Chapter 197
Worried that the Minotaur might be scared away, Guota added, “You’re a friend of Ma Qi, I’m not lying to you. Information about the other aspects of Jiyue City is quite cheap; the most expensive doesn’t exceed 50 gold coins. But anything related to the Tower is in the three-digit range. Unless you’ve been in contact with the Xiangxiao tribe for years, you wouldn’t know this information. In fact, what I just told you is already worth 100 gold coins.”
Indeed, Yu Xunge had already decided to buy Guota’s information; she was just curious about one thing: “If I want to go to the top of the tower to see ‘Destiny Not on Time,’ do I have to enter the tower?”
Guota replied, “Yes.”
Without hesitation, Yu Xunge pulled out 300 gold coins and handed them over. “Go ahead.”
After pocketing the coins, Guota stepped back a couple of paces to a spot where he felt secure before continuing, “There’s a formation around the tower. Whether you want to go to the top or get a closer look at the tower, there’s only one way in: through the tower’s only entrance.
“It’s said that the tower stores the fate nodes from the long history of the Xiangxiao tribe. Once you enter, you’ll randomly land in one of those fate nodes. If you complete the trial, you’ll reach the top of the tower, which is the closest place to the moon in all of Zelan.”
“Every Xiangxiao sees reaching the top of the tower as the ultimate honor. Whenever a Xiangxiao reaches the top, ‘Destiny Not on Time’ will ring out, and at least one Xiangxiao Emperor will come to congratulate the climber. Most Xiangxiao in Jiyue City will ascend to celebrate when there’s nothing too important going on, rejoicing that one of their own has triumphed over fate.
“If you fail, you’ll be banished from the floating island beneath the tower. Xiangxiao can fly back up on their own, but other holy tribes will have to find their own ways.
“Hmm? Why is it that only Xiangxiao triumph over fate? Although the tower is open to all holy tribes, regardless of their race before entering, when they leave, they all sprout wings of light within ten breaths.
“At first, no one paid much attention; after all, the light wings are quite different from the wings of the Xiangxiao. But when the three great Xiangxiao Emperors came out to claim these climbers, the Xiangxiao tribe publicly declared this as a reward from the tower, naming these climbers the ‘Light Xiangxiao.’ After that, things got complicated. Their former kin no longer trusted them, and they couldn’t go back. Gradually, everyone accepted that these climbers had been transformed into Xiangxiao.
“However, if one doesn’t care about racial honor, being transformed isn’t a bad thing. The Xiangxiao treat these transformed Light Xiangxiao quite well; they enjoy the same privileges as ordinary Xiangxiao.”
The more Yu Xunge listened, the colder her heart felt. I just wanted to strengthen my position!
And with the Emperor’s presence, at least half the city’s Xiangxiao would ascend to celebrate for you…
If the talent show isn’t organized by your Xiangxiao tribe, I’m not watching.
This meant that if she successfully reached the top, she wouldn’t just sprout light wings and leave her human identity behind; she would also have to steal from under the watchful eyes of all the Xiangxiao in Jiyue City and at least one Xiangxiao Emperor.
Was this what she paid 300 gold coins for? This was buying a ticket to despair.
Moreover, she couldn’t help but feel suspicious of Lucia. Guota knew all this information; had Lucia, who had traveled so much and taught so many students, really not known?
Besides, the Xiangxiao were making such a big deal out of it… How could Lucia say she couldn’t provide her with much useful information? Or did she think that this information was easy to obtain, and the real challenge was how to acquire the Moon Sand?
Guota continued, “As for the tower, the higher-ups of the other 11 holy tribes don’t want their people to know much about it. All 11 holy tribes prohibit the dissemination of information regarding the tower. I’m only able to tell you this because of my divine gift. There are a series of punitive measures for those who enter Jiyue City’s tower without permission. Over time, many holy tribes have come to believe that the tower is merely a place to change races and transform into Xiangxiao, but that’s not the case. It’s said that treasures are hidden within those fate nodes.”
Worried about talent drain? But can such things really be kept secret?
Yu Xunge, unwilling to give up, asked, “What about Taosu? Isn’t he supposed to guard the tower and ‘Destiny Not on Time’? If it’s so hard to enter the tower, why do they need him to guard it?”
Guota replied, “He says his fate lies above the tower, so he rarely comes out. But everyone knows he just doesn’t want to deal with official business; staying at the tower allows him to focus on his alchemy research.”
That was all the information Guota had regarding the tower.
Yu Xunge spent over 50 more gold coins verifying the information sent by the Special Affairs Bureau with Guota, and finally, she paid a high price of 500 gold coins for a battered little bear cookie.
The little Xiangxiao were forbidden from selling the little bear cookies given for free by the Xiangxiao royal family, and all adult Xiangxiao grew up cherishing their little bear cookies under their protection. So even though this item had many restrictions, it circulated very little in the market, keeping its price high.
Before parting, Guota gave Yu Xunge a token—a worn piece of bone—saying that she could use it to find him next time she wanted to buy information. He only gave this token to generous and straightforward clients.
Despite the pleasant transaction, Yu Xunge still followed her usual practice of giving Guota a vial of Forgetting Potion before disappearing.
Although she was in competition with Ding Hai over the ownership of the Moon Sand, this was a significant matter. Yu Xunge couldn’t keep information about the tower from Ding Hai, especially since she wanted to get reimbursed for the information she bought.
[Yu Xunge]: Sis, I just bought an important piece of information and want to serve my country.
[Zhao Shuying]: Is it serving or reimbursing?
[Yu Xunge]: Look at you! Hurting the feelings of the people! It’s important information related to the tower, 300 gold.
[Zhao Shuying]: I’ve sent the money to your email. Next time, just go for it.
After receiving the money, Yu Xunge compiled the information she bought from Guota into a short essay and sent it over. After buying a few sets of Xiangxiao clothing from a costume shop, she slipped into the sewer, drank the “Melt Time” potion, and transformed into a little Xiangxiao with a pair of small wings on her back, giving herself the name “Qūqí.”
Dressed in her new clothes, with the little bear cookie she bought from Guota hanging from her, she took off her shoes and walked barefoot like the other Xiangxiao.
By the time she had everything ready and found the library in Jiyue City according to Guota’s directions, she still hadn’t received a reply from Zhao Shuying. Unable to resist, she sent a message to check in.
[Yu Xunge]: How’s it going?
[Zhao Shuying]: I’ve been going crazy for a while now.
Yu Xunge silently closed the chat interface. Good, it felt much lighter to share the pressure.
After passing through the Xiangxiao guards’ inspection, Yu Xunge successfully entered the largest library in Jiyue City.
From the little bear cookie, one could see how much the Xiangxiao tribe valued their young. The three major libraries in Jiyue City, Jidou City, and Sijicheng are open for free to all Xiangxiao under 15 years old. They can enter the library’s first to third floors at any time to read and learn, and the food inside is also free to enjoy.
Other holy tribes’ members under 15 can enter too, but they have to buy a ticket for 1 gold coin and can only move within designated areas. These areas are devoid of magic, martial skills, and specialized knowledge, mostly containing the history and literature of the Xiangxiao tribe, as well as the dark histories of the other 11 tribes.
According to Guota, he found much of his information in the library. Following his guidance, Yu Xunge quickly located the area and soon spotted the book Guota mentioned—a book titled “The 12th Holy Tribe: Xiangxiao.”
Opening the book, the first line read:
“In the year 5080 of the Ruinkor, the three legends Taomian, Songgui, and Fengtang swore beneath the tower that one day, they would let the wings of the Xiangxiao split the clouds of Zelan, etching the acorn emblem upon the land of Zelan, plunging all living beings into flames, and that the order and rules of Zelan should be written by the Xiangxiao!”
Yu Xunge read that line and the book’s title back and forth several times, realizing that it was filled with a hidden message: If you can’t beat them, join them.
What happened to the promised bloodbath in Zelan? How did it turn into the 12th holy tribe?
And you three—Taomian, Songgui, and Fengtang—became royalty too…
Was this an introduction or a dark history of their rise?
[Chapter 255: The Best Supporting Role of “Divine Gift” (B Grade)]
Yu Xunge spent most of the day in the library, occasionally taking out the “Time Squeeze” potion to drink a cup, shortening the cooldown of “Jia Lai.” Although it wasn’t as convenient as “Melt Time,” the situation wasn’t urgent, and she could save “Melt Time” by relying on quantity.
When she heard Tu Lan’s voice in her mind asking if she was coming back for dinner, she suddenly realized it was already 35 o’clock on the Blue Star side.
Yu Xunge put the book away and walked out, but the more she walked, the emptier she felt!
Had she been too well-behaved today? She was in disguise, and before coming, she had sprayed “I Really Don’t Have Time to Bathe.” If she didn’t stir up some trouble, she would feel hollow inside.
After telling Tu Lan in her mind that she wouldn’t be going back today, Yu Xunge turned on her heel and walked to the library’s consultation desk. She took out a Mahjong tile she had customized on Blue Star and handed it to the elderly Xiangxiao standing behind the desk. “Good evening, I found this while reading.”
The old Xiangxiao smiled as he took the Mahjong tile and placed it in a nearby transparent box, which contained various odds and ends: fallen Xiangxiao feathers, little bear cookies, and all sorts of lost items.
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