Chapter 97: Aurora Lord

Aurora Lord…

Chen Ling etched the name into his mind.

“But how can an entire realm exist because of one person?” Chen Ling still found it unbelievable.

Han Meng countered, “What do you think lies beyond the Aurora Realm?”

Chen Ling pondered for a moment. “The Gray Realm?”

“Strictly speaking, beyond this realm is also our reality… it’s just been contaminated by the Gray Realm,” Han Meng replied calmly. “And humanity’s only ‘weapon’ to resist such convergence is our ‘domain.’”

“Domain?” Chen Ling was startled. “Is that the ‘domain’ from the Path to Godhood?”

“Yes. For any Path to Godhood, stages one to three are just the beginning. The real qualitative change occurs after reaching the fourth stage and mastering one’s domain. For example, my Court of Judgment, once activated, can envelop a space of about a hundred meters around me. Within this domain, I possess the authority to destroy or reconstruct the fundamental structure of any matter. However, for a Fourth Stage practitioner, achieving small-scale structural destruction is already the limit. As one’s stage progresses, the capabilities of this domain will become more refined, and its coverage will expand significantly.”

Chen Ling nodded thoughtfully after listening. “So, the Aurora Realm has remained uninfected by the Gray Realm precisely because it’s under the protection of the Aurora Lord’s domain…”

Chen Ling thought of the ceaselessly flowing Sea of Aurora above the Aurora Realm, always present, quiet, and mysterious, day and night. He had initially thought it was a unique celestial phenomenon of this world. Now, he realized the Sea of Aurora must be a symbol of the Aurora Lord’s domain.

“Didn’t you say the Aurora Realm has existed for hundreds of years?” Chen Ling’s eyes were filled with confusion. “If the entire Aurora Realm exists because of the Aurora Lord, doesn’t that mean he has lived for all these years?”

“That’s right, the Aurora Lord is over three hundred years old.”

Chen Ling was utterly shocked. Over three hundred years old? Is that even human anymore?

“But there have been two Gray Realm convergences recently,” Chen Ling spoke again. “Is that normal?”

Han Meng paused for a long time, then shook his head. “No, it’s not normal.”

He slowly looked up, his gaze fixed on the headquarters’ glazed dome. Beyond the glass, the Sea of Aurora continued to flow silently.

“Normally, no Gray Realm convergence would occur under this aurora. Even if there were exceptions, they would be extremely rare… Two consecutive incidents within half a month are definitely not normal. The only explanation can be… the Aurora Lord is in trouble.”

Han Meng’s tone was more solemn than ever before.

“In trouble… what would happen?”

“I don’t know,” Han Meng shook his head. “Ultimately, we are merely ants living under the shade of a tree. Even if we know the ancient tree that has protected us for hundreds of years is in trouble, we are powerless.”

Chen Ling fell silent.

“These matters are too far beyond your reach for now… just focus on your responsibilities,” Han Meng shifted the topic.

“So, what exactly is my job?”

“There are no specific tasks. It will mostly involve daily patrols, managing the Enforcers, and coordinating with the Aurora City Law Enforcers.” Han Meng seemed to recall something. “However, there is one place you definitely need to visit.”

“Where?”

“The factory district.”

Hearing those two words, Chen Ling thoughtfully asked, “Is it about the work stoppage?”

“Yes, the factory district’s work stoppage was too sudden. Go investigate it.” Han Meng finished, then, after a moment’s hesitation, pulled a small plastic packet from his drawer and handed it to Chen Ling.

“What’s this?”

“Jasmine tea.”

“Flower tea? Why for me?”

Han Meng glanced at the large bags of hearts, his gaze on Chen Ling somewhat odd. “Drink it often… it can cool you down.”

Chen Ling: ???

***

Aurora City.Enforcer Headquarters.

A figure pushed open the headquarters’ main doors and walked straight inside like a winter gale. It was a man with graying temples, his grizzled fur cloak swaying slightly with the air current of his stride. His somewhat aged face was grim as water.

The Enforcers guarding both sides were stunned. A young Enforcer was about to step forward to stop him but was pulled back by a colleague who silently shook his head.

“Tan Xin!!” The man roared a name, like a lion suppressing its rage. His voice echoed through the headquarters like thunder. All Enforcers stopped their work and looked over, leaving only endless echoes in the silence.

“Tan Xin, come out here!”

The second roar sounded. A nearby six-mark Law Enforcer instinctively frowned and stood up to approach, but a hand pressed him back into place. He looked up in surprise, seeing a figure in a black trench coat approaching the man. Eight silver marks shimmered faintly on the hem of his trench coat.

“Chairman Yan Shang,” he said calmly. “Is there something you need?”

Seeing the man before him, the man with graying temples narrowed his eyes, a dangerous aura emanating from him. “Tan Xin, I need an explanation for Xicai’s death.”

Hearing this, the eight-mark Law Enforcer sighed. He waved his hand at the surrounding Enforcers, who immediately understood and quietly left the area. In the empty hall, only the two men remained, standing opposite each other.

“We are already tracking the movements of the Usurpers of Fire, but it will take time,” Tan Xin said patiently.

“That’s not what I’m talking about,” Yan Shang’s voice was utterly cold. “I sent people to bring Chen Ling into Aurora City. Why did you stop them?”

“I didn’t stop them.”

“Han Meng went there.”

Tan Xin frowned slightly, saying gravely, “Han Meng isn’t my subordinate. What does his rescue of Chen Ling have to do with me?”

“He is a Law Enforcer from the Seven Great Districts, which falls under your jurisdiction,” Yan Shang stared intently at him. “And you were the one who took him from the Soul-Shattering Platform all those years ago…”

“A single soul-shattering interrogation is enough. You subjected him to it three times consecutively, intending to directly obliterate his consciousness and cause complete brain death,” Tan Xin paused. “You were openly attempting to murder a Law Enforcer in Aurora City. How could I not intervene?”

They glared at each other, the surrounding temperature rapidly dropping!

Just then, the headquarters’ main doors were suddenly pushed open, and a figure rushed in.

“Officer Tan Xin!”

Tan Xin glanced at him grimly. “What is it?”

“At Winterport, someone has salvaged a suspected survivor from the Ancient Arsenal!”

“What??”

Tan Xin and Yan Shang both stiffened simultaneously.

“Where is the person?”

As the Enforcer gestured, two individuals quickly entered from outside, carrying a body covered in ice shards, which they carefully placed on the ground. It was a blood-soaked figure, his face deathly pale, eyes tightly closed, as if he had been drowned into unconsciousness. The remaining water on his body was frozen into ice, making him look like a corpse dug out of a pile of ice.

“Is that him?” Fury surged madly into Yan Shang’s eyes!

Yan Shang had seen this person before; he had always been by Yan Xicai’s side, a cripple… According to Chen Ling, this Jian Changsheng was the ingrate who killed Yan Xicai.

“Oh, he’s actually still alive…” Yan Shang said through gritted teeth, his tone incredibly sinister.

Tan Xin also frowned, looking at him thoughtfully.

“Don’t be so hasty,” Tan Xin suddenly said. “What happened at the Ancient Arsenal is still a mystery… Perhaps we should first use your merchant guild’s Soul-Shattering Interrogation to find out exactly what happened before deciding on a course of action.”

Yan Shang heard this and sneered at him.

Tan Xin knew what Yan Shang was thinking. He paused for a moment, then added: “In the Enforcers’ archives, his record has already been marked as deceased and archived… This time, I will not interfere with how you choose to deal with him.”