Chapter 17 A Quiet Afternoon

Free from other concerns, Gu Shen, as Lu Shi, wandered around Guang Ming City several times.

This was a city of faith, more magnificent and grand than the Holy City of the Southern Continent. Shrines were everywhere in the city, and adults and children alike were all believers.

The Guang Ming Church advocated "order."

There were no fights, brawls, robberies, or disturbances in their city.

All was peaceful.

Visiting delegations, as well as those scattered extraordinary individuals, were all courteously invited by the Church to the main city area under the jurisdiction of the temple.

"It's no exaggeration that Guang Ming City is free from turmoil."

Gu Shen felt a little emotional.

The city gave a very good impression, and even though he was an "enemy" of the Guang Ming Church, he had to admit it.

"Many years ago, Guang Ming City was the 'residence' that countless people dreamed of."

Chu Ling said, "During the Fa Hong War, many people from the Northern Continent wanted to settle here... Compared to the cold and war-torn borderlands, it was warmer and more peaceful here."

"Indeed... It is said that Mr. Gu Changzhi once cultivated here."

Gu Shen looked at the magnificent streets, arched roofs, alcove statues, and the white-robed believers. Even he, the King of the Underworld, felt a warmth rising in his heart on this quiet afternoon.

He reached out and touched the third letter in his arms.

Before his death, Mr. Gu Changzhi's last wish was to give the three letters to the three people he cared about most in this world.

Now, only the Guang Ming Divine Seat remained.

Mr. Gu Changzhi specifically instructed him to deliver the letter when he became strong enough... Perhaps he knew what kind of person his teacher was.

"Before I touched the Netherfire, I thought... the Guang Ming Divine Seat was a respectable person."

Gu Shen slowly said, "Even later, I wondered if it was because of the characteristics of the Fire Seed that made me have such extreme 'opposing thoughts'. But after witnessing many things, I realized that the Guang Ming Divine Seat was different from what the world thought, and he was indeed unworthy of the name 'Guang Ming'."

Chu Ling asked, "Perhaps, he has changed?"

Gu Shen smiled and said, "Because he 'fears death', he can do anything... This explanation makes sense."

Gu Shen returned to the small courtyard, where Song Ci had tied a hammock between two old trees and was dozing in the middle.

"How is the Fire Seed Trial going?"

"Don't even mention it."

Song Ci yawned and said, "I just can't figure out what kind of magic the words 'Fire Seed' have that can attract so many extraordinary forces. You probably don't know how many delegations have crossed the Western Continent. This family and that family, all kinds of messy people are gathered together. I went out with the Saint Adjudicator today and almost had half my skin squeezed off."

The Guang Ming Divine Seat was going to choose a "Fire Seed inheritor."

This matter was not as simple as just sending a message.

Many people had already begun to take action.

The temple needed to determine the list first, and then give the process... Today was the first step of "determining the list".

"If one can fuse with the Fire Seed, one will be above all others."

Gu Shen smiled and said, "No one has ever publicly selected a 'Fire Seed inheritor' like the Guang Ming Divine Seat. No one would want to miss out on such a great opportunity that would be wasted if not taken."

"The Fire Seed trial has several steps in the preliminary selection..."

Song Ci counted on his fingers and said, "First is mental strength, then realm, and age. In order to fulfill the promise of 'accepting everyone', everyone can sign up. 【Deep Sea】will perform preliminary calculations based on this data, and after the preliminary selection, there will be a public list."

The inheritor of the Fire Seed does not necessarily have to be very strong.

Some people are young, but they are extremely compatible with the Fire Seed. Such chosen ones are hard to come by.

For example, Gu Shen, and Gu Xiaoman.

Both of them were favored by the Fire Seed when their realms were low.

It's just... the probability is too low.

Each Fire Seed has its associated attributes. Those who are favored by the Guang Ming Fire Seed probably have certain "qualities" that are very similar to this Divine Seat. According to this condition, the probability that the chosen one is not in Guang Ming City is even more minuscule. Most of the extraordinary individuals who come to sign up are actually just here to "join in the fun."

If they are not selected, it doesn't matter. What if they are selected?

"What about after the preliminary selection?"

"What happens after the preliminary selection, let me think... I remember, it is said that there is something called the 'Washing Heart Pool'."

Song Ci rubbed his head, trying hard to recall the procedures that the Saint Adjudicator had told him during the day, and slowly said, "They said that there is a sealed place in the temple that can test people's hearts. Any extraordinary individual who wants to try to fuse with the 'Guang Ming Fire Seed' must not harbor any filth in their hearts... If they cannot pass the test of the Washing Heart Pool, they will be defaulted to be eliminated."

"Washing Heart Pool?"

Gu Shen's intuition told him that this thing was likely aimed at the King of the Underworld lineage.

The Guang Ming Fire Seed must not be obtained by people from the King of the Underworld lineage.

If there are Netherworld apostles, or believers tainted by the Netherworld, they will not be able to escape the test of this "Washing Heart Pool."

"What about after that?"

"After that, the extraordinary individuals who pass the Washing Heart Pool can obtain a wisp of the 'Fire Seed Dream'. At this step, it can be considered that they have not made a trip to the Western Continent in vain."

Song Ci smiled and said, "I think those big families are probably all here for this wisp of the 'Fire Seed Dream'. If they can pass the trial of the 'Fire Seed Dream', the last step is to step on the Red Lake and see the Divine Seat in person."

Gu Shen raised his eyebrows and asked, "Did you go to see the Red Lake today?"

"Yes!" Song Ci's eyebrows danced with joy: "Today the Saint Adjudicator took me in to see the Red Lake, it was a reddish color, really beautiful."

"..." Gu Shen was silent.

Indeed beautiful, this was Song Ci's evaluation of the Red Lake.

"That's it?" He rubbed his brow: "Besides being beautiful, didn't you see anything else?"

"The water in the Red Lake is very strange."

Song Ci looked solemn.

He had seen this lake many times in his dreams, clear as a mirror, containing infinite light.

This time, he saw it in person: "I think the 'last step' that the Saint Adjudicator mentioned so casually may be the most difficult... It is not easy to stand on the water of the Red Lake."

"Oh?"

Gu Shen asked in confusion, "But I heard that the temple members can meditate in the Red Lake every year to absorb the 'Light Blessing' in exchange for realm improvement, mental stability, and spiritual peace."

"Yes, the temple guys can indeed walk on the Red Lake."

Song Ci said seriously, "Even those Saint Adjudicators can take a few steps... It is very difficult to walk to the depths of the Red Lake. Today, passing by the lakeside, I saw a very blurry shadow sitting at the far end of the Red Lake, with mist swirling behind him, I don't know how much deeper."

"... Jia Wei."

Hearing this, Gu Shen said the person's name, he said indifferently: "This guy is the 'Red Lake Guardian' appointed by the Guang Ming Divine Seat. It is said that in recent years, he has been sitting quietly every day, almost never leaving."

"That's probably it."

Song Ci said with a headache: "Is this the legendary 'Jia Wei'? This guy gives me a very difficult feeling, I can't beat him, can I?"

Gu Shen was silent for two seconds, and asked, "Why would you think about this kind of thing? Do you want to fight Jia Wei?"

"That's not the case."

Song Ci said seriously: "Because of this damn 【Apostle】identity, I don't have to participate in the preliminary selection. As long as I pass the trial of the Washing Heart Pool, I can get a wisp of the 'Fire Seed Dream'... I thought I came here, might as well try to do something big."

"So you really want to fuse with the Fire Seed?"

Gu Shen couldn't help but laugh.

"Are you looking down on me?" Song Ci blew his beard and glared, and said angrily: "If Jia Wei blocks in the middle of the lake on the day of stepping on the Red Lake, I will beat him hard, for no reason, I just don't like him... Did this guy do something to offend me?"

Really my good brother...

Gu Shen couldn't help but slander in his heart, but still advised: "Jia Wei is wearing 【Ming Guang Kai】, you don't need to fight him. Besides, on that day, he won't stop you."

Song Ci looked at Gu Shen suspiciously.

"Don't look at me with this kind of eyes, this guy now has more titles piled on him than your clothes. If you have to block in the middle of the lake, who can pass?"

Gu Shen smiled and said: "Since Guang Ming City is publicly recruiting 'Fire Seed inheritors', they will not play this kind of blocking game. Jia Wei across the Red Lake will only smash their own reputation."

"I think you are a little weird."

Song Ci rubbed his chin and said, "Do you also dislike Jia Wei?"

"...Yes."

Gu Shen responded helplessly.

Of course, he would not tell Song Ci that the second thing to do when coming to Guang Ming City this time was to kill Jia Wei.

"In short, these are the procedures for the Fire Seed trial."

Song Ci was too lazy to think about it. He said in a serious tone: "If I really get first place in this 'trial', will the Western Continent not recognize it?"

"It is likely to happen."

Gu Shen thought about it seriously for a while and said, "They can accept the 【Apostle】winning the championship, but they can't accept a guy like you with rebellious bones winning the top spot... But your appearance should be an unexpected change."

Song Ci has been hiding from the Guang Ming Church for several years.

Guang Ming City defaulted that this guy would live in the Eastern Continent for the rest of his life... and even prepared not to take back the token.

"Yo ho."

Song Ci became interested, flipped down from the hammock, sat down with a golden sword, and said seriously: "Then if I kill all the opponents in front of thousands of people, and Guang Ming City chooses to renege on the debt... wouldn't their faces be completely swept away?"

This guy's focus is really different.

Gu Shen's eyes were a little complicated.

He discovered the difference between Song Ci and normal people.

In the hearts of other people, there are more or less desires. Those who come to this Western Continent Guang Ming City are all for the Fire Seed.

If you really have the ability to reach the final end, but miss it.

Most people will feel angry and disappointed... But Song Ci doesn't care at all! His focus is that "the Guang Ming Divine Seat" will lose face?!

This guy really doesn't care about the Fire Seed!