Chapter 166: Two Questions

Ten days later, at Shui Wuran's residence, on the floating island, in the courtyard where Zhongshan and Nan Batian were located. There were stone tables and benches in the courtyard, with two jars placed on the table, and two pieces of red jade resembling bricks, one side embossed with the words "Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty" and the other side with the names and official positions—

Front: Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty; Back: Zhongshan, Third-tier Guard—Front: Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty; Back: Nan Batian, Commissioned Vanguard Leader—These were the official seals of the two men. Looking at these two brick-like official seals, Zhongshan felt speechless. It turned out that everyone in the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty had one of these seals. However, for ordinary people, their names were embossed on the back, followed by the words "commoner."

Moreover, these were not ordinary seals but specially made ones, like identification cards, with special magical treasures to identify their authenticity.

The two men didn't pay attention to their official seals but each picked up a jar.

"Bah Tian, your appointment has come. We're going to be separated again. Let's have a farewell drink today," Zhongshan said, lifting the jar.

"Alright, we're both in the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty. We'll meet again in the future. Let's drink," Nan Batian lifted his jar and clinked it against Zhongshan's.

"Clang."

As the wine jars collided, the two men took a sip. This was the Nine Spirits and Ten Thousand Flowers Brew that Zhongshan had bought, a kind of spirit wine. But for Nan Batian's farewell, even the best wine had to be brought out.

"I'm going to another city to fight and gain military merits. You, on the other hand, will stay in Wushuang City, a third-tier guard. What future does such a position hold?" Nan Batian chuckled.

"Haha, how about we make a bet? Let's see whose position is higher when we meet again next time," Zhongshan laughed.

"Alright, let's do it," Nan Batian grinned.

"Clang." The wine jars collided again, and the two men took another sip.

"You were really fierce last time. Killing one person managed to intimidate everyone. I guess even if Lord Shui didn't show up, Mo Yanbing wouldn't have dared to make a move," Nan Batian chuckled.

"The clown, why bother mentioning him? Let's drink some more," Zhongshan raised his wine again.

"Alright, no more mentioning him," Nan Batian laughed heartily.

"No matter what the future holds, our brotherhood will never change," Zhongshan said.

"Agreed," Nan Batian also replied loudly.

Three days later, Nan Batian left Wushuang City with a group of soldiers. Meanwhile, Zhongshan and Shui Wuran stayed behind.

With his large blade beneath his feet, Zhongshan flew with Shui Wuran in Wushuang City for half an hour before stopping outside a red light curtain in the air.

"Let's go. You'll be serving here from now on," Shui Wuran said.

"Mm," Zhongshan nodded.

Passing through the red light curtain, they arrived at a huge floating island. There were numerous guards stationed around the island, with many elegant mansions housing rare birds and exotic animals.

Not far away were several palaces.

Shui Wuran led Zhongshan straight to the largest palace nearby.

Fragrance Palace!

Under Fragrance Palace, there were guards stationed, as if a very important person lived inside.

Zhongshan furrowed his brows and followed closely behind Shui Wuran.

"Let's go," Shui Wuran said and stepped into the palace.

Zhongshan nodded and followed suit, entering the palace.

Stepping into the hall, Zhongshan immediately took in the interior. At the center of the hall, there was a white jade table with a diameter of about ten meters. It resembled a magical treasure, projecting some light and shadow images. In the projections, there were floating islands, mountains, rivers, city walls, and towers.

The projection of the Twinless City—that was the Twinless City. This three-dimensional projection completely mapped out the entire Twinless City, like a living map.

However, these were not the key points. The key was that Zhongshan saw two familiar figures.

In total, there were three people in the hall. Two of them stood on either side, resembling guards. One person had his back to Zhongshan, holding a folding fan and observing the projection of the Twinless City.

Seeing the two guards, Zhongshan's pupils contracted. These two were familiar—Ada and A'er.

And the person standing in the center of the hall was the unmistakable Princess Qianyou.

Zhongshan couldn't help but let out a wry smile, taking a deep breath. He had been found by her again.

"Your servant pays respects to the princess," Shuitianya immediately bowed.

"Your servant Zhongshan pays respects to the princess," Zhongshan could only bow slightly again.

Hearing the voices of the two, it seemed to interrupt Princess Qianyou's thoughts. She stopped looking at the map of Twinless City and slowly turned her head.

Today, Princess Qianyou was dressed in purple attire, but it was a masculine style. She held a folding fan and appeared incredibly elegant. When she turned her head, she gave off a breathtaking aura.

"Shuitianya, is this my guard?" Princess Qianyou looked at Zhongshan with a hint of interest.

"Yes, princess, this is the third-class guard Zhongshan," Shuitianya immediately replied.

"Servant Zhongshan pays respects to the princess," Zhongshan said, seeing that Princess Qianyou was playing dumb, he could only bow again.

"Daring Zhongshan, in the presence of the princess, you still haven't knelt?" Ada suddenly exclaimed.

Hearing Ada's words, Zhongshan frowned. However, Princess Qianyou on the opposite side looked at him with interest, clearly indicating that Ada's words were her instruction.

Shuitianya bowed slightly to the side, stepping back, leaving Zhongshan alone facing Princess Qianyou.

In such a situation, others might kneel on both knees, but Zhongshan wouldn't. He knew that Princess Qianyou was teasing him. Kneeling would mean admitting defeat. After all, Shuitianya hadn't knelt either, and kneeling would only provoke the disdain of the other party.

At this moment, instead of being toyed with by Princess Qianyou, it was better to clarify things from the beginning.

"Princess, in the past, I was offensive, please forgive me," Zhongshan said sincerely.

Seeing Zhongshan, Princess Qianyou smiled slightly. "You finally remember me."

"Yes, since obtaining the treasure nine years ago, Zhongshan has always felt guilty and sorry for the princess. He hasn't forgotten in these nine years," Zhongshan said.

Zhongshan did feel some guilt towards Princess Qianyou, as she had taken care of him back then. However, this guilt wasn't as exaggerated as Zhongshan made it sound, always thinking about it?

Looking at Zhongshan remaining calm and composed under her pressure, Princess Qianyou's eyes revealed a hint of pleasure. In Princess Qianyou's heart, Zhongshan was like a grassroots, a rootless grass. If he could remain so calm and composed under her pressure, then he must be extraordinary. Princess Qianyou considered herself to be quite perceptive in judging people, so seeing Zhongshan like this naturally made her happier.

However, Princess Qianyou knew that if she wanted to use someone, she must first subdue them. Making him acknowledge her authority was necessary before he could truly be of use to her.

"Heh, compensation? How will you compensate? What guarantees can you offer to prove that you can compensate? If you want me to overlook past grievances, you must demonstrate sufficient ability or credibility to convince me that you are capable of compensating," Princess Qianyou said, turning her folding fan with a slight smile.

Hearing Princess Qianyou's words, Zhongshan furrowed his brows slightly but also let out a sigh of relief. Princess Qianyou wasn't specifically targeting him; she was just trying to establish her dominance.

"How can I prove it, princess?" Zhongshan asked in a deep voice.

At this moment, given Princess Qianyou's status, Zhongshan could only respond like this.

"I won't make it difficult for you. When I was at your cultivation level, His Majesty gave me ten questions. I solved eight of them, but there are still two I haven't been able to solve. If you can solve them, I can overlook the past and treat you as an honored guest, calling you 'Master.' If you can't, then every time you see me in the future, you will have to kneel and pay your respects," Princess Qianyou said as she walked towards the throne in the north.

As Princess Qianyou spoke, Shuitianya and Ada and A'er beside her couldn't help but twitch their facial expressions. They knew Princess Qianyou's wisdom better than anyone else. His Majesty's ten questions? Although they didn't know what they were, if even Princess Qianyou couldn't solve two of them, how could an outsider solve them?

Unconsciously, when the three of them looked at Zhongshan, they cast sympathetic glances at him.

Zhongshan furrowed his brows. He naturally knew that this was Princess Qianyou's way of testing him. His Majesty? Wasn't that the ruler of the Great Luo Dynasty? Zhongshan was somewhat curious about the ten questions His Majesty had given, but it was evident that this was a trap. Could he avoid it?

"Please, princess, I will do my best," Zhongshan could only jump into this trap. He was forced by the circumstances, and Princess Qianyou had also said that she was at his cultivation level at that time, so it should be within his capabilities. Hopefully, it wouldn't be too difficult.

"Good," Princess Qianyou smiled slightly.

"A'da," Princess Qianyou called out.

"Yes," A'da immediately stepped forward. With a gentle motion, he took out a metal sphere with a diameter of one meter and a Rebirth Pill, placing both spherical objects gently on the table where the projection of the map had disappeared.

Zhongshan furrowed his brows slightly, walking up to examine them carefully.

The Rebirth Pill was just a regular one, but the metal sphere was extremely smooth, except for two small holes with a diameter no larger than half the size of a thumbnail. Through these holes, the interior appeared pitch black.

"These are the two questions," Princess Qianyou said with a smile.