Chapter 234: Feather of Spirit
Chapter 234: Feather of Spirit
“We’re in big trouble this time!”
Zhiqi looked utterly miserable, like a whipped dog, completely deflated.
The Alliance Branches between the Abyss Cities could communicate using special Totemic Runes array plates to exchange messages.
Apart from Gao Jing and Ling Ling, a few other lucky Adventurers had also narrowly escaped the disaster.
But they went to Iron Furnace Abyssal City, which was closer and possessed greater strength.
By now, several Abyss Cities, including ours, had received the news and urgently sealed the Underground Passageways.
To prevent the Undead from flooding in.
But this completely cut off travel between Abyss Cities and forced the halt of all resource exchanges.
The losses would be terribly severe.
Many Adventurers, together with personnel from Iron Furnace Abyssal City and the Yuancheng Alliance, were trapped near Senluo Ruins City. There was basically no chance they’d be found alive. Compensation for that alone would be a huge sum.
As one of the seven stewards of Blackwater City and a senior member of the Yuancheng Alliance’s Blackwater Branch, Zhiqi inevitably felt troubled.
Gao Jing couldn’t help asking, “What do we do next?”
There was nothing to be done.
The Undead Calamity was an extremely rare event, happening only once every few decades or even a century. No one expected Senluo Ruins City to conceal so many Undead.
This time, they’d definitely poked a hornet’s nest.
The cost required to quell an Undead Calamity with manpower would be far too great for the major Abyss Cities to bear.
The only option was to seal off all passages and strictly guard against Undead like Skeleton Beetles invading.
And then await the calamity’s end.
As for how long that would take, no one knew.
Based on past events, an Undead Calamity could last from ten days to half a month, or even stretch to six months or a year. Even after it ended, lingering Undead would require cleanup.
Foreseeably, Senluo Ruins City would become a forbidden zone, with the Alliance ceasing large-scale exploration missions there.
Otherwise, if another Undead Calamity hit, no one could handle it.
Just repairing the Underground Passageways would cost a staggering amount!
Gao Jing felt deeply disappointed.
He had originally planned to use Senluo Ruins City like a “leveling” map, striving to rush into the Great Totem Warrior rank.
Looks like that plan would need shelving.
“Your Honor Gao Jing.”
Zhiqi asked sincerely, “Would you perhaps be interested in taking a position here in Blackwater City?”
Gao Jing was of unusual origin and possessed formidable strength. Most importantly, he could bring enormous wealth.
Zhiqi had long wanted to recruit him and seized this chance to probe.
If Gao Jing were willing, adding another steward to the Steward Hall was certainly negotiable!
Work in Blackwater City?
Gao Jing froze for a moment before shaking his head. “Thank you, but no. I have no such plans for now.”
For Gao Jing now, Shan Yue Village, Qinghe City, and the Blackwater Underground City were merely stepping stones toward a Greater World. He was destined not to linger long in any such place.
He certainly wouldn’t add constraints and obstacles to himself.
Zhiqi wasn’t surprised. “No problem. Should such a thought arise, you can tell me anytime.”
“Thank you.”
Gao Jing stirred suddenly. “Your Honor Zhiqi, do you know of the Godforge Society?”
He’d killed a member of the Godforge Society and acquired a villa in the Upper District.
Though Gao Jing could stay in the villa openly using the property token, lacking proper ownership made it a constant hidden danger.
Now he wondered if this problem could be resolved.
This plump man before him was one of the most powerful figures in Blackwater City.
Outwardly calm while asking, Gao Jing silently kept his full focus on Zhiqi’s expression.
“The Godforge Society?”
Zhiqi was stunned. “You’ve run afoul of that group of crazies?”
“No.”
Gao Jing quickly thought on his feet, smiling slightly. “Just heard about them in passing.”
One should always be wary; caution never hurt. Though his relationship with Zhiqi was good and it seemed unlikely Zhiqi was involved with the Godforge Society, Gao Jing suppressed the idea forming inside him.
“Unless unavoidable, steer clear of them and don’t get entangled.”
Zhiqi warned gravely. “Not one of those people is normal! Hanging them all wouldn’t harm an innocent soul!”
“Hmm.”
Gao Jing nodded. “Understood.”
Though he hadn’t told Zhiqi the truth,
Zhiqi’s words and expressions revealed how the upper echelons of the Abyss Dwellers viewed the Godforge Society.
That gave Gao Jing some relief.
Because he knew Zhiqi, having such an important figure vouch for him meant Gao Jing faced no hassle from the Yuancheng Alliance. He left smoothly with Ling Ling.
Stepping out of the branch hall, Gao Jing said to the archer girl, “I’m returning to the surface.”
Ling Ling bit her lip. “Will you return?”
“Definitely.”
Gao Jing grinned. “We’ll meet again.”
“Wait.”
Ling Ling took a feather from her waist pouch and handed it to him. “Have this.”
Gao Jing took it, curious. “What is it?”
The feather was about seven or eight centimeters long. Pure white and flawless, only a soft crimson hue tipped its point.
Very much like a goose feather – delicate and beautiful.
“This is a Feather of Spirit.”
Ling Ling’s face flushed pink. Softly, she explained, “It fell from a spirit hawk. Hold it and… if you call my name quietly in your heart… as long as we aren’t too far apart, I can feel it. I can find you.”
She didn’t tell Gao Jing that a spirit hawk had only one such Feather of Spirit. And only the feathers from spirit hawks paired as mates held such effects!
Moreover, when a girl gave a paired feather to a young man, it signified…
Actually, I could just give you a walkie-talkie.
Gao Jing thought silently. For communication, it would surely be far more convenient than this feather.
Just charging it might be a bother.
He had no inkling of the deeper meaning the Feather of Spirit held!
But in the end, Gao Jing accepted the archer girl’s heartfelt gift. He took the Feather of Spirit and returned to Qinghe City.
The feeling of returning above ground was truly worlds apart from being below.
For Blackwater City and the other Abyss Cities, the Undead Calamity erupting from Senluo Ruins City was a massive disaster. Yet such disaster held no effect for the Great Wilderness Giants dwelling above.
Qinghe City bustled with noise and activity.
After waiting a few days, Gao Jing saw the arrival of Shan Tai and the others.
Everyone reunited.
Shan Tai brought large quantities of already-sealed wine jars, hauled by Pack Beast carts, to visit Qing Lan’s parents.
To prevent complications, Gao Jing didn’t witness this proposal scene.
He only asked Shan Tai about the result upon his return to the inn.
Shan Tai’s answer stunned Gao Jing: “What? Are you kidding me?”