Chapter 893: Chapter 892: The Terrifying Sky City_1
If you were to name the most renowned city in the Flying Horse Dynasty, it would undoubtedly be Sky City.
Sky City, situated in the heart of Tian State, surpassed numerous other cities in both size and economic development within the empire. More importantly, it was the location of the imperial palace, the administrative nucleus of the entire Flying Horse Dynasty.
The city walls of Sky City towered at sixty-six zhang, built from pitch-black, squarely-cut boulders, tightly fitted together, not even allowing the insertion of a needle. Sunlight, upon touching the walls, seemed to be swallowed into nothingness, submitting to the imposing authority of this ancient city, which spanned several dynasties.
Within the city, there were sixty-four districts, neatly divided by a hundred zhang wide bluestone paths, varying in size and function. To the north, beyond these districts, lay a restricted area closed to the idle wanderer.
Every three steps, there was a sentry post, and every five steps, a watch tower. Soldiers clad in black armor wielding sharp halberds stood as still as statues at their assigned positions, guarding the colossal structure in the distance, taking away one’s breath and discouraging lingering looks. Above the building, a grand aura that seemed to dominate the world and prove unbeatable faintly gathered.
Boom, boom, boom.
A deafening sound of drums began to echo, originating from the eastern towers of the building.
That was the office of Chengxuan Department, used to announce public decrees.
"In accordance with heaven and season, by imperial decree. Zuo King Qiande’s conduct has been improper, he has rebelled against authority, schemed treason, been disloyal as a subject, and unfilial as a son... I am deeply ashamed. Hence, on the tenth day of the ninth month, Zuo King and his entire house, along with their accomplices, shall be executed at Noon Gate, their blood offered as respect to the virtues of the Heavenly and Earthly spirits, this is my will!"
The shrill voice spread in all directions.
In the neighboring districts, those who heard were shocked and frightened, and many visitors from the Martial World spilled their wine cups, creating a scene of disarray.
Within just half a day, the news spread throughout Sky City, like a bomb exploding underwater, casting up countless white foams, seemingly calm but as if some force was gathering strength.
King Dai’s Mansion.
A handsome and somewhat effeminate man listened to his strategist’s report, remaining contemplative in silence.
"Your Highness, we have little involvement with the Gui Family, especially since Gui Nanyan has been personally eradicated by the great officer. We believe His Majesty will not extend his anger to us."
The strategist concluded his summary. He had been busy clearing up all relations, fearing that someone would exploit a loophole to attack the prince.
King Dai waved his hand dismissively.
Without receiving the expected praise, the strategist left feeling slightly disappointed, yet he promptly bowed and departed.
"Kill two birds with one stone, or three with one? Interesting, truly interesting."
His fingers rhythmically tapped on the table’s surface and abruptly paused. A hint of an unfathomable smile began to surface on King Dai’s face.
This was a secluded estate with a triple courtyard layout, multi-eaved roofs, and five wing rooms—neither rare nor common in the precious land of Sky City.
From the central wing room, where the light was dim, a self-satisfied laugh echoed.
"Looks like the entire sixth brother’s line is thoroughly finished. Now tell me, who do you think played the Black Hand, the third brother, the fourth, or some other creature lurking in the dark?"
"Zuo King openly sided with King Jin, and it’s widely rumored that it was King Dai’s doing. Now that King Jin has fallen, among all the princes contending for succession, for the time being, none can match King Dai."
A hoarse voice spoke.
"The third isn’t that foolish, I assume he’s like a dumb person eating bitter herbs, someone has outplayed him from the shadows. Moreover, hehehe... it’s said that the sixth brother had deep connections with several forces from the Devil Path in the Martial World, people who disregard the law. It seems quite a few of them have entered the city, things are not going to be peaceful."
"Your Highness, rest assured, under the watch of the emperor, if these Martial World riffraff dare to make a move, we’ll make sure their blood splatters three chi, no return trip for them!"
"Send people to keep a close watch on the Martial World individuals entering the city. These fellows may be unruly, but their strength is considerable. It wouldn’t be bad to subdue and employ them as personal guards ready to die in service."
The hoarse-voiced man paused upon hearing this.
Whether they admitted it or not, the princes of today had intricate connections with the Martial World, both openly and in secret. Several princes even had guards who were expert fighters from top-tier forces.
This was a blatant violation, particularly of the taboo of the current emperor. Unexpectedly, their Highness had also begun to entertain this idea. But upon reflecting that the emperor had not attended morning court for three years and his end was near, the hoarse-voiced man began to understand his Highness.
The military forces controlled by the princes were limited after all. To a certain extent, the power of the Martial World had become a weapon they could wield.
...
As Shi Xiaole walked the streets of Sky City, with its varying exquisite towers and the sounds of hawkers and shouts in his ears, he began to understand what prosperity meant.
Compared to Sky City, all the other major cities he had seen were not even in the same league.
But what amazed him most, even to the point of alarm, was the moment he entered the city, Shi Xiaole distinctly felt an aura of Array System in the void.
The intensity of this aura was like cheese so thick it couldn’t melt; layer upon layer and combined with countless arrays, even with Shi Xiaole’s mental strength, he couldn’t see through it.
Under the influence of the arrays, the void felt reinforced manifold.
Shi Xiaole was certain that if one were to fight in Sky City, their cultivation wouldn’t drop, but the lethal power displayed would likely reduce to an extremely frightening degree.
When crossing a bridge, he secretly tried out his strength, and the result shocked him. With his current level of thirty percent strength, he could destroy a mountain, but here, he only managed to sever a dead branch two zhang away.
Observing the ordinary people around him, unaffected in action or strength, it implied that the arrays enveloping Sky City only suppressed martial artists, and the more powerful the martial artist, the more severe the suppression likely was.
This also meant that the differences between martial artists, originally like heaven and earth, would be tremendously narrowed!
"No wonder few dare to make trouble in Sky City."
Under normal circumstances, a peak Earth Immortal could kill a hundred low-level Earth Immortals, but here, let alone a hundred, even twenty would be challenging.
The lethal power that Shi Xiaole could currently unleash was only equivalent to a high-level martial artist in the Xuanqi Realm, and even dozens of mid-level Xuanqi Realm warriors would pose a problem.
Of course, that applies to others, not to Shi Xiaole.
No one could imagine just how far Shi Xiaole’s combat skills had advanced by now, so it was absurdly said that to some extent, Sky City actually better facilitated his performance.
But no matter what, under the court’s control of a large number of troops, Sky City was taboo for those of the Martial World, and few would willingly enter casually, let alone cause trouble.
After some questioning, Shi Xiaole checked into the Tailong Inn, one of the top inns in Sky City, but he didn’t rest long before he heard a knock at the door.
Releasing his spiritual power, he perceived the appearance of the person outside the door, and Shi Xiaole was stunned.
"Brother Shi, you really did come."
The door opened, and in strode a golden-haired, robust young man in golden clothes, who carelessly sat down, none other than ’Jade Lion’ Mu Ling, one of the five great prodigies.
Accompanying Mu Ling was a woman dressed in orange, exceedingly beautiful with a demeanor more overbearing than a man’s, the ’Heavenly Phoenix’ Duanmu Keren.
"What brings you to Sky City?"
Shi Xiaole asked.
"The reason you’re here is the reason we’re here."
Duanmu Keren sat down opposite Mu Ling, and looking into Shi Xiaole’s eyes, there seemed to be a sense of relief.
Truth be told, she, Mu Ling, and Gui Zhihang had known each other even earlier and shared a deeper bond. If Shi Xiaole had not come, she would naturally not have said anything, but there would always have been a lump in her heart.
But she dearly wished that lump didn’t exist. Now that she had seen Shi Xiaole, she was completely reassured and truly understood that he was a respectable and genuine friend.
Shi Xiaole also sat down, without asking how the two knew of his whereabouts. Given their backgrounds, they probably received the news the moment he entered the city.
"Today the emperor issued an imperial decree, in two months, the old turtle will be executed."
Mu Ling was the first to speak, clearly addressing Shi Xiaole.
"Two months?"
Shi Xiaole’s heart sank.
"These past few days, I’ve used the connections of the Carefree Unmoving City to communicate extensively, and at last, I’ve found an opportunity. We can see the old turtle this afternoon during the hour of Shen."
Strictly speaking, the Gui Family was not deeply involved with the Zuo King; instead, they were more implicated, so the supervision was somewhat laxer—otherwise, Mu Ling’s connections would have been of no use.
Shi Xiaole nodded.
The three of them did not speak again, and the room was shrouded in a pressing atmosphere.
The hour of Shen in the afternoon.
Guided by Mu Ling, the three came to the heavily guarded subterranean jail. Because the way had been cleared in advance, they reached the deep underground without obstruction.
This also showed that the insides of the Flying Horse Dynasty were not pure, for how could outsiders be allowed into such a vital area as the jail?
The flickering firelight in the gloom of the underground danced like the grim face of a demon.
In front of an airtight iron cell with a surprisingly thick door, the three stopped.
A small hatch opened, and the jailer said icily, "You have but a quarter hour. Should you dare linger longer, you will be killed without question!" He then walked away to a distance.
"It’s you guys!"
A face smeared with blood appeared in front of the hatch. The black hair was sticky by the temples, obscuring the face, but a pair of eyes as deep as the stars were unmistakable; it was hard to believe this was the once world-famous handsome man, Gui Zhihang.
"To have three close friends who stick by even as death approaches, I, Zhihang, am grateful!"
After a slight startle, Gui Zhihang bowed gracefully, with a hint of trembling in his voice that was hard to detect.
The current state of the Gui Family was such that they were almost universally detested, with everyone eager to dissociate from them. Under such circumstances, the fact that Shi Xiaole and his two friends had personally come touched Gui Zhihang deeply.
"Old turtle, you’re nearing death, so why put on this foul show of elegance. Tell me, is there something unfinished or something you wish done? Seeing as we know each other, hmph, I, Mu Ling, will do it for you."
Mu Ling waved his hand, still brimming with disdain, never mentioning the price he had to pay to see Gui Zhihang.
Shi Xiaole interjected at the right moment, "Brother Gui, the Gui Family merely dispatched men to protect Liu Ziying. There’s plenty of room for negotiation in this matter; how could such a severe sentence be meted out?"
Gui Zhihang gave a bitter smile, "Brother Shi is astute! The real reason is that my Gui Family had a large sum of money that went missing, and it just so happened that among the funds spent by the Zuo King for army provisioning, there was a mysterious sum that matched the amount from my Gui Family."
The expressions of Mu Ling and Duanmu Keren changed dramatically.
"This money had always been handled by Brother Gui Nanyan, and now his whereabouts are unknown..."
Facing his three close friends, Gui Zhihang held nothing back and laid bare all the details. Stuck in a dark, sunless prison with life drawing to a close, even the most free-spirited person could hardly avoid feeling despondent.
Soon, the quarter-hour was up, and the jailer returned coldly.
"Gentlemen, in this life, our fates end here. I hope in the next life, Zhihang will have the fortune to drink and speak joyfully with you once again."
Just before the hatch closed, Gui Zhihang bowed again, and under the dim candlelight, it seemed like a tear of a man trickled down.
This was the first time he had cried in front of others and it would also be the last. No one could save him, but having these three friends was enough!
Mu Ling flew into a rage and was about to strike the mocking jailer, but Duanmu Keren promptly stopped him.
The protection in the jail of Sky City was heavy, especially under the current circumstances. They were in the midst of the city’s Array System and if a conflict had erupted, it was doubtful they could have even made it a hundred meters out.
