New NovelđȘ¶
Shangguan Xian nodded slightly, and the two of them followed the crowd toward the bustling square ahead.
âThis is the only daughter of Dragon Lord, the City Lord, holding a martial tournament to choose her husband! I wonder whoâll win the title,â someone said excitedly.
âI heard the young elites of the Wang, Lu, and Zhuo Imperial Clans have all been preparing for this for a long time,â another added.
âWait, isnât that Wang Imperial Clan guy more than ten years older than the City Lordâs daughter? Whyâs he even taking part?â
âYou donât get it,â a man nearby chuckled. âWho knows, maybe she likes older men. Either way, whoever bees Dragon Lordâs son-in-law will have a high seat indeed.â
âI also heard that the Dragon Princess has bee the disciple of a Saint Sovereign,â someone whispered.
âThatâs right. Sheâs the very first Saint Sovereign of Ocean Sage City! With a Saint Sovereign here, weâll never have to fear the Water Beasts again,â another said in relief.
âIn strategy, we have Dragon Lord,â someone reasoned. âIn strength, we now have a Saint Sovereign. Itâs a blessing we came to Ocean Sage City. If you ask me, the surrounding cities are all doomed, but our Ocean Sage City will only grow stronger.â
The chatter filled the air, gossip about the tournament, the cityâs rise and fall, and even the fate of the realm. These onlookers really thought of themselves as patriots.
But Xu Zimo knew. If a real disaster struck, if the Water Beasts attacked again, these same people would be the first to run.
âGo ask around and see whatâs going on,â Xu Zimo said to Shangguan Xian.
âWhy donât you ask yourself?â she replied.
âYouâre prettier,â he said with a grin. âTheyâll talk to you more willingly. Itâs called using your charms.â
âThat joke isnât funny,â Shangguan Xian said, rolling her eyes, but she still went.
After chatting with a few locals, she came back and said, âItâs simple. The City Lordâs daughter is hosting her tournament for marriage today. Everyoneâs gathered to watch.â
âA tournament for marriage, huh?â Xu Zimo said, sounding less than enthusiastic.
âWhat? You donât want to be the City Lordâs son-in-law?â Shangguan Xian teased. Then, changing the subject, she added, âOh, by the way, thereâs a teleportation formation inside Ocean Sage City. It can take you straight to the core of the Inferno Crucible Heaven.â
âOcean Sage City itself lies within the Inferno Crucible Heaven, so the teleportation network here covers an enormous range, almost anywhere within the domain.â
âThatâs perfect,â Xu Zimo said. âI just wonder how much Ocean Sage City actually knows about whatâs happening in the Inferno Crucible Heaven right now.â
âWhat are you planning?â Shangguan Xian asked.
âI want to find the source of the Water Beasts,â Xu Zimo explained. âIf I can find their origin, the rest will be easy. What worries me is not being able to locate it, because killing an endless swarm of beasts wonât solve anything.â
The Inferno Crucible Heaven was vast beyond measure. If those fake blue-skinned beings chose to hide, finding them without special means would be nearly impossible.
That made Xu Zimo think of Blade Tyrant. The man mustâve had a way to find the blue men, how else had he captured so many? Too bad he was dead now.
Xu Zimo decided he needed to meet Dragon Lord himself.
âDo you know how I can see the City Lord?â he asked.
âI already asked,â Shangguan Xian said with a smile. âWhen the tournament begins, Dragon Lord will personally appear to test the candidates. After all, to bee his son-in-law, you have to pass his test.â
âThen letâs find somewhere to sit,â Xu Zimo said.
âLetâs go to the Paradise Tower,â Shangguan Xian said, pointing toward a tower in the distance. âThey say when the tournament starts, both Dragon Lord and the Violet Mist Saint Sovereign will be there.â
âHuh? What did you say?â Xu Zimo asked, startled.
âDragon Lord,â Shangguan Xian replied, puzzled.
âDragon Lord and who?â he asked again.
âViolet Mist Saint Sovereign,â she said, smiling. âI forgot to mention, Violet Mist Saint Sovereign is Ocean Sage Cityâs only Saint Sovereign. He arrived here not long ago, invited personally by the City Lord, and may stay for a while.
âOcean Sage City is strong, but Dragon Lord himself is only at the Grand Emperor realm. With Violet Mist Saint Sovereignâs arrival, the cityâs fame has skyrocketed. People even speak of the two in the same breath now.â
âIf they knew you were also a Saint Sovereign,â she added playfully, âtheyâd probably be thrilled to meet you.â
âViolet Mist Saint Sovereign,â Xu Zimo repeated with a quiet smile. âSo fate really does bring people together.â
When heâd left Godfiend Abyss Heaven, unstable teleportation had scattered him, Violet Mist Saint Sovereign, and Moonlight Fairy to different locations. Back then, both had sworn to follow him.
And now, to think they would meet again here, it amused him greatly.
âThis meeting is getting more and more interesting,â Xu Zimo said with a grin.
âWhat are you smiling about?â Shangguan Xian asked curiously.
âNothing,â Xu Zimo waved it off.
They made their way toward the Paradise Tower.
The structure stood tall, bathed in soft mist, as if surrounded by celestial clouds.
Outside the tower stood a statue of eight immortals, each carved with distinct expressions, their presence filling the air with a faint, divine fragrance.
Paradise Tower had sixteen stories, each decorated differently, each more refined than the last.
But when the two tried to enter, they were stopped at the door.
âMy apologies, sirs,â said the maid politely. âToday the Paradise Tower isnât open to just anyone. Too many people want to see the City Lord because of the tournament, so we had to set some rules.â
Xu Zimo and Shangguan Xian werenât the only ones waiting; a crowd of would-be visitors gathered at the entrance.
âWhat rules? Spit it out!â someone shouted impatiently.
The maid smiled and pointed at the statues. âYou see those eight immortals at the gate? They are the ancestors of our Paradise Tower. Only those who are acknowledged by the Eight Immortals may enter.â
âHow do we earn that acknowledgment?â another person asked.
âDo you see that stone beside the statues?â the maid said. âPlace your hand upon it. If the stone glows, youâve been recognized. If not, youâre denied.â
People immediately rushed to try it. The stone was made of flawless white jade, smooth and pure, without a single blemish or crack.
One man pressed his hand against it, but nothing happened.
âNext,â the maid said simply.
One after another, more than a dozen people tried, but none succeeded.
Just as the crowd began muttering that the maid was probably scamming them, the white jade suddenly lit up. A gentle radiance poured from it like a lanternâs glow.
Everyone froze in surprise.
âYou try,â Xu Zimo said to Shangguan Xian.
She nodded and stepped forward, placing her hand on the stone.
A low hum filled the air, Wong!, and the light grew even brighter.
Reviews
All reviews (0)