Today was the final of the rookie battle, and Gong Zi had successfully made it into the finals. As scheduled, Gu Shen also arrived at the venue.
As soon as he entered the venue, someone he didn’t recognize greeted him.
Gu Shen responded with a smile.
Brother Gu... this address had already become a polite "common title" on the deep water area forum.
Gu Shen distinctly felt that the hostility towards him from Snow Forbidden City had reduced a lot lately.
Not long ago, the much anticipated feud between Bai and Gu didn’t happen, which sparked a great deal of controversy. The forum posts went viral, probably due to the disappointment towards both parties and discontent with the "aborted competition."
Eventually, the Bai Family Witch posted a response using her own ID, which ended the discussion threads.
Bai Lu’s response was simple.
Bai Xiu and Gu Shen had hit it off right away and were now considered friends.
Once this post was published, most Transcendents in the deep water area fell silent... The fundamental reason so many Challengers had ascended to Spring Rain Temple to challenge was that they thought Gu Shen "unworthy" of the S-ranking.
But what if Bai Xiu thought he was worthy?
Since that day, many Transcendents within Snow Forbidden City had less prejudice against Gu Shen.
And setting aside "preconceptions," on reevaluating Gu Shen, most had to admit that he indeed was an exceptional genius with a short cultivation time, already quite powerful, and he had also gained favor from Master Qianye, becoming the "Divination Inheritor."
Perhaps he was not as dazzling as Bai Xiu yet.
But he... was indeed very low-key.
Apart from the initial retaliations when provoked, Gu Shen hadn’t stirred up major troubles in Snow Forbidden City. Most of the time, he was cultivating in his small courtyard and then going to Qingzhong for meditation.
Who would really want to antagonize a "Divination Inheritor"?
Gu Shen made his way to the first row of the venue. Along the way, many people greeted him, and he profoundly understood one thing.
When you become strong, the whole world is your friend.
The grand final of the rookie battle was a very solemn and grand event. The first row seats in the venue had long been reserved by the "big shots"—the three major families, the five renowned clans, as well as the distinguished council officers of Snow Forbidden City, owning the first row seats which signified power and status.
Gu Shen had received his seat ticket early.
It was Gong Zi, using special connections, who had got it for him... Even close friends like Mu Nan and Shen Li could only sit in slightly further back positions. It couldn’t be helped; even if they were eligible, they couldn’t truly take those seats.
The people sitting in the first row were all top figures in Snow Forbidden City with significant "reputation."
People like Mu Nan, Shen Li, were still too young.
They were not yet qualified.
However... youth was just an "excuse."
After taking his seat, Gu Shen habitually looked around. He saw familiar faces across from him, the Witch of the Bai Family and Little Xiuzi who had returned from a distant journey.
Real figures with status and power holding "mandates of power" were not restricted by age.
Just like himself, who was essentially still a "young person" with shallow experience.
"Brother Gu, I didn’t expect you to come."
Gu Shen heard a transmitted message in his mind.
He looked over and saw Bai Xiu, who had taken the initiative to greet him.
He nodded slowly, acknowledging him, and smiled back with a transmission, "Gong Zi is my friend. I promised him I would come to see him win the championship."
Bai Xiu also nodded slowly with a smile.
Just like Gu Shen, since his return from the Tundra, he had devoted himself to meditation, staying aloof from worldly affairs. After the assassination attempt last time, Bai Xiu decided to go into seclusion in Snow Forbidden City for a while... first, to prevent similar incidents, and second, to strengthen his Spirit Realm. After all, Chunyu was the best place for him to meditate.
But this rookie battle was different from the past.
Seeing the three seventh-level Transcendents who stood out in the contests, Bai Xiu had taken notice... Such strength was beyond his expectation, these three indeed being geniuses among geniuses.
Hence on the day of the finals, Bai Lu had dragged him out.
The three families and five great houses hoped the "rookie battle" could reach its peak popularity.
Thus... even if Bai and Gu, these two, didn’t personally compete, just being seen at the venue would ignite a lot of discussion.
"So many eyes are watching our every move outside, everything will be magnified..."
Bai Xiu transmitted softly, "Brother Gu, to avoid trouble, I’ll just quietly watch the battle."
"That’s appropriate," Gu Shen agreed with a smile.
He and Bai Xiu "knew little of each other"—having met only a few times and spoken only briefly, yet each meeting felt very relaxed.
Perhaps it was knowing that they were similar by nature.
Neither contending nor striving against others, but against themselves.
What isn’t contended is who’s stronger or faster.
What is strived for is dawn and dusk, the sun and the moon!
Such people, both rivals and friends.
As Bai Xiu and Gu Shen entered the venue, many eyes turned towards them.
Discussion threads in the deep water area had ceased.
But many still hoped something would happen between these two... whether it be discrepancies or conflicts, and even if neither of those arose, at least a brief conversation.
But nothing happened.
The two just nodded at each other from across the venue, each on their own side, acknowledging having seen each other.