"Alright, I'm sure your clans already briefed you on most the knowledge you need to know so I'm only going to brief you on some recent news. As you know the palace of eternal love opens up in different places each time, this time we were lucky as it appeared in the borders of Yangoo. That cut off some competition for political issues I won't get into. The Great Earth and-".
Elder Shui went on about some logistical and political information about the upcoming event. While elder Shui was briefing them about some need to know information other parties were having their own meetings as well.
"The great moon temple and the great unifications sect are really the only ones you guys need to look out for" A man said inside a luxurious room on a certain boat.
"I wouldn't worry about most of the other riff raff. But I have heard some interesting rumors about the chosen of the medium sects. With there level of resources they pooled it all into mostly one couple banking on the fact they succeed. As long as you don't fight one of those couples alone they won't be of much importance. You all have knowledge of past tests so while combat between participants is unlikely its not absolute. As for the moon priestess Ru-".
Inside a tent on the other side of the clearing.
"You guys know that the Gu clan has been acting strange recently. We found them latching all their resources into one couple. Idiots, little do they realize we can overwhelm them with our numbers thanks to our alliance. You guys know the drill, if you see them don't let them leave alive. As for other participants I wouldn't bother, with the Gu clans recent expansion into our territory they have another thing coming if we-"
Inside a dark moon temple.
"Sisters... and brothers, you all know about the plan. Make sure not to disappoint the temple, as you know the rising sun sect will make it here in two days. Ji Long should not be allowed to live if you get the chance. As for the tests should the brothers fail the sisters due to their inadequacy you all know the punishment".
The men in the room had grave expressions as the last part of her speech was said in an icy tone. Life at the moon temple as a male certainty wasn't pretty. Even if it was the dream of many males, reality and fantasy were often very different from one another.
"Priority should be supporting your mistresses as the temple won't allow-".
Schemes and plans were hatched by the hour as no faction was willing to give up an inch of power. With the resources the palace gave, it had the experts in hiding silently watching while the chaperones gave their speeches, and the contestants readied there resolve. It was an interesting spectacle to watch. How had a palace focused on giving rewards to lovers bring forth such an atmosphere. As more and more people poured into the place, disputes, trade and gossip were ripe in the temporary town. The gossip reached a new height when a group of giant swans rolled into the camp with the morning sun basking them in a golden glow.
"The Rising Sun sect, they sure do know how to make an entrance".
Gu Zhi was wandering around the market with an allowance given to him by elder Ming. He was a very curious person as reincarnation only made him appreciate life more than it brought him despair or unwillingness. Although some people might have the opinion that if you remember your past lives you will see life and death with less meaning only the opposite was true. Another perspective only enhanced the viewpoint he already had: life was precious.
'Anyone who thinks otherwise is probably a madman or a jaded old fool' Gu Zhi thought to himself.
The purpose of life to Gu Zhi was simple: to live. It made no sense and perfect sense at the same time at least to Gu Zhi it did. That being said that wasn't everything to life, leaving a legacy, having children, passing on the torch so to speak was also another perspective Gu Zhi had. But for the most part as long as you weren't in chronic pain, living in poverty, or living with built-up guilt or bad mental or physical complications, life was pretty good. Ultimately though this came from Gu Zhi, who had 2 loving parents in both lives and a pretty good upbringing in both of them. It goes without saying that a persons life changed their viewpoint in life.
"BWOOOOOM!"
A horn rumbled the ground and brought Gu Zhi out of his thoughts. It seemed the Rising Sun Sect had made it just in time, as the horn only sounded when the portal to the eternal palace opened.
The market was whipped up into a frenzy as everyone started to pack up shop and customers starting making their way back to their camp.
Gu Zhi was no different as he headed back to his camp as well.
"FINALLY ITS HERE" elder Shui said.
As the elders of the sect seemed much more exited about this than the actual participants.
"You guys know what to do, bring back resources and the sect will shower you in benefits."
The ground rumbled more and more as a portal tore through space in the middle of the camp.
"TAKE YOUR TICKETS AND GO, BRING GLORY, FAME, AND RESOURCES BACK TO THE SECT. FOR THE FLYING WIND".
"FOR THE FLYING WIND" the participants responded including Gu Zhi.
There was a horde of couples as they started jumping into the ominous portal hand in hand with their partner.
The portal was a pitch black hole in space, you couldn't see through it just a black void.
As couples ran into the portal a ticket shined on their body and they disappeared together.
Gu Zhi quickly found his wife as she had the ticket.
"Go, Son, Daughter, I expect great things from you, now is the time to prove me right" he said with a fanatic look on his face.
'Just what are the resources that people like this go crazy' Gu Zhi found it stranger and stranger how obsessed these high level cultivators were for success in the palace of eternal love. It showed him better than any words could just how good the resources were in there.
He took his wife's hand as he made his way to the portal.
(End of prologue)