The Elixir is for You, The Poison is for Me

#434 - regret

"Are you crazy? They've only been in the academy for half a year. They aren't physically or mentally prepared to become Inspectors. If we rashly send them out to deal with the strange objects, the casualties will be staggering."

Warden Huang retorted, "They are all cultivation seeds that we painstakingly selected. They are the future of the Directorate of Celestial Observation. Given enough time, many of them will become the pillars of the Directorate, even surpassing you and me."

"Unfortunately, even if I'm willing to give them time, the world won't."

Guo Shouhuai's words left Warden Huang speechless for a moment, but after a pause, he said, "The disadvantage of losing mystic power isn't so easily overcome. Even if we harden our hearts and send all the new recruits who just joined the academy this year to help the Directorate of Celestial Observation, we still might not have enough manpower."

"I've naturally considered this issue," Guo Shouhuai nodded, "So, soon I plan to open the third floor of the Star Observation Tower, and most of the fourth floor, to take out the strange objects stored there for the Inspectors to use."

Hearing this, even Professor Zheng, who had decided not to interrupt, was shocked and couldn't help but whisper, "This... this is a bit inappropriate, isn't it?"

In reality, it was more than just a bit inappropriate. In Professor Zheng's mind, this measure was practically insane!

Opening the Star Observation Tower and distributing the strange objects within on a large scale to the Inspectors in the Directorate, allowing them to use the strange objects to enhance their strength, sounded good in theory.

But in practice, there were many problems.

Even setting aside the safety concerns, the attitudes of the people in the Directorate of Celestial Observation towards strange objects were very different. Some coveted the power of strange objects and hoped to make more use of them. Undoubtedly, Guo Shouhuai's decision would be supported by them.

However, there were also those whose friends and family had died at the hands of strange objects. They harbored a strong hostility towards strange objects, wishing they could eliminate all the strange objects in the world. It was almost impossible to get them to accept Guo Shouhuai's decision and fight alongside strange objects.

The Directorate of Celestial Observation's current attitude towards strange objects was actually the result of a long-term struggle and compromise between these two factions. However, the friction between the two sides had never stopped, and they had only carefully maintained a delicate balance.

But once Guo Shouhuai opened the Star Observation Tower, even if it was only the third and fourth floors, and took out those strange objects with a threat assessment of low and medium grade for large-scale use, it would undoubtedly break this fragile balance.

Professor Zheng couldn't imagine what would happen next.

"These are extraordinary times, requiring extraordinary measures. I believe that most people in the Directorate are reasonable and can prioritize the overall situation."

Guo Shouhuai's words had too many flaws, and Professor Zheng didn't know where to start. However, he also knew that the Vice Director of the Directorate of Celestial Observation was never a naive person.

The reason why he said this was just that he didn't intend to explain the specific countermeasures in detail here. However, the three people on the top floor of the tower all knew that no matter what means were used, the impact of this matter would not be easily resolved.

Guo Shouhuai paused for a moment and continued, "If we still can't handle it, I will personally contact the major sects in the Jianghu and ask them to send experts to support us. But if it really comes to that, I estimate that we won't have many people left."

"Oh, what were the results?" Warden Huang raised his eyebrows upon hearing this. "Judging by your tone, his Mystic Cauldron must be pretty good. Grade B, or... Grade A? Among this year's new students in the academy, there are only three Grade A's so far, although that's considered a lot compared to previous years."

"Neither. I'm about 90% sure that he completed a Perfect Foundation Establishment." Professor Zheng took a deep breath and said, "The talisman used for the test was burned out in a short moment. The other three instructors present also witnessed this scene."

"Because it was too unbelievable, we had him tested again afterward, and the result was exactly the same as the last time. Besides Perfect Foundation Establishment, I find it difficult to find any other explanation."

Speaking of this, Professor Zheng couldn't help but sigh again, "This is a Perfect Foundation Establishment that is rare in the cultivation world for thousands of years, a one-in-a-million cultivation seed, but we happened to encounter it at this time. Alas, I originally wanted to see how far he could go."

Guo Shouhuai, however, had a rare look of surprise on his face.

"Lu Jing? I've met him before. If I remember correctly, his cultivation talent wasn't very good, was it?"

"That's how it was at first," Professor Zheng nodded. "I still have the character he wrote for me. It hasn't changed color yet. But later, he went to Wujiang City with Yan Jun and encountered a strange object. By chance, he completed the Perfect Foundation Establishment."

"In that case, this child has quite the opportunity."

Hearing Professor Zheng mention Lu Jing's luck, Guo Shouhuai also recalled the incident that happened in the Scripture Depository and couldn't help but sigh.

But now he was also a little unsure whether Lu Jing's luck was good or bad.

In the past, let alone a disciple with a Perfect Foundation Establishment, even a Grade A talent would definitely be highly valued and cultivated with emphasis. But now, no one knows when the mystic power will disappear.

Even though Lu Jing had completed the Perfect Foundation Establishment, the first reaction of the three people on the top floor of the Star Observation Tower tonight was to feel regret.

Moreover, even this regret didn't last too long. After confirming that the mystic power was depleting, there were too many things to do for the three of them.

Guo Shouhuai looked at Professor Zheng and Warden Huang and spoke again, "What we are facing now is a great calamity in the cultivation world, and also a great calamity in the human world. I know that you all have some resentment and indignation in your hearts, wondering why something that hasn't happened in over a thousand years happened to us."

"But since things have come to this, there is no other way but to meet it head-on. As the Vice Director of the Directorate of Celestial Observation, I, Guo Shouhuai, will not allow those strange objects to run rampant and destroy the human world, at least before I die. I also hope that you can lend me a hand."