NOVEL NEXT Chapter 407: A City
"Fierce beast Suan Ni and an ancient godly phoenix…" Cheng Feng looked up at the sky, bewildered. He had never imagined that other people would appear in the Mandala Arena, and they seemed hostile towards him. Was it because Suan Ni disliked the Gloomy Wolf, so the beautiful girl intervened? Should he explain the situation?
Facing such a strange circumstance, Cheng Feng felt the need to clarify. "Hi, I am Cheng Feng, young lord of the Dark Palace. I mean no harm to you. Today is the day of my duel with the Divine Son of the River of Styx Sanctuary. No one else should interfere. Please refrain from intervening, or else the Dark Palace will…"
Before he could finish, a clear phoenix cry resonated through the heavens, followed by terrifying phoenix flames rushing towards him. The flames, containing immense power, were highly effective against the dark arts of the Dark Palace. Faced with such an attack, Cheng Feng had no choice but to flee.
Internally, he was in turmoil. The audacity to attack him without giving any face to the Dark Palace! Who was this girl, riding a fierce Suan Ni and accompanied by an ancient godly phoenix?
Boom! Gu Xiaoqi unleashed her strongest attack, forming a ring of phoenix flames that trapped Cheng Feng within. Over the past ten years, under Gu Lan's guidance, Gu Xiaoqi had mastered the phoenix fire to perfection. Within moments, Cheng Feng was engulfed by the flames and reduced to ashes, dying in confusion.
"Xiaoqi!" On the other side, a pale Zhe Liang was overjoyed. He looked at Gu Xiaoqi, his excitement evident, and then glanced hesitantly at the now fully grown Gu Simu. The faint aura of imperial dragon energy emanating from her reminded him of his lord and lady.
"This is Mumu, Gu Simu," Gu Xiaoqi introduced, noticing Zhe Liang's hesitation. "The lord's precious daughter. You held her when she was little." Hearing this name, Zhe Liang trembled and quickly bowed, saying, "Greetings, Princess Yong Le!" Internally, he was astonished.
Seeing Gu Simu, he had his suspicions, surprised by her strength. It was only now he realized that the lord's daughter had grown so powerful, capable of effortlessly killing a Gloomy Wolf. Such strength made her one of the top contenders even in the Underworld.
"Uncle Zhe Liang, no need for such formality. This isn't Jing Nation, and we don't have all those courtly ministers. You're also my father's disciple; just call me Mumu," Gu Simu said, half-jokingly, to ease the tension. "This should be the first time we've met since I can remember. Shouldn't Uncle Zhe Liang give me a meeting gift?"
Her playful remark instantly bridged the gap between her and Zhe Liang. While Gu Simu loved to play around, she never lacked propriety. In the palace, even the most critical ministers often praised Little Princess Yong Le.
Taking Gu Simu's words seriously, Zhe Liang began to ponder deeply on what gift to present. Over the years of cultivation in the Underworld, he had amassed many treasures and legacies, but these would be redundant for the lord's daughter. The battle axe she used to kill the Gloomy Wolf was evidently a powerful imperial weapon, rare even in the Underworld.
He struggled to think of a suitable gift, his normally reserved nature making it even harder. "This is the Storage Ring of that Dark Palace young lord. It should contain a cure for your injuries. Look inside and find it yourself," Gu Xiaoqi said, handing the ring to Zhe Liang.
Seeing the Storage Ring, Zhe Liang recalled something. Once the Mandala Arena opened, it could only be exited after seven days, regardless of the outcome. Though Cheng Feng was dead, and Zhe Liang had won the trial, the outside world wouldn't know yet. The arena's restrictions isolated everything, even preventing the sensing of life tokens.
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With six days remaining until the trial's end, Zhe Liang remembered the River of Styx Sanctuary's records about the Mandala Arena. There was a legendary realm within, where one could find inheritances when the other shore flowers bloomed. Originally intending to search for this inheritance, he was now more motivated, seeking a gift for the lord's daughter.
"Why haven't you taken the medicine?" Gu Xiaoqi's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Seeing her puzzled look, he realized he had forgotten to take the cure due to his preoccupation with the arena's inheritance. "Sorry, I was thinking about something."
As he took the medicine and began healing, Zhe Liang explained the arena's records to Gu Xiaoqi and Gu Simu. Hearing about the possible inheritance, both girls' eyes sparkled with excitement, like little treasure hoarders.
"Uncle Zhe Liang, tell us where the inheritance is. I'll help you find it!" Gu Simu's interest in the inheritance now surpassed her concern for Zhe Liang's injuries. After taking the medicine, his wounds improved, and his face regained some color. For a Saint Stage cultivator, non-fatal injuries healed quickly, though restoring full energy would take time.
Both girls focused on the inheritance. Zhe Liang found their eagerness amusing. The Mandala Arena wasn't a playground, even with all the Saint Stage prisoners eliminated. It still held many dangers. He had hoped they would wait while he searched alone, but it seemed impossible now.
"According to the records, the Mandala Arena is located in a city filled with other shore flowers. These flowers, known as Hell Flowers in the Underworld and as Manjusaka by the Western Buddhist Sect in the mortal world, bloom without leaves and are as red as blood…"
Before he could finish, Gu Simu excitedly exclaimed, "Found it! There's a city full of other shore flowers!"