AZI Volume 2 Chapter 11

Taking Long Hua's act of tossing meat into the hotpot as a cue to begin their meal, Zhui Yun begins to do the same.

As this is happening, Nian Yao Yao maintains an expression of anticipation; however, the two who she is expecting a reply from—

(She's waiting for someone to ask her what this interesting discovery is.)

(I think, I already know the answer, so I ain't playing along with her.)

As Jing Yao and Long Hua dispassionately wait for Nian Yao Yao to voluntarily continue, silence looms in the air.

(You two are so stingy with giving face…)

Clearing her throat loudly, Nian Yao Yao directs a glance at Zhui Yun—who has just finished throwing a plate of meat into the hotpot.

"O-Oh uhmm… Lady Nian, wh-what is that interesting discovery that the medical staff made?"

With a smile of satisfaction, Nian Yao Yao continues to say—

"Turns out—there's this odd energy that accumulates in the body of the Immortals. Upon their death, this energy gets scattered into the air."

(Right, that can only be spirit Qi.)

"According to the medical staff, they believe this energy to be the same energy that our city's detection systems are designed to pick up. But it's the first time that we've been able to see its physical form."

"What does it look like?"

With a light of interest emanating from her eyes, Jing Yao asks for more details—much to Nian Yao Yao's delight, as she replies—

"I wasn't there, so I was only told, but they said it looked like strands of green bodies that just float in the air."

"Does it dissipate over time?"

"Some theorizes that it does; but the majority seems to believe it's just so scattered most of the time that we're incapable of seeing it without the assistance of specialized machinery."

"So, the reason we're able to see it this time is because the corpse was so fresh?"

"That's the explanation the medical staff seems to be agreeing on. You would think that this energy would have been discovered sooner with how busy the frontlines are, but… Hmm. I'm thinking that it's because the number of active Immortals is too abundant on the frontlines that this energy gets devoured as soon as it appears from the fallen, or… I could be wrong here, but it might also be because of a nondisclosure agreement? In any case, they did take a few photos that I haven't had the chance to look through. If you want, I can send you them later."

"That would help."

Staying out of the conversation between Nian Yao Yao and Jing Yao so far, Long Hua pours himself a cup of tea prior to asking—

"So? What does this discovery mean for you? Are you any closer to creating an alternative to challenging your mother's Moon Guards?"

Dumping ice cold water onto the mood, Long Hua brings up the question that has been occupying Nian Yao Yao's mind ever since she created NPI.

Twitching an eye in response to the blunt way in which Long Hua had brought the matter up, Nian Yao Yao answers—

"I've been thinking deeply about these matters ever since I was informed of the details. Why is it that despite not knowing about this energy's existence, our civilization possesses machines capable of detecting it?"

Hearing this question, Long Hua presses his brows together. This is a question that he hadn't thought of, and thinking about it, he quickly reaches the same conclusion as Nian Yao Yao.

"Your thought of there being a nondisclosure agreement seems rather likely…"

Nodding her head, Nian Yao Yao says—

"Someone or a group up top—is hiding a great deal of information regarding what exactly the Immortals are. We've dissected the bodies of Immortals in the past, and the medical staff have concluded that they are the same as us. We all possess the same number of bones, and the position of our organs are also the same without any extras. Aside from this newly discovered source of energy that is contained in the Immortals' bodies, we are not any different from one another—at least from a physician's point of view. If the possession of this energy within the body is what makes an individual an Immortal, then the Immortals must have a specialized method—for gathering this energy that isn't related to the possession of an undiscovered organ. In other words, having the ability to cultivate this energy is what makes an individual an Immortal. So long as it's truly not related to an undiscovered organ, or an unknown device of some kind, even the common man would be capable of becoming an Immortal."

(Impressive—that she's able to realize this with just a few clues.)

As Long Hua thought of this, Tian Cheng takes the three slices of meat that the former had tossed into the hotpot previously, and places them into a bowl prior to passing it over.

"It should be the right tenderness now."

"…Thanks."

As the others all looked towards his direction with a gaze that seems to be telling him to read the mood, a sense of embarrassment washes over Long Hua—as he receives the bowl of cooked meat from Tian Cheng.

"Hey, say something before digging in. Don't leave me hanging like this. Don't you feel awkward at all?"

Accepting this crude lifeline from Nian Yao Yao, Long Hua goes on to say—

"Your theory is probably correct. And knowing this, how do you plan to proceed from here on out?"

Having asked this, Long Hua immediately takes a bite out of the cooked meat.

(Definitely tender.)

Off to the side, Zhui Yun continues to put a few slices of meat into the hotpot, along with a bundle of noodles—while Jing Yao throws five prawns into the mix.

"Hmm."

Throwing a few prawns in herself—along with some noodles, Nian Yao Yao leans back in her seat, and stares up at the extravagantly decorated ceiling with a frown.

"Language really is quite a barrier, isn't it?"

Towards Nian Yao Yao's remark, Long Hua replies—

"Don't tell me—you're planning to just go up to an Immortal, and ask them directly?"

"If I could obtain the method that the Immortals are using to gather this energy, I would… Attempt to raise a special group of troops to go against my mother's Moon Guards, I suppose?"

"So, you're going to try to create Immortals yourself?"

"You could say that."

Hearing this, Long Hua's expression turns solemn, as he thought—

(…If cultivation became more widespread, it would make it easier for me long term. If that were to happen, I wouldn't need to seal my cultivation base at all times.)

Thinking of the future, Long Hua feels a need to make this into a reality, for if his cultivation base continues to climb, he will eventually reach a realm, in which it would be impossible for him to thoroughly suppress his identity—as a practitioner from the detection of this world's machinery.

"I wonder, if the people that are keeping this energy a secret—have the method used to gather it as well?"

"A single company going up against the military… That sounds like suicide."

Before Nian Yao Yao can continue her train of thought on whatever desperate ideas that she may be conceiving, Long Hua shoots it down ahead of time.

Although the military is made up of mostly ordinary soldiers, their authority to deploy Sinners if needed shouldn't be disregarded.

"Don't get too obsessed with just one lead."

"I have to agree with him."

Seeing Jing Yao agreeing with Long Hua, Nian Yao Yao replies with a subtle nod, and remarks—

"Hmm seems like I would need to give this matter more thought. Although, if New Moon Village possesses this information, I could try to buy it off them."

"I feel like you might be overestimating them."

As Tian Cheng passes over a bowl of noodles with five slices of meat and a hardboiled egg, several thoughts went through Long Hua's head as he ate.

(This world lacks spirit Qi to an abnormal degree. Even if the denizens of this world managed to acquire a cultivation method—the odds of them being able to go above Qi Condensation are very low. …Not that I care. Ai, on one hand, if cultivation becomes more widespread…- Even if the highest is Qi Condensation, I'd still have an easier time moving around in the future, but on the other hand…)

Should he relinquish the method used for cultivation to Nian Yao Yao, Long Hua can't help but think about the consequences that he would need to deal with in the future.

(At first glance, telling her about my situation could be seen as me doing her a favor while also raising my own value, but if cultivation becomes more widespread in this world in its current state… It would be detrimental to my progression, as I would have to deal with unwanted competition. Other than that, there's also the Ling Yuan family to take into consideration. I doubt they will just leave me to my own devices after realizing that the denizens of this world have become capable of cultivation—something that they seem to be attempting to prevent. Once they find out that there isn't a traitor on their side, their natural conclusion would be to think that a foreigner had appeared in their backyard… I wouldn't be surprised if they sent in an army just to hunt me down.)