A fully healed Zhao rapped with a twinge of his True Mana on a stone door.
A couple seconds later, a drawling voice oozed out from the gate and said, "Enter…"
An opened the door and found himself in a simple but spacious brown room with brownish-red cobblestones.
A musky scent suffused the dimly lit room housing a single individual.
Sitting behind a wooden but sturdy office was a tall middle-aged Troll with a baldhead and a black mustache with curling edges under a piercing golden gaze.
His luxurious crimson robes with pitch-black trim accentuated his commanding but muted aura as Elder Zhao approached his office without the bravado he'd showcased before the foreign queen and her cronies.
He was reading files on a nigh translucent cyan screen when he noticed the Jiu Tian Sect Elder entering his quarters.
His stern gaze lit up when he saw him. "Hey… Anggi, seems like you're back on your feet. Have you fully recovered?"
An nodded and replied, "Thanks to Branch Leader's healers and resources I have, indeed. But Branch Leader, please forgive my presumptuousness, but what are we to do against this foreign queen's Origin ability? Surely we can't let her run afoul our land and back with the fruits of our researchers' hard work, can we? Plus, she's weak now, and if we allow her to grow with that newfound skill, I'm afraid—"
The branch leader chuckled. "Of course, we won't. In a while, I intend to activate the Dome Chamber. The amount of unrefined Origin Energy should normally make her curious enough to be drawn inside our lair, and by then we'll easily capture her and check what made her body achieve what hundreds of others failed to in years!" he airily answered.
However, the Sect Elder wasn't totally convinced.
After all, wouldn't this shrewd young woman not smell the obvious trap and therefore refuse to show up?
Wouldn't that be what anyone with a quarter-of a brain would do, let alone her?
He voiced these concerns to his superior who waved them away with his crimson-gloved hand. "Based on my reports, this woman's curiosity is what led her to be like this in the first place, so if she feels a strong pull of Origin Energy towards us, how could she refuse to take a look? No, she will come here from her own volition, at the very least to see if she could find some answers to her predicament due to the impure Origin Energy released.'
'And as you said before, as of right now, she's still weak enough to be dealt right now instead of later on. Ideally, we could potentially recruit in our ranks in a bid to control that ancient source of energy, but if it can assuage you, should she fail to show up in a reasonable amount of time, we could send someone mighty enough to pick her up? At worst, at least lure her here, since she still a 14th tier Grandmistress at the very least.'
'Speaking about that, her heaven-defying brain matter talent would make me the Sect's sinner if I don't do everything in my Power to bring her in. Indeed, with her expertise, she would strengthen our concealing abilities while giving some useful tips to our brightest disciples. Hell, thanks to her position, we might even get some of her Empire's weapons technologies to boot! So, buddy, what do you think?" he said.
An gravelly nodded, satisfied by the Branch Leader's reaction. "Then I shall not bother you any further, Branch Leader and with your leave, retire to my chambers to meditate at ease, since the first thing I did since I recovered was to see you," he solemnly said.
The branch leader giggled. "So, she really did a number on you for you to inquire our reaction before anything else, heh? Well, don't worry, once she's on our side, I'll even make sure that she gives you the respect you deserve as her Elder. Fret not, go cultivate in peace knowing that she'll be brought to heel, understood?"
An slightly bowed before he said, "Your Subordinate understands, Branch Leader and shall retire now."
The leader nodded and sent him off before An heard the stone door groan shut behind him.
Once he was out of the Branch Leader's sight, his eyes narrowed in ire.
As he sauntered his way back to his quarters, his vengeful mind couldn't help but stir.
Admittedly, he wasn't happy that his superior thought so highly of her brain matter abilities, but even he couldn't refute how useful would her contributions be should she join their side, and honestly, why wouldn't she join them?
With their help, she'll be able to make leaps and bounds in her Origin-related abilities, and to rope her in, they could help her heal her broken Core as a display of sincerity!
Especially since it must've been the reason why she entered his Sect in the first place!
Technology can't fix everything, indeed…
A dark smile stretched across his face, revealing a row of pearly teeth.
He silently prayed the heavens for the crippled princess to come here, so that at the very least, even if they're fated to be allies, he could kick her a*s and return twofold the favor he's owed!
She ought to taste what it felt like to lose an arm so brutally like he did!
She ought to feel the fear he felt when the stench of death the Black and White Impermanence gave when they carried one's soul to Yama's Gates!
Next time they'll meet, even if he can't kill her, he'll make her wish she was dead over and over again until she understands what the word respect and deference meant…