Chapter 1054 Old Friends

"You... saw through it?"

Gu Shen was stunned.

He hadn't yet announced his breakthrough to the Third Threshold.

"No, I didn't."

Bai Xiu chuckled softly. "Your spirit sea is too well concealed. Even with my current peak Fourth Order spirit, I can't sense its depth... but that's precisely how I figured it out. To be precise, I guessed. Actually, before you set off on this trip to the Northern Continent, I already suspected you would attempt the 'Third Transcendence'."

"..."

Gu Shen was speechless for a moment, unsure of what to say.

"How did you guess that before?" He rubbed his brow, smiling wryly. "Some things, before they happen... even I can't foresee them. Like the Third Transcendence."

"Premonition. Intuition."

Bai Xiu said, "Because I advanced too quickly, I spent very little time in the Third Order, so I have a regret..."

Gu Shen raised an eyebrow. "Transcending the Third Threshold?"

Bai Xiu nodded. "Transcending the Third Threshold."

"This is exceedingly difficult. Talent, accumulation, fortune, opportunity. Even if you have everything, you might not succeed."

Bai Xiu said softly, "And at that time, the Bai family needed the fastest-rising genius in history. They wouldn't allow me to remain in the Third Order forever, pursuing a nebulous Third Transcendence. So... it became a regret."

"And when I met you, I wondered if you would also have this regret?"

Bai Xiu looked up and said with a smile, "Congratulations, you completed the regret I couldn't in the Third Order... I'm truly happy for you from the bottom of my heart."

"Thank you."

After hearing this, Gu Shen's gaze towards Bai Xiu became complex.

Although Little Xiu was usually indifferent and taciturn, he was actually extremely intelligent, skilled at both seeing through others and concealing himself.

Those who didn't understand him only knew that he was the new generation's "Invincible Nagano," crushing all opponents of the same rank.

And those who understood him felt that he was otherworldly, untouched by the dust of the world.

But truly touching Bai Xiu's heart would reveal—

A wisp of fervent fire was buried deep within his heart.

The task entrusted to him by the Bai Clan was to become the spark that held the Qingzhong Cemetery, to become a future "God Seat." Although Bai Xiu had been struggling to escape his family's fate... deep down, he also believed so.

He was walking a path towards the supreme.

He himself wanted to become one of the future Seven Gods!

If one progressed with the goal of becoming a God Seat, then the path of cultivation beneath one's feet would be a thousand times, ten thousand times more difficult than that of other geniuses—

Every step had to be perfect!

Every threshold had to be complete!

"Actually..." Bai Xiu said softly, "I came here to confirm this suspicion."

No wonder he had to come in person. That was his plan.

Gu Shen sighed and said with a wry smile, "I think it would have been better if we hadn't met."

"Don't worry, I'll keep this a secret." Bai Xiu blinked and said earnestly, "The road is long and arduous. I've only been lucky enough to take a step ahead, waiting for you at a higher place."

After seeing Gu Shen and confirming that he had transcended the Third Threshold, Bai Xiu smiled.

It was as if he was happier than he would have been if he had broken through himself, upon seeing a legendary "Third Transcendence."

The two met on the mountain road, and without even walking a few steps together, they parted again at the mountain road.

Gu Shen looked at Bai Xiu's departing figure, his expression indescribable.

Waiting for him at a higher place.

Hearing these words, Gu Shen knew why Bai Xiu was so happy.

Because in Little Xiu's heart, he was probably the only opponent truly worth caring about.

So the more he transcended, the more monstrous he became... the more excited Bai Xiu became for the final showdown.

...

...

Great Capital.

The top floor of the Hua Zhi Building.

Lu Nanzhi was sitting in front of a large floor-to-ceiling window, the tea on her desk steaming. She looked at the sword-hugging woman in front of her. The two were speechless, silent with each other. This silence had lasted for more than ten minutes.

Just then, the communication rang.

"Madam... the special plane to Nagano has picked up Gu Shen and Miss Chu."

Cui Zhongcheng said over the communicator, "The estimated arrival time is eight o'clock tonight. At that time, you have a meeting with Nanwan... the meeting is about the environmental protection project to be promoted in the Great Capital District next, the Green Lawn Act."

"That Act, Chen San and I have already finalized it. It's just a formality." Lu Nanzhi glanced at the time and said, "You attend tonight's meeting for me."

"That's not appropriate, is it?" Cui Zhongcheng was silent for a second and said, "I'm still in Yinghai."

"Yinghai is close. Don't be so polite with me... I've calculated it, you'll make it in time."

Lu Nanzhi hung up the communication in a hurry.

After tidying up her appearance, she looked at her sister sitting in front of her and asked helplessly, "If you want to sit quietly, I'm happy to keep you company, but how long do you want to sit for? Just say it directly, what did you come to me for?"

"I want to go to Central Continent."

Lu Nanjin said calmly, "The Tower of Origin."

"Are you crazy?"

Even with the Madam's excellent temperament, she was choked by these words.

She took a deep breath and asked angrily, "There are so many places to go in the Five Continents, why do you have to choose the most dangerous one?"

Nanjin's time in seclusion at Nagano's Wind-Come Pavilion was her most reassuring and peaceful year.

In fact, the Madam knew that this day would come sooner or later.

"..."

Facing the question, Nanjin lowered her eyes and continued to remain silent, no longer speaking.

In fact, she had long known that her sister would definitely react this way once she raised this idea.

The last time she returned to the Great Capital, she experienced the battle between Qin Ye and Tie Wu... the sisters' misunderstanding of many years was finally resolved, and the broken feelings were repaired.

Separation of life and death, reunion after breaking.

She promised Lu Nanzhi that if she wanted to pick up the knife again to pursue the mastermind behind the Lion Lane case... she would definitely tell her sister.

A promise is worth a thousand gold.

She wanted to leave, so she came.

The scene returned to a silence where a needle could be heard dropping.

"What do you want to do at the Tower of Origin?" Lu Nanzhi had no choice but to speak again, "Even if you really want to do something, at least you should wait until after you're titled... it's too early now."

"Nothing."

Nanjin hugged the wooden sword and murmured with some confusion, "I just... want to take a look."

"Take a look?" Lu Nanzhi was stunned.

"I don't know why... these past few days, I always dream of Father, dreaming of the scene of him falling in front of Lion Lane." Lu Nanjin's voice was hoarse, without the stubbornness and sharpness that Lu Nanzhi expected, but revealing a bit of gentleness that made people feel a little pity: "I dreamed... after a heavy rain, Old Lu fell, and that man turned and disappeared into the rainy night. At the end of the dream, a缥缈塔(piaomiao ta - distant/vague tower) that reached the clouds appeared."

"So... I want to go and take a look."

Lu Nanjin raised her head and asked, "I know I can't do anything, but is it not even okay to take a look?"

Lu Nanzhi fell silent.

After a long time.

She dialed Cui Zhongcheng's communicator again, asking directly, "When is the negotiation with Central Continent's 'Red Grape Group'?"

Cui Zhongcheng was slightly startled and said, "Liu Yi will be leading the negotiation team tomorrow."

"Add one more person to our negotiation team."

The Madam sighed and said halfway through, looking at Nanjin, "There's a guy who wants to take a look at the Tower of Origin. She won't affect the negotiations... right?"

The latter sat obediently with the sword in her arms, nodding earnestly like a chick pecking at rice.

"... Understood." Cui Zhongcheng had already guessed what had happened here. He said with a headache, "The departure of the negotiation team will receive a lot of attention. I suggest Miss Nanjin travel anonymously."

"No problem." The stone in Lu Nanjin's heart fell to the ground.

"Also... I want to go to Little Barren Mountain before eight o'clock." The Madam put on a thin coat and asked with confusion, "Has Yingji been on leave these past few days? Why haven't I seen him?"

"I'm not sure about Song Ci's affairs. He always appears and disappears mysteriously."

Cui Zhongcheng frowned and said, "However... he should always be the quickest to respond to any travel needs you have on weekdays. Moreover, now that Miss Nanjin has returned..."

"Forget it, there's no need to call him on purpose."

Lu Nanzhi murmured, "It's always like this, it's bound to be tiring... Perhaps Yingji is resting."

...

...

Setting sun.

End of the alley.

In the old city of the Great Capital, the crows perched on the telephone poles fluttered their wings and rose, creating a black cloud.

The young man wearing flip-flops, with his hands in his pockets, looked up at the sky, aimlessly walking in this dilapidated area "unmonitored," turning, going straight, and turning again, into a dead end.

"It's about time..."

Song Ci stopped and turned around.

He looked calmly ahead. After he stopped, seven or eight figures in rough linen robes slowly walked out of the corner of the alley. These people were silent when they saw Song Ci.

"Everyone, are you too idle and want to find someone to spar with, have a fight, and then lie in the hospital?"

Song Ci leaned against the wall, expressionless, and said, "You've been following me all these days, being mysterious and sneaky... You're finally willing to come out and meet."

These robed figures did not speak, only remained silent.

They were like the shadows cast by the sunset, the afterglow of the setting sun.

And what made Song Ci feel most uneasy was...

He couldn't feel "anger" towards these people from the bottom of his heart.

In normal times, he would have punched them already... But facing these silent followers, he found it difficult to get angry. The moment the thought of punching them arose in his heart, it mysteriously disappeared.

"Spit it out." Song Ci said unhappily, "If you keep following me, I won't be polite. I'll send you to the underworld to see Hades!"

"Lord Yingji..."

Among the robed figures, a leader slowly walked out. His voice was hoarse, deep, and magnetic, "You won't attack us, will you?"

"What are you... to call me Yingji?"

Song Ci narrowed his eyes and said coldly.

As soon as he said this, he felt his breathing vaguely become difficult.

He was stunned and lowered his head.

The words spoken by this shadow seemed to be connected to his own heartbeat... The anger that arose seemed to be shrouded in countless soft lights.

The anger seemed to have disappeared?

Song Ci was horrified. This was a terrifying thing. This guy's words could actually affect his emotions!

Soon, a second figure also stood out from the crowd.

"Lord Yingji."

He also spoke softly, advising with a kindly face, "In our place... Hades is an ominous word. You should try to avoid mentioning it in the future."

An even more terrifying thing appeared—

"Who the hell do you think you are?!"

Such an angry curse only appeared in Song Ci's mind. He couldn't even say it.

The afterglow shrouded him.

Song Ci silently clenched his fists.

He looked at the black-robed figures in front of him who were dispersing and asked in a hoarse voice, "Who... are you?"

The voice that answered him was not loud, but it gathered into waves in the wind of the alley.

With piety, tranquility... and a frenzy engraved in their bones.

"We are light, we are heat, we are sunrise, we are hope."

"We are nothing, we are just shadows that follow the will of the Holy Light."

"We come from the Western Continent, Light City."

"We... are here to welcome you home."

...

...

(Seeking monthly tickets~~)