Chapter 724 - 19: Taking the Initiative
"?"
This was the first time Chen Lusi heard of it, somewhat surprised, "When she was pregnant with you?"
"Yes, when my mother was pregnant with me... she encountered a first contact, although it’s definitely not as grand as the Kunlun tour level, considering the intensity of my Authority Ability, it’s definitely a True God Level activation of legend, and she... was just an ordinary person."
Ji Xin paused for a moment, then continued, "I don’t know how she managed at the time, I only know... ultimately I survived and acquired the Authority Ability, but the price was losing part of my soul and being unable to walk.
And she... she paid with her life. The aunt who saved me, Shanli’s mother, said that she was touching her abdomen until her last breath."
"..."
Chen Lusi was slightly stunned upon hearing this.
He’s no longer the clueless member he once was.
He is well aware of what a first contact and True God Level activation of legend truly mean.
An ordinary person?
Mother...
Chen Lusi fell silent for a long time, then softly said, "That’s really incredible."
Ji Xin’s fair face rarely showed a gentle expression, "It is indeed incredible."
Chen Lusi glanced at her thigh again, "So, your leg problem is related to the soul?"
"Yes."
Ji Xin nodded, "It’s like a kind of side effect of gaining the Authority Ability. Although I can usually stand up and move autonomously relying on the Spirit, it’s almost like forcibly sustaining it with Spirit, consuming a lot. I can’t maintain a standing posture for long."
"I see, the soul..."
Chen Lusi instinctively reached out, gently pressing on her slender, smooth leg, while probing with Spirit, asking, "So, only going to the Yellow Springs can possibly solve this, right?"
"..."
Ji Xin didn’t answer, she didn’t even hear Chen Lusi’s words. Her body suddenly tensed, her head slightly tilted.
Her soft long hair slipped off her shoulders, revealing her snow-white neck.
Not hearing a response, Chen Lusi looked up, puzzled, then suddenly realized and immediately withdrew his hand.
This was indeed inappropriate.
Asking was enough, why touch out of curiosity?
And even if verification was needed, he should have gained the other’s consent first... she wasn’t Lin Ying.
Idiot.
He shook his head, just about to apologize.
"Josie’s Tiger and Fish."
Ji Xin suddenly turned around, her small face filled with indifference as she spoke, "Do you still remember the movie I told you about?"
"?"
Chen Lusi, not knowing why she mentioned this, instinctively responded, "I remember, I was curious enough to watch it later..."
"Then you should understand, I am not the right candidate."
Ji Xin took a deep breath, pressing down the unusual flush on her fair face, "I am only suitable as a substitute, I hope you remember this..."
"Huh?"
Chen Lusi frowned, asking, "What do you mean by substitute? The soul deficiency causing your leg issue, has a substitute?"
"Huh?"
Ji Xin was also taken aback, "Soul?"
"Otherwise? Isn’t your soul deficiency problem only solvable by going to the Yellow Springs?"
"..."
"How does that relate to the movie?"
"...Nothing."
Having her ultimate move unexpectedly triggered by a regular attack, Ji Xin once again took a deep breath, the tips of her ears slowly turning red, but her expression remained indifferent, unchanged, "This issue doesn’t need to trouble you, please don’t go to the Yellow Springs... so, what did you bring me here for this time?"
"This."
Chen Lusi gave Ji Xin a strange look, though he was inclined to ask more.
But considering that this issue could not be resolved immediately, and he couldn’t go to the Yellow Springs in the short term, he eventually gave up.
He slowly lifted the ancient Tai’e Sword from the side and placed it on his lap.
Ji Xin asked, "Tai’e... what’s with this sword?"
"Sword of the Way of Power... both Emperor Shi and the Goddess of Longevity said it is the Sword of the Way of Power."
Chen Lusi looked at the Tai’e on his thigh and whispered, "But I think a more fitting evaluation... should be the Sword of Imperial Authority. Perhaps it started as just the Sword of the Way of Power, but after being worn by Emperor Shi for so long, the nature of this sword has long since changed.
I can sense that it has a suppressing effect on most Authority Ability systems in the country, and even on gods.
Moreover..."
Chen Lusi, saying this, slowly raised his right hand, activating his Authority Ability.
Flesh twisted.
Cold light erupted.
"If my Authority Ability... is combined with this Tai’e, it can totally pose a threat to the Yellow Springs."
"..."
Ji Xin suddenly raised her head, her beautiful eyes widening abruptly.
"Yes, reshaping is possible."
Chen Lusi said with a serious expression: "Although the possibility of reshaping the mainstream is slim... it still exists. After all, the imperial authority has been present on this land for over two thousand years. The first emperor’s sword, combined with the residual veins... is extremely domineering."
"Why did Emperor Shi give you the sword? Does he not know?"
The unnecessary thoughts in Ji Xin’s mind vanished instantly, her red lips slightly parted: "Or is this his test? So, what do you... intend to do?"
As she spoke.
She looked at Chen Lusi’s face, seemingly a bit tense.
"I don’t know Emperor Shi’s purpose, and I... of course, do not wish to change the mainstream."
Chen Lusi shook his head: "Ultimately, I have no idea what might happen, and I don’t want the residual veins to become mainstream. The Yellow Springs Mainstream has existed for over two thousand years, and according to your explanation, countless ancestors have left their marks below.
I don’t deny them, or have a desire to become some kind of ruler. I prefer the human world."
"..."
Ji Xin looked at Chen Lusi’s defined face: "... So?"
"I just wanted to tell you this news, to let you know that this weapon is not simple, so you can be mentally prepared, and also..."
Chen Lusi hesitated for a moment: "The Roman Catholic Church’s Cardinal went to Goryeo, right?"
Ji Xin didn’t know why he asked this but nodded nonetheless: "Yes."
"We are uncertain about what they intend to do... what exactly the Roman Catholic Church’s purpose is in going to Goryeo."
Chen Lusi picked up the Tai’e sword resting on his leg and said softly: "If it’s another kind of public prosecution turmoil... it will likely be very troublesome.
So I think, no matter what the Roman Catholic Church plans to do, since they have gone to Goryeo, it proves they need the local power of Goryeo.
And the Yellow Springs in Goryeo is one of the tributaries of the Yellow Springs Mainstream, right?"
Ji Xin’s beautiful eyes widened: "...Are you saying."
"Can we take the initiative?"
Chen Lusi raised the Tai’e sword, its tip touching the ground, and said softly: "We cannot reshape the mainstream, but we can reshape the tributaries."
"..."
Ji Xin’s breath hitched, then she remained silent for a long time before saying: "This matter... has too much impact."
"Yes, I know, that’s why I spoke to you alone, and I also want to discuss it with you."
Chen Lusi nodded: "After all, we still don’t know Emperor Shi’s exact thoughts... do you think it’s feasible?"
"..."
Ji Xin remained silent, not speaking.
She seemed to be contemplating.
...
At the same time.
Goryeo.
Headquarters of the Mujin New Church.
The bald sect leader looked in surprise at Lamar Aihai sitting opposite him: "Cardinal Lamar, you mean..."
"The Mujin New Church, wasn’t it born from the Roman Catholic Church?"
Lamar Aihai smiled, completely devoid of the subservient attitude shown before the Pope, and said softly: "Therefore, your Mujin New Church has never been compatible with your local source. After all, both the mainstream and tributaries will resist religion.
Though the situation at Ise Jingu is similar to yours, they have cultivated long enough, and ultimately resolved the compatibility issue with the Divine Buddha Synthesis... Yet even so, they still frequently experience outbreaks of the Mad God.
So, what do you plan to do? Follow their path again? Or imitate your local faction, advocating to emulate the mainstream and fully accept it? That hardly suits your compatibility."
"..."
The bald man was stunned, seemingly not expecting the other side to know even this, and his once ingratiating face darkened.
Of course, it wasn’t directed at Lamar Aihai, but at Goryeo’s local faction.
"Those clowns!"
"But you can’t deny that those clowns have considerable influence, most of your local empowerers still lean towards mimicking the mainstream."
The bald man’s face turned even darker.
This was indeed what he had been worried about all along.
The Mujin New Church, after all, is a foreign religion. Although initially supported by the Roman Catholic Church, hoping to influence the Yellow Springs in less than a hundred years is merely a pipe dream.
So although the Mujin New Church has sufficient influence in Goryeo, its foundations are unstable.
After a moment of silence.
The bald man slowly asked: "So what does the Cardinal mean?"
Lamar Aihai smiled again, speaking directly: "There’s an opportunity now. Are you willing to seize it?"
"..."
The bald man, sect leader of the Mujin New Church, Park Haoyu, suddenly raised his head: "...What?"
"Completely devote yourself to the embrace of the Lord."
Lamar Aihai devoutly traced a cross on his chest, then continued slowly: "Offer your Yellow Springs as a sacrifice to the Lord, welcome the Great Angel’s descent, and become the Lord’s... most loyal believer!
And the Lord will make the Mujin New Church the true state religion, making you the true ruler of Goryeo!"