Chapter 240 | Sequence: Sacrifice

Most people dream, but within five minutes of waking up, they forget over fifty percent of the dream's content.

After fifteen minutes, about ninety-five percent is forgotten, with only five to ten percent remaining in memory.

This is one reason why many people feel their dreams are completely illogical upon waking.

As time passes, even more of the content slips away.

Only by encountering a certain anchor from the dream can one recall portions of the content.

Yin Yang had a power similar to this dream-like influence cast upon him.

If someone saw him every day, they wouldn't notice anything unusual.

However, if they didn't see him for a few days, their memory of Yin Yang would grow increasingly blurred as time went on, unless they encountered an anchor again.

This was why Wang Gen, despite having clearly seen Yin Yang before, didn't recognize him immediately in the flower shop.

For ninety-nine percent of people, that anchor was the 'face'!

Therefore, every time Yin Yang moved to a new city, he changed his face.

When he later encountered Wang Gen again, the man failed to recognize him because the 'anchor' was gone.

Of course, this was also because Yin Yang had deliberately altered all similar traits at the time, minimizing the anchors as much as possible.

So far, the only one who had recognized Yin Yang through these trivial anchors was Little White Rabbit.

But that was expected; the impression Yin Yang had left on her was far too deep—deep enough that she frequently woke up from nightmares at night.

...

Central City.

Wannian Platform.

“Master Wan, how long has it been since we last played a game of Go like this?”

“Seven years.”

“Has it really been that long? Your memory is as sharp as ever, Master Wan.”

“You flatter me.”

The man in the seat of honor looked at the board and casually placed a black stone. Killing intent instantly manifested across the board.

“Master Wan, do you have confidence in this war against Great Qi?”

“I am unsure what Your Majesty means by 'confidence'.”

“Hahaha, Master Wan, there are no outsiders here. You may call me Qin Qian, just as you used to.”

Wan Tianqing did not rush to reply. He placed a white stone before speaking.

“In his personal conduct he was humble; in serving his superiors he was respectful; in nourishing the people he was kind; in ordering the people he was just.”

Qin Qian gave a bitter smile, but the black stone he placed next carried an even sharper killing intent.

“Master Wan, how long has it been since you ascended to Sequence 3?”

“Over thirty years.”

“Master Wan, have you never thought about moving further up?”

“I have not.”

The two continued to place their stones. Qin Qian clearly didn't believe him, his black stones pressing forward with every step.

“Master Wan, since my ancestor founded Great Wei, the dynasty has reigned for four hundred and eighteen years.”

“In all that time, besides the founder himself, not a single person has ascended to Sequence 2!”

“Not one, in any pathway!”

“Master Wan, do you think this is normal?”

Wan Tianqing calmly placed a stone and said, “Great Wei, Great Qi, Great Jin—none of them have a Sequence 2, do they?”

“Your Majesty, what are you worried about?”

“It is precisely because of that that I must worry, is it not?”

“Master Wan, how old are you this year?”

“When you previously proposed the invasion of Great Qi, was it not because you wanted to take that next step?”

“Self-cultivation, family harmony, state governance, and world peace!”

“Master Wan, you have already achieved the first three. Don't you want to try for world peace?”

Qin Qian placed his final stone. The black stones had formed a dominant position on the board, becoming nearly impossible to resist.

“Master Wan, this invasion of Great Qi is an opportunity!”

“When we go to war with Great Qi, Great Jin will certainly not stand idly by. We need not concern ourselves with the surrounding minor nations.”

“As long as we destroy Qi and Jin, the entire world will be ours for the taking!”

“Master Wan, would pacifying the world not be enough to make you a Sequence 2?”

Wan Tianqing looked quietly at the board. Qin Qian did not see the flash of pity in his eyes—a look one might give a frog at the bottom of a well.

“Master Wan, since the founder established Great Wei, the descendants of my Qin family can only ascend to Demigod at most, regardless of the pathway. Do you know why?”

Wan Tianqing slowly shook his head.

Across from him, Qin Qian stood up. “At first, I didn't know either. I thought it was some kind of curse. After all, when my Qin family founded the nation, we slaughtered countless evil gods.”

“It wasn't until seven years ago, when I ascended to Sequence 5, that I finally understood why.”

As Qin Qian spoke, his breathing became heavy.

“It's because...”

Wan Tianqing's expression remained unchanged as he placed the final white stone.

The situation on the board reversed instantly, forcing Qin Qian's unfinished words back into his throat.

“Won by half a point.”

...

Huangshan City.

Half mountain, half city.

In reality, it was just like any other city, still possessing a wealthy district. The mountain was that district.

Wherever there was a mountain, one would see manors or villas, and no single mountain hosted more than one family.

In Huangshan City, no matter how much money or status you had, if you didn't own an independent manor, you were considered a 'lowly outsider.'

Yin Yang walked to the foot of the Lyu family mountain, sensing absolutely nothing from his liver.

This made him even more certain that the other party must possess something like a hidden vault.

The Lyu family's defenses were tight, and outsiders were not permitted to enter. Cameras were visible everywhere; even if he wanted to tamper with the surroundings, it was impossible.

More importantly, the two ghosts had previously reported to Yin Yang that the Lyu family's main gate was a transcendent item endowed with a special power.

To enter the Lyu family estate, one had to go through the gate. It was impossible to climb in from the sides.

“Phew~”

Yin Yang exhaled and began to formulate a plan in his mind.

Should I create an accident and take the opportunity to sneak in?

I haven't used the Fire Plum Stones I bought earlier. I could make a bomb—one powerful enough to blow up the entire mountain!

But how could a place like a hidden vault be found so easily? Even if I found it, how could a place like a treasury be left unguarded?

No, that won't work.

As Yin Yang was thinking, two stray cats approached him familiarly.

Yin Yang smiled and scratched their chins.

“So it's you two. Where's your boss?”

“Meow~”

“Still fighting for territory?”