Light Fortress

This little farce didn’t draw much attention.

Li Qingsui, Mu Qingyang, and Gong Zi all saw it... they just knew Bai Lu too well, understood that the Bai Family Witch was looking for another "unlucky soul" to prank, so they shook their heads and continued their previous conversation.

Gu Shen left the party, having met all the acquaintances he needed to.

Now, he had no regrets.

He was already about to leave... now Bai Lu had just given him a reason.

He found a nearby alleyway, followed by the burly Northern Continent officer, and several young guards trailing along.

"This should be far enough, so that woman won’t see us getting thrashed later."

The burly officer smiled and spoke, "You claim to be from the Northern Continent... I won’t go easy on imposters!"

"..."

Gu Shen had nothing to say.

Because he really was an imposter.

Gu Shen chuckled, deciding to give them another chance: "Ladies and gentlemen, why not part ways here? Let’s pretend we never met."

But the other party shook their heads, uninterested in the idea.

"No way, I still want to see your skills!"

The burly officer let out a cold bark of laughter.

He suddenly approached, and without much space, delivered a knee strike... a fierce move against Gu Shen, whose physique was not giving him much room to resist.

Changye people are known to be combative and skilled fighters.

But the Northern Continent is the true warrior tribe, especially those from the frontier, they are exceptionally fierce in a fight.

"Bang."

A dull sound echoed.

The burly man’s face twisted suddenly, he groaned in pain, and collapsed limply into Gu Shen’s arms.

His mind went blank, pain making him see stars.

Just moments ago, Gu Shen had mirrored his action—

A knee strike!

Their kneecaps collided, and despite Gu Shen’s seemingly fragile physique, it was actually extremely "unyielding," making this clash a dimensional attack.

"You..."

Not giving the other a chance to speak another word, Gu Shen delivered a chop, sending the bear-like Northern officer into a dreamland.

A simple sparring session doesn’t need bloodshed, knocking them out suffices.

"Anyone else wants to try?"

Gu Shen smiled and spoke, and the few guards who followed wore strange expressions, as if they had seen a ghost.

The speed of Gu Shen’s knee strike was too fast.

They didn’t even see clearly...

Just like that, the battle ended, indeed.

"Are you... really from the Northern Continent?"

A guard eyed Gu Shen with a strange expression, saying, "Why have I never heard of you?"

"Hmm..."

Gu Shen glanced at the party exit.

The commotion he just caused seemed not small, someone seemed to be coming out soon, probably Bai Lu too would come out to join in the fun.

He had a clever idea and said indifferently, "Of course I’m not a Northern officer. I’m a native of Changye."

"I never change my name or surname, my surname is Shen..."

Gu Shen lied without blinking, he gestured a face-wiping motion, but in reality, he manipulated his spiritual power to alter the features of the [Ghost Veil], presenting the face of Little Iron Man.

"Remember my name, Shen Li!"

He coldly laughed, saying, "Go back and tell those guys, if anyone dares approach Bai Lu, I’ll break their legs!"

With those words, he floated away.

As for what happened afterward... it was not part of Gu Shen’s concern.

...

...

After leaving the party, Gu Shen wandered aimlessly through Snow Forbidden City. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

He went to the Gu Family Ancestral Hall, watched from afar, seeing Mr. Gu now retired, the large banyan tree having grown lush leaves again.

Gu Qilin’s health was good.

After stepping down from the command center, old man’s daily life became much simpler, often playing chess with President Zhou Wei.

Gu Shen didn’t release his spirit, intentionally staying far away to avoid being noticed by the two old men.

Just watched from very, very far away.

Visiting acquaintances, visiting acquaintances.

Having seen them, his wishes felt fulfilled.

Ancient city at night, tranquility under the moonlight, Gu Shen walked alone along Ning River, his mood was relaxed like never before, relieved.

After his "death."

The world kept spinning, and all those friends from years ago were living well.

Seeing this, he felt genuinely happy from within.

Chu Ling accompanied Gu Shen, watching the night view of Ning River together, she reported updates on the party’s status through the [Monitoring System].

"That guy you knocked down turned out to be an officer under Fisher."

"Seeing the injury, Fisher seemed quite interested in you..."

"Everyone was drawn over, Bai Lu among them, someone recited your message exactly."

Hearing this, Gu Shen couldn’t help but laugh.

"And then?"

"White Lu angrily left."

Chu Ling said seriously, "I saw her final expression didn’t seem angry, Mu Qingyang was stirring the pot the whole time... hmm, there’s no follow-up, the guy you beat is still unconscious, but Fisher smiled the most happily."

These people, they haven’t changed a bit.

Gu Shen said meaningfully, "Shen Li owes me a favor again..."

"Ah?"

Chu Ling was puzzled, "Shouldn’t you be owing him a favor?"

Got into a fight outside and even impersonated someone.

It seems like Gu Shen owes Little Iron Man an apology.

Gu Shen shook his head: "You don’t understand... In short, he will thank me someday."

The two continued walking along the Ning River.

After a long while, Chu Ling asked: "Where do you plan to go after tonight?"

He had already seen all the old friends he needed to.

The regret Gu Shen had buried in his heart for six years was finally resolved tonight.

With his hands behind his back, he stood by the riverbank, gazing at the calm river surface, he said slowly: "After tonight, I think... the news of Light City should be released."

The news of the sunset was brewing and fermenting.

It will soon spread across the five continents.

"Indeed, Light City is no longer planning to engage in ’information blockade’... They intend to release the news of the ’sunset’," Chu Ling said: "It won’t take long before the whole world knows that the Light God’s Seat is aging and very ill."

"I’m planning to go to Light City."

Gu Shen said calmly: "Previously, I didn’t refine the ’Netherworld Fire’ because I feared that formally mastering the Flame Breath would expose my identity to the Light... Now with the Divine Concealing Cloak, as long as I don’t use authority, I’m safe."

This was already tested in the cemetery.

Faced directly with Mr. Bai Shu, there was no trace of Flame Breath leaking from Gu Shen and Xiaoman.

"You should know, this news might be false."

Chu Ling reminded, "Perhaps Light City is just looking for the Netherworld King."

"I know..."

Gu Shen squatted down, reached out a hand, and slowly stirred the calm river water, watching the ripples it created.

He said word by word: "No need for them to send someone; I will present myself."

...

...

"Brother Wutuo, I’ve finally been waiting for you."

West Continent, Southampton City port.

A frail young man sitting in a wheelchair smiled at the man disembarking from the freighter: "How have you been these years in the East Continent?"

"Mr. Yao, thanks to you."

Wutuo looked at the young man in the wheelchair and said sincerely: "These years in the Judgement Institute’s undercover mission went extremely smoothly, no one ever suspected a thing. Being rescued from the Tundra, then law enforcement at Jiuning, and entering Changye... everything was according to plan. If you hadn’t called me back, I might have progressed even further."

"Progressing further is difficult."

The young man in the wheelchair coughed, unable to resist a smile: "You’ve already assumed the position of Judge, further... would be the position of the ’Grand Judge’ in the East Continent that has been vacant for nearly ten years."

"It’s not impossible."

Wutuo smiled: "Since both Gu Shen and Zhou Jiren are dead, this position can’t remain vacant forever... In two more years, perhaps even this year, Changye might elect a new Grand Judge."

The young man smiled and shook his head, not commenting.

"No matter, you can’t stay down there any longer."

"Yes..."

Wutuo showed regret and said: "I’ve already heard about the matters concerning Line One. Since you’ve gained Mr. Jia Wei’s trust, why not persuade the temple to avoid the risk and refrain from sending someone to investigate the ’Jiankou Islands’... From what I know, Tonezawa Shozaburo likely inflated the number of believers. How could those few desolate islands hide eight thousand followers?"

"Whether it’s eight thousand or three thousand... now that the operation has failed, it’s all just zero."

The young man said softly: "Since Elder Yuan Yang insists on doing it, let him do what he must. As long as you survive and return with Changye’s intelligence, then the effort wasn’t in vain."

"You still have that temperament, able to keep calm on such matters."

Wutuo sighed: "Just not sure... how long does the temple expect you to remain a shadow? That Su Ye has been seated as Saint Heir for so many years?"

Mr. Yao pressed his lips and smiled.

"Alright, I will report to Elder Yuan Yang about Changye Judgement Institute’s intelligence."

Wutuo rubbed his brows and was about to step forward.

"No need."

Mr. Yao gently said: "Report the intelligence to me this time."

"...Hmm?"

Wutuo’s eyes widened, immediately understanding the meaning behind the words, he couldn’t help but show signs of delight, lowering his voice: "Because of the Line One matter, that old fellow Yuan Yang was punished?"

"Don’t speak rashly."

Mr. Yao shook his head, earnestly reminding: "Three feet above heads are the gods; though this is not Light City, refrain from chaos of foul language. Elder Yuan Yang was sent to the ’Secret Dungeon’, he has other missions, many mundane affairs he previously managed will now be taken over by me, and you will belong to me from now on."

"Goodness, no wonder you’re not angry or upset."

Wutuo grinned and said sincerely: "Turns out you’ve finally endured to the end... Congratulations, Yao Jin."

The young man in the wheelchair was momentarily dazed after hearing his name.

He said lightly: "Nothing to congratulate, by the grace of the Light, I’m merely doing what is within my power, that’s all."

"This setback at the Jiankou Islands wasn’t accidental... I suspect that at the high levels of the East Continent, there is a shadow lying extremely low, and perhaps the other party also possesses the Holy Book."

Yao Jin raised his head, looking at Wutuo.

"It shouldn’t be, right?" Wutuo frowned: "At my level, even Gu Qilin I’ve met several times... In my impression, there’s no such person."

"Being discovered by you wouldn’t qualify as a shadow."

Yao Jin smiled slightly and said: "But it’s alright, as long as it’s a shadow, there will be a day it gets revealed by the Light. The Third Judge’s escape, such matters, the East Continent won’t overlook. If the ’shadow’ of Jiankou Islands is bold enough, he will come to pursue the Light City."

"Pursue Light City, crazy, right?"

Wutuo seemed to be hearing a joke. With Lord Divine guarding the place, this is a perfect Divine Domain.

How dare the Hidden Child from the East Continent come to Light City?

"Without ’accident’, naturally wouldn’t dare."

Yao Jin spoke again.

Wutuo froze entirely, he glanced peculiarly at the young man in a wheelchair, just at the instant, his Spirit Sea was unexpectedly flooded with an image.

All these years, he acquired the Judge position through actual strength!

Heart Lake was broken, without even a hint of defense!

This sickly person in the wheelchair, has he reached such a level of spiritual power?

After seeing the image.

Wutuo’s expression shook profoundly... West Continent... Sunset...

"It’s not much of a secret, just that these days you’re busy escaping, so you didn’t receive the ’Dream of Light’."

Yao Jin lowered his gaze and said: "In the coming time, I need you to assist me in playing out a drama... the so-called ’West Continent Sunset’ is merely the prelude."