Chapter 1106: Chapter 1104: Dragon Summit Inn (28)
The Return Edict, which boasts the ability to perceive everything outside of one’s mind, has already been proven to have a dissipating effect on the scrutiny from Superior Beings.
Of course, Fu Qian was not certain that this blessing would still be effective in the present situation.
He decided to use it first because he could tell that Ah Long was also attempting something similar.
He distinctly understood that this untimely surge of power was insufficient to help him contend against a Demigod, and would only hasten his demise.
And the cooperation of the patient was always one of the crucial factors affecting the efficacy of a treatment.
It turned out that the results were somewhat satisfactory.
With the help of the Return Edict, Ah Long managed to control the situation in not too long a time.
Before long, the fluttering Soul Butterflies completely dissipated.
“Why would you help me?”
Ah Long’s voice came as no surprise, sounding slightly less tense.
“Considering the risks of exposure, you could have easily let another version of yourself speak.”
But Fu Qian did not rush to answer, instead kindly offering a reminder.
“…You wouldn’t offer a favor without reason. Aren’t you worried I might run away?”
This time it was Sunny’s voice; evidently, Ah Long was heeding the advice.
“I’m not worried, since you came seeking an audience, I cannot let you return empty-handed.”
Fu Qian displayed an air of indifference.
“Furthermore, I should remind you, once you leave my grand hall, this blessing will vanish.”
After all, the influence of the Return Edict was limited.
“…When did it become your grand hall?”
Despite understanding what Fu Qian meant, his utterly incongruous statement finally made Sunny speak out in contest.
“Oh, so whose grand hall is it?”
However, after her retort, she only heard the other party’s very natural counter-question.
…
Clearly showing a hesitant expression on her face, but soon, Sunny clenched her teeth, seemingly making up some resolve.
“I don’t know His exact venerable name, but the illusion just now was His visage, and you absolutely have no relation to Him.”
“Oh, did you manage to find out a vague venerable name then?”
Fu Qian did not deny, instead, he continued with the question.
Not knowing the name is not surprising, as most of the oaths encountered so far hardly necessitate it.
“How do you know…”
Sunny was clearly taken aback.
“There’s nothing that the Native Council doesn’t know.”
Fu Qian scoffed coldly, his tone arrogant.
“Do you think I’m as foolish as Kelson, treating you as some so-called endogenous creature of the blessing?”
“I am very clear about what you truly are!”
“Names are confusing, but the general idea is more or less the same… Dragon King.”
For someone omniscient, Ah Long did not seem to entirely believe it.
But under the roof of others, coupled with the shock from the Native Council, he still decided to cooperate.
“Unlike most beliefs of that time, His venerable name seemed to be a taboo in the Mythic Era, and with much effort, I could only find out this much.”
“Of course, His followers are obviously numerous in scale.”
“And it looks like you’re not keen on being one of them.”
Fu Qian timely made a comment from the side.
“You know far too much!”
This statement struck right at the heart, and Ah Long’s previously cautious demeanor instantly crumbled.
What followed was a torrential outpour, bearing the air of giving up all pretense.
“Indeed, I am not some Ancient Dragon, nor do I know why it suddenly disappeared. In fact, I don’t care about its welfare at all.”
“Long ago, Sunny and I broke into this place, right when the blessings appeared.”
“And here, I experienced changes in myself that I couldn’t understand.”
“Unfortunately, I was not so optimistic. What others dream of always seemed bizarre to me, so I spent a lot of time and effort investigating what those blessings actually signify.”
“The conclusion I finally reached is that I seem to have become a follower of an ancient Deity–ridiculously though, I can’t even confirm the name of the entity I supposedly believe in.”
“One can certainly imagine that being rather unpleasant.”
Fu Qian also chimed in timely, spectating the fascinating confession.
“Now what about those terrifying actions earlier? What were they for?”
“To stop them.”
Sunny’s voice was resolute and decisive.
“This place is not a blessing; I do not want more people becoming like me.”
By avoiding people’s corruption, you mean to eliminate them directly, right?
Quite an effective tactic.
Fu Qian nodded thoughtfully.
It seems I begin to understand why you’re known as an Oath Abandoner.
Not only do you not serve the Divine Beings, but you also prevent Them from acquiring more tools.
“So, by leveraging your strong stealth abilities and with Sunny’s cover, you kept creating conflicts to make everyone feel endangered and reduce their exploration of this place?”
“Forgive my bluntness, but the effect is somewhat lackluster.”
“The results were actually not bad before… It was unexpected that Siren and Ji Family could reach such an understanding.”
Perhaps to assert his presence, this time it was Ah Long talking.
“I had already sensed the inappropriateness earlier, so I remained cautious; however, it was Kelson, just Kelson whose luck was so good…”
That’s certainly true, Kelson’s wide-reaching lightning strikes were indeed suitable for startling and flushing out the hidden.
If it were some other Demigod, they would hardly manage to force someone like him out who was just watching from the sidelines.
Fu Qian understood Ah Long’s bitterness and then stabbed further.
“Are you sure it was only Kelson?”
“Your deity, it seems, is bestowing blessings on you ungrudgingly.”
Heh heh…
Ah Long’s voice sounded helpless with a tinge of melancholy.
“The power infused in me in the form of a Soul Butterfly, indeed, protects me and even helps to mislead those pursuing me, but it’s clearly meaningless to a Demigod–it only makes my original concealment ineffective.”
“You’re right, it seems like I did anger Them, although I’m not sure if They are still capable of feeling anger, but clearly, They’re accelerating my demise through the blessings.”
“Not only that, but also the Ancient Dragon illusion was discovered; any Hunter who saw that scene just now who has a bit of cunning should probably consider you as the real one.”
“Even though they lack the nerve for a risky take, I reckon they wouldn’t mind lending a hand to Siren for some reward.”
Fu Qian’s cutting words were relentless, one after another.
“All in all, given your excessively rebellious spirit, it seems very unlikely that you will live till dawn.”
…
Seeing the grim reality set in, and the unanimous silence all around, Fu Qian finally nodded in satisfaction.
“People speak well when they are about to die, now I have a question, what exactly were you planning to do to me just now?”
“What kind of measures are you planning to use, leveraging my deterrent effect on Kelson, to secure a chance of survival for yourself?”