Choosing Sides and Antiques

Under the influence of the matriarch of the Gayn Family, the entire estate was imbued with a strong Eastern style.

Beyond the lotus ornaments on the windows, the Bagua mirror on the door, and the calligraphy and landscape paintings on the walls, the most prominent Eastern feature was the unique Gayn Family custom of dining and conversing simultaneously, a style unparalleled in the Hundred Flowers Kingdom.

In just one meal, with Tia's attentive service and Alice's occasional assistance, the relationship between the three of them had significantly deepened.

As for Liu Tian, his perception of Tia and Alice had elevated them above Ai Lian. He felt that if they asked for his help with something minor and convenient, he would likely assist.

Although for Tia, a man who leaned towards introversion, disliked pretense, and was straightforward was easy to understand, haste makes waste.

Since Liu Tian had saved her sister and displayed an extreme fondness for antiques from the Lost Empire, there would be many more days ahead. Maintaining their current good relationship through continued interaction was sufficient.

The Hundred Flowers Kingdom appeared calm on the surface, but beneath the waves, a storm was brewing. With the aging Tulip Queen favoring a generational succession to Lilia von Ein, the sole daughter of the First Prince who perished in the World War, a succession crisis and coup could erupt at any moment.

The Gayn Family wished to remain uninvolved in this major affair, not wanting to take sides among the Second Prince, who controlled military power, the Third Prince, who had the support of most nobles, and Princess Lilia.

However, one cannot escape the currents of the world. In such significant events, how could the Gayn Family, with its Count's title, avoid taking a stance even if they tried to stay far away?

One could hide for a while, but not forever. In this situation, having more friends meant having more backing and more fallback options.

Maintaining good relationships was paramount, ideally leading to a deeper friendship between Alice and Liu Tian.

Should something regrettable happen, the Heavenly Dao behind Liu Tian might, for his sake, at least protect Alice.

It was for this very reason that, aside from a slight probe into Liu Tian's true nature, Tia not only welcomed Alice's clear intentions but actively encouraged them.

Otherwise, a mere life-saving grace would not have been enough for the Gayn Family to go to such lengths.

Without such full commitment and incurring considerable costs that should not have been necessary, how could the Gayn Family have gathered so many antiques from the Lost Empire in just three days?

Anything related to the Lost Empire was a treasure, no matter where it was found.

"Thank you for your hospitality." Having eaten and drunk his fill, Liu Tian did not forget his true purpose. "May I ask where the relevant antiques are displayed? I am already impatient."

"It would be our greatest pleasure if you are satisfied," Tia said with a smile, standing up and giving Alice, who was nearby, a meaningful look. "Regarding the antiques, the recent items are in the storage room on the fifth floor. More may be transported over slowly in the future. Alice, why don't you take Liu Tian there..."

"I have other matters to attend to, so I won't be accompanying you."

"Okay!" Alice, clearly understanding her sister's intention, replied quickly, though a blush involuntarily crept onto her cheeks.

"Then I'll trouble you, Alice."

On the fifth floor, a storage room meticulously maintained with constant temperature and humidity welcomed its two visitors.

Alice and Liu Tian.

As the heavily protected storage room door opened, Liu Tian's eyes lit up. The nearly several hundred square meter room was filled with multi-layered glass display cases, each housing precious antiques. In front of each antique was a beautifully patterned card detailing its history.

From left to right, leading to the door, it was like an exhibition of human history and civilization.

From the Hundred Flowers Kingdom to the Crimson Cloud Empire, from the Morning Star Alliance to the Lost Empire...

Almost every country Liu Tian could name had one or two artifacts present.

A rough estimate suggested no less than a thousand artifacts from the Lost Empire alone, and if other relics were included, the total was close to five thousand.

Almost every display case held corresponding antiques.

Frankly speaking, the combined value of the antiques in this room was no less than the total assets of an entire Count's family.

This was certainly not something the Gayn Family could have collected alone. To prepare this, Tia Gayn had utilized her social skills over the past few days, traveling throughout Bai Hai City and its surrounding areas.

Fortunately, the Gayn Family had always enjoyed collecting antiques, possessed a long history, and held some sway with most nobles, allowing them to piece together such a magnificent exhibition.

"No wonder my sister has been busier than usual these past few days..." Alice was also taken aback. Their own collection didn't even amount to a tenth of this.

"Truly spectacular. If I had known it would be this grand, I would have properly thanked Miss Tia just now."

Tia Gayn was truly a woman worth befriending (a wealthy one at that).

"How shall we begin?" Alice asked, tilting her head after a moment of surprise.

"Let's start with the items from the Lost Empire," Liu Tian said, tapping his chin, a hint of anticipation for the upcoming harvest in his eyes.

It would take more than a day or two to examine all these antiques. As time passed and Liu Tian meticulously handled each artifact, a smile occasionally appearing on his face, Alice propped her head on her hand and asked, "Brother Tian, do you like antiques from the Lost Empire so much?"

"It's not that I like the antiques themselves, but rather the Lost Empire. I want to understand it more," Liu Tian replied, as he had anticipated being asked this question sooner or later, given his undisguised interest in items related to the Lost Empire. He continued to rub a peculiar, skull-like antique in his hand, answering as he had planned. "Do you know how I felt when I learned that such a mysterious country existed six thousand years ago?"

"Hmm..." Alice handed him an antique he hadn't touched yet and replied, "Curious?"

"Excited." Absorbing another small portion of Origin Point, Liu Tian felt a joy akin to that of a prosperous farmer. "Six thousand years ago, when humanity's records of history and civilization hadn't officially begun, there existed such a vast, powerful, great, and wondrous nation."

"What was their system? What did they eat? How did they travel? And how did they disappear?"

"So many questions, so many thoughts filled my mind."

"That's why I want to see more, know more, and piece together that era, that mysterious era, through the relics they left behind."

Liu Tian spoke his mind without much embellishment. He knew he wasn't good at lying. Rather than painstakingly fabricating a flawed lie, it was better to conceal some truths.

"If possible, after graduation, I want to go to the New Continent to search for more information about the Lost Empire."

This was the absolute truth. When other places had no more relics, he would naturally have to rely on himself, provided he had already acquired the Prism Pillar that the Blue Dream Company undoubtedly possessed.

Liu Tian was confident. Although the individual power limit in this world seemed to be at most a company, with enough effort, being able to fight an army alone and be invincible in the world was not impossible for him.

Even the Heavenly Dao, Heavenly Martial Artists, Demonic Martial Artists, and Bai Cinan would eventually be left behind by him.

Therefore, although the Blue Dream Company appeared to be an unshakeable behemoth now, given enough time, Liu Tian was not worried about being unable to match them.

"That sounds so romantic," Alice said, her eyes seemingly sparkling. "Exploring ruins, tracing the footsteps of ancient empires, uncovering historical truths."

"Can you take me with you then?"

"Then you'll have to get stronger," Liu Tian replied, unconcerned with her girlish sentiment. "If you're too weak, you won't be able to explore ruins..."