Soul Power! . . .
"In truth, considering Wan Zhenghao's words, Cha Eun Xiao surmised that Feng Monarch had instructed him to say those words. This is likely why he wanted us to participate in the auction. It suggests that Feng Monarch intends for us to rise up and serve as the protective barrier for Ling-Bao Hall."
"Otherwise, Wan Zhenghao wouldn't have dared to convey such a message to us."
One of the host masters drew in a sharp breath. "Master Long... Are you suggesting that Feng Monarch knew that the House of the Chaotic Storm would cease to exist long before it happened? That he had been planning it since Master Bai's departure? Feng Monarch has been preparing for this all along? It's astounding how far-sighted he is!"
"Consider this: Feng Monarch is the sole recognized rival of Master Bai. If people regard Master Bai as a deity, what does that make his rival? There's simply no other possibility."
Long Tianyun took a deep breath. "I'm not inclined to deify Feng Monarch, but I can't deny that he has already ascended to god-like status in our eyes. We are powerless against it!"
The others inhaled sharply. They recollected the days when they were on the brink of life and death in a showdown with this god-like figure. Their hearts raced as they realized that if Long Tianyun had chosen a different stance at that moment, they would have been on the opposite side, and they might not have survived.
As they contemplated this, their gratitude towards Long Tianyun deepened.
Life had a way of unfolding in remarkable and unpredictable ways. Sometimes, when a person maintained a low profile and remained absent from external affairs, their social status and influence could become linked to nearly everything happening in the world, especially major events.
This was precisely what occurred with Feng Monarch. During that period, Feng Zhiling had been diligently cultivating alongside Bing-Er, which was why he hadn't attended the auction. However, significant events transpired during that time. The House of the Chaotic Storms ceased to exist, and Feng Monarch was the only figure recognized by all as the most powerful individual.
Two sects had vanished, and if not for Feng Monarch, who else could have been capable of such an act? In the eyes of the people, only Feng Zhiling possessed the power and capability to carry out such a feat. Thus, it was a foregone conclusion that he had been the one to do it.
This gave rise to a beautiful mistake, boosting Feng Monarch's fame to the utmost, astonishing the entire world. Feng Monarch and Cha Nantian became the two peerless god-slayers of the Land of Han-Yang. One was a military general who waged war, and the other was a martial artist who reigned supreme in the martial world. Both of them shook the world with their names.
However, Feng Monarch's fame far eclipsed that of Cha Nantian. While Cha Nantian was a general leading hundreds of thousands of soldiers, Feng Monarch had obliterated two sects, slaughtered over a hundred thousand individuals, and razed two mountains. What the world did not know was that they were, in fact, father and son.
One day, something peculiar stirred in the Boundless Space, creating an aura of anticipation. Cha Eun Xiao entered the Space and was greeted by a surprising sight. The medicinal resources within the Space had substantially increased due to the efforts of Wan-Er and Xiu-Er. Additionally, Brother Egg had grown significantly, nearly doubling in size to that of a watermelon.
Cha Eun Xiao observed the Boundless Space and noticed an additional layer of cracking clouds on its surface. Despite this, something still seemed to be missing, and Brother Egg appeared rather agitated.
Although Cha Eun Xiao couldn't understand the words Brother Egg used, he had developed a deep understanding of the creature's thoughts through their mind connection over their time together.
"You need the energy of living beings? Soul power? The soul that emerged when Gu Jinlong died?" Cha Eun Xiao furrowed his brow, attempting to decipher Brother Egg's needs.
Brother Egg silently confirmed his understanding.
Intrigued, Cha Eun Xiao continued questioning Brother Egg until he grasped the situation. Brother Egg was on the verge of hatching, but it required a sufficient amount of soul power to facilitate the process. Although it had previously possessed ample soul power, derived from absorbing Gu Jinlong's soul when he perished, this energy had since been depleted. Now, as it approached the hatching moment, it needed a fresh supply of soul power, hence why it sought Cha Eun Xiao's assistance.
Cha Eun Xiao had long anticipated Brother Egg's hatching, but the revelation came with a predicament.
"You mean... you require more soul power, similar to the soul you consumed last time? This is truly a predicament. Where on earth can I find such an energy source for you? That was merely a coincidence with Gu Jinlong, a cultivator at the Dao Origin Stage. It's not something I can reproduce at will!" Cha Eun Xiao's head throbbed at the thought.
Brother Egg grew increasingly anxious as it jumped up and down. Acquiring soul power was essential for its hatching, but it was no ordinary energy. Cha Eun Xiao couldn't simply obtain it easily.
To satisfy Brother Egg's demands, Cha Eun Xiao would need an immense quantity of this power. Consuming the soul power of one Gu Jinlong had been equivalent to the energy of tens of thousands of ordinary people. To gather enough soul power for Brother Egg's hatching, Cha Eun Xiao would need to take the lives of hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions of innocent individuals.
Recognizing the enormity of the task at hand, Cha Eun Xiao felt a profound sense of moral conflict. He had never considered himself a virtuous man, but the prospect of killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people solely for his own gain was something he couldn't bring himself to do.
As Cha Eun Xiao grappled with this ethical dilemma, Brother Egg conveyed information to him through their mental connection, further complicating matters.
The realization washed over Cha Eun Xiao, and he contemplated the implications. Indeed, the world was embroiled in numerous conflicts and wars, leading to countless casualties every day. This global strife provided an opportunity to amass a substantial amount of soul power on the battlefield.
Enlightened by this idea, Cha Eun Xiao decided to put a plan into motion. He discussed the matter with Song Jue and sought assistance from Zuo Wuji.
After a conversation with Zuo Wuji, the young man left his residence. Zuo Wuji, however, remained deep in thought, pacing and furrowing his brow as he considered the implications.
Cha Eun Xiao then proceeded to meet with Prime Minister Zuo, engaging in a lengthy conversation that lasted well into the night. Afterward, Zuo Wuji, somewhat relieved, murmured to himself, "This... shouldn't be too difficult!"