Chapter 28: Time to Show Off

To be honest, Mo Jiang still didn’t quite understand the purpose of the “Procreation” attribute. If it was just for the derivative puppet-control ability, that had become rather useless after he chose the Constitution and Strength path. It was tasteless to use, yet a pity to discard.

“Next, I should look for a relic world and attempt to transform it into a Void Realm…” Mo Jiang was making plans. Deep in his mind, a persistent awareness told him that if he could successfully turn a relic world into a Void Realm and sacrifice it through the World Gate to the main world, he would gain unimaginable benefits.

Even greater than the rewards of stacking the Mark five times and surviving the ensuing calamity!

The urge was overwhelming, but whenever Mo Jiang tried to sense it, there was nothing—almost as though it was all a hallucination.

“Flower Castle and the Demon Ghost Metropolis are both good choices, and their coordinates are registered in the World Gate. But unfortunately, both relic worlds are already being converted into Void Realms. If I force my way in, I’ll probably alert the world’s master and invite disaster.” Though he had some acquaintance with the Seventh Doll, Mo Jiang would never truly let down his guard.

“That puppet relic world would have been a good choice, but back then the World Gate hadn’t been repaired, so I couldn’t lock onto its coordinates.”

One by one, Mo Jiang weighed his options, yet found none feasible. He could only look for a new relic world.

“Let’s start by searching for places with strange legends.”

As for ancient burial grounds of powerful primordial creatures, Mo Jiang decisively avoided them. Such places were bound to draw Outsiders. For example, the Outsider who once tried to murder him—his domain was in Dazuling, a famous natural site in Zhongtong Province called Luya’s Nest.

That land must have once been the grave of a mighty ancient beast, which meant a relic world existed there.

While Mo Jiang was pondering, his phone suddenly rang.

It was Mo Suzhe.

He answered, and Wen Lanjing’s trembling voice came through, “A-Jiang, your father’s in trouble! He’s at City Hospital!”

Mo Jiang’s heart jolted. Although he wasn’t deeply attached to Mo Suzhe, he was using the man’s son’s body. At this moment, it was only natural to hurry—he nearly ran every red light on his way to the hospital.

He got the room number from a nurse without even asking what had happened, and rushed over. Yet the moment he entered the ward, Mo Jiang sensed that something was wrong.

His entire skin prickled as if stabbed by needles, something trying to pierce into his body. But ever since his Constitution and Strength reached the second tier, his physique had undergone a fundamental transformation.

So this stabbing sensation lasted only half a breath before vanishing.

Mo Jiang thought nothing of it, chalking it up to his body not yet being accustomed to its newfound power.

Looking over, he saw Wen Lanjing sitting rigidly by the bed, her eyes vacant. On the bed lay Mo Suzhe—utterly unscathed, complexion ruddy, not at all like someone sick or injured.

“A-Jiang, the chairman has passed away.” Zhou Fangqing was there too. At the sight of Mo Jiang, she quietly relayed the news.

“What?” Mo Jiang’s expression changed drastically. He’d just seen Mo Suzhe yesterday; the man had been in perfect health, with no hereditary diseases in the family.

“Fangqing, have them step out. I need to speak with A-Jiang alone.”

“Yes, madam.”

Zhou Fangqing nodded, ushering the doctors, nurses, and other Mo family associates out of the room.

When they had gone, Wen Lanjing produced a folded letter and handed it to Mo Jiang.

He unfolded it—it was written by Mo Suzhe.

One glance, and he was stunned. He looked at Wen Lanjing. “The Mo family…”

“We’re not originally from Heman Province. Back in your grandfather’s generation, we fled here from the west. The Mo family is plagued by a very mysterious, very strange force—or perhaps you could call it a hereditary disease,” Wen Lanjing said slowly.

“Pairs may not meet?” That was what Mo Jiang read on the letter, but even as he spoke the words, he wasn’t sure what tone to use.

Mo Suzhe wrote that only one branch of the Mo family could survive.

His grandfather had left the west to avoid mutual slaughter, escaping to Heman Province. Years later, after much inquiry, he learned that once he had left, all the other western branches of the Mo family perished.

Just recently, Mo Suzhe had run into someone else surnamed “Mo,” and then he died. According to him, his father owed a debt to the western branch, so when it fell on him, he couldn’t even resist—only pay with his life.

In the letter, Mo Suzhe also warned Mo Jiang to be careful, saying that the other “Mo” might have a son, possibly even a daughter. He suspected that Mo Qingqing’s sudden death might also be linked to this.

“A-Jiang, your father said if you can avenge him, do so. If not, let it go,” Wen Lanjing’s voice trembled as she spoke. “But you mustn’t get hurt!”

“I’ll be fine, Mom,” Mo Jiang replied, though his heart was chilled by what was written in that letter.

He suspected that the Mo family’s strange “pairs may not meet” affliction might be related to some power selected by the main world.

Mo Suzhe was gone, and the Mo family’s estate was substantial.

Afterward, Mo Jiang managed funeral arrangements while, under Wen Lanjing’s guidance, beginning to take charge of the entire family business.

He had the memories of his predecessor, but still found it overwhelming.

Barely managing to adapt, Mo Jiang knew he could, at best, preserve the family’s holdings, not expand them.

After all, his main focus was still on “relic worlds.”

Only the strong can master their own fate.

And for the strong, holding onto one’s family assets was simple enough. If anyone refused to submit—kill them.

Mo Jiang hadn’t been to school for some time. Peak Zhongyuan High sent a few teachers to discuss with Wen Lanjing, and granted Mo Jiang a leave of absence.

Which suited him just fine.

He’d long lost any passion for studying; after two lifetimes, he now wanted to tear up any book he saw.

He’d already found several places with strange legends, but each visit proved fruitless. This puzzled him, but he could only keep searching.

One day, Zhou Fangqing came to say a young man claiming to be his friend wanted to see him.

Mo Jiang frowned, assuming it was an acquaintance of his predecessor, and nodded.

Soon, someone burst through the office door.

A young man entered, looked Mo Jiang up and down, nodded approvingly, and smiled. “Good, very good. I like it here.”

Then he turned to Mo Jiang. “So—why aren’t you dead yet?”