Outside of the building that the others are in, Long Hua smokes in the open courtyard.
(*-laoban, how are you feeling right now?)
Spewing out smoke, Long Hua replies—
"Ai, I feel like I've done a good deed."
Towards these words, the Tai Xuan Emperor swaps over to Tian Cheng, and asks—
"Is causing them to panic really a good deed, master?"
"It's a part of the plan to get those two on my side. Once they realize that this world, and the world outside is done for, they'll happily do whatever they can to save their own hides."
Following Long Hua's statement, a blue leaf drifts down from above, to which, he snatches out of the air.
"…"
Examining the leaf, Long Hua out of curiosity presses it to his lips, and—
"Hm?"
Having consumed the Spirit Extract that is on the leaf, the colors on it faded, and spitting it aside, Long Hua presses a hand to his lips.
(This odd feeling… Did "Long Hua's" Relic stay in this body?)
Moving his hand to his neck, Long Hua raises a frown.
This is where his Sinner's Branding is located, and as usual, it is currently hidden away by a black choker.
Noticing Long Hua's unusual behavior, Tian Cheng asks—
"Does master finally have an answer to your branding?"
Recalling how long it's been since they've last talked about this topic, Long Hua chuckles, and replies—
"Maybe."
...…
Back inside the courtyard's main building, Bai Wen has just finished explaining to the three—the difficulties involved with attempting to make an escape vessel that is capable of flying through the outer heavens.
Soon after that, a full minute of silence looms in the air.
Eventually, Lin Yu Heng looks to Bai Wen, and asks—
"Bai-daren, is there really no way to prevent the Leng Bing Realm's collapse?"
"This realm was meant to give way eventually. Coincidentally, it just so happens to occur in your generation. Ai…"
Forming a frown on his face, Lin Yu Heng can't help but think about his family. His mother currently has a child in her stomach, and his father is looking forward to their birth. No doubt, his grandfather would react in the same manner—once news of this, reaches their ears.
(My yet-to-be-born-sibling, they're going to be born into a war strife world, that's a bit…)
"…"
Massaging his temple, Qing Ming Yang grits his teeth in frustration. Seemingly, everything had started to go downhill for him upon meeting Long Hua, but he couldn't find the courage to blame the latter.
(Of all the times the Leng Bing Realm can choose to collapse… Ai, elder brother, I…- Dammit…)
Relationship wise, Qing Ming Yang and Qing Yu Long are quite close to one another. This is mainly due to their parents passing away when they were young.
During that time, Qing Yu Long would always stand up for Qing Ming Yang—if the latter was ever to be bullied by others.
In fact, the life bound treasure that's currently in Qing Ming Yang's possession was gifted to him by his elder brother, as a means to protect himself better.
"…"
Compared to Qing Ming Yang and Lin Yu Heng, Yao Ying—who had been exposed to this news is much more simplistic in her thought process.
Not knowing who she can trust in the outside world, Yao Ying doesn't have that many people to concern herself with—even if the entire world is soon to be destroyed.
However, if there was one person that she could think of—
(Grandfather… I wonder, what he would think of all this?)
As a depressing mood fills the air, the front doors are opened—with Long Hua and Tian Cheng returning.
"Ai, sad sight this is."
"…"
Towards Long Hua's remark, Bai Wen reaches for his wine, but thinking of the current situation—his thirst for alcohol dissipates.
Shaking his head, Long Hua asks—
"Lao Bai, what's the vessel that contains the Leng Bing Realm made from?"
"…Collapsing star platinum, the entire cauldron is 400 meters in height."
Towards Bai Wen's reply, the Tai Xuan Emperor remarks—
(Ah? Collapsing star platinum? Just a fist size of that is worth 50-rolls!)
"Oh?"
From what Long Hua knows of this collapsing star platinum, it's a type of material that can only be produced when planets—of high metal elemental energy concentrations, collide with one another. And even then, the chances of it appearing were rather low.
Seeing the snake-like smile on Long Hua's face, Bai Wen points to him, and says—
"Wait, you…-?"
"There's your material."
Realizing that he had fallen into a part of Long Hua's scheme, Bai Wen spews out a long breath of air, and says—
"Lao Long, you really are despicable."
"You were going to do this eventually; I'm only telling you to hurry it along."
As Long Hua shrugs his shoulders, Bai Wen asks—
"And fuel?"
"Tai Xuan Emperor, your divine weapon?"
(Depending on the size of the vessel…- Ai, it's probably not enough. To construct the vessel, you need a lot of manpower. The people involved will definitely want a ticket on board when things go to hell.)
Receiving this answer, Long Hua sighs, and towards Bai Wen, who is making an odd look at him, the former replies—
"Just talking to an old ghost. In any case, hmm… Ai, the fueling matter can wait. For now, building the vessel, and acquiring the materials for it come first."
"I guess?"
With his mood raised by a subtle amount, Bai Wen picks up his cup, and downs the wine.
"…?"
"…?"
"…?"
Not understanding what is happening, the other three blink their eyes.
Parting her lips, Yao Ying asks—
"So then, do we have a plan, or not?"
Heaving a sigh, Bai Wen replies—
"The Leng Bing Realm is destined to fall. And when it does, the cauldron it's in, it will end up being nothing more than scrap metal. That will be used to construct a vessel. Problems after that—is dealing with the manpower needed for the construction process, along with trying to provide the vessel with fuel."