Chapter 1228: 18.66 First Grey Star - Gu Clan left the Noble Faction.
The family sits around a large pot that is simmering over a small fire, and it is filled with two different types of soup—one is spicy, the other is savory—so each person can dip their preferred ingredient into the soup base they prefer.
A few men were dumping ingredients in the pot and scooping them nonstop as they ate. Mu Zang and Doctor Guang were this type; as for Ye Jieye and Mo Xuejing, they were feeding their brats first before eating. Their parts were saved on their side from the beginning, and the other two served their own as they ate.
As for Lu Shang and Leica, they left the town to find information about the Hellish Strawberry or anything that is a fire-based ingredient in the information center. They were especially coming for the latest information about the danger zone, the Aurora Glaciers.
Since only the highest-ranking staff members of the building knew that Lu Shang was Satan's subordinate, when he and Leica showed up at the information center, nobody was surprised.
"Young Master Lu Shang and Sir Leica, welcome to our information center! How may I help you?"
"We wanted to buy the latest information about the Aurora Glaciers," Lu Shang answered.
The majority of people in the center were taken aback by his response, which stated that very few people actually purchase information about the danger zones.
This is because each zone is under the ownership of a Heavenly Guardian, hunting in the danger zone is difficult due to the extreme danger, and purchasing information about these areas is expensive and reserved for large clans or wealthy individuals.
Satan happened to the latter. He is extremely wealthy, yet he only chose to run a small restaurant when he had enough money to buy the whole Numen Town.
"Information about the Aurora Glaciers. Would you like to have everything, including the locations and information about the ingredients in that zone?" The staff asked.
Leica replied, "If possible, prioritize the information about fire-based ingredients above rare, including all legendary and god-grade ingredients. Money isn't a problem."
"Is there any information about the legendary-grade Hellish Strawberry? Add that to it," Lu Shang said.
Their backers are two joker-class hunters, Satan and the Ice Demon, after all, and the information center had centered the majority of their personnel prior to these two individuals and ensured that all of their requests were fulfilled as quickly as possible.
"According to the current system, there are indeed some discoveries about the Hellish Strawberries, but the grade is unknown as it hasn't ripened yet. It might be legendary as usual or even above if it mutated."
"Make that the top priority. Sort out everything. We will buy all information about Aurora Glaciers, including the snowstorm timeline, in the past few years," Leica said.
Upon Leica's mention, the staff at the center became aware that they intended to venture into the center region of the glaciers. Since Satan was the only person to have descended into the Aurora Glaciers a few years prior—nobody knows how he did it, but he did return with a Lotus of Life from the depths of this dangerous zone—they had to wait a long time for him to recover.
Lu Shang asked, "How much is it?"
"Hm. It is totaled for 30 million or 1 million hunter points. Which mode of payment do you choose to pay?" The staff asked.
Leica took a few suitcases from his space ring and set them in front of the workers, who felt a glow that would not go away as they opened it all and saw bundles of thick cash in front of them.
"We will pay full in cash. Please hurry the sorting so we can return to report as soon as possible," Leica said.
The information staff were all staring at the cash before their eyes were dumbfounded. They haven't had such a rich patron this year. Lord Satan was the first one.
Lu Shang said, "Don't freeze all of a sudden and do your work."
"Y-Yes Sir!"
"Someone! Gather people to move the money to the Treasury. The rest do the sorting of information for Aurora Glaciers as soon as possible!"
The other customers were gracious enough to allow them to fulfill the request from Satan. Seeing such a large amount of money in cash, it is the first time they have seen such a thing. In the eyes of Satan and his group, this amount of money is not different from a piece of tissue paper. The staff was running around in panic, seeing such a huge client.
They needed to complete the order for this bigshot before the others.
"Our dear patrons, please follow us in the lounge first. In half an hour, everything shall be sorted. Please drink some tea or coffee in the meantime."
"Okay, half an hour it is." Lu Shang agreed, and he brought Leica to the lounge to rest for a while.
They immediately returned to Numen Town after receiving the information. They had a hotpot date in the backyard after they returned to the restaurant.
---
Back to the capital...
The royal knights had closed all entrances and exits to the Tower of God, but no matter how long they waited, the Second Prince did not emerge. This bizarre occurrence was promptly reported to the palace. After receiving the news, King Xingyun and the Heavenly Guardians sensed something was wrong. A person cannot abruptly disappear.
Heavenly Guardian Lu Wangle, who had reached the top floor, scowled more deeply than the rest. He knew what type of nasty entity lived at the top of the tower.
"No one comes out of the tower?" King Xingyun asked.
Heavenly Guardian Lu said, "There is no way for a person to disappear just like that. Either the Second Prince is still at the tower or that being sends him off somewhere. Spatial ability, I think that being is capable of doing such a thing."
"Will it be dangerous to send people into the tower to check?" King Xingyun asked.
Heavenly Guardian Xian Wu spoke up. "Not applicable. We already know that the being who owns that tower feeds on negativity. In short, the more sin someone has, the more it would be powerful. It's better to send fewer with a purer soul and a righteous heart."
Everyone looked at Lu Wangle and knew that, among the Heavenly Guardians, only he and Mu Zang knew what was in that tower.
Heavenly Guardian Lu Wangle said, "I don't mind going, but what should be done with the second prince? He won't go with me even if I find him, and that being wouldn't let go of his believers that easily."
"I will go in with you," King Xingyun said. "Unlike the Ruins of Time, the Tower of God is only a building and not found in another timeline or world like the Ruins of Time. Moreover, I need to talk to Xingju."
Prime Minister Fu Zin rejected this idea. "No! An unknown being is still dangerous! You can't go there, your Majesty!"
"No. I think his majesty is the right choice to climb up the tower. Like Wangle, he also has a righteous heart, but... Your regrets are a bit dangerous," Heavenly Guardian Mo Xinyue said.
King Xingyun said, "I'll keep that in mind."
"I will...
"You can't go. If you go, who will handle the Noble Faction?" King Xingyun said.
The Prime Minister's face doesn't look good when he hears his lover's words, but he knows that these words are correct.
Fu Zin said, "If you can't come back in half a day, I will also go up!"
"Okay, I will be back as soon as possible," King Xingyun said.
After all, King Xingyun and Heavenly Guardian Lu Wangle chose to go up the tower while the others waited below, and they bid farewell to Lu Wangle and the King until they vanished into the Tower of Gods.
Doctor Sen asked, "Will they be alright?"
"They will be okay. They aren't going there to make a wish after all," Heavenly Guardian Xian Wu said.
Heavenly Mo Xinyue cast a sidelong glance at Yi Kun, who was grinning at the two that had vanished from view inside the tower. Yi Kun seems like the kind of person who would not pass up such an opportunity, particularly when Heavenly Guardian Gu Yan returns to that state's capital. The noble faction would not be pleased with these developments.
Prime Minister Fu Zin said, "Fu Zin, watch your back. They are about to do something."
"I know. They wouldn't be able to achieve what they wanted," Prime Minister Fu Zin whispered back as he looked at the flickering lights on each floor, which indicated the journey of the two people.
"I will go back to the place first," Prime Minister Fu Zin said.
Heavenly Guardian Xian Wu asked, "Do you want us to come with you?"
"There is no need. Unlike Xing'er, I am never kind in the first place," Prime Minister Fu Zin said as his face turned cold and distant. He is completely different from his friendly version when the king is around.
At the Noble Faction's Territory...
They had heard about Heavenly Guardian Gu Yan's predicament and had even seen him firsthand; the red-gold flame was eerily similar to the fire the Lu Clan used, albeit purer than any member of that clan; in fact, the fire itself was sufficient evidence of Ye Jieye's Lu Clan ancestry because their fire is inherited.
The children are terrified, and the adults frown at Heavenly Guardian Gu Yan's hoarse cries of pain, which reverberate throughout the entire mansion. They have already consulted with every doctor in the capital, who confirms that there are no wounds or scars on his body, but that the red-gold fire that is burning him is real.
They also learned from the Prime Minister's house staff that Heavenly Guardian Gu Yan only has a half-day left to live and that in order to heal him, they must summon the Mo Clean Heavenly Guardian. However, they were not in a rush because they knew that the Mo Clan would not assist them without something in return.
The one in charge of this faction is Yi Kun's son, Yi Jun. Beside him is Gu Yan's son, Gu Hen, who is glaring at everyone as they keep wasting their time and leaving his father in pain.
Gu Hen said, "What the hell are you fuckers planning to do? I need to get my father cured as soon as possible!"
"A'Hen, don't be in a hurry. Wait for my father to come back before we decide on doing something next," said Yi Jun.
Gu Yan exclaimed, "Nonsense. Why didn't your father stop my father to confront Satan? Obviously, he doesn't see us, Gus, as someone from the same side! I'm taking my father and leaving. Stop me, and we can only fight!"
Now that the young lord has decided to take away their Heavenly Guardian, they no longer waste time. Before Heavenly Guardian Yi returns, they must leave this place. The elders of the Gu Clan were afraid that their clan would be absorbed by the other clans next, so they had to be on guard and closely guard their heir.
Yi Jun warned, "The moment you leave the gates, your Gu Clan will no longer be included in the Noble Faction. Make your choice then."
After a brief moment of hesitation due to his father's condition, Gu Hen got up and got ready to go, thinking that things might be under control again once he got his father recovered.
"Take my father. We are going home." With a command, Gu Hen ordered his clansmen to advance in the way he specified, and the Gu Clan as a whole emerged from the mansion beneath Yi Jun's icy stare.
Yi Jun added, "I hope you won't regret this choice."
"Even if I regret this choice, as long as my father is alive, that is okay," Gu Hen said as he gestured for his people to leave.
When Gu Hen arrived, the nobles no longer had the same warm look in their eyes, and when they saw his father's condition, Yi Jun and the others turned away and gazed viciously at the Gu Clan, leaving their factions.
"Tsk! Did he really think his father could be healed!?" Yi Jun mumbles.