1419 Invincible Heaven
As Yuan recalled his ti as the City Lord of the City of Xian, he opened the doors to the Invincible Heaven and entered it.
The first floor served as the lobby, where his citizens would frequently line up to discuss their grievances with the city, among other matters. During his ti as the City Lord, Tian Xian would seek advice from the citizens to improve the city's lifestyle.
"My na is… I live at… I am here today because I have an issue with my neighbor…"
"I am… I have a business at… I am here to see if I can delay my taxes this month due to…"
The citizens visited Tian Xian for all sorts of reasons, even minor issues that weren't related to the city at all. Normally, such requests would only be deed a waste of ti and imdiately turned away, but Tian Xian listened to everyone, regardless of how insignificant it may seem. Because of this, he was trusted by all of the citizens, as well as being highly respected by them. And it was to the point where so would claim that the citizens trusted their City Lord more than their own family.
The second and third floors served as waiting areas for these citizens.
From the fourth floor and upward, Tian Xian utilized the space as training rooms and living quarters for his soldiers. The Invincible Heaven was crafted using precious materials capable of withstanding blows from even immortal cultivators, and each floor could easily accommodate several people.
Despite its towering height, Tian Xian considered it an unnecessary extravagance, a waste of resources. However, the builders were resolute in creating a structure befitting his status, resulting in the magnificent pagoda that could accommodate thousands despite being intended for a single occupant.
"Good morning, City Lord!"
"City Lord, do you have a minute to spare? I would like to test out a new technique that I've recently created on you!"
Everyone in the City of Xian held deep love and respect for Tian Xian. He had transford a humble backwater village, devoid of any significant resources, into a formidable and wealthy city boasting its own military might, surpassing even many major cities in the region.
Tian Xian himself was a formidable warrior, renowned far and wide as an undefeated prodigy capable of beating opponents an entire realm above his own cultivation. Also known as the God of War, his re presence instilled a sense of security among the citizens, granting them peaceful slumber devoid of worry, akin to that of newborn infants.
At the pinnacle of the Invincible Heaven rested Tian Xian's work chamber, affording him a vantage point from which he could survey the entirety of the city below while seated on this majestic seat, his presence resembling that of a god.
Upon reaching the summit of the pagoda, Yuan removed the thick layer of dust on an object that had settled over millions of years, revealing the gleaming surface of the golden throne beneath, before taking his seat upon it.
As he sat on the throne, even more mories flowed into his mind.
"City Lord, the Celestial Emperor's ssenger is here to request your aid once again…" A soldier approached him with a troubled expression, relaying the news.
"Hmph. No matter how many tis he sends his ssengers, my answer will always be the sa. I have no interest in aiding him in a war that was created by his own ego and obsession. I will not send my soldiers to their death for soone like him."
"I-I will let the ssenger know…" The soldier said before leaving.
Naturally, the soldier refrained from conveying Tian Xian's response word for word to the ssenger, recognizing that it could be interpreted as a declaration of war by the Celestial Emperor.
During Tian Xian's era, the Celestial Emperor wielded unchecked power, intoxicated by his own authority. He would hog all of the resources for himself and eliminate any perceived threat, regardless of the consequences for the world at large.
However respectfully the City of Xian may decline to support the Celestial Emperor in his war, it would eventually be perceived as defiance—even opposition. In the eyes of the Celestial Emperor, refusal to ally could only be interpreted as enmity.
As expected, after three refusals, the Celestial Emperor ceased sending ssengers and instead dispatched soldiers of war to the City of Xian to pressure Tian Xian.
Unfortunately for the Celestial Emperor, Tian Xian wasn't so pushover and imdiately got rid of these soldiers who dared to threaten his city.
Yet, despite Tian Xian's resistance, the Celestial Emperor persisted, sending increasingly larger forces with each encounter, determined to assert his dominance over the City of Xian.
This back and forth continued for a few years until the Celestial Emperor had enough and adjusted his plan slightly.
However, this sudden change in tactics resulted in an incident that marked the end of a concluding war and the start of an even bigger war that lasted for thousands of years, as well as the birth of a fearso entity known as the Evil God.
After taking another mont to look around, he stood up and said, "There's a nearby place that I would like to visit. Let's make a slight detour."
After departing from the Invincible Heaven, Yuan proceeded on foot towards a particular building situated several minutes away.
Yuan wiped away the dust covering the tal tag next to the gate, revealing the surna 'Tian' flawlessly engraved on it.
Indeed, he'd returned to his old ho, where he lived a humble life with his beloved wife.
Upon entering the building, he imdiately walked to a specific room on the second floor.
When he saw the interior, he recalled what the Stairway to Heaven showed him during his previous trial.
'ixiu…'
Yuan gritted his teeth and clenched his fists upon entering the bloodstained room, where the walls and ceiling were tainted with brown, dried-up blood from countless years ago, suggesting that soone had t a grisly fate within those confines.
Sensing a significant surge of bloodlust from him, Xiao Hua nervously inquired, "Are you alright, Brother Yuan?"
Hearing her voice, Yuan took a deep breath and nodded weakly, "Yes…"
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