Chapter 1049: Endless Wasteland Domain

An hour later, the four of them were sitting around the dining table in Zhao Ziyan’s residence, eating the delicacies Zhao Ziyan and Gu Ruolan prepared.

"As always, Lady Zhao and Lady Gu’s cooking are without an equal." Flattered the Second Elder as he finished eating. The Third Elder also nodded.

Zhao Ziyan and Gu Ruolan gave them modest smiles in response and looked at Max who was wiping his lips and fingers, Gu Ruolan a bit less overtly.

"All the dishes were delicious." Max said, looking at both women. Immediately, Zhao Ziyan smiled widely while Gu Ruolan just nodded, but one could see she was also happy.

The Second and the Third Elders exchanged a glance.

Yeah, our sincere praises are worth nothing compared to Patriarch’s normal comment. They didn’t speak but this was what they thought.

...

Before the Second and the Third Elders could take their leave, Zhao Ziyan and Gu Ruolan quickly cleaned the table, brought out a piping hot pot of tea and served five cups of tea before taking their seats.

"Second Sister, how about you tell us how much liquid money the family has?" Zhao Ziyan asked, initiating a new conversation.

Gu Ruolan glanced at the Elders when she heard this, before looking at Max, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes.

She gave Zhao Ziyan a silent nod, thought for a moment and said, "Currently, the family has just 9 Gold, 73 Silver and 13 Copper Coins."

Hearing this, the expressions of the Second and the Third Elders hardened and they put their teacups down.

"How much is the family’s weekly spend?" Zhao Ziyan asked.

Max paid attention because he knew his mother had brought up this topic for him, not the Elders. As the family’s leader, even though there was no need for him to personally manage the family’s finances, he needed to be aware of them. After all, only after that could he devise the strategies to earn, invest or spend in different things.

"1 Gold and 21 Silvers." Answered Gu Ruolan, before adding, "But this is going to increase sharply as the family’s operations revert to normal, for example the reinstitution of the Gatekeepers at the main family’s and the Blood Condensation realm Elders’ residences."

"Mm." Zhao Ziyan nodded and fell silent.

"How about we let things continue as they have been for a while? When the family is earning again, we can gradually resume all the different operations?" The Second Elder suggested. The Third Elder nodded in agreement while Zhao Ziyan and Gu Ruolan looked at Max.

"Your suggestion isn’t bad, Second Elder." Max said, slowly tapping the table with his index finger, "However, instead of trying to curb our expenses and living like before, we should find out ways to generate income. We could not do it before because we were too weak, but now we can."

The Second and the Third Elder’s pupils shook. Right, how could they forget their family was no longer the same?

"Right, we can..." The Third Elder murmured and his eyes slowly lit up. He then looked at Max, took a breath and said, "Patriarch, I have a suggestion."

Everyone focused on him. Max nodded, "Go on."

"How about we occupy a part of the Endless Wasteland Domain?" He said, his fists clenching in excitement.

"Mm?" While Max raised his brows in confusion, the expressions of Zhao Ziyan, Gu Ruolan and the Second Elder changed.

"NO!" Zhao Ziyan flatly refused, not asking Max’s opinion. Gu Ruolan and the Second Elder were clearly of the same opinion but it didn’t dissuade the Third Elder, who stared at Max, and said, "Patriarch, you perhaps don’t know what the Endless Wasteland Domain—"

Bang!

"Third Elder, ENOUGH!!" Zhao Ziyan slapped the table and shouted, her icy eyes staring daggers at him.

The Third Elder met her gaze and seeing she was really enraged, he reined in his excitement and stopped speaking.

Max reached out his hand and took hold of his mother’s, "Mother, it’s alright. Let him speak—!"

Before he could finish, Zhao Ziyan interrupted him, "No! I don’t want you to know about that accursed place."

"Mother!" Max raised his voice slightly, "Calm down."

Zhao Ziyan bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with worry but she knew her son had become curious and she couldn’t prevent him from finding out about that place. If the Third Elder didn’t tell him, someone else would.

Swoosh!

After giving the Third Elder a dark look, she stood up and entered her bedroom.

Confused, concerned but a lot more curious, Max glanced at Gu Ruolan and said, "Second Mother, can you please go accompany her for a while?"

"Mm." Gu Ruolan nodded and as she stood up to leave, she said, "Chen’er... don’t make the decision in a haste."

Max seriously nodded. After she left, he looked at the Third Elder and said, "Tell me what this Endless Wasteland Domain is and why did mother react like that upon hearing its name?"

The Third Elder first apologized for angering Zhao Ziyan, then slowly explained.

"Patriarch, the Endless Wasteland Domain is not a part of our Azure World. No one knows whether it’s another world, some minor realm or a fragment of one. It’s a mystical place, full of resources and countless opportunities. Ever since its entrances had appeared in the Azure World, many people had encountered opportunities that made them extraordinary and they have reached Nascent and even the Void Traversal Realm. There are even rumours of people reaching the Immortal realm and ascending to the upper realms."

Saying this, he paused and his excited expression, replaced by a solemn one, "However, while it’s full of opportunities, it’s full of dangers too. Countless people had lost their lives in it and several Sky Ascension, Golden Core and stronger forces have been destroyed after they entered it. This is why Lady Zhao reacted so strongly when I mentioned it."

Max wasn’t too surprised by this and asked, "Since it’s so dangerous, why did you suggest we should occupy a part of it? Also, why haven’t I heard about it until now?"

"Patriarch, only those in the Bone Tempering realm or above can survive in this realm. Everyone else would die the moment they entered it." Revealed the Third Elder. "When the entrances had just appeared, countless weaker people had lost their lives. Even after that, people continued to enter it, all to find an opportunity to change their fate. But obviously, no one was lucky enough to return.

To prevent everyone from rushing to their deaths, the Sacred Saintess Temple ruled that the major powers were to take control of the entrances and they wouldn’t allow anyone who wasn’t at least in the Bone Tempering realm to enter.

Then all the major powers collectively agreed to contain the information about it. Now a long time has passed since this happened and almost no one who doesn’t belong to a Bone Tempering or stronger force knows about it. Even if some knows, they aren’t sure whether it’s true or just rumors. This is why you didn’t hear it until now." He explained.

After a pause, he continued, "Even though Bone Tempering realm and Marrow Refining realm cultivators don’t immediately die upon entering it like the weaker cultivators, it’s not easy for them to survive.

Only those in the Sky Ascension or higher realms can survive as long as they are careful. Because of this, very few Bone Tempering and Marrow Cleansing forces dare to enter it. I wouldn’t have suggested that we enter it, let alone try to control a part of it even if you have reached the Marrow Cleansing realm."

"However, because not only you know the Judicial Officer, Chu Liangxing, the relationship between you two doesn’t seem to be ordinary either given how he sent people to help us, I gave my suggestion. From what I have heard, the Noble Chu Family controls a small entrance and has established a base in the Endless Wasteland Domain.

If Judicial Officer is willing to do us a favor, not only can we—You, Lady Zhao and our future Bone Tempering realm cultivators—wouldn’t have to worry about the dangers, we can leverage their base to occupy a small area there. If we can do it, not only wouldn’t we have to worry about the lack of money any longer, we can rapidly increase the strength of our family from the resources we find there."

By the time the Third Elder finished speaking, his face had turned red from excitement and his breathing had become heavy. He could almost see himself and several others from his family breaking through to the Bone Tempering, Marrow Refining and even reaching the profound Sky Ascension Realm too.

"I see." Max muttered, his eyes flickering with thought.

Right then, the silent Second Elder spoke up, "Third Elder made it sound so easy, but it isn’t going to be because I doubt even Chu Liangxing has enough voice in the Chu Family to allow us, a power that isn’t subordinate to them, enter without paying a high enough price."

"And... we have nothing of such value."

Immediately, the Third Elder’s expression fell.