Chapter 24: Rebellion

Su Zi-ye was referring to this city.

And indeed, he was not wrong.

The scale of the attack on the Dark Star was based on the entire city, and the Crawford family’s involvement was naturally indispensable.

Although it was possible that the West City also had a hand in it, Cuenca City was not entirely without a true master.

Douglas forced a weak smile.

"What if I said I didn't know?"

Su Zi-ye looked at the dying old man, his expression registering shock.

"I am truly so old I am practically on the verge of death," Douglas said. "Perhaps I should have died a hundred years ago, but I have managed to live until now. Naturally, this is because my cultivation is profound enough, and also because I harbored the obsession to live on and witness the emergence of the Alaya-vijnana."

"Yet even so, longevity has now become nothing more than torture to me. To survive, I have paid countless exorbitant prices."

"Just as I said, I have not managed the family's affairs for a very long time."

"Many terrifying changes have taken place within the family now, but I have ignored them all."

Su Zi-ye sighed. "Even when those changes are meant to kill you?"

"I should have died long ago," Douglas said with a semblance of calm.

"You rely on your absolute prestige and power to control this family, forcing them to engage in endless consanguineous marriages spanning centuries, creating generation after generation of deformed children and monsters," Su Zi-ye said, looking at him. "Had you died two hundred years earlier, you would surely have been the hero and glory of your family. But as you are now, you are merely a colossal malignant tumor."

Douglas looked at him. "You are the first person who has ever dared to speak to me like that."

"If I hadn't come here bearing the Blade of Annihilation, I probably would have died long ago, wouldn't I?" Su Zi-ye countered, though his tone carried no real question.

"Naturally," Douglas smiled.

"But I have no path of return. From the moment the first step on this road was taken, I had to keep walking it. I have walked it for centuries, devoting almost my entire life to creating a new Alaya-vijnana. Yet until now, I have not succeeded, and perhaps I never will."

With these words, Douglas gently clapped his hands.

The aged palm was withered and desiccated.

Christina slowly walked out from the depths of the room and stood before Su Zi-ye.

The young girl was graceful and beautiful, her aura full of vitality and life, standing in stark contrast to Douglas, the old man on the brink of death.

"Her name is Christina Crawford, the daughter of Stella and Noct. She is currently the existence closest to the Alaya-vijnana in this entire project. I believe that given another fifty years, her descendants will surely give birth to a true Alaya-vijnana," Douglas said.

"What do you want me to do?" Su Zi-ye looked at Douglas.

"Did you know?" Douglas managed a faint smile. "Back then, Xia and I made an agreement. My descendants and his descendants would intermarry as a continuation of our alliance and friendship. However, due to various reasons—such as Xia's attainment of sainthood, such as the implementation of the Alaya-vijnana project—this agreement was postponed indefinitely, until now."

"I hope you can take her away."

"She is currently the most exceptional child in the entire Crawford family, and the one most qualified to fulfill this marriage alliance. Trust me, she will bring you returns beyond your imagination. All you have to do is take her away."

Su Zi-ye looked at Christina. She was exceptionally pretty, and she simply stood there obediently, not uttering a single word.

"I have no intention of continuing your perverse and distorted undertakings," Su Zi-ye said simply.

Douglas smiled. "I am merely telling you that she has the potential to give birth to the Alaya-vijnana. It's just that I do not have that much time left; she has not yet truly reached adulthood, and I am about to die."

At that precise moment, a silent knock sounded from outside the door.

"Head of the family, is Tina inside? I've looked everywhere for her," a serene female voice inquired.

"Mother, I am here," Christina finally spoke up, addressing the space beyond the door.

The next instant, the heavy black doors melted away in a flash. Su Zi-ye turned his head and saw three people.

Two he did not recognize.

One he did.

The two he did not recognize were a man and a woman, both wearing bright red cloaks with snow-white linings. Their attire was sharp and concise, and each held a gleaming, razor-sharp sword.

As for the person he did recognize, his name was Yi Lanshan.

"Long time no see, Your Highness the Crown Prince," Yi Lanshan greeted Su Zi-ye calmly.

He wore a long grey robe, his purple eyes serene and cold.

His face remained concealed behind that black iron mask, though Su Zi-ye already knew his secret.

Beneath that mask must lie a countenance of ultimate beauty; only thus was he forced to wear this icy iron mask day in and day out.

"Long time no see, Lord Mountain Master," Su Zi-ye exchanged pleasantries with the Mountain Master with composure. "So, did all of you come here to kill this old man?"

"Some old men simply live far too long, to the extent that their descendants are willing to make deals with demons just to kill them," Yi Lanshan said calmly. Then, looking at Douglas, he placed one hand over his chest and bowed slightly. "Greetings, Grandfather."

"Tina, come to Mother at once," the woman in red said urgently and in a low voice to Christina.

Bringing Yi Lanshan into this Hall of Black and White and entering Douglas's bedchamber armed was nothing short of outright rebellion. Even if Douglas was truly so frail as to be on the verge of death, no one knew better than Stella just how formidable he still was.

Douglas was a true legend who had lived from the mythical era down to the present day. Even with his vital energy failing, he still possessed the power to make the entire world tremble.

A fierce battle could erupt at any second, and before that happened, she had to protect her daughter.

"I'm sorry, Mother," Christina looked at her mother and shook her head gently. "You are destroying this family."

"Does a family like this have any reason left to exist?" another man said coldly, glaring at Christina. "From the very moment your older brother was born, I decided that one day I would kill that monster. We have waited so long for this, just to seize this very opportunity."

Christina fell silent. "The Mountain Master is not a suitable partner for cooperation; the fires of his vengeance will burn this entire family to ashes."

"You are truly clever, indeed the child closest to the Alaya-vijnana," the Mountain Master smiled as he looked at Christina. "However, you are far too young—so young that you pose not the slightest threat."

With those words, he turned his gaze to Douglas. "Grandfather, do you intend to take your own life, or shall we kill you?"