Luo Xuemin looked at the tentacle in his teacup and then at Lu Luo! With the hint Zhang Yifan provided earlier, he was surprised by the tentacle's appearance but had some mental preparation.

"Lu Luo, what do you mean by this?"

Truth be told, Lu Luo himself wasn't quite sure what this meant! A tentacle growing out of a teacup—isn't this a joke?

Lu Luo was also somewhat embarrassed. He had been preparing to question Luo Xuemin, which had made the atmosphere very serious. Now, with everyone staring at the tentacle that had grown out of the teacup, the atmosphere suddenly became strange.

"This... Uncle, let's not worry about these details."

"So thick, and you call it a detail?" Luo Xuemin spread his hands, indicating his helplessness.

Lu Luo could only try to control the thing with his thoughts, but there was no response!

"Damn, what's going on?"

The tentacle did respond to Lu Luo's mental control, but it was like a baby just learning to walk, unable to be controlled properly.

Frustrated, Lu Luo reached out and plucked the tentacle off!

"Lu Luo, this tentacle of yours... is it proper?"

"This isn't my tentacle!"

Lu Luo forcefully flattened the tentacle and then threw it into a nearby trash can.

"Now that it's quiet, Uncle, let's get back to our earlier discussion. Why wasn't Bai Yuetong mentioned?"

Lu Luo cared a lot about Bai Yuetong; she was one of his main goals for coming to the Inner Ring.

Since Lu Luo asked so directly, Luo Xuemin could no longer evade the topic.

"Tong Tong... Lu Luo, why do you think I didn't talk to you about her?"

"Why?"

"Because, regarding Tong Tong, even if I discussed her matters with you in great detail, even if I arranged your marriage, it would be meaningless. Do you understand why?"

Naturally, Lu Luo understood it was an issue with the Judgment Chief Bai Qingshuang. But had the Judgment Chief's power grown so strong that Luo Xuemin didn't even dare to interfere in his own daughter's marriage?

"Is the Judgment Chief really that powerful?"

"A Grade S Sequence adjudicator is even stronger than you can imagine!"

Lu Luo pursed his lips. If the Grade S Sequence was really that powerful, wouldn't he be invincible?

Well, after breaking through to the Fifth Tier, the Grade S Sequence does seem to have become very powerful; it's just that he still wasn't very good at using it.

Of course, this was a matter to keep low-key.

Lu Luo nodded. Since Luo Xuemin couldn't influence the matter regarding Bai Yuetong, there was indeed no need for them to discuss it. However, Lu Luo still wanted to hear Luo Xuemin's opinion on his and Bai Yuetong's relationship. After all, he knew nothing about the Judgment Chief Bai Qingshuang, and he would soon have to interact with the Judgment Chief. Getting some information from Luo Xuemin would be ideal.

"Uncle, do you have any opinions on the relationship between me and Bai Yuetong? I don't know enough about you, or about Bai Yuetong's mother, so I'd like to hear your views."

"Are you asking about Tong Tong's mother?"

"Yes, I want to learn more about the Judgment Chief. Though I've heard many legends about her, I don't have much useful information about her personally."

When the Judgment Chief was mentioned, Luo Xuemin actually showed a rare look of reminiscence.

As a man, Lu Luo was very clear about that kind of expression; it was probably the simplest form of fondness!

Luo Xuemin still genuinely likes the Judgment Chief? Even after so much had happened, this fondness hadn't changed? For a Family Head to show such emotions was indeed quite astonishing.

"Bai Qingshuang... she really was a very good woman. Gentle, virtuous, not competitive or aggressive, and she could cook up a storm. I almost couldn't find any faults in her."

Lu Luo was somewhat surprised. Before the Judgment Chief turned dark, was she really like that?

That wouldn't really count as turning dark, would it? At most, it's an Awakening! You've seen what Luo Xuemin's wife, Lu Hong, is like. Being bullied by such a woman, it's only natural she would Awaken.

Lu Luo nodded. Luo Xuemin's wife, Lu Hong, was indeed an unpleasant person.

"I didn't expect Uncle to give such a different assessment of the Judgment Chief, completely different from everyone else's perception. To most people, the Judgment Chief is probably synonymous with iron-fisted, dictatorial, and terrifying."

Luo Xuemin nodded silently.

"Bai Qingshuang's change definitely has a lot to do with me. I failed her! If I had been stronger back then, perhaps there wouldn't be a Judgment Chief today."

"What's past is past; we should look to the future."

"You're right, what's past is past; we should now look to the future. Lu Luo, you must have heard many, many rumors about Bai Qingshuang. It's meaningless for me to talk about those things now. The only thing left of my relationship with her is Tong Tong. Therefore, Tong Tong is different, both for me and for her."

Luo Xuemin's display of emotion at this moment was very genuine, just as he'd said. Bai Yuetong really meant something different to him. In the Luo Family, Bai Yuetong enjoyed almost absolute freedom, absolute financial support, and a father who absolutely protected her. From this perspective, Luo Xuemin indeed did well.

"I've seen how much Uncle cares for Bai Yuetong. But what about the Judgment Chief? Uncle, what kind of person do you think the Judgment Chief truly is?"

"My understanding of Bai Qingshuang has never really changed. In my eyes, she is still much like she used to be—a very serious and focused person. Once she sets her mind on something, she perseveres until it's finished. That's probably why she's been successful. As for her Awakening, her changes, I'm not very clear about them, but I always feel that Bai Qingshuang is a very gentle person. That's the view that sets me apart from others, I suppose."

He must have had a very genuine relationship with the Judgment Chief to speak like that!

Lu Luo nodded. Luo Xuemin's account of the Judgment Chief was indeed very different from how others described her. But Lu Luo wouldn't entirely believe it; after all, time has a way of erasing everything. The grievances between Luo Xuemin and Bai Qingshuang had spanned more than twenty years, and no one knew for sure what changes Bai Qingshuang had undergone.

"It seems that my matter with Bai Yuetong will only be resolved when I meet the Judgment Chief in person."

"Now, every move she makes draws attention, and everyone is waiting for the Pope's death. So, you just wait for her summons. I believe it won't be too long."

Lu Luo nodded. At this point in their discussion, the conversation had essentially concluded, and he indicated his intention to leave.

"Uncle, is there anything else you want to tell me? For example, about tomorrow's events."

"As for tomorrow, just follow Zhang Yifan's lead; there's nothing in particular that needs special attention. You represent the Luo Family, so in the process of vying for interests, you don't need to hold back. Just don't be too ruthless; don't leave the members of the Council families disabled. There's nothing else that can't be resolved."

Luo Xuemin gave Lu Luo a wide berth, but such latitude suited Lu Luo's style. His battle style was usually no-holds-barred, so asking him to pull his punches was actually quite an exhausting task.

"I understand, Uncle. I'll be careful tomorrow."

"Off you go. A servant will take you to the guest room. Rest up! Zhang Yifan, stay behind."

"Understood."

Lu Luo nodded in farewell and left Luo Xuemin's study.

Only then did Zhang Yifan speak to Luo Xuemin, "Family Head, between you two... why did you let Lu Luo behave so unrestrainedly?"

Luo Xuemin looked at Zhang Yifan and shook his head. Perhaps Zhang Yifan was already very outstanding, but his excellence was that of a bird in a golden cage. After all, Zhang Yifan was from the Inner Ring; his identity lacked the sharpness and wildness inherent in Lu Luo.

Luo Xuemin saw in Lu Luo the desire to conquer; Lu Luo was definitely an extremely ambitious man. It's just that Lu Luo's performance, his speech, his knowledge, and even his personality all deliberately concealed his ambition. Lu Luo kept his ambition hidden deep inside, out of sight, which was the most formidable aspect. So, Zhang Yifan's excellence didn't quite stack up when placed next to Lu Luo. Especially in the eyes of a superior like him, the difference between the two would be infinitely magnified.

"He's unrestrained? Why would you think that?"

"The trade agreement we just discussed has many areas that are very disadvantageous to us. If it were in the past..."

"You also say 'if it were in the past,' but times have changed, Yifan. The Inner Ring has actually lost its ability to compete with the Outer Ring. Do you understand?"

Zhang Yifan was stunned. The Inner Ring had lost its ability to compete with the Outer Ring? How could that be?

"The strength of the Inner Ring is far superior to that of the Outer Ring. We just need to subjugate the Fourth Ring, and everything will return to normal."

In the end, he still hadn't shifted away from the mindset that the Inner Ring was supreme.

"How would we subjugate it?"

"Send a Seventh Tier expert, of course!" Zhang Yifan answered as if it were obvious.

"The Council did send a Seventh Tier expert. And then what?"

Zhang Yifan was at a loss for words, because the Seventh Tier expert they sent had died!

"After the failure of the Ji Family, no one dares to make a move. Everyone is afraid of failure. The Seventh Tier experts are the Inner Ring's last resort. Looking at the outcome, the action this time must have been taken by some Eighth Order Lord-ranked Exotic Species. It could be Noah, or the Stone Mother, or some other unknown entity lurking in the depths. Such power is already capable of completely restraining the Council. So, from the Council's perspective, the possibility of reclaiming the Fourth Ring is completely lost. It's just that many people are unwilling to admit it. Everyone is waiting, waiting for the moment the Pope dies, waiting for the moment Bai Qingshuang ascends to power. They naturally assume that once Bai Qingshuang unifies the Church, she will carry out her will, sweep through the Fourth Ring, and restore the order where the Inner Ring is venerated. Heh, what a laughable thought."

Luo Xuemin spoke quickly and at length. Zhang Yifan then asked with some uncertainty, "Shouldn't it be this way?"

"Why do you think that Bai Qingshuang will definitely integrate the Fourth Ring, rather than the Inner Ring?"

Zhang Yifan was stupefied once again; Luo Xuemin's statement seemed entirely wrong!

"How can that be possible?"

"Yifan, in your opinion, what does the Council mean to the Church? And what does the Fourth Ring mean? Does the Council's existence truly not hinder the Church? If the Council truly becomes an obstacle for the Church, then why could Bai Qingshuang, as the Judgment Chief who has unified the Church, sweep away the Council and integrate the Inner Ring?"

Zhang Yifan felt his worldview begin to crumble, yet he also thought that what Luo Xuemin said seemed to make a lot of sense.

"But for the past four hundred years, the Council and the Church have always complemented each other!"

"That's because in these four hundred years, there has never been a Pope in the Church."

"The Fourth Ring has already rebelled."

"The Dawn Church of the Fourth Ring is still there. How can that be considered a rebellion? If anything, they're rebelling against the Council! So which side the Church will ultimately lean towards will depend on Bai Qingshuang's own decision."

After digesting this for a long time, Zhang Yifan slowly nodded.

"Does the Family Head mean to form an alliance with Lu Luo, to prepare for the future?"

"Yes and no. As I said, the Fourth Ring has changed now; even the Church probably can't do anything about the Fourth Ring."

"Why?"

"The Fifth Ring is no longer turning. This means that the Church's absolute power is no longer effective against the Outer Ring. The people of the Fourth Ring can simply retreat to the Fifth Ring and forge a new world. The power of the Exotic Species lurks among those people. They can advance or retreat at will, having already secured an invincible position."

Luo Xuemin's face turned grave as he spoke.

Looking at Luo Xuemin's grave expression, Zhang Yifan suddenly asked, "Family Head, do you think Lu Luo is aware of these things?"

"Lu Luo? Of course, he knows these things," Luo Xuemin said with a laugh.

"If he is aware that he has such a significant advantage, then why hasn't he mentioned any of these things?"

"Why would he need to mention them? To show off? After all, we are merely trading partners; I haven't become his father-in-law. Our relationship is not as close as you imagine. He is always on guard against the Inner Ring—vigilant at all times! Although he's quite young, he's a very shrewd individual. Of course, Lu Luo still holds some goodwill towards us. In any case, he is much more capable than you," Luo Xuemin said with a smile, sipping his water.

Zhang Yifan no longer showed any sign of feeling unconvinced.

"So, what about tomorrow?"

"Didn't we agree to show him a glimpse of the Inner Ring's interest distribution tomorrow?"

"Do I need to tell him what to do?"

"Hehe, no need. Lu Luo is an exceptional young man; he will make his own unique judgments about all sorts of matters. You just need to take him there. He'll figure out what to do on his own. Moreover, you might need to learn from him in the future how to plunder others' interests."

Although Luo Xuemin said that he hadn't established a particularly close relationship with Lu Luo, he is, after all, Bai Yuetong's father. That fact will never change. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, Lu Luo will not break ties with the Luo Family. Having that safety net, Luo Xuemin's praise for Lu Luo was naturally unreserved.

"'Plunder others' interests?' I understand."

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