Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Huo Dong and Kang Siqi were gradually getting used to it. They still disliked Xie Yuxin. Ge Ping’s death and the breakup of the team were scars that would never heal. However, injuries would heal eventually and the scars would not hurt forever. With their interactions, they also felt that despite his apparent callousness, Xie Yuxin was not really that heartless. The two minor missions after the removal of the trackers had the purpose of getting the team to reacquaint themselves again. But it was obvious that this was in consideration of them, who were somewhat of a burden to the team.
The young girl from the Saint would return very soon. They had already finished auditing the missions that were handed over by Xie Yuxin.
The pub streets were always overcrowded when night fell. There were always people waiting to enter for a drink or two, releasing pressure that brought them to the verge of collapse.
Entering a pub called Fallen Wood after queuing up, a variety of noises and a heat wave hit and corroded their nerves. In such an atmosphere, one could not help but desire a drink or two. It was difficult to tell whether it was paralysis or desalination. Regardless, one began to feel better.
No one cared when a few strangers walking into the crowded pub. They might be alive and merry today but might not show up again tomorrow.
In the dim environment, stress seemed like a beast that had been released. Even Huo Dong and Kang Siqi seemed to look more relaxed.
A pretty waitress stood up. “Welcome to the Fallen Wood pub. Here’s the wine list.”
Her warm voice had a very comforting effect on people, and the people could not help but take a second look at her. Under the light makeup was a young and refined face. If it was elsewhere, this quality would definitely have the making of a star. Here, she was just a low-class waitress. A low-cut neckline indicated that she could perhaps provide services beyond the general level.
Yuan Jing laughed. Ignoring the waitress’ sexual seduction, he took the wine list and said, “Let’s get hammered.”
Sweeping the wine list, Yuan Jing was a little taken aback.
All the drinks in the list were high-class enjoyment. The red wine with the lowest cost was the 1950’s Charles Manor. If it was sold elsewhere at a high-class restaurant, this would be considered a luxury that would draw envy from friends. But here, it was only listed as a low-class drink.
“Is this real?”
Taking another look at the price, he said, “One hour? This is the real deal from Charles Manor?”
The price was really dirt cheap.
“This is a playground for the strongest. There are only the real deals,” said the smiling waitress.
It only cost an hour? That was only for the strongest. There was only truth here; the needs were real and the enjoyment was real. The strongest could satisfy all their needs here in the Holy City, so long as they paid sufficiently. Abilities, ambitions…
Wine? No matter the class, for the strong and ambitious, it was only secondary.
Xie Yuxin took the wine list and was not frugal. He spent a large amount of time and ordered a number of top-class luxury wines. Since they were here, they should release their stress completely.
“Let’s get hammered,” said Xie Yuxin as he toasted with a glass of milk.
Meng Tian was dumbfounded. The bubbly Yuan Jing exaggeratedly rubbed his eyes. “Did I hear wrongly? Or am I losing my sight? Brother Xie, are you drinking milk? Milk? Milk? Important stuff needs to be repeated thrice! You’re using milk and toasting with us to get hammered?!”
“Is there a problem?” Xie Yuxin sipped his milk with an expression that seemed to say that this was a very common thing to do.
Mengha swirled his wine coldly. A hundred-year-old Bordeaux. The real deal from Earth. It was absolutely not a fake from some agricultural stars. He had always thought that he was aloof, but after meeting Xie Yuxin, he found that he was wrong.
Meng Tian smiled slightly. It was the first time that her uptight mind was relaxed. However, looking at Xie Yuxin, who could even look callous when drinking fruit juice, through the wine glass, another face appeared in her mind, one that was the complete opposite of this aloof look.
A faint longing was deep seated; loneliness in excitement would be more memorable.
Yuan Jing was still arguing with Xie Yuxin. At least have some wine? Yuan Jing had always been very confident in persuading people to drink. Ever since he was young, he had been crowned as king in the wine field. His ability to hold his liquor was not his strength. Rather, it was his charisma.
However, it seemed like he had met his match today. With only one look into his eyes, it seemed to say that he could continue with his conjuring, but he was totally unconcerned and even totally ignored him.
Yuan Jing rubbed his chin and only reacted after a long while, Something was wrong. There seemed to be some Ability X fluctuations. Xie Yuxin? He actually used his ability to resist his persuasion to drink? This was blatantly breaking the rules of drinking!
Meng Tian laughed and interrupted Yuan Jing’s futile attempts. “If this is the lower level of the Oracle, then there should be a relative higher level, right?”
Xie Yuxin set down his empty milk glass and ordered another freshly squeezed fruit juice. He nodded his head and said, “The Holy City is much bigger than what we’ve seen. Only when you have accomplished a certain number of missions will you be able to enter the higher level of the Oracle. There’s an even bigger area beyond the higher level. The higher you go, the more numerous and bigger the opportunities are.”
Mengha was playing with the wine glass in his hand and a glint flashed across his eyes. Ever since arriving at the Oracle Star, there was a daily sense of improvement to his slightly stagnant powers.
This was not merely because of life and death situations – there was something wrong with this planet. It was easy to make a breakthrough in levels and bottlenecks here. Initially, he only had some suspicions. But ever since entering the lower level of the Oracle, he could feel it very clearly. The environment here made his powers extraordinarily active, especially the genes of the ancient martial arts that he had inherited from his family. They were like hot, boiling water.
“Is there a quicker way to get to the core?” Mengha emptied his wine glass.
After removing the wristbands, even his confidence and tone of voice were different. Of course, it was also because all the stress had been released in a short moment.
“I have been here a little longer than all of you. This is a peculiar place. Other than the fact that they can’t leave, the people from the Saint, the Dark World, and the Milky Way Alliance can survive here. The Saint itself would not interfere. However, only five people have managed to contact the core,” said Xie Yuxin. He loved milk; it was nutritious and could keep oneself calm. Alcohol was not suitable for him, but he could understand others.
“Is it the Son of Saint?” asked Meng Tian. She had also ordered a cocktail. Most people were normal people. After a tough battle and the breakup of her team and deaths of her teammates, Meng Tian was mentally very tired. However, Xie Yuxin seemed to be totally unaffected.
“It’s the candidacy of the Son of Saint, to be exact. Everyone here, including this Oracle Star, seems only concerned with one thing, and that’s the selection of the Son of Saint,’ said Xie Yuxin.
“Is the Saint an idiot? There are so many messed up people here. If it turns out that the Son of Saint is not one of them, would they really hand over their great power? I don’t believe it!’ said Yuan Jing.
Xie Yuxin smiled but said nothing. The looks from everyone were somewhat strange too. Suddenly, it hit Yuan Jing. He was being an idiot. If the Son of Saint was someone they needed, then they would use him; otherwise, they would just get rid of him.
“I don’t think it’s that simple. If they wanted to groom an heir, talent is definitely a must. However, for such a powerful organization, what is more important is leadership. There seems to be a problem with their methods,” commented Meng Tian. Regardless, she still felt that something was amiss. The investment and output of the Saint were not in proportion. Besides, even though the Milky Way Alliance had already discovered their existence, they were still so calm.
“Exactly! I feel that the selection of the Son of Saint is just a process. They are definitely looking for something very important. Maybe it’s a person, maybe it’s an object, or maybe even a revelation. This is something that is incomparable to any normal matter,” said Xie Yuxin. “Of course, ultimately we are still unsure about what they are looking for. If we want to leave this place, we definitely have to be in contact with top five candidates of the Son of Saint.”
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
