Chapter 472: Curious Coincidence (2)
Liu Hong nodded. That was right. What he wanted was the opinion of the true masters of Great Xia. As for the others, including Zhou Mingren, he couldn't fully trust them. The Xia Family would generally not stoop so low that they would lie about something like this.
In fact, the Xia Family did not tend to lie unless absolutely necessary. For example, if they had to lie to preserve their rule, they would probably do so.
"100 merit points..."
Xia Huyou shut his eyes and ignored that offer. Did this fellow think that he was a beggar? Liu Hong was feeling very helpless. In truth, he had a vague guess as to the true identity of this fellow. He had not asked anyone about it, but he was able to guess something. And if his guess was right, then this was definitely not someone who would lack money.
Thus, he steeled himself and nodded, "Fine. 500 merit points."
"Pay up."
Xia Huyou immediately took out his merit card to finalize the deal. Liu Hong was somewhat speechless. Did he look like someone who would renege on his debt after obtaining the information?
Would he even dare to renege on a debt to the Xia Family? But he still obediently paid up. A wide grin bloomed on Xia Huyou's face. He was feeling very good after sealing yet another business transaction.
"What you know is true. Sure, we don't have a definite confirmation. But many experts, including people like Marquis Xia, Principal Wan, Administrator Hu, and others have reached a common consensus: All the divine and devil characters formed during the past 50 years are probably problematic.
"Of course, there is a second theory floating around. Some people are saying that the problem lies in human characters. Human characters used to be powerful, but for some reason, all human characters have weakened, perhaps from a curse.
"People are still trying to verify the second theory, but there is a common consensus that you might be weaker cultivating human characters, but you will have a much easier time during your advancement into the Sunmoon Realm."
Liu Hong frowned and asked, "So those without human characters won't be able to enter the Sunmoon Realm?"
Xia Huyou said, "This is a second question. I should charge you for it, but forget it. You can have the information for free. It's not impossible, even without human characters. Those who are talented enough will be able to eventually complete the advancement. Elder Hong Tan is one such person. But he's relying on his powerful character technique to counteract the repelling force of the non-human characters.
"Do you have something like that? But even with a character technique, is Elder Hong Tan a Sunmoon already? Without the repelling force, he would have reached the Sunmoon Realm long ago."
Liu Hong nodded in understanding before leaving.
...
A short while later, Su Yu received a reply.
"You can come to my place, but be careful. Don't let anyone see you. 10 single eradication points are too little. Make it 30 points. You can also not pay me and guarantee me three character removals instead."
Su Yu smiled. Did that fellow just go somewhere to verify the information?
That fellow had been silent for a while before suddenly agreeing.
"Sure."
Su Yu did not mind. Three removals? That wasn't an issue. In fact, he would welcome it. After all, his grandteacher's furball still needed to be fed. And Liu Hong would serve to provide some hot and steamy character to feed that furball. His grandteacher would probably be happy to see this as well.
After receiving Liu Hong's location, Su Yu headed over.
...
A few minutes later, Su Yu arrived.
The willpower density in the area was very high.
Liu Hong scanned around before exhaling in relief. He then raised his brow and said, "You're only a Mental Tempering Stage student. The entire grotto is the same for you. It's quite pointless for you to cultivate at my place."
He truly believed that Su Yu's action was pointless. This could easily bring him trouble.
Su Yu smiled, "Teacher Liu, do you really think that I'm a normal Mental Tempering Stage student?"
Liu Hong frowned.
Su Yu said, "I have the multiple character faction and the Single Eradication Club behind me. Do you really think that I don't have something like a foundation cultural art?"
Liu Hong's eyes flickered. The kid knew something like that?
That...might actually be true.
Did the Xia Family have something like that? Probably. Had the kid obtained a foundation cultural art from the Xia Family?
Su Yu said, "I'll have to trouble you to cover for me, Teacher. Since you're someone on the cusp of reaching the Cloudbreach Realm, I believe Zhou Pingsheng won't come here rashly. And if he decides to come, you'll be able to detect him promptly."
Liu Hong said nothing. Zhou Pingsheng had gone over to Hu Wensheng's place. Thus, he wasn't too worried about Zhou Pingsheng. Instead of hiding like before, Su Yu sat down cross-legged right in the open.
Instead of using all 55 of his apertures, he used only around 20 of them to absorb willpower and strengthen himself.
Someone from the Xia Family already had access to his version of cultural art with 36 apertures. It would be better to keep his possession of cultural art a secret for now, but it also wouldn't be such a big deal anymore if it were exposed.
Even with only 20 apertures, he was able to absorb willpower at a decent speed. At the very least, this was a place where he could openly absorb willpower instead of hiding around cautiously. Liu Hong was already a peak Skysoar. Thus, he wouldn't need to absorb that much willpower, as he would mainly be nurturing his existing characters. At this level of cultivation, opening more apertures wasn't something he needed to do.
As Su Yu started his cultivation, Liu Hong spread his willpower out to create an illusion around them. At the same time, he started observing Su Yu. When he saw Su Yu's absorption speed, he cursed inwardly.
Fuck!
The kid really knew a cultural art. Not only that, the kid had also opened quite a lot of apertures! This absorption speed was already comparable to a third or fourth-stage Skysoar!
More importantly, this was only a Mental Tempering Stage student yet he had already opened more apertures than some early Skysoars. With this speed, he had opened at least 20 apertures.
"Is this the inheritance of the multiple character faction?" He couldn't resist asking.
Su Yu replied, "Nope. It's from the Single Eradication Club."
"Is the Single Eradication Club real?"
"Believe whatever you want."
"Why did you recruit me?"
"Because you're one of us. Also, annoying Elder Sun was really fun. I can get them to start doubting everyone around them."
"..."
Liu Hong did not know what to say. He asked, "Are you not afraid of exposing the existence of this club?"
"Nope." Su Yu nonchalantly said, "This isn't a big secret. This organization has existed for a long time. Its target is not only the single character faction of our academy, but the single character faction of the entire Human Realm. Do you understand now? What can a mere Faculty Head Zhou do to the club?"
Liu Hong was alarmed. Was that true?
"Are the people chatting in the public channel really experts?"
"How am I supposed to know?"
Su Yu shrugged and said, "I'm just a small fry. Good thing I'm a genius and also the current spokesperson for the multiple character faction. That was why I was recruited. Do you really think I know everything?"
"Is it possible that there are Myriad Race Cult spies in the club?"
"Why should I care about that?" Su Yu indifferently said, "As long as they don't mess with me, why should I care?"
Liu Hong was rendered speechless.
After a long while, he asked, "Why is it that I can't see the trade and mission listings?"
"What stupid question is that? When I gave you the talisman, I labeled you as a member of the single character faction. You need to be audited and investigated before being fully brought in. You have only been granted partial access to our network."
"..."
Once again, Liu Hong was rendered speechless.
But after a while, he couldn't resist asking again, "You're absorbing a lot of willpower. Are you not afraid of bursting apart?"
"I'm still very far from that." Su Yu said, "My cultural art can open 36 apertures. I still have about a dozen apertures to open. I also need to nurture my characters, strengthen my sea of willpower, and grow my willpower cultivation. I have plenty of places to spend the absorbed willpower on."
Liu Hong cursed inwardly.
Fuck!
Fuck!
36 apertures?
What did that signify? The moment the kid advanced into the Skysoar Realm, he would instantly jump to the ninth stage!
Sure, a cultural art with 36 apertures could only be cultivated up until the Skysoar Realm, but he could simply switch to the Myriad Text Sutra for his future cultivation. Despite the switch, he would absolutely become a Skysoar with a far stronger foundation.
Did the cultural art come from the Single Eradication Club? A foundation cultural art was no longer helpful for Liu Hong. He was shocked to learn of its existence, but he wasn't really too bothered about it. He was going to enter the Cloudbreach Realm soon. He would start opening his 37th aperture. Something with only 36 apertures wouldn't be useful for him.
As for obtaining the foundation cultural art to help his own students, well, he wasn't too interested in doing that. It was clear that this cultural art wouldn't be given out that easily. He might even end up provoking an Invincible if he didn't handle things appropriately. A foundation cultural art was valuable enough that something like that could happen.
"How long are you going to cultivate here? Zhou Pingsheng is going to start his patrol again. If he sees us, I won't be able to explain myself."
"I'll leave the moment he comes. What are you afraid of, Teacher? I'm not worried at all. After today, it will be my grandteacher's turn to maintain the grotto. At that time, Zhou Pingsheng will no longer be able to do anything to me."
Su Yu appeared completely relaxed. This didn't feel as great as absorbing at his full speed, but he didn't need to worry about attracting unwanted attention here. As a peak Skysoar, Liu Hong was able to cover up his presence well.
In the blink of an eye, half an hour passed.
Suddenly, Su Yu's willpower shook.
Liu Hong was alarmed. He cursed inwardly.
That was a new aperture!
That was way too fast!
Just how long had it been? Sure enough, opening apertures at the Mental Tempering Stage was akin to cheating. This was much faster than what a Skysoar would be capable of.
After another hour, Su Yu's willpower shook yet again. Another aperture had opened.
As far as Liu Hong was concerned, Su Yu had opened over 20 apertures.