ccnovels #306 - Time waits for no one!
#306 - Time waits for no one!
Elder Wang hadn't expected that this high-end, serious negotiation between top-tier spiritual energy beings would devolve into…
…a vegetable market bargaining session.
The opposing negotiation lead, Dawa, and our negotiation lead, Comrade Fu Jian, continuously haggled over each other's pain points.
Wang Jixuan had been worried that asking for so much combat power was a bit of a lion's opening.
Because in terms of current strength, the three Lightwing spiritual cultivators definitely had the advantage, especially the middle-aged strongman in golden armor. His strength had an overwhelming advantage over his combat puppet and the current Number Five.
What the other side feared was the Pillar Blade Beast.
So, when he made his offer, he used a method that the other side might find more acceptable—transferring the spiritual slaves to Number Five.
Since they were both spiritual cultivators, this could be considered giving them some face.
But Wang Jixuan gradually discovered that the three Lightwing spiritual cultivators didn't seem to care too much about these spiritual slaves who had already become combat power.
They cared more about raw materials.
That is, how to make more people die in the infusion ritual.
This way, their injuries could heal faster, and their strength could recover more quickly.
Human science's fully developed cloning technology had become a 'stroke of luck' for these three old Lightwing spiritual cultivators.
Finally, before the countdown reached zero, the two sides barely reached a consensus.
The final conditions were:
① Transfer 1,900 Class B spiritual energy users, 120 Class A spiritual energy users, and 12 Class S spiritual energy users. The proportion of the Natural Faction in this group must not exceed 30%. Neither side can tamper with the numbers.
② The Spiritual Energy Capital publicly apologizes for attempting to manipulate the political environment of human society in the past. The Six Elders will no longer participate in the management of the Spiritual Energy Capital, and the Spiritual Energy Management Committee will be abolished.
Wang Jixuan certainly knew that they would just change the name of the Spiritual Energy Management Committee.
But Fu Jian's idea was that doing so had a formal significance and could be regarded as a victory for their side in the struggle against the spiritual cultivators.
③ The Spiritual Energy Capital will no longer interfere with the management of frontline spiritual energy users, will no longer collect raw materials externally, and will pay compensation in installments over ten years to compensate the families of those who were abducted and harmed. Compensation can be made in the form of materials.
There were also fourth and fifth conditions, which were a bit illusory and were just promises without any real meaning.
Wang Jixuan's personal condition was to hand over Meng Jin and Angel, but this was rejected by the other side.
On the way back, Elder Wang learned that it was the unanimous opinion of the Six Elders to protect their subordinates, and the three spiritual cultivators also made concessions to these six old men who had been working for them for decades.
The Elder didn't care too much about this.
These two thousand spiritual energy users had already brought them a considerable harvest.
Both sides wrote the conditions into the core circuits of the 'White-Robed Elder' Wanda and 'Night Goddess' Number Five, and each party would use their core circuits as proof to complete the delivery of all conditions except the third one within three days.
It was foreseeable that the Spiritual Energy Capital would definitely send over two thousand spiritual energy users with incomplete strength.
But it didn't matter; Wang Jixuan just wanted to train a group of spiritual energy thugs.
These spiritual energy users, in a sense, had also become the Elder's raw materials.
The setting sun was in the west.
The Pillar Blade Beast, which only had a few hours of activity time left, strode lightly, moving its massive body, and ran wildly towards the area designated by Fu Jian.
This Pillar Blade Beast would stop at the northwestern border of the D2 Comprehensive War Zone, where there was a plateau terrain that had not been developed by humans, and the surrounding area was a no-man's land.
In the transport plane above the Pillar Blade Beast;
Wang Jixuan's combat puppet looked through the porthole at the constantly shaking mountain-like beast below, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
“I don’t know if this big guy will be taken back by the Blade Beasts later.”
On the seat opposite him, Number Five's body was dozing off with her head down—her soul was controlling the Pillar Blade Beast.
Zheng Shiduo, sitting in the back seat, saw that no one was paying attention to his Brother Wang, and quickly agreed: “Didn’t we say we’re going to set up some firepower traps around it?”
Several people next to him spoke up one after another.
Wu Man said: “Even if we set up traps, it will be difficult to resist the Blade Beast tide. The scale of the Blade Beast tide is far greater than our resource reserves.”
Ji Xiao asked: “Is there a way to make the Blade Beast swarm listen to this Pillar Blade Beast and not attack?”
“Theoretically, it’s possible,” Ji Yale chuckled, “The other Pillar Blade Beasts are still sleeping, and this Pillar Blade Beast is their absolute king. The orders it sends out, those seven Gari Nuo should listen to.”
Wang Jixuan's combat puppet had some worries in his eyes.
He said slowly: “Now I’m more worried about the Blade Beasts’ subsequent revenge.”
“How will they retaliate?”
“This time, we actually eliminated one of their Beast Gods…”
Wang Jixuan didn't hide it from everyone and simply explained the spiritual cultivation civilization's process of developing the Pillar Blade Beasts.
Everyone's expressions gradually became serious as they listened.
Especially when they heard about the number of Pillar Blade Beasts in this star field.
Everyone fell silent.
Wang Jixuan's combat puppet stretched lazily: “Don’t have too much pressure. Do your own job well. After we go back, I will help you improve your strength. By the way, I also have to work hard to reach a higher realm.”
Everyone nodded.
“Oh right,” Wang Jixuan remembered something, “After the Pillar Blade Beast is positioned, have people prepare a farewell party for those hundreds of millions of souls.”
Wu Man asked: “Can’t they maintain this state?”
“Most of them are already in a state of chaotic consciousness, just wandering souls.”
Wang Jixuan shook his head:
“They have suffered for too long. Passing away with the wind is the best destination for them.
“I will try my best to find a way to extend the survival time for those who want to live.
“But I estimate that only a small number of soldiers with strong willpower will be able to survive and occupy the Elysian Curtain.”
“Alas,” Zheng Shiduo sighed, “Those spiritual energy users, in pursuit of eternal life, brewed such a big disaster, but it is we ordinary people of ordinary civilizations who suffer.”
“It’s still because our strength is not strong enough,” Wu Man’s eyes flashed with a bit of light, “If we were strong enough, the bitter fruit would be enjoyed by them themselves, instead of being passed on to us.”
“Don’t think about these things.”
Wang Jixuan's combat puppet reached out his hand and vigorously ruffled Wu Man's short hair:
“Pay attention to yourself, don’t get stuck in a rut!
“Look forward in everything. There’s no use in reminiscing about the past. Steadily improving yourself is what’s important.”
Looking at Wu Man's messy hair, everyone smiled.
… …
As soon as the Elder's main body opened his eyes, he saw a somewhat eye-stinging scene.
Commander-in-Chief Fu Jian was wearing an apron and a chef's hat, his huge mechanical body swaying gently with the soothing music, constantly humming, and the teppanyaki in front of him was almost hot enough.
This was the first time Wang Jixuan had discovered that this Commander-in-Chief could be so relaxed.
He had even started dancing!
They were currently staying in a high-speed supply vehicle.
Not far away was the transport convoy for the core components of the super-large mecha. During the transfer process, the super-large mecha was also undergoing maintenance; Fu Jian's ability to bravely face the giant beast with his mechanical body was supported by a complete logistics system.
“How is the situation over there being handled?” Fu Jian asked with a smile.
“There’s nothing to handle,” Wang Jixuan walked to the refrigerator, took a bottle of wheat juice, and took two big gulps.
He had already become fond of this alcoholic beverage.
The Elder asked: “What is the overall casualty situation?”
“Only one-tenth of what was previously expected,” Fu Jian’s voice was quite relaxed, “For this temporary hour, let’s not discuss these things. After a simple celebration, I have to throw myself back into busy work.”
“You should train a few more deputies, Lao Fu.”
“I’ve already trained them, but many things can’t be handed over to them yet. Their ability to withstand pressure is not enough.”
Fu Jian brought over a delicious meal with an iron plate.
Wang Jixuan was also not polite, taking a knife and fork and savoring it with relish.
He was probably influenced by Mu Dan; otherwise, he wouldn't have said:
“Do you want me to describe the refreshing feeling of the sauce bursting on your taste buds?”
“No need,” Fu Jian responded with a smile, “I’m very happy to see you eat. It gives me a sense of satisfaction like watching Zheng De eat in front of me.”
Several black lines hung on Wang Jixuan's forehead.
Mu Dan's venomous tongue system was inherited from you, wasn't it!
“Oh right, even if we don’t talk about work, I have a few bad news to share with you.”
Fu Jian’s left mechanical arm popped out two projection screens, which began to play two video images.
The first video was sent by a Natural Faction SS-level spiritual energy user.
It was in a dark room, and a pale-faced old woman was saying something with a worried expression.
Wang Jixuan swiped away the image after listening to a few sentences.
“Aren’t you going to listen to the end?” Fu Jian asked.
“Compared to the Ruling Faction, I hate the Natural Faction more.”
Wang Jixuan cursed:
“The Ruling Faction at least has a clear purpose, knows what they want, and has the ambition to realize their ambition. They are thoroughly bad, so we can kill them without any hesitation. These Natural Faction… wriggling and hesitant, now they are even saying that they have to cooperate with the Ruling Faction to manage the Spiritual Energy Capital, and subsequent cooperation with us may be suspended.
“They are originally puppets controlled by spiritual cultivators, and they are still talking about independent personality.
“What independent personality are they talking about!”
Fu Jian's smile became even more intense.
He said slowly: “We can’t completely deny the Natural Faction either. They have indeed helped us a lot.”
“That’s your business. Anyway, I won’t give the Natural Faction any benefits in the future, except for Aunt Dragonfly’s team.”
"Aunt Dragonfly should be returning to the City of Psionics," Fu Jian said simply. "They need manpower over there. She's a representative of the new naturalism faction and has considerable prestige. But don't worry, Treant Beta will stay; he's now a member of your team."
The Daoist asked, "So, what are your plans for dealing with the City of Psionics next?"
Fu Jian curled his lip. "Too much is as bad as too little. We don't need to come down too hard on them at this stage. The resources of the nine comprehensive war zones have been consolidated. Next, I'll be busy with the War Alliance, rebuilding the Human War Alliance, and planning the counterattack against the Bladebeasts. We have six years."
Wang Jixuan asked, "Give me the straight dope. How many Pillar Bladebeasts and their corresponding Bladebeast tides can humanity handle right now?"
"Four and a half."
"That's so low..."
"We've only had this little land for the past eighty years, and a locked-down population of five hundred million."
Fu Jian was also a little helpless.
"Unless we suddenly conjure up ten times the resources and population, based on the science and technology we currently possess, we might be able to suppress these Bladebeast swarms."
"What's more, the Interstellar Gate could open at any time, and that might be our doomsday."
Wang Jixuan: "Weren't we not talking about work?"
"Didn't you bring it up first?"
"Alright then," the Daoist said, tilting his head back to gulp down a large mouthful of beer. "Let's both keep at it. Maybe we can really create a miracle."
Fu Jian asked, "Any new developments on Gao Huating's side?"
"There's been some, but not much. The soul of that ancient civilization doesn't want to communicate with us too much."
"The treasure that the psionicists are concerned about, said to be a treasure that can counter the Bladebeasts, might become the key to changing our current situation."
Fu Jian reminded him:
"Although I don't really like this approach, if possible, use any means to gain the trust of Gao Huating and her past life's soul, and obtain this treasure as soon as possible."
"Those three Lightwing psionicists give me a very powerful feeling. They're also a huge threat."
Wang Jixuan tapped the table with his fingers.
His main body needed to enter the Golden Core Realm as soon as possible.
For no other reason than that only after entering the Golden Core Realm could he unleash the initial power of his Qingping Art; condensing a true Golden Core would always be stronger than fighting with a battle puppet.
Cultivation had to be done one realm at a time, and condensing a Golden Core couldn't be rushed. The Dao Body, Primordial Soul, and Mana had to gradually merge.
He wasn't lacking crystal cores now. Elixirs and formations were auxiliary methods.
Without using Demonic Dao methods, the only thing that could speed up this process was dual cultivation.
Although Ling Tong's strength was constantly improving, she wasn't in a similar realm after all, so the boost to dual cultivation would always be insufficient.
Therefore, Wang Jixuan had recently had a bold idea.
Of course, he wasn't going to find other powerful cultivators for dual cultivation. The Daoist's personal morals and ethical bottom line weren't that low.
He wanted to let Ling Tong try a crash course in Demonic Dao techniques, improve her cultivation, and then accelerate dual cultivation.
With him watching over her, most of the negative effects of demonic cultivation could be directly suppressed. It's just that demonic techniques easily affected one's mind, and the Daoist didn't want his first Dao companion to become a Demonic Dao Saintess...
'Should this Daoist switch to demonic cultivation?'
'Still the same problem. The faster demonic cultivation is in the early stages, the bigger the bottleneck in the later stages. If I really get stuck, the upper limit won't be as good as the upper limit of a psionicist, and then I'll be completely done for.'
'Taking the old path, this Daoist is confident in returning to the Mahayana stage. At that time, I can directly solve all current problems.'
The Daoist kept thinking.
Time;
In his previous life, he felt there was too much of this stuff, and he could never use it up;
In this life, he felt there was too little of it, and it wasn't enough at all.
"Forget it, let Ling Tong cultivate properly," Wang Jixuan said softly. "The shortcuts we take now will all have a price in the future."
Fu Jian asked doubtfully, "Why do I feel like you just went through a complex mental activity?"
"Indeed."
Wang Jixuan shook the wine bottle and smiled:
"Do me a favor. Send a few mechanical bodies to the Bladebeast activity area and send a communicator to that Gari Nuo over there. I'll have Wu Manlu record a segment of audio that they can understand."
Fu Jian asked, "You want to use this method to find out whether the Bladebeasts will transfer other Pillar Bladebeasts?"
"No," Wang Jixuan emphasized righteously, "We won, shouldn't we mock the enemy?"
Fu Jian: ...
Beautiful.