Chương 12: Chapter 12
Redcliff City was considered mid-sized by cultivation world standards, yet to someone from Earth, its scale would feel monumental. Imagine this: back on Earth, people often lived their entire lives within the bounds of the United States, a single country vast enough to cradle countless diverse lives and landscapes.
Similarly, in the cultivation world, many spent their whole lives within a single city, though for slightly different reasons. While the dangers of travel played a role, sheer scale was a major factor. The capital city of this empire, for example, boasted a population in the billions, over ten times that of Tokyo at its peak, which housed more than 30 million people.
As I gazed at the imposing red cliffs encircling the city, a thought struck me.
'I wonder if I should introduce the concept of apartments here, centralized housing that would reshape the market. If executed right, I could make it nearly impossible for the common people to own homes outright.' A small smirk touched my lips as I envisioned the ripple effects on Redcliff's economic and social structures.
The cliffs themselves were a marvel. Not true cliffs, but the face of an immense mountainside, they loomed like ancient sentinels around the city. Their reddish hue wasn't natural but steeped in legend. It was said that, long ago, the blood of a powerful cultivator fell upon this land. A single drop, yet potent enough to stain the soil permanently, imparting it with unique properties reflective of the cultivator's immense power.
Now, the city and its crimson earth stood as a testament to the legacy of that ancient figure, a barrier, a blessing, and perhaps, a burden for the people who called this place home.
"So, I take it you're planning to use someone from the Mo Clan... do you already have someone in mind?" Lan Mei asked, her gaze fixed on the paper in her hands. It detailed the information of numerous members of the Mo Clan, each profile more complex than the last.
"Mo Ye," I replied calmly.
Lan Mei's brow arched in mild surprise as she glanced down at the name. Her eyes settled on the image of an elderly man and the accompanying details of his life.
Mo Ye's story was a tragic one. Born the son of the Mo Clan leader, his life should have been one of privilege and opportunity. Instead, he endured relentless torment at the hands of his own family. His siblings, envious of his potential, turned their jealousy into cruelty, repeatedly crippling his cultivation. Time and time again, he was forced to rebuild his strength from nothing.
Now, he was merely at the first level of the Core Formation Realm, a feat for most, but a shadow of the greatness he could have achieved. His potential was undeniable; he had once been hailed as a genius of the spear. But the unyielding oppression of his family had smothered any chance for him to reach his true limits.
At just 120 years old, Mo Ye looked far older than his years, his hunched frame and weathered face betraying the toll his life had taken. For someone in the Core Formation Realm, whose lifespan stretched over a millennium, such rapid aging was a mark of profound suffering.
His tragedies didn't end there. His siblings had stolen his wife, a woman he had loved deeply. They had sold his daughter into slavery, condemning her to a fate worse than death. The list of abuses went on, each darker and crueler than the last.
In the cultivation world, the strong preyed upon the weak, and bullying was often merciless. Without allies or protection, Mo Ye had been left as little more than a punching bag, his spirit battered but never entirely broken.
"Oh... so you believe he's lived this long fueled only by the desire for revenge against those who wronged him," Lan Mei said lightly, her voice carrying a trace of amusement. "He would make a perfect pawn, eager to fulfill your desires, and perhaps even loyal to you. A man with nothing left, waiting for someone to save him from the pit he's fallen into."
Her words hung in the air, but after a moment, her expression shifted. A faint frown appeared on her usually composed face.
"But..." she added, her tone softening as her thoughts deepened, "Mo Ye's past might be tragic, but he isn't alone in his suffering. There are others in the Mo Clan whose stories are even sadder, more twisted than his. Broken souls trapped in even darker pits than his."
I didn't answer Lan Mei's question. Instead, I turned my attention to the window, watching the city outside as it passed by. The silence between us grew, but I didn't mind. My thoughts were elsewhere.
As for how I knew so much about the Mo Clan, it wasn't as though they were careless enough to air their dirty laundry to the world. Information like that didn't simply fall into anyone's lap. It required effort, precision, and the right tools.
With my father's help, I built an extensive information network. Combining his already formidable system with the one I had been carefully constructing, I now had a vast web of intelligence at my disposal. No secret was too well-guarded, no clan too isolated to escape my reach.
The Mo Clan, like so many others, had its skeletons. And with the right whispers and shadows in my employ, uncovering them was child's play.
***
Under the cold embrace of the night sky, an old man staggered drunkenly through the quiet streets. Each step seemed a gamble, as though he might collapse at any moment. His eyes, hollow and lifeless, gazed blankly ahead, mirroring the emptiness within him.
At last, his gaze landed on the silhouette of a run-down house, his home. The sight was a familiar one, a place more decrepit than dwelling, littered with trash generously "gifted" by his siblings. It was a cruel reminder of his place in their world, one he could not escape.
The old man trudged forward, his steps heavy, and pushed open the creaking door. He froze mid-step as his gaze fell upon me, sitting calmly within his squalid home, Lan Mei standing silently at my side.
Something shifted within him. The drunken haze that had consumed him moments ago vanished as if whisked away by an unseen force. His mind sharpened unnaturally quickly, his senses clearing with almost unsettling ease.
It didn't take him long to understand why. The faint aroma in the air, subtle but distinct, carried a unique quality that worked its way through his body, dispelling the intoxication and bringing his mind to clarity.
"Who are you?" Mo Ye asked, his voice steady despite the lingering unease in his eyes as they fixed on me.
"I am the prince, Zhou Lianchen," I replied calmly, my tone leaving no room for doubt. "Come, take a seat, Mo Ye."
His eyes widened momentarily, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face. But upon closer inspection, he seemed to recognize me, his expression shifting to uneasy acceptance. With a hesitant nod, he shuffled forward and lowered himself into the chair across from me, his gaze darting between me and Lan Mei, clearly racing with speculation.
"Your clan has enraged me," I began, my voice calm and measured. "I gave them a chance, and they squandered it. Now, I want you to destroy the Mo Clan on my behalf."
Mo Ye froze, his body rigid with shock. He stared at me, his expression a mixture of disbelief and confusion. Lan Mei, too, raised an eyebrow, though her surprise was tempered with intrigue.
"Me?" Mo Ye finally managed, his voice tinged with incredulity. "I'm only at level one in the Core Formation realm. How could I possibly accomplish such a thing?"
I said nothing at first, allowing the weight of my words to settle over the room. Then, with a wave of my hand, a talisman appeared, its intricate patterns glowing faintly in the dim light. I placed it gently on the table between us, its presence commanding attention.
"That's how," I said, gesturing to the talismans on the table. "These three are Demon Beast Attractors. They'll draw wild beasts to your location, up to the Nascent Soul realm in strength."
Lan Mei's eyes widened in shock. She looked at me, clearly struggling to comprehend when or how I had created such a thing.
"The next one," I continued, tapping the second talisman, "is a Universal Key. It has the capability to unlock even the most heavily sealed doors."
I let the silence stretch for a moment before moving to the last group of talismans. "And these five," I said, my tone measured but tinged with quiet menace, "are what I call Nuclear Fusion Bombs. Their detonation will shake this entire city to its core."
Mo Ye's eyes widened as he scanned the talismans before him, their intricate designs radiating faint power. He looked up at me, disbelief and awe warring on his face.
"Take the treasures from your clan's vault," I said, my voice calm yet commanding. "Once you have everything you need, flee to the capital. You'll be under my protection there."
I leaned back slightly, meeting his gaze evenly. "You're a smart man, Mo Ye. You should already know the best way to use these talismans to ensure the clan's destruction."
The room fell silent, the weight of my words settling over both Mo Ye and Lan Mei.
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