The Empire's Ambitions! Su Qian Comes Clean!

Stone Gate and the Langya Auction House were both among the three major powers in the Land of Barbarian Martial Hundred Cities.

They had always had their frictions, but those had been limited to ordinary competition.

But that did not mean Stone Gate could clear itself of suspicion in this incident.

Now that he possessed sufficient strength, going there to intimidate them was not out of the question.

In any case, it would not delay him. It happened to lie along the route to the Central Martial Region.

After leaving matters to Lin Ye, Lin Shu brought Lin Yurou and Su Qian into the Sky-Guarding Shuttle's private cabin.

Mainly because Lin Shu had some questions for Su Qian.

As for Lin Yurou...

Yurou

was an orphan.

She had been adopted by Lin Shu's father when she was very young. Given the surname Lin, she was placed in charge of Lin Shu's daily needs.

Although Lin Yurou's Soul Power Level was not high, she was exceptionally attentive and skilled when it came to serving Lin Shu.

When Lin Yurou had first been adopted by Lin Shu's father, he had naturally intended to raise her into a powerful soul master.

Later, after she began cultivating, it became clear that Lin Yurou's talent as a soul master was ordinary. Gradually, she was instead raised to become Lin Shu's concubine.

Lin Yurou naturally understood all this. She knew her soul master talent was limited, and that her achievements on the path of a soul master would not be great. Without any unexpected opportunities, reaching Soul Power Level sixty or seventy in this life would already be her limit.

Such a Soul Power Level might count as some strength elsewhere, but within the Langya Auction House, it was naturally nothing remarkable.

As such, in the future, she had only two choices: marry and start a family, or remain at Lin Shu's side for the rest of her life.

Rather than marrying someone else, she would rather stay by Lin Shu's side.

Of course, Lin Shu's father had not forced Lin Yurou. He had allowed her to choose.

She could either marry the descendant of a major power in Savage Martial City, forming a marriage alliance to maintain relations between the two sides.

Or she could remain by Lin Shu's side and become his concubine in the future. Once Lin Shu inherited the position of Guild Master of the Auction House, she would enjoy a respectable status as his concubine.

Naturally, compared to marrying a young master from a major power and becoming the principal wife, being Lin Shu's concubine was somewhat inferior.

He had thought Lin Yurou would choose the former, but unexpectedly, she chose the latter.

In her words, marrying into another major power might not be as comfortable as staying by the Young Master's side.

After making that choice, Lin Yurou took on the responsibility of caring for Lin Shu's daily life, already treating herself as Lin Shu's true concubine.

Of course, Lin Shu had not forced her either. He merely had her knead his shoulders or give him a massage from time to time, without making any other improper advances.

Lin Yurou's massage techniques were quite unique. Now that he had some free time, he could enjoy her massage.

Once inside the cabin, Lin Shu lay down directly and had Lin Yurou massage him.

Then he said,

"Su Qian, if I'm not mistaken, someone from the Empire will appear at this auction. You had a hand in that, didn't you?"

Upon hearing Lin Shu's words, Su Qian did not try to conceal it. Instead, she admitted it openly.

"Yes, I was indeed the one who invited Elder Yao Feng."

"However, Elder Yao was in the Eastern Martial Region at the time, which was why I could call him over. Otherwise, he would not have made it in time."

"Don't misunderstand. I have no ill intentions toward the Langya Auction House. I merely found those pills far too extraordinary."

"If the Empire controlled them, it could raise an army with Soul Power Levels of thirty or forty. Perhaps we really would have a chance to unify the entire continent!"

"In my view, you certainly would not offer such pills to the Empire. Naturally, I could only have Elder Yao bid for them, then let him study and recreate their refinement process."

"However, since the Guild Master has brought this up openly, may I make a deal with you?"

Lin Shu understood what she wanted.

"You want the pill formula?"

"That's right. Although Elder Yao successfully bought the pills, whether he can truly study and reproduce them remains unknown. Even if he does succeed, it will take time. If we can obtain the pill formula now, we can raise an army with Soul Power Levels of thirty or forty ahead of time. That would naturally be best!"

"Rest assured, the Empire never forces anyone. We are willing to pay a great price!"

Lin Shu looked at Su Qian and asked,

"Can you tell me what the Empire truly intends to do? Why must it make such a grand show of unifying the continent?"

Su Qian smiled.

"Guild Master, don't you think this world is far too chaotic? Especially for ordinary people."

"The many major powers control the methods of soul master awakening and cultivation. Ordinary people cannot even afford the money required for awakening!"

"Those soul masters possess extraordinary power beyond ordinary people, yet they regard ordinary people as ants!"

"What the Empire wants is to unify the entire continent, gather the continent's resources, and allow every ordinary person to awaken and cultivate into a soul master!"

"The resources and power of the Papal Hall and Spirit Hall alone are completely insufficient for this. Only by unifying the continent and gathering all its resources can it be done!"

Lin Shu looked at Su Qian before slowly speaking.

"Do you think this can succeed?"

"You are taking the resources of major powers and distributing them among every ordinary person!"

"Although I don't know much about the continent's situation, I understand that once you shake the interests of aristocratic families, nobles, and major powers, they may very well unite against the Empire!"

Before his transmigration, the Qin Dynasty's Shang Yang Reforms and the Han Dynasty's Wang Mang's New Policies had all been like this.

The Shang Yang Reforms had even succeeded, yet Shang Yang himself was torn apart by five horses.

It had to be said that the Empire's idea was insane. If Lin Shu had been an impulsive person, he might have joined them in a rush of excitement.

But now, Lin Shu would absolutely not participate.

After all, Lin Shu was not yet strong enough to contend against every power on the entire continent.

Judging from Su Qian's expression, the Empire did not merely intend to unify the Human Race. The Soul Beast Race was likely within its plans as well.

Lin Shu's three hundred Title Douluo could not contend against the entire continent.

If Lin Shu joined them, those people might not dare target the Empire, which already possessed considerable foundations, but they would definitely target Lin Shu.

As long as he honestly continued holding auctions, he could grow stronger. There was no need to take such risks now.

However, the pill formula...

After thinking for a moment, Lin Shu continued,

"I do have the pill formula, but I cannot trade it directly."

"Originally, I did not intend to reveal such a pill formula. But since Empress Yao has such ambitions, I will consider it a favor to the Empire and put it up for auction."

"Whether the Empire can obtain it through bidding will depend on its own methods."

Su Qian was immediately delighted.

She understood that no matter who possessed such a pill formula, they would never reveal it lightly.

After all, once the formula was made public, the rarity of the pills would plummet instantly.

Keeping the formula hidden and bringing out pills for auction from time to time was the path of sustainable development.

Su Qian could see that Lin Shu's refusal to trade directly with the Empire clearly meant that he did not wish to tie himself to it.

The Langya Auction House ultimately did not possess the foundations the Empire had to face the entire world.

This was also a way of avoiding misfortune and seeking good fortune.

Of course, that was only one reason.

The second was that only by obtaining Auction Points through auctions could he draw prizes and strengthen himself.

Any other direct trade, no matter how much he gained, could not be converted into Auction Points.

In fact, this was the most important reason.

Was he afraid?

Lin Shu was not.

After all, he controlled three hundred Title Douluo. Even if other powers wanted to target him, they would have to weigh the consequences.

Unless they could truly unite.

If they could unite so easily, the Empire would never have been established so easily in the first place.

Before Spirit Hall and the Papal Hall established the Empire, they might not even have had as many Title Douluo as Lin Shu now controlled!

If the many major powers had united back then, the Empire certainly would not have been established so easily.

In the end, when the Empire had been founded, everyone had believed it was merely the creation of an ordinary nation. It had not truly touched their interests yet.

"Guild Master, when will the next auction begin? So I can inform Her Majesty in advance and have her prepare."

Lin Shu smiled.

"Her Majesty?"

"If I'm not mistaken, the current Empress is either your mother or your sister. Otherwise, you could not have persuaded Yao Feng. As an honored guest of the Empire, Yao Feng's status is far from ordinary. If you could persuade her, your identity must be much more than simply a member of the imperial family, and you would not be so invested in this matter!"

Su Qian smiled sweetly.

"That's right. Su Yao is my older sister!"

"Guild Master, you won't stop me from serving as Chief Auctioneer just because you know my identity, will you?"

Lin Shu chuckled softly.

"Putting the pill formula up for auction is precisely my way of drawing a line between myself and the Empire!"

Su Qian froze, then understood.

That was right.

Her position as Chief Auctioneer at the Langya Auction House did indeed make it seem as though the Langya Auction House was cooperating with the Empire.

But putting the pill formula up for auction was enough to dispel all suspicions.

"Alright, that's all. You may leave first!"

The first auction had ended.

There were still rewards waiting to be claimed!

With that said,

Lin Shu immersed himself in the system!