Song of Adolescence

Chapter 386 First Tower Under Heaven

Eleven years ago, the Directorate of Astronomy was located in the western part of the city. At the time, their compound wasn’t very big but there was a dazzling looking tower that stood out from the compound.

"The name of this tower is the First Tower Under Heaven," Xie Xuan raised his head and remarked pointedly.

The tower had four floors.

Qi Tianchen led the group of people from the eastern city’s Directorate of Astronomy here. Now, they were looking at this tower but most of them had no idea what Qi Tianchen was talking about.

"Did you not challenge the Tower of Ascension in Snow Moon City?" Qi Tianchen asked suddenly.

Lei Wujie laughed. "Of course. I challenged the tower all the way to the top floor."

"The so-called Tower of Ascension means you could ascend to Heaven in one step. The wise man who constructed the Tower of Ascension when he founded Snow Moon City got his idea from here." Qi Tianchen smiled.

"In the third year of Tai’an Emperor, the Directorate of Astronomy was in the way of Tai’an Emperor’s plan for expanding the Music Office and wanted to demolish the building. On the day of the demolition, black-coloured tornadoes rose inexplicably. Yellow sand filled the sky while rocks and debris flew everywhere. One of the rooftops of the Music Office nearby was entirely lifted by the wind. The workers who were on site were struck by the flying debris and a total of forty-three people were injured, three people died. However, these three people miraculously revived when they were being taken away for funeral arrangements," Xie Xuan explained for a while, then he looked expectantly at Li Fansong.

Li Fansong hurriedly continued, "On that day, the vicinity of the Directorate of Astronomy was practically razed to the ground, and only the Directorate buildings came out unscathed. During those few days, fire was banned in the entire city and only the Directorate of Astronomy was brightly lit as if tens of thousands of candles were burning. Later, the governor of Heavenly Revelations issued an order to dispatch the workers to resume the demolition, but they had barely started digging when a whole piece of land collapsed and the hole was filled with black snakes. The governor of Heavenly Revelations then presented a memorial to Tai’an Emperor and Tai’an Emperor finally relented. The incident was recorded in the 《Records of Heavenly Revelations Phenomena》and most people in the world regarded the contents of the book as fictitious. But, the author of this book, Liang Chao, was the official registrar in the Heavenly Revelations Office at the time, and everything recorded in the book was true."

"Why didn't anyone from the Directorate of Astronomy stop this incident at the time?" Lei Wujie asked.

"The emperor before Tai’an Emperor, Chengfeng Emperor, disapproved of Daoism so the Directorate of Astronomy was vacant for seven years. After the case of the black winds, Tai’an Emperor decided to re-establish the Directorate of Astronomy. And, the person who came in to head the Directorate of Astronomy and regained the prosperity of Daoism, is the State Preceptor Qi Tianchen, standing right in front of you," Xie Xuan said slowly.

Lei Wujie still didn’t understand. "So, this is just a fantastical story. What does it have to do with the Spirit Wandering Profound Realm?"

"In fact, many years before I came in to head the Directorate of Astronomy, I once came here with my shidi and shifu. This tower was called the First Tower Under Heaven because many top-ranked martial experts over the years left their martial arts in this tower. That year, I went up to the second floor, and my shidi, Mo Yi, went up to the third floor. When he was going to proceed to the fourth floor, we were interrupted by our enemies and forced to come down." Qi Tianchen raised his head and looked up at the dazzling tower. "In this so-called First Tower Under Heaven, every floor is one realm. If you can climb to the fourth floor, then you will enter the Spirit Wandering Profound Realm with one step."

"What's on the fourth floor?" Lei Wujie asked.

Qi Tianchen shook his horsetail whisk. "I only climbed to the second floor. How would I know what the scenery is like on the fourth floor?"

"Then what's on the second floor?" Lei Wujie continued to ask.

"The second floor I saw may not be the same as the second floor you’re going to see," Qi Tianchen replied lightly.

Xiao Se shook his head. "No need to ask so much. Just go."

"Now? We just go now?" Lei Wujie scratched his head. "Don't we need to prepare? What's more, since this tower is so magical that you can enter the Spirit Wandering Profound Realm just by climbing a few floors, then why are people training their martial arts for? They can just come here and climb the tower, right?"

"This building can’t be entered so easily." Xie Xuan walked up to the door of the First Tower under Heaven. "Can the door of the First Tower Under Heaven be opened anymore?"

"It used to be impossible." Qi Tianchen touched Zitong’s head, who was standing beside him. "But now, it’s possible. Now our Directorate of Astronomy has two little priests who practice the pure Great Dragon and Elephant Strength, so we can open this door today. Except, back then, my shifu stood here to guard my shidi and me, but today, I won’t be able to help the two of you. I wonder if Mister Xie Xuan is willing?"

Xie Xuan drew his Book of Knowledge sword from his waist. "It would be my pleasure."

Heavenly Revelations City, Music House.

The drums and music sounded without stopping, people were singing everywhere, and dancers in red performed their dance in graceful movements.

"Today is the Lantern Festival in Heavenly Revelations City. Ordinary people don't know anything about the present situation in Heavenly Revelations. For them, a change of emperor or whoever the new emperor is, they will still carry on with their daily lives." Ye Ruoyi was dressed in a white lace dress that she rarely wore. She spoke slowly as she walked along the street, “The Lantern Festival is one of the grandest festivals in Heavenly Revelations City. It’s comparable to the Full Blossom Festival in Snow Moon City. Famous talents, handsome swordsmen, and beautiful women will all appear at this festival. You never know what sort of people you’ll meet."

"They seem to have gone to the Directorate of Astronomy to ask about something important, but here we are, enjoying the lanterns. It doesn’t seem right…" Sikong Qianluo couldn’t keep her eyes from the beautiful lanterns hanging from the buildings along the street yet she still said, "Should we go look for them?"

"Don't bother about them." Ye Ruoyi smiled. "This is your first time in Heavenly Revelations City. If I don’t show you around properly, I’m afraid you’ll blame me later when you leave."

"Perhaps… I won't be leaving," Sikong Qianluo murmured.

Ye Ruoyi looked at her expression and smiled meaningfully. "Could it be that you’ve come to like this Heavenly Revelations City?"

"Actually, I don't like it very much." Sikong Qianluo shook her head.

"Heavenly Revelations City is the best city under Heaven. The strongest wine, the fastest horse, the most beautiful women, and the most amorous young men can all be found here. Wandering martial heroes come here to seek their own futures, unconventional scholars will also find their own careers. But this is also the worst city. Under its glamorous appearance, all sorts of conspiracy and schemes are hidden below." Ye Ruoyi continued walking ahead. "However, Xiao Se once said something. He said, if I were a simple person, I would look at this city and think it’s the best city."

"That doesn’t sound like something he’d say." Sikong Qianluo laughed.

"Actually, you’d never have imagined it but in the past, Xiao Se was a lot like Lei Wujie." Ye Ruoyi stopped walking. The two of them had reached the river bank where some young ladies and men were releasing river lanterns.

"These are river lanterns. Legends say that you can write the name of your beloved and release it on the river. If the one you love also released a river lantern, then the two lanterns will meet on the river." Ye Ruoyi stepped forward and handed a few copper coins to a vendor on the side for two river lanterns.

"Miss, you can write the name of your beloved." The vendor handed her a brush.

Ye Ruoyi smiled and accepted the brush with a chuckle. "So, let’s write it."

After Ye Ruoyi finished writing, the vendor took the brush back and handed it to Sikong Qianluo.

Sikong Qianluo thought for a long time before she accepted the brush and wrote the name in her heart one stroke at a time.

The two river lanterns floated away slowly.

Sikong Qianluo fixed her eyes on the lantern to see if Ye Ruoyi had written the same name as her, but she realised there was only a single word written on it.

Lei.

Ye Ruoyi looked at Sikong Qianluo's river lantern that had the word “Xiao Se” written on it. She covered her mouth and giggled. "I forgot to tell you, you don't actually need to write the full name."

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