Chapter 1 Reencounter

“Gu Shen!”

“Brother Gu!”

“Little Friend Gu!”

One greeting after another surged into Gu Shen's heart.

More than twenty generals from the Northern Continent had deliberately "blocked" the only path leading to the Central City, all for the sake of seeing Gu Shen.

Among them were comrades who had experienced the Storm War together at the Gubu Fortress.

There were also comrades who had shared life and death in the Doru River Disaster Zone.

Gu Shen saw many familiar faces. He remembered that some people were not very outstanding in the Doru River Disaster Zone's extermination mission back then, but now they had become the backbone of the Northern Continent's garrison… He didn't expect these people to come. Six years had passed, and many people had already forgotten him.

But these people hadn't forgotten.

"They told me not to tell you, wanting to give you a surprise."

Mu Wanqiu parked the micro-艇 in the air.

Gu Shen stepped off the 艇舱, treading on the Iron Sword of [Truth], and looked at his former comrades who were deliberately waiting for him.

Parting from life and death.

Reunion now.

Sometimes, there was no need for too many words. "Comrades" who had experienced life and death together only needed a look to understand each other's meaning.

The members of the Second Squad of the Investigation Corps who had traveled north with him were also here.

Li Chen, who used the [Source Child] to link the entire team and open up transcendent vision back then, Mo Hongyi, who liked to bet with people but always lost, Su He, the silent but reliable rear guard, and Zhang Ning, a fellow villager from the Eastern Continent…

These people were all here.

Yuan Yuan, the vice-captain of the Second Squad, was also present.

"Brother Gu, we just happened to be passing by."

Yuan Yuan grinned and said, "Xiao Qiu said you were coming to Central City, so we came. It's been six years, hope you've been well."

"I've been well."

Gu Shen was very touched. Seeing these people still safe and sound was the best news.

Garrisoning the border of the Northern Continent often meant dealing with the "Black Spots".

After the Doru River Disaster Zone incident, the border fortresses also needed to be wary of the transcendent beings from the [Old World], such as the Traveler, a transcendent race wandering outside…

As for the Investigation Corps, it was the most dangerous corps in recent years.

They often had to go out and explore the [Old World].

"In recent years, thanks to the complete map provided by 'Golden穗花',"

Mu Wanqiu transmitted her voice, "I chose to make the map information public and shared it with the entire Investigation Corps… The death rate of the Investigation Corps has greatly decreased, and the mission completion rate and enrollment rate have greatly increased."

Golden穗花, with "one's own strength," had figured out the dark area on the northern edge of the Five Continents World.

With this map.

The Investigation Corps wouldn't have to "act in the dark" when heading north again.

"Of course, this is in my name."

Mu Wanqiu said in a low voice, "Yuan Yuan and the others don't know that the mastermind behind this matter is actually you."

"That's good, there's no need for them to know."

Gu Shen smiled and said, "There's no need to tell the truth. It doesn't matter who is in charge… As long as this map can help the Investigation Corps, that's enough."

Mu Wanqiu's identity was much more suitable than his.

The captain of the First Squad, who had been performing solo missions for many years, released a relatively safe area map, and no one would doubt its authenticity.

With Lu Zhe and the Corps Commander vouching for it.

No one would delve into the secrets behind this map.

……

……

"Li Chen, you kid… have you grown taller?"

"Su He, congratulations on comprehending the Great Accomplishment Domain!"

Gu Shen sent messages to each of them. He was very touched to see these old friends come to welcome him.

Six years had passed.

These people had changed a lot.

Li Chen, a naive rookie back then, had now grown into a seasoned member who could stand alone, and was even being assigned to serve as the captain of the newly added squad of the Investigation Corps.

Everyone had changed a lot.

"Gu Shen, everyone has been thinking about you these past few years!"

Mo Hongyi said with a smile, "Zhang Ning even burned paper money for you not long ago!"

"Go to hell…"

Zhang Ning, who was originally smiling foolishly, couldn't laugh anymore all of a sudden, with a head full of black lines, and greeted Mo Hongyi.

"It's true."

Yuan Yuan, who was still the vice-captain of the Second Squad, smiled helplessly and said, "Actually, our squad will… commemorate every year."

Back then, the Sangzhou Cave incident came out and caused a sensation in the Five Continents.

Gu Shen's death was a big blow to this squad.

"Hearing you say that, I'm actually quite gratified."

Gu Shen wasn't angry. He said softly, "I'm sincerely honored to be remembered in your hearts."

"You're here to see Her Majesty the Queen, right?"

Yuan Yuan shook his head and called up the team members, sincerely saying, "We came here to welcome you, just to say hello. It's enough to see you in person. Next, we won't delay your business."

"When I'm done with the Central City matter, if you're still here, it's on me."

Gu Shen said solemnly, "Just like at the Gubu Fortress and the Suspended Mountain Courtyard, I'll treat you to a good drink until we're drunk."

Gu Shen knew that some things were hard-earned and needed to be well-protected.

But most people in the world don't cherish them for that reason.

Often, once they have them, they will put them aside and no longer value them.

And it is not until they lose them that they regret it.

This time he returned to the Five Continents, someone welcomed him, these people appeared in Nagano, and also appeared in Central City, Gu Shen besides feeling touched… also felt a weight he had never felt before, that weight was called responsibility.

These people placed him in the most important position in their hearts.

He should also protect these people well.

……

……

Mu Wanqiu drove the micro-艇 and landed in the Queen's Manor. Because she had made a notification in advance, the Lin Clan's Guards did not stop them in any way.

The sound of water gushing from the stone statue fountain was crisp.

Under the dome, seven-colored radiance fell, and at the end of the long corridor sat a figure drinking tea leisurely.

"Corps Commander."

Mu Wanqiu saluted, then respectfully straightened her back.

The woman drinking tea looked up, her eyes full of warmth, and nodded to signal Mu Wanqiu to take a seat.

"Aunt Wen."

Gu Shen called out a relatively affectionate title. He was not within the Northern Continent system, and after dealing with Zi Yu several times… he found that this legendary Corps Commander was not as cold and strict as rumored, at least her attitude towards him was extremely good and gentle.

"Little Gu, you're here, sit down."

Hearing this Aunt Wen, a smile bloomed on Zi Yu's face.

To be able to lead an entire corps, such a person needs to be "iron-blooded" and "rational" most of the time.

Mu Wanqiu rarely saw such a smile on the Corps Commander's face.

The last time…

It should have been when she combined her domains, successfully broke through, and won the title of [Judge].

"It's been a long time since we've met. I've brought some small gifts."

Gu Shen took out a portion of Black Silver from [Pure Land]. After showing Mr. Bai Shu the initial number, bringing back two thousand seven hundred catties of Black Silver, he kept a portion for himself.

Some of them were specifically set aside to give as gifts.

A round, specially made cabin盒 was summoned out by Gu Shen with a wave of his sleeve and placed on the table.

"Oh?"

Zi Yu smiled and reached out to pick it up, subconsciously sighing, "It's quite heavy… is it Mithril?"

The next moment, her mental power swept into the cabin盒, and her expression changed slightly.

The weight of this special cabin盒 was about a hundred catties.

A hundred catties… all of them were Black Silver!

The smile on the Corps Commander's face turned into astonishment as she looked at Gu Shen.

A hundred catties of Black Silver.

Was this something that could be taken out casually?

Is this called a small gift?

"This is too precious, I can't take it."

The Corps Commander put down the cabin盒 and pushed it in front of Gu Shen.

Her first reaction was to refuse.

Gu Shen smiled and said, "Please accept it and upgrade the equipment for the brothers of the Investigation Corps. Although there's no way to mass-produce 'Black Silver Bullets', at least smearing them on transcendent weapons can greatly increase combat power."

As soon as Black Silver Bullets were mentioned.

Zi Yu's expression changed slightly again. She recalled Osmond's report on the battle situation in the [Ice Sea Relic].

The [Ice Sea Relic] really contained ancient civilizations and created heaven-defying "Black Silver Bullets" with extremely terrifying killing power.

The battle situation at that time was very anxious, and the joint fleet of Nagano and Central City was about to be shot down, but the second round of barrage completely avoided the two continents' fleets, and only aimed at Guang Ming Bi Lei and the Source Tower for a fierce attack!

This was certainly not a coincidence!

The interior of the [Ice Sea Relic] must have been controlled by someone… Through Wei Cheng's description, a figure wearing a demon mask was locked on.

And at this moment, that legendary "demon" gradually merged with Gu Shen in front of him.

Surprise and shock appeared in the Corps Commander's eyes.

"Black Silver Bullets… so the person in the [Ice Sea Relic] was you?"

"If I say yes, would you be willing to accept this gift?"

Gu Shen didn't answer directly, but said with a smile, "For me, this Black Silver is nothing… Corps Commander, I came to the manor this time because there's something else, I want to see Her Majesty."

This time, Zi Yu didn't continue to decline.

She accepted the hundred catties of Black Silver. For the Investigation Corps, this hundred catties of Black Silver was a very valuable resource. If used well, the combat power of the entire corps would be improved by a level!

After accepting the Black Silver, she smiled and jokingly asked, "You didn't send this Black Silver to smooth things over, did you?"

"I really want to deny it, but there is indeed a little bit of that meaning."

Gu Shen blinked and quickly complimented, "After six years, you have become even stronger. Although I won against Jia Wei in Red Lake, compared to you… I seem to be still far behind."

"Alright, alright, stop flattering me, stop it quickly."

Corps Commander Zi Yu felt a headache when she heard this and quickly waved her hand, saying, "If you just want to see Her Majesty, sending gifts or not will have the same result, because Her Majesty also wants to see you."

"Her Majesty has been waiting in the attic on the second floor for a long time…"

She stood up and walked towards the attic.

"Come with me."