Chapter 133: Key of Fate
Chapter 133: Key of Fate
“It was here that I met you all,” Cheng Lingyu remarked.
Lan Xiaozhu smiled. “And we met you here as well.”
Caiyun spoke softly, “This is where your rise began. Remember that.”
Lan Xiaozhu added, “From Shiyang Town to Yunyang City and then Lou Ri City—all names tied to the sun. Fate binds you to the Tianyang Empire.”
Cheng Lingyu shrugged. In these lands, who could avoid ties to the empire?
The three soared into the air, flying westward. Lou Ri City lay at the empire’s western edge, perched atop Xiyun Divine Mountain. Its ancient legacy and prestige were unmatched.
The journey from Yunyang City spanned ten thousand miles. Neither Caiyun nor Lan Xiaozhu had traveled there before. To avoid straying off course, they used short-range teleportation arrays repeatedly.
By dusk, they reached Huoyun City, two thousand three hundred miles away, and settled in an inn. Huoyun City rivaled Yunyang in size, with a million inhabitants and countless cultivators.
“Let’s eat and gather news,” Cheng Lingyu suggested.
They wandered the streets until finding Hongyun Tower, a grand tavern. Seated on the third floor, they ate while eavesdropping on conversations.
“Lou Ri City’s disciple selection begins soon. So many experts have passed through Huoyun City these days.”
“Not just many—a flood! I’d have gone myself if my cultivation weren’t so weak.”
“They say tens of thousands will apply this time.”
Cheng Lingyu nearly choked. Tens of thousands?
“Try a hundred thousand! The Tianyang Empire is vast, and Lou Ri City—one of the Three Saints and Four Peerless—only recruits every five centuries. A once-in-a-lifetime chance.”
“Rumor says the requirements are lax. Anyone not from rival sects can join.”
“Not entirely. Applicants must be under twenty-five and at least Soul Martial Realm. Most hopefuls won’t qualify. After screenings, few will make the cut.”
“Enough speculation. Let’s discuss Huoyun City. Heard Drunken Lyric Tower has a new pianist—beautiful and skilled…”
“Old news! That’s Hong Xiu Tian Xiang from Yunyang City. She fled here after tensions rose there.”
Cheng Lingyu glanced at his companions. Their calm faces puzzled him. “You knew?”
Lan Xiaozhu nodded. “Among the four courts of piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting, Lady Ruyun of the Painting Court is from Shanhua Alliance. Lady Xiuling of the Calligraphy Court is local. Only Hong Xiu Tian Xiang and your Senior Sister were outsiders. After the Holy Emperor’s underground palace incident, the Chess Court declined. Then Hong Xiu Tian Xiang vanished… only to surface here.”
Caiyun added, “Her origins were always obscure. Easy to overlook someone so quiet.”
“Why isn’t she competing?” Cheng Lingyu pressed. “She’s Soul Martial Realm.”
“Perhaps,” Lan Xiaozhu mused, “something here interests her more.”
“Finish eating,” Caiyun urged. “We’ll explore later.”
As nightfall draped the city, lanterns flickered to life.
Caiyun, Cheng Lingyu, and Lan Xiaozhu left Hongyun Tower to explore Huoyun City.
The bustling city of a million residents came alive at night. The trio climbed the city walls to admire the nightscape, warm evening winds carrying lingering heat.
Outwardly, Huoyun City resembled Yunyang City in both size and architecture.
Caiyun remarked, “This city appears tranquil to the eye. Fetch The Source Pearl and check for anything unusual.”
Cheng Lingyu nodded, “Senior Sister Caiyun’s thoroughness shames my forgetfulness.”
Activating his Spirit Cloak Ring, neither Caiyun nor Lan Xiaozhu detected its presence despite their proximity. The mystical ring concealed all traces of itself and its contents.
As The Source Pearl materialized in Cheng Lingyu’s palm, its mineral Pattern erupted in violent pulsations, radiating prismatic light.
Lan Xiaozhu gasped at the spectacle while Caiyun calmly inquired, “Findings?”
Gazing across moonlit rooftops, Cheng Lingyu whispered, “Many treasures register, but the strongest signal comes from a flame – the Five-Color Celestial Cloud.”
“Five-Color Celestial Cloud?!” Caiyun’s composure shattered, eyes blazing.
Cheng Lingyu blinked, “Why such excitement?”
“This flame could propel me to Spirit Martial Realm!” Caiyun’s voice trembled. “Perhaps even Sacred Martial Realm eventually! Countless talented cultivators stall at Blood Martial Realm for lacking such fortune!”
Lan Xiaozhu interjected, “Legends call it an intelligent Strange Flame – notoriously elusive.”
“Not with The Source Pearl guiding us,” Cheng Lingyu grinned. “It’s beneath the city! Let’s dig it up!”
Caiyun regained her poise, shaking her head. “Patience. The Pearl detected other items first.”
“Why prioritize those?” Cheng Lingyu frowned.
Smiling cryptically, Caiyun led them down to Huoyun City’s ghost market.
Amid shadowy stalls peddling beast pills (both genuine and counterfeit), Cheng Lingyu noted The Source Pearl’s indifference. “It reacted to these on Green Island. Why not now?”
Caiyun chuckled, “The Pearl tailors its responses to your cultivation level. Beast pills became irrelevant after you reached Soul Martial Realm.”
Their search yielded two finds: a low-grade spiritual herb and an ancient seal dubbed Qian Kun Seal. After haggling, Cheng Lingyu pocketed the herb but gifted the seal to Caiyun despite her initial refusal.
That evening, they attended a minor auction where Cheng Lingyu secured an unremarkable copper key for 15,000 Tianyang Pills amidst crowd jeers.
Fastening the chain around Lan Xiaozhu’s neck, Cheng Lingyu announced, “A belated gift – the Key of Fate replica. Paired with your Celestial Cataclysm Divination…”
“Key of Fate?!” Lan Xiaozhu clutched the charm, mystical energy tingling through her jade hand. “The legend about altering destiny?!”
Caiyun’s eyebrows rose, “A mere replica holds such power?”
“Useless to most,” Cheng Lingyu confirmed. “But grasp this key and my hand – let’s locate our flame before dawn.” His confident smile mirrored moonlight on the city walls.