Everything Was in Place

Magic City, Zhou Family Old Residence.

In the basement, while waiting for the Blood Lingzhi, Su Yuan continued asking questions of the Grey Mirror.

As for whether this would expose him...

Before coming here, Su Yuan had already used the Grey Mirror to confirm that there were no listening devices in the basement of the Zhou Family Old Residence.

As long as Su Yuan didn't make too much of a disturbance down there, no one outside would have any idea what was happening inside.

This basement had been built by the first head of Zhou Pharmaceutical, as a place to take shelter. After all, more than a hundred years ago, wars had raged without end, and a hidden basement could very well save lives.

Looking at the Grey Mirror before him, Su Yuan asked briefly, "What are the consequences of taking the Blood Lingzhi?"

The Gray Mirror rippled with a hazy light, and lines of text quickly appeared.

[The Snake Mother of Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley discovered that the Blood Lingzhi had gone missing. Its residual aura had been cut off, leaving her with no way to track it. Enraged, she wanted to leave the valley and vent her fury by slaughtering her way through the Hundred Thousand Mountains. In the end, another Snake Mother stopped her. The loss of the Blood Lingzhi had made this Snake Mother sense that something was wrong. She feared that the "Dragon Transformation Herb" she was guarding would suffer the same fate...]

"Pretty clever." Su Yuan smiled faintly as he looked at the answer displayed by the Gray Mirror.

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

"If the stronger Snake Mother can successfully consume the 'Dragon Transformation Herb,' there'll be a sixty percent chance she'll transform into a Level 2 Lifeform."

Su Yuan thought to himself. That was also the answer the Grey Mirror had given him. The "Dragon Transformation Herb" was highly compatible with the Snake Mother and could help her take that step.

But even if everything went smoothly, it would still take ten years.

That was because the "Dragon Transformation Herb" wouldn't mature until then.

As Su Yuan pondered, the Gray Mirror continued rippling, and more lines of text appeared.

[The Southern Frontier Observation Bureau detected activity in Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley and went on high alert. Although the Snake Mother eventually returned to her lair, the Southern Frontier Observation Bureau did not let down its guard completely and reported the matter in full. One day later, Xu Shouzhuo arrived at the edge of the Hundred Thousand Mountains to guard against any further actions by the Snake Mother. A month later, after discovering that the Snake Mother had made no further moves, he departed...]

The main subject of the answer provided by the Grey Mirror was probably how the Xia Kingdom authorities would respond.

"Xu Shouzhuo?"

Su Yuan's expression grew slightly solemn.

He had never met Xu Shouzhuo. The two of them didn't know each other at all.

Yet Su Yuan knew Xu Shouzhuo extremely well.

That was because Xu Shouzhuo was one of the few True Dan Celestials in the Xia Kingdom—in other words, a Level 2 Lifeform.

Over the past half-month, Su Yuan had used the Grey Mirror to learn about nearly every Level 1 Lifeform and above in the Xia Kingdom and across the world.

In the Xia Kingdom's cultivation system, after Grandmasters of Baodan came True Dan Celestials.

True Dan Celestials could be considered the highest level of individual combat power the Xia Kingdom could bring to bear in ordinary times.

As for the Level 3 and Level 4 Lifeforms above them?

They were "products" of the Great War of Nations more than a hundred years ago, a conflict that had engulfed countries around the world.

Su Yuan's thoughts wandered. With the Grey Mirror, there were no secrets in the world that could escape him.

That was precisely why he knew what price the Xia Kingdom had paid to face the Great War of Nations a century ago and stand against the Truth Society across the ocean.

Back then, the Xia Kingdom had resorted to forcing growth at the expense of several of the strongest Celestials of the age, giving up everything they had to bring forth Level 3 and Level 4 Lifeforms and halt the Truth Society's expansion.

It could be said that without the Xia Kingdom, the world's current balance of power would be completely different.

"The Truth Society..."

Su Yuan gathered his thoughts and stopped dwelling on it.

Ten thirty that night.

Su Yuan walked out of the basement.

"Sir."

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

"It's about time."

Su Yuan said casually, then went to sit down in the main hall.

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

"It's about time?" Tang Zhien paused in confusion, then replied respectfully, "Does Sir know Zhou Yu is about to reach Magic City? I'll send someone to pick him up right now."

To ensure the Blood Lingzhi's safety, Zhou Yu had been carrying a tracking device, so Tang Zhien could keep track of his location at any time.

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

As soon as Zhou Yu had left the Hundred Thousand Mountains, Su Yuan had already worked out the fastest route back for him. It included taking the high-speed rail, heading straight for the exit after arriving at Magic City Station, and then getting into a taxi with the license plate ending in 82344. From there, he would take the taxi along the main road beside the Pu River...

This was the fastest way for Zhou Yu to reach Su Yuan, with every possible unexpected variable ruled out.

As for sending someone to pick Zhou Yu up, as Tang Zhien had suggested? That would definitely take much longer. There might be a traffic jam along the way, or some other unexpected event.

Either way, it couldn't possibly be faster than the route Su Yuan had planned.

"Yes, sir."

Although Tang Zhien didn't know why, that didn't affect his obedience.

"Still, they all survived that trip to Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley..."

Tang Zhien was somewhat curious. He'd originally been prepared for all of them to perish in the valley.

After all, it was a notorious forbidden zone in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. How could anyone enter such a place without someone dying?

Twenty-two minutes later.

Zhou Yu appeared outside the Zhou Family Old Residence.

The security guards on patrol had been given orders in advance, so they didn't stop him. Instead, they let Zhou Yu hurry into the main hall of the main building.

"Uncle Tang."

When Zhou Yu saw Tang Zhien, he immediately greeted him.

He had been given the Zhou surname and was practically half a member of the Zhou Family, so he addressed Tang Zhien as "Uncle Tang."

"Mm."

Tang Zhien nodded, then introduced him. "This is Sir."

"Sir?"

Zhou Yu's heart raced. He immediately bowed to Su Yuan. "Greetings, Sir."

Zhou Yu spoke from the bottom of his heart. His experiences in Ten Thousand Ravine Snake Valley and the events on his journey to Magic City had filled him with a deep sense of awe toward Su Yuan.

Seeing this, Tang Zhien sensed that something was off. Zhou Yu seemed to show Su Yuan even more respect than he did?

"You brought it?"

Su Yuan asked.

The question was just a formality. He had known all along whether the Blood Lingzhi had been brought back.

"This is what you asked for, Sir."

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

After taking the jade box, Su Yuan stood up and glanced at Tang Zhien. "Next, I'll be staying in the basement overnight. In a moment, have all the security personnel leave the residence."

"Understood."

Tang Zhien nodded at once.