Roadmap to the Boundless Sky-Chapter 138Book 3, : Celestial Stabilization Tower

Chen Chuan didn’t return to the Arcane Palace right away after leaving the hill. Instead, he drove to Motie Mountain. Cao Guiqi clearly knew about this, so Chen Chuan might be able to learn more from him.

Since he contacted Cao Guiqi before coming, Mr. Ding was waiting for him outside when he arrived.

Chen Chuan had seldom received this sort of treatment in the past.

After parking the car, he walked out and followed Mr. Ding into the manor. When he saw Cao Guiqi, the man immediately asked, “Did Special Officer Liang tell you about it?”

“He did,” Chen Chuan answered with a nod.

“Come with me,” Cao Guiqi instructed and walked out of the courtyard. Chen Chuan followed him, and they got into a traditional carriage. Mr. Ding went to the coach box to drive the carriage himself, and he brought the two of them to the mountain behind the manor.

Chen Chuan looked out the window. When he was driving to Motie Mountain in the past, he had noticed the mountain before. There was a tower on it, but it was hidden by a dense thicket of trees, so he couldn’t see it clearly. The carriage was clearly headed toward the tower. As it got closer, Chen Chuan could see its general shape.

It was an octagon-shaped tower made in the style loved by the old religions. Based on its traditional appearance, this wasn’t some vintage building. Instead, it had been standing there since the old era.

The carriage stopped at the foot of the tower, and Chen Chuan got out of it with Cao Guiqi. Together they walked into it. While the tower appeared old and dilapidated on the outside, its interior was completely different. It was decorated with a modern flair, and no signs of old structures could be seen. Every beam and wall had been strengthened and modified.

There was even a panoramic elevator, which Chen Chuan was sure had replaced an old, wooden staircase.

Mr. Ding went forward and activated the elevator for them. Once Chen Chuan and Cao Guiqi went inside, he pushed another button from the outside. Mr. Ding didn’t join them going up.

On the way to the top of the tower, Cao Guiqi didn’t say a single thing. When he walked out of the elevator, he headed straight to the parapet and put his hands on it.

Chen Chuan went over as well and looked ahead. They were at the tallest point of Motie Mountain and could see all the manors and villas around them. Even most of the vast and majestic Central City was laid out before them.

“This is the Celestial Stabilization Tower. In the old era, it was a strategic location used by the empire’s royal family to contact the other world.”

Amazement stirred briefly in Chen Chuan’s heart. “Is this considered the old era’s Central City?”

“You can say that, but it’s also different. I’m sure Special Officer Liang told you that the Central Cities are the front lines in the fight against the other world, and they serve as the anchor points between the two worlds. Did he also mention that the Central Cities are the closest to the other world?” Cao Guiqi asked.

“He did say that, yes,” Chen Chuan said.

“In the beginning, they weren’t like that. They were scattered all over the world. If we compare our world to a piece of white paper, the places the two worlds made first contact are black dots scattered all over it.

“The knowledge of the countries in the old era regarding the era of change was limited to past records. That’s why the empires didn’t think of ways to fight against the other world. Instead, they set up structures like the Celestial Stabilization Tower at the gaps where the changes were more intense in order to obtain power and technology worth researching.

“In time, they slowly started figuring out what was going on and sealing off the gaps. They also tried to gather them all together so that the countries could manage and control them.

“But since technology wasn’t so advanced back then, the transfer of information wasn’t complete, and they couldn’t monitor the gaps thoroughly. Even though they did plenty of things to try salvaging the situation, our world had far too many gaps, and plenty of things spilled out. At the same time, they gave many people opportunities.”

“I heard from Special Officer Liang that the advancement of technology led to the collapse of the empires,” Chen Chuan offered.

“That’s not the entire picture. The real situation was more complicated than that. But it’s true that we completed what the empires of old didn’t manage to do in the new era.

“After the mega alliance was set up, it started destroying, guiding, and gathering most of the gaps. Then, the new countries built the Central Cities above those gaps. They even set up the World Ring as a defensive measure to fight against the other world.

“From this aspect, the mega alliance contributed greatly to the entire world.

“In the new era, martial artists have a chance to prove their worth and become successful. In the old era, your background and bloodline determined how you’ll live the rest of your life. If you were born poor, your path up the social ladder would be completely blocked. The empires couldn’t shoulder the responsibilities they should have, and they were cast out of the game. This is their deserved end. I suppose you can say that the world made its choice in this regard.

“But the mega alliance collapsed after thirty years.

“Special Officer Liang wasn’t wrong to tell you that the Central Cities are the front lines in the fight against the other world, but the governments and companies have also gained a lot of benefits from those gaps. If we see them as resources, then the governments and companies have monopolized them.

“While this is necessary, when the resources begin going only to the upper-class, and the governments as well as companies hold them in a tight grip, things change.”

At this point, Cao Guiqi let out a melancholic sigh. “In the past, the empires and royal family members thought the same thing. They wanted to get things that are beneficial for them from the gaps. They also wanted their families to secure the thrones forever. But what is left of them now?”

He patted the parapet under his hands. “Only these ruins are left.

“Back then, the two worlds weren’t that close to each other. That’s why our world could afford to make some mistakes through trial and error. Now, that is no longer the case.

“By that, I mean that us humans can’t afford to make any mistakes. The world might not be affected by much. From our limited records, there might have been incidents similar to the Great Clash before, but they’ve been buried in time, and we have no way of knowing.

“In the upcoming new era, you need to find a way to seize those resources. Move up using this opportunity. Otherwise, you won’t be able to control your own destiny.”

Chen Chuan nodded seriously. He thought about it for a while before saying, “Special Officer Liang told me that certain training resources for Third Limit martial artists will only be given to us after we contribute to the country and get some achievements under our belt.”

“He’s not wrong. The Third Limit is the peak of what a human body can achieve. As long as you stay a human, you won’t be able to go past that limit, no matter how hard you train,” Cao Guiqi replied.

“But when the other world comes into contact with ours, it causes our world to change. We become no longer bound by the laws of physical things. We can turn the impossible into possible.

“While the other world brings about danger, it also brings opportunities.

“Some of the important resources and technology all countries use are from the other world or from when both worlds came into contact with each other. These resources are all in the hands of the government and the companies.

“While you’re weak, it’s best to join them and get what you want. Use them to get stronger and reach the next limit before the Great Clash. After that, you’ll have the right to negotiate with them.”

Chen Chuan understood what he meant and that the path he was walking was the most suitable for him right now. But there was one practical problem: Working for the government alone wasn’t going to satisfy his training needs.

He mulled over his words for a bit before asking, “I have a question. Aside from joining the government and the companies, do I have other paths to take?”

Cao Guiqi didn’t answer immediately. “There are some gaps that haven’t been collected beyond Central City. Some new gaps also occasionally show up when the two worlds come in contact.

“A number of these gaps are in marginalized factions’ hands. They use these gaps to recruit new members and try to reap the benefits of them. But most of these gaps aren’t stable, so we can’t tell what exactly will come out from within them. If the organizations aren’t strong enough, they might get wiped out.

“The governments and companies are also keeping a close watch on every corner of the world to find gaps they haven’t collected. The moment they find one, they get rid of the organizations in control of them and take over the gap.

“Aside from this, you have no other paths to take.”

Chen Chuan mulled over this for a while before thanking Cao Guiqi sincerely. “Thanks for telling me this, Senior Cao.”

“It’s nothing. You’ll learn about it as time passes. If you’ve made up your mind, be careful. The things that seep past the World Ring aren’t easy targets. Don’t readily believe in the things they tell or show you either.”

“I will. Thanks for the reminder,” Chen Chuan said.

Cao Guiqi turned his gaze to the city, and his robes fluttered in the wind. “When the worlds come into contact with each other, it affects us deeply. This has been the case since ancient times. I don’t know what will happen, but if we can survive through the Great Clash, perhaps a brand new future will await us.”

Chen Chuan stood around a little longer before leaving the place. After Mr. Ding saw Chen Chuan off, he returned to the tower and said with a bow, “Chen Chuan has left, Young Master.”

Cao Guiqi hummed at that. He remained standing on the roof to watch Motie Mountain. No one aside from him knew what was on his mind.

After some hesitation, Mr. Ding looked up and said, “Young Master, with Chen Chuan’s current level, he should have learned about it. Why didn’t you tell him?”

“I told you before that I’m helping him because we get along and because he’s a good person worthy of support. He has no need to bear the burden of what I went through,” Cao Guiqi said. His back remained turned to Mr. Ding.

“But it would also be an opportunity for Chen Chuan, wouldn’t it? If you think he’ll go far, you should tell him,” Mr. Ding argued.

“We’re not talking about this any further. I’ve walked down the wrong path myself. I won’t let anyone else make the same mistake,” Cao Guiqi declared with a swing of his arm.

“Understood.” Mr. Ding bowed his head.