Bai Qi took the offered chance to examine the goods filled table and found that the rewards were indeed not bad. He could not discern the actual use of the glove at first sight, but it still gave the vibes of a superior Spirit artifact.
As for the ring, it was a Void Ring. Albeit a basic improvement over the Storage Ring he used, it was still one with at least ten times the capacity. Not to mention that it was created with formations and not runes. The latter included one that made it impossible to access the ring while the registered owner was alive.
The pouches and boxes probably contained cultivation resources and so on, and so there was only one mysterious item. The map, after all, there should be some reason for it to be placed there, occupying half of the table, shouldn't it?
Not that he would ask about the rewards before accepting, and he wasn't planning to do so until he was sure of what to expect.
***
It took some more time for Lord Sheng, Elder Deng, and Bai Qi to finish discussing the matter.
Bai Qi made a few questions, like - Which were what dangers to expect, and the number of other cultivators inside. And he found the answers reassuring.
The insides of the zone contained no dangers at all by themselves. But at the same time, it was very possible to meet dangers inside. The reason? The 'Challenge Slates' would randomly appear, and offer different types of challenges. Including but not limited to combat, riddles, and puzzles.
The rewards for completing the Challenges were the actual reason for the interest that the Overlords had shown for the 'Underground Land of the River'. After all, they had enough qi and natural energy-filled areas for training, but none of them could provide a seemingly unlimited amount of techniques, skills, items, treasures, and so on as rewards.
As for the second question, the number of cultivators was indeed limited. Each of the six formation gates could be accessed by a number between 80 and 100 cultivators each opening. No one knew exactly the amount before the gates opened, and so each time a hundred for each gate was present.
"Understood, I trust that there is some kind of process to obtain one's entry? And if you are in the hundred and there are only 80 places, what happens?" Bai Qi's decided for this to be the last question, and so asked the only thing that until now wasn't explained.
"Yes, but you have not to worry. Half of our city entrants are always from my Clans, and you will be included as someone from an affiliated family in that number. With that, your initial entry is already set in stone. As for the second question, there is not much time to decide, so it's a basic matter of cultivation" Lord Sheng sensed that Bai Qi was close to deciding, and so answered detailedly.
"Understood, In such I will gladly accept this request, and do my utmost to help the Lord" Bai Qi stood up and slightly bowed.
"Good, now it is time for us to explain what are the rewards about, right?" Deng Guiying who had been sensing himself a bit out of the conversation during the last hour got up as well.
"Ahh, before that. I would like to make a request" Bai Qi did not allow to forget that his cultivation was still one of a 2nd level Sage. If there was some time, then it would be for the best to spend it training.
"What is it young friend Chen?" Lord Sheng asked while raising as well.
"I understand that I have some time until the 'Underground Land of the River' opens, right?" Bai Qi asked while tilting his head to the side.
"Yes, a bit less than two months" Lord Sheng nodded.
"Mmm, then I would like to request for someplace to train. And if it's possible, a peak Sage or a Beginner Warrior Lord to act as my sparring opponent for this time" Bai Qi inclined his head as he spoke.
"That is perfectly fine, and probably we would have provided it in any case. The nearer you are to the limit of our entrance, which is the 7th level of the sage realm, the greater our chances are. Elder Deng will see to it. And now, I will take my leave. I expect you to prepare and arrive at the 'Underground Land of the River' opening at your utmost" Lord Sheng slightly smiled, indicating that Bai Qi's words were of his liking. And after finishing speaking, he simply nodded in response to Bai Qi's and even Deng Guiying's salute.
*Swoosh*
With a simple seal, Sheng Huangye disappeared from the room, using the void as means to leave the building unseen.
***
"Haaaah" Deng Guiying tiredly sat down back while exhaling.
Bai Qi understood the reason for the Elder's tiredness, after all, acting differently for several hours was not easy. And the Elder had indeed done so. Deng Guiying was a person of action and direct speech, long explanations and goading someone into something simply did not sit with him.
Albeit Bai Qi doubted that the elder had nothing to do with the decision to recruit him for the task, he did feel that he was not overly gratified by being the one to do so. And in truth, it was indeed so. Deng Guiying was the one who proposed using Chen Guang to Lord Sheng, and he was also the one that was supposed to test him.
A test that had been dropped after the Bonejade incident. If Chen Guang managed to survive it, and from the account of his companions acted so well - He was definitively the right person for the task. But in any case, Deng Guiying did not plan to throw recruitment speeches and assure him of anything by himself. And so, he had deliberately used the slowest and boring way of explaining.
Having known Sheng Huangye for over a hundred years, when the young Patriarch had saved the life of a wounded Deng Guiying during a beast tide, he perfectly knew how the City Lord would react. And he did react as such, breaking in and forcing the process.
"Now that the City Lord and you have sealed the deal, let's proceed to what any cultivator should look for" Assuming a fairly more relaxed manner, Deng Guiying motioned for Bai Qi to move towards the other table.
Without standing up, Deng Guiying simply introduced the contents of the pouches and boxes one after another, as well as confirming the Void Ring as one. The glove was indeed a bit special, being a top rank Spirit armament. Different from a weapon or armor, it was mainly meant to reinforce one's fighting style, in place of making one adapt as when using the former two.
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The 'Bright Heavens' glove. It was rumored to be part of a set called 'Heavenly Vestements'. A set that no one had seen or found until now. Still, the effects of the single glove were already impressive. Not only it could allow a cultivator to use qi via it to destroy any low-ranked formation, rune set, martial skill, and even spell, but with enough qi infused, it could resist impacts up from an Earth rank weapon. It could also be used to gather qi apart from the one used in an attack, and release it alongside it. Thus reinforcing the strength of the attack.
Truly a treasure, and one that had Spirituality enough to recognize its owner, and to conceal itself when not in use.
"Senior Deng, the 'Bright Heavens' is an impressive treasure. Why would it be offered for such a task? And especially upfront?" Bai Qi asked while bending forward and examining the glove closely.
"Well, there are two reasons. The first would be that albeit it can be used without being bound, its strength diminishes. And during the last years, no one in the Sheng family has been able to make it acknowledge them. As for the second reason, it's because the glove has a limit of being used only for half an hour, and only during daylight. Probably it would increase or even be nonexistent with the other parts of the set, but no one had been able to find them" Deng Guiying explained while raising from the chair and making his way to Bai Qi's side.
As he did, he also added "And it was a reward from a Challenge Slate, so the City Lord thinks it's somehow connected to the zone. Regretfully, without any true master, it's impossible to confirm"
"I see, so if I can make it accept me, then it can help me inside, or even lead me to the other parts. And if not, it's a good trump card" Bai Qi nodded while making a mental note to make sure that if he did bind the glove, no one finds about it.
"Now to the last one. Lord Sheng said that the City would owe a favor to you, and from what I understand, you are not interested in being limited to the Great Forest region. And so, we have agreed that in case you decide to spend it so, Lord Sheng will write you a letter of introduction for any of the other four regions" Deng Guiying pointed to the map and slightly smiled at Bai Qi's apparent surprise.
At this moment, Deng Guiying thought "I do not know if it's for learning or because of curiosity. Or if you have some goal, but you are too young to hide your intention of traveling the entire plane. And we will give it to you".
As for Bai Qi, he inwardly smirked. He had deliberately allowed a few words to point that he wanted to travel around the plane. But the objective? Only two souls knew, and such it would remain.
***
An hour later, Bai Qi left the residence of Deng Guiying and returned to his manor. Loaded with the rewards, and with the promise of the space and sparring partner to be arranged before the next morning.
The glove, the void ring, and the introduction letter to the region of his choice were worthy rewards each, not to mention combined. And they weren't alone, as pills, medicines, and Spirit stones were also added aplenty. Bai Qi had returned, and even slightly went over the wealth level he had at the moment he entered the plane.
Bai Qi perfectly understood that he was being concealed a lot of information and that most probably the dangers inside were far above what he had been told about. Still, no matter what or who awaited him inside, it could not break the laws of the formation itself - the cultivation limit. And so, any threat would be at max equivalent to a 7th level Sage realm.
"In such case, there is nothing to worry about. Still, I should tread cautiously around my hosts as well. Wu Ren would have said nothing if he did not know for sure. And that means that whatever they say... I should only believe half" Bai Qi muttered to himself while entering his quarters in the manor.
___________________________________________________________________
After Bai Qi left, the void was torn again, and Lord Sheng reappeared.
"What do you say, Deng Guiying?" He asked right away, before even fully stepping out of the space tear he opened.
"Chen Guang is intelligent, and probably guessed that we know more than we revealed. Still, he accepted, and will keep his word or die inside" Deng Guiying did not act with the previous reverence and spoke like an equal.
"I would say that you are overpraising him, but after meeting him, I have to admit that you are right. What about the rewards?" Lord Sheng asked while making his way to the table and serving two cups from a bottle he summoned from his void ring.
"As I thought, his plans are indeed to visit other regions. The reason still eludes me, but it doesn't matter anyway. An introduction is nothing hard to do, and we will not be responsible for his actions after he leaves. And it's great for us as whatever he finds inside, stays out of the city as well" Deng Guiying shrugged and took one of the cups. After sniffing it, he widely smiled before saying
"Albeit the Kites decided to work with the Demon Worshippers and left the region, they still make the damn best wine"
"Indeed" Lord Sheng took the other cup and drank it in one go.
"Now, City Lord, what should we do about the candidates for entry? If it occurs again, we can not risk the geniuses of the Clans" Deng Guyin lowered his cup while asking.
"Yes, we can not. And thus I have decided to not send anyone except a few personal disciples of the Shou guest elders. As for my Shengs, well, we will do with the odd pair of the same. The rest of the places will go to the affiliated families. If Chen Guang is successful in preventing it, then it will do them only good. If he fails to prevent but manages to identify the responsible, then I will ride the grief and destroy whoever it was" Sheng Huangye said in a low voice.
"And if he does not survive?" Deng Guiying's expression grew serious.
"Then we have no choice but to accuse someone and see what we can get in the ensuing unrest. I will not continue allowing someone to kill MY people and go unpunished. If I have to destroy some small family and accuse them of working with the worshipers to drag out the culprits. So be it" Lord Sheng decisively said and lowered his hand forcefully, crashing the cup against the table.