novelHire Chapter 888: One must have a conscience.
Chapter 888: One must have a conscience.
Just as Chen Huaian was forcibly seizing the million-year World Ring.A piece of information also reached the Divine Realm of the Canglan World through a strange channel, landing in the minds of the Golden and Silver Dragon Kings.
"Hmm?"
The Golden Dragon King, who had been silently studying the Heavenly Dao rules of the Cangyun Realm, was stunned. "Wait... why is a million-year World Ring being requested already?"
He glanced at the Silver Dragon King. "Go check what cultivation realm that human named Li Qingran has reached. It shouldn't be... Could she have become a Peak Battle Master in such a short time? How long has it even been..."
The Silver Dragon King closed his eyes, a strand of Divine Sense sweeping across the Canglan Great World. He saw Tang Ritian holding Tang Er and Little Rabbit with one hand while his other hand was empty yet grasping Li Qingran. And this target who had been ordered to receive 'special care' was definitely not a Peak Battle Master, but merely a Battle Ancestor.
But a Battle Ancestor didn't meet the conditions to receive a million-year World Ring...
She had barely met the requirements for the previous hundred-thousand-year World Rings. What was going on with directly receiving a million-year World Ring?
Although they had submitted to that Lord from the Cangyun Realm and promised to provide Li Qingran with any resources unconditionally.
That Lord was also reasonable and had agreed to their request to maintain the balance of the Canglan World.
So maintaining the world's balance was simple.
For example, giving Li Qingran three hundred-thousand-year World Rings in advance was within the acceptable range of balance. This would make Li Qingran strong, but not strong enough to affect the world's rules.
However, giving Li Qingran a million-year World Ring now was completely different.
A million-year World Ring appearing on a Battle Ancestor... This would throw the entire Canglan World into chaos!
It might even trigger a world war.
Wouldn't that completely destroy the 'ecological balance' they had so carefully designed over all these years?
"She's a Battle Ancestor, but she seems to be in mortal danger right now."
The Silver Dragon King said to the Golden Dragon King, "What do we do? Although we don't know which rule has malfunctioned... should we issue the million-year World Ring?"
The Golden Dragon King frowned and thought for a while. Remembering that Li Qingran was in mortal danger, he reluctantly said, "Give it to her!"
Probably this million-year World Ring was needed to survive this life-and-death crisis.
Ensuring Li Qingran's safety without revealing themselves was their top priority.
The World Ring could be given first.
But afterward, this matter had to be reported to that Lord from the Cangyun Realm to see what that Lord had to say.
If it was permitted by that Lord...
Then, that Lord would have ways to minimize the impact of the million-year World Ring.
"By the way, do we have a ready-made million-year World Ring?" The Silver Dragon King suddenly asked.
"How could we possibly have a ready-made one of these things?" The Golden Dragon King said speechlessly. "We don't use this stuff..."
Silver Dragon King: "Then..."
"Let's go." The Golden Dragon King waved his hand. "Let's go hunt a million-year World Beast right now, then deliver the million-year World Ring to that person.
Oh, wait.
Not hunt, but make them willingly offer themselves as sacrifice!"
...
Inside Li Qingran's Battle Soul space, it was completely silent.
Chen Huaian looked at the progress bar floating in mid-air before him, the corner of his eye twitching.
[Glory Battle Pass: Million-Year World Ring resource allocation in progress...]
[Current Progress: 12%... 12.1%...]
The numbers crawling at a snail's pace were like a constipated old man slowly crossing the street.
"..."
Chen Huaian took a deep breath, almost unable to resist smashing that gourd.
"Restocking?"
"You think this is discounted eggs at the vegetable market? It can be restocked?!"
He originally thought that with just a light tap, he could immediately ascend, donning the divine equipment of a million-year World Ring, and go out to wreak havoc.
Instead, this damned gourd directly gave him a "currently restocking"?
If there was no stock available, it should have said so earlier!
Right when he needed to use it, it needs restocking?
Crazy!
Chen Huaian's vision went dark—from anger.
This was like having your pants already off, only for the other party to tell you: Sorry, my period will end in two hours, please wait.
"Fine."
Chen Huaian gritted his teeth and sat down cross-legged.
"I'll wait."
"Let's see what kind of flower you can load."
...
Outside, deep in the forest.
Ancient trees reached for the sky, vines entwined everywhere, sunlight could only filter through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled spots of light.
Thud.
A black shadow landed heavily, startling a flock of birds into flight.
Tang Ritian casually threw the three people in his hands onto the ground.
"Father!"
Tang Er ignored his injuries, struggling to stand up, then directly knelt before Tang Ritian, his eyes reddening.
"I never thought... it was really you!"
"I never thought you were so powerful..."
That father in his memory who only knew how to play with his staff, drink, and sleep was actually a Legendary Battle Master who made even the Pope wary!
This enormous contrast impacted his heart.
His heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Not having seen his father for so long, he originally had many things to say, but they were all stuck in his throat.
"Powerful?"
Tang Ritian smiled self-deprecatingly, a flash of pain in his muddled eyes.
"If I were truly powerful, I wouldn't have been so helpless back then."
He extended his rough, large hand and rubbed Tang Er's head, then his gaze fell on the timid girl behind Tang Er.
Sure enough, she was a World Beast...
Like father, like son. His son really shared his temperament.
The girl's face was pale, but the look she gave Tang Er was filled with undisguised admiration and dependence.
That kind of look was all too familiar.
Tang Ritian was momentarily dazed.
It was as if, through time and space, he saw that beautiful young girl from back then, looking at him with that same gaze.
But...
Because he had experienced loss.
He knew exactly what kind of chasm lay between Battle Masters and World Beasts, and how many difficulties they had to face.
It wasn't just the lack of understanding and contempt from those around them, but also having to face the condemnation of thousands, standing at the forefront of the hostility between two races.
Even just being grazed by such a violent storm would lead to eternal damnation.
He wanted Tang Er to simply give up on this girl.
But when he met Tang Er's stubborn gaze, he couldn't help but think of his younger self back then.
Finally, he sighed. "You know the current situation. Her—"
Tang Ritian pointed at Little Rabbit. "How do you plan to handle her?"
"Father." Tang Er pulled Little Rabbit over, shielding her behind him, his tone firm. "She is Little Rabbit, my family, and also... my beloved."
"Whether she is human or a World Beast, whether this world accepts her or not."
"I will protect her."
The wind stopped.
Tang Ritian looked at this young man before him, covered in wounds yet standing straight-backed. After a long while, he let out a long sigh.
"So similar..."
Similar to that foolishly adorable woman, and also similar to his younger self who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth back then.
"Fine."
Tang Ritian nodded, his voice low and heavy.
"Since you've chosen this path, you must be prepared to become enemies with the entire world."
"The pursuit of the Battle Soul Hall will accompany you for the rest of your life. You will bleed, suffer, and perhaps even die."
"I'm not afraid!" Tang Er raised his head.
"Got guts."
A flash of appreciation appeared in Tang Ritian's eyes.
Father and son reunited, filled with tender affection.
However, the next second.
Tang Ritian's gaze shifted, landing on Li Qingran who had remained silent the whole time.
In that instant, all warmth vanished.
The temperature in the air plummeted to freezing point.
"Since you're taking this path, some hidden dangers must be eliminated in advance."
Tang Ritian slowly raised his hand. Black light surged in his palm, and a suffocating killing intent locked onto Li Qingran.
"Scum like this from the Battle Soul Hall, keeping them around... is a disaster."
"Should be killed."
Two words, spoken lightly, yet carrying an iron-blooded ruthlessness.
"Father, no!"
"You can't!"
Two exclamations rang out simultaneously.
Tang Er and Little Rabbit almost simultaneously blocked Tang Ritian's path.
"Father! On the arena earlier, she could have killed me but held back in the end." Tang Er's tone was urgent. "And just now, she didn't help the Pope against us either. We have no grudge against her, how can we kill innocent people indiscriminately?"
The violent killing intent on his body slowly receded, transforming back into that middle-aged man with a stubbly beard, looking desolate and weathered.
World Beasts were very keen in sensing the good and evil in people's hearts.
When her identity as a shapeshifted World Beast was exposed, almost everyone felt greed and killing intent toward her.
Only her teammates and Master who had spent day and night with her, and this opponent Li Qingran were different.
Li Qingran simply didn't care whether she was a World Beast or not.
"Good person?"
Tang Ritian sneered, a mockery born of having seen through the ways of the world.
"Child, there are no good people in this world, only dead people and living people."
He pointed at Li Qingran, his eyes sharp as knives.
"She's not killing you now because she hasn't received orders from the Battle Soul Hall yet."
"She is the number one among the younger generation of the Battle Soul Hall, a monster that Bixixi has poured all her resources into cultivating.
Her talent is ten times more terrifying than Bixixi's back in the day!"
This enormous contrast struck his heart.
I can't protect you for a lifetime!
Bixixi's strength has been skyrocketing. Back then, she wasn't my match in a one-on-one fight.
Now she can handle my full-power staff strike with ease...
Even if I protect you through Bixixi's era, what about when she grows up? What then?"
Tang Ritian pointed at Li Qingran, taking a step forward. The terrifying pressure made Tang Er and Little Rabbit almost suffocate.
"When she grows up, when she becomes the new Pope, or even becomes a deity..."
"Who will stop her?"
"That staff of yours? Or this little rabbit of yours?"
Tang Ritian's voice grew colder and colder.
"Such a genius destined to become a mortal enemy must be eradicated while her wings are still not fully grown!"
"Are you going to wait for her to grow fangs, then come bite your throats?!"
Tang Er trembled all over but still stubbornly blocked the way, gritting his teeth. "But we still can't... we still can't go against our conscience!"
"Conscience?"
Tang Ritian looked at his son's youthful yet stubborn face. A flicker of reluctance flashed in his eyes, but it vanished in an instant, replaced by ruthlessness.
Compassion doesn't command troops; righteousness doesn't conduct business.
To survive in this world that devours people, to protect those around you.
Your heart must be black.
Your hands must be ruthless.
"Since you can't bring yourselves to do it..."
Tang Ritian slowly raised that large hand wreathed in Black Qi.
"Since your conscience won't allow it..."
Tang Ritian was momentarily dazed.
Boom!
Killing intent erupted.
Tang Ritian didn't waste any more words. The black hand transformed into an afterimage, bypassing Tang Er.
Carrying the determination to kill, it went straight for Li Qingran's slender throat.
And Li Qingran, who had remained silent all along.
Just stood there quietly, watching that hand of death drawing closer and closer.
There was no fear on her face.
Because she knew her Master would definitely protect her.
And it was at the exact moment Tang Ritian made his move.
Chen Huaian abruptly opened his eyes, drew his sword, and charged out of the Battle Soul space.
Simultaneously, the million-year World Ring's progress bar suddenly jumped from 51% to 100%.
The sky abruptly darkened. Dark clouds pressed down on the city, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. From the edge of the world, what seemed like a dragon's roar echoed.
A terrifying pressure pinned Tang Ritian in place, rendering him unable to move.
At the same time, the Endless Sea.
"I told you to offer yourself, and you refuse?"
The Golden Dragon King was both furious and anxious, glaring fixedly at the million-year ancient Mountain-Sea Whale before him.
This World Beast had already reached the demigod level and had every chance of becoming a true deity in its lifetime.
So facing the Golden Dragon King's demand, it had been negotiating terms.
But the situation was critical now. The Golden Dragon King couldn't wait any longer.
"If you won't offer yourself, then die!"
With that, he directly slapped the ancient Mountain-Sea Whale's head.
This slap shook heaven and earth.
It directly smacked out the ancient Mountain-Sea Whale's soul and its million-year World Ring.
...