novelraw Chapter 427: The Sacred Codex
Chapter 427: The Sacred Codex
Upon hearing this, Li Su nodded solemnly. "Your analysis is extremely thorough, and the higher-ups share this prediction. Regarding your safety concerns, please do not worry excessively. The Council of Elders is in urgent consultation and will soon assign you a guard team composed of Ocean Realm powerhouses to ensure your absolute safety. Of course, I believe City Lord Mo Yuan will certainly make his own arrangements as well. He has always held you in high regard."
Su Zhan gave a slight nod. "I appreciate the sentiment behind the guard team. However, I am more inclined to accept City Lord Mo Yuan's arrangements. Firstly, I am more familiar with the environment of Black City, and I have a better understanding of the forces under City Lord Mo Yuan's command. Our cooperation would be more seamless. Secondly, City Lord Mo Yuan's own strength is extraordinary, at the half-step Transcendent level. With him presiding, the deterrent effect far surpasses that of any ordinary Ocean Realm team. Thirdly... to some extent, the enmity between myself and the Transcendence Society is a conflict between different paths within the Aberrant community. Having City Lord Mo Yuan handle it might, on certain levels, be more legitimate than the intervention of purely human powerhouses. It could also avoid unnecessary suspicion and complicated situations."
Li Su listened carefully, a contemplative look appearing in his eyes. "I understand. Your considerations are very reasonable. I will convey your wishes in full to the Council of Elders. I believe the higher-ups will respect your choice and conduct proper communication with City Lord Mo Yuan."
For Su Zhan, choosing Mo Yuan was not only a consideration based on safety and trust, but also a strategic choice. To bind himself more deeply to Black City, to Mo Yuan, this powerful ally, and jointly face the lethal threat from the Transcendence Society.
...
In a certain hidden space unknown to others.
The light was dim.
Several massive light screens floated in mid-air.
On them, the live footage from the Daxia press conference was playing clearly.
Several figures clad in black robes, their faces completely concealed within the shadows of their hoods, watched silently.A long time passed.
Until the press conference concluded.
The images on the light screens switched to other programs.
A slightly taller black-robed figure finally spoke slowly. "No need... to devour... humans?"
These few short words seemed to carry immense weight.
Behind him, another black-robed figure chimed in, his voice slightly sharp. "Impossible! The foundation of life form determines the method of energy acquisition! The Mist grants us power, but also etches upon us the curse of the hunt! This is an ironclad law! The price of balance! How could he possibly escape it?"
A third black-robed figure, of a slimmer build, spoke. "The certification from the Supreme Research Institute... Daxia may be decaying, but their top research institution is unlikely to collectively fabricate such a fundamental issue. Moreover, think carefully about Su Zhan's trajectory of rise... surviving within the Mist, his strength advancing by leaps and bounds, operating in Black City under the alias Chen Qing yet never having a record of large-scale human consumption... All these anomalies seem to point to this incredible conclusion."
The tall black-robed figure who spoke first fell silent for a moment before his hoarse voice sounded again. "If what he says is true... then his very existence is the most fundamental negation of the Transcendence Society's philosophy, and also our greatest threat!"
The sharp-voiced black-robed figure immediately concurred, his tone agitated. "Exactly! We proclaim to the world that embracing the Mist is evolution, the inevitable path to transcend weak humanity! We tell our lost brethren that the hunt is a blood debt owed by humanity, the price that must be paid for power! But now, such an anomaly appears... He possesses the power we pride ourselves on, perhaps even advancing further, yet bears neither the curse nor the sin of the hunt! How many potential followers would this shake? How many brethren already walking the path of Transcendence would develop unwarranted doubts?"
The slim black-robed figure added coldly. "This is not merely a conflict of philosophies, but competition of survival models. His existence strikes at the very foundation of our theory. He will become a highly seductive banner in Daxia's hands. *Look, not all beings blessed by the Mist must be enemies of humanity.* This would push our Transcendence Society completely into the role of absolute villains, potentially dividing those members within our ranks who do not fully agree with the path of indiscriminate destruction."
The tall black-robed figure slowly raised a hand. "More important is his potential. Dual peak of Ocean Realm and Calamity-level at twenty-five years old... If he has truly found a path to stable advancement without consumption, and stands firmly on humanity's side... Given time, what kind of monster will he grow into? He will no longer be a special existence like Mo Yuan, cooperating with Daxia due to stance and interests. He will be an enemy fundamentally opposed to us from the very root. We must reassess Su Zhan's threat level. He is no longer merely a gifted human genius that needs to be eradicated, but a conceptual enemy who could overturn the very foundation of our existence. His existence is more dangerous than ten Mo Yuans."
The sharp-voiced black-robed figure said urgently, "We must eradicate him at all costs, before he fully matures, before this theory of harmless Aberrants spreads widely! Otherwise, the consequences will be endless!"
The slim black-robed figure, however, remained relatively calm. "Eradication is inevitable. But after this public appearance, he will undoubtedly be under Daxia's highest level of protection. A direct assault on the Capital or Black City would be too costly, with low chances of success. We need to wait for an opportunity, or... create one."
The shadow beneath the tall black-robed figure's hood seemed to shift slightly, as if nodding. "Notify all sleeper units to raise their alert level and suspend all non-essential activities. Activate our deepest-embedded pawns, even at the cost of exposure, to gather all information about Su Zhan, especially any trace regarding the source of his power and his method of advancement."
The tall black-robed figure slowly raised both hands, making a gesture as if cradling something, his voice carrying a chanting quality. "The Sacred Codex... is no mundane object. It is the blessing bestowed upon us by the Lord of the Mist, the supreme sacred artifact guiding us toward true Transcendence."
The sharp-voiced black-robed figure couldn't help but interject. "Cultivating with the aid of the Sacred Codex is far faster than ordinary consumption!"
The slim black-robed figure added. "Receiving blessings also requires paying a price. While guiding the infusion of primal energy, the Sacred Codex inevitably awakens the most primitive hunting desire deep within our life essence. Therefore, each activation of the Sacred Codex signifies... a feast, a mandatory plunder and consumption of a large amount of human life force. Only the higher echelons are worthy of partaking in this blessing."
The tall black-robed figure withdrew his hands from the cradling gesture. "Su Zhan claims he doesn't need to devour humans? Hmph, then we shall use the Sacred Codex to help him rediscover this instinct that rightfully belongs to him!"
The slim black-robed figure continued. "At that time, before the eyes of all, this hero who just solemnly declared himself harmless will uncontrollably pounce upon innocent civilians, displaying the most savage hunting posture!"