I Have an All-Knowing Mirror

Chapter 121: Deciding the Victor in Silence

"Replying to me this quickly?"

Tejia Chiyun was rather surprised.

In his mind, strategists were always extremely aloof and unapproachable.

What Tejia Chiyun did not know was that Su Yuan was well aware he would reach out at this exact time and had simply been waiting for him.

Seeking out the strategist Ming for advice was a spur-of-the-moment decision for Tejia Chiyun. Had Su Yuan replied even half an hour or an hour later,

Tejia Chiyun would have abandoned the idea altogether.

After all, as a direct descendant of the Chiyun clan and the biological son of the Patriarch, Tejia Chiyun already had strategists assigned to his side by the family.

Under normal circumstances, he would just consult his family-appointed personal strategists.

"Hmm."

Tejia Chiyun pondered for a moment before immediately sending a message: "Does Mr. Ming have time right now? Could you provide me with some strategic counsel?""I can."

Seeing the affirmative reply, Tejia Chiyun immediately applied to enter Su Yuan's Personal Space.

Buzz. The application was approved, and Tejia Chiyun appeared in Su Yuan's Personal Space within the virtual world.

Tejia Chiyun felt the surrounding scenery shift, finding himself in a serene manor complete with a small bridge and flowing water. There, he saw a black-haired human man.

"Greetings, Mr. Ming," Tejia Chiyun immediately said, offering a slight bow.

This was part of his education from the Chiyun clan: never show disrespect to any strategist.

After all, compared to high-level Life Forms, strategists who hid in the shadows and manipulated the tides of power were far more difficult to deal with.

Offending a strategist could have consequences ranging from minor to severe. The minor ones went without saying, but the severe ones could be enough to shake the very foundation of a family.

Over the long history of the Azure Surge Universal Human Empire, countless families, factions, and civilizations had risen and fallen. Behind a vast majority of those events, strategists had been pulling the strings.

Even throughout the history of the thirty-six great universal human empires, the downfall of certain empires had been orchestrated by the hands of top-tier strategists.

"Hello," Su Yuan replied with a smile. Tejia Chiyun's avatar in the virtual world looked quite similar to a human from Blue Star, with the only difference being his crimson pupils.

This was the hallmark of the Chiyun clan. The crimson pupils were not merely an external trait; they also contained the innate abilities of their bloodline.

"Tell me about your situation."

Su Yuan cut straight to the chase.

"Mr. Ming."

Tejia Chiyun steadied his nerves and immediately said, "My full name is Tejia Chiyun. As you can probably guess, sir, I hail from the Chiyun clan."

Su Yuan gave a slight nod. "The Chiyun clan is certainly not weak within the Azure Surge Universal Human Empire."

In truth, Su Yuan had already learned all this information Crystal Clear from the gray mirror. He was simply listening patiently to ensure Tejia Chiyun would not grow suspicious.

Otherwise, if Su Yuan declared he knew everything before Tejia Chiyun even opened his mouth, what would the young man think?

"The Patriarch of the Chiyun clan is my father, and I am his three hundred and seventy-second son."

Tejia Chiyun continued, "The Chiyun clan is exceedingly strict regarding the education of its descendants. Without genuine ability, it is absolutely impossible to enter the ranks of the High-Ranking Officials and participate in family decisions."

"Indeed."

Su Yuan nodded.

Within the cosmic factions, the archetype of the ignorant, incompetent, yet highly-placed wealthy heir was virtually non-existent.

Every universal power placed immense importance on cultivating their youth. Only those descendants with true competence could ever hope to join the High-Ranking Officials of their family.

Without ability? They would simply be kept around as parasites, completely barred from touching any family affairs.

"And determining whether a descendant has ability comes down to two aspects: talent in cultivation, and talent in management."

"My cultivation talent is rather average. I haven't even stepped into the ranks of a Starry Sky Lifeform after several centuries, so I gave up on that long ago."

"But as for management talent..."

Tejia Chiyun's eyes brightened briefly before dimming again. "Honestly, it's pretty average too. However, management talent isn't just about oneself."

Su Yuan listened quietly.

Cultivation talent relied entirely on the individual. Even given the exact same resources, one person might become a Starry Sky Lifeform, while another might fail to even reach the stage of a Level 6 Life Form.

This was the stark disparity in cultivation talent.

It could not be faked.

But management talent? Management focused far more on the ability to utilize others.

And that relied somewhat on luck.

"A hundred years ago, the family began their observation of me. The transaction records and profit margins of the ten life-bearing planets they gifted me are all within the scope of this observation."

Tejia Chiyun promptly forwarded a data file to Su Yuan. These documents detailed the profit earned by the ten life-bearing planets under his control over the past century.

Since they were conducting an Assessment of his management capabilities, the evaluation criteria naturally dictated that higher profits resulted in a higher rating.

"Mr. Ming, look at this data. What kind of rating do you think I can obtain during tomorrow's family assessment?"

Tejia Chiyun looked at Su Yuan, a faint trace of anticipation visible in his eyes.

"What rating?"

Su Yuan scanned the files for a moment before replying, "A C-rank rating, I suppose."

"A C-rank rating?"

Tejia Chiyun was stunned.

The family's test ratings, from highest to lowest, were S, A, B, C, and D.

Although C was not the lowest, it was merely the bare minimum to pass the trial. It was still leagues away from allowing him entry into the High-Ranking Officials.

"How is that possible?"

Tejia Chiyun frowned. To secure a high score in this trial, he had paid a hefty price and even resorted to some underhanded methods.

"You fabricated parts of this data, didn't you?"

Su Yuan asked with a smile.

"You?"

Tejia Chiyun's heart leaped into his throat.

He had indeed doctored the records. His exact goal was to make the numbers look more appealing to boost his evaluation.

Of course, Tejia Chiyun was no fool. His methods of falsification were incredibly discreet. Nobody knew about it, not even his personal strategists.

"You want to ask how I know?"

Su Yuan countered.

"Yes."

Tejia Chiyun fell silent for a moment before nodding.

"Setting aside how I know for now, do you honestly believe your little tricks can bypass the scrutiny of the Grand Elders?"

Su Yuan asked.

According to the answers provided by the gray mirror, Tejia Chiyun, who originally could have earned a B-rank rating, ended up receiving a C because his data fabrication was exposed, which tanked his final score.

"This..."

Tejia Chiyun was rendered speechless.

He had initially been extremely confident in his deception, but now that even Su Yuan had seen through it, the Grand Elders certainly would as well.

"Please, Mr. Ming, guide me."

Tejia Chiyun stood up and offered Su Yuan a respectful bow.

At this moment, Tejia Chiyun held Su Yuan in incredibly high regard. After all, the falsified portions of the data had completely escaped the notice of his own personal strategist.

Yet here, Su Yuan had spotted the anomalies after just a brief glance.

It was obvious that Su Yuan's tactical prowess far surpassed that of his current advisor.

"There's no need for that. You just need to tell me what level of evaluation you wish to achieve."

Su Yuan said, looking at Tejia Chiyun.

"What level of evaluation I wish to achieve..."

Tejia Chiyun blinked in surprise.

Was that something he could just casually demand?

"If possible... an S-rank rating, of course."

Tejia Chiyun replied, testing the waters carefully.

An S-rank was the absolute highest rating in the Chiyun clan's internal descendant trials. Over the past century, no more than ten descendants had earned it. In his wildest dreams, Tejia Chiyun never imagined he could achieve such a score.

But since Su Yuan had asked what rating he wanted... Tejia Chiyun simply blurted it out.

"No problem."

Su Yuan nodded.

"No problem?!"

This time, it was Tejia Chiyun's turn to be utterly shocked.

He had only said it offhand. Could Su Yuan actually pull it off?

"However, what price are you willing to pay?"

Su Yuan asked, locking eyes with Tejia Chiyun.

"Please, just name it, Mr. Ming. No matter how much money it costs, I can get it for you."

Realizing that Su Yuan was dead serious, Tejia Chiyun's spirits instantly soared.

"I do not want money."

Su Yuan shook his head.

"Not money?"

Tejia Chiyun stared at Su Yuan.

"I want that 'Yin-Yang Blood Pool' kept in the Chiyun clan's collection."

Su Yuan declared plainly.

The Yin-Yang Blood Pool was a cosmic wonder. It was born on a planet saturated with Yin and Yang energies. Eventually, it was discovered by an exploration team from the Chiyun clan, extracted, and brought back to their family.

This cosmic wonder would be immensely beneficial to Su Yuan's cultivation. When breaking through from a Planetary Lifeform to a Starry Sky Lifeform, he would use the Yin and Yang energies to condense his new form. To skip the initial stage of a Starry Sky Lifeform and directly enter the mid-stage, he would need the power of this very artifact.

Furthermore, the Yin-Yang Blood Pool would be indispensable for his cultivation throughout the Starry Sky Lifeform stage.

Thanks to the gray mirror, Su Yuan knew that there were over 1.8 million treasures similar to the Yin-Yang Blood Pool scattered throughout the Universe. Among them, the one kept by the Chiyun clan was the absolute easiest to acquire.

However, since it belonged to the Chiyun clan, it could only be obtained through the clan's internal exchange system by a family member.

"The Yin-Yang Blood Pool?"

Tejia Chiyun instantly began searching for this treasure.

Eventually, he located the cosmic wonder within the family's internal exchange catalog.

"The Yin-Yang Blood Pool. Capable of autonomously condensing vast amounts of Yin and Yang energies. Immensely beneficial for comprehending the powers of Yin and Yang. Exchange price: two million merit points."

Tejia Chiyun's pupils constricted slightly.

He didn't find it suspicious that Su Yuan knew about the clan possessing such a treasure. With so many members in the Chiyun clan, it was perfectly normal for information regarding items in their internal vault to leak out.

What shocked Tejia Chiyun was the item's astronomical price.

Two million merit points.

One must understand, earning merit points within the Chiyun clan was notoriously difficult.

The value of two million merit points easily eclipsed two billion Azure Surge Coins.

"Mr. Ming, it's not that I don't want to give it to you. It's just that my merit points are nowhere near enough,"

Tejia Chiyun sighed. Up to this point, he only had five hundred thousand merit points. Achieving two million was a distant pipe dream.

"If you secure an S-rank rating, you will receive an additional bonus of 1.5 million merit points from your family,"

Su Yuan stated immediately.

The moment he spoke,

Tejia Chiyun was frozen in astonishment.

Su Yuan's understanding of the Chiyun clan was terrifyingly profound. He was even Crystal Clear on the exact rewards granted for an S-rank rating.

"An S-rank rating is of vital importance to you. It will propel you straight into the ranks of the High-Ranking Officials, making it entirely possible for you to contend for the position of Patriarch in the future,"

Su Yuan said slowly, holding Tejia Chiyun's gaze.

"The position of Patriarch?"

A fiery ambition ignited in Tejia Chiyun's heart. Clenching his teeth, he declared, "Deal."

"Good."

Su Yuan nodded and stood up. "Now, under the witness of the virtual world network, we shall sign a Contract. If you obtain the S-rank rating, you will give me the Yin-Yang Blood Pool. If you do not, I will take absolutely nothing."

Hearing the terms of Su Yuan's Contract, Tejia Chiyun felt a wave of reassurance.

In truth, he didn't care much about exchanging two million merit points for the Yin-Yang Blood Pool. If he could secure an S-rank rating and enter the High-Ranking Officials, what were two million merit points?

What truly mattered to Tejia Chiyun was whether Su Yuan could actually deliver the S-rank rating.

With the formal Contract signed, his mind was finally somewhat at ease.

After all, if he failed to get the S-rank, Su Yuan wouldn't take a single coin.

Under these circumstances, his interests were completely intertwined with Su Yuan's.

The Contract was finalized.

Su Yuan immediately issued his first instruction: "Delete every fabricated detail from this data report. Leave nothing but the unvarnished truth."

"Alright."

Tejia Chiyun swiftly began modifying the files.

If his deception was destined to be uncovered anyway, presenting the real data was unquestionably the best course of action.

"Next, adjust the future policy of your ten life-bearing planets. Focus your key support projects on cultivating the strength of branch members in remote territories, as well as prioritizing the exploration of uncharted star sectors,"

Su Yuan continued.

"Cultivating the strength of branch members?"

Tejia Chiyun was perplexed. There were indeed large numbers of Chiyun clan members living on his ten planets.

However, they all belonged to distant branch families. Though technically part of the Chiyun clan in name, they were nowhere near being core members.

Increase investments in these remote branch members?

"Just do as I instructed."

Su Yuan's tone was composed as he added, "Furthermore, when you answer the questions of the Grand Elders during tomorrow's assessment, base your responses along these lines..."

Although Tejia Chiyun couldn't fathom the reasoning behind many of Su Yuan's directives, that was simply the way strategists operated. If he could easily understand their machinations, it would be highly irregular.

Consequently, Tejia Chiyun did not push back against the orders.

The next day.

Within a magnificent grand hall.

Tejia Chiyun stood nervously in the center of the chamber.

Several Grand Elders were seated high above him.

The management records he had submitted for his ten planets were currently being flipped through by the elders.

After a long while,

The Grand Elder seated dead center spoke: "Tejia Chiyun, why do you feel it is necessary to increase the level of support for remote branch members?"

"The Universe is boundless and infinite, and there are far too many powerful factions. Relying solely on our core members makes it exceedingly difficult to sustain the continued glory of the Chiyun clan..."

Tejia Chiyun recited the answer he had painstakingly memorized.

This was the exact answer Su Yuan had provided.

"Hmm."

The head Grand Elder offered a slight nod,

and then promptly stood up and departed.

"That's it? It's over?"

Tejia Chiyun was completely bewildered.

The moment the assessment concluded,

Tejia Chiyun immediately logged into the virtual world to meet with Su Yuan.

"Mr. Ming, the Grand Elder evaluating me didn't ask much of anything. What does this mean?"

Tejia Chiyun couldn't hold back his question.

He had asked other members of his clan about their assessments, and they had all been bombarded with relentless questions by the elders.

"Because your answer left him thoroughly satisfied." Su Yuan glanced at Tejia Chiyun. "Now, all you have to do is sit back and wait for your S-rank rating."