Chapter 3: Radient City: Institute of Science!
Gazing down at the sprawling expanse of Huxia Province, Su Xiaobai knew that flying directly across the walls wasn't an option.
The Heaven's Shield, like an inverted bowl, covered the land within, creating an impenetrable dome like barrier.
Their only entry point was through Vermilion City, an F-ranked district nestled at the edge of the province.
Huxia Province was divided into various districts, radiating out from the center like the rings of a tree. The A-ranked districts, nestled safely in the heart of the province, were the most secure, while the F-ranked districts on the outskirts, though within the Heaven's Shield, were more prone to attacks.
"No need to make unnecessary noise. Keep your face hidden. We'll enter Radiant City through the Eclipse district," Eternal Su instructed in a hushed tone. She draped herself in a dark green robe, the fabric flowing around her like a shadow.
A mask concealed her features, rendering her unrecognizable.
Su Xiaobai followed suit, donning a similar robe to mask his identity.
Radiant City, the beating heart of Huxia Province and home to the Institute of Science, was a place where encountering an S-Ranked Star Guardian was highly likely—a situation Eternal Su was keen to avoid.
Once they slipped past the walls, blending into the flow of the city, Eternal Su took Su Xiaobai's hand, guiding him as they flew towards the city center.
As they maneuvered through the urban landscape, she suddenly turned to him, a question in her eyes. "Why didn't you wear anything above your waist?" she asked, noticing that beneath his robe, Su Xiaobai wore only pants.
Su Xiaobai flashed a cheeky smile. "I'm building muscles," he said with a hint of pride.
"..."
Eternal Su could only stare at him for a moment, speechless at his nonchalance. Shaking her head, a small, amused smile tugging at her lips, she focused ahead as they flew past the districts, each a world unto itself, moving ever closer to their secretive destination.
The shadows of the past loomed over Eternal Su and Su Xiaobai as they navigated the complex landscape of Huxia Province. Living outside the protective embrace of Heaven's Shield wasn't a choice born out of whimsy but a consequence of a dark chapter in their lives.
Eternal Su had been convicted of a grave crime: the assassination of Hua Sheng, ranked #10 among the S-Ranked Star Guardians and, more shockingly, her ex-husband. This event had turned their lives upside down, casting them out from the Radiant City, which was once their home.
After the incident came to light, a council of the remaining S-Ranked Star Guardians convened, sealing her fate with a harsh verdict. They decreed her banishment to the F-ranked districts, the perilous outskirts of Huxia Province. However, Eternal Su, ever defiant, chose a path less traveled. She gathered her family and flew beyond the walls, seeking refuge on the storm-lashed peaks of the Stornpeak Mountains, far from the judgmental eyes of the city.
Though the specifics of that fateful incident were supposed to be shrouded in secrecy, whispers and rumors spread like wildfire across the Immortal Cloud continent. The fall of a Star Guardian of such stature was not a tale that could be easily contained. It sent ripples through the fabric of their society, a pillar of humanity suddenly snuffed out.
Eternal Su was acutely aware that life within the walls would be a constant struggle, not just for her but for her son as well. They would face relentless criticism and pervasive hatred. Thus, she made the decision to live beyond the Heaven's Shield, where they could find some semblance of peace.
Her official statement regarding the incident was that Hua Sheng posed a direct threat to Su Xiaobai, warranting such drastic action. However, this explanation was met with skepticism, the truth buried under layers of intrigue and speculation.
Eternal Su's explanations, while controversial, provided a plausible scenario. She revealed that while her other children were top talents, Su Xiaobai had only managed to awaken a single pillar during the Talent Ascertainment.
According to her, Hua Sheng sought to remove what he saw as a blemish from the bloodline.
When the news broke out, it split the populace. Many supported Hua Sheng's alleged intention, seeing nothing wrong in striving for purity and strength in their ranks.
Consequently, with the loss of Hua Sheng, Su Xiaobai's existence became an accursed symbol, blamed for the loss of a great ally to humanity.
The outsiders, distant from the inner workings of the S-ranked guardians, found Eternal Su's story plausible, even sympathetic. However, the council of S-ranked guardians harbored deep skepticism.
They believed Hua Sheng to be the last person who would ever harm Su Xiaobai. In fact, they recounted how he devoted his time and resources to finding a cure for Su Xiaobai's peculiar condition.
The truth remained shrouded in layers of mystery and political intrigue.
Only Su Xiaobai held the key to a piece of that truth, a secret that weighed heavily on his heart.
He had awakened his Innate ability without the blessing of the Tianlong Spirit, an event that defied expectations and traditions.
His father, before his untimely demise, must have reached a startling conclusion: Su Xiaobai wasn't cursed with misfortune but was instead uniquely blessed, potentially capable of awakening dual Innate abilities.
The mere thought of touching the Tianlong Spirit hinted at the possibility of unlocking another dormant power within him.
This very explanation from Eternal Su was the catalyst for their current journey to the Institute of Science.
Su Xiaobai fought with the layers of this incomplete story, each more intricate than the last.
The idea that Hua Sheng had intended to reveal Su Xiaobai's unique potential to the world, potentially exposing him to unforeseen dangers, seemed plausible.
Perhaps this was the reason Eternal Su had silenced Hua Sheng – to protect her son from becoming a target in their power-driven society.
However, doubts clouded Su Xiaobai's mind. His parents were extraordinary individuals, well-versed in navigating the treacherous waters of their world.
Would they not have foreseen and countered any threats without resorting to such drastic measures?
To Su Xiaobai, the idea of his mother, Eternal Su, committing such a heinous act to guard a secret seemed uncharacteristic, almost inhumane.
What then was the real story behind Hua Sheng's demise?
As the Radient city's skyline drew closer, these thoughts churned within Su Xiaobai. He realized he had only touched the surface of a deep, murky pool of secrets.
His parents, especially his mother, were all like riddles to be solved, their true motives and actions shrouded in layers of mystery.
Su Xiaobai didn't have all the answers, but he felt he was inching closer to the truth, a truth that might be revealed in the halls of the Institute of Science.
Today's venture was more than a simple visit; it was a step towards solving the tangled web of his family's past.
As they approached their destination, Su Xiaobai braced himself, not just for the potential discovery of his second Innate ability, but also for the possibility of confronting the ghosts of their past, hidden within the silent walls of the Institute.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
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