Chapter 402

Qi returns to qi.

Proper business still needs to be done; it cannot be neglected.

The fish didn't take the hook, and didn't even enter the prepared bait spot, but it indeed jumped right in front of Luo Te Si Nuo.

So now, what Luo Te Si Nuo needs to do is to fish.

Fishing isn't just about killing right away; the necessary human relations and worldly wisdom still need to be discussed.

Luo Te Si Nuo smiled slightly, waved at Grand Sage Michel, who quickly understood what had happened and his current situation, and politely greeted: 'Hello, Michel.'

"Hello, Saint."

Grand Sage Michel remained calm amidst the chaos, likewise returned a polite greeting, then said, 'Last time we parted, I thought it would be a long while before seeing the Saint again; I didn't expect to meet so soon.'

"Yeah, I'm also quite surprised."

Luo Te Si Nuo echoed in agreement.

"What does the Saint find surprising?"

Grand Sage Michel smiled faintly, 'Could it be that all this isn't unfolding according to the Saint's arrangements? Even if the Saint reincarnated, they still like to play mind games as before, yet always mess them up.'

After a pause, Grand Sage Michel continued thrusting a blade: 'It seems the Saint's oft-repeated saying is correct—seeing more doesn't mean one can do better.'

Grand Sage Michel experienced the fierce battle between the Wizard Civilization and the Gods Civilization, and survived.

Before the decisive battle, Mixieer Grand Sage had already become an eighth‑level Grand Sage, so when the five Holy Ones of the Supreme Council reorganized the wizard civilization's order, she was placed under the West Coast Elemental System Wizard Holy One, and within the Duduo Region overseen by Duduo Ninth‑level Grand Sage, she established the Mixieer District and Mixieer Grand Sage's Tower.

On the contrary, the once‑glorious Mystic System Wizard School has been completely lost.

The reason, you know, is of course that the source and pinnacle of the Mystic System Wizard School, Holy One Nuositeluodamu, perished after the war.

From this point of view, Mixieer Grand Sage and Holy One Nuositeluodamu are contemporaries.

Mixieer Grand Sage's understanding of Holy One Nuositeluodamu and the Mystic System Wizard School is naturally extensive—extensive enough to spy on the revival of the Mystic System Wizard School and to vie for the position of Mystic System Wizard Holy One.

"Ah!"

Luotesinuo lightly patted his forehead, vexed, saying, "I said this layout always felt odd; it turns out I overlooked that I'm not good at scheming and that you know me all too well. In that case, the True Spirit really isn't just meddling blindly, but genuinely wants to help me."

"Is the True Spirit Holy One also here?"

Mixieer Grand Sage directly ignored Luotesinuo's vexation and precisely grasped the key.

"It's not just the True Spirit who came; the Element also came."

Luotesinuo told the truth, without any thought of deceit or coaxing.

"I see."

Mixieer Grand Sage nodded, looking thoughtful.

One doesn't know what he was thinking, nor what he understood.

Luotesinuo didn't bother to care about those Mixieer matters, and, curious, asked, "The True Spirit and the Element have both come; the True Spirit even acted to shift you over, his attitude is clear—do you still want to go on? Mixieer, it's not too late to pull back."

"Too late for what?"

Mixieer Grand Sage calmly retorted.

"Too late to avoid becoming a sinner of wizard civilization."

Luotesinuo smoothly gave the answer.

Upon hearing that, Mixieer Grand Sage fell into deep thought.

Luotesinuo wasn't in a hurry to hear the answer, so he didn't urge him.

The atmosphere in this void is actually rather tranquil and harmonious—yet it's a shame for the Ruiwosuosi Academy vanguard, locked in blood battle, and for Lin Ke and Mo Li, who are dodging the encirclement.

The longer time drags on, the greater the losses suffered by the Ruiwosuosi Academy vanguard, and the higher the chance that Lin Ke and Mo Li will be blocked.

If Lin Ke and Mo Li were blocked by the small interstellar fleet of Mixieer Grand Sage's Tower, let alone attracting more attention from Mixieer Grand Sage to ease the pressure on the four allied legions, even self‑preservation would be difficult.

"We can't go on like this."

In the cockpit of the star‑sailing vessel, Lin Ke once again dodged the interstellar fleet's encirclement and suddenly said such a line.

Mo Li, who assists Lin Ke in controlling the star‑sailing vessel, immediately asked, "What do you have in mind?"

Lin Ke fell silent for a moment, then firmly decided: "We're not running."

"Not running?"

Mo Li felt quite surprised, and for a moment couldn't fathom what Lin Ke was thinking.

If we don't run, there are only two paths to take:

First, few against many, weak against strong, to clash head‑on with Mixieer Grand Sage's small interstellar fleet;

Second, to meekly surrender, bind hands, and then hope that Mixieer Grand Sage's aim in obtaining Lin Ke poses no threat to their personal safety and freedom.

Whether the first or the second path, Mo Li does not consider either a good option.

No matter which path is taken, the outcome will not be good.

Lin Ke naturally understands Mo Li's concerns, for they were his own earlier worries.

But, this time is different, that time was different.

In the process of evading the small interstellar fleet of Mixieer Grand Sage's encirclement, Lin Ke realized something he had previously overlooked.

Having been left on the shelf for too long by the Wizard Civilization's Supreme Council, the Ruiwosuosi Academy, and himself, Lin Ke forgot that, according to the Void Tranquil Heavenly Master, the Immortal‑Deity Civilization's regard for him far surpasses that for Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke.

Void Tranquil, if Lin Ke had arrived earlier in the Immortal‑Deity Civilization's universe, the support that Mixieer Grand Sage now receives from the Immortal‑Deity Heavenly Court would belong to Lin Ke.

Moreover, Lin Ke could even have more.

In this situation, would the Immortal‑Deity Civilization stand by and let Mixieer Grand Sage seize control of Lin Ke?

In other words, given the Immortal‑Deity Civilization's shown regard for Lin Ke, could the Wizard Civilization's Supreme Council, which has kept Lin Ke on the shelf for several years, stand by and let Mixieer Grand Sage, who has already committed substantive betrayal or fence‑sitting, succeed?

Lin Ke thinks it's unlikely.

Since it's merely probable, there is also a risk of mishap.

If Lin Ke guessed wrong, what follows can easily be imagined.

But Lin Ke was willing to take a gamble.

All along, Lin Ke's modus operandi has been to stay as steady as possible; if he really can't stay steady, he goes all out.

That remains the case now.

There wasn't time to explain too much to Mo Li; Lin Ke turned his head, looked into her eyes, and said solemnly, "Mo Li, trust me."

"Hmm."

Despite having many doubts and uncertainties in her heart, Mo Li nodded without hesitation, her attitude resolute.

Having gotten the response he wanted, Lin Ke said nothing more, merely speeding up his hand‑input of commands a bit.

Under Lin Ke's control, the star‑skiff broke free from its high‑speed maneuvering state in the shortest time possible and came to a stop in a star‑field devoid of asteroid belts and strong stellar gravity, awaiting the encirclement of the small interstellar fleet.

"What are you trying to do?"

The eighth‑level Grand Sage commander of the small interstellar fleet, watching the star‑skiff shift from extreme motion to extreme stillness in a short time, muttered to himself.

When things go awry, there must be something fishy.

The commander did not believe Linke Grand would surrender to Grand Sage Michelle's Tower; there must be a trick.

For a moment, the commander hesitated about what action to take next.

Even after the small interstellar fleet had tightly surrounded the star‑skiff, leaving no room to maneuver or escape, the commander still gave no order, instead remaining indecisive.

Often, a person's subconscious actions reveal their inner state more clearly.

Upon receiving this mission, before taking action, the commander had once reported to the highest level of Grand Sage Michelle's Tower his doubts about the intelligence's authenticity; that was a subconscious act.

After noticing that the star‑skiff carrying Linke Grand seemed to have ceased resistance and was showing signs of surrender, the commander's failure to immediately deploy a capture operation was also a subconscious act.

These two subconscious actions reflected the commander's puzzlement and even dissatisfaction with the decision that Grand Sage Michelle must seize Linke Grand from the Ruowuosuo Academy.

They also indicated that the commander's sense of allegiance to Grand Sage Michelle and her Tower was gradually waning, possibly disappearing altogether.

Although Grand Sage Michelle's Tower, after being forced to leave the Wizard Civilization Universe and enter a parallel universe, has developed extremely rapidly with very promising prospects.

Although Grand Sage Michelle is bursting with vigorous vitality again, and there are rumors in private that her ascension to Holy One is imminent.

This eighth‑level Grand Sage, who serves as commander of the small interstellar fleet tasked with capturing Linke Grand, nevertheless harbors a deep‑seated lack of confidence in the prospects of Grand Sage Michelle's Tower and in her chances of successful ascension.

"Grand Sage, subordinates request instructions: should we next persuade surrender or move straight to capture?"

The deputy's question broke the commander's reverie.

"Wait."

The commander came to, exhaling a single word softly.

"What?"

Hearing that, the deputy was extremely shocked and blurted out a remark overstepping his authority: "Grand Sage, Linke Grand has already ceased resistance—what are we waiting for, and how long must we wait?"

The commander gave the deputy—temporarily assigned from the highest level of Grand Sage Michelle's Tower to his interstellar fleet—a deep look, said nothing, and his gaze grew ever sharper.

The deputy capable of serving as an eighth‑level Grand Sage's commander is himself a seventh‑level Grand Sage, a close confidant of the highest level of Grand Sage Michelle's Tower, and a member of the Michelle family.

The deputy did not back down, locking eyes with the commander, refusing to yield, and insisted on receiving an answer and explanation.

The disagreement and standoff between an eighth‑level Grand Sage and a seventh‑level Grand Sage instantly made the atmosphere in the flagship's bridge tense.

The flagship's crew and all fleet personnel lowered their heads, busily working, daring not to glance in that direction even for a moment.

The commander first broke the deadlock, curling the corner of his mouth in a sneer, then calmly said, "If you doubt my decision, you can go ahead and file a report right now, have me relieved of duty on the spot, and then take over the fleet. If you can do that, you may act as you wish; if you cannot, then obey the order."

Those words were a direct kill.

The deputy holds his position for a reason.

Yes, he is indeed a member of the Michelle family and a close confidant of the highest level of Grand Sage Michelle's Tower.

But when it comes to directing combat, assessing the situation, and making on‑the‑spot decisions, the deputy falls far short of the commander.

The highest level knew the commander harbored doubts about this operation to capture Linke Grand, yet still appointed him—precisely because of that.

He didn't even need to actually file a report; the deputy knew any reply he got would be to carry out the commander's order.

Taking a deep breath, the deputy suppressed his emotions, lowered his head, and said, "I was wrong; I will carry out the Grand Sage's command."

Having spoken, the deputy turned and left, conveying the commander's 'wait' order to every warship in the small interstellar fleet.

The disagreement and standoff that took place in the flagship's bridge, because the commander must direct each warship in real time, were also relayed via the command communications system, allowing every ship's captain to witness it firsthand.

Upon receiving the commander's 'wait' order, every captain dared not question it and immediately complied.

Thus occurred a rather strange event.

When the star‑skiff tried to flee, the small interstellar fleet pursued relentlessly.

When the star‑skiff no longer wished to escape, the small interstellar fleet inexplicably held its position, neither urging surrender nor attempting a forcible capture.

"What are they doing? Why aren't they moving?"

Mo Li, who had decided to share whatever fate befell Lin Ke, watched the scene unfold and grew ever more puzzled.

How could today's events become stranger and stranger?

"Heh…"

Lin Ke chuckled, but did not answer Mo Li's question; he simply fixed his gaze on the flagship of the small interstellar fleet.

He too was now curious about what the commander was thinking at this moment.

The Void.

Luotesnuo, who had been keeping watch on the star‑skiff, noticed this somewhat strange change, waved a hand to conjure a screen of light, and shared the amusement with Grand Sage Michelle.

Grand Sage Michelle glanced at it lightly, showing no reaction.

"How come, my brother-in-law has surrendered, yet your men still aren't moving to capture him—don't you have any ideas?"

Seeing this, Luotesnuo asked with a smiling tone.

"What do I need to have in mind?"

Grand Sage Michelle replied with a counter‑question.

"Huh? Didn't you always want to have my cheap older brother?"

Lotessno's brows furrowed slightly, as if they truly harbored doubts about this.

Grand Sage Michelle looked at Lotessno as if looking at an idiot, then asked: "Saint, do you think I'm an idiot, or do you think you're an idiot? When did I ever say I wanted to have Linke Grand the wizard?"

"You didn't say that?"

Lotessno let out an exclamation, looking quite surprised.

Regarding that, Grand Sage Michelle said nothing more.

These aren't important at all.

Lotessno clicked their tongue, dismissed the thought of continuing to press, shifted the conversation, and asked: "How about it, have you decided? Do you want to seize the opportunity and turn back?"

"Turn back?"

Grand Sage Michelle spread their arms, and spiritual and magical power surged wildly throughout their body, instantly shattering the void, re-linking space and reality, and then merging them.

The surging spiritual and magical power, under the will of Grand Sage Michelle, transformed into threads of pure and turbid qi.

The pure qi rose, entering Grand Sage Michelle's soul from the crown of the head;

The turbid qi descended, entering Grand Sage Michelle's corporeal soul from three inches below the navel;

The two qis converged at the chest, then the five qis returned to the origin, then the three flowers gathered at the summit, and finally condensed into the Dao fruit.

The position of Heavenly Venerable has been accomplished, and the Saint's status is ready.

Grand Sage Michelle stood in the void, arms still spread, head slightly tilted back, and asked with a smile: "Why would I turn back?"

Lotessno remained silent, slowly closing their eyes.

What needed to be said has already been said, but we still need to go through with it, right?

Then regardless of the cost, however much trouble lies ahead, let's loosen up our muscles and bones.

However, just as Lotessno was about to open their eyes, temporarily restoring the Saint's status and power, an abrupt change occurred.

A beam of light came from somewhere into the shattered void.

The light cone fell like a net, enveloping Michelle.

Solidly.