After leaving the hill, Chen Chuan did not return directly to the Xuan Palace Building. Instead, he drove toward Mount Motie. Cao Guixi clearly had known about this long ago, so perhaps more could be learned from him.
Having contacted him via boundary credential along the way, Chen Chuan saw from a distance that Uncle Ding was already waiting outside when he arrived at the Cao family estate.
This was a rare courtesy compared to previous visits.
After parking the car, he stepped forward and followed Uncle Ding into the estate. When he met Cao Guixi, the latter—
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "Yes."
Cao Guixi said, "Follow me," then turned and walked toward the back of the courtyard.
Chen Chuan followed him out of the courtyard and boarded a retro-styled carriage. Uncle Ding took the reins to drive it himself, bringing the two of them toward the mountain behind the estate.
Chen Chuan looked outside. He had noticed during previous visits that a tower seemed to stand high up on Mount Motie, though it had been obscured by dense trees and hard to see clearly. Now, the carriage was clearly heading deeper in. As they drew closer, he could make out its general shape.
It was an octagonal tower with a distinctly religious style from the Old Era. Judging by its weathered exterior, it was not merely some retro replica, but something that had stood here since the Old Era itself.
The carriage traveled all the way to the foot of the tower. Chen Chuan and Cao Guixi stepped down, and Chen Chuan followed him inside. Yet in stark contrast to its dilapidated exterior, the interior furnishings were entirely modern in style, and it no longer retained solely its aged framework, having been reinforced and remodeled.
Where the original wooden staircase had been, it had been dismantled and replaced with a sightseeing elevator.
Uncle Ding stepped forward to call the elevator for them. Once Chen Chuan and Cao Guixi stepped inside, he pressed the button again, but he did not join them, remaining standing at the entrance.
Cao Guixi remained silent throughout the ride. The two rode the elevator all the way to the top of the tower. He stepped out, walked over to the railing, and gently rested his hand upon it.
Chen Chuan walked over and gazed out. This was the highest point on the entire Mount Motie. He could faintly see the estates and villas scattered everywhere, as well as the sprawling expanse of Center City in the distance.
Cao Guixi spoke up: "This is called the Saturn Tower. In the Old Era, it was a pivotal site reserved by the imperial clan to confront and make contact with another 'world.'"
Chen Chuan's heart stirred slightly. "Then was this the Old Era's equivalent of Center City?"
Cao Guixi said, "You could put it that way, but there are differences. Did Commissioner Liang tell you that Center City is the frontline in confronting that world, an anchor between the two worlds, and the place closest to the other side?"
Chen Chuan said, "That is what he told me."
Cao Guixi said, "These places weren't like this at first. Instead, they were scattered, densely dotted all across the world. If we compare our world to a sheet of blank paper, the places where the two worlds first made contact were like countless black specks scattered across it.
"In the Old Era, various countries' understanding of the Period of Flux was still limited to past records. Thus, what the imperial houses adopted was not resistance, but rather building Saturn Towers like this directly over the fissures where fluctuations were most severe, attempting to draw power and research-worthy technologies from them.
"Later on, they gradually realized what was happening. They began strictly sealing off the fissures and attempting to channel and converge them, gathering them together under the governance and control of the various empires.
"However, because technological conditions had not caught up back then, and communication and surveillance were inadequate, despite the numerous countermeasures they implemented, countless leaks and fissures remained throughout the world. Many things spilled through these gaps, but at the same time, this gave opportunities to many people."
Chen Chuan said, "I heard Commissioner Liang say that advances in technology led to the collapse of the empires."
Cao Guixi shook his head. "Not entirely. The true situation was actually far more complicated. Still, what the old empires failed to accomplish was indeed achieved in the New Era.
"After the Grand Alliance was founded, it eliminated, channeled, and gathered the vast majority of known fissures and anchor points across the world. It built Center Cities atop them and erected the Ring of the World for defense and confrontation.
"In that respect, the Grand Alliance made an immense contribution to the entire world.
"Furthermore, in the New Era, fighters at least have a chance to rise. In the Old Era, birth and bloodline determined everything, completely blocking any path for advancement. The various empires could not shoulder the responsibilities they were meant to bear, and instead... In the end, being swept away was their deserved outcome, a choice made by the world.
"Yet the Grand Alliance lasted only thirty years before it collapsed. What Commissioner Liang told you about Center City being the frontline of resistance is not wrong, but governments and corporations have likewise gained tremendous benefits from it. If these are viewed as resources, governments and corporations have virtually monopolized them all.
"While that was necessary, once these resources gradually flowed to the top and were clutched tightly in the hands of governments and major corporations, things became different once again..."
At this point, he let out a wistful sigh. "Did not the imperial clans and royal nobility of the past want the very same thing? They wanted to obtain advantageous things from the other side and sit upon their thrones for ten thousand generations. But what remains of them now?"
He patted the railing beneath his hands. "Nothing more than these surviving ruins.
"Only in their time, the contact between the two worlds was not nearly as close as it is now, so the world as a whole could still afford trial and error. This time, however, we can never afford another mistake.
"Yet that is only as far as we are concerned. For the world itself, perhaps it makes little difference. From the limited records available, something like the Great Collision may have occurred before in history, but that might have been before the rise of civilization, long buried in a past we can scarcely fathom..."
He turned his head and said solemnly, "Junior Chen, in this brand-new era about to arrive, as far as you personally are concerned, you must try to seize this opportunity and ride the momentum. Otherwise, there is no way you can take control of your own destiny."
Chen Chuan nodded just as solemnly. He thought for a moment, then added, "Commissioner Liang told me..."
Cao Guixi said seriously, "He wasn't wrong. Because from..."
"Yet because that world is merging with ours, the material world we inhabit has undergone changes, becoming less rigidly constrained, turning the impossible into the possible.
"While that world has brought danger, it has likewise brought opportunity.
"Many of the vital resources of various nations, including certain technologies, were derived from that world or the collision between the two worlds. And these resources are held entirely in the hands of governments and major corporations."
He looked at Chen Chuan and said, "Trainee Chen, while you are weak, your best course is to join them first. Gradually obtain what you need from them, use these resources to build your strength, and do everything possible to reach the next limit before the Great Collision. Only then will you have the leverage to negotiate terms with them."
Chen Chuan understood his meaning and knew that this was likely the most suitable path at present. Yet a more practical problem lay before him: this alone would not be enough to satisfy his cultivation needs.
So after some thought, he asked again, "Senior Cao, might I ask—aside from joining the government or the corporations, is there any other path to choose?"
Cao Guixi did not answer immediately. Only after a moment did he say slowly, "Outside Center City, there are still some scattered fissures that have not been gathered, as well as others that crop up from time to time due to the collision of the worlds.
"Quite a few of these fissures are controlled by fringe factions and organizations that use them to recruit personnel and attempt to reap benefits. However, most of these fissures are highly unstable, and there is no telling what might emerge from them. Without sufficient strength, one could be wiped out overnight at any time.
"Moreover, governments and corporations keep a tight watch on them. As soon as one is discovered, they promptly purge or secure it. Aside from that... there is no other path."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment and gave his sincere thanks. "Thank you, Senior Cao, for telling me this."
Cao Guixi said, "It is nothing. You would have encountered these things sooner or later anyway. Still, Junior, if you make your decision, you must be careful." He added another warning: "The things that leak past the Ring of the World are not easy to deal with, and you must never easily trust the messages they convey to you."
Chen Chuan said, "I will keep that in mind. Thank you for the warning, Senior Cao."
Cao Guixi looked outward, his robes fluttering incessantly in the wind. "The convergence of the worlds affects us deeply, affecting each and every one of us, as it has from ancient times to the present. I do not know how it will end, but if we can make it through, perhaps a far brighter new future awaits us."
After standing there for a little while longer, Chen Chuan took his leave. After seeing Chen Chuan off, Uncle Ding returned to the top of the tower and bowed. "Young Master, Trainee Chen has departed."
Cao Guixi gave an acknowledging hum. He remained standing there, gazing down at the foot of Mount Motie, his thoughts unknown.
Uncle Ding hesitated, then looked up and said, "Young Master, given Trainee Chen's current standing, he ought to learn about that matter. Yet you didn't mention it to him..."
With his back to him, Cao Guixi said, "Uncle Ding, as I have said, I help him simply because we hit it off and because his character and temperament are worth supporting. There is no need for him to shoulder the things I once went through."
Uncle Ding said, "But Young Master, that would be an opportunity for Brother Chen as well, wouldn't it? If you think highly of his future, wouldn't it be better to..."
Cao Guixi flicked his sleeve. "Enough. A path walked mistakenly once must not be walked again."
Uncle Ding lowered his head deeply. "Understood..."
Chapter 367