The next day.
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice into the room, casting mottled shadows across the floor.
Lan Aotian sat cross-legged on the bed and slowly opened his eyes.
After a night of meditation, his mental state had recovered to its peak.
He rose and walked to the window, gazing at the streets outside as they gradually grew lively.
The morning in Spirit City was noisier than he had imagined.
The vendors' cries, the rumble of carriage wheels, and the conversations of passersby blended together, forming the unique vitality of this enormous city.
Lan Aotian looked out the window, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
Yesterday's confrontation with Bibi Dong had made him realize a problem.
His influence in the Human World was too weak.
Being alone certainly had its advantages.
But when it came to actually getting things done, everything was inconvenient.
He needed people to gather intelligence, people to run errands and handle miscellaneous tasks, and even more people to deal with various matters in the future.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was an ally, but that alliance was based on an exchange of interests. He could not possibly rely on them for everything.
He needed his own team.
Reliable people.
Absolutely loyal people.
Claude's figure surfaced in Lan Aotian's mind.
That Red Robe Cardinal was not particularly powerful, but he was cautious, knew when to advance and retreat, and most importantly, he was afraid of Lan Aotian.
Fear was sometimes more useful than respect.
Moreover, Claude was a member of Spirit Hall and had certain connections and resources within it.
If Lan Aotian could bring him under his control, many things would become much easier in the future.
Lan Aotian had already made up his mind.
He sent a strand of thought into the Palm World.