Painting of the Nine Immortals
chapter-701

In the previous era, the City of Sin was named the Guardian City. It was a commonly known nickname given to this city after it helped the humankind defend against the foreign kind.

Legend has it that this city was full of secrets. One of the most famous guesses was that it contains the secret method that teaches people how to fly!

Of course, this was merely a guess and has not been tested. But that alone was enough to make everyone curious.

Sadly, everyone who came to investigate this city has always left the city without any valuable information. As time went on, less and less people visited. Slowly, everyone forgot about the Guardian City.

Now, nobody even remembered that glorious name and was treating it like a landfill that was only good for trash.

One has to admit that this was tragic and sarcastic.

The city that once protected the humankind was not only forgotten by the humankind, even its name turned into one that contained the word "sin".

However, some people never forgot this city's history and rumors.

Ling Xian was one of them.

Inside the Hidden Territory, he once read an ancient book that clearly stated that the Guardian City contained a giant secret. This was why he asked Chu Zhong Tian to investigate this city in the dark and try to find out what that secret was.

Now that Chu Zhong Tian was claiming that there were some findings, why wouldn't his spirit lift?

"I…"

Chu Zhong Tian paused and subconsciously glanced at Huang Er.

At this, Ling Xian smiled, knowing that Chu Zhong Tian wasn't sure if it was appropriate to speak of it before Huang Er.

Huang Er was quick to think on his feet. He quickly said, "I just remembered, I have some things to attend to, you guys talk."

Then, he turned to leave. However, before he could exit, Ling Xian stopped him.

"Stay. I think highly of you. There isn't anything I need to hide from you."

Ling Xian smiled. After what happened with the six powerhouses, Huang Er's loyalty had been proven. If he wasn't faithful to the City, he would've escaped when the people attacked.

But he didn't escape. On the contrary, he chose to stay inside the City. That proved to Ling Xian how faithful he was.

Therefore, Ling Xian decided that he could be trusted.

"Master, what kind of good deeds have I done to deserve such trust from you?"

After hearing what Ling Xian said, Huang Er's eyes turned red again and almost cried out loud.

Though he wasn't sure what the secret was, from all angles of observation – based on how people attacked and how Chu Zhong Tian reacted, it was an important matter.

This was why he chose to leave them alone, in case it got awkward. But he didn't expect Ling Xian would allow him to stay. Just how trusted was he?

Why wouldn't he feel appreciative?

At this moment, Huang Er suddenly felt like he would die willingly for Ling Xian!

"Alright, why's such a big man crying?" Ling Xian smiled warmly.

"Yes, yes. I will retract this."

Huang Er nodded and somehow retracted the falling tears. His face once again turned into his signature smile.

"You…"

Seeing how dumbly Huang Er smiled, Ling Xian shook his head and shifted his gaze back to Chu Zhong Tian, "You can speak of it now."

"Yes, master."

Chu Zhong Tian nodded. Since Ling Xian had clearly indicated that Huang Er can know of this, he wasn't going to fight it."

After thinking for a bit, he said, "For the past decade, I have been observing the City of Sin. At first, I did it without a routine. So I wasted seven years without finding out a single trace."

"It was only four years ago when I began to observe in a pattern. It helped me find some clues."

"Every time there is a full moon, the walls of the city would glow with a faint light. If it weren't for my completion leveled Qi, I wouldn't have seen it."

Chu Zhong Tian was speaking slowly, "All four years, without exceptions, when there is a full moon, a light would glow off the walls. That is my only finding."

"A faint glow on nights with a full moon?"

Ling Xian frowned, "Did you not investigate further?"

"I tried. Would I dare to disobey your orders?"

Chu Zhong Tian bitterly chuckled. "Every time the wall glows, I would scan it with my Qi. But I never found anything unusual. The reason for its glowing was because the stones used to build the wall has that special ability."

"These four years, I have tried many methods. I have used fire to burn it and used water to wash it. But the walls remained in place without even the slightest change."

Chu Zhong Tian sighed, feeling useless and feeling like he wasted Ling Xian's trust.

"How eerie."

Ling Xian frowned tightly. After hearing Chu Zhong Tian's description, he could imagine the helplessness this completion leveled cultivator felt against the wall.

Because even he couldn't think of a single reason.

"Exactly. If we say this city has no secrets, it glows on days with a full moon. If we say this city has secrets, there is nothing unusual about it other than that it glows. How troublesome."

Chu Zhong Tian appeared helpless.

Ling Xian was also helpless. Because based on what he was hearing, even if he tackles this issue himself, he won't find any clues.

But no matter what, this was something. At the very least, he now believed that the rumor about the City of Sin having a secret was not created out of thin air.

"The walls only glow when it's a full moon?"

Ling Xian pondered and asked, "Zhong Tian, when's the next full moon?"

"Master, tomorrow is a full moon. Do you want to see for yourself?" Chu Zhong Tian responded.

"That's right. It's a clue after all. Of course, I want to check it out." Ling Xian revealed a faint smile.

No matter what, this was the only ray of light he could see after waiting for more than a decade. How could he not see for himself?

"I believe you beat me in both capabilities and intelligence. You will definitely succeed if you show up yourself and you will find the key issue." Chu Zhong Tian smiled, his eyes flickered with anticipation.

Huang Er flattered, "Hehe, master, you are multi-talented and prominent. You will for sure find out the secret behind the City of Sin."

"You two need to stop flattering me."

Ling Xian shook his head softly. "The secret for the City of Sin is not that easy to solve. I have no ideas right now."

"That's okay. I believe the moment you stand there, the secret will appear right in front of you." Huang Er continued to smile.

"Saying this kind of things is all you know."

Ling Xian shook his head with a grin, "Alright, let's not discuss such useless topics. Find me a place to rest in."

"Alright, please follow me." Huang Er nodded and marched forward.

"Zhong Tian, take some days to rest up. Do not worry about what is going on in the city."

Ling Xian ordered. Under Chu Zhong Tian's appreciative and respectful stare, Ling Xian followed Huang Er out of the palace.

He decided to take a day to rest up. When the night of the full moon comes, he will investigate the City of Sin.