Chapter 1 The Underground Research Institute

The Underground Research Institute.

As the name suggests, it's a "research institute" hidden underground... except that Central City is a floating city, with a large number of buildings suspended in the high air. To directly access the "underground," one needs to take the exclusive "Heart-of-the-Earth Elevator."

The airship stopped at a suspended skyscraper.

After Gu Shen and Fischer verified their identities, they entered the secret elevator on the top floor... Although they couldn't feel any vibration inside, Gu Shen released his "spirit" and watched the rapid descent of the elevator from the outside!

"First time seeing this thing?" Fischer said with a smile.

"Indeed, the technology of the Northern Continent... always gives people surprises." Gu Shen said seriously, "A 'secret elevator' nearly a thousand meters long, directly to the underground... This is not a simple project."

Fischer's response was quite interesting: "Compared to Her Majesty's 'Furnace,' these are nothing."

"Of course..."

Gu Shen said helplessly, "That's a real 'miracle'!"

...

...

The banquet at the Underground Research Institute tonight was arranged quite meticulously.

After all, those present were all influential figures in the Northern Continent... and this invitation was nominally in the form of a "dinner."

After arriving at the venue, all the dukes and generals were guided by the waiters to their seats in turn.

"Teacher, he's here."

Among the crowd, Li Bing saw the figure he had been waiting for so long at a glance. He quickly held his wine glass, came to Duke Xiangchen, and whispered.

The four great dukes of the Northern Continent.

Zhuxue, Xiangchen, Zhenyue, and Duanyang.

To be precise, there are only three grand dukes left now... The obituary issued by Light City not long ago was equivalent to announcing that the "Zhenyue" line's hereditary title in the Northern Continent was cut off.

"Mm."

Duke Xiangchen responded softly.

He was old, and because of his pampered life, he looked ruddy, but unfortunately, time waits for no one. No matter how well he maintained himself, there was a touch of white hair on his temples.

"The invitation you sent three days ago?" Xiangchen asked softly.

"Yes. I wrote that letter very carefully, with a total of more than a thousand words." Li Bing smiled bitterly and said frankly, "But I heard that this Mr. Gu went into closed-door cultivation as soon as he returned to Central City. I don't know if he has read it..."

Xiangchen shook his head and said, "Do you know how many people want to meet him?"

Li Bing sighed long.

How could he not know?

"It's not that Mr. Gu is impolite, but there are too many letters and countless invitations. Even if he sees them, how can he reply to them all?"

Xiangchen gently admonished, "Think about it, if he agreed to you so easily, what would others think? What's so difficult about writing a letter of more than a thousand words?"

Li Bing nodded quickly.

He said helplessly, "Actually, this student had no choice. I really wanted to meet that Mr. Gu, so in the letter... I also mentioned your name slightly."

Xiangchen smiled and said, "You're not stupid... you know how to bring out the backer behind you."

Li Bing touched his nose.

"It's just... this Mr. Gu is from the Eastern Continent."

Duke Xiangchen said slowly, "My name is useless outside the Northern Continent. But if you want to meet him, why make it so complicated? You... come with me."

...

...

At the banquet.

Fischer looked complicated. He raised his hands and carefully protected his "fish tank," squeezing through the crowded "sea of people." Obviously, the crowding wasn't directed at him.

But at the person behind him.

Fischer sat down in his seat and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why is Little Gu so 'popular'?" He looked at the crowd behind him as if he had seen a ghost.

Zhong Yuan, who was next to Fischer, slowly raised his glass, shook it gently, and watched the good show over there. "It's very simple... He is a 'foreigner' with abundant strength."

"I can understand 'foreigner,' but what does 'abundant strength' mean?"

Fischer had long guessed that Gu Shen would be stopped by many interested people when he entered the venue.

But he didn't expect...

Not stopped... but surrounded.

"The Huazhi Conglomerate has close cooperation and connections with all four continents." Zhong Yuan said calmly, "Madam Lu of Dadu is now the absolute controller of the conglomerate. After the conflict of ideas in the bill two years ago, the relationship between many families in the Northern Continent and Huazhi has become subtle... At this time, there is a great need for a 'buffer'."

Fischer suddenly understood. He knew that Gu Shen had an excellent relationship with Madam Lu, and Huazhi had publicly stated that it would fully support Gu Shen's growth... It was this support that made this S-rank rise to fame after entering Nagano and gain a firm foothold.

"This is just 'one card' behind Gu Shen."

Zhong Yuan looked at the young man surrounded by the crowd and said meaningfully, "The Gu family, the Bai family, the newly promoted God of War, the successor of divination, the Qingqiu Cemetery's array pattern master... Every card in this kid's hand is worth the major families of the Northern Continent making friends with him. And greeting him and issuing invitations are the cheapest means, aren't they?"

The nobles of the Northern Continent, the Investigation Corps, and other legions follow two sets of rules.

Their battlefield is not outside the Great Wall, but between suspended skyscrapers.

The Queen lifts Central City, some fight bloody battles, some bury themselves underground, and some weave a great net covering the world with mundane things... If any part of this structure is missing, it will no longer be perfect.

And the "mundane things" that top transcendents despise the most happen to be held in Gu Shen's hands.

And in large quantities.

"Okay, I admit it's very vulgar, but it's really useful."

Zhong Yuan shrugged and said, "To be honest, I came here tonight not only to see the Traveler but also to see this good show... Don't look at Gu Shen being surrounded now. Those guys pretending to be enthusiastic have already seen the obituary from Light City. How many of them really want to be friends with Gu Shen?"

A very cold voice sounded faintly.

"Even if they want to, they don't deserve it."

Mu Wanqiu chewed the steak in small bites. She was expressionless and focused on her own affairs, not even looking up at the direction of the noisy crowd.

Those people surrounding Gu Shen... were pretty much the group she hated the most in the Northern Continent.

"You are a cold-faced and ruthless Judge, with only knives and fire in your eyes."

Zhong Yuan joked and laughed, "If Gu Shen were like you, then the old guys in Nagano probably wouldn't be so happy."

Mu Wanqiu finished her meal, wiped her lips with a napkin, and silently looked in the direction of the corner of the banquet. In that direction, she sensed an extremely dazzling aura, and her expression became uncertain.

Zhong Yuan, on the other hand, continued to watch the fun with Fischer.

"Oh... Duke Xiangchen went too?"

Most of those who greeted Gu Shen were ordinary dignitaries from the Northern Continent. Most of these people wanted to use Gu Shen to improve their relationship with Madam Lu of Huazhi.

Their motives were simple and straightforward.

Those "famous generals" who were truly of high status in the Northern Continent didn't move much... because they had already met Gu Shen twice.

...

...

Gu Shen was declining these invitations one by one.

He was already quite skilled at handling these things.

It didn't matter if he was surrounded. He could just walk "slowly" for a while... He felt both helpless and amused. Two years ago, he was still a "nobody" who couldn't even get an invitation to a freedom ball. Now, he was so popular?

Suddenly, the crowd made a commotion and made way.

There was only one reason for making way.

That was because the person who came was more honorable than them.

Gu Shen looked up and saw the tall and outstanding middle-aged man.

"Duke Xiangchen?"

Gu Shen was quite surprised. In theory... this duke shouldn't be appearing on this occasion.

Chu Ling's voice sounded in his spiritual sea.

"He's here for that student of his."

Gu Shen was slightly startled, and then he noticed the young man beside Xiangchen, tugging at his sleeve, obviously a little restrained.

"Li Bing."

Chu Ling pulled up the file and the letter from back then.

"Although this young man is a garrison in Dongning City, the file shows that he was born in the Eastern Continent and is from 'Qinghe District' like you. Li Bing was sent to the Northern Continent to study at a young age and was favored by Duke Xiangchen. Then he was sent to 'Dongning City,' which borders the Tundra in the eastern part of the fortress. This time, he's returned to Central City to report after completing his term."

Gu Shen knew that among the four great dukes, except for Zhenyue, who was stationed at the fortress and known for his martial prowess, the other three stayed in Central City.

Hereditary titles were like this.

Zhuxue now controlled the power of the Northern Continent and could be regarded as the Queen's "arm."

And the other two were idle positions. Duke Duanyang had made great contributions in his early years and was now living in leisure in Central City, while Duke Xiangchen was the same... but it was said that he basically didn't leave his home on weekdays. His only pleasure was reading books and practicing calligraphy, which was a very ancient and traditional habit, basically only retained by the royal family.

And Duke Xiangchen's students were all over the Northern Continent. If he went out, he would be teaching everywhere.

When the Queen was young, this duke accompanied her in her studies, teaching the young Majesty to read and write, and understand the principles.

Therefore, Duke Xiangchen was also the one among the four great dukes with the "best reputation" and "the least disputes."

Zhenyue was stationed on the border, and his aura of killing was too heavy. Zhuxue controlled the power, and these two had offended many dignitaries, either directly or indirectly, because of their positions.

And Duanyang was focused on maintaining his family business. In recent years, he had made no further contributions to the Northern Continent, and he was somewhat "unworthy of his position."

Being in a high position was like this.

"This Duke Xiangchen... has disciples all over the world, and can almost be regarded as a 'sage'."

If he hadn't seen "Li Bing," Gu Shen really couldn't have imagined what this duke could be looking for him for by deliberately coming to him.

Now, it was very obvious.

He was going to make an appointment for his student to meet him.

"Mr. Gu, Master Qianye and I can be regarded as half old acquaintances... My house also has some 'ancient books,' which may be helpful for you to understand the array patterns of Qingqiu Cemetery."

Xiangchen bowed slightly, performed Nagano's salute, and said sincerely, "If Mr. Gu has time, why not take some time to come to my courtyard for a chat?"

"You're too kind."

Once "ancient books" were mentioned, Gu Shen understood.

He quickly returned the salute and said respectfully, "Even if Lord Xiangchen wasn't an old friend of Master Qianye, Gu would definitely want to meet you."

In this back and forth, everyone spoke very decently.

Although Xiangchen didn't mention his student at all.

In fact, everyone knew it in their hearts.

If he went to the appointment, there would definitely be a third person present at that time.