Carefully weighing his words, Bai Qi answered all of the questions affirmatively. He indeed planned to cultivate and then visit his friends. If their levels were enough, returning to their original plane would be their next goal.
"But both the Cultivation and Martial paths are said to be unlimited, and so, at least speaking for me, I do not plan to stop at just the level that would be enough" Bai Qi finished with a bit of candor, even slightly raising from his chair.
"Nicely said" Deng Guiying nodded after hearing the answers, but did not continue speaking.
The silence continued for a few minutes, with both of them submerged into their thoughts. Bai Qi could not guess what the Elder was thinking about, but he knew one thing, that whatever it was, it would not take long to be revealed.
"You see, Shuomen City has a problem, and we wanted to ask for your help solving it" Deng Guiying broke the silence unexpectedly, and his words were a bit too direct.
"I am glad that Senior Deng thinks so highly of me, but what can a Sage realm cultivator help a power like this city?" Bai Qi had not missed the word 'we', but did not accentuate it.
"Because you are a Sage realm cultivator. Wait, let me explain a bit about the city and the problem itself before we get to that" Deng Guiying began speaking only to suddenly change the theme halfway.
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Shuomen city was thousands of years old, tracing its origins to the appearance of the Astral Gate. At first a small town, then a fortress, a power's seat, and even the capital of the plane for a few years. The city continuously grew and had dozens of roles in the Plane, until 1200 years ago, the plane was divided into regions. Regions ruled by their respective overlords. Thus ending the era of the Astral Gate being the center of the plane.
But the 'Sky Tear Sect', the strongest of all overlords, had no intention to attempt to rule the entire plane. Neither they had any interest in holding control over Shuomen City. And after a long discussion between the six overlords of that era, it was decided that the City would become what it was now. A free city, ruled by its Lord, and with districts for every overlord to use as they wanted. As well as access to the Astral Gate whenever they required it.
Originally the city had been founded by the 'Radiant Gate Society', something like an alliance of several like-minded clans and cultivators. And in different roles, this society still existed.
So when the question of who could serve as the City Lord arose, the overlords turned towards the Shou clan, the strongest amongst the 'Radiant Gate'.
Free city or not, it did not change that its location was inside the borders of the 'Great Forest'. Meaning that it shared the same enemies and dangers. Calling on the promised reinforcements from all the overlords in case of need aside, all of the City Lords until now still considered themselves aligned to the region. And so, they have been always cooperating with the local powers to defend it.
Logically a safe city, with access to all the region goods, and at the same time one that had enough action going attracted dozens of rogue cultivators. And some of them, even entire unaffiliated clans settled in Shuomen. Actively taking part in its conflicts, economy, and even politics. One of these clans was the Sheng Clan.
Internal strifes, disputes, fights, and even attempts to gain control of the city or at least a district were a common occurrence for almost seven hundred years. With the overlords' interference limited to keeping each other in check, all clans, including the ruling Shou's had been involved in this war for power.
Everything changed with the ascension of the late City Lord, Shou Bingwen. In just a hundred years, he managed to pacify the entire city. He rooted the weeds, cut the roots, and in the end, the city obtained stability at last. Or at least a semblance of it, as there as a clan he never managed to entirely pacify - the Sheng clan.
But as if heavens willed for it, the Shengs suffered several disgraces and failures in quick succession, thus losing any ability to contend with the City Lord.
After a few dark years, the sun rose again for the Shengs, and in the most unexpected manner.
A 19-year-old youngster became its patriarch, and contrary to any logical reasoning became its greatest head until the date. Ten years to rebuild the clan, and less than twenty to make it surpass even the Shous. This was an impossible feat, but one that Sheng Huangye achieved.
But this new Sheng powerhouse did not want to fight for the city, no, he simply wanted his clan and the city to prosper alike. And so, an unexpected truce was formed between the previously hostile clans.
After a long stint of fighting in both the City and Region battles, Sheng Huangye peacefully inherited the position of the city lord. It was something unthinkable, but it happened.
For the last twenty years, Sheng Huangye has been the City Lord, while the Sheng and Shou clans had practically become one.
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"As you understand, any Clan depends not only on its head but also on its members. So not only the two main clans but the smaller ones as well, dedicate an enormous amount of resources to train their next-generation" Deng Guiying said after an explanation about the City.
Bai Qi simply nodded. He understood from the single 'Because you are a Sage' phrase that most probably it would be something related to the young generation. So now, he was patiently waiting for the Senior to get to the point.
"For heavens sake, how much time are you planning to keep getting to the point old man? Are you planning to speak until the youngster dies from boredom?" Suddenly a deep voice, slightly tinged by annoyance resounded in the hall.
"Lord Sheng?!" Deng Guiying's half-surprised exclamation told a lot. And Bai Qi could read through it very well.
A City Lord was not supposed to speak with just anyone. Neither he was supposed to turn unexpectedly in other's houses anyway. But he was here, and probably since the start of the talks. Albeit Bai Qi felt such an arrangement strange, he did understand that anything related to the City, would be to its Lord as well. And if it was important, then the Lord probably could skip over some formalities.
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No cultivator invited into the house of another would expand his senses, as it would be either disrespectful or a challenge to the host. So it was not surprising for Bai Qi to miss the concealed observer. Even so, Bai Qi could only hope that this was the last surprise for the night, as this single one was enough for him.
"Young friend Cheng, what Elder Deng on my behalf was trying to explain to you, is that there is a special training zone. One which all of the young generations enter every five years" As the voice sounded, the owner came into Bai Qi's view.
A tall man, easily reaching the seven feet and looking about forty years old.
Long red hair freely cascaded down to his shoulders and gave him a wild look, while the stern face and deep eyes contrasted it by giving him the looks of a wise man. Dressed in a rich red and white robe with a golden phoenix design.
Such was the man in front, Shuomen's Lord, Sheng Huangye.
Bai Qi attempted to stand and salute, but a gentle push of the Lord's aura made him fall back into the chair.
"No need for all that" Sheng Huangye shook his head slightly and strode towards one of the chairs. Dropping in it without any decorum.
"Lord Sheng? I thought you asked me to explain our young friend the problem and request his assistance?" Deng Guiying turned towards the City Lord and asked, continuing in a qi transmission "You were supposed to appear after he agreed?"
"Ah, yes, but your explanation was so long that I simply felt that you would never do so" He shrugged and then turned his gaze on Bai Qi.
"As I said to Revered Elder Deng before, I am just a Sage realm cultivator, how could I be of any help to the City Lord, or the City itself?" Sensing a slight discomfort because of the gaze, one that appeared to read through a person, Bai Qi returned to his initial manner. It would also serve to confirm, although it was practically sure anyway, that the Lord had been here since the start.
"Yes, I did hear your words from before" Lord Sheng perfectly understood why Bai Qi did it, and he admitted to it directly. Not without making a mental note on how this youth seemed at ease.
Lord Sheng was a 5th level Warrior Emperor, and just his presence, without the status, was enough to make most of the local cultivators feel either fear or awe. "Seemingly this young man is far more than just a simple inheritor of a small-time sect from a weak plane" He thought to himself.
A small pause ensued, with neither of the parties saying anything. Bai Qi waited to hear more, but he wasn't interested in showing too much willingness. Deng Guiying wondered why the Lord suddenly decided to crash right in the middle of the talks. As for Lord Sheng? He simply watched the reactions of Bai Qi, or Chen Guang as he knew him.
"Ehem, as Lord Sheng said, there is a special zone that all the young generation enters to train" Seemingly having received some kind of signal, Deng Guiying began explaining.
The zone was called 'Underground Land of the River'. It was discovered several hundreds of years ago, and nothing was known of its creator. Still, a place with an extreme amount of both natural energies and pure qi, it was immediately considered heavens sent place for training.
For all these years, the Shuomen City had controlled the zone but allowed the cultivators from the five overlord regions to enter it as well. Not of goodwill, but as a way to guarantee that the City would retain the overall control.
The zone opened every 5 years, and a third of the entering cultivators were from the City. Or to be truthful, to the young generations of the Shou and their affiliates. It had only changed recently, with Lord Sheng taking the mantle, becoming free to all the residents of the city.
"And now let's move to the problem" Like if directing Elder Deng's words, Sheng Huangye interjected while waving his hand. And the Elder, albeit with an annoyed look crossing his face, immediately complied.
An enormous formation, one that no Grandmaster or even Saint had managed to decipher entirely, covered this zone. It separated the zone into several smaller segments, of which each had special restrictions. Restrictions on the cultivation realm, and even level that could enter.
There were three areas meant for Sages, and three areas meant for Warrior Lords. As a third of the cultivators were from the City, it was decided that one of the areas would be exclusive for them, while the other two would be for the overlords to manage.
"A serious incident occurred in the Sage one the last time. And there is when you appear in the equation" Sheng Huangye interjected again, and Deng Guiying cut the previous explanation.
"During the previous opening, 91 youths of the Sage Realm and below entered, but only 64 exited" Only to say a single phrase, and one that immediately explained what the matter was about.
"So twenty-seven cultivators just disappeared? But if that was five years ago, how could I be of help?" Using the pause, Bai Qi slightly leaned forward and asked.
"They did not disappear, they were killed. Fights inside the areas are uncommon, with all of our cultivators being from the same city... But they do occur. Still, even after questioning every one of the remaining ones, and using all possible means, we could not find any lies in their words. And as you can guess, they claimed to be innocent" Deng Guiying answered with apparent calm, but Bai Qi sensed the elder's concealed anger behind it.
"All the victims were from the Sheng and the Shou clans, and one of them was Elder Deng's apprentice" The City Lord did not say it aloud, preferring to send a qi transmission to Bai Qi.
"So I take that what the Lord and Senior require my assistance with, is to enter the area and try to search for clues?" Bai Qi asked probingly.
"We do not think that any clues still exist, but yes, that would be one of the tasks" Lord Sheng confirmed with a slight nod.
"I see, so the Lord thinks that such an incident will occur again" Bai Qi said while looking straight into Sheng Huangye's eyes.
"Yes, I do. The cultivators that were left alive were weaker than the killed ones, and I also believe in their innocence. No one had hidden their cultivation, and during the questioning, there were no signs of them working even in pairs, what to say in a group enough to quickly and stealthily deal with my Clans cultivators" Sheng Huangye responded without breaking the eye contact.
"I understand. Lord thinks that someone either found a new entrance or had some kind of special means to enter into the zone and kill the younger generation of your Clans. In such a case, it would be logical for no one to know anything, especially if I understood right, and everyone moves by themselves inside" Bai Qi connected the dots and voiced his guess.
"Indeed, you are right. And you also understand that someone like you, with no ties in our plane, is the only candidate. I will not lie, it may be a dangerous task. But the cultivation path is for the brave. Still, being brave and getting a reward are things that do not prevent each other, so if you accept" Sheng Huangye paused briefly and motioned to the second table "You will be rewarded. No matter if something happens or not, the City will owe you a favor"