Chapter 1033: Chapter 1033: Finalizing the Plan
Lin Ruxue said as she patted the sundial in front of Pei Yan: "This is the balance of the Heavenly Dao. It’s not so easy to activate what you call a cheat instrument, and to cultivate here isn’t impossible. There are two ways: one is to improve your martial skills in a short time, which doesn’t require much source energy; the second is to bring a large amount of Dao Heart Source Stones in, and cultivate by supplementing with the absorption of source stones. However, for your two companions, these are not the best cultivation methods. Entering it is just a waste of resources and life. It would be better to absorb the essence and Divine Artifact I gifted outside and prepare your body for the competition."
Pei Yan felt a bit lost after hearing this, silently stroking the sundial’s scale, puzzled: "Then what’s the use of making this thing? Isn’t it a mere appendage? There can’t always be someone like me who urgently needs to improve their strength without worrying about the demand for source energy?"
"This thing is actually a torture device." Lin Ruxue waved her hand gracefully, collecting the sundial with a mischievous smile.
"Torture device!"
"Yes, the time flow can be extended to inside lasting a year while outside only a day. At that extent, inside won’t absorb a trace of source energy from the outside world. A cultivator whose entire body’s source energy is dispersed is thrown inside, to watch oneself age bit by bit in an empty space unable to cultivate. For those seeking life extension, is there a punishment more painful?"
Lin Ruxue’s sinister words sent a chill down Pei Yan’s spine. Just being alone in a closed space for a year without the ability to cultivate is a collapse-inducing ordeal. Seeing this god-like cheat instrument only as a torture device here, Pei Yan couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
Finally, the issue of investment for Pei Yan’s strength improvement was settled, once again offsetting Lin Ruxue’s discontent for withholding facts. Lin Junzhao held Lin Ruxue’s hand, chatting and laughing as they walked toward the courtyard. From the back, they appeared as dear sisters long separated, yet only Pei Yan knew that the key to maintaining their close relationship was not only the initial affection but now had an added layer of interest entwined.
"How did your talk go?" As Lin Ruxue was seen off, so was Cao Jiu Zhou who accompanied her. With outsiders gone, everyone poured out of the hall into the courtyard, looking at Pei Yan sitting in the Grandmaster Chair, staring blankly at a table filled with sumptuous dishes now starting to cool. Gu Shenghui stepped forward and asked.
"Phew! A lot was discussed!" This talk had nothing to be concealed. Pei Yan recounted the entire conversation details to those present.
First to tackle is the joint investigation with the Immortal Palace on its internal issues. On this matter, Mei Simiao was extremely enthusiastic. He excitedly patted Pei Yan’s shoulder and then looked at Gu Shenghui, saying excitedly: "This is feasible! Pei Yan did very well in negotiating terms and difficulties with them. As long as we send someone to assist them, it’s all settled."
"Are you sure you want to do this? Like Pei Yan and Lin Ruxue discussed, once we take such a task, your situation inside the Immortal Palace will become precarious. Yes, Lin Ruxue promises sufficient protection, but everything fears a possible mishap, and even the strictest protection can fail. There, your life safety can’t be effectively guaranteed. Moreover, if you truly accept this job, you will undoubtedly stand thoroughly on Lin Ruxue’s side. Looking at the current situation, there is still a gap between Lin Ruxue and the Immortal Palace. Doing this may squander the hard-earned relationship with the Immortal Palace, and in the end, we might gain nothing worthwhile," Gu Shenghui expressed Pei Yan’s concerns, glanced at Mei Simiao and said solemnly.
"We don’t have to agree with Lin Ruxue on this matter," Pei Yan said, maintaining room to refuse during his talk with her. "Thinking about it now, Lin Ruxue does this more to use us. If successful, it roots out traitors for the Immortal Palace; if it fails, we’re the ones getting into trouble, severing our newly established relationship with the Immortal Palace. A Lord of the Plane won’t just make losing deals."
"We must do it!" Facing the persuasion of the two, Mei Simiao requested with resolute determination: "As they say, wealth is sought amidst dangers; risk and reward are proportional. We never had, and may never have such a good chance to deeply understand the operation patterns of high-level Daoist Realm, and the opportunity to gather internal intelligence. Before the Blood Slaughter event, our intelligence on other planes was completely blind. Fortunately, our Foundation Plane was just viewed by others as an energy wasteland, insignificant; otherwise, if we really had engaged, we would’ve suffered greatly. Now having such an opportunity, we must seize it well, gather more useful intelligence for our office. So in future potential conflicts, the cost we pay will be smaller. Such an adventure is worth it. As for the relationship with the Immortal Palace..."
Mei Simiao smiled, saying, "Working methods can be mastered! The conditions Pei Yan secured offer us great convenience for our upcoming work. We can leverage these conveniences to navigate within the Five Mansions of the Immortal Palace, draw in a majority while targeting a minority. This isn’t difficult to do, and obviously, the Immortal Palace isn’t as monolithic as it appears from the outside, right?"
"Alright, since you’ve made up your mind, I’ll file a report to the office." Gu Shenghui said, slapping his thigh, making a decision: "You go back to the office now, ask for whatever manpower you need. If cross-department personnel transfers are needed, find Old Yu, he’s now in charge of that aspect. I’ll explain the importance of this matter to him. He’ll be responsible for coordinating and quickly assembling the manpower you require."
As Gu Shenghui spoke, he looked toward Xia Yu and others nearby, saying: "For this investigation to unfold fully, it’ll at least wait until after this competition. During that time, I anticipate a short respite among the major planes. If no unexpected events occur during this period, Xia Yu, Zheng Jia Ru, Jiang Donghu, you’ll be in charge of security defense for the investigation team led by Director Mei. I’ll also allocate a batch of elite above seventh tier from the office for you to command."
"Yes!" The three who received orders responded in unison.
After handling this, Gu Shenghui looked at Pei Yan, saying: "This matter is settled, now it’s just the pre-competition training issue and that person’s matter." As he spoke, Gu Shenghui glanced toward the basement direction.
"Preparing to send ’him’ away?" Pei Yan looked thoughtfully in the direction of Gu Shenghui’s gaze, saying, "So hastily? Then has everything been arranged?"
"Everything’s long been arranged. The timing was initially prepared to be postponed a bit, but since these events happened today and Old Mei just happens to be returning to the Foundation Plane, it’s conveniently on the way to take ’him’ back."
