Zhou Yuanjue was silent for a mont after hearing Liehong Mountain's words, as if processing the information. Although he had realized the world held deeper secrets ever since his encounter with the Celestial Demon, he couldn't help but feel a little surprised when truly confronted with them.
But on second thought, he considered all the tales of gods and ghosts, strange theories, bizarre stories, and peculiar customs that had been passed down since ancient tis. Why had they persisted for so long? There must be an extraordinary origin behind them.
He'd had this sa feeling back when he studied mythological history.
Human history and mythology were far from being as simple as one might imagine.
"A lot changed after the last war that swept the globe. The world has been peaceful for several thousand years, but in recent decades, the Celestial Demons have started appearing more and more frequently for unknown reasons. Those deeply hidden Seals have also begun to loosen. All sorts of ghouls and demons hiding behind the curtain have surfaced, and we are facing ever-greater challenges."
Liehong Mountain remarked with a sigh.
"What do you want to do this ti?"
Zhou Yuanjue asked after a mont of silence.
"In the current situation, the few people over in Beiwei can hardly keep things stable on their own. As for , I need to watch over the Sealing Realm Image on Haisa Island and can't leave for the ti being. So, I'd like you to take a trip to Beiwei."
"Your promotion to Saint Awakening is still a secret. Besides the Southern Headquarters, only a limited number of high-level personnel know. When the ti cos, you will go over under the guise of an ordinary transferred agent. Soone will arrange the specific details. I imagine you'll give those outsiders quite a surprise."
A faint smile appeared on Liehong Mountain's face.
* * *
In the end, Zhou Yuanjue agreed to Liehong Mountain's request.
Powerful experts from every nation, mysterious Spirit Guardians, Kunlun Mountain with its ties to the myths and legends of Ancient Donghua, the unknowns hidden within the Celestial Demons, and the secrets buried in history...
He had no reason to refuse such an interesting opportunity.
Back in his room, he checked the items he had brought with him before the Haisa Island mission, only to discover his phone had been dead for over a month.
After the battle on Haisa Island, he had fallen into a coma from his severe injuries. Once he recovered, he followed Lu Zhen to the Secret Inspection Bureau's martyrs' cetery, learned of the Heaven and Earth lting Furnace Technique, and threw himself into training without a mont's rest. For more than a month, he hadn't even had ti to pick up his phone...
He plugged his phone in to charge. After it turned on, a series of notification ssages made the screen lag slightly.
Most of them were missed calls and ssages from Lu Ming and Li Qingxuan.
'Right, the Haisa Island mission was classified, and the news of my promotion to Saint Awakening is also being kept secret. I guess the Secret Inspection Bureau hasn't inford Li Qingxuan or the others.'
Zhou Yuanjue pondered for a mont, then called Li Qingxuan first.
"The number you have dialed is currently switched off. Please try again later..."
'Switched off?'
Zhou Yuanjue frowned slightly and then called Lu Ming.
"Hello?! You're actually calling? We all thought you'd been snatched up by the higher-ups for so secret experint! And what's the deal this ti? The fighting tournant is off again? What happened?"
Lu Ming's exaggerated voice imdiately burst from the phone.
"If you don't want 'the relevant authorities' showing up at your door, I think it's better you don't know too much."
Zhou Yuanjue said.
"Alright."
Lu Ming paused on the other end of the line. As soon as he heard "the relevant authorities," he imdiately chickened out.
"Why is Li Qingxuan's phone switched off?"
Zhou Yuanjue asked.
"Switched off? I'm not too sure. She's not in Guangpu right now. She went back to Shangjing Prefecture half a month ago. Said she had so things to take care of. Maybe her phone just died?"
Lu Ming said, also finding it a bit strange.
"Is that so?"
Zhou Yuanjue said, his expression calm.
"Let's leave it at that for now. I might have so other things to deal with, so I probably won't be back in Guangpu for a while. We'll talk again when we get the chance."
Zhou Yuanjue said, then hung up the phone.
'Lu Ming was, after all, just an ordinary rich kid. Knowing too much would do him more harm than good.'
'As for Li Qingxuan, though...'
Zhou Yuanjue's expression was calm as he picked up the special satellite phone issued to him by the Secret Inspection Bureau and dialed Lu Zhen's number.
"I need the Data on soone in Shangjing Prefecture, as well as her current situation. Can you find that?"
Zhou Yuanjue said to Lu Zhen.
"Shangjing Prefecture... That's a bit tricky. But with your current clearance level, it shouldn't be a problem. Whose Data are you looking for?"
Lu Zhen said after a mont of thought.
"Shangjing Prefecture. Li Qingxuan."
Zhou Yuanjue said.
"Li Qingxuan... I see. Hold on, I'll get back to you in a bit."
Lu Zhen replied, then hung up.
'Li Qingxuan has helped quite a bit on my journey. I once promised her that if I achieved Saint Awakening, I would help her with certain things.'
'Before, when I hadn't yet reached Saint Awakening, I couldn't afford to be distracted by other matters. But now that I have, I don't plan on going back on so of my promises.'
'I'm a man who is clear about my debts and grudges, and my word is my bond.'
* * *
「At this mont, in the northern suburbs of Shangjing Prefecture.」
A mountain villa built in a traditional style, with red walls and yellow tiles, was under heavy guard. Its solemn atmosphere exuded a kind of noble air.
This was the residence of the Li Family of Shangjing Prefecture.
Within the villa, in a remote courtyard filled with flowers, plants, and trees, winding paths led into seclusion, giving it the feel of an ancient scholarly family's ho.
Li Qingxuan, dressed in casual clothes, sat alone on a stone bench in the courtyard, staring blankly at the fish swimming in the pond.
"Qingxuan."
A voice reached Li Qingxuan's ears. She turned to see a man whose face bore a slight resemblance to her own.
He was tall and handso, with a determined gaze. It was as if he would be the center of attention just by standing there.
Li Qingxuan glanced back at the young man, then slowly turned her head away again.
"Cousin, do you think anyone in the Li Family can escape this fate?"
"We're all living people with our own independent souls. Just because we don't possess a strong enough Bloodline, do we have to serve as stepping stones for soone else?"
Li Qingxuan said calmly to the person beside her.
The young man slowly walked over and sat down on the stone bench beside her.
"Yes, it's natural to feel so resentnt, but this is the ancestral precept... In every generation, the Descendant with the richest Bloodline must use the Inheriting Vein Technique to absorb the Bloodline of their kin, thereby strengthening themselves. This is how the Li Family has managed to maintain its lasting prosperity..."
"Besides, it's not as if we get nothing in return for such a price. The Li Family's power, wealth, and authority—aren't these things we're enjoying right now? To gain sothing, you must lose sothing. Compared to the ordinary people who are still struggling, we are already fortunate enough in their eyes."
"If you could trade your health and lifespan for a high status and imnse wealth, how many ordinary people do you think would rush at the chance?"
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