Nurturing

Dayu changed its dynastic title to Xiayu, and congratulatory messages poured in from countries around the world. Xuelong, the subdued Chixing, and other major powers were exceptionally enthusiastic in their attitude. In the technologically advanced modern era, information spread with extreme speed. Virtually any country with a modicum of competence understood the sheer weight this newly rechristened nation of Xiayu carried. As for those nations that could not even obtain insider news, they were mostly insignificant minor states lacking any international influence. Their attitudes did not matter. Less than half a month after Xiayu changed its dynastic title, the White Tower Federation, Lihuo, and several other countries announced their accession to Dayu, becoming part of the Xiayu nation. Meanwhile, Xiayu assembled an internal team to enter the Crimson Star Empire, beginning to take over and seize control of every facet of Chixing. Because Chixing's top leadership had basically been purged by Xuelong, coupled with their tight information blockade, this handover proceeded in utter silence. Although a few minor disturbances arose along the way, with Xuelong possessing strength several times greater than Chixing's, whatever resistance emerged proved entirely futile and was put down. Though turbulent undercurrents surged among the international upper echelon, ordinary citizens felt little of it. At most, they felt as though the world had entered a period of calm at this moment. The formerly tense international environment had suddenly relaxed. To them, this change was very much a turn for the better. *** Mount Yuhuang Villa. Xie Yier was moving various precious supplies into the estate while introducing each item. Beside her stood Kong Fang's capable assistant, Kong Xuan. Although Kong Xuan shared the surname Kong, he was not Kong Fang's son, nor did the two share any familial relation. And this Kong Xuan's cultivation had already reached the peak of Grandmaster, and he was only thirty-six years old; it was not out of the question for him to make an attempt at Martial Saint in the future. Compared to a colossus like Xuelong, his strength was negligible, yet Kong Fang had still dispatched him to accompany the escort team of Xuelong's Xie family—to prevent the Xie family from misappropriating what they guarded. Yaoguang believed the Xie family lacked the nerve to swallow what belonged to him while the situation remained unresolved, but he still understood the wisdom of not testing another person's bottom line. Therefore, he acquiesced to Kong Fang's arrangements. "Lord Yaoguang, the third batch of supplies has been inventoried. Please verify," Xie Yier said after finishing her introduction, handing a tablet to Yaoguang. Yaoguang nodded and asked, "How is Xuelong's research on the Star Gate progressing?" "Our specialists are rapidly assimilating the data obtained from the Moon Demon Empire. According to their initial calculations, it will take half a year at the quickest and a year at the slowest to complete the calibration of the Star Gate, allowing us to attempt opening it without causing undue disturbance to the gate itself," Xie Yier explained. Yaoguang listened for a moment, then nodded. "Notify me once the Star Gate is calibrated." "As you command." Xie Yier inclined her head slightly. "Speaking of which... although the news from Leng Tianfeng isn't like what was claimed before about the Artifact Sect being annihilated, it is nine times out of ten true that a major upheaval occurred. Otherwise, it wouldn't explain why the Artifact Sect lost contact with this world for several decades. Opening the Star Gate rashly under these circumstances will incur uncontrollable risks. Are you prepared?" Yaoguang asked. "The Snow Dragon Federation will split into two factions. Those who believe they must return to their roots no matter what will enter the Star Gate and take the gamble. The other group will remain behind to survive and develop in this world..." Xie Yier paused here. "That way, even if that first group meets with some fatal disaster, at least some of the Xie family's bloodline will be preserved." Yaoguang nodded. It was not a bad thing that the Xie family was willing to scout the situation in advance. After delivering the supplies, Xie Yier departed. Naturally, she had only left Mount Yuhuang Villa; she herself was still in Dayu... Or rather, it should now be called Xiayu. She remained in the capital of Xiayu, specifically tasked with liaising and coordinating with Yaoguang. Not long after she left, Leng Jun arrived. Accompanying him was the "younger sister" he had barely seen a handful of times, Su Yaoxue. "Sit," Yaoguang said. Su Yaoxue did not put on any air of a strong businesswoman; instead, she obediently took a seat. Earlier in the provincial capital of Tiannan, she had only known that her younger brother, Su Yaoguang, along with her grandfather, Su Chiming, had caused a massive stir in the capital, even replacing the Liao family—the Dayu royal family—with the support of the major aristocratic families to become the rulers of Dayu... or rather, Xiayu. Yet when she arrived in the capital of Xiayu and found the entire nation receiving the homage of countless foreign lands, with even the Eldest Princess of the Snow Dragon Federation acting with utmost courtesy here, she vaguely realized that her younger brother's stature went far beyond merely helping the Su family replace the Liao family. "The family head mentioned to me that you've been practicing martial arts lately, and your progress has been quite good?" Yaoguang remarked. "Yes." Su Yaoxue nodded. "Only by practicing martial arts and mastering formidable power can one truly protect oneself and safeguard the Su family's current position." With that, she said earnestly, "I know this request might be presumptuous, and... right now, you are probably so busy that you hardly have any free time. Even so, I still hope to practice martial arts with you." Lei Yun handed a dossier to Yaoguang. Yaoguang took the dossier and said, "Show me the boxing routine you're practicing." Su Yaoxue stood up without the slightest hesitation. Nor did she feel embarrassed practicing forms in a living room. In past years, when she built her business from scratch, she had been coerced into drinking until she vomited more than once just to secure an order. In front of her own family, what was there to be embarrassed about? Ten or so minutes later, Su Yaoxue finished her set of fist techniques. Yaoguang lifted his head again. "Are you truly set on putting your heart into practicing?" "Yes," Su Yaoxue answered firmly. "Then practice," Yaoguang replied simply, as though it were a trivial matter. "I will be staying at Mount Yuhuang Villa for the upcoming period. If you encounter anything you don't understand in your cultivation, just ask me." Having said that, Yaoguang looked over Su Yaoxue once more before turning to Aili inside the room. "I will give you a medicinal prescription. You will be responsible for decocting medicine for her from now on." "Understood, Young Master," Aili replied softly. "Take her to choose a room first," Yaoguang instructed Lei Yun. "Yes," Lei Yun said, gesturing politely to Su Yaoxue. "Miss, please follow me inside." *** Not long after Su Yaoxue left, Yaoguang's phone rang. When he picked up, Su Chiming's voice sounded from the receiver: "Has Yaoxue arrived?" "She has." "Sigh, sorry to trouble you. I told her that you have your own matters to attend to, but she... was just too stubborn..." "If it were a month ago, I truly wouldn't have had the time to teach her. But now, I do have a bit of spare time. Since she's here, so be it." Yaoguang paused, then added, "Besides... among the younger generation of the Su family, she's probably the most outstanding, isn't she?" "That's true," Su Chiming said. "This girl has ideas, brains, and a mind of her own, and she can endure hardship... Even among her peers, she could be called the most remarkable. In the third generation of the Su family, indeed no one compares to her—not even the girl Yaoyu, who is currently running Buzhou Group." At this point, he paused. "So, I also hoped you could give her a chance." "No matter," Yaoguang replied calmly. He knew Su Chiming was speaking the truth. Su Yaoyu... Her personality was rather weak. Moreover, she had a people-pleasing personality. Such a temperament found it difficult to accomplish great things. No matter how she was nurtured in the future, at best she could take on service-oriented roles like a housekeeper. Compared to her, Su Yaoxue was clearly far superior. Without receiving any help from the Su family, relying merely on the "pocket money" she had saved over the years as seed capital, she had practically built a company worth hundreds of millions from scratch and managed dozens of subordinates in an orderly fashion. That in itself was a demonstration of ability. Of course, compared to someone like Xie Yier, the Eldest Princess of the Xie family, she currently fell far short. But... True talent was always forged through cultivation and nurturing. The high ministers by an emperor's side were basically those who had followed him to conquer the world from the very beginning. Was it because every single one of them was overflowing with talent and prodigiously gifted? Not at all! Hadn't they simply learned and grown through relentless experience? As long as he was genuinely willing to pour in resources and cultivate her, within a few years, Su Yaoxue's achievements would by no means be inferior to Xie Yier's. Considering that if the situation in the Cangwu Realm was relatively stable, he might head there to seek opportunities to rapidly attain immortality and obtain a greater sense of security, and the current Su family might not be able to hold down such a massive enterprise, he made up his mind. "The Su family's overall strength is rather weak. Have Su Hua, Leng Jun, and the others come by here more often when they have time. Additionally, don't be stingy with the cultivation resources that ought to be used. Such things are meant for cultivation in the first place; leaving them sitting in warehouses is no different from having them be completely worthless," Yaoguang said. Hearing this, Su Chiming's voice carried an irrepressible joy. "Will... will that trouble you too much?" "It won't take up much time," Yaoguang replied. His current cultivation did not hinge on comprehending some realm or requiring seclusion; the speed of his growth lay in his body's endurance and recovery capacity. In daily cultivation, he was truly not that busy. Once his physical strain reached its limit, the rest of his time was spent either thoroughly assimilating the knowledge from the [Martial Path] and [Artifact Refining] branches or conferring with Leng Tianfeng to learn about the Moon Demon Empire and the Cangwu Realm. Operating on the principle that herding one sheep was no different from herding a flock, he said directly, "Send over the people from the External Affairs Hall in batches. I will select those with potential according to the circumstances for focused guidance. As for those without potential... there are uses for those without potential as well." The Soul Nurturing Pills produced by the Five Emperors Soul Refining Furnace were far more effective than Spirit Concentration Pills. Anyone who took them would experience a massive surge in mental spirit. Once mental energy was elevated, whether in daily cultivation or in condensing spirit intent in the future, it would yield twice the results with half the effort. It might cut off their possibility of ascending to higher realms, but... Without the Soul Nurturing Pills, they might never in their entire lives reach the realm made attainable by consuming them. "Good, good, good!" Su Chiming uttered three "good"s in a row with excitement. "I will have them head over right away." "Mm." Yaoguang responded and hung up the call.