Ch. 1448 - Radiant As Eternity, Dragon Lord

The light in Shangguan Xian’s hand was even brighter than the man’s before her, blinding, like a small sun.

Brilliant rays burst out in every direction, illuminating the entire area around the Paradise Tower.

“My eyes!” someone cried out, covering their face.

“This young lady is remarkable. She may enter the Paradise Tower freely,” the maid said with a smile. His tone toward Shangguan Xian was clearly much warmer now.

“What’s going on?” someone in the crowd asked.

“You think just lighting the jade stone is enough?” the maid explained. “That’s only the first step. The stronger the light, the greater the person’s talent.”

“I see,” someone nodded in understanding, while others looked miserable, some couldn’t even get the stone to flicker, let alone shine.

More and more people lined up to try their luck. Meanwhile, Shangguan Xian walked back toward Xu Zimo.

“How was it?” Xu Zimo asked.

“There’s a power inside that seems to scan my body,” she said. “But it doesn’t feel hostile.”

“So it’s basically a talent-testing stone,” Xu Zimo nodded.

“This lady, how should I address you?” someone nearby said, clearly trying to get close to her.

Shangguan Xian smiled faintly but ignored him.

“Miss, let’s get acquainted. I’m the young master of the Zhu Clan. My family has some influence in Ocean Sage City,” the man persisted.

“Alright, enough,” Xu Zimo said, waving dismissively. “You’re just making yourself look like a simp.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” the man snapped. “I’m talking to this lady, what business is it of yours?”

Before his words had even faded, his body was suddenly hurled backward as if struck by an invisible hammer. He crashed to the ground, heavily wounded and unable to move.

He probably never expected Xu Zimo to strike without hesitation, and almost kill him in a single blow.

The entire crowd froze in shock.

When Xu Zimo stepped forward to touch the jade stone, no one dared to compete with him. In fact, people hurried to step aside.

As he placed his hand on the stone, everyone held their breath, some out of curiosity, others hoping to see him fail.

At first, nothing happened.

“I thought he was supposed to be powerful,” someone muttered smugly. “Looks like he’s no different from the rest of us, just another talentless fool.”

But a moment later, it seemed as if even the jade stone itself needed time to process what it had just sensed.

Then, suddenly, a burst of overwhelming light exploded from its surface, so bright that no one could look directly at it.

The radiance was even more brilliant than the sun in the sky.

Xu Zimo chuckled softly.

On the jade’s smooth surface, cracks began to form, fine at first, then widening, deepening, spreading until they couldn’t be contained.

With a loud crack, the white jade shattered into countless pieces.

The crowd stood stunned.

“How… how could that happen?” someone whispered.

Others stared at Xu Zimo in shock, realizing they were witnessing something extraordinary.

Even the maid’s expression changed. Swallowing hard, he forced a polite smile and said, “Honored guest, the Paradise Tower has sixteen floors. You may enter any of them freely. Whatever you desire, we will provide.”

“Your jade stone can’t handle much testing, can it?” Xu Zimo said lightly.

“In the eyes of a distinguished guest like you, of course it’s nothing,” the maid said quickly, still smiling.

“Let’s go in,” Xu Zimo said, waving for Shangguan Xian to follow him.

As soon as they stepped inside, the world seemed to change.

The tower contained its own vast, self-contained space, grand and magnificent.

Each of its sixteen floors was unique.

On the first level, there was a lake surrounded by towers, eternal spring blooming in the air, pleasant warmth filling every breeze.

Higher up, some levels were designed specifically for the Fire Tribe, filled with blazing heat and molten energy.

Xu Zimo and Shangguan Xian ascended all the way to the sixteenth floor, the very top of the Paradise Tower.

It was a mountain peak in itself.

Standing there, they could overlook the entire city of Ocean Sage. Every street, every structure stretched out below them. Even the martial arena for the tournament was clearly visible, as though it were right before their eyes.

This wasn’t a mere projection; the tower used spatial-folding techniques to bring distant scenes within sight.

“This Paradise Tower is quite something,” Xu Zimo said, smiling as he found a seat.

There were plenty of chairs, clearly prepared for spectators.

For a city as small as Ocean Sage, the sight was impressive indeed.

“I heard Paradise Tower isn’t just in Ocean Sage,” Shangguan Xian said with a laugh. “There are branches of it all across the Seven God Realms of the Inferno Crucible Heaven. The one we’re in now is probably just one of those branches.”

“You seem to know a lot,” Xu Zimo teased.

“When we came in, there was a wall covered with the tower’s history,” she said, amused. “Even if I didn’t want to know, I couldn’t help reading it.”

“It seems Dragon Lord hasn’t arrived yet,” Xu Zimo said. “Let’s rest a bit.”

The two sat down, watching the tournament below as it roared with excitement.

Combatants had already taken to the stage, weapons flashing and cheers rising like waves.

From his elevated vantage point, Xu Zimo watched quietly.

The bustling scene below looked almost poetic in its chaos, a reflection of the world’s countless lives.

Every person had their own desires, their own definition of contentment.

Some might envy him, a Saint Sovereign, a being who stood above the world. But from where he stood, high above the mortal dust, he could see that the simple joys of ordinary life had their own quiet beauty.

Still, there were things far beyond his power to step away from now.

He shook his head with a faint smile.

Just then, Shangguan Xian tugged gently at his sleeve, signaling that someone was approaching.

Xu Zimo looked up.

Led by an maid from the tower, a group of people with an unmistakable air of authority entered.

Their presence alone was enough to draw attention; the aura surrounding them was powerful and disciplined.

At the center walked a man with a straight back and firm stride, each step exuding confidence and strength. The others moved around him respectfully, clearly treating him as their leader.

“That must be Dragon Lord, the City Lord?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Looks like it,” Shangguan Xian nodded. “Are you going to greet him?”

“No need,” Xu Zimo said with a smile. “I’d rather wait for him to greet me.”

Shangguan Xian chuckled. “He doesn’t even know who you are. Why would he come over to you?”

“Just wait,” Xu Zimo said, his gaze following the group. “By the way, where’s Violet Mist Saint Sovereign? I don’t see him.”

“He’s probably behind them,” Shangguan Xian replied. “A marriage tournament like this probably doesn’t interest someone of his level.”

Dragon Lord and his entourage took seats not far away, discussing something among themselves.

Xu Zimo didn’t interrupt. He simply leaned back, watching quietly as the day unfolded.

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