“Do you know where we can find the Dragon Maiden?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Not today,” Xie Changliu replied. “We’ll have to wait until the Hero’s Memorial Day is over. Then we can ask the City Lord. The Dragon Maiden should be living within the North Sea itself, not inside the city. But since the North Sea City Lord was appointed by her, he should have a way to contact her.”
As they spoke, someone up ahead started shouting.
“Today is the Hero’s Memorial Day! All guests dining or lodging at my establishment are free of charge! Everyone, come take a look!”
A familiar voice teased, “Shopkeeper, aren’t you afraid you’ll go bankrupt?”
“You don’t understand,” the shopkeeper said cheerfully. “This isn’t my generosity, it’s all being paid for by Young Master Bei!”
“Which Young Master Bei?” someone new to the city asked curiously.
“Ha! In North Sea City, how many people even have the surname Bei? Of course, it’s the Young City Lord himself,” another person explained.
…
“Shall we go in and take a look?” Xie Changliu said to Xu Zimo. “Since it’s the Young City Lord, it might be worth meeting him.”
“This place sure is lively,” Xu Zimo said, looking around.
“Not just here,” Xie Changliu replied with a grin. “Across the entire Nine Heavens, today is a day of celebration.”
They walked into the restaurant, which was enormous. Built from ice crystal, it felt like stepping into a palace of snow, though curiously, there was no sense of cold at all. Even the tables were made from black ice.
“Shopkeeper, where’s Young Master Bei?” Xie Changliu asked upon entering.
“Young Master Bei is on the third floor, entertaining the prodigies,” the shopkeeper said with a smile. “But not everyone can go up to the third floor.”
“Oh?” Xie Changliu raised a brow. “And why’s that?”
“Young Master Bei set up the Monument of Strength on the second floor,” the shopkeeper explained. “There are ten levels on the monument. Only those who surpass seven are qualified to go to the third floor. Interested in trying, gentlemen?”
“Let’s try it,” Xu Zimo said.
“Excellent! A small fee of twenty spirit crystals each,” the shopkeeper said gleefully.
“What? You’re charging for this?” Xie Changliu said, frowning.
“Of course,” the shopkeeper said smoothly. “Otherwise, everyone would want to try. My little place would be overcrowded in no time. It’s just a filter for the unworthy. Surely, two young masters like yourselves won’t mind such a small fee.”
Xu Zimo smiled. The man was clever. Declaring free food and lodging drew crowds, and now this little trick ensured he’d earn plenty regardless. Both he and the so-called Young Master Bei would benefit handsomely.
But that wasn’t Xu Zimo’s concern. Xie Changliu tossed over the spirit crystals, and they headed upstairs.
Compared to the first floor, the second was four or five times larger. It was packed wall-to-wall with people, stretching in a long line.
“How long is this going to take?” Xie Changliu muttered.
“One monument can test if someone’s a prodigy. I imagine plenty of people want to try,” Xu Zimo said. “Even those with no interest in meeting Young Master Bei probably want to see if they qualify.”
“The true prodigies are probably already inside,” Xie Changliu said. “This monument is just bait.”
He had no patience for waiting, so he handed a few hundred spirit crystals to someone near the front and cut in line.
Xu Zimo examined the stone monument before him, it did indeed possess unique qualities. Ripples of energy flowed across its surface, with ten marks carved along one side. Most people barely reached five or six marks; few could exceed seven. It wasn’t easy.
Xie Changliu raised his hand, channeling sword intent into his palm, and struck.
A booming clang echoed as the monument vibrated, the marks shooting straight to ten.
“Anyone above the Paragon Meridian Realm can pass,” Xie Changliu said calmly, having gauged its limits in one strike.
Xu Zimo followed with a punch. With a thunderous crack, the stone shattered into four pieces.
The two young attendants nearby froze in shock.
“We can go in now, right?” Xu Zimo asked casually.
“Y-yes… yes, you may,” one of them stammered.
Following the staircase behind them, Xu Zimo and Xie Changliu ascended to the third floor.
“What do you know about the Dragon Maiden?” Xu Zimo asked as they walked.
“There’s little information about her,” Xie Changliu admitted. “She’s shrouded in mystery. Few have even seen her face.”
“Then it seems this won’t be easy,” Xu Zimo said with a small smile.
As they stepped into the third floor, Xu Zimo immediately sensed something off, the space had been expanded with a spatial formation. From the outside, the restaurant’s upper floor was just a few hundred square meters. But inside the array, the space stretched for thousands.
At the center lay a crystal-clear lake shimmering with faint green light, lotus blossoms drifting on the surface. Around it stood willows and elegant pavilions. Gentle music from zither players mingled with laughter, fine wine, and fragrant fruit, a scene of effortless leisure.
Scattered throughout the pavilions were groups of young men and women. Yet as soon as Xu Zimo entered, his expression hardened. He could sense something, something foul.
“What is it?” Xie Changliu asked.
“You go find a seat over there. I’ll join you shortly,” Xu Zimo said quietly.
After parting from him, Xu Zimo closed his eyes and concentrated. There it was again, a faint trace of demonic energy, pure and potent.
Following the white jade path past the pavilions, he reached a row of houses. He studied them briefly, then entered the one in the center.
It was clearly a woman’s chamber, decorated in pink tones and carrying a faint, sweet fragrance.
“Master, it’s the scent of that old ox,” came Paimon’s voice from within the God World.
“Old ox?” Xu Zimo repeated.
“One of the Eighteen Infernal Archons, Red-Blade Bull-Demon,” Seven-Faced Demon added immediately. “There’s no mistake. It’s definitely him.”
“I can sense the demonic aura, but not his exact location. Strange,” Xu Zimo muttered, frowning.
“Don’t move,” a cool, clear voice suddenly said.
A sword burst through the air behind him, its icy intent brushing the side of his neck. Xu Zimo didn’t resist. He knew the blade couldn’t harm him, and the wielder carried no killing intent.
“Who are you?” the voice demanded.
The owner of the sword stepped from the void, a young woman dressed in white robes, her face veiled. Her eyes were clear as spring water, bright and alert. Two small, ivory-colored dragon horns curved atop her head, lending her an almost adorable air.