Hancheng was still brightly lit at night. The bright and dim lights dotted the small city.
From above, the area looked like a patch of starry sky.
But in the old town of Hancheng, a shabby noodle shop had emptied out. Its dim lights flickered constantly, as if they might go out at any moment.
A few large characters were carved above the shop's entrance.
"Liu's Noodle Shop!"
An old man slowly stepped out of the shop and looked around. Everyone had already left.
"Time to close up!"
The old man turned around unsteadily and headed back inside to close the shop and go to bed.
Just then, a clear voice rang out.
"Boss, do you have any noodles left?"
The old man stiffened slightly, then turned around and saw a young man with a quaint-looking case strapped to his back, smiling at him.
The old man seemed to have forgotten that he hadn't seen anyone around just a moment ago. He greeted the young man with a chuckle.
"Plenty! How much would you like?"
"Two liang. Go easy on the chili!"
The young man thought for a moment, then replied with a smile.
"Coming right up!"
The old man smiled and briskly headed over to the still-lit stove.
He deftly turned on the burner, and the water in the big pot began to boil again. Wisps of steam rose from it.
The young man picked a seat in the shop and sat down, not minding at all that the place was a little unsanitary.
With his back to the young man, the old man deftly scooped out two liang of noodles from beside him and dropped them into the pot, then started preparing the seasoning.
Garlic water, light soy sauce, vinegar, bird's-eye chili...
He added the seasonings in set proportions, then ladled some hot water from the pot into the bowl. The condiments blended together, and a burst of fragrance instantly filled the air.
The young man gently closed his eyes and twitched his nose.
He caught a mouthwatering aroma.
A while later, the old man finished the noodles and topped them with minced beef. A vivid red sheen of chili oil immediately appeared.
The young man took one look and felt his appetite awaken.
He picked up his chopsticks and dug in, while the old man slowly sat down on a stool and watched him eat the noodles he had cooked.
"Heh heh, take it easy!"
The wrinkles on the old man's weathered face creased as a radiant smile spread across it. He looked at the young man as if he were his own son.
No one knew how much time passed before the young man finally finished the noodles in front of him. He leaned back in his chair, patted his stomach, and said with a satisfied smile, "It's been so many years, Uncle Liu, and your cooking is still as good as ever!"
"You rascal!"
Old Liu gazed at the young man before him, a hint of nostalgia in his cloudy eyes.
"Come on, what brings you here? You never show up without a reason."
Old Liu teased the young man.
The young man chuckled. "As expected, nothing gets past you! I came to Hancheng for two reasons this time!"
"What two reasons?"
Old Liu pulled a tobacco pipe from somewhere and began to smoke.
Rings of smoke drifted from Old Liu's mouth.
The young man furrowed his brows slightly, as if he couldn't stand the smell. He waved his hand and said, "A relic has appeared!"
"A relic?"
Old Liu looked surprised. He pondered for a moment, then raised his head and looked at the young man. "In Hancheng?"
The young man nodded gravely.
"That's right. If Second Brother's readings are correct, it should be somewhere near Hancheng!"
Old Liu considered this, then slowly said, "If it's in Hancheng, then it's in Hancheng. You've come in person. What is there to worry about? Can't you handle it?"
Old Liu knew exactly how strong the young man before him was. He was already one of the strongest people of this era!
If even he couldn't handle it, then no one in this age could!
"It's not that I'm worried I can't handle it. It's Northern Europe and North America..." The young man gave a wry smile.
Old Liu chuckled. "What, are people from Northern Europe and North America stopping you?"
"Not exactly. Relics have always appeared in Huaxia. One or two occasionally show up in Northern Europe, but not a single relic has ever appeared in North America. They come to piggyback on our relics every time, and it really annoys me!"
The young man sounded frustrated, a hint of indignation in his eyes.
"What can you do about it? Beat the Pope, that old codger, to death? Or kill that false god?"
Old Liu rolled his eyes at Liu Feng.
Those two were also among the strongest people of this era!
Liu Feng might not even be able to defeat them!
"That's why I came to see you! Uncle Liu, your cultivation..." The young man glanced at Old Liu, then hesitated.
"I knew you hadn't come here for anything good. So you're planning to use me!"
Old Liu glared at the young man and grumbled.
Then he sat down again and said quietly, "Don't worry. It'll happen in the next few days."
"Good!"
The young man smiled.
Somewhere on Earth, atop a mountain completely covered in snow,
stood a dilapidated temple.
Inside the temple was a burly middle-aged man. His appearance was unlike that of the people of Huaxia: his skin was fair, his hair was soft and wavy, and golden in color; his eyes were blue; his body hair was thick; his cheekbones were not prominent; his jaw was relatively flat; his nose was narrow and high-bridged; and his lips were thin.
He was completely bare-chested.
In front of the man lay a blue stone, glowing faintly.
"Hm?"
The middle-aged man's attention was drawn to the blue stone, and he looked at it.
Suddenly, the man's body trembled, and he burst into laughter.
"Guards!"
His voice rang out, and several figures instantly appeared inside the temple, concealed in the shadows, their faces impossible to make out.
The middle-aged man looked at them and said, "Go to Huaxia. A relic has appeared!"
A few of them exchanged glances, looking somewhat reluctant.
But under the middle-aged man's gaze, they had no choice but to comply.
"Yes!"
On the other side of the Earth, inside a magnificent church, a cardinal was leafing through a book. As if sensing something, he suddenly looked up.
"A relic!"
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