Qi Yu rolled her eyes fiercely, wondering in her heart, "Here we go again?"
In contrast, Chen Xi remained calm. He responded to the call from outside, asking the people from the Thirteenth Heaven to wait, then stood up and looked at Qi Yu, "Let's go."
Qi Yu softly hummed in agreement.
The expressions of the others were grave, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Qi Yu turned back and saw An Nuo, Shao Feng, and their eldest senior brother all with tense faces, looking worried that the two of them might get into trouble. She couldn't help but comfort them:
"Don't worry, nothing will happen. We're just going to the Blood Demon Fiend's current lair. He openly invited us up, so he probably won't do anything. If he really does something, we'll resist."
"You can resist, but I'm afraid they'll use underhanded tactics," Yan Hua said as he stood up. "So, we'll go with you. We'll just wait outside the main entrance of the Thirteenth Heaven for you. If anything happens, we can provide backup."
Chen Xi had only been acting calm in front of the younger generation; in reality, he was also a bit uncertain. Hearing Yan Hua say this, his heart finally settled, and he nodded.
Soon, they all set off together, following the divine general outside towards the Thirteenth Heaven.
On the way.
The divine general who had delivered the message stood rigidly, his face expressionless.
Qi Yu tried several times to strike up a conversation and inquire about the purpose of their visit to the Thirteenth Heaven, but to no avail.
Seeing this, Chen Xi couldn't help but comfort Qi Yu: "Don't worry, the divine generals of the Thirteenth Heaven are extremely loyal. You won't be able to get any information from them."
Even if they did get some information, it would likely be pre-planned.
Qi Yu understood Chen Xi's implied meaning and stopped probing. She could only sigh and fly upwards with unease.
They finally arrived at the main entrance of the Thirteenth Heaven.
Yan Hua and the others stopped and waited outside.
Qi Yu exchanged a look with Chen Xi, and then they followed the divine general inside, one after the other.
Inside the Thirteenth Heaven.
As soon as Qi Yu and Chen Xi entered, they saw Fa Ze sitting in the main seat of the Thirteenth Heaven, propping his chin with one hand and reading a miscellaneous book.
The Blood Demon Fiend was serving tea and water by his side.
Seeing Qi Yu and Chen Xi below, he immediately put down the teapot and put on a stern expression:
"Do you know who the esteemed adult before you is? Why are you two not bowing and greeting him?"
The Blood Demon Fiend clearly had no intention of introducing Fa Ze's identity, but he was acting so sternly, obviously trying to establish his authority in front of Fa Ze.
Chen Xi and Qi Yu were just about to bow and greet him. Hearing his words, they remained silent.
Seeing this, the Blood Demon Fiend turned to Fa Ze with a fawning expression: "If you have something to say, please speak first."
"It's like this," Fa Ze looked at Qi Yu and Chen Xi below. "I've heard that the Dragon Clan is not only excellent at appraising treasures but also unparalleled in crafting magical artifacts."
"So, the reason I summoned you two here is simply to ask, which of your Dragon Clan is particularly skilled in crafting magical artifacts? Can you bring that person up and have them stay in the Thirteenth Heaven? I have some magical artifacts that need her to make."
Qi Yu pursed her lips.
She didn't quite understand what Fa Ze meant by saying this.
Did she want her or Chen Xi to voluntarily agree to come to the Thirteenth Heaven to help make magical artifacts?
Or...
Although Qi Yu was cunning, she couldn't fathom Fa Ze's meaning. Should she agree or not? For a long time, she didn't know how to respond.
Chen Xi was more experienced. He looked up at Fa Ze with a smiling expression: "Esteemed adult, please rest assured, I will definitely send the best craftsmen from the Demon Clan."
Fa Ze hummed, his voice faint: "Chen Xi is one of the Four Ancestral Dragons, and I trust his words the most. Don't forget about the craftsmen. You may leave now."
Chen Xi bowed and replied, "Yes."
He led Qi Yu away.
Qi Yu entered in a daze and left in a daze. After leaving the palace of the Thirteenth Heaven, with no divine generals around, she quickly walked up and lowered her voice to ask Chen Xi:
"What did Lord Fa Ze mean by that? Didn't she want one of us to go up? If she just wanted craftsmen, why not just send someone to the South Sea to bring a few people? Why summon us specifically to talk about this?"
Chen Xi glanced at Qi Yu. Seeing her curious expression, he finally answered after they left the main entrance of the Thirteenth Heaven: "The reason is simple. The crafting of magical artifacts was likely a suggestion from the Blood Demon Fiend and his ilk. Fa Ze probably wants to use this opportunity to let us bring more Southern Sea Dragon Clan members, who will ostensibly be craftsmen, up to the Thirteenth Heaven to help him pass messages."
"This matter had to be told to us face-to-face so that we could understand. If they had just sent people to the South Sea to casually pass the message and replaced a few artisans, then the people who went up would have truly just been craftsmen making magical artifacts."
Qi Yu fell silent.
She felt it was necessary to inform Fa Ze that next time there was such a need for scheming, Lord Fa Ze should directly find Chen Xi or Yan Hua, and not her.
Otherwise, like this time, if Chen Xi hadn't been there, she would have really proposed to stay herself or send actual craftsmen...
"Hey," Chen Xi patted Qi Yu's head. "You need to learn to listen to the subtext in people's words."
Qi Yu couldn't help but clarify: "I think I can understand normal subtext."
But Fa Ze's words contained no discernible subtext at all.
Qi Yu felt a headache coming on.
She had always believed that with her intelligence, she could at least hold her own for a few rounds if she were in the harem of an earthly emperor.
Now, it seemed she was still too naive.
Someone like her, who could only understand shallow subtext and couldn't comprehend or strategize deeper meanings, probably wouldn't live long in the mortal world.
Not far away.
Yan Hua had been waiting for them. Seeing them emerge so quickly, a hint of surprise flashed across his face, but he immediately stepped forward:
"Why did that guy let you out so quickly this time? What did you talk about?"
Chen Xi looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, then lowered his voice and relayed Fa Ze's command.
Yan Hua's eyes darkened: "Cooperating with Fa Ze, bringing a few reliable Dragon Clan members to the Thirteenth Heaven to pass messages between Fa Ze and us is indeed a good opportunity."
With Fa Ze's protection, those Dragon Clan members should be safe.
Wang Lanqing asked curiously: "I haven't understood why Fa Ze couldn't deal with the Blood Demon Fiend and his group herself from the beginning?"
"Fa Ze is merely the rule of the world. Although she has cultivated a human form this time, there are actually not many things she can do openly," Yan Hua looked at Wang Lanqing. "Fa Ze's apparent alliance with the Blood Demon Fiend is not because she fears them, but rather to prevent them from obstructing the selection of the new Heavenly Dao. This time, Fa Ze genuinely wants to help us by allowing our people to infiltrate the Thirteenth Heaven."
Chi Shangming calculated nearby and finally summarized a few points:
"To enter the Thirteenth Heaven, posing as a craftsman who is ostensibly skilled in making magical artifacts, but actually acts as a spy to pass messages for us, the basic requirements are: First, the transmission of messages must be swift and covert."
"Second, they must be able to operate without being controlled by the Blood Demon Fiend and his ilk, and communicate with us without any barriers."
"Third, and most importantly, they must have the ability to protect themselves and be able to leave the Thirteenth Heaven at any time."
Hearing these three requirements, everyone fell silent for a moment, and then their gazes collectively fell upon Qi Yu and Si Qing.
Someone who can communicate without barriers at any time, transmit messages swiftly and covertly, protect themselves without being brainwashed, and leave the Thirteenth Heaven at any time... only the siblings Qi Yu and Si Qing fit this description.
Others, including Yan Hua, could not guarantee they could achieve this.
"Don't choose my sister, let me go," Si Qing said in a low voice. "I can do all of these things."