I Don't Agree to the Terms

The technology lacked any highlight, and those ancient books full of so-called divine babble were all fake, inherently impossible to cultivate from. They were all made up.

Otherwise, Gu Shanhai could be so certain that such knowledge did not belong to this world.

"Well, I'd better keep an eye on Xiao Yongsheng. Using Prophetic Divination is too error-prone. I should stick with physical methods," Gu Shanhai had already finished beating around the bush, and now, of course, it was time to make a move when the opportunity arose.

But he didn't plan to go there in person, he intended to conduct remote surveillance.

If he actually went to a scene screaming trouble, what would he do if it was a trap?

Although this approach might result in some consequences, it was safer.

He also considered simply ending Xiao Yongsheng, which might then complete his task.

But what then...

Shanhai might do it for the reward, but Gu Shanhai would've wasted his time.

The task being completed would indeed mean no return for him, but likewise, no benefits.

Compared to preventing the concept of death from vanishing, he preferred to see what could possibly erase the concept of death and then look for any benefits.

Task failure was the least loss for him. On the other hand, completing the task in the first way mentioned would be a terrible loss for him.

Gu Shanhai had not even considered Shanhai, who was the one to bring him into the instance, but he was different from regular players. If he died... he could indeed revive, but he still had to prioritize himself. It's not about prioritizing the task without any reward.

"Damn it, why can't I find the person?" Gu Shanhai tried to confirm Xiao Yongsheng's location through Prophetic Divination, but discovered that Xiao Yongsheng had vanished without a trace.

His Spiritual Sense also scanned Xiao Yongsheng's old house but to no avail.

This meant that the man had truly disappeared.

"This is just ridiculous, even I can't find him."

Gu Shanhai knew that Xiao Yongsheng couldn't possibly leave Yunxing City since he had been communicating with many in the city the night prior. Given his current physical state, he would be extremely exhausted and unable to endure another trip.

So it was more likely that he had left by some unknown means.

In an instant, he arrived at Xiao Yongsheng's old house where the assistant and bodyguards were busy.

And Gu Shanhai couldn't help but curse because he saw Xiao Yongsheng, who was working in the study.

"So this is a quantum state, huh? I observe him, hence he appears. Methods like Spiritual Sense for scouting don't count as observation, hence he doesn't exist..." Gu Shanhai quipped.

He didn't enter the study in Xiao Yongsheng's old house but instead buried himself in the distant soil of the courtyard and grew a plant as a disguise.

He watched the whole day, and he had to say, Xiao Yongsheng really did put in the effort, sitting there all day. He only got up a few times to go to the restroom, and all his eating and drinking were served by his assistant.

During this time, the assistant also tried a few times to convince Xiao Yongsheng to rest, and although Xiao Yongsheng would reply in agreement, it was almost dismissive.

Hmm~

A vibration came from his embrace; his phone was ringing.

Gu Shanhai took it out with plant tendrils underground. It must be Shanhai on the call. He answered casually.

"What is it?" Gu Shanhai asked offhandedly.

"I've discovered something, there seems to be something wrong with the ancestry of Su Man and Xiao Yunting," Shanhai spoke without delay.

"What could be wrong? Could they be non-human?" Gu Shanhai replied indifferently.

Even if there were issues with the ancestry, it didn't matter now. Even if it did, it was irrelevant. So many years had passed, and if they weren't cremated, there would be nothing but rotten bones left. They couldn't possibly revive.

"It might truly be revived, and in that case, Gu Shanhai might become interested," came a counter-question from the one who speaks of wonders.

Gu Shanhai recalled for a moment and then said, "I have some impression, a heretical cult active a thousand years ago, all eradicated, right? You're not going to say that these two sects were created by the ancestors of Xiao Yunting and Su Man."

"That's right, and more importantly, these two sects are one and the same, entangled extraordinarily deep."

"In fact, Su Man is an illegitimate daughter."

The two sentences from the one who speaks of wonders seemed somewhat abrupt, but Gu Shanhai understood instantly.

"You mean Su Man is actually Xiao Yongsheng's daughter?" Gu Shanhai made the connection in an instant.

"That's correct, and more importantly, the relationship doesn't stop there. Xiao Yongsheng is also a union of the Su Family and the Xiao family, even his wife is from the Xiao family and the Su Family, without a separation greater than five degrees of kinship, so theoretically, they are all relatives. This is definitely not a coincidence, I smell the scent of destiny," mused the one who speaks of wonders, who wasn't a fool and had researched up to three generations of both the Xiao and Su families.

While the Xiao family was easier to investigate, the Su Family was somewhat more troublesome. The one who speaks of wonders had to simulate hundreds of times to acquire this information, digging directly to the root.

For a moment, Gu Shanhai didn't know what to say.

His mind conjured up various genetic defects and hereditary diseases caused by inbreeding.

"But that's not right, how come they're all okay? Each one of them is so whole and healthy," asked Gu Shanhai, not overthinking it, but asking directly instead.

"I'm not sure, but I can confirm that in their blood, they possess some method to avoid genetic defects and hereditary diseases."

"This method was already implanted in the sects of Eternal Sleep Chang'an a thousand years ago, indicating that both sides are very likely some special relationship, like the original Xiao, Su being one family, etc."

The one who speaks of wonders guessed even bolder than Gu Shanhai.

"Then what... what's the significance of this..." Gu Shanhai felt somewhat helpless, knowing this but being unable to do anything.

From the description of the one who speaks of wonders, whether it was the Su or the Xiao, neither family was thriving, and even finding one for experimentation was difficult. Only the one who speaks of wonders had the simulator capable of constant deep digging.

"Um... There doesn't seem to be any significance." The one who speaks of wonders also paused for a moment, knowing this could how to act, for the information was too fragmented.

"But it's not without solution. Kidnap Xiao Yunting and Su Man and send them to me; I'll be waiting here," Gu Shanhai sent a location to the one who speaks of wonders.

Since the secrets were unclear, kidnapping them for in-depth research seemed the only option, perhaps something could be revealed.

"This... doesn't seem right, and besides, they are blessed by destiny, I would fail if I tried," the one who speaks of wonders wasn't foolish. Kidnapping protagonists was just asking for trouble, and with potential anomalies on these two, how could he dare to take action?

"If all else fails, think of a way to lure them to me, I'll do the kidnapping," Gu Shanhai wasn't mindful of the one who speaks of wonders' caution, as he could tolerate such minor losses.

"If really necessary, you come and monitor Xiao Yongsheng, and I'll go kidnap them."

Gu Shanhai added casually, rather indifferent about it.

"I'll lure them over then, you're too brute-force in your methods," the one who speaks of wonders had a new level of appreciation for Gu Shanhai's recklessness; while he usually strategized before acting, relying on the simulator to find the perfect route, Gu Shanhai was ready to take action without any care.

Being teammates, he could only agree, to prevent complications.

Agreeing was one thing, but he still had to ask.

"What are you planning to do with those two? Threaten Xiao Yongsheng?"

Gu Shanhai didn't conceal his intentions, "I want to study their uniqueness and see if any clues can be found."

"Study? What could that reveal?" The one who speaks of wonders was particularly puzzled by this strategy.

"Even if not for study, just taking a look is fine." Gu Shanhai was considering extracting something from their bloodline, something deeply hidden that might relate to the secrets of the Eternal Sleep Chang'an Sects.

Unfortunately, all the documents and ancient books at hand didn't mention details, just vague references to these two sects, mostly by name, with most records omitted, clearly covered up by the courts of the time.