Chapter 3604: Expressing Demands
Chapter 3604: Expressing Demands
"The issue of bloodline degeneration," another elder said, his tone heavier now, "has plagued us for tens of thousands of years."
"We have sought answers from the Guardian Beast Temple."
"We have studied our bloodlines."
"We have attempted countless methods."
"And yet..." he paused, "...we have found no solution."
The hall fell into a brief silence.
It was not despair or hope about their situation but simply its acceptance. A quiet, long-standing understanding of a problem that had resisted all efforts.
One of the elders looked at Lin Mu again, her gaze steady.
"We do not expect you to succeed," she said honestly.
"But..."
"If you can gain even a fragment of insight... something that we have missed... then that alone would be of great help to us."
Lin Mu listened carefully without feeling offended or being burdened. Instead, he found their honesty rather refreshing.
"I will do what I can," he replied simply.
It was neither a promise nor an excuse.
Just a statement of intent.
It was then that another elder spoke.
This one though was different.
She was older... Far older than the rest.
Her fur was a pale, icy white, tinged with faint silver that shimmered under the natural light of the sanctum. Her eyes were calm, yet carried a depth that seemed to stretch far beyond what even the others possessed.
A Frost Fox elder.
And not just any.
Lin Mu’s senses sharpened slightly.
"She’s..." he thought, "...a Transcendent."
Not just her.
As he subtly expanded his perception, he realized something that truly surprised him.
One.
Two.
Three...
Six.
There were six Transcendent level experts in this hall.
His brows almost furrowed.
This was... excessive.
For a world like this, which was considered relatively minor in the grand scale of the Immortal Realm, such a number was unheard of.
Even some major worlds did not possess this many Transcendents.
Lin Mu quickly suppressed his reaction.
’But it makes sense,’ he thought.
A hidden sanctuary.
A protected world.
A place that clearly did not wish to attract too much attention.
If the Immortal Courts knew the full extent of this... Their stance toward this world would certainly change. And perhaps that was exactly what these foxkin wished to avoid.
The elderly Frost Fox elder finally spoke.
Her voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"You have come here to aid us," she said. "As such we cannot allow you to do so without recompense."
Lin Mu raised his gaze to meet hers.
"You may ask for anything you wish," she continued. "Within our means, we will provide it."
There was no hesitation in her voice and she did not bargain with him. No hidden conditions were in her words, it was just a straightforward offer which made Lin Mu consider it for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"In that case... I will not stand on ceremony."
The elders listened attentively.
"I did not originally come here solely for this matter," Lin Mu admitted. "I came seeking something else."
"And that is?" She asked
"A flying vessel," Lin Mu said plainly. "One capable of traversing space."
This time there was a visible surprise on the faces of everyone. They weren’t exactly shocked but they were clearly interested.
"A space vessel?" one elder repeated.
Another leaned forward slightly.
"For what purpose?"
They quickly clarified.
"We do not question your intent," one of them added. "But the type of vessel required varies greatly depending on the destination and conditions."
Lin Mu nodded.
"I understand."
He then gave the same explanation he had used before.
"I am searching for a material known as Stellar Scorched Cassiterite," he said. "It is said to be found within certain asteroids near this region."
The elders exchanged glances.
This time, their expressions grew more serious.
"That material..." one of them murmured.
Another spoke more clearly.
"If that is your goal... then you will inevitably encounter the Chaotic Spatial Storm."
The hall grew slightly heavier.
Lin Mu did not react outwardly, but internally he acknowledged it.
’So they expected this too,’ he thought.
The elderly Frost Fox elder spoke again.
"In that case... we cannot simply provide you with a standard vessel."
Lin Mu tilted his head slightly.
"You already have one, do you not?"
"We do," she admitted. "But it is not suited for such dangerous conditions."
"We absolutely cannot risk your safety."
More elders added.
"If we are to provide you with a vessel, it must be modified for this task. The reinforcement should be great and it should be more stable than any other flying vessel."
"And most of all it should be equipped with proper arrays to withstand spatial turbulence."
Lin Mu listened carefully.
"How long will that take?" he asked.
There was a brief pause.
"Two to three months," one of them said.
"Possibly longer," another added. "Some of the required materials are not easily obtained."
Lin Mu considered it.
He had expected some delay.
But this...
Was acceptable.
"That is fine," he said.
The elders looked slightly surprised at how readily he agreed.
But Lin Mu continued.
"I will assist."
Their eyes sharpened.
"And Daoist Chu will help as well," Lin Mu added, gesturing slightly.
Daoist Chu gave a faint smile, already understanding what was expected.
"With our help," Lin Mu continued, "the process should be faster."
A murmur passed through the elders.
This was...
Unexpected.
A cultivator of Lin Mu’s standing...
Offering to assist directly?
The elderly Frost Fox elder studied him for a moment before nodding slowly.
"That would indeed be beneficial."
Lin Mu then added one more thing.
"And during this time... I will also investigate the bloodline degeneration."
His gaze shifted slightly.
"Starting with the Flame Fur Clan... and the Frost Fox Clan. I’ll also check the other clans, since I think they might face similar conditions in the future." Lin Mu stated.
"You think so? Do you have suspicions?" An elder asked.
"Indeed. The two tribes were affected since they are already strong. But others will grow strong too. Perhaps I can resolve the issue for them beforehand... before it reaches a point where nothing can be done." Lin Mu explained.
Silence fell once more.
But this time it was different.
Where before there had been acceptance...
Now...
There was a faint spark.
Hope.
And for the first time in a very long time...
The elders felt that perhaps...
Just perhaps...
Something might finally change.