Everything is Ready

Magic City, Zhou Family Old Residence.

In the basement, while waiting for the Blood Lingzhi, Su Yuan continued to question the Grey Mirror.

As for whether this would lead to exposure...

Long before arriving, Su Yuan had already used the Grey Mirror to confirm that the basement of the Zhou Family Old Residence had no surveillance equipment.

As long as Su Yuan did not cause too much of a commotion in the basement, people outside would have no way of knowing what was happening inside.

This basement was built by the first head of Zhou Pharmaceutical for the purpose of taking refuge; after all, over a hundred years ago, war was constant, and a hidden basement could potentially save one's life.

Looking at the Grey Mirror before him, Su Yuan asked briefly, "The consequences after taking the Blood Lingzhi."

The surface of the Grey Mirror churned with a hazy mist, and text quickly emerged.

[The Snake Mother of the Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley discovers the loss of the Blood Lingzhi. With the residual aura severed and the trail lost, she flies into a rage, wanting to leave the Snake Valley to slaughter wantonly in the Hundred Thousand Mountains to vent her anger. She is eventually stopped by another Snake Mother. The loss of the Blood Lingzhi makes this Snake Mother sense that something is wrong, fearing that the "Dragon Transformation Herb" she guards will meet the same fate...]

"Quite clever." Su Yuan smiled slightly as he looked at the response provided by the Grey Mirror.

In fact, at the level of the Snake Mother of the Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley, she had already transcended basic animal instincts; if she wished, she could even engage in rudimentary "communication" with humans.

"If the stronger Snake Mother can successfully swallow the 'Dragon Transformation Herb,' the probability of her evolving into a Level 2 life form will be as high as sixty percent."

Su Yuan thought to himself. This was also the answer given by the Grey Mirror; the "Dragon Transformation Herb" had a high compatibility with the Snake Mother and could push the latter to take that step.

However, even if everything went smoothly, that would be a matter for ten years from now.

Because that "Dragon Transformation Herb" would only mature in ten years.

Just as Su Yuan was pondering, the surface of the Grey Mirror did not stop churning, and more text continued to emerge.

[The Southern Frontier Observatory monitors the activity in the Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley and remains on high alert. Although the Snake Mother eventually returns to her lair, the Southern Frontier Observatory does not completely lower its guard and reports the matter in full. One day later, Xu Shouzhuo arrives outside the Hundred Thousand Mountains to guard against any subsequent actions by the Snake Mother. A month later, finding no unusual activity from the Snake Mother, he departs...]

The subject of this response provided by the Grey Mirror was clearly the reaction of the Xia Kingdom's authorities.

"Xu Shouzhuo?"

Su Yuan's expression turned slightly solemn.

He had never met Xu Shouzhuo; the two were complete strangers.

Yet, Su Yuan knew a great deal about Xu Shouzhuo.

Because the man was one of the few True Dan Celestials in the Xia Kingdom, which is to say, a Level 2 life form.

Over the past half-month, Su Yuan had essentially used the Grey Mirror to learn about every life form of Level 1 and above in the Xia Kingdom and even the entire world.

Within the Xia Kingdom's cultivation system, after the Great Grandmaster of Dan, came the True Dan Celestial.

A True Dan Celestial was roughly the highest individual combat power that the Xia Kingdom could deploy during normal times.

As for the Level 3 life forms above them? Or Level 4 life forms?

They were the "products" of that war that had engulfed the nations of the world over a hundred years ago.

Su Yuan's thoughts drifted. Through the Grey Mirror, there were no secrets in the world that could be hidden from him.

It was precisely because of this that he understood what price the Xia Kingdom had paid to deal with that war a century ago and to counter the "Truth Society" from across the ocean.

By forcing growth at the expense of the era's strongest Celestials, they had catalyzed Level 3 and Level 4 life forms to curb the expansion of the "Truth Society."

It could be said that if not for the Xia Kingdom, the current world order would certainly not be what it is today.

"Truth Society..."

Su Yuan reined in his thoughts and stopped dwelling on it.

Ten-thirty in the evening.

Su Yuan walked out of the basement.

"Sir."

Tang Zhien, who had been waiting outside the basement, immediately stepped forward.

"The time is almost here."

Su Yuan said casually before walking over to sit in the main hall.

According to the plan, Zhou Yu should have already entered the Magic City by now and would arrive at the Zhou Family Old Residence in twenty-three minutes to hand over the Blood Lingzhi.

"The time is almost here?" Tang Zhien was slightly stunned, then respectfully said, "Does Sir know that Zhou Yu is about to arrive in the Magic City? I will send someone to pick him up right now."

To ensure the safety of the Blood Lingzhi, Zhou Yu carried a tracking device, and Tang Zhien could monitor his location at any time.

"No need." Su Yuan shook his head. "I have already told him how to get here."

Back when Zhou Yu had walked out of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, Su Yuan had formulated the fastest return plan for him, including taking the high-speed rail, walking directly to the station exit upon arriving at the Magic City station, encountering a taxi with the license plate ending in 82344, and then taking that taxi along the Pu River main road...

This was the fastest plan to bring Zhou Yu to Su Yuan, eliminating all unexpected variables.

As for sending people to pick up Zhou Yu like Tang Zhien suggested? It would certainly be much slower, whether due to traffic delays or various other accidents.

In any case, it would definitely not be as fast as the plan Su Yuan had devised.

"Yes."

Although Tang Zhien did not know the reason, it did not stop him from following orders.

"However, for this trip to the Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley, Zhou Yu and the others actually all survived..."

Tang Zhien felt a bit curious; he had originally prepared himself for the possibility that all of them would perish in the Snake Valley.

After all, that was a famous forbidden zone within the Hundred Thousand Mountains. How could anyone enter such a place without dying?

Twenty-two minutes later.

Zhou Yu's figure appeared outside the Zhou Family Old Residence.

Because orders had been given in advance, the patrolling security personnel did not stop him, allowing Zhou Yu to quickly reach the main hall.

"Uncle Tang."

Seeing Tang Zhien, Zhou Yu spoke immediately.

Having been bestowed the Zhou surname, he was considered half a member of the Zhou Family, so he addressed Tang Zhien as "Uncle Tang."

"Mm."

Tang Zhien nodded, then immediately introduced him: "This is the Master."

To this day, Tang Zhien did not know the Master's name, nor did he even know the Master's true appearance.

What Tang Zhien saw was merely a guise the Master had specifically crafted.

"Master?"

Zhou Yu's heart raced, and he immediately bowed toward the Master: "Greetings, Master."

This greeting came entirely from the bottom of Zhou Yu's heart. His experiences in the Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley and the events that occurred on the journey to the Magic City had filled him with profound awe toward the Master.

Seeing this, Tang Zhien felt that something was slightly off, realizing that the level of respect Zhou Yu showed the Master was even higher than his own.

"You brought the item, didn't you?"

The Master spoke.

This was merely a formality; the Master had long known whether the Blood Lingzhi had been brought back.

"This is the item you requested, Master."

Zhou Yu immediately took a jade box from his bosom and respectfully handed it over.

Taking the jade box, the Master stood up and glanced at Tang Zhien: "I will be staying in the basement for the night. Have all the security personnel withdraw from the old residence in a moment."

"Understood."

Tang Zhien nodded immediately.