After leading the group to the plaza, the old man hurried over and said something to the Luo Family Ancestor. The latter quickly set aside what he was doing and strode over to them.
"This old man is Luo Cheng, the ancestor of the Luo Clan. I didn't know you were coming. Please forgive us if our hospitality has been lacking." Luo Cheng quickly lowered himself and said with a smile.
Before a Dou Zun expert, he was nothing more than a slightly larger ant, a mere little Dou Zong. He was used to throwing his weight around, but now he had no choice but to rein himself in.
"City Lord Luo, you're too kind. I was hoping to use your Space Wormhole on this trip, but it seems there's quite a problem with it."
Xiao Ze's gaze swept over the Space Wormhole on the stone platform. A vast, pitch-black void, nearly ten zhang wide, was slowly rotating there, its terrifying spatial power enough to make one's heart tremble.
But from its disorderly appearance, it seemed to have fallen into disrepair over the years.
Luo Cheng smiled sheepishly. "This Space Wormhole was built by an elder of my Luo Clan. It's been around for a long time, so the imprint between the two locations has probably grown a little faint."
"Do you have a way to fix it?"
Luo Cheng looked hopeful. Every extra day the Space Wormhole remained out of commission cost the Luo Clan tens of thousands.
He'd spared no expense to hire two Dou Zong experts to repair it, but clearly, that hadn't been enough. Now he had no choice but to place his hopes in Xiao Ze.
"Give me a quarter of an hour." Xiao Ze looked toward the Space Wormhole, already working out a plan.
"Then this old man thanks you in advance." Luo Cheng was overjoyed and quickly expressed his gratitude.
The Space Wormhole was the lifeblood of the Luo Clan. They couldn't afford to lose it.
"By the way, what would you like in return? Anything my Luo Clan has is yours to choose from. How does that sound?" Luo Cheng continued, recalling the reward he'd mentioned earlier.
"I need a seventh-tier Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast Magic Core," Xiao Ze said after a moment's thought.
A seventh-tier Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast Magic Core was indispensable if he wanted to revive Venerable Skyfire. A sixth-tier one might work, but Xiao Ze wanted the best, not something that would merely do.
Venerable Skyfire's soul form was deeply moved. At the same time, he glimpsed hope for a new life.
Luo Cheng's eyes lit up. "You've come at just the right time. My Luo Clan just received a batch of Magic Cores, and there happens to be a seventh-tier Scorpion Dragon Beast Magic Core among them!"
"If you can repair the Space Wormhole for my Luo Clan, I'll give you that Magic Core."
Trading a seventh-tier Magic Core to get the Space Wormhole running again wasn't too painful a loss.
"Agreed." Xiao Ze nodded.
When he reached the stone platform, Xiao Ze saw the two Dou Zong experts Luo Cheng had hired at great expense. He barely glanced at them, saving himself the trouble of approaching them to make small talk.
Seeing this, they tactfully stepped aside. Even they had to keep their tails between their legs before a Dou Zun expert.
Looking at the Space Wormhole, about ten zhang across, Xiao Ze wasted no words. With a thought, the space around him twisted. A vast surge of spatial power welled up, then roared into the Space Wormhole.
The crowd below watched the scene before them in amazement.
Spatial power had always been a signature technique of Dou Zun experts. Dou Zong experts like them had only just begun to grasp it; they were nowhere near as adept as Xiao Ze.
The process was over quickly. Though Xiao Ze had only recently reached the Dou Zun level, his strength was in no way inferior to that of veteran Dou Zun experts, and his grasp of the laws of space was every bit as formidable.
Before their eyes, the disorderly spatial energy gradually subsided. Before long, the Space Wormhole had returned to normal.
"At last, it's repaired. I'll remember this favor, Daoist friend!" Feeling the Space Wormhole gradually resume normal operation, Luo Cheng let out a hearty laugh and sincerely thanked Xiao Ze.
He'd been up all night worrying about this.
"Are you all right?" Xiao Yi Xian and the other women asked softly when he came down from the platform.
"I'm fine." Xiao Ze smiled.
"Friend, here's the reward I promised you." Luo Cheng waved his hand, and a jade box flew toward Xiao Ze.
Xiao Ze caught it with one hand and opened it.
A purplish-red, oval Magic Core came into view. He gently rested a finger on it, sensing the energy contained within, and gave a slight nod.
Although he'd never seen a Heavenly Scorpion Poison Dragon Beast's Magic Core before, the energy attribute described in the records seemed similar...
"Friend, please come to my residence and allow me to fulfill my duty as your host!"
Xiao Ze and the others were more than happy to accept the invitation.
That evening, the group strolled around the city. They had to admit, it was indeed more prosperous than the Black-Corner Region.
Early the next morning, Xiao Ze and the others arrived at the entrance to the Space Wormhole.
Luo Cheng watched them leave.
The moment they stepped into the Space Wormhole, their figures vanished.
Only then did Luo Cheng click his tongue and sigh. "A Dou Zun expert this young is truly a rare sight. Even in the Central Plains, where geniuses are as plentiful as fish crossing a river, I doubt you'd find another."
The Space Wormhole and tearing through space were much the same, so when Xiao Ze and the others entered it, they felt no discomfort.
However, because the Central Plains were so far away, the journey through space lasted nearly a week.
A week later, a glimmer of light appeared at the far end of the Space Wormhole.
Xiao Ze and the others hurried out, stepping straight through the exit.
As they emerged from the Space Wormhole, a rush of fresh air washed over them.
The three words Tianbei City stood out in particular.
Travelers from other regions had arrived alongside them, but without exception, they had all needed to pass through a Space Wormhole along the way.
"So this is the Northern Region of the Central Plains?"
Xiao Yi Xian and the others looked around the bustling plaza, each with a different expression.
What struck them most was that even the weakest people around them were Dou Wangs. Dou Emperors were everywhere, and the strongest among them was a terrifying Three-Star Dou Zong.
One thing had to be admitted: in the Central Plains, Dou Emperors were as common as dogs and Dou Zongs walked the streets. Only after reaching the Dou Zun level did you have the clout to throw your weight around.
"Husband, where should we go now?"
They had just arrived in the Central Plains and didn't know the place. They didn't want to be sold off and still help the seller count the money.
Xiao Ze had naturally planned for this.
"Before we set out, the Great Elder gave me a letter. She said we could look her up when we got to the Central Plains. She used to be a student at the Inner Academy, but after graduating, she returned to the Central Plains."
Xiao Ze held the letter from the Great Elder. It gave a precise location; they only needed to find her.
"Then let's get going!" Zi Yan looked as if she couldn't take another moment of this.
The Space Wormhole had been so boring, it had nearly stifled her.
Xiao Yi Xian patted her on the head and comforted her. "Zi Yan, the Central Plains aren't like your Jia Nan Academy. You'll have to keep your impulses in check."
Even so, Zi Yan had always done as she pleased. She wouldn't change overnight.
"The Han Family, Tianbei City!"
Looking at the writing, Xiao Ze felt a slight stirring in his heart. Could it be those two sisters?
Interesting...
Before you continue