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"So, you knew all along?"
"I thought you actually admired this plan."
Jing Yuan, realizing that Sylvester's conscience had not completely eroded, felt like crying tears of joy.
"Of course I know, General Jing Yuan, that you wouldn't choose this plan."
Sylvester smiled. "But naturally, I must analyze all the circumstances thoroughly, so that everyone can make an informed judgment."
Then he pursed his lips and muttered quietly, "Besides, the best strategies are always meant to be discarded—who ever actually uses them?"
Guinaifen let out a huge sigh of relief.
Fanning her sweaty body with one hand, she muttered with a hint of complaint, "Huff~ Shopkeeper Sylvester, if that's the case, you needn't be so serious. You nearly scared me to death."
"…"
Jing Yuan merely blinked, utterly speechless.
What kind of reasoning was that?
But then again, considering Xianzhou's history, perhaps it was true.
He rubbed his cheek and forced himself to maintain a general's dignity.
"Indeed! Ultimately, this matter arose because the Luofu was at fault first, and my own lack of foresight caused Feixiao's drinking to go awry, which led to this incident. How could we shift the blame onto the innocent?"
And it didn't end there.
The Aeon's strength was unfathomable, and THEIR abilities were complex and varied.
Who could guarantee that the Aeon of Elation wouldn't find out about this through other means?
If that happened, the Luofu would have hit a wall so hard there would be no heaven or earth to turn to.
Jing Yuan cupped his hands respectfully. "Please, Shopkeeper Sylvester, share the other methods with us."
The other Six Charioteers nodded in agreement.
They were most afraid that the general might give in under pressure and agree rashly.
"Then that would be the middle strategy."
Sylvester raised another finger.
"This morning, Huohuo acquired a Curio in my little shop, called the [Human Emperor Banner]. Have any of you heard of it?"
As he spoke, a subtle smile appeared on his face, leaving the others puzzled.
"The Human Emperor Banner?" Lingsha frowned slightly.
Clearly, as the head of the Alchemy Commission, she had not yet learned of this.
The other Six Charioteers were similarly unaware.
Only Jing Yuan nodded. "Indeed. According to a report sent by the judge Xueyi, the [Human Emperor Banner] has extremely potent targeted damage against souls and similar entities."
"Even an Emanator, without sufficient precautions, could easily fall victim to it."
"Truly?!" Lingsha exclaimed first.
After digesting the information, she said in admiration, "A Curio that gives that timid little judge a chance to strike an Emanator—that is truly a treasure."
Others began discussing excitedly.
"A Curio that targets souls? Doesn't that mean the Abundance abominations' famed regenerative abilities are utterly useless against it?"
"If that's truly the case, having her stationed at the Ten-Lords Commission to only clean up the Luofu internally would be a gross underuse of talent."
"She should be sent to the Cloud Knights, and to the front lines at that!"
"Quiet, everyone. There are more pressing matters at hand."
Lingsha, impatient by nature, was the first to speak and also the first to step away from the discussion.
"But Shopkeeper Sylvester, how exactly does this Banner solve the current problem?"
Naturally, this was the question everyone most wanted answered after regaining their composure.
Were they really supposed to use a banner to turn Haha into a vegetative state, leaving the Aeon of Elation with no way to confront them? That seemed no different from the previous plan.
Yet Jing Yuan pondered thoughtfully. "The [Human Emperor Banner], huh."
Seeing that he had an idea, Sylvester nodded with a smile.
Jing Yuan gave a wry grin and said to the others, "Everyone, the [Human Emperor Banner] isn't just devastating in attack. More importantly, it possesses an extremely rare function."
"That is… controlling souls! Any soul absorbed into it becomes the Banner Master's loyal servant, forever under the Master's command!"
"What?!"
The same exclamation burst out from multiple mouths in unison.
Lingsha said carefully, "Doesn't that mean the Luofu could attempt to control an Aeon?"
Everyone's eyes darted, their emotions surging uncontrollably.
Lingsha had been polite. This wasn't just control—it was outright enslavement!
Humans, reversing the natural order, would enslave an Aeon!
The entire group felt as if something in their brains had exploded, their bodies trembling at the news.
Although Haha's current power was still low, it was already known that THEY could amplify strength through Elation. Coupled with the same understanding of Elation as the Aeon of Elation, THEIR potential was limitless!
Making an Aeon the most loyal guardian of the Xianzhou…
By that point, the petty conflicts they faced now would be trivial.
Haha might even end up thanking them.
Indeed, the temptation was overwhelmingly enormous.
So immense that everyone present couldn't help but wrestle with their conscience.
Xianzhou had always adhered to a philosophy of non-aggression: humans who didn't offend THEM were not offended in return.
Except for Abundance abominations, they never bullied the outer people—a core reason why Xianzhou was so highly regarded among cosmic powers.
If they truly followed this plan, decades of cultivated interstellar relations could suffer greatly.
But then again, with an Aeon guarding Xianzhou, diplomacy would become as meaningless as decorative ribbons hanging from the ceiling at a banquet—optional and trivial.
Yet it might also shake Xianzhou's governance philosophy. Perhaps in the near future, this could be the start of Xianzhou's decline.
Xianzhou could have quietly remained as protectors of Abundance, like Borisin, satisfying material needs through war and enslaving the outer people.
Like trees growing strange branches in old age, this was the price of longevity.
But Xianzhou rejected that impure evolution.
And now… were they about to let that vow crack even a little?
All eyes turned once more to Jing Yuan.
"General, please give the order."
No one expressed agreement or disagreement—they simply had no plan of their own.
This plan's flaw was fundamentally similar to the previous one, and perhaps even more extreme.
The upper strategy sacrificed a person to become a ghost. This middle strategy spared not even the ghost.
Yet the rewards were far too tempting.
Perhaps all humans in the entire Stellaron Sea combined would never see such an opportunity again. If they missed it, regret would come too late.
So, faced with the choice between holding true to conscience or seizing immense benefit, the group chose… neither.
"General, we can't decide. Leave it to you to choose."
Jing Yuan's eyes swept over his loyal, battle-tested subordinates.
Fine, fine. You can't decide, so you're just going to dump it all on me, huh?
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