"The Wang family's matter is neither especially big nor especially small." Li Mingxue's tone carried a faint sigh. She understood the Wang family's situation and status very clearly, which was why she could speak of it this way.
"In the secular world, it amounts to nothing more than the decline of a commercial family. From then on, the Wang name will no longer be seen in the business world. Aside from that, it won't affect much. This part of the impact can be ignored. After all, countless families and enterprises go bankrupt every single day. The Wang family is only one among them and won't attract much attention. Even if Wang Tingsi was the most famous young star of the new generation, it's the same. A shooting star is ultimately just a shooting star—it cannot compare to the constellations that have shone in the sky for decades."
"In the cultivation world, however, they are the Rift Guardian family for the Sucheng region. Even within Su Province, that kind of influence is significant and cannot be overlooked. More importantly, if they fall, then for a short period of time the rift will be left unguarded. Many abnormal events will occur. The most worrying possibility is that someone will take advantage of this and pry the rift open slightly, allowing some wandering lifeforms from the Otherside to slip in. You should know that for the Otherside to open a rift and maintain it, they require vast quantities of fresh blood and souls to sustain it."
"But in the present world, with Rift Guardians in place, doing such a thing is fundamentally impossible. The maximum energy a rift can normally sustain generally does not exceed the Earth level. And what would happen if an Earth-level expert from the Otherside faced a Rift Guardian family that possesses at least three Heaven-level experts? The outcome speaks for itself."
"So unless it is something undiscovered—like the rift you found within the lake in the primeval forest of Jiuzhaigou—it is rare for the Otherside to accomplish something like this."
"However, not everyone in the present world is willing to fight for it. Some people instead yearn for the darkness of the Otherside—the endless competition, the constant brush with life and death. These people are precisely the targets the Otherside seeks to win over."
"Unfortunately, the Wang family also has such a person. That is Wang Hao, someone within their core circle. His true objective remains unclear. No one has been able to determine what he ultimately wants. But regardless of his motives, he succeeded. He successfully turned the majority of the Wang family into sacrificial offerings to open the rift."
"What he intends to summon, or whom he wishes to bring forth—those investigating still have no answer."
"Are you wondering why your mother hasn't taken action? With my strength, accomplishing this would not be difficult."
"Lian'er, you're thinking too simply. If it were that easy, why haven't the other Heaven-level experts made a move? Are they merely watching the Wang family's downfall? Or waiting for the rift to open? There are far too many complicated relationships entangled in this. The moment we act, the entire balance of this world will immediately fall into chaos."
"These matters cannot be resolved by us. They must be handled by those weaker than we are. If we interfere, we violate the rules. Once we break them, the other side will have no reason to abide by them either. Even if we are not afraid, we must consider whether this city would be destroyed as a result. We would act with reservations. They, however, might not. In fact, they may even be hoping we make a move."
"You could say this is the tragedy of the present world, or the victory of the Otherside. Whichever it is, we are currently at an extreme disadvantage."
"As for the exact reason behind it, don't ask for now. When you reach this level, you'll understand why."
After finishing this segment, Li Mingxue stopped speaking at just the right moment. Looking at Chu Lian, who was listening in a daze, she asked, "Lian'er, if you were asked to handle this matter, would you go?"
"If it truly requires me to act, then I will go. I just don't know whether I can succeed." Chu Lian felt her heart stir. If she could resolve this matter, she might uncover some secrets as well.
"You can. Unless they make an enormous sacrifice—like last time, constructing a temporary spacetime bridge—a rift cannot sustain the energy intensity of a Heaven-level existence crossing through." Li Mingxue nodded. She understood the stakes clearly. She would not have spoken if she did not believe her precious daughter was capable. Dangerous matters were not something she would allow her to handle lightly at her side.
"Then I'll go. I hope I can solve it." Chu Lian's eyes brightened. Is this a quest? It must be a quest, right? The moment the thought surfaced, the system prompt arrived as expected.
"Special Quest: The Wang Family's Crisis. Resolve the negative consequences brought about by the Wang family's destruction and eliminate the surrounding anomalies. Time limit: before the end of today. Difficulty: Abyss. Reward: One S-Rank Dungeon Entry Ticket, plus an unknown additional reward."
As expected, Shiroha, I really do love you. Clever, considerate, and understanding. The moment I want something, you deliver it. Even if the second reward is unknown, it's definitely something good. This way, I won't be working for nothing. Chu Lian felt immensely satisfied. In situations like this, there was a high probability of triggering a quest. The feeling of thinking about a quest and immediately receiving one was simply wonderful.
"Please be careful. This matter is not as simple as it appears on the surface." A line of text from Shiroha flashed before her eyes, reminding her that the quest was far more complicated than it seemed.
I know. As long as it's a quest, no matter the difficulty, it will never be simple. Chu Lian replied silently. Then she focused her attention once more on Li Mingxue as she resumed the topic she had paused earlier.
"Mm, we were just discussing the Wang family being used as sacrifices. They are merely resources to maintain the long-term existence of this rift. It sounds cruel. It sounds evil. But it is the truth. The Otherside has always been a dark and bloody place. Life there is both the most precious thing—and the cheapest."
"Most of their rituals require countless lives to drive them. Opening a rift is like this. Opening a gate is the same. In that world, life has never been sacred or inviolable. It is simply something that can vanish at any moment."
"This rift can at most allow Earth-level enemies to pass through. Anything stronger would cause it to collapse and seal itself. If they wish to open it again next time, the cost would be even greater. Compared to the returns, such a sacrifice would be extraordinarily wasteful and foolish—unless there is something of immense value worth destroying this rift to obtain."
At this point, Li Mingxue's delicate brows knitted slightly, as though she felt she had overlooked something. Yet after thinking carefully, she still could not determine what it was she had forgotten.
"That shouldn't be the case. I remember there was something crucial... why can't I recall it?" Li Mingxue was extremely cautious. Since she had this feeling, she knew there must be something amiss. Perhaps some powerful existence had temporarily influenced her judgment. She could not allow Chu Lian to take such a risk.
So she spoke again. "On second thought, Lian'er, you shouldn't go. I have a feeling something very dangerous will happen. If you're not careful, you could be hurt. I would never allow that."
When Chu Lian heard her earlier words, she had already sensed something.
Unless there is something of immense value worth sacrificing this rift for... Isn't that me? I'm the Daughter of Fate—the key to opening the gate between the Otherside and the present world. If I'm not important, then who is?
Her emotions turned complicated beyond measure. She knew that once she went, what she would face would not merely be Earth-level opponents. It was very likely a Heaven-level existence lying in wait. Even if they were willing to abandon this rift, they would still make her their prize.
After everything she had experienced recently—those brushes with death—Chu Lian understood clearly how important she was to the lunatics of the Otherside. Important enough that they would stop at nothing to obtain her.
"Go without worry. Leave any Heaven-level to me. As for Earth-level... don't tell me you can't handle them?" Ayase's voice sounded just as Chu Lian's thoughts began spiraling. Her words were like the most effective tranquilizer, instantly restoring order to her chaotic mind.
"Since you're telling me to go without worry, Ayase, then I'll go. With you here, I fear nothing." Of all the people in her heart, Ayase was the one she relied on most. Her suggestion carried even more weight than Li Mingxue's warning.
Thus, when her mother advised her not to go, she shook her head and refused. "No matter how you look at it, this matter is connected to me. It's only right that I handle it."
"Then be careful. If something happens to you, I won't care what becomes of this city." Li Mingxue did not stop her after hearing that. She merely lowered her voice and gave a quiet warning.
Whatever she might do while remaining here, Chu Lian and this home were her everything. If anyone dared to harm her in front of her, then they would become her target. Even if it meant the destruction of an entire city, she would never abandon her resolve.
"I'll be careful. Don't forget—Ayase is always protecting me. With her around, not to mention one Heaven-level, even ten would make no difference." When it came to her confidence in Ayase, Chu Lian surpassed anyone.
Perhaps it was because that invincible figure had, without her noticing, long since become synonymous with the word unbeatable in her heart.
"Ayase? I may not know where she is, but since you say she's protecting you, I can relax." Li Mingxue had met her before. She knew exactly how astonishing the energy contained within that woman was.
If not for the existence of this world's energy barrier—where those above Heaven level would be expelled—this woman would undoubtedly stand among the strongest beings in the world. Even Li Mingxue herself would fall slightly short in comparison.
"Yes, her. She's in a place none of you can detect or even imagine. She can appear at any time, strike at any moment, and catch any opponent completely off guard." Chu Lian smiled. As far as she knew, only Tírnas had discovered her presence within the system space. She did not believe anyone else in this world could know—unless they possessed power equal to Tírnas.
But such beings would have long since been expelled from this world. And even if they lingered, she had not provoked them. Why worry?
"Even so, act carefully." Though Li Mingxue set aside her immediate concern, she remembered that strange feeling and resolved to investigate it later.
"Um... can I bring Inori and Chu Chu with me?" Chu Lian tightened her hold on Inori's hand and gently pulled her closer as she asked.
"That's up to you. You'll be fighting side by side in the future anyway. It's good to start getting used to it now." Li Mingxue did not object. With Ayase present, their safety was practically guaranteed. Since she wanted to do it, she might as well.
"Thank you for being so open-minded, Mom." With permission granted, Chu Lian's eyes curved into happy crescents...