AZI Volume 6 Chapter 39

Discussions are quick to rise—centered around the obvious meaning of Shao Tianming's words.

(Spirit Extracts, if I could obtain enough of them—can I kill that Immortal?)

Thinking of this, Ye Chen's eyes give off a vibrant shine.

(…Still not enough, but I'm one step closer.)

Similarly, Li Xue has the same idea in mind.

"…"

Satisfied with this setup, Long Hua smiles faintly.

In the same instance, Dan'er—who is dressed in a red qipao, walks up to the stage.

"Take care of the rest."

"Un."

Handing the microphone over to Dan'er—who replies with a nod, Long Hua leaps off the stage, and heads for the fifth floor.

"Well then, biddings on the Spirit Extracts may officially begin. The starting price shall be 800,000 NWDs."

...…

"…"

Arriving on the fifth floor, and seating himself to Wu Xiao's left—with a chair between them, Long Hua pours himself a cup of tea, and takes a light sip.

"…"

Staring out at the cityscape, Wu Xiao asks—

"Do plan to start a fire here?"

"…"

Setting his cup down, Long Hua answers—

"All I'm doing is making sure that we can sell those extracts for as much as possible."

"…"

Due to Wu Xiao's relationship with the Ling Yuan family, Long Hua can't possibly be too open with his ways of inciting the crowd.

"I see. Do you know the sort of people that you should never offend in the practitioners' circle, my dearest?"

"Naturally. In the practitioners' circle, you can offend any practitioners you like; however, it would be best to avoid offending merchants, alchemists, and weapon makers."

A merchant shouldn't be offended because you never know when you might need to purchase something off them.

An alchemist shouldn't be offended because you never know when you might need them to concoct a pill for you.

A weapon maker, they're the same deal as an alchemist, but instead of concocting pills, it's weapons and specialized items that you might need crafted by borrowing their skills.

Nodding her head, Wu Xiao remarks—

"Over a 100 bloodline branches, the ones that are truly loyal to the Ling Yuan Ancestor can probably be counted on one hand. The majority are only there to pick away at the organization's treasury, which is this world."

"…"

Blinking his eyes, Long Hua frowns, and asks—

"Did this Ling Yuan Ancestor not leave a will behind?"

Chuckling aloud in amusement, Wu Xiao answers—

"Not only did he not leave a will behind, but he also didn't leave an heir either. This made it so that those within this organization believed that the treasury belongs to the group. And with this belief in mind, they figured that everyone—who is a part of this group, possesses equal qualifications to inherit it."

Turning to Long Hua, Wu Xiao adds—

"They believe that there is something within the Leng Bing Realm—that once it is obtained, it can allow the wielder of it to control the entirety of the realm. This unknown object is thought to be within the deepest layer of the necropolis."

"So, they send their own clansmen into the necropolis during its openings for this object, which may or may not exist?"

Heaving a tired sigh, Wu Xiao replies—

"Pretty much. Even after all these years of searching, their efforts have yet to bear fruit—calling into question the existence of this object time and time again."

"…"

With a skeptical look on his face, Long Hua asks—

"…Does it actually exist? Or is it actually just something that someone made up while they were drunk?"

"Hmph."

Shrugging a shoulder, Wu Xiao replies—

"My siblings and I get asked this question—by the people in this group more times than we can be bothered to count. And our answers have always been the same, which is "hell if I know." Tsk, in the end, none of them would believe us, so back to searching they go. Why bother asking us in the first place—if they're so firm on thinking that it does exist?"

"…"

Taking another sip of the tea, Long Hua asks—

"Your point in bringing this matter up?"

"Do you believe an organization like this—has a future?"

"…"

In response to this question, Long Hua contemplates for a full minute before asking back—

"What was the original intent behind the creation of this organization?"

"Only the Ling Yuan Ancestor would know that. Honestly, reality is often disappointing—when it is compared to rumors and speculations."

Blinking his eyes, Long Hua replies—

"If the organization strays from the original purpose of its creation, then it has no future. It would be better to just dissolve it."

Turning his head towards the ceiling, Long Hua goes on to add—

"Ai, generations change; changes in the people follows, inevitably—the heart changes with it all. Maybe there was a noble purpose for the creation of this world; however, in this day and age, how many still lives to recall that noble purpose?"

Raising a smile towards these words, Wu Xiao remarks—

"Bai Wen believes the same. Effort fruits—of the ancestors, plucked and eaten, to grant nourishment for the younglings' greed to thrive."

"And you? What do you make of all this?"

"I never once cared for this mash-up of people with different ambitions."

Saying this, Wu Xiao picks up her cup and drinks.

"…"

Glancing at Wu Xiao, Long Hua notices a tinge of sadness in her amber-colored eyes, causing him to think—

(Perhaps, the place she once called home, the Ling Yuan family—was a much better place than what it is now. …I wonder, how much has the Zang Luo Realm changed while I was away? Has it changed for the better, or has it changed for the worse?)

Recalling something, Wu Xiao asks—

"Where's that doll of yours?"

"Back home—thinking about life."

"Oh?"

Putting on a look of amusement, Wu Xiao goes on to ask—

"What brought that up?"

"I told her, that I won't be taking her with me—when I leave the Everlasting Spirit Realm."

A chuckle comes from Wu Xiao, as she remarks—

"So then, just like me, she'll be cast aside after use?"

"…Can you make it sound less scandalous?"

"Merely speaking the truth. You know what people of your nature are often called, my dearest?"

"…"

"A fuckboy."

(I have to agree with her, *-laoban.)

"…"

Pressing his temple, Long Hua heaves a sigh—unable to muster anything to refute the claim with.

...…

Within the dreamscape, the Tai Xuan Emperor thought back to the words that Long Hua had said to her vessel, as she places her hand near her chin.

For the time being, she has decided to disregard the words' truthfulness, and focus more on a specific portion, which is—

(Even though you're a machine, I wish for you to be able to develop your own will, and be able to think for yourself. That way, you'd be able to survive on your own without me having to… Instruct you.)

"…Odd."

Recalling how Long Hua had paused for a brief instance before he said those words, and placed a subtle bit of emphasis on the word "instruct," the Tai Xuan Emperor frowns.

"Free will, think for yourself, on your own, instruct… Without instructing…"

Repeating these words to herself, the Tai Xuan Emperor feels like each word spoken by Long Hua was chosen in a very careful manner.

"His words… There's a hidden meaning in there. Hmm."

Narrowing her eyes, the Tai Xuan Emperor begins to split the lines apart.

"Will… A free will and to be able to think for yourself. Without me having to instruct you, this part seems most significant. …Uh...…!"

Abruptly recalling another matter, the Tai Xuan Emperor drops her right hand from her chin, as she widens her eyes.

"Come to think of it, there was that matter… I see how it is. That despicable bastard, he wants me to do something for him, and to have this matter be something that I am doing voluntarily, I can't bring it up to him in the open."