My sister is Luna

Above the bell tower.

"Hey boss, why hasn't Cain arrived yet?"

Pei Qinhu sat cross-legged on the roof, looking at the silent city of Chang'an, and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"Who knows? Maybe we'll run into Zhong Kui again and be delayed," Ming Shiyin said with a smile, standing on the eaves.

A round, lantern-like magical artifact, with a mystical flower in the center, floated quietly beside him, emitting a mysterious light.

"Haha, maybe Cain and Zhong Kui are destined to meet, and they always seem to run into each other unexpectedly?"

Gongsun Li sat with her legs together on the eaves, holding a red floral oil-paper umbrella, covering her mouth and chuckling softly, but her eyes kept looking at Ming Shiyin, who seemed somewhat unfamiliar to her, as if she was thinking about something.

"I want to go back and play chess as soon as possible," Yi Xing said softly, standing on a corner of the roof, a gentle breeze caressing his robes.

"What is the mission?" Pei Qinhu asked.

"We'll talk once everyone's here. This mission requires everyone to be present," Ming Shiyin said.

Yang Yuhuan stood quietly to the side, holding her pipa, watching and listening.

"Should we wait for him?" Yi Xing asked.

"of course."

"But... it's a bit cold with the wind blowing."

……

"Kakakaka——"

The tangled hinges began to move heavily, and the cobwebs and dust on the door peeled off as it slowly opened.

A colossal red and blue creation suddenly appeared, overwhelming the viewer. Streams of light moved through its gaps, along with some strange symbols never seen before, seemingly containing the energy of all things in the universe, yet it seemed to be blocked by something, as silent as the deep sea.

Everyone present fell silent in shock.

Is this what I've been searching for, Father...? Is this what you've been seeking?

Marco Polo stood on the roof, silently thinking. He recalled the other mission and some behind-the-scenes matters that the governor had mysteriously told him after he accepted the challenge.

Gods? If you, Father, stand on the side of the gods, then I should stand with you.

Marco Polo stared intently at the red and blue creation.

Cain stared in astonishment at the enormous red and blue creation. Although it was sealed, he could still deeply feel its vastness and immensity, as if he were facing a universe!

At the same time, he also vaguely sensed the presence of something.

Is Nuwa still asleep?

"Is this the core of the Ark?" Although he had seen it in the game's CG, seeing it in person still shocked Cain.

"This is..." Zhang Taixian was speechless.

"How magnificent!" Li Bai exclaimed as he gazed at the floating core of the ark. Such a breathtaking scene inspired him to write a poem immediately.

Does it really have the ability to turn back time? Can I save the Cloud Desert?

Li Bai was filled with countless thoughts.

"Rumble--"

The ground suddenly began to shake violently, as if the earth was roaring angrily.

"What's going on?" Zhang Taixian asked in a panic.

“They’re here,” Cain said calmly.

"What's here?" Li Bai asked, puzzled.

"The secrets of Chang'an, the true face of Chang'an," Cain said slowly, his gaze deep and solemn.

The earthquake continued, and it seemed that something huge and mysterious was rising. The entire city of Chang'an began to rise, and a straight, wide street connected to the [gate] began to collapse and crumble.

"Ahhh! What's happening? It's an earthquake! Everyone run!"

"Help! Help me! I can't hold on any longer, I'm about to fall!"

The people, who were already in a state of panic due to the collapsed houses, were now plunged into extreme panic and chaos by the even more violent earthquake, especially the collapse of the wide streets in the center of Chang'an.

Soon, the tremors stopped, and Chang'an's true appearance was revealed.

Cain stared at the core of the ark, feeling it emanating a strange, ethereal gravitational pull, as if the world was created around it and it would eventually descend into the world. Regardless of the course of fate, whether good or evil, the outcome of its reappearance would not change. Its gravitational pull was unconsciously drawing everyone toward it.

In a daze, he seemed to see a blurry figure floating in front of him. Although the form was indistinct, he could clearly feel the presence of that gaze. She was quietly looking at Cain!

"I never expected it to be true. Master Mozi is truly amazing," Zhang Taixian exclaimed. He recalled the few things he had secretly read from Mozi's records.

"Is this the secret hidden in Chang'an City? I thought the Ark was the heart of Chang'an City's energy system, but I didn't expect it to be the Ark itself. I really admire this decision."

Marco Polo jumped down from the collapsed roof and stood at a distance that would allow him to easily escape.

"What do you know?" Li Bai asked Marco Polo.

"I don't know much either. There are records of legends about gods in both the East and the West. Although the versions are different, they all vaguely describe the Ark. The gods came here in the Ark, opened up the world, created civilization, and led mankind. The core of the Ark, as people naturally call it, is the energy that drives the Ark and has enormous power. Now it has seen the light of day again, and our great gods will take it back."

“But right now, it’s obviously sealed. Something is needed to activate it.” Marco Polo kept his distance from Li Bai and shrugged.

"How about joining us?"

Marco Polo said with fervent eyes, "Through Li Bai's fierce battle with Miyamoto Musashi, I know Li Bai's strength is extraordinary. Therefore, I intend to invite Li Bai to join the ranks of this deity."

"Joining the god won't do you any harm. He can lead us to an even greater peak, and the demonic chaos in the Cloud Desert is one of his testing grounds..."

Marco Polo recounted in detail what he had learned from the governor about the chaos caused by the demonic seed in the Cloud Desert.

what? !

Li Bai was shocked. Soon, grief and anger for his hometown flooded his face, and the sword in his hand almost uncontrollably stabbed towards Marco Polo's throat.

"boom!"

The explosives detonated before Li Bai's eyes. Marco Polo had already vanished, leaving only one sentence behind:

"It seems... we are enemies now."

Cain snapped out of his daze and realized that the gears of fate had begun to turn. For the sake of the future, it seemed that this also needed to be incorporated into his plans.

He decided to let Marco Polo leave. Given Di Jun's cautious nature, Marco Polo was more suited to a long-term strategy. Cain didn't believe he wouldn't return to Haidu.

……

"Boss, was that an earthquake just now?"

On the bell tower, Pei Qinhu looked bewildered. He saw the gate in the distance open, and then shortly afterward, Chang'an City shook violently. Apart from the collapse of the straight main street, the houses were not damaged much.

“No, take a closer look. This is the real Chang’an City,” Ming Shiyin said with a smile, his eyes gleaming with an unfathomable light.

"It's truly astonishing. This is... the real secret of Chang'an City: the Ark. Grandmaster Mozi built Chang'an City, thinking it was to conceal the Ark, but unexpectedly, he transformed the Ark into a city. He built Chang'an City on the foundation of the Ark."

……

"What's wrong?!" Startled awake by the violent tremor, Shangguan Wan'er sat up abruptly.

"Was it an earthquake, Cain? Get up!" Shangguan Wan'er said in a panic. But all she got in response was silence.

"Kain?"

……

"Your Majesty, please give your instructions." Di Renjie rushed into the main hall and said with a solemn expression.

Behind him were several officials who had run over, and some ministers were also rushing over one after another.

"I understand. Go and lead people to help the people. We will discuss and decide again at the morning court tomorrow." Wu Zetian sat on her phoenix throne, her eyes filled with suppressed anger.

……