Chapter 1065: Once His Cultivation Is About Right, Have Him Go Bring Xiao Lu Back for a Visit
......
Upon hearing these words, the Crooked-Mouth Old Man slowly cracked his eyes open a sliver.
"Hmph."
He closed them again.
No matter what his master said, he wasn't budging an inch.
Who could have known that his master, grandmaster, and great-grandmaster could look after the Third Circle from the Second Circle?
They didn't say anything.
Just peeped at him unilaterally.
And didn't bother sending him any messages.
They even said everything should follow nature's course, that fate would bring him a disciple.
And now they were blaming him for coming late?
Even his grandmaster said fate would bring him a disciple—so was he supposed to just give Lu Ding up?
The Crooked-Mouth Old Man didn't care whether this fate-blessed disciple was Lu Ding or not. He only recognized Lu Ding.
No one else would do.
No way!
Seeing him close his eyes again just after opening them, the black-robed elder shot him a sideways glance. After stuffing everything from the tray inside, he spoke up again: "Digest these well—this is your master's life savings."
"I'm going out for some air."
He turned and walked out of that hellish secluded cultivation chamber, emerging into the outside.
From his robes, he pulled out a tobacco pipe and pouch. He needed a few puffs.
Just as he put the pipe to his mouth and smoke began to rise—
A man in a purple robe approached from the side, looking to be about fifty years old.
The black-robed elder immediately bowed respectfully and called out, "Master."
The purple-robed man gave a crooked grin: "Mm, how'd it go?"
The black-robed elder: "He's achieved God Ascension."
The purple-robed man: "Mm, not bad speed. With all those resources poured in, reaching God Ascension is acceptable. Once his cultivation is about right, have him go bring Xiao Lu back for a visit."
"Staying out there all the time isn't a solution, and we can't calculate anything either."
"Your senior brother, grandmaster, and great-grandmaster have been calculating the people around him every single day, just to scrape together scraps of information about him."
The black-robed elder looked puzzled: "Master, aren't we supposed to follow heaven's will and not force things?"
The moment those words left his mouth—
The purple-robed man immediately shot him a sideways glare: "Follow heaven's will?"
"Your junior uncle just calculated the people around Xiao Lu today and got word—he's already at Spirit Refinement Fourth Level!"
"Do you know what that means? That kid, crawling and struggling all on his own, got to Spirit Refinement Fourth Level this fast! If we keep 'following heaven's will,' one day he'll reach God Ascension. How will we teach him then, tell me!?"
"As for that disciple of yours, my grand-disciple—he still wants to teach Xiao Lu? If you ask me, you two are wasting your time."
"Just have Xiao Lu directly become my disciple. You and your disciple can each be on your own terms with him—he calls him 'Master' [Crooked-Mouth Old Man], he calls you 'Lord Master,' he calls me 'Teacher,' and you two call him 'Junior Brother' and 'Junior Uncle.' I think that sounds great."
The black-robed elder took a few heavy puffs on his pipe.
Hmph.
He didn't say a word.
This was the unparalleled rough diamond his disciple had brought back from the Third Circle! Even if it couldn't fall into his hands, it definitely couldn't fall into his master's hands either!
If his grand-disciple turned into his junior brother... that... no way!!!
The purple-robed man saw he wasn't talking.
He sighed and turned away.
"Stubborn—just keep being stubborn, the both of you. I'm leaving."
Meanwhile.
Elsewhere.
Hanjing.
The conference room.
Same old formula, same old faces.
Elder Shui used his authority to call everyone together for a big meeting.
On the projector.
Clips of videos played, one photo after another scrolled by.
Secretary Qiu spoke on behalf of Elder Shui, saying:
"These are the photos secretly taken by our Great Han special envoy and investigator, Lu Ding, leading the western region investigators at great risk and danger from the Black Phoenix Gathering's Baoji Kingdom human-demon hybrid laboratory."
"This is the source of pressure from Baoji Kingdom."
"They are terrified of these things being discovered, and terrified of this information getting out."
After seeing all this, the various chiefs present.
Spoke up one after another.
"A bunch of mongrel human-demon half-breeds dare to use our Great Han citizens to experiment with their filthy human-demon hybridization? This crime is unforgivable! I propose we send troops immediately, attack Baoji Kingdom, and annihilate them!!!"
"We must uproot the weeds and plow the court—hit them so hard they remember!!!"
"If we don't strike with full force this time, then anyone will think they can walk all over us. I will never allow such a thing to happen!!!"
Listening to the chiefs' words.
Secretary Qiu spoke up: "Everyone, Chief, we will definitely strike."
"But my suggestion is to strike slowly."
"First, let the matter ferment. People are the foundation—this is the unshakeable bedrock of Great Han and many surrounding nations. Now Baoji Kingdom dares to attempt such an abhorrent transformation, it will inevitably touch upon the root."
"So, I propose we release this information through the media and public opinion, spread it to various nations, exaggerate the impact and consequences, and incite public outrage and panic."
"Then, taking advantage of this moment, while relieving Great Han's pressure, we redirect some of other nations' attention and hostility toward Baoji Kingdom. Only then will Great Han dispatch its troops."
"Once Great Han makes a move, other nations will inevitably follow suit. When a wall is about to collapse, everyone gives it a push. If any nation doesn't send troops, they will lose credibility. If they don't flex their muscles, how can their people believe their country can protect them?"
"Then Great Han can relieve pressure at minimal cost, and also obtain materials from the war with Baoji Kingdom to fill the Hundred-Year Ten Thousand Immortals Plan."
"What do you all think?"
As his words fell.
The room immediately buzzed with discussion. After a moment, one arm after another raised.
"I agree!!!"
One "I agree" after another basically locked in the general direction of the plan.
After everyone had expressed their opinions.
Elder Shui personally spoke up: "One more thing."
The moment he opened his mouth.
The conference room fell silent instantly.
Countless eyes turned to him.
Elder Shui's weight and significance in Great Han had always been high.
Coupled with the Hundred-Year Ten Thousand Immortals Plan.
Though he was now semi-retired, he seemed to be gradually returning to the center of power.
"I have decided to temporarily reduce the consumption from diplomatic relations with Great Xuan."
The moment those words left his mouth.
The entire room was filled with confusion.
"Why, Elder Shui?"
"Great Xuan's Black Ice Platform plan is essentially similar to our Hundred-Year Ten Thousand Immortals Plan—just with different focuses and sought-after directions. By building ties with them, we can gain more experience and learning benefits!"
"Besides, we've already agreed. If we rashly change the plan, Great Xuan will definitely have objections, and it'll be difficult to establish ties again in the future."
"Elder Shui, you must have a reason for making such a decision, right?"
Elder Shui raised his hand, and the room quieted once more.
"Establishing ties with Great Xuan—we've paid too much, but the returns are too little. It can't form..."
Elder Shui stumbled a bit.
Secretary Qiu secretly transmitted the words.
Elder Shui continued: "...a proportional return."
"Technological means, special materials, rare energy sources—all sorts of things. Even for Great Han's currently well-stocked treasury, it's no small burden."
"And this is only the first round."