In Hope Sea City, purchasing permanent residency requires ten thousand mid-grade Source Crystals. Renting, on the other hand, only allows you to stay for a few decades with the same amount, and without owning a house. However, buying permanent residency comes with a house, albeit not too big or too small. So, the guard was right in saying it's a good deal.
She sensed her storage ring and found it filled with mid-grade Source Crystals piled up like a small hill. Besides the crystals, there were also jade bottles that seemed to be of high quality. If she guessed correctly, they must contain precious pills.
"This…" Huaiyu was stunned. With so many Source Crystals, she could totally buy permanent residency. She wondered if she was dreaming and pinched her arm hard. It instantly turned red and purple, and a burning pain shot to her brain, making her realize she wasn't dreaming.
However, Huaiyu didn't feel happy about getting such a fortune. Instead, her face was filled with confusion. She only did a simple guiding job, so how could she deserve such a reward?
"No, I have to return it."
Huaiyu ultimately decided not to take so many Source Crystals. Although she was just an ordinary, bottom-tier cultivator and needed Source Crystals, she was also someone who stuck to her principles.
With that thought, Huaiyu headed towards the Mandarin Duck House. As soon as she reached the entrance, she was stopped by the guards.
"Entering the Mandarin Duck House requires a deposit of ten high-grade Source Crystals."
A guard said to Huaiyu.
"Uh…"
Huaiyu retreated a few steps upon hearing this. Ten high-grade Source Crystals were equivalent to ten thousand mid-grade Source Crystals. She did have them in her storage ring, but they weren't hers and had to be returned, so she couldn't use them recklessly.
Since she couldn't go in, she would just wait outside. The esteemed guests would come out after they finished eating, so she would just wait.
So, Huaiyu found a step opposite the Mandarin Duck House and sat down, her eyes fixed on the direction of the Mandarin Duck House, afraid that she might miss Gu Changsheng and the others when they came out.
…
At the same time, nearly a billion sea beasts had gathered in the depths of the North Sea. These sea beasts weren't just from the North Sea, but from all the oceans of the Ancient Star Wangyue. The North Sea alone couldn't gather nearly a billion Void Realm sea beasts; only the combined oceans of the entire Ancient Star Wangyue could gather such a massive beast tide.
Among so many sea beasts, there were several with particularly powerful auras. They were like generals commanding the sea beast army, dividing the countless sea beasts into groups.
In the deepest part of the North Sea, a golden giant egg floated in the seawater. It exuded a mysterious aura, like a king ruling over all things, attracting countless sea beasts to surround it.
"Crack!"
A subtle sound rang out, and a crack appeared on the golden giant egg. An even stronger aura of a king emanated from the egg, instantly spreading throughout the entire North Sea. Countless sea beasts rolled frantically in the seawater as if injected with chicken blood, stirring up thousand-foot waves.
In the Hope Sea City Lord's mansion, a middle-aged man suddenly opened his eyes, looking towards the North Sea with a hint of worry in his eyes.
"This beast king's aura is so oppressive even before it's born. I wonder if Hope Sea City can survive this calamity."
He was the City Lord of Hope Sea City, Wang Shutian.
"Someone, bring Elder Long here!"
Wang Shutian said.
"Yes!"
Soon, an old man with white hair and beard came before Wang Shutian.
"This old one greets the City Lord."
Elder Long bowed to Wang Shutian.
Wang Shutian quickly helped Elder Long up and said, "Elder Long, you don't need to be so polite. I've invited you here to ask you to divine the future of Hope Sea City."
Elder Long nodded and said, "This old one understands. Please wait a moment, City Lord."
After speaking, Elder Long took out an ancient tortoise shell and nine ancient copper coins. He sat down cross-legged and began to divine for Hope Sea City.
Wang Shutian held his breath, not daring to make a sound, for fear of disturbing Elder Long.
"Puff!!"
After half an incense stick's time, Elder Long suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning much paler, and he looked even older.
"Elder Long, what's wrong?" Wang Shutian quickly helped Elder Long and asked.
Elder Long shook his head and said, "City Lord, please rest assured. This old one took a risky path and inadvertently embarked on the path of celestial secrets. My days are numbered. If it weren't for you, City Lord, using precious elixirs to extend my life back then, I would have died twenty years ago. Now, I've earned a profit by being able to live for twenty more years."
Wang Shutian was about to speak when Elder Long gestured for him to stop.
"Please remember what I'm about to say, City Lord," Elder Long said.
"Please speak, Elder Long," Wang Shutian looked at Elder Long intently.
Elder Long said, "Just now, this old one deduced the future of our Hope Sea City. The Po Jun star is exceptionally bright, meaning that Hope Sea City will face a crisis of extinction, but…"
When Wang Shutian heard that Hope Sea City would face a crisis of extinction, his heart couldn't help but jump, but when he heard Elder Long's "but," he couldn't help but think that there might still be a turning point.
"But this old one discovered that behind the Po Jun star, there is an even more dazzling Zi Wei Emperor Star shining. That kind of noble aura is the first time this old one has encountered in my life. Even the gatekeeper of Hope Moon City is not even one in a billion compared to it. The Zi Wei Emperor Star is the only glimmer of hope for Hope Sea City, and the hope lies within our Hope Sea City!"
As he spoke, Elder Long pointed in a direction and completely fainted.
"Elder Long!" Wang Shutian looked anxious. When he found that Elder Long had only fainted, he breathed a sigh of relief. After settling Elder Long down, Wang Shutian looked in the direction Elder Long had pointed.
Hope Sea City was so big, and Elder Long only pointed out the direction, but didn't say how far it was. How was this different from finding a needle in a haystack?
However, Wang Shutian didn't ask for too much. Since there was a glimmer of hope, he had to seize it.
"Someone, pass down the order to find out who has recently entered the city at the fastest speed."
Wang Shutian said to the outside.
"Yes, City Lord!"
"Wait." Wang Shutian had just finished speaking when he remembered something. He instructed, "This matter must not be publicized, nor can it disturb others, and even more so, we cannot put on airs."
"Understood!"
Wang Shutian glanced at the direction Elder Long pointed, sighed, and said, "I hope the expert can lend a helping hand!"
…
Inside a luxurious private room in the Mandarin Duck House, several people were waiting for the food to be served, while Gu Changsheng shook his head helplessly.
"As expected, he's not a proper cultivator of the Heavenly Secrets. How can someone just crash into it so directly? Fortunately, I reacted quickly enough, otherwise I would have died. This generation of humans is really hard to lead."
Other cultivators of the Heavenly Secrets, except for the Divine Calculator, derive the results they want by indirectly deducing things, because you don't know how much karma the things or people you deduce will involve. But this was the first time he had encountered someone like this kid named Long directly crashing into his Zi Wei Emperor Star.
Regarding this, Gu Changsheng didn't know whether to praise this kid for his courage or his stubbornness.
Even the Divine Calculator didn't dare to deduce him, but this half-baked kid actually directly crashed into him.
How stubborn.
Considering that the kid was concerned about the safety of Hope Sea City, Gu Changsheng saved his life.
…
