Immortal God of War-Chapter 675 - 643: Hazy Memories, The Shadow Reappears_1
Atop the mountain peak sat a colossal ancient pagoda. The pagoda was entirely black, radiating an ancient aura. Two powerful, archaic characters were carved on its front: Spirit Pagoda!
In front of the pagoda, an elderly man sat cross-legged. The man was dressed in white robes, with white hair and a white beard, exuding an ethereal aura.
Qin Feiyang looked at the old man. He had never seen him before?
Qin Yi bowed to the old man and said, "Elder Qin, we are here on the orders of the Empress to accompany His Highness the Fourteenth Prince to Spirit State. We request that you open the pagoda door."
The old man opened his eyes; they were bright and clear, devoid of any murkiness.
After glancing at Qin Yi and Qin Zhong, the old man looked towards Qin Feiyang, rose, and clasped his hands in a salute. "This old one greets Your Highness."
Qin Feiyang smiled. "Elder, there is no need for such formalities."
Even Qin Yi and Qin Zhong respected him so deeply; this old man was clearly no ordinary person.
"I have long heard that Your Highness possesses exceptional talent and outstanding aptitude. Seeing you now, you are indeed extraordinary," the old man said with a laugh.
Qin Feiyang felt a little embarrassed and shook his head. "Elder, you overpraise me. I am truly undeserving."
"Talented yet not arrogant, accomplished yet not conceited. Your disposition is indeed commendable." The old man nodded, seemingly quite appreciative of Qin Feiyang. He then turned, extended a wizened arm, and Battle Intent surged from his index finger into the pagoda door.
CLANG!
At that moment, the pagoda door slowly creaked open, an imposing aura rushing forth to greet them.
The old man said, "The teleportation altar to Spirit State is on the first floor. You may enter on your own. Remember, do not wander about."
"Understood." Qin Yi and Qin Zhong bowed in acknowledgment, then escorted Qin Feiyang into the Spirit Pagoda.
The pagoda door closed behind them.
Qin Feiyang curiously surveyed his surroundings.
The space within spanned about a hundred zhang. Nine blood-red altars were arranged neatly on the ground, each emitting an ancient and mysterious aura.
Beside each of the nine altars stood a stone stele, inscribed with different names: Spirit State, Yun State, Crane Province, You State, Feng Province, and so on.
Following Qin Yi and Qin Zhong, Qin Feiyang walked directly to the stele marked ’Spirit State’.
Qin Zhong said, "This altar leads to Spirit State."
Qin Feiyang asked, "Are there altars on the second floor as well?"
"Well..." After a brief hesitation, Qin Zhong shook his head. "Your Highness, I truly cannot say."
"Alright then." Qin Feiyang shrugged, a little resigned.
Qin Zhong offered an apologetic smile as Battle Intent surged from him, continuously flowing into the altar.
BOOM!
Suddenly, the blood-red altar blazed with a brilliant light.
Qin Yi and Qin Zhong gripped Qin Feiyang’s arms, stepped onto the altar, and vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye.
「Spirit State.」
Above a mountain range just outside the State City.
WHOOSH!!!
Three figures materialized out of thin air. It was Qin Feiyang, Qin Yi, and Qin Zhong.
As soon as they appeared, Qin Yi used a wisp of Battle Intent to support Qin Feiyang. This was because Qin Feiyang could not yet fly.
After scanning their surroundings, Qin Zhong looked at the city not far ahead and said with a smile, "That should be the State City."
Qin Feiyang looked down, his expression freezing. The city’s layout was completely different from the one in his dream; it was utterly unfamiliar.
After a long moment, Qin Feiyang finally regained his composure and said, "Uncle Qin Zhong, please go and inquire if these individuals are in the State City."
"Who?" Qin Zhong asked.
"Ren Wushuang, Lu Xingchen, Dong Zhengyang, Dongfang Wuheng, Murong Xiong, Shen Mei, Shen Long, Jiang Wei, Wang Hong..." Qin Feiyang continued, "And several prominent families: the Lu Family, the Dong Family, the Shao Family, and the Shen family..."
"Alright, I will go at once." Qin Zhong nodded and, with a flicker, vanished.
"Your Highness, have you been to Spirit State before?" Qin Yi asked, looking at Qin Feiyang with suspicion. The way Qin Feiyang unhesitatingly listed those names, it was as if he had lived here.
Qin Feiyang replied, "I have, in my dreams."
"In your dreams?" Qin Yi was momentarily stunned, then shook his head with a helpless air. He said no more.
WHOOSH!
Not long after, Qin Zhong returned.
"Well?" Qin Feiyang asked, looking at him eagerly.
Qin Zhong shook his head. "Your Highness, none of the people or families you mentioned exist."
"What?!" Qin Feiyang’s gaze trembled; he found it hard to accept.
Qin Yi couldn’t help but say, "Your Highness, if I may be so bold, one cannot take dreams as reality!"
Qin Feiyang said, "The next place: Butterfly Valley."
"Butterfly Valley? Where is that?" Both men were perplexed. Although they knew of Spirit State, they had never actually been there, so they were completely unfamiliar with its various locations.
Qin Feiyang said, "Just fly in the direction I indicate."
Following Qin Feiyang’s directions, they soon arrived above the supposed location of Butterfly Valley. However, looking around, there was no valley, no butterflies, much less the hideous old woman or the teleportation altar to the Land of Oblivion.
Qin Feiyang stood frozen in a daze. Could it truly be that nothing from his dream was real?
Qin Zhong and Qin Yi exchanged glances, unsure how to console him.
After a moment, Qin Yi smiled and said, "Your Highness, where to next?" Since they couldn’t dissuade him, they decided to go along with his wishes.
Qin Feiyang roused himself from his stupor and asked, "Do either of you know who the Prefect of Spirit State is?"
"We do not." Both shook their heads.
Qin Feiyang frowned. "That can’t be right. The Prefects of the nine states visit the Imperial Capital every ten years. How could you not know?"
Qin Zhong said, "That is indeed the case. However, it is always the Emperor who goes to the rear mountain to meet with them. Should I ask the Emperor?"
"Never mind," Qin Feiyang said. "Father Emperor is swamped with myriad affairs daily. There’s no need to trouble him with such trivial matters."
