Chapter 1 The Red Grape Building

Red Grape Building, second floor of the banquet hall.

Liu Yi excused herself to go to the restroom for a moment, and upon returning, she noticed that He Chan was on a call.

Only snippets of conversation drifted from the communicator.

The complexion of the Envoy from Rhein instantly turned extremely unpleasant.

"What did you say?!"

The hall was enveloped in the resounding sound of a symphony.

He slammed his hand heavily on the table, his anger overflowing, not even bothering to conceal it in front of Liu Yi.

Seconds later, the call ended.

"Young Master He, what happened?"

Liu Yi was somewhat surprised. According to her previous observations, the young leader of Red Grape had excellent composure. What could have happened to enrage him to such an extent?

"Team Leader Liu."

He Chan suppressed his anger and said slowly, "Regarding the previous transaction..."

"I've consulted with Madam about the transaction. She expressed great interest, and Hua Zhi certainly won't miss such an opportunity." Liu Yi said with a smile, "Of course, it depends on your specific offer."

To counter a certain force, one must first understand it.

Lu Nan Zhi led Hua Zhi, walking the path that Old Lu had paved when he raised his banner. If she truly wanted to stop the Awakening Edict, she had to understand what this edict would bring to the human world.

These Uncontrollables were priceless treasures.

"There is no offer."

He Chan's voice was hoarse. "Just now, the cargo ships transporting these 'Uncontrollables' were all destroyed."

"All destroyed?!"

Liu Yi's beautiful eyes widened.

She immediately asked, "Who was responsible for guarding the cargo ships?"

"It was Ye Kalolin, another Eight-Star Envoy from my Rhein City, known as the 'Rose of Wind'." He Chan shook his head and said, "The attacker was very strong and injured her… At the critical moment, all the monitoring on site failed. The attacker seemed to have special shielding methods."

"The monitoring failed, and then the attacker just escaped like that?"

Hearing this, Liu Yi felt that this matter was strange.

Could this be related to Gu Shen and Chu Ling?

These two shouldn't have Rhein as their final destination, just a transit point.

"I don't know any more details."

He Chan stood up and said apologetically, "The Rhein docks have been burned. This egregious incident has already attracted the attention of the Upper City. Soon, stronger transcendents will be sent to investigate... Our agreed transaction can only be canceled. I hope you can keep the transaction a secret."

"I understand, rest assured."

Liu Yi also stood up.

The Red Grape Group was actually an industry created by an apostle who believed in the "Fire Seed of Wine." The connection could be seen from the name. This group was qualified to negotiate with Hua Zhi, which also indicated its strong strength.

He Chan was very young and excellent, but his strength was not enough. A single Eight-Star Envoy would not dare to plan this transaction of the "Dwarf."

The real mastermind was someone else.

...

...

Flames soared into the sky, stretching into a line on the sea. Gu Shen stood in the darkness of the docks, watching the grand spectacle of more than a dozen cargo ships burning together. The first wave of explosions was over, and now there were still slight cracking sounds on the sea.

"Mr. Gu, has 'that person' been killed?"

Ye Kalolin looked at the young man from East Continent. Perhaps it was because of his unique temperament, or perhaps it was because of the gentle flame flickering between his eyebrows, she felt that Gu Shen exuded a gentle aura.

It was difficult for her to feel hostility towards him.

"He's still alive. The one killed just now was just an 'avatar'."

Gu Shen's gaze crossed the sea of fire, crossed the ocean, and looked towards the distant South Continent.

Owl's true form was hiding in some corner of the South Continent.

Although he hadn't killed this old schemer yet, it was certain that after repeated failures, Owl must be living a miserable life... and it would only get more miserable.

"What astonishing strength..."

The Rose of Wind was not stingy with her praise.

Gu Shen was only twenty years old.

At this age, even the four "Godchildren" of the Tower of Origin might not be able to contend with the strange monster from just now.

This was beyond what could be described as genius.

"Miss Rose, what impact will this explosion have on you?"

Gu Shen looked at the sea of fire and didn't dare to look at the wavy-haired, sexy woman beside him. The Rose of Wind's face and figure were stunningly beautiful, like a sculpture, or even like a dream created by a mental transcendent.

Ye Kalolin respectfully said, "You are the future leader of the Ancient Text Society, just call me Kalolin."

"I was only responsible for guarding the 'Dwarf' and didn't know what was inside the cargo ships." She said calmly, "The cargo ships exploded... I was also injured, they have no reason to suspect me. But the Upper City will definitely send people to investigate and retrieve the deep-sea recordings."

"There's no need to worry about that." Gu Shen said.

Chu Ling had already modified the background images.

She had that level of authority.

"In that case... it won't have much of an impact."

Ye Kalolin said softly, "Someone did attack the cargo ships, the envoy from the Upper City will be furious because of the 'destroyed transaction', and with the evidence destroyed, they will only do one thing, and that is to find out the identity of the attacker."

Gu Shen nodded.

"However, you came to Rhein this time to take me back to Lintz to see Academician Yin En... I'm afraid I can't go with you." Ye Kalolin said regretfully, "The envoy from the Upper City is coming to investigate, I must be present. Going to Lintz at this time would only cause inconvenience to you. When you return to Lintz, please say hello to Academician Yin En... and to my deceased 'Senior Brother Huo Lin'."

"..."

Gu Shen sighed softly in his heart.

It was clear that Ye Kalolin really respected these two people.

He suddenly asked, "In your heart, what kind of person was Huo Lin?"

Ye Kalolin paused slightly, glancing at Gu Shen with some confusion.

But she didn't suspect anything. After thinking for a moment, she said honestly, "I've known Senior Brother Huo Lin for nearly ten years. At that time, he was already quite accomplished at Holy Cross Academy, and many people were following him to study... In my heart, he was a 'perfect person' with high moral character and academic ability."

"A perfect person?" Gu Shen smiled, "That's a high praise..."

Ye Kalolin chuckled softly, "I understand what you mean, no one is perfect. Where in this world is there a truly 'perfect person'? It was only much later that I learned that Senior Brother Huo Lin was a capable assistant in Mr. Turing's laboratory."

Gu Shen listened quietly.

Although he was a key, a key was not omnipotent. He didn't know what kind of twists and turns the Ancient Text Society in Central Continent had experienced.

Turing lived in Central Continent, and Deep Sea was also born in Central Continent.

However, the members of the "laboratory" and the stories that happened were top secret.

Turing sealed everything, and no one knew, not even .

"Huo Lin... was a member of Turing's laboratory back then?"

Gu Shen silently noted this information.

"Senior Brother told me this once when he was on a business trip to Rhein and was completely drunk." Ye Kalolin stood in the warm wind of the pier, her eyes a little dazed, "He said that he had made a terrible mistake, and he had paid a lot to make up for this mistake, but..."

But...

Speaking of this, the Rose's voice stopped abruptly.

She shook her head with a wry smile, "Even now, I don't know what happened back then. I think he was working so hard in the academy probably to make up for 'that mistake'. There are no perfect people in this world. If a person becomes close to perfect, they must have paid a price. Perhaps Senior Brother has lost something important forever?"

These were all her guesses.

But this information was also important.

"Thank you."

Gu Shen thanked her sincerely.

After that, Gu Shen and Miss Rose stood quietly in front of the silent and surging sea of fire until Chu Ling reminded him that people were coming to the dock, and then he left, stepping back into the darkness.

...

...

Upper City, where the stars are dazzling.

This is the most prosperous, most splendid, most affluent, and most extravagant region in the Five Continents.

It is all-encompassing, and has everything one could desire.

As long as you have enough wealth, you can buy high-quality mithril, you can buy modified Source Energy boats, and most importantly... all of this operates in an orderly manner under the supervision of "Order."

As long as you have the certification of the Tower of Origin.

Then what you bought is yours, and even if someone covets it, they wouldn't dare to do anything.

Some say that this is the most "orderly" city in the Five Continents!

Supporting all of this is the towering "God Tower" in the center of the Upper City, reaching straight into the clouds. The core area of the Upper City is covered by the Divine Domain of the Twin Gods. This is a place of great miracles, and countless young talents go to the Tower of Origin every year to challenge themselves.

The Tower of Origin welcomes everyone.

Anyone can enter the tower for free... but only the first time.

Once you fail, it is difficult to have another chance to enter.

Extraordinary transcendents with outstanding talent can gain the favor of the upper levels of the Tower of Origin by passing through the levels all the way.

Some of them can become disciples of the High Priests, and some can even climb to the top of the tower and catch a glimpse of the divine grace.

However, most transcendents cannot do it.

After entering the tower, they often only pass through the first one or two floors, end in disappointment, have no other choice, and can only become "Divine Officials", receive the robes bestowed by the Tower of Origin, and become a stationed guardian in a remote corner of the Central Continent, accumulating merit to exchange for a second chance to enter the tower.

Today, a woman with a wooden sword stood at the foot of the Tower of Origin.

The long night was sprinkled with starlight.

She stood there with her sword in her arms, just standing at the bottom of the giant tower.

If the sky, sitting on the throne, would really cast its gaze on the human world, it would probably see this figure as small as an ant...

But Lu Nan Jin knew.

Even if it saw her, even if the divine seat had a good memory, that divine seat probably wouldn't know who she was or why she kept standing here.

When you are higher than the entire world.

Then you will really look down on the people of the world.

Not because of arrogance.

But because the people of the world are really small.

She told everyone that she came to the Tower of Origin because she wanted to take a look... She was not lying.

Now she saw it.

This tower is really tall.

No matter how many years you practice the sword, you can't chop it down.

But now that she had finally arrived at the front of the tower, she was not willing to just take a look.

...

...

Ants on the ground are not easily seen by giants.

But there are not only giants and ants in this world.

What should be seen will always be seen.

On a certain floor shrouded in clouds.

A young man wearing a red star robe stood with his hands behind his back in front of a cloud window. Under the blessing of the Twin Gods, the Tower of Origin was shrouded in countless mental illusions. Looking from the outside, the line of sight was blocked.

But looking out from the inside, the view was unobstructed.

Behind the corridor, there was a sound of hurried footsteps.

An Envoy knocked lightly on the door and transmitted a message, "Lord Zhu Que, regarding Rhein... I'm afraid you need to make a trip in person."

Zhu Que said softly, "No hurry."

He just looked at the woman on the ground.

And seconds later.

The woman with the wooden sword on the ground actually slowly raised her head, her gaze swept layer by layer over the Tower of Origin, and finally stopped at a certain "middle" layer, coincidentally, and also uncoincidentally—

This was exactly the floor where Zhu Que was located.

Zhu Que knew that even a titled expert couldn't see through the illusion cast by the Twin Gods.

The "eye contact" between the two gazes was most likely caused by the woman raising her head and trying to see the furthest distance she could see, which led to such a coincidence.

But some things happen because of a bit of unpredictable chance.

...

...

"You've been standing down there for a long time, why don't you come in and try?"

Lu Nan Jin stood for a moment.

A young man slowly walked out of the Tower of Origin.

The man pointed to the high tower behind him and said politely, "This lady, your strength is good. Perhaps you are qualified to become a disciple of the Twin Gods and feel their blessing."

Some people, although polite... but the coldness exuding from their bones can be felt even from a hundred meters away.

This person was not really being polite with her.

"Sorry, I'm not here because I'm interested in the blessing of the Twin Gods..."

Lu Nan Jin responded coldly in the same seemingly polite tone.

She narrowed her eyes and looked at the robe on the young man's body, counting the stars engraved on it.

The Star Envoy engravings of the Tower of Origin have a maximum of ten stars.

This man.

Ten stars.

Outside the Tower of Origin, there were many transcendents coming and going.

Many transcendents cast interested glances at the two of them. Lu Nan Jin could feel that the gazes of these people towards the young man were faintly filled with "awe".

Was this a young important figure from the Tower of Origin?

"Understood."

Zhu Que nodded, "You want to fight."

"Standing in front of the tower, I have been feeling confused, always feeling that something is missing." Lu Nan Jin nodded and said, "Now I understand, you're right. I should be here to fight, I want to find a strong enough person to fight."

Zhu Que also nodded, "Although the above ordered, don't cause trouble, don't cause deaths... But since you are provoking me, then you can't blame me."

"Whoosh!"

The next moment, Zhu Que waved his sleeve, and a scarlet tide of fire instantly enveloped the surrounding hundred meters... He unfolded his domain, blocking the sight of all those outside.

The fire tide rolled, and the blazing waves exploded.

The place where the two stood instantly turned into a lava hell.

"Lu Nan Jin."

Zhu Que said the name of the person in front of him and asked lightly, "Wouldn't it be better for you to stay in Da Du? Why did you have to come to the Tower of Origin? Could it be... that you think you can do something here?"

"You know my name." Lu Nan Jin chuckled softly.

Her palm had already silently pressed on the hilt of the wooden sword.

"You are not an unknown person."

Zhu Que smiled, and the last sentence was paused word by word, "What's more... that apostle Qin Ye who died in Da Du, was my senior brother."

The moment Qin Ye's name was spoken, the two took action at the same time with great understanding.

Zhu Que fanned his five fingers at will, and it was a滔天(tao tian - overwhelming) sea of fire.

And Lu Nan Jin lowered her body and drew her sword. A ray of blade-light that had been hammered tens of millions of times was finally unsheathed. For a time, the岚切(Lan Qie - a sword name) was like a rainbow piercing the sky, breaking through the surging sea of fire!

Within the domain, the tide of fire shattered, and the light of the sword scattered.

Outside the domain, under the Tower of Origin, there was a return to calm, with people coming and going, and clouds swirling around.

As if nothing had happened.