Yaoqing's High Elder, the Lord of Heavenly Wind, was the first to cry out in shock.
"Nothing is impossible, Lord of Heavenly Wind." Jing Yuan sighed and rubbed between his brows. In truth, he had already suspected as much when he saw Lingchen take possession of the Imaginary Wall. Having faced the Imaginary Wall himself, he knew Lingchen's strength was well beyond anything they could comprehend.
"Lingchen can be a little flighty at times, but he would consider lying about something like this beneath him. And according to the information the Marshal and I have received, it's most likely true.
"Everyone, this is his mercy toward us."
It was indeed mercy, because Lingchen was warning them to take action. Otherwise, he would find his own entertainment, and there was no telling what would happen to the Xianzhou then.
At the same time, he had handed them an excellent justification.
"Ahem. All right, everyone. You should know what to do next."
Marshal Hua had likewise quickly regained her composure after hearing the news.
"Prepare a reserve of capable personnel at every level. Contact the leadership of the Xianzhou Three Races aboard each ship, including the Ten-Lords Commission, and use your own methods to ascertain their intentions. Finally, detain everyone harboring direct malice toward Mr. Lingchen. For now, keep those with other designs under covert surveillance. This is an opportunity."
A cold light flickered in Hua's eyes.
The position of general was subject to rotation. In the eyes of certain higher-ups, they were merely hired muscle. If they wore out or died in battle, they could simply be replaced.
That was also why some nobles dared to move against an Emanator like Lingchen and even thought they could control him.
After all, the Xianzhou had seven Emanators, and failing that, they still had Reignbow's assistance.
Unfortunately for them, this time they had run into someone ruthless. Not only was his own strength terrifying, but he could also call in an Aeon whenever he pleased.
They knew what those higher-ups were thinking, so they themselves were quite dissatisfied with some of them.
As generals, they had no freedom whatsoever.
But wasn't this the perfect justification to act?
A threat from Lingchen!!!
Surely the more clearheaded members of the leadership would be happy to help.
Of course, there were some higher-ups they truly couldn't touch. Their roots in the Xianzhou ran too deep, and moving against them would inevitably plunge it into endless turmoil.
But she would send Lingchen a list of those people. Whatever happened to them afterward would have nothing to do with her and the others.
"This time, we'll carry out a thorough purge."
She was speaking of Lingchen, but every general and High Elder present knew exactly who would be purged this time.
There was just the matter of what came afterward...
Hua glanced at Jing Yuan.
"We'll leave explaining things to Mr. Lingchen to you. Tell him our entire plan.
"Whatever price he demands, the Xianzhou will agree to it."
"Understood."
Jing Yuan nodded. He knew that hiding this from Lingchen would inevitably lead to something beyond their control.
After all, this essentially amounted to using him.
Jing Yuan felt his gums ache. Who knew what price they would have to pay this time?
And things within the Luofu weren't exactly peaceful right now, either.
The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had begun showing signs of activity, and the Vidyadhara were restless too... These truly were troubled times.
"One last thing."
After saying that, Hua turned to Feixiao and spoke with a perfectly straight face.
"General Feixiao, you've been fighting for several months straight. It's time you took a break. As it happens, Mr. Lingchen wishes to study my Taixu Swordsmanship. Set out for the Luofu tomorrow and take the opportunity to rest there for a few days."
P.S. Thanks to Xuefeng nanoda for the monthly vote.
Thanks to Daoist Xianyin for the monthly vote.
Thank you all for your support.
The picture is of Sparkle.
Ah~ pant, pant Lady Sparkle, step on me.
Chapter 57: Where's My Gift?
"Huh?"
Feixiao froze. Weren't they just about to move against those old bastards nobody could stand? Why...
"Ahem. General Feixiao, Mr. Jiaoqiu and the others can handle matters on the Yaoqing, and I'm here too. Go get some rest without worrying."
The Lord of Heavenly Wind spoke with a perfectly straight face.
"Exactly. Didn't General Feixiao say she wanted to meet Lingchen? Your military duties usually keep you so busy that you barely have any time. This is an excellent opportunity."
Jing Yuan laughed as well.
"Don't worry, General Feixiao. Although this operation will have rather far-reaching consequences, it should turn out fine despite a few scares. Besides, we can't possibly begin immediately. You can absolutely come to the Luofu for a vacation."
"I'm fine with that, but Marshal, are you really going to let Lingchen study your Taixu Swordsmanship?"
Feixiao voiced her confusion.
They had heard how powerful he was, so why were they going out of their way to make him even stronger?
Of course, Feixiao didn't mind Lingchen borrowing it. In fact, his interest had left her itching to test herself against him in martial arts.
If it were her own techniques that Lingchen wanted to borrow or learn, she would hand them over without a second thought.
But the Marshal's Taixu Swordsmanship was on an entirely different level from theirs. More importantly, what it represented was on a different level too.
"Of course. There are some things it isn't appropriate for you to know just yet.
"Besides, ultimately, Mr. Lingchen has treated us with courtesy. Whatever happens, we should return that courtesy.
"In that case, we might as well grow closer to him. Even if all Lingchen does in the future is maintain a favorable opinion of us, that alone would justify our investment now."
A sharp gleam passed through Hua's eyes. She had also asked the Diviner of the Jade Abacus Xianzhou for help, but divination revealed nothing about Lingchen. They could only roughly establish that he was currently aboard the Luofu.
Combined with the information they had just received...
In practical terms, Lingchen was another powerful backer they could rely on in the future, aside from the Reignbow Arbiter!
With his backing, the Xianzhou Alliance would surely be able to advance even further.
The Corporation indeed couldn't do much to the Alliance, but even its overt methods were sickening.
It would be a lie to say they didn't want to gain complete dominance over it.
"Besides, this might not even count as an investment on our part. Perhaps in the future, we'll turn out to have gotten the better end of the deal."
"I understand all that. It's just that if Lingchen learns it, won't people assume he belongs to our Xianzhou? Could that affect him somehow?"
Feixiao might have been a warrior, but she was no fool. Anyone who could become a general despite being half Borisin was certainly clever.
There were simply some matters they still needed to consider.
"General Feixiao hasn't even given it a try yet, and she's already looking out for Mr. Lingchen~"
"Lord of Heavenly Wind, please mind your words during the meeting."
The corner of Feixiao's mouth twitched. How had she never realized the Lord of Heavenly Wind could be so ridiculous?
"Haha, all right, everyone. That concludes our meeting. Make your respective preparations. Dismissed. Jing Yuan, remember to speak with Mr. Lingchen."
Hua reminded him repeatedly.
"Understood."
"Stupid Lingchen! Why am I the only one without a gift? That's not fair! I'm mad~"
Inside Fu Xuan's residence, Bailu sat in front of Lingchen, sulking with her arms folded. She showed no intention of letting him hug her.
The Luofu was as peaceful today as it had been yesterday. Though information about the Imaginary Wall was still pouring onto the internet, Xianzhou natives truly lived up to their reputation as a long-life species. Their adaptability was remarkable. By the second day, the Imaginary Wall had already become a topic of casual after-dinner conversation.
Still, to prevent any unexpected trouble, Lingchen had given all the women protective talismans.
Fu Xuan's had been fused into the Astrological Disk at her chest, while Tingyun's was on the jade bracelet around her wrist. Qingque's was in the jade pendant at her waist, and he had even given Yukong earrings "while he was at it."
Each could withstand several attacks from an Emanator.
But Bailu alone hadn't received one.
That would have been bad enough, but when Bailu came to play with Lingchen, he had actually brought it up himself.
"Hmph! You brought it up on purpose because you wanted to make me mad, didn't you? Well, are you satisfied now?"
Bailu planted her hands on her hips and pouted, her soft little face filled with grievance. She didn't even feel like drinking warm goat's milk anymore.
What a meanie. If you gave other people gifts, you could've just kept quiet about it. Why did you have to bring it up?
"You... Think about it. Am I really that kind of person?"
Lingchen was rather speechless. Of course he liked Bailu, both her appearance as a dragon girl and her personality.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have doted on her so much right from the start.
How could he possibly not have a gift for her?
"Hmph, you clearly are! I'm mad. Don't hug me~"
Bailu sounded so aggrieved that her voice had taken on a tearful edge. When she noticed Lingchen reaching for her with both hands, her tiny body even shrank back a little.
But when Lingchen reached out a second time, she didn't dodge again. She only squirmed slightly when he picked her up and settled her on his lap.
"Why are you hugging me? It's not like we're close."
Bailu gave a little huff, grasping Lingchen's large hand with her small ones and squeezing lightly.
Clearly, her actions belied her words. She said she was angry, but once he actually held her, she didn't want to leave his embrace.
"Little Bailu, tell me, how have I treated you before now?"
"Very well, of course. But now it looks like you haven't been that nice after all. Otherwise, you wouldn't have gone out of your way to tell me there wasn't a gift for me."
"When did I ever say there wasn't a gift for you?"
Lingchen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He had only told her what everyone else's gifts were. He hadn't said he wasn't giving Bailu one.
"Huh? You didn't?"
Bailu paused. Her misty eyes instantly cleared quite a bit, and she brought a small hand to her mouth as she thought it over.
Oh... It seems he really didn't.
"Th-then I was wrong. I'm sorry."
Bailu knew how to own up to her mistakes. If she was wrong, she was wrong.
Besides, once she heard that Lingchen had a gift for her too, the little dragon girl's heart was already brimming with joy.
What was a mere apology? When she grew up, she was going to marry Lingchen.
Little Bailu had grand plans of her own.
"Then where's my gift~?"
No sooner had she apologized than Bailu turned around on Lingchen's lap and gazed at him with sparkling eyes.
P.S. I can't believe it. There are already over a thousand sign-ups...
Unlike some authors, I don't ask for stats after every chapter, but the word count is nearly there and the story will soon move to paid chapters. I can only shamelessly beg again.
Chapter 58: Thank You, Diting Aha Man
He felt the warmth on his lap. Even through her clothes, he could feel the little dragon girl's delicate softness.
"You'll definitely like your gift, little Bailu. But you didn't trust me just now. Haven't you thought about making it up to me? Ah~ This heart of mine, so devoted to little Bailu, has been chilled to the bone."
"I... Just tell me what you want. But let me say this first: even though I'm the High Elder, I don't have much standing among the Vidyadhara. Gold and silver, lavish delicacies, rare treasures and materials-I can't give you any of those.
"If you want a kiss as an apology, though, I can do that."
As she spoke, Bailu's face, which had still held a trace of dejection, began to blush again.
"As for an apology, I once heard that the legendary dragon saliva can prolong life, cure all illnesses, and invigorate the mind. Is that true?"
Bailu froze. Even her pale purple dragon horns seemed to redden a little.
"Well, it does have some of those effects, but it isn't that powerful. And people generally don't use dragon saliva in medicine."