Light Fortress

After Gu Shen left the Li’s Ancestral Hall.

Chu Ling’s voice rang again.

"All these years, it has been Qing Sui taking care of the Divine Temple Mountain."

Gu Shen was taken aback.

After Li Qingci’s death, the Divine Temple Mountain no longer had a Protector... But since it was the critical site of the Li Family, it was inconvenient to leave it managed by outsiders. Thus, Li Qingsui often personally attended to it. The Black Flower spread all over the mountains could only be half cleared, but with the appearance of the Goddess, the territory avoided any adverse source quality backlash, ensuring that the little white flowers in the garden were well protected.

"She has also always kept my secret."

Chu Ling said, "Over the years, Qing Sui has changed a lot."

"I noticed."

Gu Shen said with comfort, "These four words, ’Li Family Master,’ she deserves them totally."

Back when Li Quhu was critically ill, he entrusted Gu Shen with taking good care of the little girl. Although he had failed his duty, the outcome turned out to be good.

...

...

Tonight, the banquet at Snow Forbidden City was bustling.

Due to the alliance of two continents, relationships were closer than ever, and many influential figures were present.

The highly regulated banquet had stringent management, disallowing entry to anyone without an invitation.

But for the current Gu Shen... this so-called "management" was merely a facade.

He had the Divine Concealing Cloak, and by deliberately concealing his Spirit, those titled in Changye wouldn’t be able to detect his arrival.

Gu Shen sat in a corner of the banquet, watching those "celebrities and dignitaries" conversing with one another.

He disguised himself as an inconspicuous character, not likely to be mistaken as a server, nor attracting any attention.

He just wanted to see his old friends this time.

Gong Zi had already smoothly inherited the position of Family Head, with the Gong Family managing a crucial segment of the alliance project, and the North Continent established a new Duke, but the titles "Zhu Xue" and "Duan Yang" remained firm.

Gong Zi had close ties with Duke Duanyang.

In the past, the Gong Family had a "marriage contract" with Duke Duanyang, which troubled Gong Zi for years until he used the excuse of traveling north to break it off.

The matter had its twists and turns, but fortunately, the outcome was favorable.

The children from both sides did not see eye to eye, and the marriage contract was amicably canceled... but the two families did not become estranged because of it.

Because his daughter’s obstinacy left Duke Duanyang feeling remorseful and indebted to the Gong Family, during this alliance, he personally mediated and resolved many issues for them.

This banquet was significant, and Duke Duanyang personally came to meet the long-absent head of the Gong Family.

The two talked happily.

Meanwhile, Mu Qingyang was engaged in intimate conversation with a peculiar man with a fish tank atop his head.

Gu Shen recognized Fisher at first glance.

The reason was obvious.

Fisher’s appearance was simply too attention-grabbing.

Fisher, these six years, was still stuck at the "Domain Integration" step... not because he lacked talent, but because the step of titles was indeed challenging. The more gifted one is, the stronger the domain comprehended, making "integration" all the harder.

Though "Living Fish" was stuck at the fourth-order.

It wasn’t without progress.

The banquet was full of hidden talents, and Gu Shen dared not unleash "Chi Huo," only estimating... he sensed Fisher likely reached the level of a Fourth-Order Transcender, though he had not succeeded in integration, it was still a remarkable breakthrough.

He heard that Captain Lu Zhe had already ascended to a title, and Xiao Qiu had also completed ascension.

Thus.

The North Continent indeed needed a "Fourth-Order Transcender."

Gu Shen met Zhong Yuan in Ice Sea... as captain of the second team, his power was formidable, but still some distance from "Fourth-Order Transcender," typically North Continent wouldn’t allow Lu Zhe and Mu Wanqiu to easily ascend without a Fourth-Order Transcender.

If not mistaken.

The "Fourth-Order Transcender" concealed under the North Continent’s hand was Fisher!

On the other side, Mu Qingyang’s state had also improved significantly.

This fellow successfully comprehended a second domain, and his next stage was integration.

Based on talent, Mu Qingyang was never considered the top genius, but he was definitely the most persistent and stable, never retreating once he set a direction, truly ready to risk life when facing challenges.

Such a person aspiring for a title might have an easier time than those geniuses who smoothly ascend all the way.

The Mu Family Master placed the Mu Family’s future on Mu Qingyang, a non-direct lineage member of Jiuning District, which was indeed a wise choice.

Before Gu Shen’s death, he arranged two crucial pieces.

Li Qingsui, Mu Qingyang.

Though the "Five Families of Changye" are all giants, there are disparities in strength and influence.

The Gu and Bai families need not be elaborated, each being unique entities.

The Gong Family secured its prestige through the union with Duke Duanyang.

The weakest remaining were the Li Family and Mu Family.

Due to the will of two Divine Thrones, the alliance was accomplished, and the appointments for these pivotal positions revitalized the Li and Mu families, making Li Qing Sui and Mu Qingyang the main characters of tonight’s banquet.

...

...

Regarding the details of the alliance plan, Gu Shen did not eavesdrop much.

He knew Mu Qingyang sought out Fisher to discuss the joint development of the latest Source Energy Boat, with the Huazhi Group already having grasped relatively complete Source Energy Boat technology. It’s a colossal project consuming extensive resources; both the Underground Research Institute and the Huazhi Group invested half their assets in it, essential for future continental operations to compete against the Cloud Ship Fleet of Upper City!

As for Li Qing Sui, she had more on her plate to manage.

Tonight’s banquet, for those "participants," was about discussing cooperation and the future.

But for Gu Shen.

Just here to see old friends.

Seeing these friends from the past, all living well, Gu Shen felt genuinely happy from the bottom of his heart.

He also saw the Bai Family Witch, Bai Lu, who used to always be at odds with him. Now she no longer had that arrogant and domineering demeanor. She wore an extremely simple and elegant dress, sitting in the corner of the party like him, quietly drinking, and not engaging in conversation with anyone.

The Bai Family now has a Divine Throne overseeing them, their status is extremely lofty... and with great fortune flourishing, in this era, the Bai clan holds several powerful titles.

Bai Xiu, Bai Chen, Bai Xiaochi.

With these three around, Bai Lu barely has any burdens; the favoritism of the Family Head and her brothers allows her to do as she pleases, yet she no longer has the mindset of the past.

Most of the time, Bai Lu quietly reads documents in the ancestral hall.

In recent years, she has also joined the Family Master in some investigation team missions, saying that the Snow Forbidden City is too stifling and she wants to have some fun.

Gu Shen knew about all these things.

It wasn’t that he intentionally investigated Bai Lu, but Shen Li told him... Little Iron Man is one of the few people Bai Lu still actively contacts, and over the years, their relationship has become somewhat subtle.

As Shen Li put it, "This crazy woman, I don’t know what kind of mania she’s having, always looking for me out of the blue."

At the time, Gu Shen just gave a knowing smile upon hearing this.

Some things, Shen Li has yet to figure out.

"Miss Bai, I am Du Fang, the Guardian of Suxue Fortress. I would like to buy you a drink."

"Miss Bai..."

Although Bai Lu was sitting in the corner, quite a few people approached her for a chat, most of them were officers from the Fortress Army. As cooperation advanced, the Northern Continent people became more familiar with the legendary Changye Five Families, and the reputation of the "Long Wild Thorns" spread to the North Continent, many people were interested in this Miss Bai from the Bai Family.

Part of the reason was to curry favor, another part of the reason... the Northern Continent people just liked women with personalities like Bai Lu.

The more thorny the rose, the more it stirs the desire in people’s hearts to conquer.

After several Fortress Guardians were turned down, a particularly "persistent" guy appeared, wanting to ask Bai Lu for a dance. However, due to his overly direct nature, his approach came off as slightly aggressive, and this guy was met with two slaps from Bai Lu, retreating with his tail between his legs.

Besides her two brothers, Bai Lu herself also has reached the fourth-order standard, currently comprehending her second domain.

After all, she is the Closed-door Disciple of the Grand Judge!

With her strength... she could at least be a guardian of a medium-sized fortress in the northwest frontier. Among those hitting on her tonight, few have the qualification to dance with her.

Upon witnessing this scene.

Gu Shen couldn’t help but chuckle.

But this chuckle caught Bai Lu’s attention; even though he concealed his smile, she sought him out.

Bai Lu, without reservation, sat right across from Gu Shen, staring intently into his eyes...

With the Ghost Veil and the Divine Concealing Cloak on.

Gu Shen remained calm and composed.

The Extraordinary Aura on him was completely contained, a perfect concealment that even Mr. Bai Shu wouldn’t pick up on... Bai Lu couldn’t possibly see through his disguise.

"What can I do for you, ma’am?"

After being stared at for ten seconds, Gu Shen slowly put down his wine glass.

"Are you from the North Continent?"

Bai Lu’s tone was doubtful.

"...Yes." Gu Shen smiled and said, "An insignificant figure from Xinyang Fortress in the North Continent, not comparable to those guardians."

He could conjure such a lie effortlessly.

The party tonight was huge, with all kinds of people present; he didn’t believe anyone would check each and every one.

"You don’t recognize me?" Bai Lu raised an eyebrow.

Gu Shen returned a smile, asking rhetorically, "Am I supposed to recognize you?"

"But I think I should recognize you!"

Bai Lu kept her eyes fixed on Gu Shen, earnestly saying, "Your eyes... they remind me of an old friend of mine."

"..."

Gu Shen remained silent, not quite believing in women’s intuition.

Sure enough, just as Bai Lu finished speaking, a Northern Continent Fortress Guardian who had just been rejected approached, placing a large hand on Gu Shen’s shoulder. The brawny guardian feigned familiarity, giving Gu Shen a nudge with a grin, jestingly saying.

"Miss Bai, do you fancy this type, that a gust of wind could knock over?"

Gu Shen had altered his appearance, yet his physique was difficult to change.

Having been trapped in the Ice Sea for six years.

The fire of vitality had only nourished him for less than a month.

This physique... it was aptly described as falling over at a mere breeze.

"Don’t speak of your people like that."

Bai Lu continued smiling, revealing her white teeth, said, "Which fortress did you say you were a guardian of?"

For some reason, she felt an old sense of familiarity when looking at this guy sitting in the corner; diverting the trouble made her feel much lighter at heart.

Gu Shen sighed lightly.

It turned out, Bai Lu was still the same Bai Lu. No matter how much the Bai Family Witch read, she was still a crazy woman.

In this regard, Shen Li wasn’t wrong.

"With this build, can he be a Fortress Guardian?"

The burly man tapped Gu Shen’s shoulder, fearing that a heavier slap would shatter the thin guy in front of him. He didn’t hide the mockery in his tone, laughing as he asked, "Little guy, which fortress are you from... you don’t really look like you’re from the North Continent!"

Gu Shen helplessly raised his head, grinning as he said, "If you want to know the answer... then come with me."

He gestured outside the party venue, making a classic Northern Continent gesture.

Duel.

Several Fortress Guardians erupted in laughter.