“Alright everyone, I have an announcement for you all to listen.” Suddenly from the throne, a humanoid figure could be seen standing.
The clothes were a mixture between yellow and black while the figure herself started to open her eyes. There was a feeling of inferiority if one looked at the eyes of the figure.
It was Theresa, The Queen of The Yellow Bee. Now she was in her human form to make things easier for her guests.
As always, beside her there was one bee that stood up from the rest of the bee colony.
“As you know, inside spatial crack everything is not as stable as you can imagine. That's why even if we reached the destination, we have to be careful with anything that may come.”
The words resonating in that chamber. No one could utter a single word and attentively listened to every word she said.
-
“Look at them all. This is already the seventy times a foreign group comes.” Inside the hidden space in Xuan City, Wang Yu always stayed there to maintain a vigilance and to prepare for this day to come.
“Other than that troublesome man, anything seems to be like what we discussed together. Fortunately that only the representative appear, not the actual secluded cultivator.” Even Wang Yu had to wary against a large number of those kinds of people.
It was because of some discussion between the captured people and the city mayor that forced the situation to turn this way.
It was right after the capture of those people that Li Dian took a visit to them. And Wang Yu remembered it as well.
“Why are you saving them, senior?” asked the mayor in curiosity.
“They can be used or that I have some pity for them for being used by their sect? Who knows.” At that question, Wang Yu only answered with a vague smile and he shrugged his shoulders.
“As far as I know, there are some troublesome people in that batch but they claimed if we keep this situation around, it will be dire for us.” Li Dian had to say this carefully because he afraid that the person who had done this would be pissed.
“Is it troublesome?” now Wang Yu realized that he had become a little senile. He pursed his lips in displeasure but what Li Dian said was right in a sense.
“Then you obviously know whose junior that becomes important in their respective organization, right? Why don't we just make their backer come here to negotiate with us.” Wang Yu said irritated.
“But if they only saved their most talented individual, they will lose the trust from those disciples and indirectly lose their face. They will certainly avoid that scenario. Either they come here prepared or they will abandon their people.” Li Dian did not blame anyone though.
He could see that some of the disciples that Wang Yu brought did not feel any attachment towards their sect. And when he asked the reason, he was surprised by their answer.
“My sect has a principle that the strong prey the weak but they not only do it but they even use it to their own agenda. I'm confused why they always oppressed the other to the point of crossing the line.”
“The problem is, they are sucking right from us. They took our resources away, extort us because we are too weak to resist. That's normal actually until they have done it far too often and already cross the acceptable range.”
It was because of the treatment those sects had given towards their members that caused their attachment to that particular sect to disappeared like dust.
But then Li Dian got something important. He got it from Luo Mang whose sect had planned to do something big.
Back to the problem Wang Yu had to face. He had only a few days left to prepare but he was not sure about it either.
“Will those people accept the invitation kindly? Some of them maybe do it peacefully but the others?”
Wang Yu doubted that. Fortunately, his worry started to lessen because firstly that man getting stronger faster than he had anticipated.
“Maybe it was because he did not belong here after all. He can use soulforce even before reaching Nascent Soul stage, which become his biggest advantage over the other. It's good that I helped him with Nightstalker King or else he will face hardship.”
If not for his help, Manstein would not have a chance to refine Nightstalker King's Golden Core in the first place. But he also knew that was just one thing and now he also had his own problem.
“Time to get something out from him.”
Wang Yu had spent some of his power to stretch the consciousness of the person he held hostage. This was one of the things he had to do in order to press something out.
And he sent part of his consciousness along with his soul force to the underground labyrinth where he held that person.
“You still persistent as always do you?” with his usual carefree tone, Wang Yu made his presence known to Gong Teng.
“You again! Just you wait sooner or later I will break this place you prepared for me.” Said Gong Teng in a fit of anger.
‘He is right. The only key to get out of here is by knowing this person but I don't have a clue about who he is yet.’ Thought Gong Teng but he hid this thought from his face.
‘And the worst thing is for me to miss the date of the arrival of those elders. I already prepare the item, whether they will use it or not depend on me.’
But he was sure that he spent his time inside his current place no less than a hundred years. This was due to the effect Wang Yu had placed upon him into thinking that a long time had passed while only a few weeks in actual time.
“Sooner or later is not important if you miss a certain time on your schedule, isn't that right? Or do you have nothing and come to this city as a passerby?” Wang Yu's voice could be heard right inside his head.
“You have no business with me. I even doubt what you said is truly based on your understanding or just a guess.” Gong Teng sneered as he believed that he still did not have to worry about his motive being leaked.
‘It’s obvious already. You wanted to muddle my judgment but your action is showing the sign that you are planning something., Oh, looks like he realized that he slipped.’ Wang Yu smiled cheerfully when he saw the shocked face Gong Teng had produced.
‘Don't tell me that the person I am speaking with is someone more powerful than me. I thought that he is at least the same level as me!’
With that thought, he even doubted that he could get out from here without assistance!
He already tried to use transmission but to no avail. That was why he wanted to get out from the underground labyrinth by communicating with Wang Yu but it also ended up in failure.
His face twitched due to thinking that much.
-
“This peaceful moment...” walking right in the middle of the crowd was both an enjoyment and a way to cover oneself from being found out.
That was what Manstein thought when he saw the people around him. They looked happy even in this dire situation, as if the situation had nothing to do with them.
“You said earlier that they will return with a new friend, what does that mean?” and at his side Ye Guhan asked.
He had heard that the rest of the group would come later but he had not expected they had a new friend.
“It means someone wishes to befriend us. But I'm afraid that another little power in the forest will be pissed by this.” Manstein replied softly and clearly in order to let his foster father understand.
“Then I can put this matter to rest for now. But in front of our residence, there are several elders already. They waited there since the midnight and I can still feel their presence.” Said Ye Guhan.
“As expected, the representative of their sects have already checked this city and ask permission from the mayor outside the city I presume?” Manstein gasped in surprise. It was just he did not expect that Li Dian let them enter the city this soon.
‘They enter sooner or later will not change the discussion over the disciple and their talented people, Senior.’ Alice said in his mind.
‘So now Coiling Dragon Formation is in the semi-permeable state which can distinguish friends and foes? Just what the heck is this formation?’ Manstein now truly understood just how strange and powerful this formation was.
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But he also understood why there is such function. When it used attraction force to pull those people in, it allowed them to enter the formation albeit temporarily, meaning that the formation could really differentiate friend from foe.
‘This is its advantage, no. This is its only advantage because the original location cannot be moved by ordinary means.’ Warned Alice.
‘Is it because of some important part that was located in another space in the same place?’ Manstein now understood that the only way to move the formation along with the city was to get that Allway Dome which he had no clue about!
‘And Senior, hehe..’ Alice sounded rather playful so Manstein started to pay attention.
‘What?’ Manstein became curious as well so he tried to pry, attempting to get something.
‘There will be some group that searching for that man you tailed before.’
Manstein was not surprised in the least about it. He somewhat knew that the situation would turn out like this. But he had to know why there would be such people searching for that man.
‘Think about it, he came here alone and from his strength I can only conclude that he is someone who will not have much interest in this unless there are some people told him about it.’ Alice said this because she knew just how stubborn some people are when they pursue the strength to reach longevity.
And because someone had incidentally obstructed their plan, they had to first know the situation. But they would not expect that the degree of their mistake would make the situation much worse.
‘And what is his situation now? Being trapped inside that underground labyrinth is truly a torture.’
‘He is angry. He cursed those people that make him come to this place.’ Answered Alice before she continued, ‘hear this out..’
Manstein then could hear a faint voice. It was in high tone and the voice clearly was belonged to someone who had been angered to death!
“I curse their nine generation for making me into this situation! How can I am trapped inside ‘that’ labyrinth!?”
It was so frustrating for him to be trapped inside ‘that’ labyrinth by some expert but what could he even do?
Venting his anger out first obviously.
“Those elders from that sect, I will deal with them once I get out from this place.”
And just when Manstein wanted to enjoy a bit more, the voice abruptly stopped. He chuckled slightly but he kept his attention to the words the man had said.
But sadly Manstein and the rest would not now the true reason why Gong Teng came to Xuan City. They would only know that someone told Gong Teng about it and he came because of that reason.
‘I cannot keep my existence out from their detection but I can hide the reason why I come in the first place. But still...will this be okay?’ Gong Teng thought to himself.
Originally, he came to reap the thing he coveted due to the chaotic situation that would envelop the continent but now he could not even save himself.
Manstein had a faint feeling of something he missed but he had no time left so he digested whatever Gong Teng said earlier.
And why he could hear Gong Teng's voice? It was the connection of space and this could only be done by someone who reached higher mastery over space.
‘At least I know that we have a special guest.’ Commented Manstein after he fully digested every words to his mind.
“Slowly, don't be rash.” A hand held him from the side. Unexpectedly they arrived at the front of the residence.
Ye Guhan watched as some elders stood right at the front of his residence but he kept watching.
Manstein became confused why his foster father acted like that.
“Just to make them notice us.” Answered Ye Guhan. And he was right as some of them looked at their direction.
But unknown to the two of them, the elders were actually from Cleansing Ancient Sect but they deliberately change their clothes.
‘Where is he? I can't find him ever since we arrived here.’ One of them sent with a transmission.
And the one who led them all was Bai Zhen, the elder that talked to Gong Teng previously.
‘Previously we were halted by the guards and even the mayor himself. Do you think this is because of that new formation?’ Bai Zhen replied back in a transmission.
They became warier since they could not detect the structure of the formation even after they entered the city. And then someone entered their sense.
At first, they would ignore them like always but somehow the act of the newcomer made them look at a second glance.
A middle-aged man and a young man walked together. That was what they saw from the outside but they could see that the middle-aged man was a cultivator who had reached Culture Core stage.
And for the young man, they could nor see the depth of his power.
‘That middle-aged man is just a Culture Core cultivator and that young man is either only a mortal or someone who can hide his cultivation. Be careful.’ All of them heard from Bai Zhen.
“Welcome back, Mister.” The guard who saw Ye Guhan quickly greeted him politely. Even though the guard knew about Ye Guhan's only son but he would not blame him or his son.
“How is the situation? Is there any problem?” asked Ye Guhan with concern.
“Just now, these elders ask my permission to stay at the front of the residence. Is this good enough?” the guard glanced at the group of elders before he returned his gaze back to Ye Guhan.
“It’s better to let them in or to make them stay at the nearby hotel.” Ye Guhan then asked, “What are they doing here?”
“They said they want to hasten the discussion.”
Manstein then looked at the elder, one by one, trying to remember each face so that they would not be forgotten if somehow one of them truly the ‘guest’ he had been waiting for.
“Good, now continue with your duty.” Ye Guhan nodded in satisfaction. Next, he walked toward those elders that had their mouths almost opened like an egg.
“Exalted guest, why are you here? The invitation had been sent and the one who is responsible for this is not only Ye Family but also the mayor and all of the inhabitant of the city.” Said Ye Guhan in a polite tone.
Seeing the expression of those elders turned serious, Ye Guhan added, “It’s because our safety is threatened that we act in self-defense. So we, people of Xuan City, are responsible as a whole. But if you wanted to find your people, it's fine. And don't ever think of escaping, I really suggest you.”
“The entire city is responsible? What do you mean by that?” this time, even Bai Zhen was confused by the statement.
“Yes. We decided whether to act in self-defense or to just ignore the situation but this time even the citizen left it in our hands. Tell me, are they not responsible? And since they left it in our hands, the biggest responsibility will fall on those who decide things.” Ye Guhan said.
It means that all of them were responsible. But, the one who had the biggest weight on that responsibility would fall on the mayor and Ye Family because they were the ones who decide things.
“I understand what you mean. The entire city is responsible but the biggest consequences will be weighted on the one who decides things am I right?” Bai Zhen was surprised by this.
He could see that the middle-aged man in front of him fully realized the weight responsibilities had on his family and the mayor. And of course he realized that the middle-aged man in front of him was someone from Ye Family.
“That is so. Now, should I recommend you a place to stay or do you have somewhere already?”
They felt strange when Ye Guhan say it. It was as if he cared deeply despite the fact that they outnumbered him in both quantity and quality. Not only he treated them like that but they could also see that his entire body synchronized with his heart.
They were experienced, they had known many people and met with various characters in their lifetime so they could discern whether the person in front of them putting on airs or truly sincere in their words.
‘Despite we are looking down on him, he still treats us like his guest. As if all his guests are important no matter the situation.’ They could only think but could not express it due to their pride.
‘They must be thinking about the words and the concern Father gives to them. For an honest person, they don't even have anything to hide and that is the biggest advantage....’ Manstein who had seen everything from the side faintly smiled.
‘This is why they are the kind of family I can't even forget even after a long time has passed.’ Alice said, her tone was filled with reminiscence.
“We...already have a place. No need for you personally to help us.”
“True. We just being impatient there.”
Then Bai Zhen also said, “Hearing those words from my peers are enough for you., right? I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you for your concern. Let's leave.”
They politely rejected the offer but they did not want to say that someone who was weaker than them kindly treated them and without hesitation despite they were slightly looking down upon him.
‘They looking down on us earlier but now they are embarrassed instead. How amusing.’ Manstein now found out the reason why his foster father held him just now.
It turned out that he wanted to show them how hospitable he was and at the same time made them uncomfortable due to his kindness in helping them. He really wanted to help them though if they did not reject.
‘Speaking of which, Did they looking for someone?’ Manstein and Alice said at the same time, which made them understand that they had the same thought.
They were looking right at their eyes. Those elders’ eyes were looking around despite they hid it with a rather blank look on their face.
-
“What does Elder Brother mean we have to get out from this place?” asked Ye Guhan in confusion.
After they returned, Ye Canghai told everything about the little plan that Li Dian had agreed upon. This was confirmed by both Alice and Manstein.
“We have to evacuate. Speaking of which, why did we do this? I cannot keep my calm if I don't know the general reason.” Ye Canghai said.
“Because of the movement in the center region. That's all I can say. Even if I explain it, you will not be able to do anything to it either.” Manstein had to convey what he had in his mind.
And even Manstein himself did not know the exact reason too. It was only after receiving the memories from Nightstalker King that Alice said this topic numerous times.
“But to where? We don't have any place for refuge. Strictly speaking, we don't have a place to go.” Ye Guhan was worried about this.
“Just go away from this place. Even better if we can leave the continent. The farther, the better.” Answered Manstein because he had no other choice but to said it.
“But how? The people of the city cannot move as fast and long as we can.” Ye Canghai wanted to know the answer or at least he wanted to hear an idea.
“Some records said that there are some treasures that allowed the small world in it to be habituated. But I don't know how or where we can get it.” Manstein placed his hands on his forehead. The cause of all this was due to someone at the center region but he could not do a single thing to stop it.
“Put this aside from now on. Elder Brother, you too should not be overthinking things. Let’s just discuss the meeting that soon will happen instead.” Said Ye Guhan with a smile.
He knew that his brother had a new position which required more decision making and good judgment, therefore he had to support his brother with all he can.
“You're right.” Ye Canghai then looked at his own brother. They stared at each other they could see the depth of each others’ eyes.
“About the elders that came here, seeking their disciple, I can only say that we should do it like always. Truthfully, I don't know why we should this.” Ye Canghai sighed. After all, this was not what he had planned.
“The sudden change of the situation, along with the advantage we will propose are the main reason for this.” Suddenly the ethereal form of Alice appeared beside Manstein.
“Do you mean that they will leave their less useful disciple here, like a trash bin?” Manstein raised his eyebrows, seeming interested in what would those elders say and act.
“Ironically, that is the fact. They had to reduce the distribution of their resources you see, in order to hasten the development of their own power into realization.” Replied Alice.
But she raised one of her hand, instructed both Ye Canghai and Ye Guhan not to say anything.
“They wanted to politely greet you. Why are you refusing?” asked Manstein.
“You forgot that now is not the time for me to directly reveal myself. Furthermore, you are part of them now so I also want them to treat me as one.” And that was Alice's answer.
“Well, if she says so then even I can't change it. Let's continue.” Manstein shrugged his shoulders as he started to talk about their next plan.
That day was also the last day before the meeting. This was both served as a way for them to negotiate and to increase their workforce, the one which could be used to help them. That was why Manstein had to make sure everything was set and he could catch a trail from his enemy.