Chapter 380 - 25: Simulation: Divine Spirit Personhood

Chapter 380: Chapter 25: Simulation: Divine Spirit Personhood

Ji Yao had very complicated feelings for Shen Wanshang. They were a mix of the annoyance, anger, and unwillingness to concede that one feels toward "the perfect child next door," but also contained an admiration and longing she was unwilling to admit even to herself.

Although she had never said it out loud, Ji Yao had always seen the outstandingly capable and exceptionally talented Shen Wanshang—who also acted according to her own will—as her personal goal to strive for.

That was why she had never imagined that the ever-independent Shen Wanshang would one day look at someone with such loving affection.

Especially when the object of her admiration was a womanizer like Zhong Ming.

"Why?"

The scene before her left her stunned. More than that, she felt as if the idol she worshiped had been defiled.

She wasn’t the only one. Ji Hao, who was beside her, and the members of the Demon Race who had been watching the situation, all wore expressions of utter disbelief.

Ji Hao thought, ’The Celestial Cloud Kingdom’s territory borders the lands managed by our Silver Moon Royal Mansion. Because of the Quanrong Tribe’s invasion, we need the Celestial Sea King’s Mansion to provide their full support. Under these circumstances, we’ve already withdrawn from the contest for the Military Commander position. The Celestial Sea King has no need for Zhong Ming or the Qinghe Commandery Mansion anymore, right?’

’So why would he have Shen Wanshang get close to Zhong Ming...’

Admittedly, Ji Hao knew that Zhong Ming’s talent was exceptional, but he was surrounded by even more women. In Ji Hao’s view, potential was just potential, not actual strength. The Celestial Sea King’s Mansion had no need to place so much importance on a Cultivator who had just started Cultivating Evil.

...

While those outside harbored complex feelings about Shen Wanshang’s arrival, back at the Immortal Martial Daoist School, several people were staring at her with looks of shock and embarrassment. And well... Shen Wanshang was feeling quite awkward herself.

She looked at Xiyue, who had come to greet them with the others, and thought about the harsh words she had once said to her. Then she considered the possibility that she and Xiyue might become sisters in the future—sisters sharing the same bed, no less. Her Mental Realm was in turmoil, and she couldn’t calm herself for a long time.

The other two surprised individuals were Prince Qinglin and Prince Qinghe. Sensing that something was amiss and repeatedly urged by Ji Qingyue, Ji Qinghe had rushed over as quickly as possible.

Upon seeing that Shen Wanshang had also returned with them, his brow immediately twitched. He secretly used his Divine Thought to probe his two daughters for information. "Qingyue, Qinglian, what’s going on with Wanshang? Why did she come back with you all?"

Before Ji Qingyue could even reply to the query, Ji Qinglian snorted in annoyance. "What else could it be? That vixen has her eyes on Brother Zhong Ming’s Talent too! She wants to ride his coattails and get carried to success."

Her words made Prince Qinghe’s frown deepen. "The Celestial Sea King’s Mansion... Are the two of you confident you can fend them off?"

As he asked, the worry and apprehension on Prince Qinghe’s face were impossible to conceal.

It was no wonder he felt this way. The disparity between the Celestial Sea King’s Mansion and their Prince Qinghe’s Mansion was simply too vast—like the difference between the heavens and the earth.

This made him terrified that the Celestial Sea King’s Mansion would snatch Zhong Ming away and then kick his Prince Qinghe’s Mansion to the curb.

If that happened, his investment, his schemes, the insurance he had prepared for the future calamity—all of it would be as futile as drawing water with a bamboo basket, coming to absolutely nothing.

But just as his face was clouded with worry, he quickly noticed that his daughter Ji Qingyue’s expression held little tension. "Father, please rest assured. Shen Wanshang can’t drive us away. The key to this matter lies with Young Master Zhong Ming, and the Young Master is very loyal to his old acquaintances. Even though Miss Yi Yunya is no longer of any help to Brother Zhong Ming, he has never forgotten her. If that’s the case for her, we won’t be forgotten by him either."

"As for the Celestial Sea King’s Mansion..." Ji Qingyue turned to glance at Shen Wanshang and gave a light chuckle. "The Celestial Sea King’s Mansion is powerful, but they won’t—and wouldn’t dare—to anger Brother Zhong Ming. As long as Shen Wanshang has an ounce of sense, she won’t make a move against us. But Father, you mustn’t try anything against the Celestial Sea King’s Mansion either. They just gave Brother Zhong Ming a large amount of Sha Qi, and we’ll need their help for Gang Qi next. If we start a conflict, it will put Brother Zhong Ming in a difficult position."

...

Ji Qingyue’s words left Prince Qinghe speechless. His silence was partly due to his daughter’s composure, magnanimity, and wisdom, but even more so because of her earlier statement: ’The Celestial Sea King’s Mansion is powerful, but they won’t—and wouldn’t dare—to anger Brother Zhong Ming.’ She had said this with absolute, unwavering confidence.

Considering they had just met the Celestial Sea King and personally experienced the might of a Golden Core Daoist, for her to still be able to say such a thing—and for the nearby Ji Qinglian to show no sign of refuting it—let Prince Qinghe know something for certain. ’During the time it took me to get here, something else must have happened. Otherwise, Qingyue wouldn’t be this confident, nor would she treat the threat of the Celestial Sea King’s Mansion as if it were nothing.’

Before Prince Qinghe could puzzle everything out, Zhong Ming walked over to discuss official business with him.

Zhong Ming was in no mood to concern himself with matters of romance. He was about to head to the battlefield to fight the Evil God Cultists, and his primary concern at the moment was the enemy’s strength.

"Prince, what is the current battle situation between the Quanrong and the Silver Moon Legion? Do we have the upper hand, or do they? Do you know how many Golden Core Cultivators the enemy has?"

Faced with official business, Prince Qinghe also collected his thoughts and relayed all the information he had gathered.

"The situation on the front lines is not in our favor. The Quanrong were not particularly strong originally; the Celestial Cloud Kingdom alone could hold them back. But they have pledged themselves to an Evil God and been granted power. This has caused many of their tribe’s warriors to transform into Barbarian Ghosts, their strength increasing explosively."