Chapter 950: The Mortals' Calculations

"Interesting." Qi Xia nodded.

"If I can't help you completely break free from this constraint, you won't be able to touch the threshold of 'Shen'." Tian Long said, "I need an exceptionally powerful 'Sheng Sheng Bu Xi'. Even though I know it's your scheme, I will definitely fall into it."

"Isn't that contradictory?" Qi Xia retorted, "I haven't promised you anything, yet you're claiming to be unilaterally assisting my plan."

"Because I must get you to that threshold." Tian Long said, "After all, the things I'm plotting are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Only someone like me, who has cast aside all emotions in their heart, can accept it calmly."

Qi Xia pondered for a moment and nodded. "Go on, tell me more."

"Bai Yang, I have 'Yuan Wu' and 'Qiao Wu', and you have 'Sheng Sheng Bu Xi'." Tian Long said, "Let's head to the next 'Xu Wu Kong Jian'. I'll make the mountains and rivers unfold again, let cities with towering buildings rise up, and then have the stars ascend, the sun and moon rotate. As for you, you can create a group of subjects belonging to us. With a mere thought from you, their minds will be firmly bound by your divine power. They'll never have the possibility to resist us or disrupt our rule. Wouldn't that be ideal? If you're willing, 'Sheng Sheng Bu Xi' could even produce any kind of animal or living being, and we'd have an enticing natural world as well."

Qi Xia didn't speak; he just lightly tapped the table with his hand.

"What's the point of continuing to salvage this devastated place?" Tian Long asked, "We could go to other spaces and become 'new gods', yet here we are living like 'old ghosts'. You already possess 'Shen' power and a heart infinitely close to that of a 'Shen'. You must understand my thoughts, right?"

"I..." Qi Xia gave a bitter smile, "What do you think?"

"You must understand." Tian Long said, "You've reached this height now, so why fight me for the sake of a bunch of 'ordinary people'? You could toy with their lives at will, yet you're risking danger for them. I can't comprehend it."

After speaking, Tian Long slowly stood up, his facial muscles twitching continuously.

"You'll soon find out that 'ordinary people' are the most troublesome beings in this world." Tian Long said, "They're foolish and greedy, weak and selfish. Do you know why I've tolerated all your little schemes?"

Qi Xia shook his head. "I don't know."

"Because scheming against 'Shen' is the nature of 'ordinary people'." Tian Long laughed, "If there really is a 'Shen' in this world, 'ordinary people' will pray to it day and night, demanding what they want. If there's no 'Shen', then 'ordinary people' will invent one to pray to."

"Indeed, that's true." Qi Xia nodded.

"They seek fame, fortune, glory, wealth, promotions, and riches." Tian Long laughed, "'Shen' owes nothing to 'ordinary people', so why should it grant so many unreasonable demands?"

"But they've offered incense, so it's like a transaction." Qi Xia said.

"A few sticks of incense... in exchange for hundreds of millions in wealth?" Tian Long couldn't help but chuckle, "Bai Yang, if this were really a 'transaction', 'ordinary people' couldn't afford the price 'Shen' demands. It's never been an equal exchange; it's never been a transaction at all."

"So..." Qi Xia organized his thoughts, "You know about my plan and are still willing to help me with all this because of 'Shen''s tolerance toward 'ordinary people'?"

"It's not even about tolerance." Tian Long shook his head, "Because to me, all of this is utterly irrelevant. No matter what you do, it won't threaten me. Even Qing Long hasn't reached this mindset, but I believe you can glimpse it now."

"Indeed." Qi Xia said, "Once you have the power of 'Shen', everything 'ordinary people' do seems so ridiculous."

"You have to know, it's rare for me to waste this much time on an 'ordinary person'. I've put in a lot of effort behind the scenes to get you to where you are today." Tian Long slowly walked to the window and looked at the scenery outside. On the streets made of flesh and blood, countless pedestrians lifted their heads to look at him.

"The eight teammates you arranged as part of the 'Sheng Xiao', I've been the one steadily protecting their advancement." Tian Long said, "Do you know an interesting rumor?"

"What rumor?"

"They say those eight people aren't your confidants, but mine." Tian Long laughed a few "ha ha" sounds, "That should prove how much I favor them, right? But think about it—these people are no different from ants to me, so why would I bother spending time showing favoritism?"

Qi Xia lowered his head slowly after hearing this, looked at the cup of water on the table, and then said, "Tian Long, but you're only helping me because you see me as a piece you can use. That's hard to convince me otherwise."

"Think carefully, Bai Yang." Tian Long said, "Up to now... when have I ever shown any malice toward you?"

Qi Xia recalled their previous meetings. Although each encounter had been increasingly strange, where was Tian Long's malice?

"I've told you that if you want to be 'Tian Yang', you can come back anytime." Tian Long said, "I've said that only you and I can become 'Shen' in this place. I've said we can leave together on the 'Lieu Che'. I've also admitted that I've been helping you all along. Bai Yang, if you truly join me, you can pick any 'Shen' power you want before we go. I'll let you leave with a transcendent body."

"Ha." Qi Xia laughed out loud after hearing this.

"If you're afraid I'll try to kill you, you can choose 'Man Li' or directly take 'Tian Xing Jian', and then we'll be completely equal." Tian Long said, "We'll go to a world where no 'ordinary people' dare resist us. Only you and I will be the rulers of the entire world. We can spend thousands or tens of thousands of years expanding our world, increasing the number of 'ordinary people' in it, and ultimately become true 'Shen'."

After listening, Qi Xia slowly stood up and walked to Tian Long's side, looking out the window with him.

"But that's not right." Qi Xia said.

"What's not right?" Tian Long asked, "Isn't this path tempting enough?"

"I just have one thing I don't understand." Qi Xia chuckled lightly and looked at the sun outside the window, "In a world where 'ordinary people' exist, does it really need a 'Shen' like you?"

"What...?" Tian Long was startled.

"You proclaim yourself a divine being, treat human lives like grass, and impose your will on the innocent." Qi Xia's expression gradually turned cold, "Why should 'ordinary people' have to be ruled by you?"

"There's no particular reason." Tian Long said, "It's just that I'm born a 'Shen', and 'ordinary people' are ultimately just 'ordinary people'."

After hearing this, Qi Xia slowly extended his finger, pointing at the sun in the sky.

"Just because you're a 'Shen', does that mean you can do something like this?"