Volume One: The Game of the Manipulator Chapter Fifty-Four: Decision

“Elders,” Qin Si continued, “perhaps, for me, helping you find a prosperous planet, one with abundant resources and plentiful spiritual energy—that wouldn’t be difficult at all…”

Alas, if this had been offered earlier, the people of the Kuya clan would have agreed without hesitation. But now, compared to the fervent longing to return home, such things seemed insignificant.

“I’ve laid out all the circumstances for you. If you still wish to return, then I promise I will send you back to the Dinosaur Realm,” Qin Shuang suddenly said.

“Shuang, what are you—” Qin Si was a little surprised, unable to figure out what Qin Shuang was thinking. He quickly sent a message through divine sense.

“Brother, just let me handle this,” Qin Shuang replied, not explaining further. To him, whatever he’d promised to Lei Shan, he was determined to fulfill.

“We three can’t make this decision on our own,” Gan Ming said, suddenly seeming to age decades, his face drawn and weary. “I’d like to give this choice to all the Kuya people, let everyone decide together—whether to live on a prosperous, new planet, or to return to our homeland, even if it means dying in battle upon our return.”

There was no reason for Qin Si and Qin Shuang to object to this; at most, it would only take a little more time.

The method was simple: raise the left hand if one wished to return home; raise the right hand if one desired a new, prosperous place to live.

The process was easy and the result swift—almost eighty percent of the Kuya people were of one mind: they wanted to go home.

On a silent hilltop, Qin Si and Qin Shuang sat together, having chosen this secluded spot to avoid being disturbed by the Kuya people.

“I’ll go talk to Uncle Qu. You get the Kuya people settled first. I’ll return to the Divine Realm, and as soon as I’m back, we’ll set off!” Qin Si looked up at the sky and said softly.

“Return to the Divine Realm?” Qin Shuang was taken aback. “Brother, why not send them home first, then we’ll return to the Divine Realm together?” At this point, Qin Shuang’s soul had already reached the peak of the upper-grade Divine rank; although his internal energy was still lacking, it likely wouldn’t be long before he could transcend the tribulation and ascend to the Divine Realm.

“Heh, well, how do you suppose we get them all back to the Dinosaur Realm? There are thousands of them.”

Qin Shuang was momentarily stunned, then sighed, “True… Even though the Kuya people’s cultivation techniques are unique, and if fully mastered, they would be incredibly formidable, for now, their cultivation on Su Yu Star is too weak. If I took them through spatial passage to the Dinosaur Realm, I’m afraid they’d be turned to dust before we even arrived!”

“Exactly. So I’ll return to the Divine Realm first to find a spatial treasure. If I could get Grandpa Lan’s Jiang Lan Realm, that would be wonderful.” The Jiang Lan Realm was so valuable that even Jiang Fan had wanted to make it the clan’s supreme treasure, but Jiang Lan had gifted it to Qin Yu.

When Qin Yu opened the third level of the Jiang Lan Realm, he had returned it, for spatial treasures were exceedingly rare and precious.

“The Jiang Lan Realm…” Qin Shuang’s heart ached a little. The Jiang Lan Realm had witnessed all of their father’s struggles and growth. If he could get it from Grandpa Lan, that would be ideal.

“But to pierce just one layer of the barrier between the Immortal, Demon, and Monster Realms, the Jiang Lan Realm would be overkill. If I asked for it, Grandpa Lan probably wouldn’t give it.” Qin Shuang felt a pang of disappointment.

Gently, Qin Si patted Qin Shuang’s shoulder. “Shuang, is there anything you want? When I return to the Divine Realm this time, I’ll bring it for you.” Qin Si fully understood his brother’s thoughts; if it was within his power, he would do all he could for him.

“No, it’s fine. I have the Thousand-Faced Robe, a second-rate Hongmeng treasure, to protect my body, and the mid-grade Heaven artifact armor you gave me to protect my soul. That’s plenty for a level-nine Immortal Emperor like me.

“Oh right, Brother, you haven’t seen the final prize yet, have you?” Qin Shuang suddenly remembered the reward Qin Si had gone to such lengths to win, even risking himself in the Primordial Water.

Suddenly, a figure in black robes appeared before them—it was Qin Yu, startling Qin Si, who hurriedly bowed. “Father, you… why are you here?”

“Alas… Brother!” The black-robed Qin Yu stood there, expressionless.

“He’s not…” Qin Shuang said awkwardly.

Qin Si slowly looked up, realizing that this “Qin Yu” showed no expression at all, and only then did he understand he’d been tricked by his seemingly honest and gentle brother.

With a thump, Qin Si knocked Qin Shuang on the head, feigning anger. “Growing bold, aren’t you? Daring to make a fool of your big brother.”

“Brother… I didn’t mean to!” Qin Shuang quickly covered his head, pretending to be in great pain.

“So this is the final prize from Shanhaitian? It doesn’t look so impressive—just a puppet.”

“Brother, he’s no ordinary puppet,” Qin Shuang said seriously. “According to the description I received, this puppet has two features.

First, it is indestructible—indestructible, but not unlimited in power.

Second, it can transform into any shape, including smoke.”

Qin Shuang briefly explained its two major functions, then added, “Moreover, the puppet’s strength will always be one level higher than mine. Right now, it’s at the lower-grade Divine rank; when I reach upper-grade Celestial God, it will reach the Godking level.”

“That’s impossible,” Qin Si shook his head. “A Godking must fully comprehend the laws of space, be capable of teleportation, and even begin to grasp the laws of time. A puppet, without a soul—let alone a Godking, even the Celestial God level should be impossible.”

“Unless…” Qin Si’s eyes brightened. “Unless it already possesses a soul. But I’ve never heard of such a puppet.”

“Heh, perhaps. If I could sever my connection with it, maybe I’d find out the truth.” Qin Shuang smiled wryly. The puppet was wonderful: it didn’t require a blood bond or refining, but the drawback was that it couldn’t be unbound—once obtained, it was almost impossible to discard.

“Hey, you still haven’t explained why you turned into Father to scare me?” Qin Si was still embarrassed by his own behavior earlier.

Qin Shuang’s expression darkened. “Brother, when I was born, it was just as Celestial Mountain descended… Father was busy every day. Only you and those two little goldfish in the garden pond kept me company. Since my birth until I ran away from home, it’s been decades, but I’ve seen Father less than ten times… I’m afraid… I’m afraid that if I don’t see him often, I’ll forget what he looks like…” Though Qin Shuang was always overshadowed by his father and brother, in his heart, both his brother Qin Si and his father Qin Yu held the highest place.

Within the Primordial Chaos Space, Qin Yu felt his heart twist with pain.

“Shuang, I’m sorry!” Qin Yu’s heart surged with emotion. He no longer cared about fate or the unknown. He wanted to bring Shuang back to the Violet Profound Mansion immediately. Though he might not become a Controller, becoming a Celestial Venerable would be simple.

Lin Meng pressed down hard on Qin Yu’s shoulder. “Third Brother, let the children walk their own paths.”

“Shuang, I’m sorry,” Qin Si murmured to himself on that lonely hilltop of Su Yu Star. It seemed he truly had taken much from his brother since childhood—not just their parents’ love, but even the favor of Jiang Lan, Yi Feng, Zuo Qiu Lin, and the other Godkings had mostly fallen to him alone.

Qin Shuang shook his head vigorously. “Brother, let’s not talk about this. Hurry back to the Divine Realm. Once the Kuya people are sent home, I’ll probably face my own tribulation.”

“Alright, Shuang, wait for me.” Qin Si stood up, waved his hand, and in the sky a golden door sparkling with firelight appeared. With a thought, he vanished through it, and the door disappeared as well.

To travel from the Divine Realm to the Immortal, Demon, and Monster Realms, even upper-grade Celestial Gods could not open a spatial passage. But returning from the lower realm to the Divine Realm—as long as one’s internal energy reached the Divine rank—one could easily break through the spatial barrier.

In the Divine Realm, Misty City had not existed for long, but it was already unparalleled, even the City of Thunder Punishment paled in comparison.

“I’ve returned.” At the entrance to Violet Profound Mansion, Qin Si’s clear voice rang out as he pushed open the doors and entered.

“Si!” Jiang Li was the first to teleport to his side, holding his face in her hands. Like any mortal mother who missed her son after a few days apart, she was filled with longing.

“Where’s Shuang? Didn’t he come back with you, or have you not found him?” Jiang Li immediately noticed only Qin Si had returned—there was no sign of Qin Shuang.

“Mother, Shuang will be back in a few days. When he returns, he’ll bring you a surprise.” Qin Si smiled at Jiang Li.

“By the way, where’s Grandpa Lan?” Qin Si had important business.

“In the garden, playing chess with your Grandpa Yi Feng,” Jiang Li replied with a gentle smile. When it came to chess, both Yi Feng and Jiang Lan were always defeated by Jiang Li. In terms of skill, she was probably the best in the entire Lin Meng Universe.

“I’ll go find Grandpa Lan.” With that, Qin Si dashed off to the garden.

“This child…” Jiang Li watched his retreating figure with a contented smile.

(To be continued)