Light Fortress
Chapter 349 - 40 Flame Dream

Chapter 349: Chapter 40 Flame Dream

Gu Shen looked at the hand Gong Zi extended.

The steam from the clear water hotpot rose, and the hand moved through the mist to encounter his own.

No.

Rather than saying the hand moved through the mist,

it was more like the mist avoided Gong Zi’s hand.

"How can you help?"

Gu Shen did not reach out but merely asked with a smile.

Gong Zi, patient as ever, slowly said, "Whatever you hope from the Gong Family, the Gong Family can provide... The Bai Family has been extremely lucky these past few years, cultivating Bai Xiu who already possesses an invincible reputation, and now you, an S-rank rookie outshining him, could very well fight him in the future."

"The resources for cultivation within the Judgement Institute are indeed abundant, but to access them, one inevitably faces bureaucratic red tape and restrictive rules."

Gong Zi earnestly continued, "I heard you reside in the Gu Family’s Villa District in the northern suburbs, where Luo Yu acts as the responsible person—taking him, for example... Although nominally a genius commander at the headquarters, Luo Yu’s resources for Extraordinary Cultivation, mundane objects under his control, and the power he holds, importantly, are undoubtedly granted by the Gu family."

Gu Shen fell into thought.

"This place is unlike Da Du... it’s older." Gong Zi thought and changed the term, "Maybe ’ancient’ is a more apt description. If you want to establish roots here, relying solely on an individual’s strength is very difficult... exceedingly so."

Gong Zi spoke rather euphemistically.

But in reality, the five great families are insurmountable towering mountains.

Dadu District is the progeny of the "Deep Sea" era, a new emperor crowned.

Meanwhile, Changye District has long been sitting on the throne as the elder.

It has its own unique rules.

"Moreover, the hand I extend today... does not merely represent the Gong Family," Gong Zi began earnestly.

"But also the Mu Family." Mu Nan’s goggles fogged up as he paused midway through eating his beef slices, emitting a small burp softly, and started seriously.

Gu Shen squinted his eyes, observing the two young men sitting across from him.

"By forming alliances, one can ensure self-preservation."

Gong Zi lowered his voice and said, "With such sincerity... Brother Gu, do you still need to consider?"

"Indeed, that is genuine sincerity."

Gu Shen thought for a moment and regretfully said, "But I’m sorry, I cannot take this hand, whether it’s from the Gong Family or the Mu Family..."

Gong Zi was taken aback.

"Because previously, the Bai Family also extended their hand to me."

Gu Shen spoke calmly.

Gong Zi recalled the scene previously at Ninghe Bridge.

Miss Bai had extended her hand to Gu Shen.

Gu Shen... had also declined.

"For me... taking any of your hands would mean grabbing hold of trouble."

Gu Shen smiled and said, "Brother Gong, Brother Mu, thank you for your hospitality, but I must decline joining your partnership. Of course, I will not join the Bai Family or the Li Family either. I just want to practice in solitude."

This was an unexpected answer for Gong Zi.

But it was also a response within reason.

"I respect your wishes." Gong Zi smiled, "Fair dealing is based on goodwill; today’s meal was not a transaction. If you change your mind, Brother Gu, you can find me anytime."

"Furthermore..."

"After a while, there will be a newcomer battle in Snow Forbidden City, open to all Transcendents under the age of twenty..."

Gu Shen burst into laughter halfway through listening.

"I won’t participate in the so-called ’newcomer battle’..."

He shook his head, making his stance clear, "I wish Brother Gong all the success and the championship."

A week later, the materials for repairing the Qingzhong Array Patterns had arrived, and by then, he would need to start getting busy... As for the so-called newcomer battle, it was not even within his consideration.

The folks in Changye were combative and competitive.

The newcomer battle came just at the right time, Gu Shen now just hoped for some peace and quiet around him.

Gong Zi coughed awkwardly, then asked, "Brother Gu, won’t you even ask about the rewards?"

Gu Shen’s attitude seemed to show complete disregard for the newcomer battle...

In fact, he had always considered "Bai Xiu" as his ultimate foe, but after Gu Shen arrived in Changye, Gong Zi vaguely felt that he might have gained another enemy.

"The reward is...?" Gu Shen asked, half-pushing and half-pulling.

"A strand of ’Flame Dream’ intuition."

Gong Zi spoke solemnly, "This was a creation left behind by Mr. Gu Changzhi in Snow Forbidden City twenty years ago, before he fell into a deep sleep, a total of thirty strands of Flame Dreams... Perhaps realizing that he was about to enter a long sleep, these thirty strands of flame were divvied up over thirty years, each year given to the champion of the newcomer battle for intuition."

"A ’Flame Dream’ of intuition?"

Intrigue suddenly sparked in Gu Shen, who had initially shown little interest.

"As you know... those capable of carrying the Flame Power are one in ten thousand Divine beings," Gong Zi’s eyes flashed with complex emotions as he spoke softly, "The reason Changye has the five great families is that in the past years, each family had a Divine Throne who commanded the ’Flame’."

"And in ancient times, the Federation Government would select ’Flame’ candidates and conducted worldwide recruitment... Under extremely harsh conditions, even Transcendents with immense determination, including some of Titled Level, ultimately failed."

"Among the many tests these individuals had to undergo, one was the ’Flame Dream’ of intuition."

Gu Shen frowned and asked, "Passing this intuition dream means one has the potential to forge the Flame?"

"In theory... yes. But it’s only one of many criteria," Gong Zi said with a smile, "It’s quite tempting, isn’t it? Even though it’s just one criterion, it has stumped countless geniuses. Over the years, the geniuses who have won the newcomer battle in Snow Forbidden City have all confidently tried to experience that strand of Flame Dream..."

"And they all failed?" Gu Shen was somewhat surprised.

"They all failed."

Gong Zi took a deep breath and continued, "The reason it’s called a newcomer battle... is because each person only gets one chance to compete. Of course, for those who truly desire to win, aside from the ’Flame Dream,’ the other rewards are unimportant."

This newcomer battle had stringent conditions.

Some who awakened their Extraordinary Talent late... simply didn’t qualify to compete.

In fact, the elite of the five great families lacked neither resources nor seals... What they truly valued was following the Divine Will preserved, the ’Flame Dream’ of intuition.

Gu Shen smiled and said, "Then Brother Gong, it seems very difficult for you to win the championship."

It’s a pity.

Changye has a "little unbeatable."

If that overhyped Bai Xiu from the Bai Family were to participate in the newcomer battle, then it would likely be a crushing victory all the way.

Given the domineering aura displayed by Bai Xiu’s breathing techniques, this guy is almost certainly an admirer of Gu Changzhi.

How could such a monster give up on the dream of the Flame?

"I am still watching..."

After a moment of silence, Gong Zi said, "If Bai Xiu competes this year, I might choose to compete next year... Although it sounds a bit shameful, at least next year I will have a chance to experience the ’Flame Dream’."

"Bai Xiu is still training in Jiangbei and has not yet returned... The whole of Changye is waiting for news of his return."

As Gong Zi said this, his expression became complicated, "Of course, now there’s another person. You."