1379 Emotional Entanglemen (1/2)
Tang Xiu's words weren't without basis. As there was an abundance of resources in the Immortal World, a good number of the children borne by major experts belonging to the sects were nourished with elixirs before their birth. Some of these children possessed elite bloodlines that granted them strength equal to Golden Core and Nascent Core cultivators the moment they were born. In the case of the Primordial Spirit Beasts and the Ancient Immortal Beasts, on account of their powerful bloodlines, the progeny birthed by them similarly possessed the might of ordinary Immortals.
Give your child a head start.
This was a much-quoted line on Earth, and also a famous dictum.
Su Lingyun knew her son was pretty impressive, so she was willing to leave decisions regarding matters relating to cultivation in his hands.
”Master.”
Gu Yan'er flitted over gracefully with a smile on her face.
Tan Xiu returned Tang Xing to his mother and followed up with a smile as well. ”Since you have come out, I assume you have finished cultivating?”
”Just a moment ago,” Gu Yan'er answered with a nod.
”How far are you from breaking through to the Perfected Golden Immortal Stage?”
Gu Yan'er shook her head. ”Since I haven't cultivated that long, there's no opportunity to break through to the Perfected Golden Immortal Stage right now. It won't be an issue to achieve it within the next hundred years.”
Tang Xiu donned a faint smile and said, ”Come along with me, then!”
The two of them appeared above a secluded island above the Misty Spring Ocean a while later. Just when Gu Yan'er felt puzzled over why they had come here, four shadows emerged from the mist.
”Your Majesty.”
The leader, Jin Shi, wore a face of reverence as he offered an interspatial ring.
Tang Xiu took the ring, checked its contents with his spiritual sense, and nodded satisfactorily. ”What's the status of the Intelligence Department's expansion?”
”Our intel operatives have deeply infiltrated the Immortal Lyceum, so the intel network now spans across Aeternum, Obsidium, and Chalcedoneum, which are to the southeast, west, and north respectively. According to our estimations, it will only require three years for the intel network to fully integrate itself in these three regions. However, the expenditure for the intel and the purchase of Demon Stones and Demon Crystals have completely depleted the Immortal Crystals and Crystal Essences you have given me, Your Majesty.”
”Give me two months.” Tang Xiu pondered for a moment and said, ”I'll then provide you with enough Immortal Crystals and Crystal Essences to sustain the Intelligence Department for a hundred more years.”
”Understood!” Jin Shi acknowledged and then inquired suddenly, ”Your Majesty, we have discovered something recently. An old man with an undetectable cultivation base arrived at our Immortal Lyceum a week or two ago and has been asking about you everywhere. From what we have speculated, he should be arriving in the Misty Spring Ocean soon.”
Tang Xiu asked him, ”Who is he?”
”Old Sycamore,” replied Jin Shi.
Tang Xiu raised his brows and soliloquized. ”I wasn't expecting him to come looking for me. Fine. Since he has come, let me deal with him! Find out where he is at once and notify me as soon as possible. If you find his location, immediately inform him that I'm here.”
”Yes, Your Majesty!” Jin Shi replied and walked to the side before sending out ten Communication Signets. Soon after, one of them whistled through the misty ocean and glowed with a golden flame before everyone. Jin Shi handed this Communication Signet over to Tang Xiu, whose eyes narrowed slightly.
At Aether City.
Old Sycamore gazed at the scene across the street through a window of the biggest restaurant in the city. A squad of the Great Tang Empire's soldiers donned in battle armor had surrounded two black-robed men over there. These two men had a high cultivation base and were already in the Crossing Tribulation Stage. On the other hand, the soldiers of the Great Tang Empire surrounding them were all just at the Great Ascension Stage, except for the captain who was in the Celestial Immortal Stage.
”Great Tang Empire, you're going too far!”
An illusionary figure suddenly appeared before them. The grey-haired woman's eyes filled with killing intent as she shouted, ”Don't blame us for acting heavy-handedly and killing all of you right here if you keep this up.”
The captain who wielded a long spear gazed at the woman as if she were their archenemy and said in a deep voice, ”You have broken the law of the Great Tang Empire by brazenly killing someone within the city. If you were to announce your identity and your grudge with the deceased, you might have the chance to absolve your guilt. But if you continue acting so impudently, and ignore our advice, we will be forced to capture you and let the Justice Department punish you.”
The grey-haired woman became enraged. ”This place belonged to the Immortal Lyceum and was the domain of Venerable Bella. You have seized it forcefully and even drawn up laws, so why would we surrender to you?”
The captain replied in a cold voice, ”Our Great Tang Empire's Emperor said these words once: 'the strong reign supreme in the Immortal World.' We can draw up laws because our Great Tang Empire has the strength and numbers to enforce them. As the old adage goes, 'submit, and you shall prosper, or oppose and perish.' If you aren't willing to abide by the Great Tang Empire's laws, you're free to leave this place. But as you have committed a crime here, you will receive punishment for it.”
The white-haired woman questioned in an icy voice, ”With just you all?”
Inside the tearoom, Old Sycamore actually approved of the words spoken by that captain. The Immortal World really was a place where strength reigned supreme. As long as one had absolute power, they could draw up laws. The words ”submit, and you shall prosper, or oppose and perish” resonated perfectly with his heartfelt thoughts.
”What a pity. This Aether City is just a small city in the Immortal Lyceum, so it only has a weak Celestial Immortal cultivator defending it. The grey-haired woman is a late-stage Golden Immortal cultivator, which will make it difficult for them to subdue her.” Old Sycamore sighed ruefully.
”Hmm?”