Chapter 248: Feng Jiuxuan (2)

Xu Xinyao had even said that, in another few thousand years, Sumeru Rings might cease to exist altogether.

Xu Yinhe did not answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at Xu Changge.

Understanding his meaning, Xu Changge took out a Skyfone and contacted Jiang He at the Institute of Applied Research.

A moment later, the old man’s disgruntled voice echoed through the room. “Xu Changge, spit it out already. I’ve just made progress on my Heaven-Slaying Grand Formation—”

The instant Xu Changge heard the words Heaven-Slaying Grand Formation, his face turned black.

“Jiang He,” Xu Yinhe said.

Jiang He fell silent.

Xu Yinhe spoke slowly, his calm voice carrying an authority that needed no anger behind it. “If I remember correctly, I already ordered that formation project shut down.”

As he spoke, he gave his eldest son a quiet glance.

Xu Changge lowered his eyes at once and played dead.

At the sight, Xu Yuan could not help laughing aloud.

Hearing him, Xu Changge shot him a cold glare.

The old man on the other end remained silent for quite some time. Then he coughed lightly and gave an awkward chuckle. “Ahem. That was a slip of the tongue. Just a slip of the tongue. I meant a new type of crossbow formation pattern. It’s almost ready for mass production.”

Xu Yinhe let out a breath but did not pursue the matter. “I contacted you because I have a question.”

Jiang He’s aged voice immediately took on a hint of fawning. Hua Hong had only just approved more funding for him, after all. “Of course, Lord Chancellor. Ask away. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

“There is a batch of Sumeru Rings from 20,000 years ago. Can they be repaired?”

“20,000 years?!” Jiang He’s voice rose sharply before he sucked in a cold breath.

“How many?”

Xu Yinhe did not answer. He merely looked at Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan made a rough estimate and replied uncertainly, “Maybe… a few dozen?”

Based on the fragments of memory left in his mind, and taking into account the abundance of suspension stones 20,000 years ago, there should have been around a hundred Sumeru Rings scattered throughout the Splendorbloom Secret Realm.

However, when Wang Yuchu activated her secret art, those people had not all been gathered in one place. Finding even a few dozen would already be pushing their luck.

“A few dozen?!” Jiang He’s voice rose once again. Realizing he had lost his composure, he coughed lightly. “It appears Lord Chancellor has stumbled upon quite the windfall. The Institute’s reserves of suspension stones are nearly exhausted, and with several dozen Sumeru Rings… well, you see… heh heh heh.”

His meaning could not have been clearer. They could be repaired. But it would cost extra. None of the three men paid any attention to the old man’s attempt to squeeze more money out of them.

Xu Yuan had no authority over the budget.

Xu Changge had just been caught making moves behind his father’s back and did not dare utter a word.

Xu Yinhe simply could not be bothered with his insatiably greedy old friend.

When no one responded, Jiang He’s tone grew impatient. “Fine, fine. We should be able to repair some of them. And if the damage is too severe, we can melt them down and reforge the material into a few new ones. When can you send them over?”

After a brief pause, a trace of mockery entered his voice. “Zong Qingsheng’s men have already come to the Institute several times to collect military equipment. I take it the war in the northern border isn’t going too smoothly?”

At those taunting words, Xu Yuan sighed inwardly.

As Xu Xinyao’s master, Jiang He was another man who despised war.

A common ailment among scientists, apparently.

Unlike Xu Xinyao, however, the old man saw the situation clearly. He understood that a short, sharp pain was better than endless suffering.

That was why he had continued developing new weapons for the Chancellor's Manor. Even the militarization of the source blocking slime Xu Xinyao had invented had been carried out under his direction.

Xu Yinhe did not answer Jiang He’s question directly. “The Sumeru Rings will be delivered to you within a month. How long will the repairs take?”

Jiang He did not give an immediate answer either. “That depends on how badly the formation patterns have deteriorated and how stable the suspension stones remain.”

“You have ten days.”

“Ten days?” Jiang He snorted. “Xu Yinhe, do you think Sumeru Rings grow like cabbages? We’re talking about several dozen—”

“Changge will allocate an additional five million taels to the Institute.”

“Consider it done.” Jiang He changed his tune faster than a Sichuan opera mask. “I’ll have my people begin preparing the repair materials today.”

With business concluded, Jiang He still showed no sign of ending the call. Instead, he suddenly asked in a cold voice, “Xu Changtian, I heard you ran into Xinyao on your journey?”

Xu Yuan smiled. “That’s right. I did.”

Jiang He’s tone remained flat. “How has the girl been lately?”

“She’s doing fine,” Xu Yuan answered vaguely.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Jiang He asked, sounding displeased.

Because of everything Xu Yuan had done in the Imperial Capital, many of the Chancellor's Manor’s senior figures disliked him.

Jiang He disliked him most of all.

Xu Yuan had always enjoyed bullying Xu Xinyao, while Jiang He had no children of his own. That obedient disciple of his was the treasure of his heart.

Whenever he discovered that she had suffered some grievance, Jiang He would storm over and demand an explanation. Of course, under normal circumstances, that old auntie Lou Ji would stop him at the door.

After all, this old man’s hands were far heavier than Xu Changge’s.

Thinking of this, amusement crept into Xu Yuan’s voice. “What? Surely not. Don’t tell me Xinyao hasn’t contacted you even once after all this time? She came all the way to Stillwater to find me on her own.”

Jiang He fell silent. The other side angrily cut off the connection.

For a time, silence returned to the main hall.

Xu Yuan gathered his thoughts, then looked toward Xu Yinhe, who sat in the seat of honor with a contemplative look in his eyes. “Father, one month probably won’t be enough, will it?”

The Goddess Mountains, where the Splendorbloom Secret Realm was located, lay near the Myriad Ascents Mountain Range in the southwest. A round trip alone would take at least two months.

A rare trace of complicated emotion appeared in Xu Yinhe’s eyes. “Time is short. I intend to send your maternal uncle.”

Feng Jiuxuan, the Sword Saint. Xu Yuan’s gaze sharpened slightly.

Xu Changge hesitated before asking, “Will Uncle agree to go?”

Most of his younger siblings had still been too young to understand anything back then, but he remembered it all clearly. Because of their mother’s death, their uncle’s relationship with their father had never been good.

Feng Jiuxuan had even said with his own lips that if Xu Yinhe ever betrayed their mother’s vision, he would personally cut him down.

“The war in the north is urgent. We have no other choice.” Xu Yinhe sighed. He slowly rose and looked toward a pavilion in the northwest corner of the Chancellor's Manor.

Xu Changge followed his gaze.

After a moment’s thought, Xu Yuan also turned and stared in that direction, doing his best to look as though he knew what was happening.

But the instant he looked over, the other two had already withdrawn their gazes.

Xu Changge stood and bowed toward the entrance of the main hall. “Uncle.”

Only then did Xu Yuan realize what had happened and turn to look.

The sky outside was overcast, and the rain fell in a steady drizzle.

A snow-white figure had appeared in the hall without warning.

His features were sharp and exquisitely carved. Vast lotus patterns shimmered faintly across his white robes. A white silk cord bound most of his ink-black hair high behind his head. Beneath willow-shaped brows, his black eyes resembled pools of ink so deep and dark they could never be diluted.

In one hand, he carried the spirit sword Deep Verdant.

Simply standing there made him difficult to look at, quite literally difficult to look at.

Time seemed to have left no mark upon him. He was like the blinding edge of a sword freshly drawn from its sheath.

Feng Jiuxuan’s expression softened as his gaze swept across Xu Changge and Xu Yuan.

Then his eyes settled on Xu Yinhe, and the warmth vanished at once. “What is it?”

Xu Yinhe remained seated, calmly meeting Feng Jiuxuan’s gaze. “I need your help with something.”

Feng Jiuxuan said nothing.

Xu Yinhe continued, “Changtian discovered a secret realm. There are a large number of Sumeru Rings inside. Time is pressing, so I can only trouble you with this.”

“Changtian…” Feng Jiuxuan murmured the name, then slowly turned his gaze toward Xu Yuan, who was still seated.

The instant his eyes fell upon him, both Feng Jiuxuan and Xu Yinhe’s expressions sharpened. The spirit sword Deep Verdant was trembling.