Chapter 138: Refusal

Even though I am living here all by myself right now, I can assure you that there are definitely my father's men keeping watch nearby. If you were to lay a finger on me today, I'm afraid you wouldn't even make it out of this street alive. With that, Velyn deliberately shot a fierce look at Lan Tian.

My identity records have been locked down by my father through his connections, so neither passenger starships nor space transit stations will be open to me.

I am trapped on Huidu Star.

Hearing this, Lan Tian couldn't help cutting in. Although it sounds quite pitiful, compared to what you have obtained, aren't you actually quite fortunate?

Even though he held a colossal fortune within the virtual universe network and wielded immense influence on Earth, his time as a person of status remained brief. He could never quite detach himself from his past, and his mindset often remained stuck on that of the impoverished young man who had once been abandoned by his girlfriend.

To someone like Velyn, being kept like a pampered canary might seem deeply tragic, but compared to those across the universe who lived in dire misery and constant peril, she was truly far, far more fortunate.

No, that's not it at all. I've loved cultivation ever since I was a child, cherishing it just as much as my own life. My father actually cares for me deeply; he hired many renowned masters for me since I was little. Under his meticulous nurturing, combined with my reasonably decent talent, my cultivation reached the lower Nebula tier by the time I turned twenty-two.

However, once I reached the lower Nebula tier, a rift formed between my father and me. He wanted me to get married, whereas I wanted to continue on the path of cultivation.

Cultivation and marriage don't seem to conflict with each other, do they? Lan Tian chimed in once more.

You're one to talk! I simply don't want to get married! My father expects me to be with the Huidu King's youngest son. Even though the young prince is actually quite decent and has never used his status to engage in scandalous behavior—making him exceptionally self-disciplined compared to other princes—I simply don't like him, Velyn said with a mournful expression.

I don't want to spend the rest of my life sharing company with someone I completely dislike, do you understand?

To escape those relentless suitors, including the Huidu King's youngest son, I concealed my identity and hid here in the backward 116th District, becoming a cultivation assistant. I managed to live in peace for a while, but I knew this could never be a permanent solution!

That is why I thought of the Sky-Defying Tower. I am going to participate in the trials. Even though the mortality rate of the Sky-Defying Tower is far from low, for the sake of my freedom, I am willing to wager my life!

I am going to ascend to the higher levels of the Sky-Defying Tower! Not only to pursue my own cultivation dreams, but also to find a master powerful enough to hold my father in check!

As for my identity records being locked, I only discovered it the last time I prepared to teleport to Sky-Defying Star. At the time, I was naive enough to think my father still respected me and had not restricted my personal freedom. It was only after hitting a wall that I realized he had already placed the strictest possible limitations upon me...

Alright... You really do have it rough, I sympathize with you. Lan Tian nodded, looking at Velyn with considerable sympathy, though he still asked hesitatingly: I have something I'd like to ask you. You mentioned that the mortality rate of the Sky-Defying Tower trials isn't low—what's that about? People actually die in the Sky-Defying Tower trials? Isn't it just getting kicked out if you fail to clear it?

Who told you that people don't die in the Sky-Defying Tower trials? Velyn glanced at Lan Tian with a hint of surprise, casting doubt on his sources of information.

Bai! Come out and explain this to me right now! Catching Velyn's expression, Lan Tian's face darkened instantly as he fiercely summoned Bai within the depths of his mind.

I'm very busy, don't bother me when nothing's wrong... well, it's best not to bother me even if something is wrong, Bai replied with a guilty conscience.

You better explain to me what is going on?! You never once told me that people actually die in the Sky-Defying Tower trials?! Trembling with rage, Lan Tian bellowed inwardly.

Ahem, well, you see, cultivation is never smooth sailing; people always die along the path of cultivation. As for the Sky-Defying Tower, it naturally carries a certain level of danger, Bai replied weakly.

You... how could I have ever trusted you! Lan Tian was utterly speechless, fuming, If Velyn hadn't told me, when were you planning to let me know?

I definitely would have told you before you entered the trials. Dangerous or not, you had to go anyway, so telling you sooner or later amounts to the same thing, Bai muttered.

...

Lan Tian was instantly at a loss for words. Indeed, for the safety of Earth, to shake off the pursuit of the Yuanlan Empire, and for his own future advancement, he had to go regardless of the danger.

Hey, what are you spacing out for? Well, are you going to agree or not? Whatever, if you don't agree, I'm calling the city defense guards right now! Seeing that Lan Tian had yet to give a definite answer, Velyn asked anxiously, reverting to her threat tactics.

Can you think of any other trick besides threatening me? Lan Tian rolled his eyes and replied, It doesn't really matter to me; Huidu Star is just a transit station anyway, but isn't your identity locked down? How are you planning to travel with me?

What do you mean how to travel with you? Don't you have a cosmic battle armor? We'll use spatial jumping, of course! Velyn retorted, taken aback by Lan Tian's question.

What?! Who told you we were going to use the cosmic battle armor to get to Sky-Defying Star? The reason I came to Huidu Star in the first place was precisely for the space transit station! Lan Tian immediately balked. Are you kidding me? Every time the Chixin Divine Armor's flight mode was activated, the risk of him being discovered increased by another fraction. How could he possibly use it so recklessly!

Furthermore, this was Huidu Star, the capital planet of the Huidu Dynasty!

The Huidu King had undoubtedly seen the Chixin Divine Armor before. If he discovered it, it would be anyone's guess whether they could make it out alive!

No way, no way, the cosmic battle armor absolutely cannot be used. Find someone else! Lan Tian said as he prepared to stand up. Velyn was nothing more than a passing acquaintance to him. If it were a minor matter, helping out wouldn't be entirely out of the question, but he couldn't drag himself into the abyss just to lend a hand.

The future of Earth still rested squarely on his shoulders; how could he take risks so carelessly!

So that means you're going to make me notify the city defense guards then? Seeing that Lan Tian refused to help, Velyn panicked instantly.

Let me put it this way: my cosmic battle armor's origins are completely legitimate, but it cannot see the light of day. Every time I use it, an extra layer of threat is added to my personal safety. Therefore, I cannot drag myself into danger just to help you... Lan Tian sighed bitterly, patiently explaining.