466 The Encounter at Clear Lake Restauran

The balcony was the balcony of a restaurant, the table was a restaurant'stable, and the restaurant was the capital's most renowned and also mostexpensive Clear Lake Restaurant. This place was naturally meant for dining, andthose individuals worthy to dine with Tianhai Chenwu were a scant few. As it sohappened, Xu Shiji was one of these people. Widely regarded as Chen Changsheng's nominal future father-in-law, Xu Shijicurrently had a very complex impression of Chen Changsheng. Last year, theDivine General of the East's estate had gotten covered all over in dirt becauseof this young Daoist from the countryside, becoming the laughingstock of theentire continent. However, how could he have possibly known beforehand thatChen Changsheng was actually the highly-regarded successor of the Pope? Andjust how could he have known that Daoist Ji was actually the once incomparablymagnificent Principal Shang…every time he thought of this engagement, he wouldthink of many complaints against his father that had long since returned to thesea of stars. There were clearly so many things hidden behind this engagement.Why didn't you explain it all to me before? His impressions were complex, so his thoughts were naturally also complex, andXu Shiji's position on this engagement had also become rather difficult to pindown. Upon receiving the invitation yesterday from the Tianhai Estate, he beganto think, this Tianhai clan head famous for his profound schemes and deepforethought perhaps wants to force me to take a stand. Consequently, uponarriving at Clear Lake Restaurant, he basically kept his silence, especiallywhenever Tianhai Chenwu brought up Chen Changsheng. Tianhai Chenwu shot him a smile, as if completely understanding what was goingthrough his mind. He indifferently continued, "Shengxue is in the north,diligently cultivating, using battle to improve himself. He has already brokeninto Star Condensation. At the year's end, he should be returning to thecapital to once more view the Heavenly Tome Monoliths." Xu Shiji did not understand why he would so abruptly bring up TianhaiShengxue, even though Tianhai Shengxue was the most outstanding youth of theTianhai clan's third generation and also one of the members of the juniorgeneration most beloved by the Divine Empress. "In the Grand Examination at the beginning of the year, Shengxue did somethings that were simply impossible to hide, but this child was smart and didn'tplan to hide anything. Now that I mention it, this is a rather excellent use ofthe open conspiracy…but his conduct in this matter still makes me somewhatunhappy. If the clan is too big, it's inevitable that everyone within has theirown judgments and opinions, but when the clan faces a great pressure, thoselonesome opinions have no meaning. We must bring all our strength together, andonly through this can we protect the entire clan and continue on the correctpath. It's that saying about the overturned bird's nest…if you can't evenprotect the nest, but are still thinking about protecting your own egg, isn'tthat just ridiculous?" Hearing Tianhai Chenwu's easygoing and amusing monologue, Xu Shiji grew evenmore serious. It was impossible for him to not understand the ulterior meaningof these words. The so-called correct path was naturally the path where theTianhai clan replaced the Chen clan and continued their reign over the humanworld. The so-called discontent towards Tianhai Shengxue was in fact a warningto him, telling him to not have too many other thoughts. "My aunt has recently not said anything, causing many people in the capital tomisunderstand." When he was in the Imperial Palace or at the Imperial Court,Tianhai Chenwu would always refer to the Divine Empress respectfully. Only inthe most private of venues would he refer to her as his aunt. This was not somesort of hidden reminder, but a naked display of strength. He turned and staredinto Xu Shiji's eyes, saying, "But they have forgotten one thing. My auntcarries the surname of Tianhai. How could she possibly bear to see her entirefamily be killed to the man?" Xu Shiji knew that he could no longer continue listening. He commented, "I donot understand why His Holiness has continued to maintain his silence." This was naturally a reference to that matter that had the entire capitalabuzz with excitement: the Orthodox Academy and its matches with all the otherschools. Tianhai Chenwu restrained his smile and said, "If everyone does notunderstand, then there must be a deeper meaning…I've always held the opinionthat His Holiness is using this method to make Chen Changsheng mature asquickly as possible. There are even some times where I feel that His Holinessis acting too hastily, pulling up the sprouts in an attempt to help them grow." Xu Shiji slightly creased his brow as he thought, that petty son-in-law ofmine is publicly acknowledged as calm and mature beyond his years. He's notfully sixteen and he's almost at the threshold of Star Condensation. This isabsolutely unprecedented in history, and besides my own daughter, there'sreally no one else that can compare. His Holiness is actually unsatisfied bythis and wants him to mature even faster? "Besides my aunt, who can comprehend His Holiness's intentions?" TianhaiChenwu slowly said as he turned his head to gaze at the thin fog drifting overthe lake. Xu Shiji was even more perplexed. If the Pope intended to use the Tianhai clanand the new faction of the Orthodoxy to hone Chen Changsheng, why had theTianhai clan continued to hold back its real methods? "Starting with Mei Lisha, the Li Palace has always acted as Chen Changsheng'ssupport. If I were to go against this, I would expend far too much energy. Thenwhy don't I just go with the flow? I will let people continuously challenge theOrthodox Academy. If Chen Changsheng can endure through this period, then hewill surely progress leaps and bounds in strength, cultivation, and even will.But what if he can't?" With a derisive smile on his face, Tianhai Chenwu continued, "I know what youare thinking, what many people are thinking. You think that my Tianhai clancontinuously sending people to challenge the Orthodox Academy is like sendingofferings to Chen Changsheng, like continuing to throw firewood onto a bonfire.There's simply no way to extinguish it, and it's only making the fire burn evermore fiercely. But did all of you ever think, if there is one day when anenormous tree suddenly falls down, can that fire still continue to burn? Orperhaps, there is suddenly no more wood to add to the fire. This fire that hasburned so fiercely for so long—will it be extinguished in such a brief span oftime, or will it ravage the forest behind it? Since the Li Palace wishes tosupport him, I will help them push Chen Changsheng's prestige to the highestpeak, then let him collapse with a bang. Until that moment, I wish to see justhow Chen Changsheng can possibly bear such a fall, and whether the honing ofHis Holiness might just hone him into a pile of sand!" Xu Shiji slightly arched his brow, saying, "To pour oil on the fire often doesend with a miserable conclusion, but…if you really do move some powerfulexperts in the end, I'm afraid the Li Palace will obstruct you." Tianhai Chenwu shot him a glance, as he thought mockingly, even now, youchoose to put up this fake act? I really don't know why my aunt chose you backthen. "There is one person…that can definitely defeat Chen Changsheng, and not evenHis Holiness could say it is in any way improper, because she's actually alittle younger than Chen Changsheng. Similarly, she has also not reached StarCondensation." He lightly said to Xu Shiji, "In a few days, your family'sphoenix daughter will return to the capital. My aunt adores your family'sphoenix. The whole world knows that the Li Palace wishes to support ChenChangsheng, why can't we support your family's phoenix?" Xu Shiji understood that today's conversation had finally reached its mostcritical juncture. After a long period of silence, he lightly said, "She isstill young, how can she bear the aftermath?" Acting as the driving force to bring a halt to the Orthodox Academy's revival,even to bring Chen Changsheng's progress along the path the Pope had made forhim to a sudden stop, was not too big a deal to his genius daughter. Theproblem was that hidden behind this storm over the Orthodox Academy was thestruggle of two Saints. Even if Xu Yourong was the embodied reincarnation ofthe Heavenly Phoenix, she was still not fully mature. How could she possiblyendure those storms? "You must understand one thing! Although it seems like Zhou Tong and manyother people have not been doing anything, in reality, they have been acting incoordination with that Saint of the south!" Tianhai Chenwu stared into the vast and misty expanse that was the lake. Whenhe thought of this matter, even with his high authority and weighty status,even with his callous temperament, he also couldn't help but feel a littleyearning. Sighing emotionally, he said, "The confluence of north and southreally might succeed this year. It is precisely because of this sort ofbackdrop that His Holiness and my aunt would appear so calm. The two sides canonly bicker for power, but it's inconvenient for them to actually carry outtheir will, so there's no need for you to be too worried." The banquet concluded and they descended the stairs. Patrons of Tianhai Chenwu and Xu Shiji's status naturally did not take theroutes used by ordinary guests. Clear Lake Restaurant had made a pathespecially for guests like them. Incredibly, in this path in which it waslogically impossible for two parties of guests to meet, two parties really didmeet. Tianhai Chenwu and Xu Shiji ran into three youths.