“A’liuer?”

Gu Shen sized up the woman before him.

She was indeed a visitor from the Northern Continent. Her skin and hair color were noticeably different. Beneath A’liuer's felt hat was a head of smooth, silver hair that people from the Eastern Continent didn't have.

Under the suppression of the Douzhan Divine Realm.

The silver color in her pupils had completely faded away. Looking at her now, one wouldn't feel the oppressive frost power from before.

"You must be... Mr. Gu Shen."

A’liuer also scrutinized Gu Shen. She smiled and said, "I've seen your photos, but you're even younger in person than I imagined."

Gu Shen invited A’liuer into the Chunyu Temple.

After closing the door.

A’liuer looked intently at Gu Shen's brow and said, "Lord God, do you mind if I use special means to shield this conversation?"

Gu Shen's expression was subtle.

Because Bai Shu had descended once on his forehead.

So A’liuer was now... speaking to Bai Shu.

No response was a form of affirmative response.

A’liuer smiled slightly. She raised a hand, and suddenly wind and snow rose in the small courtyard. This time, it wasn't the chaotic spread of [Frost Kill] power… Gu Shen sensed the woman's powerful mental strength and extraordinary control.

Fine snow dust swirled in the courtyard.

The cloak fluttered.

A’liuer looked up at the sky. A thin curtain of snow appeared on the roof of the open-air courtyard. As an [Apostle], she possessed the "freedom" granted by the highest-ranking God, allowing her to walk freely within the Five Continents without worrying about being tracked by [Deep Sea]. However, they couldn't transfer this gift.

Therefore, she came to Chunyu Temple to talk with Gu Shen... She could only hide herself, not Gu Shen.

Without using some special means.

The general picture of this conversation could be seen by [Wind Eye].

The floating snow dust above the small courtyard completely isolated the detection of outside Qi, somewhat like the [Lantern] in Lion Lane.

Of course.

This kind of method... was ineffective against Bai Shu.

After all, the entire Snow Forbidden City was within his Divine Realm. If he wished, he could freely listen to the conversation.

"Miss A’liuer..."

Gu Shen had already heard the news from the Investigation Corps. This trip back to Nagano was to prepare for the upcoming journey to the Northern Continent.

But he hadn't expected.

Her speed was faster than his.

Before he could set off, the Empress's apostle had "paid a visit."

"I am here to see you on the orders of Her Majesty the Empress." Unexpectedly, A’liuer didn't mention the Investigation Corps. She sat on a stone stool in the small courtyard and said softly, "Her Majesty has been busy with seclusion for some time… She only just heard the news from Nagano in the past few days."

Gu Shen was stunned.

"In the Battle of Qingzhong Cemetery... God of Wine died, and the Eastern Continent has a new Douzhan God."

A’liuer forced a smile and said, "Her Majesty sent me here, firstly to offer blessings to the Eastern Continent. In addition, she also hopes that I can take a look at... the homeland of Mr. Gu Changzhi on her behalf."

Gu Shen lowered his head and sighed softly.

He said黯然, "Mr. Gu Changzhi... is no longer here. If you want to pursue old memories on behalf of Her Majesty, then you should go to the Gu family's ancestral hall. That's where Mr. Gu Changzhi used to live."

"No... I'm here to find you."

A’liuer shook her head and said, "Her Majesty said that Mr. Gu Changzhi must have left something to give to her."

Gu Shen's expression was complicated.

Could it be... that Gu Changzhi's letter was expected by Her Majesty?

No wonder A’liuer came straight to him after entering Nagano. She had already planned her destination in advance.

"Mr. Gu Changzhi... did leave something to give to Her Majesty."

Gu Shen thought in silence.

Gu Changzhi's instructions were that he should deliver it himself.

He looked into A’liuer's eyes. Even though the power of [Frost Kill] was suppressed by the Douzhan Divine Realm, he still felt the innate coldness in those eyes.

Gu Shen shook his head and said, "But I can't give it to you. I promised Mr. Gu Changzhi that I would hand it over to Her Majesty myself."

A’liuer still had a smile on her face.

She wasn't annoyed, but asked, "So that object... is a letter?"

"…?"

Gu Shen raised his head and frowned.

This kind of thing... shouldn't be within expectations, right?

As far as he knew, in the past years, the only ones within the Five Continents who mastered "divination" were Master Qianye and the "prophet" locked up in the Source Tower. Could it be that Empress was also one of them?

"Little Gu, don't be surprised."

A’liuer took out the badge on her chest. It was an ancient token engraved with an owl. She stroked the owl's feathers and said gently, "Her Majesty has transcendent wisdom. It's not an exaggeration to guess anything. Besides, she's one of the people in this world who knows Mr. Gu Changzhi best… So guessing these things isn't really anything."

In Gu Changzhi's peak years, the Empress who now ruled the Northern Continent was just a little girl.

When he first heard Gu Changzhi call the young Empress "Little Lin girl."

Gu Shen knew that there was probably a past between the two of them—

However, now, from A’liuer's mouth, he vaguely felt that this past seemed more complicated than he imagined… The bond between these two Gods was probably not shallow.

Gu Changzhi only left three letters after his death, one for his family and one for his respected teacher.

And one... was for the Empress.

And A’liuer had just said that the Empress was one of the people who knew Gu Changzhi best?

"They..."

Gu Shen was silent for a while, and subconsciously opened his mouth, wanting to ask about the old days.

But he stopped after saying two words.

A’liuer was only a few years older than him... How would she know these things?

"Her Majesty the Empress encountered great difficulties when she ascended the throne that year."

A’liuer knew what Gu Shen wanted to ask.

She said, "No one knows what those difficulties meant, but everyone in the entire Central City knew... Mr. Gu Changzhi gave her a lot of help. Although the two were twenty years apart in age, they were once comrades fighting side by side."

"And after pacifying the turmoil in the Northern Continent, Her Majesty erected a monument for Mr. Gu Changzhi in Central City. In addition, she also collected some paintings and images that recorded the battles between the two of them."

Speaking of this, her voice was a little hoarse. After a long pause, she slowly said, "After learning of Mr. Gu Changzhi's death… I saw Her Majesty open the past portraits and sit there for a long time."

Gu Shen didn't say anything more...

A’liuer's description was very vivid and touching.

"I'm sorry…"

Gu Shen took a light breath, looked at A’liuer, and said, "Even so, I still have to insist on delivering this letter to Her Majesty myself."

A’liuer smiled.

"Actually, I came to Nagano today... not to ask you for that letter."

Her eyes were gentle, and she said, "Regarding the letter, regarding you, they are just Her Majesty's guesses. I came to Nagano today just to confirm some of Her Majesty's guesses... Mr. Gu Changzhi left that letter, so there must be his arrangement. I will not interfere."

Hearing this, Gu Shen understood A’liuer's intention.

All of this was the Empress's "guess". Gu Changzhi left a letter, and that letter was on him… How did she guess this?

"Gu Nanfeng is the future head of the Gu family..."

Gu Shen rubbed his brow.

He smiled bitterly and said, "If Her Majesty wants to find the letter, she should look for him."

"Cn021…"

A’liuer gently said the name that Gu Nanfeng was more well-known by in the Northern Continent.

"Her Majesty understands him. He's not someone who can keep a secret." She smiled and looked at Gu Shen, "So the probability of Cn021 can basically be ruled out... What's more, he wasn't in the cemetery, was he?"

Gu Shen narrowed his eyes upon hearing this.

A’liuer's words... actually had a deeper meaning.

That was that what Gu Changzhi left behind was more than just a letter.

The Northern Continent Empress's was just one of them.

Therefore, what Gu Changzhi was looking for was not just a "messenger", but also someone trustworthy and capable of guarding the "secret".

"Don't be nervous."

A’liuer said sincerely, "I have no intention of testing... only that under the premise that the 'letter' exists, the existence of the 'secret' must also be established."

"The existence of these 'secrets' is not much of a 'secret'."

Gu Shen picked up his teacup, lowered his eyes and smiled, and asked softly, "Besides... with Her Majesty's wisdom, she must be able to guess some of the so-called secrets, right?"

The two of them had talked to this point.

Gu Shen vaguely felt... the mental restraints on his forehead slowly spreading.

That was Bai Shu releasing his mental suppression on him.

What did this mean?

Gu Shen understood almost instantly.

Bai Shu released the restrictions on his mental power, which meant that there was enough information in this conversation to test, and Bai Shu was interested in this information.

Gu Shen's Blazing Flame silently ignited.

He looked at A’liuer.

Regarding the previous remarks... A’liuer just smiled and didn't comment.

Gu Shen then captured a clear mental fluctuation.

Obviously, A’liuer had limited information.

It was also possible that the Empress hadn't given too many instructions… But no matter how "wise" that Northern Continent Empress was, she couldn't possibly predict everything in the world, right?

Gu Shen adjusted his sitting posture and asked, "You've traveled thousands of miles to Nagano, it can't just be for this one thing, right?"

It wasn't worth such a "big fuss" just to confirm that Gu Changzhi had left a letter.

This was an [Apostle], the hand and foot of God!

If the Empress was so sure... she could just sit and wait.

"Of course…"

A’liuer also took a sip of tea.

"Not."

She spoke solemnly, her expression gradually敛, and said word by word, "Little Gu, you should have received the news about the Investigation Corps north of Guba, right?"

"…Yeah." Gu Shen nodded slowly.

"This matter is not that simple."

A’liuer said seriously, "Her Majesty hopes that you can personally go to the Northern Continent... to investigate this mystery thoroughly."

"Me…?"

From the beginning, Gu Shen felt strange.

The Northern Continent military's "request" seemed to be deliberately trying to get in touch with him.

And now, even the [Apostle] had come to visit, hoping that he would go to the fortress in the north.

"Because of some 'unspeakable' reasons, Her Majesty's current state is not very good…"

A’liuer bit her lip, she looked at the ceiling, and then looked around.

In the end, she very helplessly said these words...

This was the reason why A’liuer insisted on using special means.

Unfortunately, these words could hide from [Deep Sea], but not from the ever-present Douzhan God within the Snow Forbidden City.

Gu Shen narrowed his eyes.

This was a God…

What on earth had she encountered that would make the [Apostle] say that she was in poor condition?

The Northern Continent Empress's current situation must be worse than A’liuer said.

Almost instantly, Gu Shen thought of the "Piyue City Fortress" incident a year ago. The appearance of that super-large Disaster, the Northern Continent military handled it very quickly.

At that time, the Duke of Zhuxue was fully responsible for the planning, and quickly arranged for the General of Xiugu to station there, and evacuated the garrison forces in Piyue City, and retreated. Everyone cooperated to defend the project, and took a "tolerant" attitude towards the rapid expansion of this Disaster.

At that time, everyone thought.

This tolerance was purely an exploration of the hope of the "oasis".

The Empress, and the entire Northern Continent military, were willing to believe in the sacrifice of the Grand Judge and the Heavenly Eye... and were also willing to invest chips in this gamble.

But now, connecting with the news revealed by A’liuer.

Gu Shen sensed a different meaning.

Perhaps... the matter of the Empress being in "poor condition" did not appear this year.

It was very likely that a year ago, she was already unable to easily handle that super-large Disaster. At that time, the entire Northern Continent was undergoing a major cleansing, rectification... Once this news was exposed, it would undoubtedly be a "disaster" that would make things worse for the Northern Continent.

After saying this news.

A’liuer no longer hid anything.

She came here to seek help.

A’liuer said in a deep voice, "A few days ago, Her Majesty saw the 'guidance of fate'..."

"Guidance of… fate?"

"In the near future, the Northern Continent Fortress may usher in an impact." A’liuer said calmly, "And the key factor to alleviate this crisis is in the Eastern Continent, Nagano, Qingzhong Cemetery."

This was almost naming names.

Qingzhong Cemetery, Master Qianye passed away, leaving only him alone.

And the group who went to Piyue City Fortress were also his teacher, senior brother, and senior sister.

"Her Majesty can see the guidance of fate... is this the power of the Fire Seed? It's just that the so-called guidance is too vague?"

Gu Shen asked thoughtfully, "Is this a technique similar to 'divination'?"

"Not…"

A’liuer shook her head and said, "Although it also has an element of 'foresight', Her Majesty's 'guidance' is not the same as divination. She can see the ever-changing, endless possibilities, and most importantly... she doesn't have to pay a price."

She was silent for a moment.

"As for whether this is the power of the Fire Seed, I don't know... I only know that this is a 'technique' created by Her Majesty herself, and it has existed for a long time."

Speaking of this, A’liuer lightly extended a sentence, "I guess Her Majesty created this technique, perhaps inspired by the gravekeeper of Qingzhong Cemetery..."

Master Qianye was the inheritor of divination... Everyone yearned for the power of foresight of this technique.

However.

What people yearned for more was the relationship between Qianye and Gu Changzhi, who depended on each other for life and death.

Gu Shen was a little amazed... That Empress was indeed amazingly talented. She had actually created a method comparable to "divination"?

"I think you won't refuse the invitation to go north."

A’liuer looked at Gu Shen sincerely and said, "Your teacher, senior brother, and senior sister all disappeared in Piyue City Fortress. It's been a year, and the news about them and the 'oasis' is all gone... This investigation to the north may reveal new clues."

…

…

The Source Energy Boat was parked outside the northern border of Nagano.

Gu Shen and A’liuer stood on a desolate hill, watching the Source Energy Airship slowly sweep over. This was the first time Gu Shen had come into such close contact with this "big thing".

The Northern Continent invested a lot of money every year to develop "Source Energy", which was a mature energy technology.

Transcendent Source Matter could be captured and utilized... This was not something "new".

Nagano built [Qingzhong].

Central Continent had [Source Tower].

There were several other [Places of Miracles] like these... And the most important creation for the Northern Continent was the new generation of [Source Energy].

Using strong logical materials to trap the Transcendent Source Matter, and using specific ancient characters to outline the array patterns to "disassemble" the Transcendent Source Matter, this technology had already been born.

Many years ago, while exploring transcendent abilities, humans also began to explore the utilization of transcendent source matter.

However, the road to exploring [Source Energy] was exceptionally rough and rugged.

Until the appearance of Alan Turing, this genius scientist made a major breakthrough in the field of "strong logical materials" when he was young, which greatly advanced "Source Energy"... At that time, humans were only fantasizing about this terrible power. They never imagined that in just a few years, [Deep Sea] was born and optimized the algorithm in an unprecedented way, so that the efficiency of [Source Energy] was increased dozens of times.

The new generation of ancient text links could drive source matter to produce huge kinetic energy, and the combustion efficiency of this link equation was extremely considerable.

Most importantly, it was stable.

The map of the Northern Continent was extremely vast and exceptionally cold. A long time ago, the military's treks were extremely difficult, but now it had greatly changed... [Source Energy] brought unprecedented light to the Northern Continent.

There was a huge "Source Energy Furnace" under Central City, which was absorbing "Transcendent Source Matter" every moment, to supply the burning of Source Energy in a land of thousands of miles.

And the Source Energy Airship was born because of this... No one knew why the [Deep Sea] research team finally gave such a retro structural design, but the boat-type structure was indeed the most harmonious flight framework with the "Source Energy Reactor".

On the top of the hill, a huge shadow slowly landed.

The Airship, which looked ethereal like a bird in the clouds, was like a big whale when it really fell.

Gu Shen looked at the airship that almost covered the entire hilltop, and his expression was a little complicated.

"Because it hasn't been 'authorized', the Source Energy Boat can't land at will..."

A’liuer said apologetically, "So I can't pick you up on the boat in Nagano."

"I know."

Gu Shen smiled.

When A’liuer arrived in Nagano, there were some misunderstandings. Bai Chen and the prison officials responsible for monitoring the "Wind Eye" anomaly had reported the [Deep Sea].

And Chu Ling could see those files.

In addition... the prison authorities also specifically greeted him.

After all, an [Apostle] entering the Snow Forbidden City, the first thing she did was go straight to Gu Shen's place, which was really worrying.

Having just experienced the pain of the cemetery, the nerves of the Three Orders and Five Great Families were very tense, fearing that the Empress's apostle would do something unfavorable.

Today's Gu Shen was not only the disciple of the Grand Judge.

In a sense, he was also the flag of the Eastern Continent, a landmark figure.

"Is this the first time you've seen this thing?"

A strong wind swept through, blowing the withered grass on the hilltop.

A’liuer took off her felt hat, her long hair was blown by the wind, and she looked at Gu Shen with a smile. Unsurprisingly, she saw the amazement and emotion in Gu Shen's eyes, so she asked with a smile.

"It's the first time I've seen it."

Gu Shen murmured, "If I remember correctly... this old-fashioned airship seems to be a product that was popular three hundred years ago?"

"This world is advancing, but it is also retreating."

A’liuer smiled and said, "Although old things have been eliminated, they are still very useful when you actually use them... The number of [Source Energy Boats] is actually not large, and only strong people at the level of deputy person-in-charge of the fortress can mobilize it. At present, this thing is only produced in large quantities in the Northern Continent, and is not sold to other continents."

Gu Shen nodded lightly.

He thought of the mysterious "073" in the Ancient Text Society.

If he remembered correctly... during the material transaction in Qingzhong Cemetery, "073" personally drove a Source Energy Boat to meet with Dadu, but he also heard Lu Nanzhi about that meeting.

"073" didn't even show his shadow.

The Source Energy Boat only paused slightly on the hilltop at the transaction location, suspended above the clouds. After throwing out the transaction items, it leisurely drove away. For "073", it was just a walk outside... However, the driving force of [Source Energy] was indeed powerful. The speed of that transaction was extremely fast. If you calculated carefully, "073" only took a few hours to cross the two continents.

"You just said... you need to be a deputy person-in-charge of the fortress to mobilize [Source Energy Boats]?"

Gu Shen asked curiously.

"Yes... the Northern Continent has a very unique rule of survival."

A’liuer looked at Gu Shen and said seriously, "The bigger the fist, the bigger the responsibility. The greater the contribution, the higher the position. It's not difficult to drive [Source Energy Boats], but the management of these energies is exceptionally strict... Usually, those who have the right to drive are the person-in-charge of the fortress, the deputy person-in-charge, and other people have no right to control [Source Energy Boats]."

Gu Shen narrowed his eyes and asked, "So, each [Source Energy Boat] has a corresponding number and travel record?"

"Of course."

A’liuer smiled, "Without the permission of Central City, it is impossible for the [Source Energy Boat] to leave the Northern Continent without authorization."