Chapter 859 - 657: Hierarchical Status
Just as Lin Feng was holding the token, quickly making his way toward the Suspended City, Hong Yi had already arrived there first using the "Void Gate."
This treatment was indeed somewhat preferential. If Lin Feng knew, he might secretly complain.
This shows how much the Spirit Celestial King values Hong Yi.
Gently flapping her Spiritual Power Wings, floating above the city, Hong Yi’s eyes revealed a trace of curiosity.
This was a city suspended in mid-air, the entire city shrouded in a Barrier.
And beneath the city, there was a continuous thicket of brambles.
The architecture beneath her feet was very strange, with courtyards of Eastern style, Western classical castles, and temples similar to those of Ancient Greece.
"There’s even a pyramid!"
Hong Yi even discovered a pyramid five or six stories high, shimmering with a hazy glow under the sunlight.
"The Suspended City houses more than eighty thousand people. The residents here come from all over the world, various races, speaking different languages. The architectural styles within the city are bizarre and mixed, appearing chaotic. The culture here is very free, you might feel a bit uncomfortable at first." Qi Jin introduced while overlooking the ground.
Hong Yi nodded slightly, simultaneously concealing her curiosity.
About to become an Apostle, she couldn’t afford to be as naive as a child.
The new environment made Hong Yi feel somewhat uneasy, but also temporarily dispelled the sadness of leaving home.
The appearance of Hong Yi and the others also attracted quite a bit of attention, with some noticing they came out from the Space Gate.
From this alone, it could be confirmed they were prominent figures from the Pure Land.
In the Suspended City, the Pure Land was the only ruler. Within the city, although it seemed free, and any architecture and culture could coexist, the precondition was to operate according to the order set by the Pure Land.
"Is that Qi Jin?"
Someone recognized Qi Jin’s identity.
The son of the Spirit Celestial King, though not an Apostle, he was also a big figure in the Suspended City, so recognizing him wasn’t surprising.
Moreover, the residents of the Suspended City were more or less connected to the Apostles and Celestial Kings.
The real curiosity was about the girl beside him, clad in black, wearing a wide hat, concealing most of her face.
What identity did this girl have to make Qi Jin so courteous to her?
"Who is that girl? Qi Jin’s girlfriend?"
"Haven’t heard of Qi Jin having a girlfriend? Doesn’t quite look like it either?"
"Seems like it’s Hong Yi from the Avengers Alliance."
"Hong Yi is here?"
"Did the Spirit Medium come? Seriously?"
The arrival of Hong Yi sparked an uproar.
As Hong Yi joined the Avengers Alliance, her fame spread worldwide, and her popularity was very high.
One could say it was second only to Lin Feng and Yun Kai.
Hong Yi herself looked very cute, with double eyelids, big eyes, short legs, and a slightly chubby little round face, looking very endearing. The pair of dark as ink circles around her eyes were a bit odd, but staring at them for long, they appeared somewhat adorably dumb.
Her cute appearance, her place on the Celestial Chart, the frightening potential, combined with her sympathetic experiences, made her popularity even Ye Xing and Yun Tianqi couldn’t match.
Like Lin Feng, Hong Yi possibly coming to the Pure Land to become an Apostle wasn’t a secret to the residents of the Suspended City.
All news from the Pure Land was a hot topic among the residents of the Suspended City.
Moreover, not long ago, Hong Yi had caused a scramble among many Celestial Kings.
This treatment, even Lin Feng hadn’t received.
Amid all the attention, Qi Jin led Hong Yi toward the center of the Suspended City, to a Divine Temple also suspended mid-air, in a style resembling Ancient Greece.
As they landed, many people approached, men and women, old and young. Everyone looked at Hong Yi with varied expressions: curiosity, envy, jealousy, indifference, hostility, dislike—but without exception, they all bowed toward Hong Yi, saying: "Greetings, Apostle."
Meanwhile, Qi Jin was ignored, with those familiar with him only giving a nod at most.
Qi Jin didn’t mind either.
In the Pure Land, the Twelve Celestial Kings were the most exalted, followed by the Twenty-four Apostles, and even as the son of a Celestial King, what of it?
The hierarchy in the Pure Land was strictly defined.
Today, he brought Hong Yi to the Suspended City, so formalities were not as strict, but in the future, if he encountered Hong Yi, he too would have to bow.
"Hello everyone."
Hong Yi, slightly embarrassed, greeted them. It was her first time feeling this way, quite unaccustomed, but honestly, there was a tiny bit of enjoyment.
However, she soon realized that although everyone bowed to her, their eyes didn’t hold much respect or fear.
There were quite a few who were not convinced.
Some eyes weren’t friendly.
"Let’s go, I’ll take you to meet the Spirit Celestial King."
Qi Jin gave Hong Yi a look, and Hong Yi, appearing composed, hurriedly followed his pace.
Along the way, they encountered many people, who stopped and bowed to Hong Yi as she passed until no one was around. Only then did Qi Jin remind her: "In the Pure Land, the Celestial Kings are the highest, followed by Apostles, then Celestial Soldiers; the hierarchy is strict, and no one can surpass this order. Those people earlier were Celestial Soldiers, their status is inferior to yours, so they must bow, but it doesn’t mean they dare not make a move against you."
"What do you mean?"
Hong Yi asked, with such strict hierarchy, why would they dare to make a move against her?
Qi Jin explained: "In the Pure Land, at any time, an Apostle can challenge a Celestial King, and Celestial Soldiers can challenge Apostles. The winner takes the place, and the outcome for the unsuccessful challenger is decided by the Celestial King or Apostle. To avoid future challenges, nine out of ten challengers meet the fate of death!"
Pausing briefly, Qi Jin continued: "The perks of an Apostle are tempting, and there have been cases every few years of Apostles being defeated by Celestial Soldiers to take their place. Of course, those Celestial Soldiers would not dare challenge Apostles lightly, since failure could mean death."
Hong Yi nodded, feeling quite pressured, finally understanding where the previous malice came from.
This Pure Land indeed seemed crazy; here, trust was nonexistent, and one always had to beware of ambush or assassination.
Such regulations were clearly deliberate on the part of the Celestial Kings.
Seeing Hong Yi’s silence, Qi Jin smiled and said, "You needn’t worry too much. Apostles have a year’s grace period; no one can challenge you within a year. After a year, likely no one will dare challenge you anymore."
Considering the Spirit Medium’s potential and strength, he was well aware.
Just give Hong Yi a few years, and among the twenty-four Apostles, few could match her.
Perhaps in a few decades, even the position of Celestial King might not be out of reach.
"Truly enviable!"
Qi Jin sighed internally, as a peculiar glint flashed briefly in his eye while he glanced at Hong Yi from the corner of his eye.
Five minutes later, Hong Yi met the Spirit Celestial King.
A man with an Oriental face, somewhat dark-skinned, full of stubble; he appeared ordinary, like a middle-aged man, without the lofty aura of a Celestial King, more like a laborer.
"Greetings, Spirit Celestial King."
Hong Yi mimicked Qi Jin beside her, half-kneeling in salutation.
Unaccustomed as it was, facing an Emperor, it wasn’t such a humiliation.
Even if it felt humiliating, under the eaves, one must bow. Hong Yi was still quite sensible.
On the Spirit Celestial King’s right stood a tall, lean young man clad in blue, who had pale skin and somewhat narrow eyes, giving a rather sinister appearance.
When Hong Yi arrived, he had been observing her closely.
"Rise, you are an Apostle, merely a bow is sufficient."
The Spirit Celestial King smiled.
Hong Yi stood up, while Qi Jin remained half-kneeling.
"You rise as well."
The Spirit Celestial King stated plainly, a hint of indifference in his tone. Only then did Qi Jin rise, taking his place behind Hong Yi.
The Spirit Celestial King gradually approached Hong Yi, and in her somewhat tense eyes, he reached out toward her abdomen, and in the next moment, Hong Yi lost consciousness.
As darkness descended...
"Heh heh."
Accompanied by a terrifying sneer, an enormous figure suddenly appeared, its entire body entangled in violent sand, and in the air, the yellow sand danced with the wind.
While it sneered, fine sand continuously fell from its body.
Its appearance somewhat resembled a fox, but far more menacing. Entirely golden, towering thirteen or fourteen meters high, with a thick, short, stocky build, a pointed snout, triangular ears, equipped with stout, stubby limbs covered in bizarre, violet patterns. Its face bore large, black blotches covering its eye region.
In its enormous eyes, all was pitch black, with a solitary golden iris, radiating terrifying hostility, while on its chest, gravel continuously sunk and spun, gradually revealing a head, then a body, bit by bit revealing itself.
Sha Mi paid no mind to Hong Yi, instead gazing down at the Spirit Celestial King beneath him, a hint of surprise in his eyes: "Is it you? How did you become involved with Hong Yi?"
The Spirit Celestial King looked up, somewhat resigned, and said: "Long time no see!"