I Have Infinite Skill Points-Chapter 596: Meeting Elder Ci

"You mean to grant legal identities to those who originally had none?"

"Exactly. The people provided by Senlan Real Estate are certainly not international fugitives, mercenaries, or criminals. They’re likely that group trained by the Hell Monarch—the Star Martial Warriors."

"Can their whereabouts be tracked?"

"They ultimately ended up in God’s Country, and there’s a Zack involved. There are plenty of officials in the New Blue Government in cahoots with Senlan Real Estate, each with the power to grant identities."

"God’s Country..." Wang Lan murmured, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"Wang Lan, you’re a level seven special agent of the International Security Council, and you have the right to form your own team. On behalf of the International Security Council, I formally invite you to take full responsibility for pursuing the Hell Monarch in God’s Country."

This proposal was within Wang Lan’s expectations; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been granted the level seven special agent status. Wang Lan knew the concept of level seven all too well, having just aced his assessment to reach the top.

Wang Lan also knew that Hua Jianfeng had cast a dissenting vote in the decision-making process, but his single vote couldn’t stand against the unanimous approval of the others.

Wang Lan had long been informed by Eld Di about the true nature of God’s Country. Thirty years ago, the Unparalleled Knight was ordered to support an operation there and never returned—like a meat bun thrown to a dog, gone without a trace. That was White Eagle Country’s superhero, an existence on par with the Five Emperors of Jade Country.

Since then, no one from White Eagle Country with a Cultivation Level above the Star Sea had set foot in God’s Country. Even the Heaven God Sect had been abolished in White Eagle Country and replaced with the New Sect. Although they both worshipped the God of Heaven, their doctrines were completely different.

White Eagle Country was furious.

When Wang Lan developed the Star Martial Toxins Vaccine, God’s Country invited him to receive an award, but Jade Country didn’t even notify him and directly collected the prize on his behalf. This showed just how deeply Jade Country was wary of God’s Country.

Therefore, Wang Lan couldn’t immediately accept the invitation and said, "This requires me to report back to our Number One for approval before I can proceed."

"Understood, completely understood," Dyson said with a bitter smile.

God’s Country actually had the strength to rank among the top four in the world. As the world’s foremost religion, a single call to action from them could rally hundreds of millions of followers. With such mighty strength and influence, why couldn’t they even squeeze into the United Nations’ ’Big Five’?

Is it because they established a nation on the basis of religion? Nonsense. If that could get them into the ’Big Five’, God’s Country would have wracked their brains to make it happen. It was precisely because of God’s Country’s past actions that its reputation was utterly tarnished.

God’s Call? An S-Class Illusion Technique. The fearsomeness of this Star Martial Skill lay in its ability to alter subconscious will. Even if you knew you were under its effect, your subconscious would still accept the change in thought as fact—a problem for which no solution has yet been found.

The problem is that this technique only works on Star Martial Warriors. Whoever developed this technique isn’t even human. Fortunately, the cooldown period for this technique is ten years, and the learning requirements are so high that only the Pope in God’s Country has mastered it. Otherwise, even at the risk of civil war, the nations would have to join forces to eliminate God’s Country first.

「The airplane cleaved through the sky and landed smoothly in Modu City.」

Wang Lan instructed Xie Sisi and Xu Xiangwen not to leave yet, so they stayed at Phoenix Plaza while Wang Lan and Jiang Xinyu went to the school with the honor certificate to report back to Eld Di.

It had been almost two months since they last saw Eld Di. He looked much older, his face covered with age spots. Remembering their first meeting three years ago, Eld Di had a full head of silver hair but a ruddy complexion like a man in his prime. Now, even if he dyed his hair black, one could easily spot his aged appearance.

Eld Di was already over a hundred years old back then, yet he looked so different now.

"How does the threat of the Hell Monarch compare to evil spirits?"

"It’s probably greater than that of evil spirits, because one Time-Space Gemstone is in his possession."

"Are you planning to go to God’s Country?" Eld Di saw right through Wang Lan’s thoughts.

"If I could comfortably lie at home, who would willingly travel thousands of miles to face death?" Wang Lan said casually. "But I’m the only one who can counteract the Time-Space Gemstone. If I don’t go, who will? The Time-Space Gemstone is in the Hell Monarch’s hands. By the time he activates the Portal of the Demon World, it will be too late."

"Hmm... You’re right. You’re not just a Titled Strongman of Jade Country, or just the future supreme pinnacle; you’re also a warrior of human civilization."

"Thank you, Eld Di. Does this mean you approve?"

"Approved, but there’s no rush. First, come with me to the Capital."

"Yes!"

What could the trip to the Capital entail? It probably meant reporting to Number One or to the senior leaders of the cabinet. But Wang Lan never expected Eld Di to bring him to a traditional courtyard residence inside the third ring of Imperial Capital.

They knocked on the door, and a sophisticated young woman in a cheongsam opened it. Her face broke into a warm smile upon seeing Eld Di. "Ruolan pays her respects to Eld Di."

"Ruolan, it has been years; you’ve grown into a fine young lady."

"Please come in, Eld Di," Ruolan said with a graceful smile, ushering Eld Di and Wang Lan into the courtyard.

"Please have a seat, Eld Di. I’ll go make some tea. Grandmother is painting, and she asked you to wait for a moment."

"Alright!"

Wang Lan watched the girl as she turned and left, a flicker of light in his eyes. Seeing Wang Lan’s expression, Eld Di coughed lightly. "You rascal, if your mother were here, she’d give you a few slaps."

"Huh?" Wang Lan looked confused. "What did I do?"

"You have Jiang Xinyu, yet your eyes light up at the sight of a pretty girl?"

"My eyes lit up? No, it’s not because she’s pretty, but because..."

"Because what?" A deep voice interrupted, as an old granny with a bun of silver hair and reading glasses walked in from the doorway.

Although Wang Lan didn’t know the old lady’s identity, he quickly stood up.

"This is Mr. Nie Yurong!" Eld Di introduced her to Wang Lan.

’Mr.’ is an honorific for respected scholars and is not gender-specific. There aren’t many people in the world Eld Di would call ’Mr.’ Nie Yurong’s name was unfamiliar to Wang Lan. However, with his exceptional memory, Wang Lan instantly realized that this old lady was none other than Elder Ci, one of the five venerable elders standing alongside Eld Di.

"Kid, you haven’t answered my question yet. Because of what?" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Reporting to Elder Ci, it’s because Miss Ruolan, though she appears young, possesses an unfathomably deep cultivation level..."

Wang Lan didn’t say this to conceal anything; the gleam in his eyes when he looked at Ruolan was genuine. He sensed that this woman’s realm had reached a state in harmony with nature.

When Wang Lan had once inquired whether there were realms beyond the Star Sea, Eld Di had opened his Star Palace, allowing Wang Lan to feel the life force within the Star Sea cosmos. He had sensed this same life force emanating from Ruolan earlier.

The only scenario in which one could possess such a life force would be if they had taken a half-step beyond the Star Sea, or in other words, reached Half-step Star Soul.

Neither Wang Lan nor Yu Ruoyun had reached this realm. Of course, realm is one thing, and power is another. Ruolan’s realm might be higher than Wang Lan’s, but it didn’t necessarily mean her power was greater. There weren’t many in this world stronger than Wang Lan.

"So, you are Little Phoenix’s son, Wang Lan? In recent years, you’ve gained considerable fame, even eclipsing that girl from the Yu Family. How do you compare to my girl then?" Elder Ci asked indifferently.

These words left Wang Lan momentarily speechless. He couldn’t understand why Elder Ci, who showed no trace of tenderness, would speak with such pointed words.

"Miss Ruolan’s Half-step Star Soul power is indeed much stronger than this junior..."

"Hmph, dishonest." Elder Ci showed no pleasure at being praised; instead, her brows knitted together in displeasure.

"But as for who is stronger and who is weaker, I’m afraid we would only know after a fight," Wang Lan continued.

After all, he wasn’t just representing himself; he represented the legacy of both Eld Di and the Flame Emperor. He might be half a step lower in realm, but he wasn’t lacking in power.

"That sounds more like someone from Little Phoenix’s family." Elder Ci finally showed a smile.

"Wang Lan, you may not be aware, but your mother, besides being my disciple, also followed Elder Ci for three years. The phoenix-shaped imprint on the Soul Bead she left you was learned from Elder Ci. Elder Ci has been holding a grudge against me for sending your mother there all those years ago and has been at odds with me ever since. I’m saying, Yu Rong, after all these years, do you really need to hold onto this grudge?"

"What did you call me?" Elder Ci’s gaze turned icy as she retorted sharply.

"Mr. Nie Yurong, with juniors present, please grant me some face."

"Face is earned, not given by others," Elder Ci said, not giving him any quarter. Just then, Miss Ruolan came over carrying a tray with teacups, serving tea to the three of them.

"Ruolan, you sit down too," Elder Ci said.

"Mr. Nie Yurong..."

"What are you calling me?"

"Cough—Yurong, how long do you plan to keep Ruolan hidden? It’s fortunate that Ruolan is quiet and dislikes showing off. Otherwise, seeing the younger generation taking turns in the limelight, she would have become impatient a long time ago."

"When did I ever hide her? Isn’t the renown of the Wise Heart Sword God notable enough?"

"But who knows that the Wise Heart Sword God, hailed as the foremost of Titled Strongmen, is named Ruolan? And who would have thought the Wise Heart Sword God is actually a young woman only twenty-three years old?"

Hearing this, Wang Lan was visibly shocked. As Eld Di put it, who would have imagined that the Wise Heart Sword God, proclaimed to be above Titled Strongmen and below the Five Emperors, was actually the woman before him? It was completely unexpected.

"Eld Di, a fleeting reputation is but a passing cloud. Whether the Wise Heart Sword God is Ruolan or not doesn’t matter, as long as the Wise Heart Sword God is willing to fight for Jade Country, that’s enough."

"You certainly look beyond fame and fortune. If it weren’t for Wang Lan drawing his sword, that unsheathed blade was meant to be yours."

"Eld Di, you overpraise me. Brother Lan’s strength exceeds Ruolan’s, and with his intelligence and martial skill surpassing hers, his drawing of the sword is stronger than mine would have been."

Wang Lan bowed his head silently. He wasn’t entirely unable to understand the veiled remarks they were exchanging, but he could only guess at some of it. Speaking up would likely just make him look foolish.

"What brings you here so suddenly?" Elder Ci asked, changing the subject.

"I came to see if you’re doing well." The tone of this statement was so cheesy that even Wang Lan got goosebumps. Wang Lan glanced up, only to see Miss Ruolan also looking overwhelmed by the remark. Their eyes met, a shared understanding passing between them.

"TSK! Are you here because you don’t have many days left and want to say goodbye?"

Eld Di’s affectionate expression suddenly stiffened. "Can’t you say something pleasant?"

"Is this the first day you’ve known me? The last time you came was after the battle in Modu City. Back then, you said your days were numbered and you wanted to see old friends. More than a year has passed, and here you are, still alive and kicking, aren’t you..."

"Alright, alright, I won’t argue with you. The Hell Monarch has re-emerged."

"Hmm? That should be God’s Country’s concern. Why do you care?"

"The Hell Monarch possesses a Time-Space Gemstone."

Elder Ci abruptly looked up, her gaze fixed warily on Eld Di.

"Wang Lan wishes to go to God’s Country."

"No!" Elder Ci slammed the table and shot to her feet.