Chapter 56: I Wish to Ask for Something

Whoosh—

In an instant, a violent gale rose within the cave, and vast billows of black Qi surged from Gao Lian's body, condensing in the blink of an eye into the pitch-black phantom of a fox.

This was the one he referred to as "Hu Tianbiao," a member of the Hu family's "Tian" generation. Though his lifespan did not quite match that of Liu Tianhong, he had already lived for nearly ten thousand years.

"Is everything arranged?"

As soon as he manifested, Hu Tianbiao spoke in a deep voice, his fox-like eyes narrowed as he looked down at Gao Lian with a condescending posture.

"Yes, everything is arranged. Tomorrow, the entire Gao family will mobilize to block the various immortals while feigning failure to stop the Hu family, buying time and opportunity for you and the other senior members of the Tian generation," Gao Lian bowed and said.

One had to admit that this arrangement of his exploited a loophole: regardless of the circumstances, these immortals would never casually kill people, especially not their own spirit mediums. Killing or even crippling just one of them would inevitably impair their cultivation.

This was precisely one of the major drawbacks of cultivating through the reliance on incense and mortal devotion. Many actions were restricted, and what they did had to align with the wishes of their believers. When the majority of their subordinate mediums were righteous practitioners, they themselves had to walk a straight and upright path.

Not only that, but Gao Lian had also utilized the power of the company and the Gao family to completely seal off the entire mountain range. With the exception of Zhang Lingyu and his junior brother, no one else—not even the Guan family—was allowed to enter, and he indeed possessed the authority to do so.

Speaking of which, his methods were somewhat base, verging on "using his official position for personal gain." Yet for the sake of the Hu family immortals who had blessed the Gao family for generations, he was wholeheartedly willing to do so. As for the aftermath...

He would simply offer a sincere kowtow and plead for punishment when the time came.

After reporting the operational arrangements, Gao Lian changed the subject:

"However, as you know, people from the Celestial Master's Mansion have intervened this time, and two senior adepts have been sent. I'm afraid they won't be easy to stop."

"Moreover, they are carrying talismans personally bestowed by the Old Celestial Master, which seem capable of extinguishing Senior Liu's life force within an extremely short time. Although they will gather the resulting essence of heaven and earth, it will be rather difficult for us to show favoritism when the time comes to distribute it among the various families."

"Hmm..."

Hearing this, Hu Tianbiao pondered for a moment.

"That's easily resolved. I'll arrange for some of the younger generation to intercept them. It doesn't need to be for long—just enough to give us the head start we need. With the Hu family making a move, outsiders won't be able to find fault with it."

"Of course, we won't push things too far. We old fellows will collectively take only twenty percent, and once we've taken our share, we'll let them pass. After that, everyone can rely on their own abilities."

It spoke of the matter so lightly, but one had to remember that during past "Tribulations of Return," the five great families had generally each contended for twenty percent. For it to directly claim twenty percent off the top before the general competition began could already be considered quite greedy.

Yet there was no helping it. Who could blame the Gao family boy for being capable and possessing high awareness? He had chosen to join the company during its infancy and was now one of its founding elders, which made many things much more convenient.

"Very well, let's do it that way."

***

Having concluded their discussion, Gao Lian sent Hu Tianbiao back, then pondered the matter to himself for a while. He adjusted his glasses and a smile surfaced on his face.

From his perspective, failing to stop the Hu family would simply be seen as an operational mishap; as long as the commotion wasn't too great, the company wouldn't make an issue of it. Furthermore, Zhang Lingyu and his junior brother would be intercepted by the Hu family, meaning this blame could never be pinned on him...

Truly airtight!

Little did he know, however, that everything he had just discussed with Hu Tianbiao had been overheard by his precious daughter through the mobile phone in his pocket. At that very moment, Gao Yushan was likewise lost in thought.

Before long, her fingers flew across her keyboard, and three text messages were instantly dispatched. They detailed the plans of the Gao and Hu families, ensuring that Zhang Lingyu, his junior brother, and Old Meng, who was lurking in the shadows, were fully aware of the situation.

Yet it was clear that even after doing all this, Gao Yushan still felt deeply uneasy. This affair involved so many immortals, various northeastern sects and families, and even the Guan family of the Ten Luminaries—and it was happening for the very first time. If it truly erupted...

The aftermath would likely not be easily placated.

"No, I have to go there!"

She knew very well that under normal circumstances, her father's intellect would allow him to consider all angles comprehensively. Yet when it came to matters concerning the immortals, he frequently lost his clarity of judgment; she had no choice but to take matters into her own hands!

With that thought, she immediately began her preparations. She resolved to disrupt the wireless communications between the company employees and the Gao family members at the crucial moment tomorrow, ideally directly overriding commands and throwing the old man's plans into disarray.

She also knew that once tomorrow arrived, signals throughout the entire mountain range and its surroundings would be briefly blocked. Aside from the area around Senior Liu's cave dwelling, which permitted radio communication, no information whatsoever could be transmitted in or out...

And given her current level of cultivation in projecting her Yang spirit, it would be exceedingly difficult for her to cross such a distance deep into the mountains without the aid of networks or electronic waves. Her only option was to enter the mountains in person and find a concealed location to deploy her abilities.

"I need to get a set of employee uniforms and modify the staff registry first..."

With those thoughts, Gao Yushan resumed typing on her keyboard, operating the system...

***

***

Just like that, time slipped away, and evening arrived.

The setting sun cast a blazing orange-red glow across the entire valley as the light gradually faded.

Watching the slowly sinking sun, Liu Tianhong felt as though its own life force was being carried away with it. The light within its massive, vertical pupils steadily dimmed, slipping toward eternal stillness.

When night had completely fallen, it finally roused its massive body, slithering through the valley and causing the earth to tremble slightly. Within moments, amidst countless watchful gazes, it coiled into the nearby cave dwelling.

The final night...

It no longer wished to cultivate day and night as it had in the past; it simply wanted to sleep soundly—just like back in the days when it had first hatched from its shell.

Only...

When Liu Tianhong returned to the depths of the cave and saw those few figures still waiting for it there, it could not help but sigh once more:

"Why haven't you left yet?"

"I've already said it: thank you for your kind intentions, but I do not need your help. Returning to the heaven and earth is my ultimate destiny."

As it spoke these words, its pupils were completely ashen, and its once-brilliant scales had grown dull, permeated entirely by an aura of decay and twilight...

Twelve thousand years.

It was truly tired.

The fierce drive of its youth had long since been worn away. It had accepted everything about the present, and its heart had entirely given up.

"I must go. That is my only remaining wish."

"I know."

The next instant, facing its old friend, Xia Hao smiled faintly and stepped forward.

Tap, tap, tap...

When they had infiltrated this place two days prior and stated their intentions, they had already met with a refusal. He had known even then that it would be difficult to persuade this creature, and he had ceased to be stubbornly persistent.

Therefore...

"My waiting here is not out of a desire to persuade you otherwise. You have your own choice, and I respect and support it..."

"The reason I continue to wait here is simply to ask you to give us one more chance. I wish to show you a possibility of the future..."

"If that can stir something within you by then, I only wish to ask you for one thing. Nothing more."