“Xiaochi.”

In the rainy night of Upper City, a silver shimmer reflected the prosperous yet desolate long street in the puddles.

Wang Chong said, “You have done well in the five years you have been stationed in Rhein.”

“Teacher…”

Chi Shou smiled and said, “This is what I should do.”

Wang Chong released his hand holding the umbrella. The large black umbrella slowly ascended into the air, the umbrella surface emitting a circle of dark ripples, transforming into a canopy covering a radius of ten meters, shrouding the master and disciple.

The sound of rain instantly vanished.

The world beneath the umbrella became even quieter.

The two walked side by side on the street. Although they had been separated for five years, the master and disciple did not have much to say. They simply walked together in silence.

After a long while, Chi Shou spoke first.

“This assignment is very urgent. Does Upper City have a task to entrust to me?”

The entire Central Continent was in chaos.

A temporary recall must mean something urgent.

“Three seats are vacant among the four divine envoys of the Source Tower.”

Wang Chong did not beat around the bush, saying, “The inheritance of the White Tiger Divine Envoy has fallen into the hands of Saint Cross Academy. The Dean hopes that someone within the academy can assume the position of ‘White Tiger Divine Envoy.’”

Chi Shou was stunned.

Before his departure, Gu Li had told him that this mission might be a “promotion.”

But he never expected this “promotion” to be so high.

“White Tiger Divine Envoy… me?”

Chi Shou asked in surprise.

The selection of divine envoys for the Source Tower was extremely strict, generally starting with cultivation from a young age.

However, now was a special period. Two divine envoys had died in the Ice Sea Ruins, and the candidates for divine envoy had also suffered heavy losses… It was no longer possible to slowly cultivate divine envoys. Central Continent needed someone who could fill the position.

“That’s right.”

Wang Chong said solemnly, “The academy has a total of four candidates, but after much consideration, only you are the most suitable… The other three are not as good as you.”

“So, next, when you meet the ‘Dean,’ as long as you nod and agree to accept it.”

“From today onwards, you don’t need to return to Rhein.”

Wang Chong smiled slightly and said, “The inheritance of the White Tiger Divine Envoy, and the Fire Seed Dream of the Dionysus Throne, are yours from this day forward.”

Chi Shou had an unreal feeling, as if he were dreaming.

As long as he nodded.

He would have a place among the Four Divine Envoys?

“No need for competition, no need for trials?”

Chi Shou looked at his teacher, still speaking with disbelief.

“Several people have advanced to the fourth rank after leaving the academy… but only you can cultivate two strands of Xin Liu (heart stream) power.” Wang Chong said softly, “This is too difficult. Xin Jie (heart realm) is not an ability mainly for killing. It would be unfair to you in a one-on-one fight. I also put in a lot of effort to secure this spot for you.”

“Thank… thank you, Teacher!”

Chi Shou was not a fool. He understood the true meaning of his teacher’s words.

The position of divine envoy was immensely important.

Wang Chong must have spent a lot of favors and paid a heavy price to secure this spot for him.

“I failed to station you in Upper City back then, instead sending you to Rhein. It was my dereliction of duty. I’m sorry.”

Wang Chong smiled and said, “Five years later, now you can come back. This time… you don’t have to leave again.”

Seeing his teacher’s smile, Chi Shou was deeply moved.

Over the years, he and his teacher had maintained contact.

Their relationship was as plain as water.

But it was precisely this kind of relationship that could be maintained for a long time.

He never expected that his teacher had been thinking of him for five years… The position of White Tiger Divine Envoy was too precious. He would never forget this kindness.

But Chi Shou did not immediately express his gratitude and accept.

He took a deep breath.

Then he stopped and looked at his teacher.

This long street was coming to an end… Further ahead was the gate of Saint Cross Academy.

“Mm?”

Wang Chong narrowed his eyes. He knew his disciple’s character very well.

He also knew what had happened in Rhein.

He had not mentioned it until now.

Because he didn’t want to mention it, and didn’t think it was necessary.

Today, he had deliberately come to Upper City early to welcome his disciple, mentioning only the position of “White Tiger Divine Envoy” and the rewards and commendations from Upper City.

He thought that saying these things would be enough.

“Teacher, I have something to say.”

Chi Shou said solemnly, “I believe that the Rhein prisoner Yekaterina should not be sentenced to death.”

After these words were spoken, the world under the black umbrella seemed to have fallen into a vacuum.

Even the sound of rain pattering on the ground disappeared at this moment.

A powerful domain enveloped Chi Shou. Wang Chong’s expression became very ugly. From the moment he released the black umbrella, the combined Tian Ren (heavenly blade) domain had sealed off this area… He was worried that Chi Shou would speak. He was worried about this moment. At this moment, the vast mental power poured down like quicksilver, sealing all of Chi Shou’s words within the umbrella.

“Do you know what you are saying, what you are doing?”

Wang Chong turned around, facing away from the gate of Saint Cross Academy in the distance.

His voice was hoarse, and even trembling slightly, “These past few days, Upper City has sent so many letters urging… how dare you disregard them and refuse to execute her?!”

Chi Shou’s body trembled.

So…

Teacher knew about the Rhein incident.

“I…”

Chi Shou silently clenched his fingers. After a moment of silence, he laughed self-deprecatingly, “…If you wear the divine robe, you are a divine official. The rules for divine officials have been established for a hundred years. To execute the leader of a district, you need to obey the divine throne’s decree, or escort them to Upper City, to avoid chaos and arbitrary actions in the borderlands, causing disaster. Teacher, this is what you taught me.”

“Fool!”

Wang Chong was furious, but he did not directly vent his anger.

Veins bulged on his forehead.

The sound of raindrops hitting the umbrella surface instantly became as thick and urgent as a drumbeat.

“Rules, aren’t they made by people?”

Central Continent was in chaos. Only a very few people knew why.

The current Source Tower had become a complete and utter forbidden zone—

A few days ago, the Source Tower was sealed by snow and ice, and also shrouded in golden light. Qinglong-daren (Lord Qinglong) had completely secluded himself…

Combined with the recent events, Meng Xizhou had declared war, and East Continent and North Continent were eager to make a move.

How could the titled experts of Upper City not guess what had happened?

A war of gods!

Only a war of gods could lead to such a grand situation!

In this situation, Upper City had no energy to care about a traitor in Rhein… The entire Upper City was now taken over by Shen Hai (Deep Sea). This was the last “blessing” that Qinglong-daren had left for Central Continent. Wang Chong had taken this opportunity to secure a “divine envoy position” for his beloved disciple, but he never expected that his disciple would be so “foolish”!

“…Yes, rules are made by people.”

Chi Shou said sincerely, “That’s why I came to Upper City. I want to save Yekaterina.”

“You…”

Wang Chong’s expression was livid. He was still trying to suppress his anger, unable to believe it. “Are you crazy?”

“I’m not crazy.”

Chi Shou said solemnly, “There are many familiar figures in the wanted order issued by Shen Hai. Members of the Ancient Text Society were slaughtered thirty years ago… The world has not become better because of their deaths. The so-called ‘crime of betraying humanity’ is a vague and ethereal crime. Apart from the name, no other substantial evidence can be found. The changes in Rhein City over the past five years have been earth-shattering, benefiting millions of people. If she is killed based on a piece of paper, without asking right from wrong, then what is the meaning of the law?”

Gu Li thought he was crazy, wanting to save Yekaterina.

Teacher also thought he was crazy.

Only Chi Shou knew that he wasn’t crazy. What he wanted to do was not just to save people.

What he wanted to do was to bring back a part of the law and justice that Upper City had overturned, even if it was only a small part… But this part could at least make people think about why Shen Hai’s order could drive so many people crazy.

This was a very terrifying thing.

“This woman is a remnant of the Ancient Text Society!”

Wang Chong hissed.

“So is Lu Nanzhi of East Continent! So is the Lin Imperial Family!”

Chi Shou gritted his teeth and said, “Yekaterina is a member of the Ancient Text Society… so what?”

“Pa!”

Wang Chong angrily flicked his sleeve.

An imprint of a palm immediately appeared on Chi Shou’s cheek.

His cheek was swollen high, but there was no change in his eyes. He just looked at his teacher with apology… Even Chi Shou himself felt that these words were too outrageous.

After this slap.

Wang Chong’s eyes changed.

He looked at his most admired disciple, and was lost for a moment.

Because he couldn’t answer Chi Shou’s question.

A remnant of the Ancient Text Society, so what?

Shen Hai had issued a wanted order… There was only a crime, no wrongdoing. Sometimes, executing a person didn’t require wrongdoing.

Following the will of others, this person should die.

Since everyone believed that the remnants of the Ancient Text Society should die.

Then… no one cared what was written on this wanted order.

What really made Wang Chong feel lost.

Was not Chi Shou’s words.

But the things he had done thirty years ago, when he achieved the title.

Thirty years ago, the young Wang Chong had joined the “encirclement and suppression of the Ancient Text Society” and became a member of the executioners in the bloody night.

Back then, Wang Chong had actually had the same thoughts as Chi Shou.

He had questioned Shen Hai, and had also wavered during the killings.

However, the temptation of “obedience” was too great. People were busy all their lives, only to pursue fame and fortune.

He could become a titled expert of Upper City, and become the most famous teacher in the academy, simply because… thirty years ago, he had made the “correct” choice.

This memory was buried deep in his heart.

Thirty years later, when it was brought up again… Wang Chong realized that some things, once they had passed, did not mean the end.

The so-called correct choice might not be correct.

“Don’t talk nonsense when you meet the Dean later…”

Wang Chong calmed down. He instructed in a hoarse voice, “Before becoming a divine envoy, there is one more task. This task is considered Upper City’s examination of you… If you can complete it successfully, the position of divine envoy will be yours, and the ‘Fire Seed Dream’ will be passed on to you. If the god of destiny favors you, you might even have a chance to obtain the power of ‘Authority Source.’”

These words were enough to drive every transcendent in Central Continent crazy.

Fame, creation, authority.

Everything that transcendents pursued… was now placed before Chi Shou.

It could be said to be.

A meteoric rise.

But Chi Shou’s reaction was very calm, even described as indifferent.

“Remember, remember, don’t mention that woman, don’t plead for her, you can’t change anything.”

Wang Chong’s voice revealed an unhideable weariness.

“You are the teacher’s most admired disciple…”

He looked at his disciple, as if looking at himself in the past. It was clearly a stern teaching, but in the end, it had a hint of entreaty.

“This time, listen to the teacher. Take the test, complete the task… and then become a divine envoy.”

“…”

Chi Shou raised his head in disappointment, his eyes a little wet.

The rain was too heavy, and his vision was a little blurry.

He silently wiped his face.

So…

After five years, it was not just Upper City that was unfamiliar.

Even the closest teacher had become a stranger.

He gently said “Mm,” in a voice so small it could be ignored.

Chi Shou silently walked out of the black umbrella’s range. He didn’t look back, nor did he say goodbye to his teacher. He pushed open the gate of Saint Cross Academy and walked forward in the rain. But he didn’t walk for too long. In the empty park, there were several tall figures wearing large robes, waiting for him.

“Dean.”

Chi Shou raised his face. The tallest figure in front of him was the Dean of Saint Cross Academy, also a big figure sitting on the Upper City Four Councilors seat, Lie Renault.

In terms of seniority.

Lie Renault was an old man of the same era as Gu Qilin of East Continent. He had experienced many wars, and his body was still sturdy.

The older the transcendent, the more abundant the source matter, and the more calamities and ominous things they endured.

After passing the peak years, their strength would inevitably decline…

Five years ago, Chi Shou had met the Dean several times in the academy.

He remembered very clearly that even with sealing items to conceal it, the Dean still exuded an obvious aura of twilight.

His ability was Xin Jie (heart realm), and he was extremely sensitive to this special aura.

At that time, he was very worried about the Dean’s health. The Dean smiled and comforted him, saying that this was a medal given by the years…

But now these “medals” were gone.

Under the rainy night, Lie Renault, wearing a large robe, stood with his back straight, and the wrinkles on his face had disappeared by eighty percent. He looked like a middle-aged man in his forties.

This was precisely the strongest age for a transcendent.

The Dean exuded a powerful oppressive force. This force made it impossible for Chi Shou to even look up and face him directly… Although he was not a titled expert, he could clearly feel the power of this aura, which he could definitely not resist.

Perhaps even his teacher, who was at the peak of his prime, would find it difficult to raise his head in front of the current Dean.

Was there really such a miracle as “rejuvenation” in this world?

“Dean-daren…”

Chi Shou gritted his teeth and slowly spoke.

“Chi Shou. I remember you.”

Lie Renault’s face didn’t have much of a smile. He looked at this young junior expressionlessly. He had been standing here for a long time.

In fact, he had seen the conversation outside… Because Wang Chong’s domain was shrouded, he couldn’t hear the specific content of the conversation.

But he knew very well what had happened in Rhein City.

Chi Shou had repeatedly disobeyed orders and had not executed Yekaterina.

Today.

He didn’t intend to pursue the matter.

“Bang!”

Lie Renault patted the tall black shadow standing beside him. Only then did Chi Shou notice that the shadow standing beside the Dean was not a person, but…

A coffin.

“Wang Chong should have told you about the task, right?”

Chi Shou’s expression was stiff.

In front of the Dean’s powerful pressure, his mind was blank.

It was even difficult to open his mouth and answer.

“Your ability is Xin Jie (heart realm)… Currently, there is no one more suitable than you in the entire academy.”

Lie Renault held the top of this huge coffin, tilting it slightly and sending it in front of Chi Shou, like an inverted giant sword, with the hilt presented.

“This coffin contains an extremely complex mental barrier.”

“Break the barrier and bring the person inside out.”

“Or… destroy the barrier and let the person inside die.”

Lie Renault looked at Chi Shou calmly, “Doing either of these counts as completing the task.”

Bearing the great pressure, Chi Shou asked blankly, “…Mental barrier?”

“This barrier…”

Lie Renault looked down from above, saying each word carefully, “Is called Annihilation Dream.”

(End of chapter)