Water droplets coalesced into steps.

Gu Nanfeng and Meng Xizhou stepped together into the Red Lake.

Countless rays of light fell upon them.

Even after undoing the seal left by the Light Ancestor, Gu Nanfeng still could not see the true appearance of the [Forbidden Book Tower]; he only felt as if he had arrived before a blazing sun.

Under the vast and blazing light, even he felt the pressure.

He had indeed come before the sun.

Because the Light God’s Seat was standing in front of the Forbidden Book Tower; he was that sun.

At this moment, the Light God’s Seat seemed to be holding something in his palm.

It was a golden chain condensed from pure light; this was the seal left by the Light Ancestor!

He pulled up that chain, and thus all the ripples at the bottom of the Red Lake tightened and straightened... the previous "Divine Miracle" by the lakeside arose from this, and at this moment, the book tower shone brightly, slowly opening its gate.

"Such a grand scene, truly awe-inspiring."

Gu Nanfeng watched this scene, his expression growing complex.

In terms of source quantity, the Red Lake could not compare with Qingzhong... but the existence of this [Forbidden Book Tower] was absent in Qingzhong.

"It’s just a pity that one person is missing."

Meng Xizhou sighed softly: "If only Gu Shen were here, how wonderful it would be."

"..."

The Light God’s Seat, who opened the Forbidden Book Tower, chuckled lightly at these words and teased, "He left so quickly last night, it seems he was frightened by my joke."

Meng Xizhou raised an eyebrow: "Lord Divine made a joke with him?"

"A little joke."

The Light God’s Seat said faintly, "The Forbidden Book Tower will not make an exception again... It’s said that this is a gift left by the God of Destiny, and since he is unwilling to come, perhaps this is also a part of destiny’s arrangement, he is destined not to have this fortune."

Meng Xizhou had nothing to say.

"Alright. Make haste."

The elder urged, "I’ll wait for you here."

...

...

There are certainly many books in the Forbidden Book Tower.

Even though Gu Nanfeng was mentally prepared, when he walked into this tower filled with blazing light, he was still taken aback.

It was actually a ring-shaped high tower.

Millions of books were stacked on the circular walls, and looking around... one simply couldn’t see the end.

"Many people are curious about the appearance of the Forbidden Book Tower..."

Meng Xizhou said with a smile, "Because it’s wrapped in ’Holy Light,’ they have no chance to see its true form. But actually, the true form is not important at all, because this so-called book tower is nothing but a wondrous realm."

Gu Nanfeng murmured, "How tall is this book tower?"

"Very tall. The kind of tall where the end isn’t visible."

Meng Xizhou looked up and calmly said, "A book tower that can hold answers to all the world’s questions... how tall do you think it needs to be?"

"Surely it must be very tall, very tall..."

Gu Nanfeng wished to casually take a book and read it, but his outstretched palm was caught by Meng Xizhou.

"You mustn’t."

Meng Xizhou said solemnly, "Have you noticed? Your spirit is being consumed."

Gu Nanfeng’s expression turned serious; he certainly noticed the loss of his spiritual power, but from the moment Meng Xizhou explained that this was a wondrous realm, he understood the reason.

This wondrous realm consumes the spirit of anyone who steps into it every second.

"The Forbidden Book Tower is the land of destiny’s gift... you come with questions to seek answers, whether successful or not, you must expend ’spiritual power.’"

Meng Xizhou slowly said, "If you turn a page, it means you’re ready to officially begin, and from that moment, your spirit will be consumed rapidly. Once you’re unable to sustain the ’spiritual consumption’ of the wondrous realm, you’ll be expelled from the book tower."

"I see."

Gu Nanfeng frowned slightly and asked, "If I empty my thoughts and turn a page, what will happen?"

"No one knows."

Meng Xizhou replied earnestly, "Destiny is like this – unknowable, unexplorable, elusive... Anyone who steps into the [Forbidden Book Tower] as a Transcendent wouldn’t do such a thing. Perhaps you’d receive guidance on a major question, or perhaps, due to emptying your thoughts, you’d gain nothing. But one thing is certain: the moment you turn a page, your spiritual power will be consumed very quickly."

Even favored by destiny, a reader must pay a price; this is very fair.

"There’s one more question."

Gu Nanfeng nodded: "Which book should I open..."

"It makes no difference."

Meng Xizhou said, "Perhaps the content on every book here is different, but under the guidance of destiny, whichever book you open won’t matter. Randomly opening one or carefully selecting makes no difference, because the one you choose... is the one that destiny dictates should be opened, even if you change it a hundred times midway, the outcome remains the same."

"...I understand."

Gu Nanfeng nodded.

Just as he was about to enter a meditative state.

"This opportunity might only come once."

Meng Xizhou suddenly spoke.

Gu Nanfeng paused and looked into Meng Xizhou’s eyes.

From those clear eyes, he saw many unspoken, indescribable emotions.

Meng Xizhou said seriously, word by word, "Nanfeng... you must think clearly and think carefully."

The words were light, yet heavy.

Gu Nanfeng realized certain deeper meanings; he took a light breath and slowly replied, "...Alright."

...

...

If given a chance to face destiny directly, what question would you ask?

The majority of people are concerned about their own fate.

This is also the reason why the Light God’s Seat refuses to open the [Forbidden Book Tower].

Every time a divine revelation associated with destiny occurs, it consumes a portion of power... For many questions, the [Forbidden Book Tower] chooses to refuse answers. However, if it were open to the public, there would inevitably be unnecessary depletion.

So... those who are qualified to step in here.

Must be valuable questioners.

Gu Nanfeng did not rush to open the book pages. He sat at the bottom layer of the book tower, seriously pondered the question he wanted to ask, and then stood up.

There are tens of thousands of books here.

Gu Nanfeng did not hesitate or waver. He directly chose the one he saw first.

After opening it, the pages were filled with obscure ancient texts.

He couldn’t understand a single word here.

But... at the moment of turning the page, his spirit was enveloped by a warm ocean current, and Gu Nanfeng felt his spiritual power rapidly draining away.

"Boom!"

A violent explosion sounded beside his ear.

Gu Nanfeng raised his head.

This towering book tower instantly transformed into a dark night of the Netherworld, each volume of collection pouring out and turning into stars in the sky. Meng Xizhou had already disappeared, leaving him alone in this vast and boundless space. The collections broke apart, and he watched the stars in the book tower sky explode one by one.

After the stars crumbled.

Gu Nanfeng saw countless images in an instant.

He was a lucky one.

He saw the answer he wanted.

...

...

Upon opening his eyes again.

Gu Nanfeng saw Meng Xizhou beside him, still in the state of meditation. It was clear that the latter was still "flipping through the pages."

This time the "page-turning" consumed ninety-nine percent of his spiritual power.

The very thin remaining strand was from Gu Nanfeng actively disconnecting from the "pages."

He purposely left this bit of spirit as the price for the miraculous realm. This bit of spirit could support him sitting cross-legged in the book tower, so he wouldn’t be immediately expelled.

Massive information churned in the Heart Sea.

Seeing the person with destiny often requires a severe price... If only a bit of spirit is needed, this price can almost be ignored.

But Gu Nanfeng’s expression was quite complicated; there was no joy on his face.

Even his back was covered in cold sweat, and even the Wuyin Cloak was dashed.

Gu Nanfeng reached out to wipe the sweat on his forehead.

He tried hard to operate the breathing method... After a long time, he gradually restored the calm on the Heart Lake.

After confirming his spirit had returned to tranquility, Gu Nanfeng dared to step out of the [Forbidden Book Tower].

...

...

"What did you see?"

The Light God’s Seat outside the book tower spoke immediately: "Don’t be nervous... I’m just asking casually, if you don’t want to say, it’s okay."

"No... there’s nothing inconvenient."

Gu Nanfeng lowered his eyes and smiled slightly, regretting: "Lord Divine, I saw nothing... I don’t seem to be favored by the God of Destiny. The scenes inside the book tower were magnificent, but I gained nothing."

"Oh, is that so?"

The elder gazed at Gu Nanfeng and spoke gently: "Those favored by fate are rare indeed. If you’ve seen nothing, don’t be discouraged, it might not be a bad thing... Of course, if what you want to see is too vast, involving fire seeds or similarly forbidden existences, gaining nothing is normal."

"Nanfeng wouldn’t dare to spy on fire seeds."

Gu Nanfeng smiled and shook his head, saying: "I just want to see the future situation. How can the Five Continents fare better?"

The Light God’s Seat laughed.

"They say the Gu Family Young Master cares about the world, indeed it seems like the things you would do..."

The elder slowly said: "But what you are looking at, is it only the world, only the future?"

Gu Nanfeng was dumbfounded for a moment, and sincerely said: "Forgive Nanfeng for being obtuse."

"You should also be very concerned about ’her,’ right?"

The elder spoke, his gaze slightly shifting, cast towards the book tower shrouded in Blazing Light.

Meng Xizhou was still inside flipping through the pages.

Now, at the bottom of the Red Lake, only Gu Nanfeng and the Light God’s Seat are alone.

"Of course..."

Gu Nanfeng laughed at himself and said: "I’m sure you are well aware of the things between Meng Xizhou and me. Many years ago, we communicated our feelings to each other. Being able to enter the book tower to glimpse the future fate today, I naturally want to see the outcome with her."

"So what is the result?"

The Light God’s Seat asked again: "Did you truly see nothing?"

"Truly..."

Gu Nanfeng said helplessly: "I truly saw nothing."

"Actually, if you truly saw something, it’s no matter."

The Light God’s Seat said indifferently: "There’s a saying: ’What’s destined to be will eventually be; if it’s not destined, don’t force it.’ In my view, it’s quite the opposite."

"Some things are really important, even if they are not destined, you should try to pursue them."

"If you decide to do something, the ’answers’ revealed by the book tower are trivial..."

The elder paused for a long time, seriously questioning: "After last night, your secret with Meng Xizhou is no longer a secret. Since this matter is no longer a secret, why not be open and frank about it to the world?"

Gu Nanfeng was stunned: "You mean...?"

"I mean, if you truly hope to achieve something with Meng Xizhou, then Light City could propose an alliance with the Gu Family."

The Light God’s Seat said calmly: "You and Meng Xizhou were once comrades fighting in the allies of the North Continent. Now, you’re the Young Master of the Changye Gu Family, and she is the future master of the temple. Your identities and statuses are well matched. If I agree, then everyone in Light City will agree."