Chapter 74 Departure. The days after departure were relatively peaceful...
The days that followed were relatively peaceful, except that at night, the white light within Sang Zhitao's body always seemed uncontrollable. Her intuition told her that the day of awakening in the book had come earlier than expected.
"Blue Star, take a look at this map. If we follow this route, we can reach the Holy Mountain in just one month." After several days of seclusion, Tou Lan finally showed Sang Zhi Tao a map.
Sang Zhitao looked at the map, thought for a moment, and then said, "Then I'll set off in three days."
“Let’s go together,” Tou Lan said directly.
“No.” Sang Zhitao refused without hesitation.
"Why?" Tou Lan was truly puzzled.
Sang Zhitao thought for a moment before saying, "With so many people, it will be difficult to escape if something goes wrong."
Tou Lan knew that Sang Zhi Tao was telling the truth, and that these were indeed problems that could arise, but she was really worried about letting her go on the risk alone.
Sang Zhitao rubbed her fingertips, thought for a moment, and then said, "Otherwise, you can come with me alone."
“I’ll go,” Tou Lan said directly. “It’s much safer here. I feel at ease letting Tou Qing and the others stay here.”
“But what about Greycard…” Sang Zhitao always felt that Greycard, who had left before, would not give up easily.
Tou Lan understood what she meant, but was also a little worried that Hui Ka might realize what was going on and cause trouble again.
"Let's think about it some more. If it really doesn't work out, we can always leave together!" Sang Zhitao sighed.
"So you've come here?" A sudden female voice interrupted their conversation.
"Sister Hong?" Tou Lan turned to look at the person who came in, her brows furrowed.
Sister Hong, who had taken over the original territory of Tou Lan, watched the busy crowd with Little Gray and Big Gray.
"This place is great, it's safe and spacious." She shook the cigarette in her hand, took a few steps forward, and came to the two of them.
“…Sister Hong?” Sang Zhitao had never met the other party before, so she was naturally displeased with the other party’s uninvited behavior.
Hong Jie didn't care at all about Sang Zhi Tao's dissatisfaction with her. She blew a smoke ring before saying, "Now the whole garbage city is buzzing with the news that a perfect gem has been found on the garbage mountain. This gem can cure pollution disease."
“Although this place is a sanctuary that your mother-in-law helped you create, at most three days later, those people will flood in, and then…”
"Are you here to warn me, or to remind me?" Sang Zhitao stared into Hong Jie's eyes and said bluntly.
Hongjie was taken aback, not expecting her to be so straightforward. After thinking for a moment, she smiled and said, "I guess I have both. I like this place, but I also know that I can't keep it even if I give it to you. So I might as well ask you to do me a favor."
"Thank you, we will be careful." Sang Zhitao nodded gently.
"Thank you," Tou Lan added.
"You...you really didn't see that perfect-grade gem?" Sister Hong's questioning gaze swept over Sang Zhitao.
"Of course, otherwise we would have been discovered long ago, wouldn't we?" Sang Zhitao didn't care about her gaze at all. She had seen many gazes that were more oppressive than hers, even the captains in the pirate world were stronger than her.
Sister Hong looked around at the gray-yellow world and a cold smile appeared on her lips: "I'm not the only one who doubts this. You are the most likely and the most capable person to hide the gem here."
This time, Sang Zhitao ignored her and only looked at Tou Lan.
A hint of displeasure flashed across Tou Lan's face, and a trace of worry appeared in his eyes.
Sister Hong seemed oblivious to their expressions. After a moment's thought, she continued, "If you're able, you'd better move out."
Without waiting for their reply, he turned and left with his men.
“Blue Star…” Tou Lan looked at Sang Zhi Tao with some worry.
Sang Zhitao looked at Hong Jie's retreating figure and asked thoughtfully, "Why do you all think that I have a better chance?"
Before Tou Lan could answer, Sang Zhi Tao said as if talking to herself, "If it's not Grandma's protection, then it can only be power."
"You mean... skills?" Tou Lan frowned and looked at Sang Zhi Tao.
“Yes, each of us is born with bloodline power and awakens skills as we grow up. Your Mirror Clan’s healing and the royal family’s purification come from this. But I… have never shown my skills to them. It’s not impossible that they think my skills are concealment or hiding.”
"What should we do then?" Tou Lan asked, her expression filled with worry.
“Let’s go together in three days!” Sang Zhitao said after a moment of contemplation.
Upon hearing this, Tou Lan breathed a sigh of relief, her face beaming with delight. She nodded repeatedly and ran off to discuss it with her friend.
Three days passed quickly. To avoid being discovered that they were planning to escape the garbage planet, they brought nothing but essential clothes and tools.
"This money...aren't we going to take it?" Touhui looked regretfully at the table full of currency.
"Since the riots sixteen years ago, the blockades in various places have become increasingly tight, especially to prevent people from Garbage City from entering other areas. Everything we have, especially our currency, is exclusively supplied by Garbage City."
“From the top-tier Starry Sky District to the ordinary Holy Light District, and even the Garbage City, each district has its own exclusive currency. This is to prevent everyone from joining forces. In fact, if I were the Dark Duke, I would sow discord in each district to maintain my power.” Sang Zhitao sighed.
"Don't our clothes and tools also have marks?" Touhuang sighed silently.
"So tonight, everyone, please work hard and try your best to modify and replace the items you've dug out of the garbage dump in the past few days." Sang Zhitao looked at Tou Zi. "You and Tou Lu are meticulous, so help everyone check for any oversights."
The translucent purple and translucent green readily accepted the order.
As dawn broke, nine teenagers, dressed in modified protective suits stuffed with various gadgets, replacement badges, and gem fragments, set off together, leaving their former homes behind.
“Our first step is to pass through the Time Sand Corridor and head to the Garden District,” Translucent said, looking at the map.
"The Time Sand Corridor has been abandoned for many years. Everyone must be careful when you go in. Don't act impulsively no matter what you encounter, and absolutely do not get separated!" Sang Zhitao solemnly warned everyone.
Everyone nodded in agreement before setting off.
The Shisuna Corridor is not far from the residence of Sang Zhitao. After all, with the advent of airships, such traditional pedestrian corridors have become history, and now they are almost indistinguishable from the wilderness.
"Are you sure... this is the Time Sand Corridor?" Looking at the place where the yellow sand was no different from a garbage mountain, Touqing's eyes were filled with doubt.
Tou Lan looked around and nodded firmly: "There's absolutely no mistake."
"You were only two years old back then, why do you remember it so clearly?" Touqing touched his head, looking puzzled.
Tou Lan rolled her eyes at him: "Because I am of high priest bloodline and have inherited memories."
Tou Qing then clapped his hands in surprise: "Oh, I forgot."
Tou Lan glanced at him speechlessly, then pulled him directly into the Time Sand Corridor: "Alright, alright, let's go."
"Speaking of which, why is this place called the Time Sand Corridor?" Toulu followed at the back, and seeing that nothing unusual had happened after walking for a long time, she relaxed and started to find topics to talk about.
"The Time Sand Corridor is said to be a special park built with funds from the royal family. It consists of four sections, starting from Garbage City and leading to the Garden District, Gem District, Star District, and Commercial District respectively."
“Each Time Sand Corridor has its own theme. When the Gemstones walk through it, they can feel the wonder of time. Some experience life from birth to death, some see other dimensions, some meet their ancestors. In short... it’s amazing.”
Tōlán recalled the records of the Time Sand Corridor in her memory and then spoke.
Sang Zhitao didn't interrupt, since she hadn't written these things in the original book.
"So what's the theme here?" Touko asked again.
"..." Tou Lan remained silent for a long while before speaking, "I don't remember."
"..." For a moment, everyone fell silent, with only the rustling sound of their feet on the yellow sand.
"Hiss!" Tou Zi suddenly exclaimed.
Everyone rushed over and saw that a palm-sized transparent shard was embedded in the sole of the translucent purple shoe.
"It looks like fragments of some kind of device," Touhuang said after examining them.
"How do you think the changes of time are manifested?" Sang Zhitao asked thoughtfully.
After hearing her words, Tou Lan thought for a moment and realized what she meant. She took a few steps outside and brushed away the sand: "There's some here too."
When everyone saw the larger piece of fragment in his hand, they began searching the surrounding area.
"They're here too."
"I have some here too."
After searching for a while, the group put the collected fragments together for comparison.
"It seems this is the core area of the Time Sand Corridor," Sang Zhitao sighed.
"Should we look for something useful nearby?" Tou Lan asked after thinking for a moment.
Looking at the endless yellow sand, Sang Zhitao shook her head: "Forget it, so many years have passed, even if there is something, it's probably unusable."
Seeing this, the group didn't linger any longer, discarded the pieces they had picked up, and continued walking forward.
Suddenly, a melodious tune drifted in, ethereal and distant, much like the chanting of angels.
"Alert!" Tou Lan shouted, and everyone instinctively surrounded Sang Zhi Tao, looking around warily.
Sang Zhitao listened to the music, slowly searching for the source of the sound, until her gaze fell on a certain spot.
"The sound is coming from over there!" Sang Zhitao pointed to the left front.
Everyone looked over there, and then looked at her.
Sang Zhitao thought for a moment and said, "Let's move over slowly and be on guard."
The group nodded and, back to back, slowly moved towards the left front.
"Back then...?" The person in the foremost blue-clad figure frowned as he looked at a transparent mechanical box not far away.
"It seems to be some kind of core?" Sang Zhitao said softly.
Touhuang took out a folding grab handle from his pocket, stretched it out, and carefully touched it with the handle.
The box showed no abnormalities, and after waiting a while longer and seeing that there was indeed no reaction, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let me take a look?" Touhuang glanced at Sang Zhitao and Toulan cautiously, her voice filled with doubt.
After a moment's hesitation, Tou Lan agreed to his idea.
The box was pulled close to his eyes by the lever, and the sound suddenly stopped.
Just as everyone was wondering, the box emitted a light, and then a virtual figure appeared before them.
Looking at the face and clothes of the person in the projection, everyone turned to look at Sang Zhitao.
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