The allure of the Empress's legacy is imnse; once, it caused quite a stir here.
Unfortunately, after all these years, no one has managed to find the Empress's legacy.
In the end, the excitent faded, leaving only a few persistent individuals still searching occasionally.
Despite this, Victory City remains bustling and lively.
Many people have settled here.
The city has continually expanded; compared to before, Victory City is now even more vast.
The legacy bestowed upon Xu Zii by the white-haired man was tily, landing him at the outskirts of this enormous city.
...…
Victory City has thirty-two gates.
Almost all of these gates are open.
Xu Zii entered through the South's third gate.
Looking up, the city stretches and undulates like a proud dragon standing between heaven and earth.
The city walls alone tower into the clouds, with no end in sight.
The entrance is already crowded with people.
Various vendors have almost blocked the entrance with their stalls.
At the ancient entrance, two n in Flying Dragon Robes stand straight, ready for battle.
Each has a sword at their waist.
Their eyes are sharp and piercing, much like the gaze of a sword, scanning the people entering the city.
"This Victory City is really lively," Xu Zii remarked.
He headed into the city.
His gaze drifted over the stalls on each side.
The left side mainly featured food, drink, and entertainnt, while the right side focused on secret techniques and artifacts, clearly divided.
"Do you have a pass?" As he approached the gate, the two n in Flying Dragon Robes stopped Xu Zii.
"What pass?" Xu Zii asked.
"Non-local residents need a pass to enter. Unless there's a special circumstance, you can't stay longer than half a month."
"Is this your first ti here?" the man with the sword asked.
He pointed to a long queue by the left wall.
"Go there to get a pass," he advised.
"With so many people coming and going daily, how did you spot like that?" Xu Zii inquired.
"My eyes only need one look to rember," the man with the sword smiled.
"Naturally able to recognize whether soone is new or a local resident at a glance."
"Interesting," Xu Zii chuckled.
"I don't want to queue; is there an alternative?"
"There is," the two n in Flying Dragon Robes exchanged a glance.
One of them, the man with the sword said, "If you walk east for about three miles, there's a test.
If you can pass it, you can enter Victory City freely."
"What test?" Xu Zii asked curiously.
"You'll know when you get there. We can't really explain," the man with the sword replied.
Xu Zii nodded.
He didn't intend to force his way into Victory City as he was still unfamiliar with the place.
Furthermore, every place has its rules.
As he walked east, he was soon stopped by soone pulling on his sleeve.
"Hold on, hold on, friend," a sharp-voiced eunuch, wearing a distinguished hat and sporting thin mustaches, stopped him.
"You intend to go to the Bone Knife Test site, right?" The eunuch laughed.
"Bone Knife?"
"That's the test site to the east," the eunuch explained.
"I know a way to cheat there; do you want to hear it?"
"Explain the Bone Knife Test in detail," Xu Zii asked.
"Let's walk and talk," the eunuch replied.
...…
"Victory City was forged by the Empress with supre divine power.
Every inch of the wall inside is inscribed with paths of cultivation.
You can't see it from outside because the outer walls were later expansions.
Nearby, extraordinary items are abundant.
So left by the Empress long ago, while others left by her followers.
The Bone Knife is one such item, left by one of the Empress's forr followers, the Emperor Lu."
"Let tell you about Emperor Lu. He was once the Emperor of the Great Slaughter Dynasty, but he was indifferent to politics, focusing only on cultivation.
So his queens conspired with ministers to try to depose him.
When Emperor Lu realized, the entire dynasty was already against him.
From citizens to the army, almost everyone opposed him.
In his rage, Emperor Lu slaughtered the entire Great Slaughter Dynasty, becoming solitary thereafter.
Later, he was valued by the Empress, and thus followed her to challenge the heavens."
"However, in the heaven challenge, Emperor Lu felt he had killed too much throughout his life.
During the Great Slaughter Dynasty massacre, many innocent civilians died by his hand; he began to encourage goodness.
To kill only those who deserved it, not randomly slaughter ordinary people, which is the true strongman's code."
"Emperor Lu left his Bone Knife here, hoping future generations could use virtue to temper this blade.
Each ti you temper the blade, you'll earn a bit of Emperor Lu's reward.
If soone with great fortune can completely erase the blade's murderous aura, they can receive the full legacy of Emperor Lu."
The eunuch spoke quickly, seemingly fearing Xu Zii wouldn't understand.
He added, "The test is hard yet simple; it's also not easy.
If you can dispel even a bit of the murderous aura, you'll pass."
"But don't underestimate this murderous aura; it was left from Emperor Lu's lifelong slaughter.
If not suprely confident, once the murderous aura enters your body, you'll beco mindless, a walking corpse."
The eunuch pulled out a small bottle.
Inside were bubbles of various colors, almost like fantasy worlds visible through them.
They depicted family reunions, acts of justice, and peaceful governance.
Such a small bottle, yet exceedingly mystical.
"This is the Bottle of Benevolence, gathered from the good thoughts across the Five Lakes and Four Seas, refined.
The duration and thods are stories of their own.
With this Bottle of Benevolence, dispelling a wisp of murderous aura is simple."
Upon hearing the eunuch's description, Xu Zii laughed, "I fear this isn't cheap."
"It's not really expensive, as I'm selling it uniquely.
Not for ordinary treasures or money."
"What do you desire?" Xu Zii asked.
"I want your malice," the eunuch replied.
"How about exchanging your evil for my good?"
"You can't afford my malice," Xu Zii shook his head.
"Without selling, how do you know I can't afford it?" the eunuch confidently said.
"If your malice is high quality, you na your price, and I can afford it."
Xu Zii chose not to debate further.
He discerned that this eunuch wasn't simple either.
Thus, he asked, "The two n in Flying Dragon Robes at the gate, what force do they belong to?"
"You're talking about the Western Dragon Sect," the eunuch replied cheerfully.
"One of the Dominator forces of East Dao City.
They hold guard rights over seven of Victory City's thirty-two gates."
"Seems like you're unfamiliar with East Dao City," the eunuch concluded.
User Comments
0 comments from readers