Chapter 509 Answer Correctly

As the first question was asked, a thought simultaneously popped into the minds of those in front of the screen: This is an easy question.

Upper Yard is the homeland of the Shandians, now occupied by the Sky Islanders.

Among the participants of the Q&A, one was a Shandian and another was the former god of the Sky Island people. It was only natural for them to know the answer.

Yet, what intrigued the audience more than the question itself was why Luke had asked it. They knew that the simpler the question, the deeper the hidden implications. While a difficult question challenges its subject directly, an easy one often hints at underlying complexities.

Clearly, there was a significant issue with Upper Yard that Luke intended to unveil here.

All eyes turned to the Shandians on the screen, anticipating their response. Ganfall, after considering the question, turned to Wyper and the others, giving them the chance to answer.

As natives of Upper Yard, they were best suited to address this matter. Wyper exchanged glances with his companions before replying to Luke.

"Answer: Upper Yard originates from the sea below! According to our ancestors, we Shandia people lived on an island called Jaya in the sea below. We were swept up to Sky Island by a mighty current, and as you mentioned, the Sky Island people coveted our land. They drove us out of Upper Yard, occupied it, and declared it God's Island, forbidding us from setting foot on it."

Wyper's answer was unexpected.

The audience had presumed the Shandians were merely a faction among the Sky Islanders, their conflict just another internal skirmish. It was akin to wars they were familiar with on Earth, where despite different nationalities, all were fundamentally human.

But the revelation that the Shandia people had once lived at sea, just like them, 400 years ago and were not native to Sky Island was truly astonishing.

The notion that the Shandians had been elevated to 10,000 meters by an ocean current seemed almost beyond belief.

Wait—did that mean Upper Yard, the Island of the Gods, was actually part of Jaya Island?

A fragment of land, thrust into the sky and sanctified by the Sky Islanders, had ignited a conflict lasting over four centuries.

The Shandians had been swept into the heavens only to discover that their new neighbors coveted their homeland as though it were a treasure trove.

Driven by the desire to protect their roots, the Shandians clashed with the Sky Islanders...

It seemed fate had cruelly thrown together two disparate races, sparking an enduring war.

Had the Shandians not been carried to Sky Island, perhaps four centuries of conflict might have been avoided.

Yet, the wings on the Shandians' backs puzzled everyone. It was well known that such appendages were rare among terrestrial peoples but commonly seen among the Sky Islanders.

If the Shandians hailed from Jaya Island, why did they possess wings like the Sky Islanders?

The customs and appearances of the Shandians and Sky Islanders bore surprising similarities, suggesting a shared heritage that predated their known history.

Conversely, Ganfall, the former god of Sky Island, lacked the iconic wings typical of Sky Islanders. Without Luke's introduction, none would have guessed his origins.

Could it be that these two groups, separated by 10,000 meters of vertical space, shared a deeper connection than their 400-year history suggested?

This speculation was reinforced by the tale of Upper Yard's origin, linked to Angel Island and coveted by the Sky Islanders. It was plausible that the Shandians had lived directly beneath Angel Island, their proximity marked not just by geographic alignment but also by shared traits.

Yet, despite these visible similarities, neither the Shandians nor the Sky Islanders had any recollection of such connections, leaving room only for conjecture.

The story also revived the infamous tale of the great liar Norland, a story known throughout the seas about a man condemned for claiming to have discovered a Golden City, only for it to vanish when verification was sought. This led to his execution.

But the connection was clear. Four hundred years ago, when Upper Yard was swept to Sky Island by the ocean current, Norland had discovered the Golden Land. Later, Roger reached Sky Island via the Knock Up Stream and found the golden bell.

Norland hadn't lied after all.

Yet, for four centuries, his name had been synonymous with deceit.

Perhaps being carried to Sky Island was a serendipitous escape for the Shandians, sparing them from a potential conflict with a greedy, ruthless king who, upon confirming the existence of a Golden City, would have brought war to their shores.

In the end, the allure of gold was a common catalyst for conflict, whether in the sky or the sea.

Sadly, the Shandians could not retain their homeland.

It was now clear that the golden city was indeed in Upper Yard, soon to be broadcasted worldwide, likely attracting hordes of gold-seekers.

This would pose a new challenge for both the Sky Islanders and the Shandians who wished to reclaim their homeland.

Yet, fortunately, the difficulty of reaching a floating island at 10,000 meters might spare them from immediate invasion.

This could be a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

Luke nodded, acknowledging the correct answer.