tools were all primitive humans before me!
I am just a little luckier than others..."
As Lin Beichen sighed, a sense of vigilance arose within him.
In this world, many secrets remain unknown even to him.
In the past, as an ordinary person, he could not access these realms.
Now, this hidden world was opening its arms to him.
Even if Lin Beichen wished to live a mundane life, these forces would still approach him actively.
Having cultivated for only a year, his opponents might have been cultivating for centuries, even a millennium.
"I need to perfect the Power of the Five Elements as quickly as possible. Besides, I must prepare the Celestial Human Art in advance. Though Elixirs might not be of much use, it’s good to have some for healing purposes.
The most crucial thing is to study the Soul Technique.
No matter how powerful someone’s Cultivation is, their soul is unlikely to evolve significantly. As long as they are still human, I can find a way to harm them."
Lin Beichen’s thoughts solidified his resolution.
His plan to travel abroad might need reconsideration.
Rather than seeking fortune abroad, a trip to the longtime Fong and the Medicine Immortal Pavilion might be more fruitful.