Light Fortress Chapter 1698 - 374: Speak

Watching the commencement of the duel between Xie Zheng and Qi He from afar, Old Yu and Xu Fang found themselves enveloped in a thick shroud of nervous anticipation, their hearts a tumultuous mix of apprehension and inner conflict.

No matter the extent to which Liu Quan concealed his true capabilities, he was, after all, a disciple they themselves had brought into the fold.

Should he be subjected to the scrutiny of the Security Committee, the most lenient outcome would involve a mere inquiry, while a more severe punishment could mean constant surveillance or even imprisonment.

A glimmer of relief washed over them upon witnessing a Judge step forward, seemingly prepared to advocate for Liu Quan.

Yet, to their utter astonishment, the intervention of a Judge not only failed to de-escalate the volatile situation but instead plunged it into even greater turmoil.

The mention of a "Taboo Seal" had implicated the Vice President of the Security Committee, and had even necessitated the appearance of the First Judge... could this entanglement possibly resolve without severe repercussions?

The tension was palpable as the two held their breaths, awaiting any sign.

Amidst this charged atmosphere, they observed that Mr. Xiao Gu, seated beside them, maintained an unfaltering composure.

Though Old Yu and Xu Fang were merely spectators, they were far from unintelligent.

The young man bearing the Gu surname had, with uncanny accuracy, predicted the trajectory of the "Recruitment Trial" on multiple occasions, an evident display of insight and a level of understanding far surpassing their own. Coupled with his surname... could his background truly be ordinary?

Their minds raced with bold conjectures. Perhaps Mr. Xiao Gu was a Transcendent, identified and recruited by the Gu Family from an associated clan within Qing River, possessing some degree of influence. Or maybe, he held a significant official post within one of the other two major headquarters?

Regardless of the specifics...

The most daring speculation continued to brew within their minds, though they hesitated to voice it.

The sheer magnitude of such a possibility was simply too overwhelming.

Noticing the abrupt materialization of a figure upon the arena's stage, their gazes instinctively shifted... the seat beside them was now vacant.

Mr. Xiao Gu had vanished.

To be exact, Mr. Xiao Gu now occupied the stage itself.

...

...

High above the dojo, the Sword of Water coalesced into formidable ice, and the fiery auras that had previously danced around the stage abruptly subsided.

At some unperceived moment, a distinct figure had appeared precisely at the center of the dojo.

The chaotic interplay between the encroaching ice and the receding flames generated a dense cloud of mist, effectively obscuring the vision of the onlookers and simultaneously nullifying all attempts at spiritual perception.

The oppressive aura that had, until moments before, relentlessly bore down on Xie Zheng, had vanished without a trace.

He stared blankly at the mist-shrouded silhouette confronting him.

Who could this be?

How did they arrive here?

His spiritual senses yielded absolutely no information!

Even the assembled Transcendents within the dojo's audience remained utterly bewildered by the unfolding events.

Hadn't Judge Zhou E... already intervened?

Why did the stage fall into such profound silence immediately after those Water Swords transformed into Ice Swords?

An immense quiet descended upon the dojo, so profound that the rhythmic thudding of a heart became audible.

"Thump."

"Thump."

Zhou E lowered his head, his expression grim.

As he gazed upon the encroaching azure frost spreading beneath his feet, his heart felt as if it had momentarily ceased to beat.

Qi He's countenance was etched with an agony far exceeding mere distress; he had already deduced the identity of the enigmatic presence concealed within the swirling mist.

What an extraordinary coincidence.

And, regrettably, most inconvenient.

Such is the capricious nature of fate; improbable events, defying all likelihood, sometimes manifest with startling inexplicability.

No Transcendent, save for those who have experienced the profound fusion of the Great Achievement Domains of [Chi Huo] and [Pure Land], could possibly comprehend the true weight of this oppressive aura...

The figure enveloped in mist slowly parted his lips.

However, his words were not directed towards Zhou E, nor were they intended for Qi He.

Instead, his gaze was fixed upon Huyan Bo, who stood not far from the edge of the stage.

"Will the Huyan Family ascend to become the most esteemed affiliated family of the Gu Family within Jiuning District?"

His voice, though not boisterous, carried with remarkable clarity.

It resonated distinctly in the ears of all present, reaching not only Huyan Bo, Zhou E, Qi He, and Du Wei, but every single individual occupying the spectator seats.

"I believe the answer is not necessarily so."

The Huyan Family, while substantial, was not without its limitations.

Within the confines of Jiuning District, the Huyan Family held a prestigious position among the top ten influential families. Even in the broader Changye region, the Patriarch of the Huyan Family was recognized as a figure of considerable standing...

Yet, in this world, there existed individuals capable of dictating the destiny of such a family with mere utterances, though such beings were exceedingly rare.

One such exceptionally rare individual was none other than Mr. Gu Qilin.

This very fact had emboldened Huyan Bo to speak so defiantly to Du Wei earlier; with the implicit endorsement of Mr. Gu, even a single word or gesture of approval would suffice to propel the Huyan Family towards an unprecedented historical "leap forward."

Alas.

The very definition of 'rare' implies that such individuals are not unique.

A figure of such immense stature possessed the power to bestow prosperity upon a family with but a single decree, and conversely, to consign it to ruin and oblivion with another.

"You..."

Huyan Bo directed his gaze towards the fog-shrouded silhouette gracing the dojo's center. After a discernible tremor in his throat, he adopted a tone of profound reverence.

"You... have arrived?"

"I have been here all along."

Gu Shen responded in a hushed tone. With a graceful wave of his sleeve, the obscuring mist dissipated. This time, he eschewed the concealment of the [Ghost Veil], choosing instead to reveal his true countenance.

As the fog dispersed, a face, intimately familiar to everyone present, was unveiled.

"Gu Shen!"

"Gu Shen!!"

A chorus of astonished exclamations erupted throughout the dojo in rapid succession.

Old Yu and Xu Fang's faces contorted in dramatic expressions. Xu Fang's jaw dropped, a chasm appearing in his grin.

He recollected their recent, lively exchanges.

And he, himself, had just smilingly clapped "Gu Shen" on the shoulder, engaging in playful banter.

Xu Fang felt as if he were trapped in a dream... so the "Mr. Xiao Gu" who had been seated beside him all this time was actually the legendary Mr. Xiao Gu?!

"I've always been here..."

Huyan Bo's smile had become a rigid mask; he could no longer muster a laugh.

The weight of those four words, "I've always been here," signified that every single event unfolding within this dojo, from its very inception to this moment, had been observed by Mr. Xiao Gu.

Huyan Bo understood this implicitly.

Despite the clandestine nature of his prior conversation with Du Wei, such secrets were not beyond the perception of Transcendents of this caliber.

"The Huyan family... has profoundly disappointed me."

Having uttered these words, Gu Shen's gaze shifted, abandoning Huyan Bo to fixate upon the First Judge positioned opposite him.

"Zhou E, you too have fallen short of my expectations."

The [Pure Land] descended, completely engulfing the dojo and smothering Zhou E's advanced water element Domain. His legs became encased in a rime of green frost, but the words Gu Shen spoke next plunged him into a far more chilling abyss.

Gu Shen's eyes calmly assessed the First Judge.

He resolved to offer Zhou E an opportunity: "I caught snippets of your earlier words, but the clarity was lacking... With more witnesses present now, would you be willing to reiterate your statement?"

Back on Divine Temple Mountain, Uncle Gao had informed Gu Shen that the Judgement Institute had been deliberating on the matter of appointing a "Grand Judge" for several years.

At that time, Gu Shen had found a modicum of solace in this news.

For it was true, the Judgement Institute was indeed in need of a Grand Judge.

As for who might ultimately fill that role, Gu Shen harbored no specific preference; his sole concern was whether the prospective "Grand Judge" possessed the requisite ability, boldness, and integrity for such a position.

In Changye, does brute force prevail over reason, or is it the reverse?

This question remained without a definitive answer.

Reason might be extinguished, yet individuals persist. According to the established protocols of the Security Committee, upon awakening my abilities, I should have been subjected to "oversight" and "confinement."

It was thanks to the unwavering advocacy of Mr. Shu

that I arrived at my current standing today.

The realm of Transcendents requires both adherence to established norms and individuals who dare to defy them.

Therefore, the actions of "Qi He" and "Xie Zheng" today were not inherently erroneous.

As for Zhou E...

His inclination towards a biased stance was both anticipated and, to a degree, comprehensible.

Had this individual demonstrated impartiality to such an extreme degree that he ignored the plight of his junior being assaulted, Gu Shen would have felt a genuine sense of "admiration."

What Gu Shen is currently enacting mirrors, in essence, Zhou E's own approach.

This perceived similarity is precisely why Gu Shen is inclined to grant Zhou E another chance; the ambition to ascend, the desire to attain the position of Grand Judge, is not inherently flawed... Should Zhou E possess the formidable will to become Grand Judge, it would, in fact, be a positive development.

Gu Shen's expression remained placid as he gently prompted Zhou E to speak.

"...Speak."

This simple command resonated within Zhou E's very being like a devastating clap of thunder.

"..."

Zhou E's judicial robes became saturated with perspiration, which then transformed into a cascade of fine ice shards.

He felt as though his entire body had become petrified, utterly beyond his command.

With immense effort, he managed to exert minute control over his gaze, slowly directing it upward.

His intent was to fix his eyes upon the figure standing at the heart of the swirling frost and snow.

Yet, the crushing pressure emanating from within his chest rendered even this most fundamental act of observation an impossibility.

The confrontation between Gu Shen and Jia Wei at Red Lake had been lauded as a battle that approached the realm of "divinity."

Merely by observing the recorded footage, the majority of Transcendents could perceive only the dazzling energy arcs that illuminated the lake—

Only those with true insight grasped the locus of the fight's terrifying essence.

However, the visceral experience of such an event differs fundamentally from observing mere recordings.

Zhou E was suddenly overcome by a profound sense of despair.

He realized, with chilling certainty, that encountering a Transcendent of this magnitude rendered even the act of "looking directly" an insurmountable challenge.

The pressure Zhou E experienced was not, in itself, overwhelming.

His perception was not mistaken.

Though the snowstorms within the [Pure Land] domain appeared wild and chaotic, Gu Shen had not purposefully exerted any direct pressure upon Zhou E.

His "encouragement" was, in every genuine sense of the word, encouraging.

But Zhou E, tragically, proved incapable of meeting the challenge; his Adam's apple bobbed, yet no sound emerged.

He desperately wished to articulate the very words he had intended to convey.

But his mouth refused to obey.

Not a single syllable could escape.

"If you cannot even achieve this simple feat, then the position of Grand Judge... perhaps it is best left unconsidered."

Gu Shen's head drooped slightly, a gesture of palpable disappointment.

This turn of events left Xie Zheng utterly bewildered.

From their brief interaction alone, he recognized his own inferiority... Within the fourth rank, chasms of capability exist; Zhou E had consistently held the top position among the eighteen Judges for years, a testament to his prowess, second only to that of a Titled Transcendent.

However...

Could someone like Zhou E truly not possess the ability to even "speak" in Gu Shen's presence?

Xie Zheng had, of course, witnessed the climactic battle at Red Lake as well.

Even though he dedicated himself to honing and crafting seal items in seclusion, the monumental event that unfolded in Light City was a spectacle known throughout the world.

A blanket of snow covered the entire dojo.

Yet, Xie Zheng perceived that the oppressive weight on his heart was not as intense as he might have expected.

He descended slowly, drawing near Gu Shen before gathering his resolve and asking, "Are you perhaps the fabled Mr. Xiao Gu?"

Gu Shen regarded Xie Zheng with a gentle smile.

"There is something... I'm uncertain whether to voice it or keep it silent..."

Xie Zheng drew a profound breath, his gaze alight with anticipation. He suddenly comprehended the reason for the intense premonition that had compelled him to attend the dojo's recruitment trials today.

And also why the young Liu Quan had exerted such a peculiar "attraction" towards him.

Perhaps, it was all orchestrated to lead him to this very moment, this destined "encounter" with Gu Shen.

Gu Shen let out a soft chuckle, echoing those two specific words once more: "...Speak."

"Mu Qingyang informed me that I absolutely must travel to Changye and join the Judgement Institute. He also instructed that if I ever had the opportunity to meet you... I should, without fail, request to become your disciple."

Xie Zheng was not extraordinarily old, nor was he particularly youthful.

Gu Shen was momentarily taken aback, his eyes appraising this young man who appeared only a few years his junior.

He was aware that Mu Qingyang had brought Xie Zheng over from the Tundra, but he had never conceived that Mu Qingyang would impart such counsel to him.

The intention of taking him as a disciple?

Xie Zheng tilted his head upward, summoning every ounce of courage to articulate his request, each word carefully chosen: "So... I wish to become your disciple."

...

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(PS: 1. A substantial chapter is scheduled for release tonight; I guarantee there will be no unforeseen interruptions this time. 2. The Jian Gu anime has premiered today; interested individuals may find it on iQIYI.)