Chapter 770 - 362: Underestimated

Chapter 770: Chapter 362: Underestimated

For Ji Mingyue, as long as she had a choice, she would never pick the Potter Family; if she’d wanted to, she’d have done it long ago. She’d rather choose Ye Shidao instead, that was how it was. The Moon God’s Court was something even Luthor couldn’t step over; even with the support of the Peak Pool, it still wasn’t enough. If faith became the one and only, combined with the power the Potter Family already held, then everyone would become puppets. She did want to restore Royal Authority, but she wouldn’t drink poison to quench her thirst; after all, she wasn’t yet at the end of her rope.

Lu Shuai, this man who had arrived in Dragon Capital as insignificant as an ant, could now sit in front of her and negotiate terms. Lu Shuai was a hub, a very important hub, yet not as overbearing as the Potter Family; the two sides were in a mutually dependent relationship, and most crucially, Lu Shuai himself wasn’t overbearing.

Since she couldn’t get what she truly wanted, finding someone humorous wasn’t the worst option.

"I heard you once had a woman you loved dearly," Ji Mingyue said.

Lu Shuai looked at Ji Mingyue and smiled. "Senior Sister, you actually don’t like me, and I can’t reach your standards. But I’m the most suitable one. With no feelings involved, won’t cooperation be even more pleasant? The woman I loved is no longer in this world. All I want now is to focus on my career."

From the moment he stepped in, Lu Shuai had been playing with his cards face up, and Ji Mingyue knew that he was playing with his cards face up.

In her framework, Li Xin was the best option; if it worked out, he would become her strongest trump card, so she hadn’t wanted to give up. But she was very clear that Li Xin had zero interest in her. She also knew that compromise didn’t exist in Li Xin’s character; the two of them simply weren’t compatible.

Lu Shuai, this good brother of Li Xin’s, might be a viable choice.

...

In the Council, Nalan Jingguo couldn’t help roaring his objections, but no one cared at all. Duke Potter’s face was dark as iron; he glanced at Ji Mingyue. He truly hadn’t expected that, in such a deadlock, this little woman would have the nerve to give up the chance to become queen and play dirty against him. She couldn’t possibly think this was the end of it, could she?

But whatever the case, in this election Chen Rutang was chosen. This dean of the Canon Law School, renowned throughout Dragon Capital, had become the new supreme leader of Li Long and would be forming his own new Cabinet to reorganize Dragon Capital.

At the same time, the election of Chen Rutang, who came from the Canon Law School, also meant that the future path of its students would be much broader, breaking the traditional domination of crucial Li Long positions by the great aristocratic clans.

A celebration banquet was indispensable. Even though Dragon Capital’s current situation made it unsuitable for too much fanfare, the necessary social engagements still had to be held. Chen Rutang also needed to rally people’s hearts. Ji Mingyue’s presence there meant that Chen Rutang had gained the full support of the Royal Family. At the same time, the Royal Family would finally once again participate in the Kingdom’s governance. This was real power. Chen Rutang very much needed the Royal Family’s support, unlike the Potter Family, who only wanted puppets and breeding tools.

As for the Royal Family’s curse, she had promised Lu Shuai that as long as he found a way to resolve it, she would marry him. Although this hadn’t yet been made public, this condition alone was enough for the two sides to reach a certain consensus and form an alliance.

Behind Ji Mingyue stood the Peak Pool, one of the Five Great Sanctuaries; on Lu Shuai’s side there was the Celestial Principle School, and even the Secret Castle, and he also had the rules that Luthor had laid down back then. Lu Shuai’s very identity was a huge Wish Force Field. Even the Moon God’s Court would find it difficult to make any drastic moves; if the fish died and the net was torn, the Karmic Force backlash that followed would not be easy to resolve.

The New Era was different from the Old; the Hidden World was no longer just about simple killing and fighting—there was always an account to be settled.

Yet as Ji Mingyue walked a circuit with her wine glass raised, she never saw that most dazzling young man. Everyone knew Lu Shuai was Chen Rutang’s prized disciple and that he enjoyed immense support among the people. All of that was power; it was absolutely not a fantasy for him to become the next Grand Governor.

At this moment, Lu Shuai was in the Celestial Principle Academy, gulping down alcohol. Li Xin and Huerta sat beside him; he’d take a big swig, then cry for a while, then, when he finished crying, he’d drink again.

"Brother Li, I did it, but Miss Tang can’t see it anymore!"

Li Xin and Huerta simply drank with Lu Shuai, listening as he rambled on and on about countless things.

Longing spread out like the night fog, thick and heavy...

...

The ancient, dilapidated Li Long United Kingdom, its splendid manors still shrouded in mist. The original layout hadn’t changed much; what differed from before was the addition of some unknown buildings. The fog drifted slowly, and thin strands of sunlight pierced down, lending it a subtly eerie beauty.

Christian pushed open the door to the study. He chose a comfortable posture and leaned lazily against the chair. He stretched out his hand and lightly tapped the tabletop. Having advanced to Four Lives, his aura was even harder to conceal, its sharpness barely contained. He picked up the perfectly warmed coffee and took a light sip; the rich, velvety texture improved his mood even more. Unfortunately, there was no one by his side with whom he could share any of this. The path of a genius was always lonely and exceptional.

His pleasant mood prompted him to open his beloved red diary. The golden feather pen paused faintly in mid-air, and a faint divine radiance flashed from Christian’s fingertips. Only then was he satisfied enough to set the pen tip down onto the diary and write in flowing strokes:

"Advancing to the Fourth Life, I obtained divinity. For ordinary people, obtaining divinity is a curse—one becomes one of the many parent-source artifacts for a Deity. But I’m different."

When he got here, Christian tapped the table and rubbed his head, as if something was missing. But soon he grinned, naturally turned the page, and continued.

Thinking of the recent progress of the Round Table Conference, Christian took another satisfied sip of coffee. Hidden knowledge was expensive and rare in any Secret Organization; even within the seven Church Courts, one couldn’t access it without a certain rank. Yet under his lead and instruction, the Round Table Conference had already begun to popularize it.

"Taurus is currently the most promising one. I’m very optimistic about him. His situation is extremely complicated, involving the faith of two Deities. He’s a classic case worth observing. Through the contest between the God of Death and the Nether God, we can observe the direction of the New Era. He merits focused attention; when necessary, I can take the initiative to offer him some help."

"Miss Virgo," here Christian paused subconsciously, "the intentions of the Withered Wood Monastery are unclear. Those scheming and resentful Nuns had best bring their gloomy grievances with them into the Round Table Conference. This might be troublesome—we need to be on guard!"

"Miss Aries, her reserve leaves me conflicted yet appreciative. She’s a wonderfully refreshing presence. Even if she has some little schemes, they’re still quite delightful. I look forward to her continued growth. She has a chance, in the future, to walk shoulder to shoulder with me... If only she could be a bit more proactive, I wouldn’t exactly be opposed."

"Gemini, that kid is rather interesting. Even with my help, managing to kill a Puppet Angel solo at Two Lives still surprised me a little. The kid still owes me a coffee. With him, I must keep the whip constantly at his back."

"Libra is not bad, still steady as ever...."

"Leo... a drag..."

Knock, knock, knock...

The knocking at the door interrupted Christian’s urge to continue writing. He closed the red diary, and it quietly faded from the surface of the desk as though it had never existed.

The butler walked in respectfully. "Young Master, the second young lady of the Marking Family, the eldest young lady of the Potter Family, and the fifth young lady of the Phil Family would like to invite you to go hiking tomorrow afternoon."

Christian almost instinctively wanted to refuse, but for a brief moment, his slightly open mouth froze. Tomorrow?

Christian thought in silence for a while before waving his hand lightly and indifferently. "Tell them I don’t have the time."

"Yes, Young Master. I’ll inform them at once."

The butler withdrew respectfully. The door closed. Christian’s eyes turned to the diary that had reappeared on the desk. His gaze was calm, and everything returned to normal once more.