Chapter 85.1 – A Passion for Candor
The huge group of carriages traveled through a bright sea of clouds. The Pegasus stepped on the clouds as though they were solid. The wind rushed past them and the clouds were like soft, white waves. This beautiful scene was quite magnificent enough to capture Du Ze’s fancy even though the atmosphere inside the carriage was heavy. He simply put the impending rain of blood to the back of his mind.
Suddenly, they felt a sense of weightlessness as the Pegasus pulled the carriage down into the sea of clouds below. A thick white mist enveloped the carriage as they passed through the clouds. Du Ze’s vision darkened for a moment then the carriage passed through the clouds and he saw a piece of the Chaos Continent – there seemed to be dotted white lines dividing various regions of the Chaos Continent but it was too far away so Du Ze couldn’t make out what the white lines were. He didn’t know if it was because his eyes had become accustomed to the bright light above the clouds, but Du Ze thought that the Chaos Continent seemed quite dark. This contrast made a person feel a sense of loss, as though they were gods falling down into the mortal realm.
The group of carriages descended quickly. Du Ze stared at a little black spot that was getting bigger and bigger. As they came nearer he saw that it was a huge palace thousands of square meters big. In front of the palace was a large clearing that had enough space for all of the carriages to land.
The three people got off the carriage and waited for a long time as the soldiers in uniform blew on their horns and the palace mage released magic fireworks to give them a warm welcome.
“Welcome to the Eighth Layer of Heaven, Lord Governor and Inspector General.” The officer in front of the welcome committee led the rest of the soldiers in kneeling in front of the carriage. “Your coming has bestowed glory upon this place.”
Du Ze glanced at the governor out of the corner of his eye. The governor’s “I’m glowing, so I exist” attitude was very glorious. He could not help but heap praise on the group who are kneeling in front of the governor: Just too d***ed quick-witted!
The governor, receiving the leader’s flattery, grunted haughtily and marched through the crowd up into the palace. Xiu had brought out Old John so that Eric would seem even more alone compared to the three of them.
Seeing Eric looking at them, the gnome opened his small hand and a grey light leapt from his palm to Eric’s forehead. Xiu looked at the unscatched Eric and said: “What a pity!” There was no regret in his amber eyes that were full of innocence and malice, like a mischievous child.
No doubt, if violence wasn’t forbidden in this place, Xiu would definitely have killed Eric right then.
“Why are you two always dawdling?” The governor, who was at the palace door, turned back to roar at them.
Xiu glanced at Eric then pulled Du Ze towards the army. Old John followed then, leaving Eric standing stiffly by himself. Eric stood motionless for a long time then silently stepped forward.
The leader’s officials were unusually enthusiastic and respectful. Based on what they said, their host, the Archon, is the ruler of the Eighth Layer. The Eighth Layer of Heaven is the name of a region. It seems that this simulation of the Chaos Continent is divided into several regions which are named by a number.
Du Ze found out that this was yet another instance of Yi Ye Zhi Qiu’s laziness. This was all based on Dante’s “Divine Comedy” in which heaven is divided into nine layers, the First Layer is at the bottom and the Ninth Layer is at the top, the area closest to god. The First Layer of this angel race’s trial should be the most chaotic area in the continent and the Ninth Layer is probably where the BOSS resides.
