Chapter 132 "Just consider it my loss."

Those light words drifted over the snowfield.

"I don't care about the result. Winning or losing doesn't matter to me. I have no obsession with the battle from back then. The reason I took action was just to know how strong your true power really is..."

Bai Xiu slowly said, "This is proof that I'm interested in the 'Godslayer' project. I want to know how far mortals can grow. After breaking through the twelfth layer, I've lost my point of reference."

Indeed.

Bai Xiu... had already broken through the twelfth layer of the Deep Sea. However, he hadn't applied to the Federal Government for a title. The news of his breakthrough was currently being hidden by the Bai Clan.

After breaking through the twelfth layer, Bai Xiu encountered a bottleneck in his cultivation for the first time.

Not long ago, he returned to Nagano and revisited his old Xue Jin City residence. To verify the results of his cultivation, he chose to challenge the titled experts in the Bai Clan's main hall.

Both battles ended cleanly and decisively.

First, he defeated the current head of the family, Bai Xiaochi, and then he defeated his older brother, Bai Chen.

Back then, Gu Nanfeng broke through the twelfth layer of the Deep Sea at the age of twenty-nine, becoming the youngest titled expert in East洲.

And Bai Xiu completed all of this before he was even twenty-eight years old.

He had already reached the end that most mortals could never reach in their entire lives – the extreme! But he was different from Gu Nanfeng in one respect: he didn't have the heavy responsibility of a family on his shoulders. The Bai Clan wasn't like the Gu Family of back then, with its old and new factions. Nor did they need Bai Xiu to be the pillar, sharing the family's worries.

So, after reaching the "end," Bai Xiu could still continue to study, continue to cultivate... continue to pursue "supreme power"!

"So you're using me as a 'reference point'?"

Hong Long smiled and said, "I'm truly honored... but perhaps you could choose someone else, because I'm not interested in cultivating to the end of mortality. After all, I'm not the one who will declare war on the Celestial Throne in the final plan."

"..."

"At times like this, I miss that guy who died in the Sang洲窟. How great would it be if Gu Shen were still alive?"

Hong Long said with emotion, "If Gu Shen were alive, he could help you continue to break through after he became a titled expert... If you want to achieve the ultimate in mortality, you need a powerful enough opponent. That person could be Gu Shen, or it could be someone else, but it definitely can't be me, because I don't have the desire to become 'supreme' from the bottom of my heart. I'm not qualified to be your reference point."

"If you really want to find a strong opponent, then go to North洲. You can challenge 'Rustbone.'"

Hong Long said with a smile, "Although you're very strong now, you'll probably taste defeat at Rustbone's hands. Fighting with this general... will bring you a new understanding, and maybe you'll discover the direction of your next breakthrough."

"Rustbone..."

Bai Xiu narrowed his eyes and silently repeated the name.

He knew that the three generals of the North洲 Legion were very strong, as was the commander of the Investigation Legion stationed in the pavilion... Even among titled experts, these four were top-tier existences!

They rarely took action.

But their power had long been deeply rooted in people's hearts.

Rumor had it that the reason why the three generals swept through the titled expert realm was because they had experienced the Fa Hong War. It was in that protracted and difficult war, bathed in blood and fire, that they ushered in a deeper transformation.

"Oh, right, there's something I need to tell you."

Hong Long leaned back against a large rock again. "Yun Hu and Xuan Gui of the Source Tower have already fused with two layers of domains. Both of them are likely to become 'titled experts.'"

"Them... I'm not interested in that kind of titled expert."

Bai Xiu frowned slightly.

"Of course I know."

Hong Long said helplessly, "Even if those two guys break through, they're not strong enough for you to kill. Am I telling you this news so you can take action? Think carefully. If Yun Hu and Xuan Gui become titled experts, what will happen to the positions of the Four Divine Envoys?"

Bai Xiu said, "The Four Divine Envoys are going to be replaced?"

"Yes."

Hong Long smiled and said, "I shouldn't have stayed in the 'Red Dragon' position for so long. It's just that no one was qualified to stand up and take over before. If there are no accidents, the new 'Red Dragon' will be Gu Xiaoman. As for the other divine envoys, they will also be replaced. This time, when she returns to the Source Tower, she may take over the Divine Envoy order of the Red Dragon Divine Envoy."

"You're not going to be a divine envoy anymore?"

Bai Xiu was stunned and asked, "Then what will you do in the future..."

"Don't worry, I won't become an Apostle of the sky."

Hong Long said indifferently, "Before Gu Xiaoman is qualified to sit in the Red Dragon position, I will be her protector and guide. And when she truly becomes 'Red Dragon,' at that time, she will be qualified to come into contact with the Kindling of Wine. My mission will be considered complete by then."

The great cause of overturning Tian Shui will be launched at the moment when the Lord of Wine is born!

"Actually, I still don't understand."

Bai Xiu looked at Hong Long in confusion. "Why are you doing these things? Are there people who are born willing to be 'crown bearers'?"

"You don't understand, that's normal."

Hong Long smiled and said, "There are thousands of roads in this world, thousands of people. There are always people who will take some unusual paths... You just need to know that if this world needs a ray of light, then I am willing to become a burning firewood, even if only embers remain in the end, I will not hesitate."

...

...

"Be324 at your service."

A miniature airship slowly sailed in the sky above the sea. The virtual intelligent butler of Deep Sea extended a warm welcome, "Source Tower S-level permission holder, autopilot has been activated. There are six hours and thirty-two minutes to your destination, Lai茵 City... Would you like a hot coffee?"

"No, thank you."

The miniature airship wasn't big. There were only four seats, two in the front and two in the back. Gu Xiaoman sat in the driver's seat, closed her eyes, and didn't bother to pay attention to the intelligent butler.

"Modify destination. Upper City."

"Okay, I've modified the destination for you. The new route will take nine hours and four minutes. There are one hundred and forty-seven unread messages in your mailbox. Would you like..."

"Ignore."

Gu Xiaoman didn't need to look to know the general content of the information in the mailbox.

She looked back.

Clouds and mist swirled around, and she could only vaguely see the outline of the land, like a rooster.

East洲... That was the East洲 that Gu Shen spoke of.

Although she was born in the Sang洲窟, she didn't feel like that already-submerged island was her "home." Life in the Sang洲窟 was too cold and torturous, and she never wanted to go back.

Later, Gu Xiaoman went to the Source Tower, and Hong Long treated her well.

Food, clothing, housing, status, everything was available.

But in these five years, she didn't feel that the Source Tower was her home.

This time, she went out on her own to gain experience. She originally wanted to see what her dream home looked like... It was a pity that she didn't have the chance to step into the cities of East洲, and could only walk in the tundra.

Fortunately, she met Master Bai Xiu in the end, which wasn't a waste of the trip.

"Will I have the chance to go to Nagano one day?"

Gu Xiaoman's eyes were a little ethereal as she whispered softly.

The miniature airship sailed for nearly ten hours and finally arrived at Upper City. When Gu Xiaoman returned to the Source Tower, many transcendent beings had already gathered here... These people were all wearing the divine official robes issued by Upper City. The number of stars inlaid on them was generally one or two. The only thing these people had in common was that they were young.

None of them were over thirty years old.

"Excuse me... what is going on?"

Gu Xiaoman, who had been away from the Source Tower for a month and hadn't received any external information, was a little confused.

After all, she hadn't read any of the emails in her mailbox.

She stood in the crowd and randomly asked a transcendent being.

"Little girl, you don't even know this? Upper City is holding a new selection for the Four Divine Envoys' Trial..."

The youth that Gu Xiaoman grabbed had a mature face. The latter's eyes were a little strange. "The news of the Divine Envoy Trial has been out for more than twenty days. Do you not have internet in your village?"

More than twenty days?

The selection started as soon as she left. Gu Xiaoman thought thoughtfully and smiled to herself. No wonder she didn't know, it turned out that she had perfectly missed it.

The new Four Divine Envoys were going to be replaced...

Gu Xiaoman sighed in her heart.

But thinking about it carefully, it was indeed time.

After all, Hong Long, who was teaching her, was now in her thirties.

She had joked to Hong Long two years ago that it was time for her to abdicate and give way to someone else. However, Hong Long didn't say a word to her about such a big event as the Divine Envoy Trial, even though it had been going on for more than twenty days.

The Source Tower's Four Divine Envoys are replaced every fifteen to twenty years.

Everyone who is qualified to sit in this position in each generation must be a leader among the younger generation!

This is a selection that is open to the whole world.

The cities and districts of 中洲 will recommend local geniuses to 上城. In addition, all participants, regardless of their origin, will be given a free Tower Trial by the Source Tower.

This "benefit" will even attract some geniuses from other continents to 上洲 specifically to experience the spiritual brilliance that the two gods bestow upon mortals.

"Sorry, I really just got internet."

Gu Xiaoman asked curiously, "So the Divine Envoy Trial is over? Are you all waiting here for the results?"

She saw that these young transcendent beings were quite strong. They were already at the sixth layer of the Deep Sea at the age of twenty-something. For the quasi-third-order transcendent beings at the sixth layer of the Deep Sea, the Source Tower would exceptionally issue the Star Envoy Robes. However, it would probably take more than that to become a Divine Envoy.

"It's not over yet, but it's almost over."

The youth said with emotion, "Judging by your age, it should be your first time in 上城. Do you see the screen over there? The dream scenes of each trial participant will be stored by the Source Tower."

Gu Xiaoman didn't explain, just smiled. It was rare to meet a kind-hearted person, and she cooperated and looked at the screen not far away.

On one side of the square in front of the Source Tower, you can watch the dreams of each trial participant.

The people gathered here were watching the "strong ones."

"Like us, who come from the Source Tower, we just want to experience the taste of being in the brilliance of the two gods." The youth smiled self-deprecatingly. "The Double Divine Dream Trial is too difficult. I only got to the fourth layer... If you want to become a Divine Envoy candidate, you have to get to at least the eighth layer."

Gu Xiaoman glanced at the screen. She didn't have the patience to watch the trial dreams, so she asked, "Are there any confirmed candidates now?"

"This replacement of Divine Envoys only involves three people."

The youth patiently explained, "After all, the new Vermillion Bird Divine Envoy only took office three or four years ago... Lord Red Dragon, as the head of the Divine Envoys, has a very high vision. There is no one currently selected, but I heard that Lord Yun Hu and Lord Xuan Gui have already confirmed candidates."

"Oh?"

Gu Xiaoman asked, "Who is it?"

"Lord Xuan Gui is interested in Sidar from Lai茵 City. Lord Yun Hu is interested in an unknown woman from East洲. It is said that both of them have completed the trial of the eight layers of the spiritual dream." The youth subconsciously replied, and then asked suspiciously, "I'm not saying, little girl, why are you asking so carefully? You're not here to participate in this selection, are you?"

He re-examined the hooded girl in front of him. No matter how he looked at it, she looked like she was eleven or twelve years old.

"No, no, no..."

Gu Xiaoman shook her head quickly and said, "Don't misunderstand, I'm not interested in things like the Divine Envoy Trial."

The youth smiled dumbfounded, shook his head, and was really just talking nonsense... What did she mean by not being interested in the Divine Envoy Trial?

This little girl was still too young. She would know after she grew up a few years. The Source Tower's Four Divine Envoys were a position that countless people dreamed of but could not reach!

"Thank you for your explanation. I have no more questions... Please let me through."

Gu Xiaoman said politely, "There are a lot of people, and the entrance is blocked... Can you move a little?"

The youth was stunned.

"Let me through, let me through."

Gu Xiaoman squeezed forward. Her tone was gentle, but her voice contained a gentle spirit. After hearing this, the crowd made way for her, and then looked at the little girl who was just over ten years old with puzzled eyes.

Finally, under the gaze of dozens of people, Gu Xiaoman came to the entrance of the Source Tower.

There was a mechanical giant gate carved with wheat flowers, shrouded in purple light. It was said that the purple light was an array pattern personally set by the Lord of the God of Wine!

There are two ways to enter the Source Tower, either you get "special permission."

The person who steps in will be directly taken away by the array pattern.

For example, the transcendent beings who participate in the Divine Envoy Trial this time will be directly transferred by the brilliance as long as they meet the qualifications.

But if you don't have the blessing of the brilliance of the two gods, you need extremely high identity permissions to verify if you want to step into the Source Tower.

The little girl in the cloak stood in front of the mechanical door. Countless purple lights did not have a repulsive reaction to her. Instead, they were extremely gentle like a light veil, brushing back and forth on her body.

Gu Xiaoman was a little helpless.

After being selected in advance by the "Kindling of Wine," these light array patterns born from the power of the Kindling completely opened the door to her.

However, she did not use this force of her own array patterns to "pull strings."

"Open the door."

Gu Xiaoman stretched out her palm and pressed it directly on the door, speaking calmly as if she was back in her own home.

As soon as she finished speaking.

"... Rumble!"

The mechanical gate of the Source Tower completed authentication and slowly opened.

Looking at the little girl who pushed the door in.

The crowd watching the Divine Envoy Trial was silent.

...

...

(Third update! Asking for monthly tickets!)