Chapter 207 - A Conversation

Running a message relay point was a business. They rented out engraved communication crystals for public use. Establishments like this could be found in most major commandery capitals, but their prices were exorbitant.

A sum of 2,000 taels of silvers for fifteen minutes. That alone was enough to crush the hopes of nearly everyone.

Usually, only wealthy merchants transmitting vital commercial news, or noble clans and sects passing along important intelligence, would ever use one.

The manager of Myriad’s message relay point was an expert, a fourth rank cultivator. Yet when two mere sixth rank cultivators walked in, he showed not the slightest disrespect.

After all, anyone who entered a message relay point almost certainly had a communication crystal installed back home. That alone said plenty about their background.

Once Xu Yuan paid with banknotes, the manager led them into a private chamber. He bowed, then silently withdrew.

Xu Xinyao briefly inspected the soundproofing formations around the room before walking over to the enormous communication crystal at its center and carefully examining its formation patterns.

Most messages sent through message relay points were confidential, and where secrets were involved, there was always profit to be made.

More than once in the past, message relay points had taken advantage of their customers’ ignorance of formation patterns. They would tamper with the communication crystals, eavesdrop on private conversations, then sell the information.

Although Lou Ji had been the one to start the whole racket, Xu Yuan and Xu Xinyao still had to guard against it.

As Xu Xinyao continued her inspection, Xu Yuan asked curiously, “Xinyao, how much does it normally cost to activate one of these communication crystals?”

“As long as you don’t use it continuously, nothing.”

“Huh?”

While carefully probing the crystal with source qi, Xu Xinyao explained softly, “These source crystals usually come with spirit-absorbing formations. Whenever they aren’t in use, they slowly gather source qi from the surrounding world and store it in a spirit reservoir. Mmh... the reservoir should be about twenty meters underground.”

Xu Yuan smiled. “One big upfront investment, then endless profit.”

Xu Xinyao shook her head. “The materials for a formation like this are extremely expensive. Even without counting the formation master’s fee, it would still cost nearly 200,000 taels.”

Xu Yuan clicked his tongue. “The imperial court really is rich. They’ve installed one in so many commanderies and counties.”

Converted into the currency of his previous life, that was 300 million yuan just to install a landline.

Their paths of technological development might have been completely different, but the Great Flame Empire’s productive capacity was still remarkable.

Xu Xinyao gave a soft laugh. “Third Brother, they were built gradually over time. Besides, many county settlements still don’t have communication crystals. Border cities need them to report military intelligence, but most smaller counties rely on the official roads to deliver messages to their commandery capital.”

With that, Xu Xinyao slowly straightened and said quietly, “There’s nothing wrong with this communication crystal. I’ve already contacted Father’s Skyfone.”

Probably because he was busy handling government affairs, Xu Yinhe did not accept the transmission immediately.

Xu Yuan leaned against the wall and chatted casually with Xu Xinyao while they waited. “Xinyao, suppose you charged the Myriad Manifestations Sect to build a grand formation like theirs. How much would you normally be paid?”

Sitting on the floor with her back against the wall, Xu Xinyao glanced up at her third brother. After considering it for a moment, she replied, “Probably somewhere between 200,000 to 300,000 taels.”

The corner of Xu Yuan’s eye twitched.

Xu Xinyao lowered her gaze. “There’s no need to be so surprised. The main reason is that large-scale formation blueprints are extremely valuable.”

Xu Yuan understood. It was a technological product, and one built on the scale of a large town or city..

At the thought, he looked at Xu Xinyao with something close to heartache.

A son of 300,000 taels, that was 450 million yuan... And she had simply given it away. Wasn’t his little sister even better at squandering money than he was? Once they reached the Myriad Manifestations Sect, he would have to claw that debt back too.

Having made up his mind, Xu Yuan sighed. “You gave them the formation blueprint?”

Xu Xinyao shook her head. “Of course not. A blueprint like that is priceless. I handled all the core formation patterns myself.”

Xu Yuan fell silent for a moment, then asked quietly, “By the way, how much longer will the Institute of Applied Research need to develop that Skyfone?”

He genuinely wanted one of those things. With it, he could call in reinforcements whenever he pleased.

“That sort of thing is extremely difficult,” Xu Xinyao replied softly. “There’s no way to power or activate it. Only high-level cultivators at the second rank or above can use one.”

Xu Yuan glanced at the Sumeru Ring on her finger. “Can’t you power it with your Sumeru Ring?”

Xu Xinyao shook her head.

“Why not?” Xu Yuan asked.

She answered in a low voice, “If source qi is allowed to flow between the floating stone in a Sumeru Ring and the white-luminescent crystal inside a Skyfone, it causes qi-shear. The kao-particle patterns undergo radiance fusion, and the body-binding crystals attached to the floating stone begin resonance-detonating...”

Xu Yuan understood none of that.

ᯓ➤

Imperial Capital.

Outside the gates of Marquis Wucheng’s estate, the black coiling-dragon carriage representing the incumbent chancellor once again rolled through the massive vermilion gates.

Unlike last time, there was now a man in green seated inside the spacious carriage.

An old man and a young man with similar features sat facing one another. The carriage was filled with the faint, elegant fragrance of smokeless incense.

Xu Yinhe looked at his eldest son and shook his head. “I already told you. Even if you came to his door in person to propose marriage, Marquis Wucheng would never agree to let you form the alliance yourself. Heh. By tomorrow, word that your proposal was rejected will probably have spread throughout the Imperial Capital.”

Xu Changge’s expression remained cold. No emotion could be seen in his long, narrow eyes. “Changtian will most likely have a hard time if he is sent into that marriage.”

“It is only a temporary measure,” Xu Yinhe said. “Besides, even if Changtian goes, that does not necessarily mean they will be able to keep him under their thumb.”

Xu Changge raised an eyebrow. There was not a trace of displeasure in his eyes, only curiosity. “Father, could you explain in more detail?”

Xu Yinhe answered bluntly, “I sent him to deal with the Myriad Manifestations Sect. Xinyao is with him as well.”

“The Myriad Manifestations Sect... is this related to what happened in Sageridge?” Xu Changge frowned slightly. “They only have 40,000 Blackscale troops. Won’t Changtian and Xinyao be in danger?”

After Xu Chang’an’s death, Xu Changge had been forced to take his place and begin handling some of the family’s affairs. Whenever reports were sent to Xu Yinhe, a copy was now sent to him as well.

A complicated look crossed Xu Yinhe’s eyes, but it eventually softened into a smile. “You protect your younger siblings too much. Xinyao has been sheltered all her life, while Changtian was allowed to run wild for too long. They both have to grow eventually.”

Xu Changge was silent for a moment. Then he exhaled, the corner of his mouth curving upward. “Changtian can already stand on his own?”

Xu Yinhe did not answer directly. Instead, he said meaningfully, “I had Lou Ji instruct Yi Tian to deliver two painted-skin masks to Changtian and Xinyao.”

Xu Changge’s gaze paused. “Concealing their identities is indeed a good idea.”

“Mhm.” Xu Yinhe nodded. Glancing sideways at the crowds along the roadside, which had fallen silent as the carriage passed, he continued, “I also arranged for someone in Westward Commandery to impersonate Changtian and make public appearances in his place.”

At those words, Xu Changge went silent for a long time. Then his pupils abruptly contracted, and excitement broke through his usually composed expression. “Father, you mean...”

Xu Yinhe turned his gaze back to him. “Yes. I intend to groom Changtian.”