Thunder City.
Nothing seemed to have changed. It was much the same as when Lan Ge had left. Crowds still flowed endlessly, and everything remained orderly. Vendors selling all kinds of food and peddlers offering Thunder City crafts were everywhere. Everything was peaceful. Harmonious.
There was no doubt this was the Grand Elder’s doing. He had promised three years of stability—and he had truly delivered.
Lan Ge steadied himself. He did not return to the royal palace. He simply didn’t want to go back. There were too many memories there—memories he wasn’t ready to face. Instead, he headed straight for the back mountain. He decided to find the Grand Elder first. After being gone so long, there was too much he needed to learn—and too much he needed to say.
Wisdom City
“The Ancestral Court of the Demon Domain is indeed like this. The Heavenly Devils traveling to the Demon Domain is no small matter,” the Divine Envoy of Courage said gravely.
Fa Hua briefly recounted their experiences in the Green Sea of Life and the Demon Domain.
“I have another question. When we were in the Endless Blue Sea, the Sea Giant Emperor mentioned that the Sea Dragon Emperor—the foremost of the Five Blue Sea Emperors—had a major conflict with our Law Domain. He even tried to blockade the sea. Do you know anything about that?”
The Divine Envoy of Courage frowned, then nodded with a bitter expression. “I do. In a certain sense, I was involved as well. The outcome is still uncertain, and the situation is not favorable for us. It concerns another of the Seven Divine Pearls, so there’s no room for us to retreat.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Fa Hua asked.
The Divine Envoy of Courage shook his head. “Not for now. If there is, I will tell you. The Sea Dragon Clan is powerful, but the Kingdom of Order is also not without strength.”
“That’s good.”
“I’ve told you everything you need to know,” the Divine Envoy of Courage continued. “As for the secrets of the Peerless Pearl, keep them to yourself. Tell no one. The Seven Divine Pearls hold Humanity’s greatest opportunity for revival. Whatever decisions you make in the future, you must be extremely cautious.”
The Divine Envoy of Courage departed, leaving Fa Hua to digest what he had learned.
One detail lingered in his mind. Not without strength… even so… could the Law Domain really stand against the Sea Dragon Clan? The Sea Dragon Emperor was a Moon God. An existence at that level could likely crush the entire Law Domain outright. Even at the same Eleventh Rank, Fa Hua was certain—the Ruby Queen would not be his match. The Sea Dragon Emperor ruled the Endless Blue Sea, the greatest ocean of all. Even if he had not reached the Twelfth Rank, he could not be far from it.
Thunder City
“That’s everything. That’s what’s happened over the past few years.” Lan Ge looked at the Grand Elder before him, who seemed even older now. He had recounted everything in detail.
The Grand Elder sighed. “You’ve had it hard. Still, I didn’t expect you to reach the Ninth Rank so quickly. That’s excellent. Now you have the foundation to compete for the position of Lord of Thunder City.”
Lan Ge blinked in surprise. “It hasn’t been three years yet, right? We’re selecting the Lord of Thunder City already?”
The Grand Elder nodded. “I’m reaching my limit. Your father was the ruler of a nation—his prolonged absence cannot be hidden forever. Though the officials have maintained order as instructed, the truth will come out eventually. A new ruler must be chosen. Before that, I hope you can secure the position of Lord of Thunder City. As for whether you become king—that depends on your ability.”
Lan Ge waved his hands quickly. “King? No thanks. I’m not cut out for that. Honestly, Brother Shangchen would be better. He was already Ninth Rank years ago. He’s the best choice.”
At the mention of Bei Yue Shangchen, the Grand Elder’s expression softened. “He is suitable. But he may not be willing. He has his own path. And he is often away from the Blue Domain. Even now, I don’t know where he is.”
“Now that you’re back,” the Grand Elder continued, “I’ve decided to move up the Thunder City Grand Competition. It will be held in three days. Prepare yourself. Will you stay here, or return to the palace?”
At the mention of the palace, Lan Ge’s expression dimmed. “I’ll stay here for now. I don’t want to go back… not yet. I’ll mostly be training with Fa DuiDui anyway, so I won’t disturb you. Oh—Fa DuiDui advanced as well. With the Peerless Pearl, he gained recognition from the Codex of Wisdom. He’s now the Divine Envoy of Wisdom.”
The Grand Elder’s eyes widened. “The Divine Envoy of Wisdom? That’s excellent news! Then you must work hard as well. At the very least, you should become Lord of Thunder City—otherwise how could you match him?”
Lan Ge’s lips twitched. “Match him? Why would I need to match that guy? If it weren’t for the Peerless Pearl, I’d have killed him already.”
The Grand Elder chuckled. “With the Peerless Pearl between you, you can only be comrades—brothers. And from what I can see, your relationship has improved. When you said you’d kill him, there wasn’t a trace of killing intent.”
Lan Ge snorted. “That’s because I literally can’t kill him. If he dies, I die. I’m going to train. Do you still have any Life Water left? I’ve been gone a long time—you should’ve accumulated plenty. I’ll have some to quench my thirst.” Before the Grand Elder could respond, Lan Ge had already turned into a gust of wind and rushed into his room.
“You brat! Leave some for me! You can drink, but don’t take anything with you! And one more thing—this competition won’t be publicly announced as a selection for Lord of Thunder City. Not until you win. Don’t say anything either!”
“Got it—mm, this is good!”
Peerless Pearl Cultivation Space
“The Thunder City Grand Competition? Want me to help?” Fa Hua asked.
“No need. It’s time to test my strength,” Lan Ge replied with a grin. “If you’re interested, come watch. You can back me up.”
“Mm. Alright.”
“Why do you sound so reluctant?”
“Because I am.”
“Are you serious right now?” Lan Ge snapped.
“You’re the one talking too much. People with low intelligence tend to do that.” Fa Hua never held back.
“What did you just say?!” Lan Ge exploded.
Fa Hua let out a cold laugh. “Of the Twelve Codices—I am Wisdom. And you’re not.”
“……”
The early start of the Thunder City Grand Competition threw the entire city into excitement. People from surrounding towns and smaller cities flocked in to witness the rare event.
The competition was held once every ten years. Anyone within Thunder City’s jurisdiction could participate, and the rewards were generous—meant to encourage cultivation. This time, however, because the schedule had been moved forward, those below the Sixth Rank were not allowed to register, leaving many eager participants unable to take part. In the end, ninety-eight competitors remained—all Sixth Rank or above.
When Lan Ge arrived at the arena, his mood immediately darkened. From afar, he stared at the platform. It was here… on a similar stage… that his parents had met their fate. Yes. The competition grounds stood before the royal palace. That had always been the case.
Lan Ge wore a deep blue cloak, his hood drawn low as he stood quietly in a corner of the competitors’ area. From time to time, his vision blurred with tears.
Fa Hua stood beside him, present under a special pass. He could feel Lan Ge’s emotions. For once, he didn’t mock him. He simply placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a light pat.
“Hey, brother—brought your wife to compete with you? Not bad. So young, and both already above Sixth Rank. Impressive!” A burly man in his forties nearby laughed.
Who’s he talking about? Lan Ge’s voice echoed in Fa Hua’s mind.
Seems like you, Fa Hua replied calmly.
Tell him to get lost.
Lan Ge was furious—but this was Thunder City. Too many people knew him. He didn’t want to expose himself yet. Especially not with Fa Hua’s arm still around his shoulder.
Fa Hua turned and said apologetically, “Sorry, brother. My wife’s not in a good mood—”
“What the hell did you just say?!”
Lan Ge exploded, yanking off his hood.
Fa Hua replied calmly, “I was just going along with what he said. Saves explaining.”
“That’s your excuse?!”
“Xiao Ge?” The burly man stared in shock. “You’re back? It’s really you? You’re competing too?”
Only then did Lan Ge recognize him. His face immediately fell.
“Second Uncle… why are you here?”
The man was Lei Ran—his father’s cousin, someone very close to the family.
Lei Ran looked between the two of them, expression strange. “You two are…?”
Lan Ge quickly shook off Fa Hua’s arm. “I was just looking at the platform and thinking about Father and Mother. He was just comforting me. Don’t misunderstand!”
“Mm, mm. I won’t misunderstand.” Lei Ran patted his shoulder, eyes filled with sympathy. “Child… my condolences. Take care of yourself. I’m up soon—I’ll go prepare.” And with that, he turned and left.