novelraw Chapter 653 - 269 Colorful City
Chapter 653 - 269 Colorful City
"What is this place?" Li Xiu surveyed the surrounding environment, feeling slightly puzzled.
The bright sunshine, clean streets, and rows of flowers lining the street, blooming with small pink and white blossoms.
The square was filled with pigeons searching for food, undisturbed by the flow of people.
A scruffy-looking man held a violin, playing a lively tune, and under the accompaniment of that tune, men and women, old and young, danced an exotic dance in the square.
"What’s going on here?" Li Xiu glanced around, his expression growing increasingly peculiar.
This was a city full of vitality and joy, completely different from Black Death City, yet Li Xiu noticed something that sent chills down his spine.
The city’s layout was identical to that of Black Death City.
The place where he stood was the city’s central crossroad, with city gates in four directions, just like in Black Death City.
Moreover, the architectural style was similar to Black Death City, except Black Death City used black stone bricks, whereas this city used colored bricks, giving an entirely different impression despite the architectural similarity.
Some buildings were the same as those in Black Death City, while others were different. A regular person might not see the connection to Black Death City, but Li Xiu noticed upon comparison that this city bore only slight differences from Black Death City; essentially, it was a colorful version of Black Death City.
"Uncle, why are you standing here?" A youthful yet pretentiously mature voice sounded from behind Li Xiu.
Li Xiu turned around, seeing no one.
"Uncle, don’t be so aloof." The voice spoke again.
Li Xiu looked down to notice a cute little girl wearing a vest and boots, and a cowboy hat, glaring at him with a puffed-up demeanor.
"Are you talking to me?" Li Xiu squatted down, gazing at the little girl.
"Who else am I talking to if not you, a ghost?" The little girl wore a you’re-so-silly expression.
"What’s your name?" Li Xiu studied the little girl, who had rare purple eyes and naturally curly black hair.
"Call me Sharpshooter." The little girl pulled out a wooden-carved revolver from her waist, holding it with both hands in a shooting pose.
"Alright, Sharpshooter, do you need something from me?" Li Xiu asked with a smile.
"Are you a foreigner?" The little girl inquired, looking at Li Xiu.
"I suppose... I am..." Li Xiu glanced at the city; to this place, he was indeed an outsider.
"Why did you come here?" The little girl continued to question.
"Tourism." Li Xiu was unsure what to say, for he hadn’t intended to come here; the damned Godslayer Shrine had brought him here.
"You’re a traveler? You must have visited many places, then?" The little girl’s eyes lit up instantly.
"I guess so." Li Xiu nodded.
"Have you been to the Celestial Sea?" The little girl asked, looking at Li Xiu with great anticipation.
"The Celestial Sea, one of the four forbidden zones?" Li Xiu asked.
"What are the four forbidden zones?" The girl asked, puzzled.
"The Celestial Gate, Longevity Island, Bottomless Pit, Celestial Sea—don’t you know about the four forbidden zones?" Li Xiu inquired with a frown.
"Never heard of those; I only know the Celestial Sea. You must have visited many places; have you been to the Celestial Sea then?" The girl asked excitedly.
"I stood at the edge of the Celestial Sea, but I didn’t go in." Li Xiu wasn’t exactly lying; he had previously been to the Sea Heaven Trial Ground, and from there one could enter the Land of Trial to reach the Celestial Sea, so technically, he had stood at the doorway to the Celestial Sea.
"That’s great; can you take me to the Celestial Sea, Uncle?" The girl asked eagerly.
"I can’t." Li Xiu shook his head.
He dared not enter the Celestial Sea himself, let alone take the little girl along, especially since he didn’t even know where he was. This place was likely the Demon Kingdom; his knowledge of the route from the Demon Kingdom to the Celestial Sea was nonexistent.
Li Xiu was somewhat surprised that if these people were indeed from the Demon Kingdom, they appeared indistinguishable from humans on Earth. Except for the difference in attire, no one could tell them apart.
"You want a reward, don’t you? I can pay you." The little girl said, taking a coin from her vest pocket and handing it to Li Xiu.
Li Xiu looked at the coin, surprised, as it was carved from a red gemstone.
He had never seen money carved from gemstones before.
"It’s not a matter of money; you can’t get to the Celestial Sea from here." Li Xiu looked at the little girl and asked, "Why do you want to go to the Celestial Sea?"
"I want to find my father; he’s at the Celestial Sea." The little girl thought for a moment, then asked in puzzlement, "Didn’t they say you just have to pass through the Sea of Love to reach the Celestial Sea?"
"That I don’t know; what’s this city called?" Li Xiu asked.
"City of Love; didn’t you see the name above?" The girl pointed to a sign in the square.
Turning his head, Li Xiu indeed saw the sign with the three words ’City of Love’ inscribed.