ccnovels #354 - Righteous Devil Heart
#354 - Righteous Devil Heart
The problem discussed in the meeting ultimately had no solution.
In some regions, the military tacitly approved of the Spirit Energy City's looting of scavenger camps.
In other regions, the military stated that it would rectify the scavenger camps, crack down on human trafficking, and cut off the source of materials for pseudo-spirit slaves.
Regarding such issues where consensus could not be reached, Fu Jian expressed his respect in principle.
The D5 Integrated War Zone had the fewest scavenger camps, so he didn't have many thoughts on the matter.
Fu Jian was brewing his own plans.
After the meeting, only Fu Jian and Wang Ji Xuan remained in the vast virtual conference room.
The Commander-in-Chief's mechanical face wore a slight smile, a smile that hadn't appeared on his face for many years, but had appeared frequently in the past year.
"How is your cultivation going?" Fu Jian asked.
"Not bad," Daoist Wang crossed his legs and played with the teacup in his hand. "The spiritual energy within the Pillar Blade Beast's body is very abundant, and my cultivation speed is several times faster than before."
"That's good."
Fu Jian looked at the map hanging in front of him.
They had just discussed a plan to actively attack the Pillar Blade Beasts.
This plan was only in its initial stages, to facilitate overall resource allocation. When to act and how to act were far from being decided.
Attacking the Pillar Blade Beasts would be relatively complex.
Especially since the Pillar Blade Beasts were hiding deep underground, and there were currently four Pillar Blade Beasts on Earth that could move at any time.
There was also the most realistic problem: the reason why the Blade Beasts hadn't annihilated humanity before was indeed because of the contract between the Council of Light Wings and the Blade Beast civilization.
Now, the contract had been torn apart.
Fu Jian was well aware of this information.
He sighed softly and said slowly, "What I'm most worried about now is how many spirit cultivators like Wanda will be unable to withstand the pressure and the temptation of eternal life, and become puppets of the Blade Beast civilization."
"There will definitely be a lot, optimistically speaking... a third of the existing spirit cultivators?"
The Daoist smiled:
"Don't think about these trash.
"I'm already preparing to explore that ancient civilization."
"Oh?" Fu Jian was slightly puzzled. "Haven't you been deliberately avoiding that place? That's what Mu Dan's report said."
"I'm not sure what's going on, but I always feel like there's some kind of danger hidden there."
Wang Ji Xuan tapped his fingers on the table:
"But the reality is that if we can't activate the planetary barrier and let the Blade Beasts locate us, we'll face a catastrophe in one hundred and sixty days.
"Aemina is already planning where to go first and where to go next after she takes me away.
"I have a way out; the ordinary people here don't."
Fu Jian nodded.
The Commander-in-Chief leaned back in his chair, propping his temple with his fingers, with a hint of contemplation in his eyes.
Fu Jian said, "Actually, this isn't your responsibility... If I may say something politically incorrect, you've helped us enough, Wang Zheng. If the final battle is unfavorable, you don't need to be buried with this civilization. You still have your own path to take."
"Uh," Wang Ji Xuan clicked his tongue lightly, "Is this a kind of clever moral kidnapping?"
"Just a few words from the heart."
Fu Jian glared at Wang Ji Xuan:
"Using emotional bonds to tie you down is effective enough.
"I just don't have much hope for the subsequent battles.
"Moreover, there's a high probability that I'll have to sacrifice myself actively."
Wang Ji Xuan was stunned for a moment: "Why?"
"For victory."
Fu Jian said in a low voice:
"I'm too old. I've already made all the preparations for sacrifice. A person's will also has its limits.
"And if I don't leave, those little guys will never be able to grow up.
"Wang Zheng, have you ever considered what the continuation of civilization is?"
"Never considered it. My world isn't that big."
"The continuation of civilization is actually the inheritance of knowledge, the inheritance of culture, and the advancement and survival of generations.
Fu Jian looked up at the starry sky:
"Our civilization...
"Was dragged into interstellar warfare too early before it experienced enough scientific baptism.
"Do you know what one of the most despairing things we felt before was?
"It's that we had been developing technology, technology related to machinery, but when the interstellar gate opened, the civilization that jumped out told us that we had gone down the wrong path, and that true power lay in spiritual energy.
"But how could science be the wrong path?"
Fu Jian smiled:
"Those of us who were unconvinced and didn't believe it have been moving forward in this direction.
"The reason why we have an irreconcilable feud with the Blade Beasts is because our civilization's flame was almost extinguished by them, and also because we want to prove the path that our civilization has been exploring."
Wang Ji Xuan gave a thumbs up.
He smiled and said, "I'm prone to inner demons during this cultivation stage, so don't say these things."
"Alright, I won't say it."
Fu Jian slowly stood up.
He asked, "How long will you stay in space?"
"Three or four days. After the Blade Beast dies, a large amount of spiritual energy remains. I'll蹭 (t/n: rub/mooch off of) Aemina's energy a bit."
"Okay," Fu Jian said, "After you come back, I'll have a gathering with Mei Ying and her daughter. If you're free, you can come over for a casual meal."
"Okay," Wang Ji Xuan said directly:
"I'll bring Aemina with me. Can you call my girlfriend for me?"
Fu Jian's expression was a little solemn.
He pondered for a few seconds, hesitating, obviously thinking of something, wanting to speak but a little hesitant, and could only say:
"Although I'm not comfortable interfering in your emotional affairs, we humans generally advocate monogamy... Of course, if the three of you agree with each other, then you can pretend I didn't mention it."
Wang Ji Xuan: ...
"Aemina is holding Wanda's core circuit! What are you thinking!"
Fu Jian chuckled.
"Many legendary figures have quite chaotic emotional lives, but that doesn't prevent them from making great achievements."
"My Ling Tong can use a destruction cannon to send me to see the Jade Emperor."
"Alright," Fu Jian said with a smile, shaking his head, and his figure disappeared leisurely.
Daoist Wang scratched his head a little.
He already had a taste of worldly desires and love, and he was still worried about what Ling Tong would do when he ascended.
He couldn't just let Ling Tong become a widow, right?
But how could he ascend with Ling Tong?
Ascension isn't about bringing your whole family to heaven. You can't bring family members to work in the Heavenly Court.
But then again, if he abandoned all moral concepts and used demonic techniques to replenish himself with whatever he needed, Aemina would be a perfect tonic. Sucking up her cultivation might allow him to directly reach the Nascent Soul stage, hehehe...
Oops, wrong laugh.
The Daoist quickly extinguished the thought.
His Dao Heart in the Heavenly Bridge realm was unstable, and such demonic thoughts were popping up!
He was an absolutely righteous cultivator!
...
Aemina was strolling along the 'streets' of the space fortress.
Mu Dan was leading the way in front of her, taking her to some of the more famous local 'attractions'.
The so-called attractions were actually agricultural ecological cabins, each of which was equipped with high-end residential areas, with all kinds of artistic buildings as far as the eye could see.
There was a kind of, um, beauty that emerged after human artistic inheritance was cut off and then began to be freely expressed again.
Aemina was observing with great interest.
At the same time, she was also observing Wanda's core circuit reaction. If a resonator could appear, there would be at least a candidate.
Mu Dan was still dressed as a maid, while Aemina was wearing a long dress of flowing starlight, which was quite eye-catching here.
They admired the scenery here;
The residents here admired them.
"There are so many fat people," Aemina muttered softly.
Mu Dan explained, "If you live in space for a long time, you're likely to develop osteoporosis. The human body will also undergo some changes, and the accumulation and dispersion of fat seem to be unavoidable problems."
Aemina nodded slightly: "The foundation of civilization is the planet. This is the consensus of different types of civilizations."
"It's just that we must now be prepared to abandon our home planet and wander among the stars."
Mu Dan smiled:
"Every resident of the space fortress has to learn all kinds of knowledge from a young age. This is a world that doesn't allow the existence of useless people.
"If you're interested in doing a random interview, you might be shocked by the knowledge of the average resident here."
Aemina shook her head gracefully: "I don't like to talk to people."
"That's a pity," Mu Dan continued to lead Aemina forward.
They were just out for a leisurely stroll today.
Mu Dan kept introducing the various details of the space fortress, as if she were a resident here.
In fact, these were just information extracted from the database.
The two soon arrived at their destination—a restaurant called 'Abyss Taste'.
Although the name and decoration style were full of dark elements, it was actually one of the few profitable restaurants in Space Fortress One.
To enter it, you had to take out some precious materials, and in the space fortress, various precious materials were made into 'coupons', which were equivalent to the paper money here.
The most common were some medicine coupons and organic food coupons. Common vitamins from the earth were relatively scarce here.
With Mu Dan, there were no surprises.
She took out the material coupons she had prepared in advance, bought a buffet for three, and left behind Daoist Wang's disguised face.
They were just here to have a meal, as a small celebration feast.
The two sat behind the floor-to-ceiling windows near the starry sky, with a transparent protective cover outside.
Although Mu Dan didn't need to eat, she wouldn't do anything to spoil the fun in this atmosphere.
Aemina, on the other hand, curiously wandered around, finding some dishes not available on the surface, and enjoyed them immensely.
“Sorry I'm late.”
Daoist Wang strolled over.
He had changed his clothes and taken a shower, trimming his newly grown hair into a buzz cut.
Although Daoist Wang wanted to be carefree, he didn't want to be mistaken for an artist.
Peony asked, “What would you like to eat, sir? I'll get it for you.”
“Just don't poison me.”
“It would take a lot to poison you anyway. You take so many elixirs, your poison resistance must be super high.”
Wang Jixuan glared at her.
Peony smiled and went to the food area, fulfilling her duty as a mechanical maid.
“How was your chat with them?” Aemina elegantly wiped her mouth.
“No one asked us to hand over Wanda's core circuit, which I appreciate.”
Wang Jixuan subconsciously looked at Aemina's chest, drawn to the whiteness, his gaze drifting downwards to her exquisite figure…
He suddenly woke up.
What was happening?
Wang Jixuan shook his head, raised his hand to cover his eyes, leaned back in the rattan chair, and murmured slightly.
Aemina keenly noticed Wang Jixuan's strangeness: “You don't seem quite right.”
“I guess I'm just missing Lingtong a bit,” Wang Jixuan replied softly.
“Oh,” Aemina smiled, “Your relationship is really good. I envy that.”
Wang Jixuan silently recited the Heart-Clearing Incantation and asked with a smile, “Have you ever thought about finding a partner?”
“Spiritual cultivators have a very thin concept of partnership and family because we live too long. We can only find partners among our own kind, but…”
Aemina sighed softly:
“As you know, spiritual civilization is inherently a slave system, and spiritual cultivators are the slave owners.
“With only a few hundred people, it's really too difficult to find a partner.”
Wang Jixuan asked, “What's the relationship between that Sabina and Nierda Tamon?”
“Not too sure,” Aemina murmured a few times, “It feels strange, like partners, more like father and daughter, but spiritual cultivators are chosen by the core circuit. It's unlikely that a father and daughter would become spiritual cultivators at the same time… Of course, there's also that probability.”
“Hmm,” Wang Jixuan calmly changed the subject, “I'll go back to the surface this afternoon.”
“Weren't you going to absorb all the spiritual energy here?”
“You absorb it here,” Daoist Wang smiled, “I suddenly have an insight and need to go into seclusion for a few days, two or three days will be enough. We'll meet at the ruins of Fortress 76 then.”
“Hmm…”
Aemina was clearly hesitant.
She whispered, “It's best if we don't separate, in case they ambush us.”
Wang Jixuan said straightforwardly, “I want to see Lingtong. I miss her a bit.”
“Okay,” Aemina lowered her head to eat, “If you want a date, just say so. Why say you're going into seclusion?”
Daoist Wang smiled and didn't say anything more.
In his heart, however, he was constantly thinking with full vigilance.
Is there really a heart demon at work?
Impossible, right? This Daoist's foundation is a Mahayana remnant soul. The heart demons of the Heavenly Tribulation were directly pushed through. Now, in this lifetime of re-cultivation, what can a Heaven-Earth Bridge realm heart demon do…
Did I use too much demonic power before?
Or is it that I have begun to fall into the mortal world?
Although cultivation does not emphasize purity and abstaining from desires, the elders of the sect often mention that one should 'keep oneself clean,' and there must be a reason for this.
Peony arrived beside Wang Jixuan with a tray.
Daoist Wang deliberately looked at Peony, wanting to see if he would feel any throbbing, but his gaze slid over Peony's figure, and his Dao heart was as calm as a clear mirror lake.
There was absolutely nothing unusual.
Wang Jixuan scratched his head slightly.
He suddenly realized.
His heart demon obsession might not be about love and desire, but about becoming stronger, and before, the thought of using dual cultivation demonic techniques to devour Aemina popped up in his mind…
“Your face looks terrible,” Aemina asked with concern.
Wang Jixuan suddenly stood up, took two steps back, knocked over the chair behind him, and also attracted many gazes.
In his eyes, Aemina's skin was fair and radiant, exuding a deadly charm.
And what truly attracted Wang Jixuan was the huge spiritual energy surrounding Aemina's core circuit…
“I'm done eating, enjoy your meal.”
Wang Jixuan turned and left, directly using the Divine Speed Talisman to start sprinting, leaving Aemina and Peony looking at each other in confusion.