The Container

After listening to Xu Yuan's account, Xu Yinhe did not immediately express his opinion, but instead asked Xu Yuan a meaningful question:

"Turning a blind eye is indeed one way, but Changtian, what if a sect bypasses your father and Li Yaoxuan and openly opposes us under the guise of a 'calamity'? Li Yaoxuan and I don't know, but they can act first and report later."

Upon hearing this, a hint of uncertainty appeared between Xu Yuan's brows.

Sects are essentially warlords, possessing their own military systems. Some large sects even have their own complete production systems within their respective states.

They did need the tiger tally to mobilize their troops, but it wasn't the imperial tiger tally.

Troops were deployed to confront the imperial army head-on.

Given the nature of those sects, they're not incapable of doing something like this.

The father and son walked silently toward the main hall of the Prime Minister's Estate.

Xu Yuan remained silent, and Xu Yinhe walked ahead quietly, waiting for the result of his thought.

As thoughts raced through his mind, Xu Yuan suddenly understood something, and everything became clear:

"If the sect merely resorts to the usual procedure of condemning and offering advice, it's harmless; but directly mobilizing troops..."

"Father, haven't the sects been doing the same thing? Not only are they secretly colluding with the Barbarian Tribe on the battlefield to provide information, but they've even gone so far as to cut off supply lines and massacre Wu Yuan's Imperial Yulin Army! As for mobilizing troops to confront the imperial army on the battlefield..."

At this point, Xu Yuan met Xu Yinhe's gaze, his eyes indifferent:

"Then they are traitors; let's wipe them out together!"

A glint of light flashed in Xu Yinhe's deep eyes, and his voice grew more forceful:

"Changtian, advocating war at all costs is not a good thing."

In the midst of the conversation,

Xu Yuan sensed an immense aura emanating from the middle-aged man in the black dragon robe before him.

Without stopping, Xu Yuan maintained a steady tone in his voice:

"Father, I say this because the sect simply cannot mobilize troops to directly obstruct us. Even if they do, their troops will be annihilated, and the sect will simply have to accept defeat."

"."

Xu Yinhe chuckled softly, his voice low:

"Changtian, haven't you realized yet that sects can have no bottom line when it comes to their own interests?"

Xu Yuan shook his head, pointed in the direction of the palace, and said:

"The final madness of a true dragon nearing its end—who dares to gamble? Would those people in the sects dare to gamble? They wouldn't!"

Xu Yuan spread his arms wide, his tone equally forceful:

"Father, the imperial court and sects have coexisted for a thousand years. Apart from a few sects, many sects in the heart of the Great Yan have become corrupt. The scions of the Aristocratic Clan cultivate and become stronger in order to consolidate their Lineage's position and to use their cultivation to gain more power in their own little territory."

Xu Yuan slowly raised his right hand:

"This is a gamble with your life. If you fail, the world will be thrown into chaos, and all your power and wealth could be lost overnight."

Xu Yuan raised his left hand:

"This is appeasement. As long as we drag this out until the current emperor dies, we can incite infighting between the royal family and us. And if we drag it out until you die, they will still be the privileged and high-ranking sects, continuing to enjoy the benefits of the ancestral laws for thousands of years to come."

The moonlight, like a waterfall, spilled onto the blood-stained clothes, giving them a silvery edge.

Looking at the middle-aged man with graying temples before him, the young man's dark eyes flashed with a cold light, and he spoke slowly and deliberately:

"If you, Father, were one of the high-ranking members of the sect, what would you choose?"

"."

The night was very quiet.

Silence fell, followed by a soft sigh, and the imposing manner dissipated.

Xu Yinhe looked at Xu Yuan gently, like an ordinary old father.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan quickly stopped what he was doing and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture:

"These are some of Changtian's insights; I hope Father will correct them."

Xu Yinhe smiled and waved his hand:

"Changtian, I discussed this matter with your elder brother, and he also advocates for war, but he didn't mention what you said."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan glanced towards the Inner Court, pursed his lips, and still said:

"Although Xu Changge's brain is all muscle, he should be able to understand things; he's just not good at expressing himself."

Xu Yinhe was in a good mood and glanced at Xu Yuan with a slight amusement:

"Alright, everything your older brother did before was for your own good. Back then, you couldn't cultivate, and your body couldn't handle the effects of medicine. Every time he beat you up, the ingredients for those medicinal baths were carefully prepared by him and Xin Yao."

Xu Yuan remained silent.

What era are we living in? Slapping someone and then giving them a sweet treat? Is this some kind of NBA mentality?

Moreover, his dislike for Xu Changge wasn't because of past events, but simply because their personalities clashed.

Xu Changge's domineering personality is so bad that even someone as good-tempered as Xu Yuan can't stand it. I really don't know how that sister-in-law from the Celestial Master Mansion could fall for this scoundrel.

Thinking of this,

Xu Yuan suddenly remembered the similarity between that Little Heavenly Master and the Tianyan Cultivation Method.

However, before he could think about it deeply, Xu Yinhe smiled and brought the topic back:

"Your elder brother gave a different reason than you; he saw more of the emperor's impending death than the sect's."

He paused for a moment,

Xu Yinhe's voice carried a hint of seriousness:

"Changtian, in this respect, you are indeed better than your brother."

"."

Xu Yuan was stunned for a moment upon hearing this.

He suddenly realized that his father hadn't really asked him a question, but was testing him.

The test is whether he can truly shoulder the responsibility of the Prime Minister's Estate after his passing.

After a moment's consideration, Xu Yuan asked softly:

"So, Father, what are you planning to do?"

Xu Yinhe glanced at the South and said with a smile:

"It would take at least a month and a half to travel from the border between the Great Yan and the Great Wilderness to the Imperial Capital by flying Demon Beast. I've arranged some small gifts for them along the way, so it should take about four months to arrive in the Imperial Capital."

"Four months?"

Xu Yuan murmured to himself.

Four months later, Tianyan will come to the Imperial Capital openly and legitimately.

Based on their previous attitude when they parted, this "washboard saintess" shouldn't do anything too extreme to him, right?

As he pondered, Xu Yuan suddenly smiled casually.

It doesn't matter, he'll call for backup.

This is the Imperial Capital.

With so many top-notch fighters in his own family, how could he possibly be bullied by this washboard?

Seeing the change in Xu Yuan's expression, Xu Yinhe's eyes were somewhat complicated, and he said softly:

"Changtian, what is your relationship with that Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan snapped out of his reverie and chuckled softly:

"It's a bit complicated. I must have experienced something with that woman in the illusion, but I can't remember anything after we left the illusion."

Xu Yinhe said softly:

"I can disregard your relationship with the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion Holy Maiden and your precious disciple Ran Jianli, but I hope you will consider it carefully."

Ran Jianli is the Grand Preceptor of the Great Yan State Preceptor and the Sect Master of the Sword Sect, but he represents an interest group that is completely contrary to the interests of the Prime Minister's Estate.

If marriage could solve problems, there wouldn't be so many wars in the world.

Unless he abandons the ideals he has fought for his entire life.

Xu Primordial Spirit turned serious, and he nodded:

"Father, I know."

Xu Yinhe didn't ask any more questions and quietly walked towards the main hall.

They walked in silence until they reached the entrance of the main hall, where Xu Yuan saw a familiar old man.

Hua Hong, President of Tian'an Chamber of Commerce.

He had a long beard and white hair, and wore a loose robe. If it weren't for his slightly unsettling squinty eyes, he could be considered a sage with an otherworldly air.

He stood at the entrance of the main hall with a child, seemingly waiting for them.

Xu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly upon seeing this:

"Father, this is..."

"The container that Luo Daofan wants." Xu Yinhe's voice was calm.

Xu Yuan glanced at his father with a hint of surprise.

Xu Yinhe had by then regained his usual calm and dignified demeanor.

"Luo Daofan went to great lengths to survive, so training disciples is naturally not for his mantle. What he wants is only a vessel to possess. His words to your maternal uncle in front of the Sword Pavilion made this clear."

Xu Yuan remained silent for a moment:

Are you really planning to give it to him?

"We originally planned to drag it out for a while."

As Xu Yinhe walked, he said softly, "However, the situation has changed. The emergence of the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion, and his identity as a traitor to the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion, make it possible for us to completely win him over."

Xu Yuan didn't say anything more, looked at the child over there, and sighed.

Her lips were red and her teeth were white, but her eyes were vacant, suggesting she had experienced some hardships.

Perhaps in ten years, the other party will completely become Old Man Luo.

Seeing Xu Yuan's expression, Xu Yinhe remained silent.

Xu Yinhe walked straight up to Hua Hong and said softly:

"Mr. Hua, you've worked hard."

As the Feng Family's old steward, Hua Hong devoted his entire life to the Prime Minister's Estate's Mansion, and almost the entire Prime Minister's Estate's finances depended on him. He truly deserved this title.

Hearing this, Hua Hong curled his lip, his tone slightly sarcastic:

"I didn't have to work hard. I only spent 1,739,214 taels of silver to find a few hundred good talents for Wu Zigen's Tian'an Martial Hall. So much silver, just spent it like that, tsk tsk."

Although the two were talking very close, it was difficult for outsiders to hear them.

However, Xu Yinhe gave Xu Yuan special treatment, so he could hear it too.

Hearing that familiar tone, Xu Yuan rolled his eyes with a smile:

"Hey, didn't I give you three million taels of silver back in the Wanxiang Sect? And with so many properties, is it really necessary to be so stingy?"

Upon hearing this,

Hua Hong's narrowed eyes snapped open instantly, and he immediately began to glare and puff, harboring resentment for a long time:

"You dare bring this up? How much did you give me? How much did you give that woman Lou Ji? Fifteen million taels! Do you even know what fifteen million taels means?"

"Hey, you ungrateful little brat! Lou Ji has been good to you, and I've paid for everything for you when you were a kid! Xu Changtian, if you don't give me an explanation today, I'm going to beat you up!"

"Cough!"

Hua Hong shut up.

"..." Xu Yuan's eyes looked innocent.

Xu Yinhe looked at the child and asked calmly:

What's your constitution?

Hua Hong glanced at Xu Yuan one last time, then took a deep breath:

"Of the various constitutions you mentioned, we only found one: the Mystic Fate Yin Physique. This child's village was massacred by bandits. After we avenged him, he said he was willing to follow us. So, you plan to train him?"

"Luo Daofan needs a container," Xu Yinhe calmly.

Hua Hong frowned, seemingly wanting to say something, but seeing Xu Yinhe's indifferent expression, he finally sighed:

"Although I know you won't listen, my opinion is that we can keep them and train them ourselves. The potential we can cultivate may not be as high as that saint who lived for ten thousand years, but at least we can guarantee their loyalty."

The night breeze gently caressed Xu Yinhe's black dragon robe, his eyes remaining calm and still.

"Elder Hua, time is running out. We can no longer afford to slowly nurture the next generation as we did back then. Luo Daofan will stand by our side."

Hua Hong glanced at the child with vacant eyes beside him, and said nothing more.

"Whatever you want."

"."

Having said that,

Xu Yinhe glanced at Xu Yuan, then turned around and, with the child and the Soul Ring, stepped through the gate and into the council hall.

The bright moonlight poured down, and that figure remained unchanged.

However, in that instant, Xu Yuan seemed to see his father sigh as if he were exhaling.

The early summer night was still slightly cool. An old man and a young man stood quietly at the palace gate.

After watching Xu Yinhe disappear, Hua Hong let out a soft hum:

"They don't want stable returns, they insist on taking risks. What a waste of such a promising talent."

Xu Yuan remained silent for a long time, then sighed and shook his head:

"High risk, high reward."

Hua Hong chuckled softly, squinting as he scrutinized Xu Yuan's expression:

"I didn't realize you, such a wicked seed, were actually quite compassionate."

The old fogies in the manor all had extremely sharp eyes, and Xu Yuan didn't hide this from them:

"Without compassion, one is not worthy of being human."

Hua Hong's aged wrinkles twitched, and he chuckled as he scrutinized Xu Yuan:

"If that's the case, why don't you try to dissuade your father? He might listen to you, and the child could be saved."

Xu Yuan turned and walked towards the Inner Court, saying as he went:

"You old man, don't talk nonsense if you don't know anything. Trading a child for a powerful and stable Transcendent Mortal Realm in a short time, Father won't change his mind on this matter. Alright, goodbye, I'm going back to my room."

Seeing this, Hua Hong didn't leave. Instead, he quickly followed, saying as he walked:

"Sacrificing one person to save thousands in the future is indeed a worthwhile deal."

"."

Seeing the other person follow, Xu Yuan frowned, his eyes looking somewhat strange.

"What are you doing following me, you old geezer? You're from the Tian'an Chamber of Commerce."

"Snap--"

Xu Yuan was hit on the back of the head.

Hua Hong pointed to himself and said irritably:

"Your father calls me Old Man Hua, and you call me a lousy old man?"

"."

Xu Yuan opened his mouth, ready to start cursing, but after seeing the rampant Source Qi around Hua Hong, he silently shut his mouth.

After a moment of silence, Xu Yuan chuckled awkwardly:

"Mr. Hua, what brings you here?"

With Lou Ji not here, this old man wants to beat him up, but there's probably no one in the Prime Minister's Estate to help him now.

Seeing this, Hua Hong gently stroked his white beard and nodded in satisfaction.

"I've heard that there's a man named Zhou Chen who is very knowledgeable about trade and business."

"."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan instantly understood that this was another arrangement by his father.

Have Hua Hong personally escort the person over, and then give him and Hua Hong some alone time.

This father is preparing him to gradually take over the team, and the first step is to make his subordinates submit to him as the "Crown Prince".

After a moment of silence, Xu Yuan grinned:

"Ah, yes, there was a man named Zhou Chen, but he was sent to the Northern Border."

Hua Hong's eye twitched.

Take a deep breath, straightforward and direct:

"But I heard that Zhou Chen is you, kid."

"Um"

Xu Yuan was not surprised at all upon hearing this; among the high-ranking officials in the Prime Minister's Estate, this old geezer was the most shameless.

"Yes, it's me. What's up?"

"Can you write?"

Of course.

"Since that's the case, you've got the business acumen."

"Headache, I was hurt earlier, I forgot."

"." Hua Hong.

2-in-1