Normal

Why had it turned out like this? Meeting a Celestial-Human for the first time... meeting the Haizhou Warden for the first time... Two joyful things overlapping together... It was supposed to bring... Ji Jue couldn't remember the rest. He had already been stunned into silence by the brutal reality. Following Professor Ye through corridors and courtyards, enduring checkpoint inspections, he had finally arrived outside the room, where a secretary politely pulled open the door for them. Behind the door lay an elegant yet simple room, tranquil and unadorned, furnished with merely a table and a chair. The Haizhou Warden was even in the middle of eating breakfast. Upon hearing of Ye Xian's arrival, he had immediately invited them in—approachable and utterly devoid of airs. What astonished Ji Jue was that a dignified Celestial-Human had a breakfast consisting of nothing more than a bowl of thin congee, a steamed bun, and a small dish of pickled vegetables. Given their sudden arrival, there was naturally no chance of him putting on a performance; it could only be his ordinary frugality. Moreover, there was none of the oppressive aura typical of the Tianyuan lineage, none of that terrifying presence that choked the breath from anyone who laid eyes upon them. Yet what left Ji Jue slack-jawed was... There was nothing else, either. There was only a dazed old man covered in age spots, nearly bald, dressed in pajamas. His hand trembled as he raised a spoon slowly toward his lips, swallowing with agonizing slowness. A couple of drops spilled down his chin. The secretary immediately whipped out a handkerchief and dabbed them away. Leaning down, the secretary whispered something into the old man's ear. The formerly vacant old man seemed to gain a shred of lucidity, his eyes brightening. Then, he looked toward Ji Jue. "Ah, little Ye has arrived..." the old man mumbled slowly, his words slurred. "Haven't seen you in so long... you've grown much handsomer, much... Hmm, ever since you went to Yunzhou..." "Warden, that isn't who this is," the secretary interjected anxiously, lowering his voice in reminder. "This is Master Ye Xian, from the Ye family of the Thousand Islands." "Aren't they... already gone?" A blank look instantly washed over the old man. After a long daze, sudden realization seemed to dawn. "Ah, I remember now, Xiao Lü mentioned it... How could I forget? Really, my apologies... I've grown so old, so old..." His speech was slurred, his sentences muddled and jumbled, drifting in and out of consciousness. "..." Ji Jue hung his head, feeling as if several layers of pain masks were welded to his face. This was clearly senile dementia, wasn't it? A dignified Celestial-Human? The Warden of an entire province? Were they serious? Sure enough, the world was just one giant amateur circus. And depending on the circumstances, it could become even more of a circus—at this point, the clownery was agonizing enough to make Ji Jue wish for death. And they were still counting on settling everything in a single strike with this? Still counting on rebuilding Quancheng? Cut the bullshit! Better pack up and go home right now! Nothing of real substance took place in the conversation that followed. It was nothing more than the old man offering brief thanks and a welcome to Ye Xian in his capacity as the Haizhou Warden, followed by a few encouraging remarks for the younger generation. It felt like walking through bureaucratic motions. After exchanging a few polite pleasantries, the two took their leave. For a long while after exiting, Ji Jue didn't dare say a word. After all, glaring surveillance cameras hung right above them. But when Ye Xian turned her head, Ji Jue felt the surroundings flicker for an instant. The surveillance cameras remained unchanged, yet the words exchanged between them were temporarily shielded from the Domain that enveloped the entire perimeter of Quancheng. "Are you wondering how someone with senile dementia could become a Celestial-Human? And become the Haizhou Warden?" "...Honestly, a little," Ji Jue sighed softly. "Decades ago, when Quancheng fell, Elder Tao took the risk to advance to Celestial-Human. At the time, he was already a recognized powerhouse in the Federation. Had he simply proceeded step by step, the seat of a Celestial-Human would have been his for the taking. "Before reinforcements arrived, he held up all of Quancheng on his own for two hours. To do so, he burned away more than half of his soul... Because of that, Quancheng didn't completely plunge into the Vortex, which is why Haizhou has so many surviving Quancheng refugees today. "Without him, Haizhou could never have remained stable to this day. "It wasn't until seven years ago that he regained consciousness. Four years ago, he assumed the post of Haizhou Warden and has been driving this entire plan ever since. "So there is no need to worry about him. Even if he grows dull and senile, even if he forgets who and what he is, his resolve to purge the catacombs and rebuild Quancheng will never waver in the slightest." "Two hours?" Ji Jue was shocked. Ye Xian nodded. "Or even longer." Two hours. One hundred and twenty minutes, or more. At the brink of Quancheng's collapse, amidst the corrupting pollution capable of completely mutating an entire city, every single second was agonizing enough to feel like eternity. Too long, far too protracted. It was the same for anyone. He couldn't fathom why Federation reinforcements had taken over two hours to arrive. Nor could he imagine the terrifying trials and perils that solitary, enduring old man had faced back then. The path to the realm of Celestial-Human was profoundly deep and distant. Even with ample preparation, achieving it was exceedingly difficult. Let alone rushing through it under duress... When he abandoned much of his humanity and soul to embrace Tianyuan, Tianyuan had drawn that much closer to him. From a human perspective, the current Celestial-Human Tao Cheng had suffered catastrophic damage and could hardly be considered whole. Yet by a twist of fate, this deficiency complemented Tianyuan, bringing him unimaginably close to Sovereign Virtue. At the same time, it also placed him impossibly far from the realm of Sage... destined never to pioneer a path of his own or engrave an Origin. Faced with such a sublime realm and heroic feat, Ji Jue could not muster the slightest hint of sympathy or pity. Would an ant ever pity an elephant? Moreover, confronting the terrifying gravity of the Vortex and the pollution of Vile Folly, he had held up all of Quancheng single-handedly for two full hours. That deed alone was enough to earn Ji Jue's awe and reverence. "In Quancheng..." He hesitated for a moment before asking softly, "His family?" Ye Xian shook her head. "He was from Midtown, wandering from place to place. He had neither kith nor kin in Quancheng." "Then why would..." *Why was he so unyielding?* Ji Jue instinctively wanted to ask, but in the end, he found no words. Only after a long silence did Ye Xian sigh softly. "That is precisely why he is all the more worthy of respect, is he not?" Ji Jue was left speechless. Noticing Ye Xian withdrawing her gaze, he hurried forward two steps, managing to ask before the barrier dropped, "Back then... why did Quancheng suddenly fall overnight?" Ye Xian turned her head once more. It was as if she had anticipated this, or rather, this was the very question she had been waiting for ever since she erected the barrier. Regrettably, she had no intention of providing an answer. "That is not something you should ask. Do not pry, and do not make inquiries," she said. "Perhaps one day you will receive an answer, or make a choice of your own. "But for the present you, it is far too early for everything." She let out a silent sigh. "This is neither a warning nor an admonition, merely advice I offer you as your teacher. Whether you heed it or not rests entirely with you." Ji Jue nodded resolutely, without the slightest hesitation. Even though his curiosity clawed at him, even though he still wanted to ask why, if his teacher said not to ask, then he wouldn't. It wasn't as if his life couldn't go on without knowing. At this, the corner of Ye Xian's mouth seemed to twitch upward faintly. She looked satisfied. "Very good." As the barrier dissipated, she continued forward. "Elder Tao may find it difficult to handle trivial affairs, but there is no shortage of people below him who assign tasks and lord over others with borrowed authority. "Come, I'll take you to see the world." With an inscrutable sneer, Ye Xian walked straight toward the opposite corner of the camp. Heading for the building bearing the insignia of the Ring of Taiyi, she pushed open the door and strode in openly. One could only say that the opulence of the Ring of Taiyi was palpable in every detail. Every corner exuded the nouveau-riche aura of having money to burn. Even in such a short span of time, within this temporary outpost camp, they had spared no expense to construct brand-new buildings to house numerous masters and artisans. Even without flaunting cash openly, Ji Jue, falling back on his old trade as a mud-and-brick mason, tallied the materials and labor costs and arrived at a staggering figure. Furthermore, to rush the deadline, the entire structure had been shaped directly by Celestial Chosens, making the cost even more exorbitant. Pushing the doors open brought a wave of refreshing coolness and fragrance. The polished marble floor was glossy enough to reflect their silhouettes. Crystal chandeliers hung high overhead, casting gorgeous light and shadow. Within the hall, dedicated personnel had long been waiting and swiftly came forward to greet them. "Master Ye, the accommodations for you and Mr. Ji have already been arranged—" "No need. Why waste time? Take us straight to the conference room. At least that will be somewhat meaningful." Ye Xian waved a hand, gesturing for him to lead the way, before pointing at Ji Jue. "Send this fellow to the lounge." They walked all the way through the halls and corridors. Trailing behind her, Ji Jue looked around at the expressions of the people nearby and couldn't help a soft sigh. "I can't shake the feeling that everyone's looking at us strangely." "Normal. Competition within the guild has always been fierce, and some degree of ostracism is inevitable. Not only will the artisans appraise and weigh one another, but there will be plenty of waves among the apprentices as well," Ye Xian said. "For hundreds, thousands of years, this game hasn't changed. You'd better be prepared." Ji Jue nodded and asked curiously, "What if someone provokes me?" Before departing, Professor Ye paused in her steps. She glanced back at him, her expression deadpan. "Naturally, you swallow the humiliation and bear the burden for the common good. What else?" "Understood." Ji Jue nodded in agreement, looking as though he had etched this golden counsel deep into his heart. Though the meaning behind those words might be somewhat convoluted, Ji Jue attempted his own translation: *—The crafting materials are talking.* *** *Bang!* The doors to the conference room were shoved open without warning. Interrupting the drawn-out conversation and bickering inside, the stiff atmosphere froze for an instant before growing even stiffer. It was as if a biting winter wind had howled into the room. Facing countless complex and stunned gazes, Ye Xian strode in briskly, hands clasped behind her back, carrying her thermos. She sauntered forward leisurely, her gaze sweeping past faces both familiar and strange, before finally settling on the foremost seat. Her eyes fell upon a decrepit, wrinkle-covered face. She nodded knowingly. "Looks like you're the one presiding this time, Master Duan. At such an advanced age, having no peace... It's been hard on you." Five masters, over twenty senior artisans, the lowest ranking among them bearing a Gold Ribbon Insignia. It seemed the Ring of Taiyi had truly invested heavily this time. Virtually every notable artisan relevant to the field from across the Eastern Federation had been invited. In particular, the presiding Master Duan Mu had achieved the status of master a century ago. Boasting countless disciples and immense standing, it was no surprise he had been pushed into the presiding seat. "Long time no see, Ms. Ye." The beardless, bald old man Duan Mu sighed softly, taking her words as a greeting. "You've arrived just in time. Please, have a seat." Ye Xian glanced at the seat just below his. The person sitting there lowered his head, pretending to see nothing. The man froze, hesitating for a long time. Yet Ye Xian remained expressionless, merely waiting in silence. Finally, he gritted his teeth, stood up, relinquished his seat, and went to sit elsewhere. Only then did Ye Xian slowly sit down. Setting down her thermos, she unscrewed the cap, took a sip, and looked around the silent room. "What was everyone talking about just now? It was so lively. Please, continue. Let me listen in." "..." In the awkward silence, a sinister-looking man with a long beard sitting on the opposite side of the table let out a bizarre laugh. "Master Ye's arrival is quite timely. Everyone was just talking about your area of expertise. "Considering Quancheng's vast area, the most suitable method is to use spiritus refinement to establish a domain-wide isolation. When it comes to this path, you are the indisputable authority." Pausing briefly, he spoke with feigned admiration, "It's just that, regarding the principles of Fourth-Degree Transmutation mentioned in your papers... I wonder if it would be convenient for you to share them?" At those words, the others slightly raised their eyes, holding their breath. None of them had expected him to dump the single biggest headache onto Ye Xian the moment he opened his mouth, using Quancheng's circumstances to corner her into taking over this hot potato while simultaneously forcing her to make her proprietary techniques public... On the other side, Master Kong's brow twitched faintly, yet he said nothing. Only the glances darting between the two turned mocking, though it was unclear toward whom the mockery was directed. "Sure," Ye Xian agreed without a second thought. "Since Master Zhou puts it that way, why don't I simply take charge? How about that?" Master Zhou's expression shifted slightly, his hand stroking his beard pausing for a moment. This was unexpected. He had merely intended to dampen this madwoman's arrogant momentum, never imagining she would agree outright. Then, he heard Ye Xian continue: "I already considered the specific plan on the way here. Factoring in the timeline and structural strength, the optimal approach is naturally to engrave spiritus circuits across separate sections, which will ultimately be aggregated through Sovereign Virtue insignias and runes... However, the catacombs are in dire crisis. Why doesn't Master Zhou first make public the 'Confluence of Ten Thousand Sources' structural framework that your workshop specializes in, so we can make do for the emergency?" Ye Xian paused as well, asking blandly in return, "I imagine Master Zhou has the greater good in mind and wouldn't hoard your own broom as treasure at such a critical juncture, right?" *Ye Xian, you motherfucker!* Zhou Chong's eyes widened, his expression darkening further. No one would feel comfortable being deflected like this. Besides, he had only eyed her spiritus techniques, yet she had bypassed everything and gone straight for his workshop's lifeblood, hadn't she? "Wait a moment," a middle-aged artisan watching nearby suddenly coughed twice and spoke up. "Master Ye, isn't that a bit too biased—" Ye Xian glanced over coldly, cutting him off without mercy: "Do you have a right to speak here?" The middle-aged man's face shifted. "I..." "Who are you?" Ye Xian asked again, "Why haven't I seen you before?" Sitting below Ye Xian, an artisan smiled awkwardly and said, "He's—" "No need for introductions. Someone who leaves no impression, even among mediocrities, is probably unremarkable to the point of utter blandness. No need to waste time." Ye Xian waved a hand coldly, ignoring the middle-aged artisan's changing complexion. "At your age, still parading around with just a single Gold Ribbon pinned to your chest, you clearly have no real prospects. "Keep your opinions to yourself; they aren't worth hearing. "Master Zhou, wouldn't you agree?" Zhou Chong looked sullen, stroking his long beard as the corner of his eye twitched faintly, as though he had a toothache. The factions within the Ring of Taiyi were numerous and their composition complex. Factional struggles between artisans had never ceased, with alliances and schemes being everyday occurrences. But at the end of the day, strength and works did the talking. Competence was competence; incompetence was incompetence. Incompetence was the ultimate sin. If your skills fell short of others, even breathing was a mistake. Furthermore, this lunatic Ye Xian was famous for giving face to nobody. Even the current president had been cursed to his face by her and had to pinch his nose and admit she had a point. So what did a nobody trailing behind the major workshops for scraps amount to? Nowadays, she was merely difficult to deal with and harsh in her speech—what was that compared to the past? In her earlier years, a disagreement would see her directly demolishing someone's ancestral workshop... Tearing you down on the side was just child's play, wasn't it? "*Cough, cough*—" After clearing his throat twice, he said with difficulty, "The matter of Quancheng is of grave significance. As for domain-wide quarantine, I feel it requires thorough deliberation from the ground up." "Then let's deliberate thoroughly." Ye Xian nodded as if in agreement, articulating each word deliberately: "Take it slow, take it carefully, do it thoroughly and earnestly—and don't let a single mistake slip through." The atmosphere in the conference room grew increasingly heavy and oppressive. Unexpectedly, after decapitating a small fry upon entry and stabbing Zhou Chong twice, Ye Xian didn't speak another word for the remainder of the session. She merely listened in silence. Yet her gaze alone was enough to make every artisan aside from the masters break into cold sweats, treading on thin ice whenever they opened their mouths. As they lowered their heads with awkward smiles or averted their eyes, they couldn't help inwardly cursing with venom—*Damn it, why haven't you dropped dead yet?* Yet Master Duan, the only person present who possessed the seniority to check her, didn't say a single thing. If anything, he was glad to see it. The larger the matter, the more troublesome it was, and the easier it was for squabbling to derail everything. At times like this, someone had to say the unpleasant words. Since someone had spoken them in his stead, Duan Mu was more than welcoming. Privately, he was probably grinning ear to ear. However, as the meeting neared its conclusion, the clamor outside grew increasingly louder. Many artisans couldn't help furrowing their brows. Amid hurried footsteps, a knock sounded at the door. A staff member from the Ring of Taiyi, drenched in sweat, entered and glanced around, instinctively looking toward Master Duan. Master Duan frowned. "Speak if you have business, don't waste time." "Th-They're fighting!" The panicked, flustered staff member babbled incoherently. "In... in the lounge, apprentices from many workshops, and... and... that one from the Tide Sound Workshop... are about to fight!" In the momentary silence, everyone's expression shifted slightly, instinctively looking toward Ye Xian. Ye Xian's face was as calm as still water, completely unruffled. "What's the big fuss? No need to panic," Master Zhou sneered, gloating. "Young people have a lot of fire in them. Normal, perfectly normal." "Yes, indeed." "Normal." Hearing this, many artisans who had been holding back a belly full of grievances chimed in. In contrast, Master Kong, who had remained invisible on the sidelines for half the day, paled slightly and instinctively moved to stand up. Right then... *BOOM!!!* A deafening roar erupted abruptly. The entire building shook violently, lights flickering as a crack split open across the wall. The direction seemed... right in the downstairs lounge?! Everyone's face drained of color. Only Ye Xian remained cold and detached, her eyes lowered. Lifting her cup, she took a sip of tea. "Normal," she said. *Now that is normal.*