Ch. 1447 - Tournament for Marriage, The Eight Immortals

Shangguan Xian nodded slightly, and the two of them followed the crowd toward the bustling square ahead.

“This is the only daughter of Dragon Lord, the City Lord, holding a martial tournament to choose her husband! I wonder who’ll win the title,” someone said excitedly.

“I heard the young elites of the Wang, Lu, and Zhuo Imperial Clans have all been preparing for this for a long time,” another added.

“Wait, isn’t that Wang Imperial Clan guy more than ten years older than the City Lord’s daughter? Why’s he even taking part?”

“You don’t get it,” a man nearby chuckled. “Who knows, maybe she likes older men. Either way, whoever becomes Dragon Lord’s son-in-law will have a high seat indeed.”

“I also heard that the Dragon Princess has become the disciple of a Saint Sovereign,” someone whispered.

“That’s right. She’s the very first Saint Sovereign of Ocean Sage City! With a Saint Sovereign here, we’ll never have to fear the Water Beasts again,” another said in relief.

“In strategy, we have Dragon Lord,” someone reasoned. “In strength, we now have a Saint Sovereign. It’s a blessing we came to Ocean Sage City. If you ask me, the surrounding cities are all doomed, but our Ocean Sage City will only grow stronger.”

The chatter filled the air, gossip about the tournament, the city’s rise and fall, and even the fate of the realm. These onlookers really thought of themselves as patriots.

But Xu Zimo knew. If a real disaster struck, if the Water Beasts attacked again, these same people would be the first to run.

“Go ask around and see what’s going on,” Xu Zimo said to Shangguan Xian.

“Why don’t you ask yourself?” she replied.

“You’re prettier,” he said with a grin. “They’ll talk to you more willingly. It’s called using your charms.”

“That joke isn’t funny,” Shangguan Xian said, rolling her eyes, but she still went.

After chatting with a few locals, she came back and said, “It’s simple. The City Lord’s daughter is hosting her tournament for marriage today. Everyone’s gathered to watch.”

“A tournament for marriage, huh?” Xu Zimo said, sounding less than enthusiastic.

“What? You don’t want to be the City Lord’s son-in-law?” Shangguan Xian teased. Then, changing the subject, she added, “Oh, by the way, there’s a teleportation formation inside Ocean Sage City. It can take you straight to the core of the Inferno Crucible Heaven.”

“Ocean Sage City itself lies within the Inferno Crucible Heaven, so the teleportation network here covers an enormous range, almost anywhere within the domain.”

“That’s perfect,” Xu Zimo said. “I just wonder how much Ocean Sage City actually knows about what’s happening in the Inferno Crucible Heaven right now.”

“What are you planning?” Shangguan Xian asked.

“I want to find the source of the Water Beasts,” Xu Zimo explained. “If I can find their origin, the rest will be easy. What worries me is not being able to locate it, because killing an endless swarm of beasts won’t solve anything.”

The Inferno Crucible Heaven was vast beyond measure. If those fake blue-skinned beings chose to hide, finding them without special means would be nearly impossible.

That made Xu Zimo think of Blade Tyrant. The man must’ve had a way to find the blue men, how else had he captured so many? Too bad he was dead now.

Xu Zimo decided he needed to meet Dragon Lord himself.

“Do you know how I can see the City Lord?” he asked.

“I already asked,” Shangguan Xian said with a smile. “When the tournament begins, Dragon Lord will personally appear to test the candidates. After all, to become his son-in-law, you have to pass his test.”

“Then let’s find somewhere to sit,” Xu Zimo said.

“Let’s go to the Paradise Tower,” Shangguan Xian said, pointing toward a tower in the distance. “They say when the tournament starts, both Dragon Lord and the Violet Mist Saint Sovereign will be there.”

“Huh? What did you say?” Xu Zimo asked, startled.

“Dragon Lord,” Shangguan Xian replied, puzzled.

“Dragon Lord and who?” he asked again.

“Violet Mist Saint Sovereign,” she said, smiling. “I forgot to mention, Violet Mist Saint Sovereign is Ocean Sage City’s only Saint Sovereign. He arrived here not long ago, invited personally by the City Lord, and may stay for a while.

“Ocean Sage City is strong, but Dragon Lord himself is only at the Grand Emperor realm. With Violet Mist Saint Sovereign’s arrival, the city’s fame has skyrocketed. People even speak of the two in the same breath now.”

“If they knew you were also a Saint Sovereign,” she added playfully, “they’d probably be thrilled to meet you.”

“Violet Mist Saint Sovereign,” Xu Zimo repeated with a quiet smile. “So fate really does bring people together.”

When he’d left Godfiend Abyss Heaven, unstable teleportation had scattered him, Violet Mist Saint Sovereign, and Moonlight Fairy to different locations. Back then, both had sworn to follow him.

And now, to think they would meet again here, it amused him greatly.

“This meeting is getting more and more interesting,” Xu Zimo said with a grin.

“What are you smiling about?” Shangguan Xian asked curiously.

“Nothing,” Xu Zimo waved it off.

They made their way toward the Paradise Tower.

The structure stood tall, bathed in soft mist, as if surrounded by celestial clouds.

Outside the tower stood a statue of eight immortals, each carved with distinct expressions, their presence filling the air with a faint, divine fragrance.

Paradise Tower had sixteen stories, each decorated differently, each more refined than the last.

But when the two tried to enter, they were stopped at the door.

“My apologies, sirs,” said the maid politely. “Today the Paradise Tower isn’t open to just anyone. Too many people want to see the City Lord because of the tournament, so we had to set some rules.”

Xu Zimo and Shangguan Xian weren’t the only ones waiting; a crowd of would-be visitors gathered at the entrance.

“What rules? Spit it out!” someone shouted impatiently.

The maid smiled and pointed at the statues. “You see those eight immortals at the gate? They are the ancestors of our Paradise Tower. Only those who are acknowledged by the Eight Immortals may enter.”

“How do we earn that acknowledgment?” another person asked.

“Do you see that stone beside the statues?” the maid said. “Place your hand upon it. If the stone glows, you’ve been recognized. If not, you’re denied.”

People immediately rushed to try it. The stone was made of flawless white jade, smooth and pure, without a single blemish or crack.

One man pressed his hand against it, but nothing happened.

“Next,” the maid said simply.

One after another, more than a dozen people tried, but none succeeded.

Just as the crowd began muttering that the maid was probably scamming them, the white jade suddenly lit up. A gentle radiance poured from it like a lantern’s glow.

Everyone froze in surprise.

“You try,” Xu Zimo said to Shangguan Xian.

She nodded and stepped forward, placing her hand on the stone.

A low hum filled the air, Wong!, and the light grew even brighter.

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