Outside the main door stood Feng Songhua, his face dark and stormy.
Sensing that there were actually two people inside the suite, he turned his head to look toward the sofa.
There, he saw the same face that had not long ago still been rebellious and defiant toward him.
Only now, that person appeared weak, completely devoid of energy or spirit.
It was obvious that slashing the avatar with his sword earlier had not been without cost.
However, the fact that the man could still lie there in one piece meant the price was much less than Feng Songhua had expected.
Feng Songhua did not ask about it. He simply gave a cold chuckle and walked toward Su Wenjing.
“With things as they are, there’s no point in talking nonsense. What will it take for you to let Zheng Yue out?”
Feng Songhua’s tone could hardly be called pleasant. “Whatever happens to the others is your own private conflict, but Zheng Yue is an official.”
Su Wenjing’s face was calm. “Yes, so I never intended to make things hard for you.”
“All I’m asking for is an apology.”
“Convince him. As long as he agrees, I’ll let him out.”
Feng Songhua didn’t even hesitate. He refused directly: “That’s impossible.”
Su Wenjing hadn’t expected such a flat-out, unthinking refusal.
He couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.
This demand was, without question, as low as it could get—there was no price to pay at all. It was a perfectly reasonable request.
In the morning, he’d been refused by Zheng Yue himself. That could be chalked up to a Nascent Soul cultivator looking down on someone who’d just split their spirit.
But now, Su Wenjing had already displayed his strength. And still, Feng Songhua held the same attitude…
Su Wenjing sized Feng Songhua up and down, a little incredulous. Was there really such a ‘brainless’ person at the Integration Stage here in the Interstellar?
How did he ever reach this level of cultivation?
Could it be that here in the Interstellar, the difficulty of cultivation was nothing like in Shenzhou at all?
As Su Wenjing was thinking this, the space inside the suite began to twist and distort.
His innate divine ability instantly spread out, enveloping Feng Songhua completely, as if ready to swallow him whole the next moment.
In theory, Integration Stage cultivators should react swiftly, but Feng Songhua had no reaction whatsoever.
Or rather, he sensed the changes happening around him, yet only gave a cold snort.
He made no move to draw any weapon, simply letting Su Wenjing’s space wrap him up entirely.
At first, seeing Feng Songhua react this way, Su Wenjing’s expression had grown tense, thinking perhaps the man had some hidden trump card, some way to counter him.
But in the end, as Su Wenjing felt that he could truly swallow the man into his space, all those suspicions evaporated into mute bafflement.
Su Wenjing halted his attack and looked at Feng Songhua. “You want me to let him out, and all you’re willing to do is flap your lips?”
Feng Songhua merely replied, “Besides an apology, do you have any other terms?”
Hearing this, Su Wenjing’s face grew cold.
He hadn’t really been insistent about Zheng Yue apologizing, but now, with Feng Songhua saying this, he decided he absolutely wanted it.
“Yes. Only that,” Su Wenjing said coldly.
Feng Songhua didn’t try to persuade him further. Seeing Su Wenjing’s attitude, he said directly, “Then lock me in and let Zheng Yue out.”
“If you won’t switch, locking me up with him is fine too.”
“He’s never going to apologize. If he doesn’t come out, all that crap out there will come looking for me!” When Feng Songhua said this, his face screamed ‘what’s it got to do with me.’
Those people on the list were drawn in by Zheng Yue. Going up to the Ascension Platform for negotiations was Zheng Yue’s provocation.
When two against one didn’t work out and the Ascension Platform was blown up, that was also Zheng Yue.
Yet, when it came to cleaning up the mess, the one left alive to do it—was him!
It was him!!
He had to calm things when the bell rang and everyone went on alert.
He also had to handle the aftermath of the Ascension Platform, cleaning up debris and restoring order.
He arranged medical care for the avatars slain by Li Yunxian.
Just after finishing up, every possible authority that had received word came knocking, asking for an explanation.
Besides those factions named on the list, there were his own higher-ups.
Zheng Yue’s presence vanishing in Qingxing—this was a major incident.
Any change in an Integration Stage cultivator, and the first thought everyone had was: is this the start of another war between the righteous and the alien races?
Not those small alien disasters, but a war among the upper echelons.
After finally explaining everything, that whole debate about the Dao by Sheng Yu started to ferment online.
Seeing his subordinate’s reports, Feng Songhua had nothing left to say.
A stationed Integration Stage cultivator like him—shouldn’t he, in theory, have an easy life guarding a planet?!
But after this string of events, it was him who was worked to death, him who was scolded, him who was mocked and provoked by Li Yunxian.
***
Meanwhile, Zheng Yue, locked up, was having a carefree time.
Feng Songhua felt his current resentment weighed heavier than the strangest curse!
After hearing Feng Songhua’s words…
Li Yunxian:
Su Wenjing:
They really didn’t know what to say.
Su Wenjing turned and shot Li Yunxian a glance.
Originally, what Li Yunxian had suggested clearly wasn’t going to work now.
But just because Feng Songhua was giving up, didn’t mean they’d back down.
That would be far too easy.
Catching Su Wenjing’s eye, Li Yunxian sat up from the sofa, his voice a little weak, but his tone calm.
“In that case, we won’t make things hard for you, Senior. Just answer me one question.”
Without waiting for Feng Songhua to respond, Li Yunxian continued, “What’s the story behind the agreement that those above the Nascent Soul Stage, from both sides, aren’t to fight each other at will?”
Feng Songhua hadn’t expected Li Yunxian to be the one to speak. He was briefly stunned and glanced at Su Wenjing.
Su Wenjing’s face was expressionless, making no objection to Li Yunxian speaking.
That attitude made it clear—Li Yunxian’s words represented his own.
Feng Songhua adjusted his estimation of Li Yunxian’s standing within the group, but he still wondered about one thing.
Feng Songhua didn’t answer Li Yunxian directly, instead asking, “Aren’t you interested in knowing anything about those trying to harm you?”
Li Yunxian’s expression didn’t change. “I don’t trust anything you’d say about that, so there’s no point in asking.”
“It’s better to learn something actually useful.”
“You’re an official, a righteous cultivator. When it comes to things involving the alien races, you surely wouldn’t lie to us, your fellow righteous cultivators, right?”
Li Yunxian’s words were soft but barbed—if Feng Songhua lied, by logic, it would be tantamount to betraying the righteous path.
Thinking back to what Li Yunxian had said on the Ascension Platform, Feng Songhua’s mouth twitched.
So sharp-tongued!
But really, there was nothing that couldn’t be said about this—the reason was simple and straightforward.
Feng Songhua answered directly, “Because the city walls of every city can only withstand attacks below the Nascent Soul level.”
“So when it’s something above Nascent Soul, we have to step in.”
“And so an unspoken understanding was formed.”
“After all, we don’t want to rebuild the walls every time, or see swathes of low-level cultivators and ordinary people sacrificed, and the alien races on the other side don’t want to die either.”
Li Yunxian frowned slightly. “That doesn’t sound quite right.”
“Then what do the aliens above Nascent Soul do about cultivation?”
“For us cultivators, the higher our cultivation, the more we must walk our own Dao.”
“We of the righteous path hold fast to our hearts, and with quiet, steady cultivation we can progress upward.”
“But what about the aliens?”
“They walk the demonic path.”
“Below the Nascent Soul stage, they prey on the righteous to strengthen themselves. Once they reach Nascent Soul, do they just become peaceful overnight, thinking only of cultivation and never clashing with the righteous again?”
“How is that possible?”
“Since when is there such a thing as a grass-eating wolf?”
Feng Songhua froze, then gave Li Yunxian a deep, searching look.
Li Yunxian’s words undeniably showed a profound understanding of the righteous and demonic paths.
No wonder the people with Su Wenjing didn’t treat Li Yunxian as some mere Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Only now did Feng Songhua take a serious look at this person.
“You’re right.” Feng Songhua didn’t deny Li Yunxian’s point. “But no matter what the aliens are doing, we currently have no proof against them.”
Li Yunxian was filled with doubt. “You need proof to deal with the aliens?”
Feng Songhua was stunned; he had to admit, what Li Yunxian said was so simple and made so much sense.
Yes—why did they need a reason or proof to deal with the aliens?
How many of the righteous had bled at the hands of those aliens?
Any one of them was more than deserving of death.
Why hadn’t he ever thought of it that way before?
Feng Songhua felt as though a light had dawned, though in practice, he still couldn’t act recklessly for now.
Suppressing his thoughts for the moment, Feng Songhua ended the topic and turned to Su Wenjing. “I’ve answered. Now can you let Zheng Yue out?”
Su Wenjing didn’t answer, simply raised his hand slightly.
The space within the suite shifted, and a figure slowly appeared.
It was Zheng Yue.