My life is yours, a shopping spree

The door to the training room slid open silently.

As Lin Yi walked out, the hushed conversation in the living room abruptly stopped, and everyone's eyes turned to him.

Chen Yu was the first to jump up from the sofa. "Commander, that's amazing! Ninefold Domain, reaching the summit of the sacred mountain! I watched the replay three times, and that final close-up scene was absolutely incredible!"

"Ahem." Zhou Yuxuan quickly coughed lightly to interrupt him, "Commander, congratulations."

Kaliya stood a little distance away. This Spirit Race girl, who was focused on cultivation and not good with words, simply nodded vigorously.

Lin Yao quickly stepped forward, a barely suppressed smile playing on her lips, "Brother."

Aurelia smiled. "Congratulations, Commander, on reaching the summit of Mount Everest."

Looking at these familiar faces, Lin Yi felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

No matter how noisy the outside world is, there will always be a group of people here who will be genuinely happy for him and proud of his achievements.

He walked to the center of the living room, his gaze sweeping over everyone, a smile appearing on his face.

"Please sit down."

He gestured for everyone to sit down, and then took a seat on a single sofa himself. "No need to be so serious, I haven't transformed."

This slightly teasing remark eased the tension a bit.

I watched all the matches.

Lin Yi looked at Zhou Yuxuan, Kaliya, and Lin Yao.

Before leaving, he took a moment to check on the other players' performance.

"Yu Xuan, your move of turning water into a prison, trapping your opponent for seven seconds, was well-timed. Kaliya, your Life Purification was very effective against that Ghost Clan player. Yao Yao."

Lin Yi looked at his sister, "You used the Metal Rule well; it's not easy to make it into the top seventy in your group."

The three people whose names were mentioned all smiled.

"But."

Lin Yi changed the subject, "The preliminary rounds are just the beginning. The opponents will be stronger and the rules will be more brutal in the upcoming qualifiers."

"What you need to do now is review each of your battles, identify your weaknesses, and train accordingly. As for resources, if you need anything, just tell Xuanji, and I'll coordinate."

"Yes, Commander." Zhou Yuxuan nodded solemnly.

Kaliya and Lin Yao quickly agreed.

Lin Yi turned his gaze to Chen Yu: "A Yu, your match is in three days. Don't let the hype surrounding my match with Edith affect you. Play at your own pace. Your fire-based burst damage is sufficient, but there's room for improvement in the smoothness of your fighter transitions. Focus on practicing that for the next three days."

Chen Yu quickly replied seriously, "Understood, Commander. I will practice diligently."

"Alright, everyone go back to your training." Lin Yi stood up. "Before the preliminaries, make the most of every minute."

Everyone rose, bowed, and left the living room one after another.

Lin Yao glanced back at her brother before leaving, but ultimately said nothing and gently closed the door.

Only Lin Yi and Aurelia remained in the living room.

Lin Yi walked to her side and remained silent for a moment.

"Ellie," he said.

"Something happened during my meeting with the venerable lords just now," Lin Yi carefully chose his words, "The Radiance Lord of the Spirit Race presented me with a gift."

A hint of doubt flashed in Aurelia's eyes, but she didn't interrupt.

Lin Yi continued, "It is the complete ownership certificate of the original territory of the Xina Family in the Relyat Starfield."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Aurelia's expression went blank for an extremely short time.

She didn't speak, but stared intently at Lin Yi, as if to confirm whether he was joking.

But Aurelia knew very well that Lin Yi would never joke about something like that.

At that moment, countless images flashed through her mind.

She recalled the tears welling in her grandmother Liyue's eyes as she saw her off at the Starport when she left Spirit Race, the complex and unspoken expressions of the clan elders, and the helplessness of the surname "Xina" gradually becoming marginalized in Spirit Race social circles.

She also recalled the indifferent glance she received when she first met His Majesty Xuchen, and the heavy burden that almost crushed her.

Then, Lin Yi appeared.

It displayed an astonishing presence all the way.

Aurelia never doubted Lin Yi's ability to help the Xina Family return to their ancestral homeland.

As Lin Yi's status rises, this is almost inevitable.

But she thought that would be in the distant future, perhaps after Lin Yi advanced to the realm of evolution, or even to godhood, through some kind of transaction or agreement, and that she would gradually work towards it.

She never imagined that this day would come so quickly and so suddenly.

So dramatic.

After she had just witnessed Lin Yi ascend the sacred mountain and shake the starry sea, after she was still angry about the foul language on the Virtual Network, but also excited and proud because Lin Yi showed his true strength, after she thought that the climax of today had passed and was ready to devote herself to the next stage of cultivation as usual.

Lin Yi casually told her: Oh, by the way, the Lord of the Gangling Spirit Race gave me the property certificate for your family's ancestral land.

This was not a planned move, not a well-thought-out strategic exchange, and probably not even something Lin Yi actively sought.

It happened just like that, like a sudden gift, yet so heavy that she could hardly breathe.

Aurelia looked at the man she had known for over a thousand years.

He remained calm, as if he hadn't just spoken of the ownership of a star field, but rather about adding an extra dish to dinner.

But she is no longer the innocent little Spirit Race girl she was when she left her family.

Having witnessed too much scheming and deceit during her time as the Civilization Guardian the Blue Star civilization, she knew very well that there must be a plot by the Spirit Race behind this "gift".

She knew that Lin Yi accepted the risks and pressures that came with it, and that beneath his seemingly relaxed expression, he must have already considered how to deal with any potential troubles that might follow.

But she also knew that he was never the kind of person who would use such things to claim credit or to stir up emotions.

He just said it like it was something perfectly natural.

Because he is Lin Yi.

And she was Aurelia Sheena, the vice- Commander of the East Peak Mercenary Group, his comrade-in-arms, and someone he could entrust his back to.

So he gave it to him.

It's that simple.

Complex emotions churned within Aurelia.

She suddenly smiled.

Lin Yi had never seen such a smile on Aurelia's face before, which made him slightly taken aback.

"Commander," Aurelia chuckled softly, "I have no way to repay you for such a precious gift."

She paused, looking into Lin Yi's eyes, "But, since it concerns my family, I have no choice but to accept it. Since I have no other way to repay you, I can only give my life for you."

These words were spoken half-seriously and half-jokingly, but there was no trace of a joke in those eyes.

Lin Yi's heart skipped a beat when he saw Aurelia's gaze, a look he had never seen before.

He paused for a moment, then gave an awkward smile and looked away.

"Ellie, what are you saying? It's not that you're repaying me, but that I'm repaying the support the Xina Family gave me back then. Without the starships and resources initially provided by the Xina Family, the difficult period after the advancement of Blue Star Civilization wouldn't have been so smooth."

He meant it sincerely.

Back then, the Xina Family invested almost all of their wealth in Blue Star, and Lin Yi has never forgotten that act of kindness in their time of need.

That's different.

Aurelia gently shook her head. "The investment back then was a family decision, a political choice. But this one..."

She didn't continue.

Lin Yi coughed lightly and waved his hand. "Alright, let's not talk about this. You and the Liyue Clan Chief should discuss how to handle this matter. The ownership certificate has been virtually registered; the subsequent receipt, management, and personnel arrangements are up to your clan."

He spoke a little faster without realizing it, "Well, I still have a lot of gold-level contact requests to process, all at the Eternal Divine level, so I can't keep them waiting. I'll have to go now."

As he spoke, he turned around almost hastily and strode towards the cultivation room.

Aurelia stood there, watching Lin Yi's retreating figure, which could almost be described as "fleeing in panic." The corners of her mouth curved up even more, and a rare mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.

Only after Lin Yi's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor did she let out a soft breath and look down at her right hand.

My palms were already slightly sweaty without me even noticing.

Instead of returning to her room, she went directly to the fixed communication console by the living room window, tapped her finger, and brought up the encrypted communication channel with the Xina Family.

After hesitating for a moment, she didn't answer the call immediately. Instead, she poured herself a glass of water, took a few sips, and let her heartbeat calm down completely.

Only then did she send a communication request.

A few seconds later, a holographic image of Liyue appeared in the living room.

The current patriarch of the Xina Family still maintains the elegant demeanor unique to the Spirit Race nobles, but a hint of fatigue can be seen between her brows. Managing a family that has been wandering far from home is no easy task.

"Ellie?"

The Liyue clan chief asked with concern, "Why are you contacting me at this time? Has something happened? I was just reading the report on the Genius Battle, and Lord Lin Yi..."

"Grandmother," Aurelia interrupted Liyue, her voice calm, even unusually so, "There's something I need you to know immediately."

Without pausing, she stated directly, "The Commander has just acquired ownership of the family's original territory in the Relyat Starfield, including our home planet."

Liyue's expression froze instantly.

The patriarch, who had never lost his composure despite experiencing the rise and fall of his family and their constant wanderings, opened his mouth but could not utter a sound.

A full ten seconds passed before Liyue finally asked, "What... what did you say?"

"The Radiance Lord bestowed complete ownership of that star system upon the Commander," Aurelia repeated. "The Commander has already transferred it to me."

The Liyue clan chief closed her eyes.

When she opened her eyes again, they were clear.

"What was the price?" she asked bluntly. "What did Lord Lin Yi give up? Or... what did he agree to?"

I'm not entirely clear on the specifics.

Aurelia truthfully replied, "The Commander only said that this was a gift from the Radiance Lord, and that there might be some Spirit Race motive behind it, but he has already handled it properly, so we don't need to worry."

The Liyue clan chief remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"I see."

Her voice regained its composure, but the next sentence she uttered stunned Aurelia.

"I'm not going."

Aurelia paused, then instinctively asked, "What, you're not going?"

Liyue looked at Ellie and said, "We, to be precise, most of our Xina Family, do not return to our ancestral homeland in the Relyat Starfield."

She let out a long breath and continued, "Returning the ancestral land to our hands can be considered a satisfactory answer to our ancestors. However, I intend to have an elder lead those clansmen who wish to return to the ancestral land back to the Relyat Starfield to rebuild the branch. As for the main body of the clan, it will remain within the Human Race territory."

Aurelia looked at Liyue, first stunned, then gradually understanding what was going on.

"Grandmother, you are..."

The Liyue chieftain said softly, "Ellie, you should understand why I did this."

Aurelia was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "I understand."

Of course she understood.

The Relyat Starfield is the ancestral home of the Xina Family; it is their root, the place where their soul resides.

Being able to take it back is the long-cherished wish of countless clansmen, and a symbol of washing away the family's "exile" reputation.

But what happens after we get it back?

The Xina Family left in disgrace, and their influence in the area has long since declined.

Even with Lin Yi's influence and the backing of the Radiance Lord, the neighbors would at most resort to underhanded tactics, but wouldn't openly cause trouble, so safety was assured.

But does the future of the Xina Family truly still lie with the Spirit Race?

Aurelia recalled the process by which her family had regained its foothold in the Human Race realm over the past thousand years.

Despite the hardships and the initial disdain, as Lin Yi's status rose and the Silver Blue Civilization grew, the Xina Family, as one of the earliest Spirit Race forces to invest in Blue Star, saw its status rise accordingly.

Today, the family owns businesses in multiple star systems of the Human Race, and many of its younger generation have entered the East Peak Military Academy, the Mercenary Alliance, and even the Human Race army system. Although it is far from being deeply rooted, this new path has already been successfully paved.

But can the Spirit Race really go back?

Even if they return, they will be nothing more than ordinary members of countless Spirit Race.

But staying here, staying with the Human Race, staying beside Lin Yi's rapidly ascending behemoth, offers a much brighter future.

"Grandmother," Aurelia said softly, "I support your decision."

Upon hearing this, Liyue smiled with relief, "It's good that you understand. There will definitely be different opinions within the clan regarding this matter. For those old-fashioned elders and clansmen who want to return, I will send a prudent elder to lead a team to help them rebuild the branch."

"In this way, our ancestral land will not be lost, our roots will not be broken, and our family will have a way out and branches," Liyue paused, then said meaningfully, "We will no longer bear the name of exiles, and we will have more confidence among the Human Race."

Aurelia nodded in agreement.

"I will handle this matter properly." Liyue resumed her decisive demeanor. "You don't need to worry about the family's internal affairs. Just do what you want to do. I will take care of the family matters."

"Yes, Grandmother," Aurelia replied, a great weight lifted from her heart.

Communication ended.

Aurelia stood in the living room, gazing out the window at the eternal night of the Origin Star, her mind filled with countless thoughts.

The family has the best option.

And she

She turned around and looked in the direction of the cultivation room, a resolute glint in her blue eyes.

--

Inside the training room.

After closing the door, Lin Yi subconsciously wiped his face and let out a long breath.

What just happened?

He murmured to himself, walked to the meditation platform in the center of the cultivation room, but did not sit down immediately. Instead, he stared blankly at the void in front of him.

Aurelia's final smile and the words "I've given my life for you" kept replaying in his mind.

He's certainly not emotionally naive.

Having lived together for a thousand years and fought side by side, some things have long transcended a simple superior-subordinate or ally relationship.

He simply never thought about it deeply, or rather, deliberately avoided certain possibilities.

After all, there are many classic texts on emotions in the training camp and in the catalog, all of which advise prodigies to only devote themselves to matters of the heart after they have achieved eternity or after they have no hope of breaking through to become Eternal Divinity in the realm of evolution.

Aurelia possesses considerable talent and a resilient Spirit Race, coupled with the foundation laid by the Eldar race. Given sufficient resources, her future ambition to become Eternal Divinity is not entirely unrealistic.

She should focus on her spiritual practice now, and it won't be too late to talk about love after she has eternal life.

Lin Yi believed that becoming Eternal Divinity should not be a problem for him, but in his opinion, Ellie's talent was not a big problem for her to be at the level of a derivation realm, but she was in the more uncertain category of Eternal Divinity, and that could not be delayed.

"Owner."

Xuanji's illusory image in palace attire quietly appeared beside her, a half-smile playing on her lips. "Based on my analysis, Vice- Commander Aurelia's feelings for you are quite extraordinary."

Lin Yi glanced at her irritably. "I'm not blind, I can tell."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious. "Xuanji, I added the emotional simulation module to you so you can better handle interpersonal relationships and information filtering, not to read gossip."

"Yes, yes, Master is right."

Xuanji responded with a grin, showing no sign of remorse, but quickly changed the subject, "However, Master, let's get down to business. Blue Star has sent an inquiry, hoping to hold a civilization-wide celebration. They're asking for your opinion and arrangements."

Lin Yi frowned slightly upon hearing this.

"I appreciate the Blue Star, but there's no need for celebrations for now."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Tell them that we're only currently in first place in the preliminary rounds, there's no need to rush."

"By the way, the wording can be more tactful, but the meaning must be clear. Also, issue a notice in my name to encourage all participating Silver Blue Civilization players and East Peak Mercenary Group members to remain humble and focused on their preparations. The real celebration can wait until everything has settled down."

"Understood." Xuanji nodded and quickly took notes. "Opening champagne at the halfway point is indeed considered unlucky."

"That's exactly what I mean." Lin Yi sat cross-legged on the meditation platform. "Alright, let's move on to the next thing. How are those contact requests from those with gold and purple access levels going?"

"All have passed and preliminary classification has been completed."

Xuanji brought up several light screens.

"There are 279 golden-level permissions in total, about 70% of which are routine introductory contacts from the Eternal Divinity of various races, mainly Human Race, with polite but formulaic wording."

"Twenty percent of them came with a clear intention to make friends, some of which included small gifts of resources or invitations to visit. The remaining ten percent were more complicated, some coming from races with delicate relations with Human Race, and we need to be cautious about dealing with them."

"There are 11,773 purple-level permissions, originating from a more diverse range of sources, including high-ranking officials from various civilizations, representatives of large forces, and leaders of merchant guilds. Their purposes are mostly to make connections, seek cooperation, or simply express congratulations."

Lin Yi quickly scanned the summary information on the screen and understood.

"For the 70% of those I meet routinely, reply with something like, 'Thank you for your attention, I'm flattered, but with the competition at hand, I need to focus on preparations and can't attend. I'll find an opportunity to visit again after the Genius Battle.' Be humble in your wording, but make your attitude clear."

"Yes."

"For the remaining 20% who are interested in making connections, we will handle them in three ways, depending on their race, political background, and the value of the gifts they bring. One type is important allies or potential partners. You can draft a slightly more detailed reply for me, expressing your gratitude and hinting at future cooperation opportunities, but also politely declining an immediate meeting on the grounds of preparing for war."

"The second type is casual acquaintance, which can be met with a standard reply, but the gifts must be registered and stored, and reciprocated as appropriate in the future."

"The third type is those with unclear motives or complicated backgrounds; the gifts are returned, with the reason being that one should not accept a gift without having done anything in return."

"Understood." Xuanji quickly wrote down the instructions.

As for those that require careful handling...

Lin Yi tapped the screen lightly, bringing up a few specially marked names. "Be especially careful when replying to these; you can't appear arrogant, but you also can't be too enthusiastic."

"In that case, I'll say that I'm currently in a critical period of cultivation, and all external communications will be temporarily managed by the Intelligent Life form. We'll resume communication after I emerge from seclusion. Let's stall for now."

"OK."

"The principle is similar for the purple-level access area."

Lin Yi continued, "All gifts exceeding a certain value will be registered, and reciprocated at our discretion in the future. Gifts below the standard will be appreciated for their sentiment, but the gift itself will be politely declined."

"We don't lack these resources right now, and there's no need for us to owe too many favors."

"Yes, Master, it's being carried out."

Xuanji reported, "In addition, Master, during your meeting with several Venerable Lords, seventeen more Eternal Divinity sent new contact requests, which have been added to the processing queue according to the aforementioned principles."

"Um."

Lin Yi rubbed his temples.

This kind of social interaction is sometimes more tiring than spiritual practice. "I'll leave these matters to you. Remind me if there are any special circumstances."

"Yes."

Xuanji responded, then added, "Master, there's one more thing to report. Your directory Points increased by 100,000 points five minutes ago. The note reads 'Special Item Reward Points.'"

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow.

After breaking through to the Ninefold Domain and undergoing virtual verification, the directory system rewarded him with 50,000 Points in one go; otherwise, he wouldn't have had the Points to reserve the Temporal Interstice.

These 100,000 Points are clearly a reward for his ascent to the summit of the sacred mountain, his temporary first place, and for winning great honor for the Human Race.

"You've come at the perfect time."

Lin Yi's eyes narrowed. "Xuanji, bring up the interfaces for the Clan Merit Treasury, the Star Core level Training Camp Points Exchange System, and the Directory Resource Library."

"The selection criteria are: within my budget, all treasures and consumables that can significantly improve comprehension and reduce the difficulty of comprehending the laws of time in a short period of time, with the effect lasting for no more than two days, and the stronger the effect, the better."

"By the way, for functions that overlap, prioritize using training camp Points, and use clan merits last."

The law of time was the law he chose to break through.

The reason is simple and practical: the depth of his understanding of the laws of time directly relates to the number of clones he can maintain and control simultaneously.

Based on the information he learned from Thousand Illusions and the fragments in the ancient texts, he confirmed one thing.

Once his comprehension of the laws of time reaches 100% and he completes the condensation of the laws, then theoretically, he can simultaneously possess two clones.

Each additional clone means an additional Spiritual Enlightenment Qi!

For him, this is a strategic upgrade.

Therefore, even though breaking through the Space Law could theoretically bring the greatest short-term increase in combat power, he still chose the laws of time as his breakthrough point without hesitation.

"Yes, Master."

Xuanji gently waved her hand, and the light in the cultivation room dimmed softly, with several solid light screens unfolding in the void.

"Based on your request, we have selected suitable treasures for you. First, there are two rare items related to the laws of time from the Clan Treasury."

The first light screen lit up, revealing a strange crystal with a distorted stream of light in the center. At the center of the light, a bottomless darkness could be vaguely seen, as if even one's gaze would be swallowed up by it.

"[The Time Abyss Source Marrow]." Xuanji pointed to the stream of light, "This is not a physical mineral, but a conceptual crystal that seals the echoes of the laws at the edge of the Abyss of Time Abyss. Using it, your consciousness will be briefly projected to the edge of the Time Abyss, directly confronting the primordial scene of the timeline's distortion, fracture, and even Rewind, lasting approximately three hours."

"During this period, your perception of the laws of time will be greatly enhanced, and you may even have the opportunity to glimpse the essential ripples arising from the source of time. Exchange requires 120 clan merits."

Within the second light curtain, five profound crystals, as if miniaturizing the entire starry sky, floated silently. Starlight flickered within them in a grand and ancient rhythm, as if they were breathing.

"This is the [Epoch Resonance Crystal Core]," Xuanji explained. "It is said to have originated from the core of an ancient star where the flow of time was eternally solidified. After countless Epoch of sedimentation, its interior is inscribed with the very time rhythm of the star itself."

"Crush one, and its core power will envelop your soul for eight hours, resonating with the rhythm of the Epoch and greatly weakening the barrier to comprehending the laws of time. You can exchange for up to five, each worth 60 clan merits."

Lin Yi's gaze swept over the two treasures, and he quickly calculated in his mind. "Including my clone, I currently possess 340 years of Spiritual Enlightenment Qi. I only need 4 crystal cores, so the total is 360 points. It's a bit pricey, but I can afford it. I hope the effect is worth the price."

Please help me apply for the redemption.

"Yes, Master." Xuanji then switched the light screen. "Next up are some highly effective short-term buffs from the resource library."

A new light screen appeared, displaying three items of different shapes.

Inside a crystal bottle was a liquid that seemed to have solidified countless starlight while simultaneously containing endless twilight. Even its mere shadow gave one a sense of disorientation, as if one's consciousness was about to sink into the long years.

"[Eternal Oblivion Spirit Liquid], this is a drop of spiritual dew extracted from the Eternal Secret Realm formed after a certain time cycle completely collapsed."

Xuanji said, "After drinking one serving, your consciousness will be in a state of heightened time perception for six hours, clearly discerning every subtle passing of time. Each serving is Points 5000 Registry Points."

What was displayed next was an unstable, multifaceted crystal that kept jumping between the states of "order flowing" and "chaos and shattering". Even through the light screen, Lin Yi seemed to be able to feel the chaotic time fluctuations it emitted.

"[Reverse Time Sequence Core]. This item originates from the source core of a time-based interstellar beast. Once activated, it creates a controllable time-reversal field around you that lasts for four consecutive days and then disappears. Requires 15,000 Registry Points to exchange."

Finally, there were three dazzling golden droplets suspended in the vacuum field.

"[Time Source Blood]. Despite its name, it is actually extracted from a conceptual tributary of the river of time, representing the essence of life. Taking one drop will, within twelve hours, imbue your life force with a trace of Time Source Essence properties, spontaneously attracting and connecting with free-floating time-law factors in your environment, forming a continuous tide of intrinsic sensory Tide. Each drop Points 8000 Registry Points."

Lin Yi waved his hand and said arrogantly, "Six portions of Eternal Oblivion Spirit Liquid, three drops of Time Source Blood, plus Reverse Time Sequence Core."

Xuanji nodded slightly and switched the light screen again.

"Finally, the most prized item from the Star Core level training camp."

The first thing that appears is a grayish-white mineral phantom with fine ripples naturally imprinted on its surface, as if it might emit a silent tremor at any moment.

"[Chronology Tremor Stone]. Time Rule from the unusually active Tremor Star Belt, it naturally records the subtle pulsations of spacetime."

"While its resonance effect is not as grand as that of the Epoch Core, it is gentler and more lasting, like the background white noise of continuously listening to the laws of time, subtly adjusting your soul frequency. Requires 500 million training camp Points."

Subsequently, a Dynamic model composed of countless points of light and lines emerged. In the center of the model, a ball of light was being analyzed and reconstructed by countless deduction lines.

"[Great Evolution Timewheel Deduction Model]. This is a one-time service provided by the training camp's Virtual Network access, simulating and deducing the time law approach that best suits your personal path, helping to clear away cognitive fog in advance. Redemption requires 100 million Points."

Finally, a heirloom crystal with a gray crack sealed inside appeared.

"The <Instant Eternal Kalpa> Inheritance Crystal. It not only contains this incredibly powerful time-based attack technique, but more importantly, it contains a fragment of the creator's insight gained in the instant of inspiration. Worth 400 million Points."

Lin Yi quickly estimated the amount and immediately said, "It only adds up to a billion Points, not expensive, let's exchange them all."

He was very generous and chose to have them all.

Because he didn't know how difficult it was to break through the rules, and there was no quantitative description in any of the ancient texts.

Therefore, Lin Yi could only play it safe and try to maximize all the configurations first.

After all, Points are meant to be spent once earned. As long as he can break through the rules before the finals, he believes that these investments will soon be doubled back.