The Double-Pupiled Man's Scheme

Qi Yuan stood in the grand hall, his expression serene and his voice tinged with hypnotic magnetism, making him look just like a heavenly god. Those words of his sounded like a compassionate, all-merciful holy father. When everyone else present heard this, countless question marks popped up in their minds. ??? Maintaining a respectful expression, the Seventh Prince spoke humbly, "Mr. Qi is absolutely right. This world is far too chaotic, filled with slaughter and oppression everywhere. Starting now, our royal family will advocate for an end to the fighting. As for Mr. Qi delivering grandpas and grandmas to the people of the world, the royal family is wholeheartedly in favor and willing to serve you to the best of our ability!" Whenever Qi Yuan spoke, the Seventh Prince's opening line was almost always: *Mr. Qi is right.* "Mm, your royal family certainly knows how to read the room," Qi Yuan praised before laying out his entire plan. "My household robot, Zero-One, will be putting all its effort into building a website during this period. This website will be called the 'Send-a-Grandpa Network'. Why call it 'Send-a-Grandpa Network' instead of 'Send-a-Grandma Network'? It's not about gender politics, but because 'Send-a-Grandma' sounds too much like 'milk delivery' and could easily make people misunderstand the site's positioning. I need this website publicized to citizens across the entire country. That will require your royal family to help me run some advertisements. Put it during prime time as much as possible, and oh, make sure you slot one in right during the weather forecast." "No problem at all. The royal family can handle all of that!" the Seventh Prince replied without the slightest hesitation. As for Qi Yuan's true purpose, he did not pry. Could he even ask? An expert of this caliber did whatever he pleased. "There is another matter," Qi Yuan said earnestly. "Once the website is pushed out to people all across the globe, they will need to mail in a drop of their blood to me. I'll screen them. If someone is suitable, I'll send them a grandpa or grandma. If they aren't suitable, I'll embrace the spirit of universal love, take a small loss, and just call them my grandson. This is what we call... fairness! No one gets left out in the cold—every inquiry gets a response!" If a blood sample proved suitable for hosting, he would send a grandpa directly. If the blood was unsuitable, well, sorry, but he would just have to make an exception and call them his grandson or granddaughter, using simple words to fill the void with love. Hearing this, the Seventh Prince instantly realized that this was going to be a monumental undertaking. In terms of potential hazard, it was tens or even hundreds of times more perilous than the Tianyuan Sect building the Star-Shifting Tianyuan Array. After all, handing over one's own blood to an enigmatic immortal cultivator was inherently dangerous. "Mr. Qi is right. However... if that's the case, might some people be unwilling to offer their blood to you, Mr. Qi?" The Seventh Prince was completely on Qi Yuan's side. "I don't have money. If they're unwilling, then we simply have no destiny," Qi Yuan said, spreading his hands. Pay them? He didn't have the funds. After all, he didn't even have the money to buy Arch Star. Most importantly, giving them grandpas and grandmas *and* paying them money? Where in the world could such a sweet deal exist? "The royal family is willing to provide a portion of the funds to assist Mr. Qi," the Seventh Prince gritted his teeth and declared earnestly. "We will also set aside a portion of the state treasury to help Mr. Qi." If a job was worth doing, it was worth doing well. If Mr. Qi was handing out grandpas and grandmas and nobody signed up, wouldn't that be terribly embarrassing? The Seventh Prince had already thought it through: money moved people's hearts. Anyone who submitted their blood through the official channel would receive a five-hundred-yuan subsidy. A five-hundred subsidy was nothing to the wealthy, but to ordinary folks and the poor, it held great appeal. Thus, this move would undoubtedly attract large numbers of poor people to participate. As for the rich, they probably wouldn't care for a mere five-hundred subsidy and wouldn't bother. "Doesn't that mean... most of them will be people short on cash? By the way, are there more rich people or poor people in Qinyuan Kingdom?" Qi Yuan asked casually. He didn't care too much about the specific procedure, so long as the end result was right. "According to statistical data, those with fewer assets make up the majority." "As long as there are plenty of people, that's fine. We'll proceed with your plan. *Sigh,* I really am such a good person—not only handing out grandpas to folks, but giving them money too." Qi Yuan beamed smugly, thoroughly convinced of his own benevolence. Standing by Qi Yuan's side, Ning Tao looked at him with doting eyes. To her, whatever he did brought joy. Having said that, Qi Yuan looked at the Seventh Prince. "If the blood is compatible, the grandpa or grandma I send them is an immortal encounter." "An immortal encounter?" The Seventh Prince's heart stirred, beating faster. ... In a side hall, Wang Kaixiang wore a rather strange expression. "The champion of the previous Martial Arts Tournament... Qi Yuan." Just a moment ago, he had slipped out of the side hall and peeked at the visitor. Using a powerful search tool, he was astonished to discover that this person was actually a local of Arch Star and the champion of the previous Martial Arts Tournament. This caught him quite off guard. A mere local, and merely the winner of a martial arts tournament—why would the royal family regard him with such reverence? "His strength... is rather ordinary too." He watched the video of the Martial Arts Tournament finals. In the recording, Qi Yuan had obliterated his opponent into a cloud of blood mist with a single punch. Such a punch could indeed be considered beyond the realm of ordinary mortals. "Martial arts do have some merit, but at this level, it doesn't even reach Foundation Establishment..." Wang Kaixiang found it thoroughly bizarre. If the immortal path had never arrived, a powerful martial artist like Qi Yuan might have commanded royal attention. But now, immortal cultivation experts were as numerous as carp crossing a river—what right did Qi Yuan have? "Still, judging by the Seventh Prince's attitude toward him, he might be worth getting in touch with. Perhaps through him, I can persuade the royal family regarding the Star-Shifting Tianyuan Array!" Unable to persuade the royal family for the moment, he considered trying an alternative route. Meanwhile, in the main hall, Qi Yuan and the Seventh Prince discussed the fine details of the plan. "The plan is flawless. All that's left is execution." Qi Yuan looked at the Seventh Prince, approval in his eyes. The Seventh Prince was a talent, patching the gaps and refining the logistics of his plan. "The royal family will support you with all our might." "Alright, I'll await your good news. I need to head back. Bye-bye." Finished speaking, Qi Yuan glanced at Ning Tao. Ning Tao understood immediately, wrapped her arm around Qi Yuan, and their figures vanished into thin air. Seven days later. Tianyue City, inside a private dining room at a restaurant. A deep red wooden table gave off a faint exotic fragrance. Inside clear wineglasses, a thick, amber liquid resembled an immortal brew. The Carefree Wanderer was sipping his wine, looking thoroughly at ease. Holding his cup, Jiang Qingjiao looked at the black-robed figure opposite him, wary caution glinting in his eyes. Weighing his words, he said softly, "Your plan is indeed enticing, but the Battle God Sect went to great lengths just to gain a firm foothold in Qinyuan. We do not wish to stir up new strife." Seated opposite Jiang Qingjiao was a double-pupiled man. This man with double pupils was precisely a demon from Can Star. "You are so cautious merely because you fear the Eye of the Sky. Without the Eye of the Sky, what is there to fear from Qinyuan? I imagine you fellow Daoists have no desire to see a bunch of mortals lording over our heads either." At the mention of the Eye of the Sky, the Carefree Wanderer paused, and Jiang Qingjiao's expression froze. They were exceedingly wary of the Eye of the Sky. "Could it be that Fellow Daoist has a way to deal with the Eye of the Sky?" Jiang Qingjiao looked at the double-pupiled man and couldn't help asking. Judging by the double-pupiled man's tone, it sounded as if he could resolve the Eye of the Sky. Jiang Qingjiao inwardly agreed with what the double-pupiled man said. They were immortal cultivators, yet they were being suppressed by mortals. In the Fire Spirit Realm, this was simply unthinkable. Mortals were nothing more than slaves to be slaughtered at will. Yet here, they had to swallow their pride and converse with mortals on equal terms. "Though the Eye of the Sky is powerful, Qinyuan Kingdom is not the only one on Arch Star to possess them," the double-pupiled man said with a slight smile. "The Guwu Kingdom!" Jiang Qingjiao looked at the double-pupiled man and instantly deduced where he came from. On Arch Star, there were two great nations: one was Qinyuan, and the other was Guwu. The ethnicity of Qinyuan was similar to that of the cultivation world, whereas Guwu was somewhat akin to an alien race. The spatial nodes connecting the three immortal cultivation worlds were also located in Qinyuan Kingdom, so they were currently dealing only with Qinyuan, while contact with the Guwu Kingdom was still in the exploratory stage. "I can roughly be counted as a member of the Guwu Kingdom. If you fellow Daoists are willing to aid me, Guwu will wage war against Qinyuan. When the time comes, Qinyuan's Eyes of the Sky will be dealt with by Guwu. We will also need you fellow Daoists to pin them down and coordinate with us." The double-pupiled man laid out his scheme. The existence of Qinyuan Kingdom had always stood in the way of Can Star's ambitions. Not long ago, internal turmoil broke out in Qinyuan, causing thirteen Eyes of the Sky to crash. The war faction on Can Star had once again grown ambitious. "Is Can Star behind Your Excellency?" Jiang Qingjiao asked. That Can Star backed the Guwu Kingdom was no secret. "Indeed," the double-pupiled man nodded. Behind him lay Can Star in a sense, but also not—it was the Myriad Demons Realm. Of course, he would never tell Jiang Qingjiao this. How could an outsider cultivator like Jiang Qingjiao, who had only recently arrived on Arch Star, know about such things? Light flickered in Jiang Qingjiao's eyes. "I still need to report this matter to the Patriarch before giving Fellow Daoist an answer." Hearing this, a smile flashed across the double-pupiled man's eyes. From those words, he knew that today's scheme was as good as settled. "I shall await your good news, Fellow Daoist," the double-pupiled man said with a smile. "To celebrate the success of our plan, I have a modest gift for you both." With a flick of the double-pupiled man's sleeve, two drops of golden-yellow liquid rolled out. The breathing of both Carefree Wanderer and Jiang Qingjiao abruptly turned ragged. "This is Tianfang Demon Blood!" "Even to Divine Infant cultivators, this counts as a treasure—something only a powerful demon could create!" The Carefree Wanderer's gaze surged, his breath coming in sharp gasps as he wished he could swallow the Tianfang Demon Blood on the spot. Tianfang Demon Blood was refined from the essence blood of mighty demons. Such blood could enhance not only a cultivator's physical strength, but also their divine soul. More importantly, with luck, an Origin Core cultivator could even awaken a divine ability. Such blood was extraordinarily precious. "A trifling gift, hardly worth mentioning," the double-pupiled man said magnanimously. After all, compared to ancestral blood, this cost was utterly negligible. Carefree Wanderer and Jiang Qingjiao accepted the Tianfang Demon Blood, suppressing the excitement in their hearts. The two exchanged a glance, sharing a tacit understanding. Jiang Qingjiao leaned closer to the double-pupiled man and said softly, "Since Your Excellency has bestowed such a grand gift, we too would like to return the favor!" "Oh?" the double-pupiled man replied. Then Jiang Qingjiao continued, "Some time ago, Senior Carefree Wanderer discovered a young boy and girl in this area. Feeling fond of them, he wished to take the two as disciples. Who knew those two would be so short-sighted, failing to recognize an immortal? Originally, Senior Carefree Wanderer was just amusing himself, acting on whim. Yet unexpectedly, upon seeing that boy and girl these past few days, he discovered they had encountered another miraculous opportunity. Not only do they have spiritual qi and fluctuations of dharmic power on them, but there also seems to be..." Jiang Qingjiao recounted what had recently happened with Yaji to the double-pupiled man. "We suspect that on this boy... rests the remnant soul of a mysterious cultivator. That mysterious cultivator must be extraordinary—at least Divine Infant, perhaps even Purple Mansion. If we... conduct a soul search on it, we are bound to reap a bountiful harvest! Though it may not compare to Tianfang Demon Blood, it is still a rare prize." He and Carefree Wanderer had already observed the peculiarities about Yaji and his sister for several days. They were practically certain that the remnant soul of a great cultivator resided inside the siblings. Greed had stirred in both Carefree Wanderer and Jiang Qingjiao, but they had not dared to act rashly, intending to investigate the soul's prior identity before making a move. Now that the double-pupiled man was here, they could borrow the opportunity to present a favor and strike together. With the double-pupiled man joining them, their odds were far better. Besides, it was merely a remnant soul. Even if it was Purple Mansion in life, so what? If the three of them struck together, could it possibly resist? "I am quite interested in this gift," the double-pupiled man's eyes glinted. For the remnant soul of a mysterious cultivator to appear on Arch Star was very strange. After all, Arch Star had been linked to the three realms for less than a year. If this mysterious remnant soul was native to Arch Star, it might well be connected to the ancestral blood. If a soul search yielded information about ancestral blood, he would profit enormously. "In that case, why don't the three of us join forces and divide the remnant soul between us?" Jiang Qingjiao proposed. "Agreed," the double-pupiled man nodded. Without any hesitation, Carefree Wanderer also nodded eagerly. In the past, he prided himself on his carefree ways and was willing to idle away time with the Yaji siblings, which indeed suited his philosophy of wandering freely. But when the stakes were high enough, sometimes it was better not to be so carefree. However, he furrowed his brows. "I heard that the master of these Yaji siblings has ties to a military noble. If we act rashly, could it..." After all, the Carefree Wanderer was an independent cultivator. The fate of that Divine Infant demonic cultivator back then was still fresh in his memory. This world possessed the Eye of the Sky. "No matter. It's merely an ordinary noble, not even one of the Seven Martial Stars. They won't bother us. Besides, if we strike swiftly, kill the Yaji siblings, and then kill that man named Qi Yuan while staging it as an accident, won't everything be fine?" Jiang Qingjiao had planned this out long ago. With just a simple trick, he could make Qi Yuan look like he had suffered a sudden heart attack, and those nobles wouldn't suspect a thing. Except for the Seven Martial Star families, other nobles were no different from ordinary mortals in the eyes of these immortal cultivators. Except, at that very moment, inside Jun'an Community, Ning Tao, who had been eating watermelon, raised her brows slightly. She looked at Qi Yuan not far away, a half-smile surfacing in her eyes. "Husband, I just overheard that someone is plotting to murder you." "What?" Qi Yuan's eyes went wide. "Who has the audacity to go breaking the law and disrupting public order like that!" Qi Yuan felt deeply wronged. He had always been kind-hearted. Lately, he had even been busy spreading warmth to the people of the world. And yet, someone wanted to kill him! He felt so aggrieved. "Let's go. We're going to see who has such treacherous designs," Qi Yuan said indignantly. "Alright." Ning Tao, who had originally been wearing a camisole dress, suddenly had an exquisite black gown over her, cloaking her figure completely. Wrapping her arm around Qi Yuan, her form vanished in a flash.