Chapter 1 The Brief Night

The night was very short.

Gu Shen walked along the Ning River, and he felt like he hadn't been walking for long before dawn broke.

The dawn fell on the surface of the Ning River, reflecting thousands of golden scales.

At sunrise, the news of the sunset over the Western Continent spread in the deep-water area. The power of the Divine Throne was certainly powerful, but it couldn't cover the eyes of the world. As long as one person knew, it meant that millions would know... The Guang Ming Church finally released this news, and it was more decisive and resolute than Gu Shen had expected.

"The Guang Ming Divine Throne is unwell, suffering from a sudden serious illness, and all port cities along the coast of the Western Continent have lifted berthing restrictions."

"The Temple has issued invitations, inviting heroes from all over the world to enter the Western Continent. Anyone who enters the city will have the opportunity to try to fuse the 'Guang Ming Fire Seed'."

These two pieces of news almost detonated the entire deep-water area of the Five Continents.

Every transcendent was in a state of extreme shock.

The Seven Divine Fire Seeds were something ordinary people could never hope to obtain in their lifetime. It was difficult even to catch a glimpse of them.

This was why countless people signed up for the Snow Forbidden City's annual "Rookie Battle."

That wisp of "Fire Seed Dream" meant the greatest opportunity and good fortune that ordinary people could grasp.

Now Guang Ming City directly issued a "widely invite heroes" invitation.

This approach was crazy.

On the one hand.

Guang Ming City directly released the news of the "Divine Throne's serious illness." In the current situation, the Guang Ming Divine Throne's serious illness was not a good thing.

On the other hand.

As soon as this news came out, countless transcendents from the Five Continents would pour into Guang Ming City.

Whether it was true or false, it wouldn't cost anything to go and see.

The fusion of the Fire Seed would definitely require selection, and there would be no shortage of competitions and trials... but watching the excitement was free. Where in the world was there a greater spectacle than this?

They wanted to see the Guang Ming Divine Throne die.

They also wanted to see who the next Guang Ming Fire Seed would be.

Gu Shen stood on the riverbank and couldn't help but sigh, "I thought Guang Ming City would release this news... but I never thought Guang Ming City would invite the whole world to 'fuse the Fire Seed'."

"This matter is not that simple."

Chu Ling's voice was very calm, "It is by no means easy to fuse the Fire Seed, and there must be rules, regulations, and countless restrictions. In my opinion, it is easy to enter Guang Ming City, but it is difficult to see the Guang Ming Fire Seed. Even one in ten thousand people may not be able to fulfill their wishes. If it really attracts people from all over the world to watch, the Guang Ming Church can also take the opportunity to cultivate a group of believers."

"No matter how it ends, they really have the courage."

Gu Shen smiled and said, "Leaving the Holy Son and Holy Maiden unused... and having to recruit from all over the world, have they never thought that a powerful enough guy might come along and stir things up?"

The Source Tower controls the "Wine Fire Seed," but the Source Tower simply doesn't give outsiders a chance.

Qing Long tightly held this Wine Fire Seed in her hand!

Even the most valued envoy under her command had no chance to try to "fuse" it!

Chu Ling pondered for a moment and asked, "Don't you think this news... is actually aimed at you?"

"Aimed at me..."

Gu Shen smiled and said, "What makes you say that?"

"This inference has no data support, but I have a feeling that something is wrong."

Chu Ling said in a solemn tone, "The inheritance of the Guang Ming Fire Seed should be extremely secretive. Now it is so public and widely publicized, which is really inconsistent with the Western Continent's style. If they publicize it like this, Guang Ming City will definitely become 'chaotic'. It won't be long before a large number of transcendents will pour into the Western Continent. Even if the other major forces don't participate, they will stir things up, and at the very least they must go and see the excitement."

"You mean, Guang Ming City deliberately released this news, hoping that 'Pluto' or the 'successor of Pluto' will take this opportunity to enter the city..."

Gu Shen narrowed his eyes.

"That's right."

Chu Ling said, "The news of the 'sunset' alone may not be able to attract Pluto, so add some more chips."

"When did you start relying on 'intuition' to speculate?"

Gu Shen joked and said seriously, "But... I think you're right, this is indeed something they can do."

Chu Ling asked, "So are you still going?"

"So why not go? The more people there are, the more chaotic Guang Ming City will be, and the safer it will be for me."

Gu Shen chuckled, "A fool wouldn't watch the fun. This time... I'm not only going myself, but I'm also taking people with me."

……

……

Outside Snow Forbidden City, a remote small mountain.

"Why did you make an appointment here? I am also a dignified Fourth Judge of the Prison."

Chen Li sat in the mountain pavilion to rest, and said with puzzlement, "Meeting here, sneakily, like it can't be seen."

"I'm afraid you won't be able to get out once you enter Nagano."

Gu Shen opened his mouth with a smile, "Where's Ying Jiren, why hasn't he arrived yet?"

"These days, he has been accompanying Senior Sister Nan Jin... but calculating the time, he should be here soon."

Little Iron Man muttered.

Lu Nan Jin's seniority was very high, she was Gu Shen's senior sister, so Chen Li also habitually called out "Senior Sister", so as not to seem so estranged.

After Mr. Bai Shu fused the Furnace Fighting Fire Seed, the internal strife within the Third Institute system completely ended. Everyone was their own person. Even if they encountered someone from a different system, it was normal to call out "Senior Brother" or "Senior Sister".

"The case of the Donglai family has been settled by me."

Chen Li said seriously, "In the past few days, the Jiankou Islands have been calm and tranquil. Sure enough, as you said... Guang Ming City has completely abandoned the faith conversion of the Snake God Cult."

"The news of the execution has already been released to the outside world. If they come to 'steal faith' again, it means that there are still insiders in this investigation team."

Gu Shen smiled, and he casually asked, "How were Donglai Jing and Donglai Longchang handled?"

"According to the law, Donglai Longchang should be sent to the Xue Long (Snow Cage) for imprisonment and service."

Chen Li said slowly, "Although this matter was all caused by Donglai Zhengzang, he knew about it but did not report it, which is a great crime... The Donglai family has been disbanded, and all those who are guilty have been punished. Outside of this matter, Donglai Jing was not punished according to your instructions."

"Um..."

Gu Shen nodded.

"However, this matter has been followed by many high-level officials, and Madam has also inquired about it. She seems to be preparing to extract Donglai Longchang from the Xue Long (Snow Cage)."

Chen Li said in a low voice, "Song Ci told me this news. Madam has long taken a fancy to the Donglai family... The three major families in the Yinghai District are now dominated by the Shengu family. In recent years, Madam has been looking for a chess piece sufficient to check the Shengu family."

Gu Shen raised his eyebrows and said, "The person Madam is looking for is the Donglai family, I'm afraid not, right?"

"It's the Kurosaki Group."

Chen Li said softly, "Madam secretly dispatched many people to guide Donglai Longchang and Donglai Jing. Otherwise, with the strength of this illegitimate child, how could he collect the Jiangtan area? The underground transcendent forces in the Yinghai District have accumulated little by little, which cannot be underestimated. If the Kurosaki Group is brought under her command, it can just reflect each other with the Shengu family."

Black and white, light and dark.

Just like the Da Du of that year.

"I see, so the Kurosaki Group is so similar to the Chengxin Society..."

Gu Shen smiled and said, "I didn't expect that I would destroy the chess pieces arranged by Madam this time."

"Song Ci said that Madam doesn't really care about the life or death of people like Donglai Longchang. Destroying them is destroying them. After all, from beginning to end, Donglai Longchang didn't know that his Kurosaki Group was actually the product of Da Du's manipulation."

Chen Li smiled and said, "It's just that the prisoners in the Xue Long (Snow Cage) are all heinous criminals. She is willing to give Donglai Longchang a chance to correct himself. Since the Donglai family has been removed from the list, it is better to come and work under the banner. If he performs well, he will still have the opportunity to see his son by the end of the year. If you think it's inappropriate, I'll let Song Ci talk to Madam."

This is indeed Madam's style.

Raise high and lower gently.

"Donglai Longchang is indeed an insignificant little character."

Gu Shen shook his head and said, "This handling is fine, there is no need to trouble Madam."

After saying that.

A snow-white rainbow light fell from the top of the sky, and Song Ci instantly appeared in the pavilion. He sat down with a golden sword and said with a wink, "Sorry, I'm two minutes late. How did I hear someone calling my name from afar?"

Gu Shen smiled and said, "Is the date over?"

"..."

Song Ci's old face flushed slightly, and he quickly pressed his palm, "Keep a low profile, keep a low profile."

These days were rare leisure.

He mustered up the courage to find Lu Nan Jin.

Six years have passed since the parting of Da Du.

In the past six years, Song Ci did not spread a word to the outside world... During this period, when Nan Jin returned to Nagano to handle affairs, she also went to the cemetery to visit him, but because of the "entering meditation" required by Mr. Bai Shu, there were very few opportunities to meet, and he missed them all.

Song Ci was prepared to be rejected.

But he never expected that Nan Jin, who had been in seclusion, would come out of seclusion early for him.

Little Iron Man sneered: "Dating? It's good enough that people pay attention to him."

Song Ci, for the first time, did not refute, but just smiled honestly, as if tacitly agreeing.

"???"

Seeing this reaction, Chen Li felt something was wrong.

The more intense the reaction, the more it showed that the heart was poked, the more calm the expression, the more it showed that he didn't care...

This guy, can't be...

Gu Shen smiled knowingly.

Song Ci and Lu Nan Jin, everyone with a discerning eye could see the relationship between these two.

Gu Shen had known for a long time... these two valued each other and cared about each other, but because of the Lion Lane blood case that year, the two were destined to have a lot of entanglement. Perhaps before Lu Cheng was exonerated, Senior Sister would not think about her own life matters.

As for Song Ci, it was actually the same.

In his heart, the weight of the Flower Banner and Madam was greater than his life.

He went to Qingzhong Cemetery to practice in order to repay Madam's kindness that year. Only when he became stronger could the Flower Banner have a more solid backing!

Looking at Little Iron Man's expression becoming extremely complicated, Gu Shen couldn't bear it, he reached out and patted his shoulder, comforting him: "Don't worry, what Song Ci has, you will have in the future."

"What do I have? What are you talking about?!"

Chen Li was confused, and felt a strange panic in his heart.

"You'll know when you go back."

Gu Shen said seriously, "There is a passionate girl who has been waiting for you to go home in Snow Forbidden City..."

Perhaps, carrying a leather whip, Gu Shen thought.

Chen Li: "???"