Chapter 00262: Arriving at the Highest City of the Mortal World
# Arriving at the Highest City of the Mortal World
Chapter 262
Novel: Above Destiny
Chapter 262: Arriving at the Highest City of the Mortal World
Snap! That was fast.
Ji Jue only felt like he blinked once, and the whole world changed.
One moment, he was still at the designated spot in Cliff City’s association, being escorted by several people wearing the Star Core Association emblem, who placed him in the middle of some secret ritual totem and warned him not to move or resist.
Then the next moment—flash! Everything went black before his eyes.
The sky spun and the earth twisted.
It felt like he was hung on a giant spinning wheel, twirling round and round several times, while countless streaks of light rushed past and vanished without a trace.
Suddenly, the world before his eyes cleared up.
From the distance came the roaring sound of tides, completely different from Cliff City.
The moist sea breeze hit his face, shifting in an instant from the chill of early winter to the blazing heat of summer.
He was already on the other side of the mortal realm, above the endless sea between the Empire and the Federation.
The headquarters of the Association.
Under the brilliant sunshine, the massive white city built atop an island radiated dazzling light.
Ji Jue felt his wristwatch vibrate, and a popup suddenly appeared.
—[Navigation data update complete: Mortal Pivot·Tianshu]
“…”
What’s this? A new teleport point opened?
After the instant teleport, the Doomsday Express automatically recorded the new location into its system.
On the map, amidst a vast stretch of pale white, three glowing dots appeared: one was Cliff City, another the old site of Spring City, both located in the north.
The third glowed in the center of the map—that was where Ji Jue stood.
Tianshu.
But what does “Mortal Pivot” mean?
He had no clue.
Still a little dazed, as he was taking in his surroundings, the staff atop the high platform raised a megaphone and urged, “All candidates participating in the exam, please leave promptly and follow the route signs and staff guidance to the examination hall…”
More and more candidates arrived through the Star Core Association’s passage, their light flashing with each arrival.
Unlike the first teleport when the apprentices saw nothing and were unfamiliar, some now moved with ease.
It seemed it wasn’t the first time for this grand procession, or perhaps their mentors had warned them well.
They walked out confidently like veterans.
“Another country bumpkin, why so many this year?”
Passing by, someone chuckled lightly and said in the Imperial language, “Please move aside, don’t block the way.”
Ji Jue kept smiling, turned back to look at the few apprentices participating in the exam behind him, his expression growing warmer.
Using the same fluent Imperial language, he told them:
“You’re screwed.”
“…”
The smug face froze for a moment, a little puzzled, about to retort, but then heard Ji Jue say, “I’m the one who kills.”
“You—”
The arrogant apprentice instantly got angry.
His companion hurriedly grabbed him and blocked in front, “Don’t start fights here, don’t stoop to the level of some poor scoundrel…”
“Your mum’s screwed too.”
Ji Jue added sincerely, “Yeah, I’m the one who killed them all.”
Immediately, both their faces turned green—with a tinge of iron blue—they clenched their fists.
Unfortunately, by now the Association’s staff had noticed, and several chosen security guards glanced at them coldly, their gaze a clear warning.
The two candidates’ expressions shifted, grinding their teeth and shooting Ji Jue a hard look. “I’ll remember you. Once the exam’s over, you’ll pay for this.”
“Do you think I, Zhou Cheng, am afraid of you?”
Ji Jue sneered, brushing off invisible dust on his sleeve. “If you have guts, come to Ship City. I’ll tear your heads off!”
“Fine, just you wait!”
The older one of the two tightly pulled his companion back and in the end turned away.
After that, no one else came to bother Ji Jue enjoying the scenery…
The exiting candidates automatically split into two streams right in front of him, like hitting an invisible reef, they bypassed left and right, leaving a large empty space.
Now it was peaceful.
Ji Jue whistled softly and gazed at the distant scene.
He followed the road and started walking forward slowly.
After all, it was the Association—rich and powerful, rich and powerful indeed.
Originally, he had pained over the 410,000 registration fee, but before the exam even started, it already felt worth the price.
A free three-day tour of the Association’s headquarters with shuttle service!
Just opening a special entrance for the Star Core Association probably cost over four hundred thousand and wouldn’t stop there.
Plus, all the materials for the later exams would be provided.
Though not wildly expensive, considering the currency exchange rate of the Ashes, Ji Jue calculated roughly how many people stepped out through the teleport in the past half day and couldn’t help but gasp.
By market price, for a teleport of this scale, even with close cooperation and bulk discounts between the Taiyi Ring and Star Core Association, it would cost no less than one or two billion.
Given the Association’s notorious monopoly and inflated price for materials, that forty-something-thousand fee was probably their last bit of conscience for apprentices.
It was said that before the Chaotic Era, “time difference” used to exist, where when dawn came to the Federation, night might have already fallen over the Empire.
But nowadays, except for a few scraps buried in ancient records, no one remembered such a nearly unbelievable legend.
In the same morning light, candidates from all over the mortal world followed directions toward the exam hall.
It wasn’t far—just a winding road leading down from mid-mountain where the high platform stood, and the grand city lay close at hand.
Unlike previous years, this time the exam hall was inside a building like a sacred temple next to a ruined tall tower.
Many people took photos and checked in at the massive doors.
Ji Jue couldn’t avoid the custom.
He sent out a group video to his friends…
“Wow, arrived at the highest city of the mortal world’s craftsmen, Tianshu!”
Grinning, he flashed a peace sign at the camera, and behind him on the screen, a familiar face appeared, making him raise an eyebrow.
Hmm? Isn’t that Young Master Lou?
Better check out the Association in the distance, family!
“Hey! What’s with that expression?”
Lou Feng suddenly got angry.
“Sentimental, sentimental! Meeting an old friend far from home, too happy to even breathe.”
Ji Jue smiled honestly, slinging an arm over his shoulder, unfazed by Lou’s scowl. “When did you get here?”
“While you were lifting a butcher’s blade against other people’s mothers…”
Lou Feng glanced coldly and replied, “You’re bold, not afraid of getting kicked out of the exam for a fight?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve read the Candidate Code. As long as I don’t throw a punch, it’s not a fight. If danger comes, I’ll call the guards first.”
Ji Jue grinned, “You have to trust the Association’s security!”
“Ever since the Association let troublemakers like you take the exam, I stopped hoping for security!”
Lou Feng snorted coldly and tried to distance himself, but he didn’t expect Ji Jue to cling like sticky gum—he couldn’t shake him off no matter what.
“So you’re here too?” Ji Jue asked curiously. “Did Master Kong’s place get stirred up again?”
“Nothing to do with the teacher. It was my own choice. Who else has to get signatures everywhere just to apply for an exam? Even if I fail, at least I’m accumulating experience.”
By now, Lou Feng was well aware of Ji Jue’s weak spots.
He sneered contemptuously, “Anyway, my family’s rich.”
“Don’t be so formal.”
Ji Jue didn’t care and stuck tighter, accidentally stepping on that shiny leather shoe.
“As the saying goes, rely on family at home and brothers outdoors. Your money is my money. Have you eaten? I haven’t. Lend me some…”
“Get lost, get lost!”
“Come on, come on! Didn’t we say we’d be lifelong partners—”
“Shut up! You still have the nerve to talk? I swear I’ll kill you!!!”
Thus, they pushed and pulled, swirling into the crowd.
Meanwhile, not far from the exam hall, at the top of the ruined tower, two figures quietly overlooked everything.
Jiang Tongguang grinned, scratching his chin and said sincerely, “Youth is truly wonderful.”
“Youth?”
Gustav sneered and shook the report in his hand. “One youth you mentioned moments ago was fighting with other apprentices on the Association’s leyline transport platform. Another restless fellow, just like his teacher. No matter how polite or respectful, it’s just a mask for arrogance. Those unrelated to him are always looked down upon.”
“That brave?”
Jiang Tongguang raised his brow. “Quite daring. Where did he come from?”
Gustav waved his hand and pulled a registration form from the void, tossing it over. “Cliff City, Federation. Registered workshop: Tide Sound.”
“Tide Sound? Which tide... Oh! Ye Xian?”
Jiang Tongguang brightened then chuckled, “Her student? That’s not surprising. No more tearing living people apart, already restrained quite a bit. But I always felt it was weird she even accepted students.”
He eyed the registration form. “Who exactly is this hero?”
“No one knows. The Association’s Haizhou branch has high praise. He joined the recent Spring City conflict and reportedly performed well. If not for some quarrels between Haizhou and Zhongzhou, he might have been awarded a medal directly.”
“Let me see…”
Jiang Tongguang tossed the registration form back into the void and pulled up related files.
He clicked his tongue in admiration: “A commoner background, no history of chosen ancestors, with less than a year of study, yet three masters are willing to endorse him with their own titles. More notable than the disciple of Old Dragon in the Empire. The only unique candidate this year—remarkable.”
There was no disdain for his humble origin or lack of family background.
On the contrary, a rootless Ashes Chosen reaching this point in less than a year had surpassed countless golden spoon-born second generation.
“If you ask me, deliberately raising the difficulty and spreading so much news to scare people this year might have backfired.”
Jiang Tongguang put away the resume and files, squatting at the edge of the tower and pointing out as he looked down:
“Security Bureau and Secret Bureau trainees don’t count. Let me see… Dragon Heart, Bell Tower, Nine Seals, White Sail, Random Patterns, Seven Rivers, North Wind, Blue Wolf, Collaborative Agency, Hundred-Eyed Giant… Hmm, plus one Tide Sound under a pseudonym.”
“All the famous and reputable major workshops in the Association have sent apprentices. Aside from the direct or branch lineages of three Grandmasters, there’s even a genuine bloodline from the Empire.”
He sighed softly: “This year is truly a gathering of heroes.”
(The End of This Chapter)