"Grandfather, what's wrong?"
Dugu Yan furrowed her delicate brows, her face full of confusion.
"With so many things about Chang'an worth being surprised over, why are you staring at the 'Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well' that was introduced long ago?"
Dugu Bo coughed awkwardly and casually brushed it off.
He couldn't exactly tell his granddaughter what had happened in Sunset Forest, could he?
"Grandfather, do you think the major forces will rush to win them over? And what exactly is Chang'an's 'Ultimate'?"
Resting her chin in her hands, Dugu Yan kept her gaze fixed on the Sky Screen hanging in the heavens, her tone brimming with curiosity.
At those words, a glint flashed through Dugu Bo's eyes.
He had no interest in what the other forces might do, but he was somewhat intrigued by this so-called "Ultimate."
Could that "Ultimate" possibly help him resolve his martial soul's flaw without affecting its power or his cultivation?
Even if it could not, he still had to make a trip to Chang'an and use some Immortal Herbs to trade for Ice and Fire Spring Water. Otherwise, both he and his granddaughter would be finished!
"Yan Yan, stay home and behave. Grandfather needs to head out again, and this time I may be gone for quite a while!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Dugu Bo vanished in a flash.
"Honestly, Grandfather is usually so lazy. Why has he suddenly become so hardworking?"
Dugu Yan shrugged helplessly, then looked up at the Sky Screen again. She truly wanted to see Chang'an for herself.
Heaven Dou City, Ye Residence.
When the Sky Screen first descended, Ye Lingling had returned home.
She and her grandmother, Ye Xinci, had been watching the Sky Screen ever since.
Now, upon seeing the announced top rank, Ye Lingling could not help asking in surprise,
"Chang'an City... Ye Han? Grandmother, have you heard of this city and this senior before?!"
Ye Xinci shook her head. Her clouded eyes stared fixedly at the word "Ultimate" as she murmured,
"The 'Ultimate' behind that gate transcends the mortal world. Could it break the shackles that allow only one member of our Ye family's martial soul to exist in each generation?"
Just then, a figure darted in and knelt to report,
"Reporting to the family head, the latest news is that the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and the Upper Three Sects have formed an alliance. With the exception of the Clear Sky Sect, they have set out together to visit Chang'an City!"
"There is also one more matter. Poison Douluo returned to the city not long ago, but has already left again. His destination is most likely the same as theirs!"
"Should we also..."
Ye Xinci had long anticipated this. She gave a faint smile.
"Let those great powers scout things out first. Small families like ours should observe for the time being."
As she spoke, she slowly rose to her feet and walked to the window. Gazing outside, she murmured,
"Old Dugu, you are likely going for the sake of your martial soul's flaw as well, aren't you? I hope that when you return, you can bring back some insight into the 'Ultimate.'"
Ye Xinci was of the same generation as Dugu Bo and also possessed the Nine Heart Begonia.
Dugu Bo had once asked her to help resolve his toxins. Though she had failed, they had forged a deep friendship.
Otherwise, how could their two granddaughters be so close?
Ye Lingling, who had remained quiet, looked toward the Sky Screen again. She felt a certain yearning for Chang'an and its "Ultimate."
Skywater City, Shui Residence.
"Wow, there is actually such a force in this world!"
Looking at the contents of the Sky Screen, Shui Yue'er hugged her older sister beside her and asked with a mischievous grin,
"Big Sister, do you think Chang'an City's lord, Ye Han, might be some incredibly handsome young man?"
Shui Bing'er slapped away her wandering hands and said sternly,
"Don't talk nonsense! A powerhouse capable of establishing such a force must be a highly respected senior. You must not make such frivolous guesses!"
But Shui Yue'er stuck out her pink tongue.
"Grandmother said the strongest experts can preserve their youthful appearances. So what if he is a senior over a hundred years old? He must still be quite charming!"
Unable to do anything about her, Shui Bing'er looked toward the aged figure seated nearby—the Shui Clan's head, Shui Ningshuang.
"Grandmother, hurry and rein Yue'er in! She even dares set her sights on a senior!"
Shui Ningshuang merely took it as the girls fooling around, a smile blooming across her aged face.
"Ha ha ha, Yue'er has grown up. This old woman can no longer control her. If the city lord takes a liking to Yue'er and accepts her, that would be a wonderful thing as well."
Hearing that, Shui Bing'er said somewhat irritably,
"Grandmother! Why are you joining in this nonsense too?!"
Shui Yue'er was displeased as well, her cheeks puffing up indignantly.
"Grandmother, I was only joking! What if he really is an old man?!"
Shui Ningshuang merely smiled without speaking. After glancing at Shui Bing'er, she raised her head and stared at the word "Ultimate" on the Sky Screen, sighing softly.
"Shui Bing'er was born frail. No matter how many heavenly treasures we sought, we could not make up for it. The Ice Phoenix martial soul she inherited is too overbearing, causing her to suffer constant erosion from cold energy. It can still be suppressed for now, but after Rank Seventy, that may no longer be the case. I wonder whether this so-called 'Ultimate' can resolve it for her?"
"Alas, let the major forces investigate first."
Shui Bing'er had always been sensible and perceptive. She quickly understood what her grandmother was thinking.
She could not help looking toward the Sky Screen as well, staring at the information about Chang'an City with confusion rising in her beautiful eyes.
"Can Chang'an City's 'Ultimate,' which can cure every illness in the world, have miraculous effects on my cold poison?"
Chang'an City's "Ultimate" behind the Ark Gate attracted more than just the continent's forces.
At this moment, Sea God Island, Demon Shark Bay, and the Demonic Whale Sea Area far out in the ocean were all stirred by it.
These three great ocean powers all desperately needed healing items to treat their subjects, clan members, and loved ones.
When the Life Lake in Star Dou Forest had previously been revealed, they had sent people there at the same time to seek help.
Now that they had seen an "Ultimate" existence even more supreme than the Life Lake, how could they suppress the stirring in their hearts?
The Sea Witch, Bai Xiuxiu, and Lan Fozi sent out by the three great powers had also seen the message on the Sky Screen.
"Chang'an City, where humans and beasts are equal! Near Star Dou Forest! The Ultimate that can cure every illness in the world!"
At that moment, the three women, who had set off from different locations, changed their routes without prior arrangement and headed for—Chang'an City!
Suotuo City, Shrek Academy.
"The top rank isn't the God Realm?!"
Everyone was once again shocked by the Sky Screen's contents!
"No way! Does something like this really exist?!"
Ma Hongjun and the others were so stunned that they no longer knew what was what.
"A wild ranking! It must be a wild ranking!!"
Yu Xiaogang alone stomped his feet anxiously, pointing at the Sky Screen as he cursed,
"This Grandmaster has traveled the continent for many years. How could I not know of such a force?!"
"If it truly existed, how could they not invite this Grandmaster to oversee and teach them?!"
Tang San stepped forward as well, backing him up from behind.
"That's right. If such a force truly existed, how could they not invite my teacher, the continent's number one Master of Theory, to join them?"
Although Zhao Wuji, Ma Hongjun, and the others had begun to doubt Yu Xiaogang's identity as a "Grandmaster,"
he was indeed publicly acknowledged as the number one Grandmaster. Yet Chang'an City had not invited him?
Shouldn't a force like this rather mistakenly take in a hundred geniuses than let even one slip away?
Not far away, Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes lit up the instant she saw Chang'an City.
"A place detached from worldly strife, where humans and beasts are equal, transcending the mortal world... This is where my heart longs to be—Chang'an City!"
She turned to look at the others. Seeing Yu Xiaogang, the "Grandmaster," once again hopping about like a clown, she finally could not stand it any longer.
"Headmaster Flender, I want to withdraw from school!!"
Zhu Zhuqing strode forward and spoke those words without the slightest hesitation, her firm, cool voice echoing throughout the scene.
Before you continue