321: Chapter 321 Arrival at Shanhai City

Three days later.

"Approaching destination: Seventh Temporary Dimensional Line, Ascension Battlefield, Shanhai Station."

"Passengers arriving at the station, please gather your belongings and enter the inscription array in the center of the room."

A soft voice rang out within the high-level dimension-ascending cabin.

"We've arrived."

Having long been prepared, Zhang Huaiyuan walked toward the central inscription array.

Suddenly, a transparent bubble rose, enveloping him as it pierced through layers of space and landed steadily on a man-made platform.

"Special Envoy, we have been eagerly awaiting your arrival."

Before he could even survey his surroundings, a well-dressed procession approached him.

Number Thirteen and Number Fourteen, responsible for his protection, glanced at the signal feedback from their detectors. Seeing no threat, they did not intervene and remained silently by Zhang Huaiyuan's side.

The leaders were all wearing the attire of core association members; they did not seem to be their true bodies, but rather projections manifested through some method.

Their faces were beaming with smiles, lacking the aloofness typical of a Scholar and possessing a bit more worldly sophistication.

"We had long heard that the Special Envoy arranged by the association this time is a rare, peerless genius of the Endless Era. Seeing you in person is truly better than hearing about you."

"You three are too kind."

Zhang Huaiyuan hadn't expected such a warm welcome immediately upon arrival; he paused slightly before cupping his hands in greeting.

He swept his gaze over them, and the relevant information surfaced in his mind.

Su Lan, a Senior Scholar of the Tower of Wealth, had once created the myth of earning 100 billion with a principal of 100 time coins over 10 years, a feat widely spread across many worlds in the Sea of Time.

Barrel, a Senior Scholar of the Tower of Cultivation, had researched and created the basic cultivation technique, 'Thunder-Inducing Body Tempering Technique,' which became popular across hundreds of thousands of small worlds due to its high adaptability and suitability for the vast majority of races.

Mo, a Senior Scholar of the Virtual Tower, was a contemporary of his Second Senior Brother Mild and had once been a sensational genius.

All of them were Senior Scholars!

"You are all my seniors; I truly cannot accept the title of 'Special Envoy'."

Thinking this, Zhang Huaiyuan quickly added another sentence.

"In that case, since the Special Envoy and I both come from the Virtual Tower, I shall be bold enough to address you as Junior Brother."

The group exchanged glances. Mo, the Scholar from the Virtual Tower, spoke first, his smile becoming a bit more sincere.

"We aren't so lucky as to share the same Tower of Knowledge as the Special Envoy. Since the Special Envoy requests it, we shall address you simply as 'Special Envoy'."

"That is only right."

Zhang Huaiyuan nodded.

"There are many people coming and going here; this is not the place for pleasantries. Let us first take the Special Envoy back to Shanhai City."

Su Lan, the Senior Scholar from the Tower of Wealth, chuckled and waved to those behind him.

Immediately, the accompanying guard detail coordinated with the local staff to separate the other travelers, forming a separate path.

Those waiting seemed accustomed to this; not only did they not complain, but they actually became excited.

Generally, teleportation to the Ascension Battlefield requires a long wait; it is only manually activated early when important figures arrive.

"Huh, this is..."

Zhang Huaiyuan finally had the opportunity to observe his surroundings.

He discovered that the transfer station he was currently in was like a "nail" connecting countless dimensions and planes, with many travelers queuing for transport.

In the distant void, countless planes were slowly turning like pages of a book under the influence of an invisible force, flashing with countless bizarre and fantastical afterimages.

"This is the Special Envoy's first time here, isn't it?"

Seeing Zhang Huaiyuan pause, Barrel introduced:

"The Shanhai Transfer Station was built by the association with all its might, and it is the only route from the Sea of Time region to the Ascension Battlefield."

"It contains 129,600 artificially created worlds, forming vast dimensional layers surrounding the space we are in, which is why it is also known as the barrier of the All Heavens and Myriad Realms."

"Any unknown external force attempting to invade will be intercepted outside."

"It is easy to enter, but getting out requires strict inspection. The longer one stays, the stricter the review."

Barrel looked at Zhang Huaiyuan, his expression somewhat sentimental:

"For someone like you, the Special Envoy, or these travelers here to observe the ceremony, it's nothing as you will leave shortly after finishing your business. But for those of us permanently stationed in Shanhai City, it is already very difficult to return."

No wonder they were all projections.

Zhang Huaiyuan thought pensively.

"Barrel, why say all that?"

Mo, who was half a step behind, walked forward two steps upon hearing this and interrupted with a smile:

"For people like us, whose potential has been exhausted and who can no longer make progress on the path of seeking truth, what is wrong with continuing to contribute our remaining heat to the Ascension Battlefield?"

"That is also true. My apologies for making a fool of myself in front of the Special Envoy."

Barrel shook his head, put on his previous smile again, and pointed to an independent entrance not far ahead:

"Let's go, Special Envoy. The other council members are waiting in Shanhai City to welcome you. If we are late, they will blame us."

"I appreciate your efforts."

Zhang Huaiyuan nodded and followed.

He saw the planes, which had been flipping like book pages, being forcibly halted at a certain page, and vaguely, he could see a majestic city standing eternally in the void.

"Junior Brother, relax your body and do not resist. Let the guiding force take you over."

Mo conjured a card and swiped it a few times in the void; immediately, an invisible force descended.

The projections of the welcoming party dissipated instantly, while Zhang Huaiyuan and the members of the 'Cleaner' guard detail began to float, slowly being guided into the void.

"It seems to be a force of dimensional reduction... This feeling is just like being pulled into a comic from the ancient era, entering another level..."

Amidst his tangled thoughts, that strange sensation gradually faded.

"Hmm? This place..."

Recovering his consciousness, Zhang Huaiyuan immediately felt something was wrong and subconsciously activated True Sight.

"All the rules here do not seem to be naturally generated. The upper limit of allowed power levels has been significantly reduced!"

"But fortunately, there doesn't seem to be any strange matter in the void as I had imagined..."

"Special Envoy, welcome to Shanhai City."

Before Zhang Huaiyuan could think it over, a burst of enthusiastic shouts came from not far away.

He saw all twelve permanent council members of the Ascension Battlefield, including the true bodies of the previous three, all present.

"You all don't need to be so polite; just call me by my name or 'Special Envoy'."

Zhang Huaiyuan waved his hands repeatedly.

These twelve people were at least Senior Scholars of the previous association; they were heavyweight figures anywhere.

"The Special Envoy is right; we are all one family. It is we who have been distant."

One of the council members, who was vaguely standing in the center, smiled and pointed to Shanhai City behind him:

"Since this is the Special Envoy's first time here, do you intend to look around, or go to the Shanhai City Central Hub to see the performance of the major civilizations?"

"Let's go to the Central Hub first. I must see their performance before I can make a better decision."

Zhang Huaiyuan said without hesitation.