The floorspace of the Jiazi Room was quite large. Its arrangements were also elegant and quiet. The ground was tiled with a warm jade that was bright and clean. Upon the four walls hung numerous landscape drawings that seemed to contain boundless mysteries.
In the middle of the room knelt a girl with long hair that reached her ankles. She wore full-length, snow-white clothes. Both of her eyes were tightly shut, and there were ash-colored silk threads woven into that head of hair. As for her complexion, it was as luminous as a lotus floating upon limpid, autumn waters.
Gu Zuo silently watched this girl, and he couldn’t help but praise in his heart.
Ever since he came to this world, he unexpectedly discovered that it had so many beautiful, little sisters. One and all, their beauty was natural and unadorned. It was simply too much for one’s eyes to take in.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have the frame of mind to appreciate and admire them.
The girl’s voice was ethereal: “This servant’s eyes can’t see. Therefore, this one can’t come up to welcome you. This one hopes that these honorable guests don’t take offense.”
Gu Zuo interpreted this in his heart.
This meant that…such a beautiful girl was blind? This was truly tragic. However, the girl didn’t seem to bemoan her own fate. Her willpower was quite strong.
Gongyi Tianheng was carrying Gu Zuo on his back before he took a seat across from that girl. After Gu Zuo was put down, Tianheng turned him around, and held him in his own arms.
Gu Zuo: “…”
Okay, so he really wasn’t scared of any traps.
After Tianheng sat down, he smiled at the girl. His voice was gentle: “Would this young lady have anything to say?”
That girl was also very gentle: “This place is known as the Tower of Profound Theories, where information is widely spread. All of the honorable guests who come to this place have questions in their hearts. Although this servant isn’t talented, this one hopes to clear up the confusion of these honorable guests.”
Gu Zuo listened to the polite dialogue of these two people, and also spoke: “Since this young lady has such confidence, how about we ask a question and the young lady gives an answer? If we haven’t made the right inquiries once we’ve finished asking, I’ll have to trouble this young lady to bring it to our attention. Is that okay?”
The girl’s words were sincere, and her smile was sweet: “Okay. Honorable guests, please ask away.”
Gu Zuo turned his head: Big brother, do you want to ask?
He didn’t talk out loud. Tianheng understood his intent, and nodded to him with a smile.
Then, Gu Zuo turned around, and considered the matters he wanted to ask about for a while.
Tianheng looked at the girl in white clothing. After pondering for a little bit, he opened his mouth: “Are the residents within Guizhong City the descendants of Peripheral Continent martial artists who were left behind after this Road of Heaven’s Chosen closed?”
That white-clothed girl’s face showed a trace of surprise. After that, she slightly inclined her beautiful forehead: “As expected of a prodigy. Young Master Gongyi’s words are correct. The majority of the residents within Guizhong City are descendants of the stragglers of numerous expanses.”
The girl quickly gave an explanation for this matter, and it was very thorough and detailed.
After this Road of Heaven’s Chosen closed, each and every person who couldn’t reach Guizhong City within the allotted time was unable to leave. Thus, they had no choice but to survive in this place.
Because the fog was too thick, not only did it negatively affect the cultivation of martial artists, it also harmed their life energy. Countless martial artists had their lifespans depleted, and they perished. Naturally, the martial artists who were weaker than them died even faster. Later on, when only a small number of exceptional powerhouses remained, just before their lifespans were going to end, they forcefully sacrificed themselves for their offspring and left behind a city that blocked the fog. And within this city, due to the legacies of those exceptional powerhouses, any residents who had the aptitude could cultivate. Merely, they weren’t able to advance past the Immortal Realm.
Time passed, and the martial artists within this ancient city gradually multiplied. Among each generation of martial artists, there would inevitably be some who didn’t have enough time to leave the Road of Death. The lucky ones could reach this ancient city, and the unlucky ones would die in other locations. The martial artists who came to this ancient city naturally could only stay here. Their strengths had no way to improve. And after three hundred years, they would usually have already died before this Road of Heaven’s Chosen opened again.
However, when all was said and done, the people within this ancient city were used to living here. They didn’t know anything about the outside world. From the day they were born, they believed that the martial artists with the highest strength were Immortal Realms, and that the people with the longest lifespans could only live for three hundred years.
Only the city lord of each generation knew that, once every three hundred years, they had an opportunity to leave this place. However, not everyone was suitable to leave. If they left without careful consideration, who knew what kind of outcome would be waiting for them… Due to the clans that had long taken shape, due to the distribution of all kinds of benefits, due to a host of other reasons, the ones who could ultimately leave were only those young talents with limitless prospects.
The white-clothed girl softly said: “Apart from this, there’s also a small portion who, by the orders of the Central Continent’s clans and sects, come to secure this place while the Road of Heaven’s Chosen is open. In this way, they can both monitor the Road of Heaven’s Chosen on behalf of the clans and sects, and allow the later generations to get in touch with the geniuses sent from the Peripheral Continents. In addition, when the Road of Heaven’s Chosen opens again, they would’ve long selected the recruits from the ancient city’s residents to be sent back to their own forces. Because the living conditions of the ancient city’s residents are very poor, where they do battle with numerous monsters and mutated creatures all year round, no matter their aptitudes, each individual has formidable martial strength. These are the excellent talents whom the numerous organizations need…”
Gu Zuo blurted out: “…As battle slaves?”
The white-clothed girl nodded her head once again: “The people of this city are the most outstanding seeds for battle slaves. Every three hundred years, the prodigies of the Central Continent will come here to make their selections.”
So to say, Prince Zhou, the Third Prince, and Young Master Xin didn’t come to this Road of Heaven’s Chosen solely to make things difficult for the people of the Peripheral Continents. Actually, they mainly selected battle slaves from the people of this city. Meanwhile, to the Peripheral Continent geniuses, if they could pick some, then they would. The ones they couldn’t pick would be brought over with threats and promises. This way, they would be able to complete the mission they needed to finish.
Gu Zuo furrowed his brows: “Are there many battle slaves on the Central Continent?”
The white-clothed girl lightly said: “The rules of the Central Continent are harsh. Every prodigy has their own subordinates, and the subordinates are divided into three classes. The first class are distinguished guests. The second class are henchmen. The third class are slaves. Battle slaves conduct campaigns for their prodigies, and hold the highest positions among the slaves.”
Gu Zuo silently lowered his eyes.
Distinguished guests and henchmen were normal, but he still wasn’t too used to slaves and the like… However, he also didn’t have the moral high ground. Previously, in order to guard his secrets, his big brother received slaves and he himself made a medicinal slave… To be honest, he was still adapting to this world.
After reaching the Central Continent, it wasn’t known if he would see things that would refresh his three world-views again… Whatever. So long as he didn’t overthink it, and he continued to act as his big brother’s “Ah Zuo”, then it would be fine.
Clearly, Tianheng could adapt faster than Gu Zuo, as he only nodded his head. Immediately following which, he had a pensive look, but he didn’t ask another question.
In the time it would take to make a cup of tea, Tianheng raised his eyes: “How can one pass through this city and proceed towards the Central Continent?”
The white-clothed girl gave a sweet-tempered smile: “Just walk through this ancient city and you’ll understand.”
Tianheng pondered deeply for a little bit: “Would this young lady have any books that introduce the large organizations? May we take a look?”
It seemed that the white-clothed girl had long anticipated that he would have this question. A book had already appeared in her hand. It was at least an inch thick. She gave it to Tianheng: “This is a present for Young Master Gongyi. Please accept it, young master.”
Tianheng received in a serious manner. After that, he finally smiled: “In that case, I have one last question.”
The white-clothed girl said: “Young master, please ask.”
Tianheng’s gaze was deep and serene: “What would be the cause for this young lady’s…magnificent hospitality?”
The white-clothed girl’s expression didn’t change in the least. Instead, an invitation card appeared on top of her hand, which she handed over: “Our Tower of Profound Theories always takes the initiative to befriend prodigy-level geniuses. And since we make friends, we naturally want to show our goodwill and to let these prodigies know about these advantages. Young Master Gongyi, with your peak Xiantian Realm, not only were you able to escape the well-known Binglong Army belonging to the Zhao Empire’s Third Prince, you also compelled him into losing a lot of face… A person who can make a prodigy lose face is naturally a prodigy, too.”
Tianheng took the card, and opened it up.
The white-clothed girl spoke slowly: “This invitation card was entrusted to our Tower of Profound Theories by the Third Prince. He instructed to have this card delivered once the young master arrived with the intention of…”
The corner of Tianheng’s mouth curled into a grin: “An appointed fight?”
The white-clothed girl smiled: “Correct. At noon of the thirteenth day, at the base of Guizhong City’s Great Smoke Pagoda, the Third Prince challenges Young Master Gongyi to settle any previous disputes.” She slightly inclined her head, “Will the young master…take up this challenge?”
Tianheng raised an eyebrow: “Naturally, I accept.”
After he finished speaking, his palm suddenly flared with a ball of reddish-gold power. Following which, the power quietly ignited like a flame, and the invitation card within that power was suddenly burned to nothing.
Not even smoke or dust remained.
After asking a few more irrelevant questions, Tianheng stood up while holding Gu Zuo. Then, before Gu Zuo could feel embarrassed, Tianheng swung him onto his own back.
Gu Zuo went outside with him, and his heart was puzzled: “Big brother, why didn’t you ask more questions about some of the Central Continent’s state of affairs?”
Tianheng said: “When making inquiries and collecting information, one must also personally distinguish it. Otherwise, if there’s a falsehood, it’ll be greatly detrimental to one’s own judgment and choices.”
Gu Zuo lowered his voice: “Big brother’s meaning is that they might cheat us?”
Tianheng shook his head: “If it’s this Tower of Profound Theories, it probably won’t. However, if some things are concealed, or if some biased words are seamlessly added in…”
Gu Zuo understood instantly.
The two didn’t speak anymore. They found a tavern, and quickly checked in.
The matter of that Third Prince wasn’t brought up between them because it wasn’t necessary to mention it. That appointment of noon on the thirteenth day was actually noon tomorrow. At that time, they only needed to accept that challenge.
However, there was something else that Gu Zuo didn’t quite understand. That Third Prince, he…unexpectedly didn’t arrange any traps? So many of his subordinates had been killed, and he didn’t care at all?
No, that wasn’t right.
Even if he didn’t care about the lives of the Binglong Army, he certainly cared about his own face.
In this split second, Gu Zuo seemed to understand something.
Perhaps, it was precisely for the sake of reclaiming his honor that the Third Prince wanted to conduct a challenge at this time and place. Moreover… Gu Zuo silently shook his head.
In any case, he didn’t understand the hearts of prodigies. Maybe this was also some kind of inexplicable pride.
Nothing happened during the night.
When it was early the next morning, Gu Zuo and Tianheng opened their eyes at the same time.
Ever since they came to this place, no matter the time of day, the two of them would endure everything together. As such, the matter of Gu Zuo directly jumping out of Tianheng’s embrace, turning around, and climbing onto his back was to be expected.
After washing their faces, Tianheng carried Gu Zuo, and they swiftly dashed towards the location of that Great Smoke Pagoda.
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