It Is Difficult . . .
Cha Eun Xiao's third sigh continued to exude an aura of despair, seemingly stretching on indefinitely. Ling Wuxie found himself utterly perturbed by this relentless sighing.
He harbored a profound aversion to such sighs, as they brought back memories of his mother's forlorn sighs during his childhood. She would look at him with a sense of helplessness, sighing with a mix of moans and complaints. In his mind, Feng Monarch's sighs sounded strikingly similar to his mother's.
This strange connection between the two types of sighs haunted him. He remembered the pain he had seen in his mother's eyes when she sighed, and the guilt he had felt for not living up to her expectations. Ling Wuxie would attempt to change himself to please his mother, but inevitably, he would revert to his carefree self. Then, he would hear that sigh once more, perpetuating a cycle of guilt and self-disappointment.
Over time, this pattern etched a deep-seated aversion to sorrowful sighs within him. He would tremble and feel an overwhelming sense of guilt whenever he heard such sighs, regardless of the good deeds he had accomplished. It was as if he were a terrible person unworthy of forgiveness.
Ling Wuxie never anticipated that he would encounter these detested sighs in a realm so distant from his mother. He was exasperated and felt on the brink of a breakdown.
"Why does this have to happen?" Ling Wuxie lamented internally. "I've come so far from home, and this is the last thing I need. Let me be."
"Brother Feng, could you please stop sighing? Let's have a discussion," Ling Wuxie implored, his voice trembling. He gazed at Cha Eun Xiao with determination. If the sighing continued, he would flee and delegate this matter to Bai Chen. He couldn't afford to develop psychological issues in this unfamiliar realm, as it would make him a laughingstock upon his return home.
"I don't want to sigh," Cha Eun Xiao responded sorrowfully. "Brother Ling, you aren't a dan-maker, so you may not fully understand."
Ling Wuxie nodded in agreement, silently relieved that the sighing had ceased. "You're right, I'm not a dan-maker, but my family has many dan-makers. I can at least comprehend some of your concerns."
Cha Eun Xiao sighed once more before explaining, "That's a relief. That's good."
The sigh, however, left Ling Wuxie feeling despondent, and he physically weakened. His vision darkened, and he could hardly bear the emotional turmoil.
Cha Eun Xiao continued, addressing the issue at hand. "Master Bai has ruled the House of the Chaotic Storms for centuries, and his actions have caused constant turmoil, countless lives lost, and mountains and rivers shattered. His presence is a disaster for the world, and I'm committed to sending him away. This is a noble endeavor, saving countless lives and ensuring the well-being of the world. I certainly desire it. I also made a promise to Master Bai. Although we find ourselves in opposing positions, I hope he can leave this world."
However, Cha Eun Xiao acknowledged the immense challenge of crafting the Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan. The mere act of producing the dan beads would provoke a lightning strike divine punishment. Making even one bead was the best outcome, while attempting more was courting death. Despite the abundant merits and virtues within reach, he lamented his lack of fortune to claim them. Reflecting on his earlier outburst, he humbly apologized.
He then turned his gaze to Xiu of the Heavens and nodded, seeking to mend the situation. With control over the negotiation, he hoped to secure the most valuable rewards and didn't wish to squander the opportunity.
Xiu-Er's response was marked by a roll of her eyes, and she remained silent, clearly harboring irritation. Her non-verbal reaction spoke volumes.
"Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan is unlike any other dan. It delves into the realms of fate, soul, luck, blood, life, the heavens, Yin and Yang, and even the Almighty Nature," Cha Eun Xiao explained in a composed manner. "Brother Ling, your house boasts many proficient dan-makers, and you must have some familiarity with these aspects. You understand that I am speaking the truth, don't you?"
Ling Wuxie pondered for a moment and replied, "Yes, you're absolutely right."
Internally, Ling Wuxie felt a tumult of perplexed emotions. He had never been a dan-maker, and despite his family's abundance of such experts, none of them had ever attempted to craft a Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan. Even producing a standard supreme dan was beyond their capability. How could he be sure of the veracity of Cha Eun Xiao's words? Yet, due to his earlier claim of having many dan-makers in his family, he found himself painted into a corner. Refuting the truth would only render his previous words meaningless.
Ling Wuxie could not allow that to happen and chose to acknowledge his understanding.
Cha Eun Xiao appeared pleased with his response, stating, "Since you possess knowledge on the matter, Brother Ling, our discussion becomes more straightforward. Conversing with informed individuals saves us a lot of time."
With an awkward smile on his face, Ling Wuxie struggled to hide the stiffness in his facial muscles. [What do I know? I'm clueless about this!]
He listened as Cha Eun Xiao continued, "The primary objective in crafting the Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan is to counteract the divine punishment's effects on the Jing and Mai. This process poses several challenges. It goes against the Almighty Nature, opposes the countless souls that have perished over the years, and conflicts with the fate of the entire world."
With a serious demeanor, Cha Eun Xiao carefully explained the intricacies. He concluded, "A single Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan bead won't lead to my demise during the divine punishment, but it will inflict severe harm upon me. Crafting more than one would put my life at risk. I must exercise great caution, and you... well, heh, heh, before I produce enough dan beads for you, you won't simply abandon me to my fate, will you?"
Ling Wuxie was taken aback. He responded earnestly, "Rest assured, as I mentioned earlier, we will take care of that. We can guarantee your safety. We will utilize all the treasures at our disposal to shield you from the divine punishment. You will be protected."
Cha Eun Xiao smiled, his eyes holding a profound meaning. "Heh, heh."