Walking out of the airport and arriving at the Spirit Transmission Tower Square, Xie Xie listened to the opening ceremony address. Looking at the surrounding crowd cheering enthusiastically, he could not help but click his tongue in amazement.
"We've only been gone for a day, and it's already this lively here."
Although he had seen some signs of it earlier, the current situation still startled him. The atmosphere at the scene was swelled with enthusiasm. The boiling sound of the crowd rose and fell like surging ocean waves.
Shops in the distance had opened their doors early, planning to make a big profit today.
Xie Xie could see the enthusiastic faces all around him. With every breath, he could smell the excitement in the air.
How many humans and spirit souls were there nearby?
There was no way to count them all.
Leng Yaozhu smiled. "This is only the beginning. The celebration lasts for three days. From now on, people and spirit souls from Mingdu and even from all directions will come to participate in the celebration. It will get livelier and livelier."
"After establishing relations with the Federation, the square in front of headquarters, the surrounding streets and blocks, and the Spirit Transmission Tower headquarters itself have all been arranged as the main celebration venues. Many activities will be held in these places. You can enjoy yourselves."
"Don't be too nervous or too serious, at least not now. Apart from the worship ceremony, just participate in the other activities with a normal attitude."
"Yes, you children can just go and enjoy the celebration now."
Bear Lord smiled and nodded. "The worship time will be arranged for every evening. On the first day, representatives from inside the Spirit Transmission Tower and from other forces attending the ceremony will go together to worship. Then we will take you inside the Spirit Transmission Tower to worship Spirit Ice Douluo."
They were currently within Huo Yuhao's domain. Otherwise, given the identities of Snow Empress, Leng Yaozhu, and himself, their group would definitely be surrounded and stared at by the crowd.
"Huh? The worship location is inside the Spirit Transmission Tower?" Xu Xiaoyan was somewhat surprised. "I thought it would be outside."
"Yes, the worship location is inside the Spirit Transmission Tower headquarters. It was a rule left by the Second Generation Tower Master. As for the reason, we're not very clear about it."
Bear Lord looked toward Huo Yuhao and said meaningfully.
He felt that Huo Yuhao probably knew the answer to this question.
On the other side, Leng Yaozhu continued, "As for the daytime, there are various celebration activities related to spirit souls, spirit beasts, and Spirit Ice Douluo, as well as exhibitions..."
While Leng Yaozhu was patiently introducing things to the younger generation, Lan Fozi, who had also participated in the ceremony's opening ceremony not far away, looked at the spirit beasts and spirit souls around her and could not help feeling some emotion.
Although she had heard about the situation inside the Federation before and had seen scenes of spirit beasts, spirit souls, and humans interacting, nothing was as impressive as the scene today.
This place was magical. As long as one could accept the order and strive to integrate, even spirit beasts could walk on the main streets. A bear could live like a human.
On the other two continents, one could not see such a harmonious scene. The time on those two continents had, in a sense, stopped in the past.
"Come to think of it, what exactly did that First Generation Tower Master look like?"
Lan Fozi felt that she had been a member of the Spirit Transmission Tower for quite a while, but she still did not know the appearance of the First Generation Tower Master, Spirit Ice Douluo. The portraits recorded inside the Spirit Transmission Tower were also very vague. It seemed that because there were several different versions, it was difficult to determine which was correct, so they simply made them deliberately unclear.
Logically, it should not be this way.
After all, although humans might lose the inheritance due to generational changes, the spirit souls that had survived since ten thousand years ago and the spirit beasts that had seen Spirit Ice Douluo could not possibly have forgotten the First Generation Tower Master's appearance.
But the secrets involved were not something that someone who had only been a member of the Spirit Transmission Tower for a few years could know. After thinking for a moment, Lan Fozi put her thoughts out of her mind.
Since the portraits were all vague, she would just imagine it herself.
The First Generation Tower Master should be a bit gentler than the two lords. After all, he was the one who brought spirit beasts and humans toward peace. He was certainly more approachable than deities. Lord Huo Yuhao and Lord Gu Yuena were just too...
Thinking this subconsciously, Lan Fozi quickly stopped herself.
No, how can I be disrespectful to the lords!
She knew that powerful deities had the ability to hear people speaking ill of them, and even had the authority to punish offenders without lifting a finger.
It was something like divine persona backlash?
She could not remember clearly whether the punishment came from just thinking it or only from saying it out loud.
Lan Fozi's expression turned serious. She began to pray. "Praise Lords Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena. May you live long... be eternal and immortal!"
"I am your loyal believer. The First Generation Tower Master is at most worthy of my admiration..."
In short, she would first offer her loyalty and faith to the two deities.
As for the First Generation Tower Master, may he rest in peace...
Huo Yuhao, who had separated from the main group and planned to take Snow Empress and Gu Yuena away, saw Lan Fozi standing out in the crowd with her high recognizability. His expression was peculiar.
"What is she doing? Praying?"
"Perhaps she is praying to you?" Snow Empress glanced over and smiled slightly.
"...I don't think so." Huo Yuhao's eye twitched.
If a sea spirit beast that had just joined the Spirit Transmission Tower started praying to him for unknown reasons as soon as the celebration began, then he really needed to consider whether he should find a reason to leave here.
Otherwise, who knew what kind of scenes he might see next.
...
Guang Long and Guang Biao were wandering around the food street near the square.
For the two of them, big eaters as they were, the food street had no small appeal. After all, they had come to participate in the celebration without even eating lunch.
Just as they were being drawn in by the enticing aromas, Guang Long suddenly heard a passerby nearby muttering quietly.
"With so many low-age spirit beasts, is there really no risk of an accident? It would be better to restrict their movement a bit..."
Guang Long frowned and turned to look at the speaker. "If you think it's dangerous, then don't come to the ceremony."
His voice was not quiet, causing several nearby passersby to turn their heads.
The passerby's face turned red at being rebutted. He was about to argue back, but Guang Biao had already pulled Guang Long and spoke first. "Today, the Spirit Transmission Tower's and the Federation's Public Security Teams will be in charge of safety. Moreover, the spirit beasts participating in the ceremony have been approved. They have guardians or guardian beasts with them, so there's no need to worry."
"Th... that's good then."
The passerby nodded sheepishly, stepped back awkwardly, and blended into the crowd.
Guang Long curled his lip. "Brother, why didn't you let me have a word with him?"
"What did you want to say?" Guang Biao let go of his hand. "His concern isn't unfounded. Conflicts can happen even between people. For someone not used to being around spirit beasts, seeing powerful and fierce spirit beasts entering the city would naturally cause some unease. It's the same principle as ordinary people instinctively feeling awe toward powerful soul masters."
Apart from the areas around the Star Dou Great Forest and the Extreme North, where human and spirit beast coexistence was more frequent, other cities mostly had humans coexisting with spirit souls. The sight of spirit beasts was rarer.
Of course, this mainly referred to those spirit beasts without higher intelligence. Getting ordinary people to feel at ease around them was indeed very difficult. It was like children with great destructive power. Without a guardian by their side, no one could feel at ease.
Spirit souls did not have this problem because they were the responsibility of a soul master. After all, if a spirit soul attacked you, it usually meant that the soul master had something against you.
Upon hearing this, Guang Long's brow relaxed somewhat. But he glanced at a spot not far away and still refused to admit defeat. "Hmph, but the tone he used was really annoying. This is a celebration jointly held by the Federation and the Spirit Transmission Tower. What could possibly go wrong?"
Just a few meters away, an ice-white Ice Crystal Deer was gracefully passing through the crowd. On the deer's back rode a young girl wearing a Spirit Transmission Tower uniform. The girl smiled and handed out small gifts to passersby. The Ice Crystal Deer lowered its head gently, allowing curious children to touch its antlers.
"He just needs time to adapt. Not everyone is like us, who have innate trust in these spirit beasts because of the Spirit Transmission Tower and spirit souls."
Hearing this, Guang Long's expression became complicated.
For them, who came from ordinary families and had lost their parents at a young age, many people could not understand what the Spirit Transmission Tower and spirit souls meant.
After losing their parents, although they received help from neighbors and the local community, they still lived in a daze.
It was not until they awakened their martial souls at the Spirit Transmission Tower at age six and obtained their first spirit soul that they truly found direction in life.
And it was at that time that a special feeling was born in his heart.
Back then, Guang Long could not accurately describe that feeling, nor could he explain where it came from, but he could clearly perceive its existence. It was like a faint ray of light suddenly appearing in a dark abyss.
Later, he understood. It was... hope.
Those days of confusion and helplessness finally turned around the moment he stepped into the Spirit Transmission Tower. The awakening of his martial soul and spirit power made him feel for the first time that he was not completely without anything. Talent, strength, and a future were all ignited here. And the joy he felt when he was chosen by a spirit soul he could not forget even now.
Therefore, Guang Long was very grateful to the Spirit Transmission Tower and Spirit Ice Douluo. They had given him this opportunity. The purpose of coming to participate in the ceremony today was also to secretly offer his blessings during the worship ceremony.
Spirit Ice Douluo, may you rest in peace.
"All right, stop overthinking. Let's grab something to eat. I'm starving." Seeing Guang Long's expression, Guang Biao knew what he was thinking and spoke up to interrupt his thoughts. "Don't start building up your emotions now, or you'll forget your words during the worship ceremony just like you did when giving your speech to join the Mecha Corps."
Guang Long's face flushed with embarrassment. "How could that happen? Some things are more important than others. Those two situations are different."
Several dozen meters away, Tang Wulin watched Guang Long and Guang Biao gradually walk away. He glanced at Big Bear and Second Bear, who wanted honey, and at Xie Xie watching over them. He thought for a moment, then decided not to go over and greet the two. Instead, he walked toward them with the things he had bought.
Teacher Bear Lord and Tower Master Leng Yaozhu were probably worried that their presence would make them unable to relax, so they left to let them enjoy the celebration on their own. Tower Master Snow Empress left very calmly with Yuhao and the others. Yuhao and Gu Yuena also didn't look uncomfortable. Their mental fortitude is really strong.
But before leaving, Teacher Bear Lord entrusted Big Bear and Second Bear to me. I am to act as their guardian and take them around the celebration.
If I abandoned them now and left Xie Xie to watch them alone, I would feel bad. I'll greet Brother Guang Long and the others later.
"Wulin, your teacher asked the two of us to watch Big Bear and Second Bear. What exactly are we supposed to do? Just take them to eat all along the way?" Xie Xie saw him return and looked at the bears choosing honey, then complained.
Although their skilled movements in selecting food were reassuring, the appetite of two thousand-year Dark Gold Fearclaw Bears would probably require walking for a long time.
"This is best. As fellow foodies, I know how to keep an eye on them!"
Tang Wulin expressed his opinion and also released his own spirit soul.
This was a rare celebration, and one that spirit souls, spirit beasts, and humans all participated in together. Of course he should release his spirit soul to participate as well.
Seeing his action, Xie Xie released his own spirit soul while saying, "But I still want to go and see the other activities. We can't just keep eating forever."
"Then shouldn't you have gone with Xiaoyan and the others? Their goal is to go through each activity one by one, right?"
Tang Wulin said.
They had already planned it out. They had split into three groups. First, they would go to places they liked according to their preferences. Finally, they would gather together before evening to go participate in the worship ceremony.
They definitely wanted to participate in the celebration activities, but delicious food should not be missed either.
Anyway, there were three days. There was no rush.
"..."
What was the reason for that?
Xie Xie rolled his eyes. "If you want me to leave, then I'm really leaving."
"Just joking." Tang Wulin smiled slightly, took out a steaming roasted meat skewer, and handed it to him. "Here, freshly grilled. Want a taste?"
Xie Xie took the skewer, took a bite, and his eyes immediately lit up. "Not bad."
Tang Wulin smiled and pointed to a stall not far away. "I can tell the quality of the grilled meat. This place has tender meat with a bit of spirit power nourishment. Naturally, it tastes good."
Walking with Wulin isn't bad. He not only can eat, but knows how to eat.
Thinking this, Xie Xie finished his skewer in a few bites and licked his lips with lingering satisfaction. "Let's go. Buy a few more skewers!"
At the same time, in the center of the Spirit Transmission Tower's second floor hall, a giant Holographic Projection was playing a video about the Spirit Transmission Tower.
It started from the initial enmity
between humans and spirit beasts, to Spirit Ice Douluo establishing the Spirit Transmission Tower and forming contracts with the Extreme North and Star Dou. The scene finally froze on a scene in the Star Dou Great Forest of a soul master peacefully coexisting with several spirit beasts.
Xu Xiaoyan finished watching this video. Her expression was somewhat peculiar, and she could not help but laugh. "Wulin and the others should have come with us."
Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi nodded in unison, looking with strange expressions at the Big Bear and Second Bear that had appeared in the final scene of the video.
They really had no idea that those two Dark Gold Fearclaw Bears had acting skills. This was a new experience.
After watching the entire video, Xu Xiaoyan expressed her thoughts. "The production is very good, but the details don't match the historical records, do they?"
"This is a Promotional Video. Naturally, some Artistic Embellishment has been added."
A familiar voice came from the side.
Xu Xiaoyan and the others subconsciously looked over and immediately showed happy expressions. "Yuanen, Senior Shen Xing, you came too?"
"Yes, I came with my elders." Shen Xing smiled and nodded in response. "I didn't expect to run into Yuanen."
"I came by myself. After all, this is a celebration commemorating Spirit Ice Douluo. I felt I should come."
Yuanen Yehui said this, but her gaze was fixed on the video, just in time to see the playing video's progress repeatedly reaching the establishment of the Spirit Transmission Tower.
If not for the Spirit Transmission Tower and the First Generation Tower Master, as someone with an evil martial soul, she probably would not have lived such a comfortable life.
May the departed Spirit Ice Douluo rest in peace. Thank you for everything you have done.
***
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