Chapter 1979: Adoptive Father and Cellphone

All officials, civil and martial, were already half-kneeling in respect. Only Zu An was still standing all by himself, which drew the attention of everyone present.

Many people understood why he was doing so. He was currently the strongest person in the entire court, and he could well be the strongest being of the human race. There was naturally no reason for him to kneel to an idiot. However, that idiot was the emperor! The emperor had previously always been the most powerful individual, and yet now, the ruler was weak and the subject strong. Didn’t that mean there was a chance for an entirely new dynasty to arise?

Many subjects were feeling nervous and couldn't quite understand what Zu An’s intentions were. If news of this matter got out, his lack of loyalty would be abundantly clear. It’d be hard for him to avoid criticism from the masses. Even so, it wasn’t realistic to make someone as powerful as him kneel…

Many people were already secretly picking sides, wondering whether to remain loyal to the imperial clan or start to express their loyalty to the regent. Meanwhile, there were some other righteous subjects who were full of worry. After this matter, the court that had finally been stabilized with such great difficulty could become restless again.

Bi Linglong was about to speak when Empress Liu Ning said first, “There is something this empress dowager wishes to declare. Zhi’er, the reason you were able to become the emperor was because of the regent’s support all this time. He has earned tremendous contributions for himself, and he is also the academy’s libationer now. He is a person or virtue and prestige, so from today forth, you should just treat him as an adoptive father.”

This so-called 'adoptive father' was like a little brother to one’s own father. To a certain degree, Zu An could carry out the responsibilities of a father in his place too. As he was now the new emperor’s adoptive father, there was naturally no need for him to kneel. On the contrary, the emperor had to bow to him.

“We must not let something like that happen!” Some subjects who were more old-fashioned immediately voiced their disapproval. “The title of adoptive father is no trifling matter! How can we let her majesty randomly allow someone to become his adoptive father?”

Bi Linglong also had a strange expression. She didn’t actually approve of this either. If Zhao Ruizhi really did accept him as his adoptive father, that would put an entire generation between her and Zu An! Wouldn't her lover become her father?

The empress’ faction immediately voiced their disagreement. “Why not? His majesty is still young and needs someone strong to assist him. The regent used to be the crown prince’s teacher, so he was his senior to begin with. Now, his cultivation is so extraordinary, so why isn’t he suitable to become the emperor's adoptive father?”

When they recalled that shocking battle at the Meng clan, the retorting subjects couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. They asked, “But the regent is a bit too… young, right?”

Strictly speaking, it was hard to even say who between Zu An and the new emperor was older or younger. Asking the new emperor to accept him as his adoptive father was a bit absurd no matter how one looked at it, right?

The Liu clan’s subjects didn’t agree. “When has age been a determining factor for heroes? Those with achievements in cultivation have always come first. You cannot view the regent as a young man; you should rather see him as the greatest mountain in the path of cultivation. He is sure to become the longest river as well.”

Zu An’s face heated up. All of this flattery was making even him a bit embarrassed.

“That’s true, but…” The subjects from before were feeling a bit frustrated. In the past, it had indeed always been cultivation that came first, but those people had also been older, so this wasn’t a problem.

Liu Ning spoke up again. “According to what I know, the Fiend races’ child emperor has also paid respects to the regent as his adoptive father.”

Those words were like a hammer that struck down on their hearts. The subjects who were still arguing for what they believed in immediately shut their mouths. Whether they liked or hated Zu An, they had to admit that the human race needed someone strong like him to protect it. However, Zu An had a similarly respected status on the Fiend races’ side. If they weren’t careful and he ended up being partial to the Fiend races, that would really be a huge disaster.

Zu An was now already so powerful that the ‘restraints’ of race didn’t have much meaning for him. Regardless of which side he stood with, they would welcome him with open arms. Of course, he was a human himself and came from this side, so he’d naturally carry more feelings for this side. And yet, if his treatment was worse here than among the Fiend races, things would become troublesome if they pushed him away.

Besides, there was already a new Fiend Emperor who was calling him adoptive father. In that case, it wasn’t all that hard for them to accept Zhao Ruizhi calling him his adoptive father as well.

Seeing that there were no more objections, Liu Ning considered the matter decided. “Ruizhi, Linglong, hurry and pay your respects to your adoptive father.”

Zhao Ruizhi didn’t really have his own opinion on the matter. He had already been panicking during the whole situation, and he had always feared Zu An a bit to begin with. When he heard his strict ‘mother empress’ say that, he replied with an ‘oh’ and instinctively agreed.

However, Bi Linglong didn’t get up. How could she call Zu An that in front of everyone?

When he saw that she didn’t get up, Zhao Ruizhi stood there alone in a daze. He didn’t know whether to continue to pay his respects to Zu An or to sit back down.

The others' attention gathered on Bi Linglong. Her face flickered between conflicted expressions. In the end, she gritted her teeth and stood back up, saying, “Linglong pays her respects to adoptive father!” Even though she wasn’t willing, with the mood as it was, if she didn’t do so, that meant she was insisting on Zu An bowing to Zhao Ruizhi. With his personality, there was no way he would be willing to do that. How could she place him in such a dilemma?

With her taking the lead, Zhao Ruizhi had no misgivings left. He copied her and bowed slightly to Zu An, saying, “I pay my respects to adoptive father.”

Zu An also felt a bit strange to see Bi Linglong call him that, but he couldn't really say much in front of so many people. He quickly returned the greeting.

The originally nervous atmosphere soon camed down. All of the subjects present sighed in relief.

Then came all kinds of complicated ceremonies. After being busy for an entire day, everyone involved felt quite exhausted.

Zu An found a chance to talk to Bi Linglong. When he saw the frown on her face, he couldn't help but asked with a chuckle, “What’s wrong? Are you upset?”

“How could I dare to be upset at adoptive father?” Bi Linglong replied. Even t hough that was what she said, her pouted lips gave away her real feelings.

“What did you just call me?”

“Adoptive father.”

“I didn’t hear you.”

“Adoptive…”

Bi Linglong finally reacted. She shot him a glare, then turned around while fuming.

You have successfully trolled Bi Linglong for +55 +55 +55…

It seems as if she really is upset, Zu An thought. He took out a jade strip from his inner pocket and handed it to her, saying, “Take this first.”

“What is it?” Bi Linglong asked. Even though she didn’t want to talk to him right now, when she saw the glimmering light around that jade strip and all sorts of runes carved on it, she couldn't help but become a bit curious.

“A simplified cellphone,” Zu An casually replied.

“Cell… What?” Bi Linglong asked, a bit confused.

Zu An coughed lightly. “Ahem… Actually, it’s a simplified communication talisman. Previously, the primary tool for communication in this world was a recording mirror, but recording mirrors have a heavy price in ki stones, so they're mainly used for crucial military intelligence. That's why I researched this new tool. The costs aren’t as great, and it can be used for normal communication.”

The Baopu Sutra’s artifact refining methods included the sound transmission talismans of the cultivation world, but he still lacked many essential materials for that. After discussing the matter with Shen Xuzi and researching it, they had used some of this world’s materials as a substitute to finally create an experimental prototype.

“Really?” Bi Linglong asked, feeling shocked and happy. She naturally understood just how great of a transformation something like this would bring!

Zu An didn’t say anything and entered a line of characters into his own jade strip.

Bi Linglong sensed the jade strip in her hands gradually light up. She immediately picked it up. She gave it a look. She saw the spotlessly white jade tile suddenly produce Zu An’s appearance. Then, a line of text appeared: “Call me daddy.”

“Go to hell!” Bi Linglong cried; her face immediately became red with embarrassment.

Zu An taught her with a smile, “You can write characters straight onto the jade tile and they'll be quickly transmitted to where I am.”

Bi Linglong gave it a try. She was surprised again, exclaiming, “They really did!”

“Isn’t daddy amazing?”

“Yeah… Wait, you’re taking advantage of me again!”

“Then call me your husband.”

“No way.”

“It seems I once again need to teach you what your husband is capable of.”

“My good husband…”

…

The two of them were clearly right in front of each other, and yet Bi Linglong didn’t say anything. She just fiddled with the jade tile with never-ending delight. This item clearly brought her a feeling of novelty.

“How many resources does this communication talisman consume?” Bi Linglong asked the more important question.

“Roughly one heaven-grade ki stone per day," Zu An replied.

“It’s still a bit expensive, but it’s much better than the recording mirror. It’s something that the great clans in the capital can afford," Bi Linglong remarked.

“If only it were that simple! The costs to make even one of these communication talismans are ridiculously high. There’s no way they can be distributed on a large scale! It’s just for you to use for now," Zu An said.

“That’s more like it,” Bi Linglong said. She then suddenly wrote on the jade slip, “Did you give one to your other women too?”

Zu An was speechless.

“Forget it, you’ll definitely give that Miss Chu one. You have so many women, so asking this kind of question is just being tactless.” Bi Linglong tapped lightly with her fingers. Zu An really wondered just how she could write so quickly.

When he read her envious words, Zu An could only reply, “You're the first one I gave one to.”

Bi Linglong finally felt happier. “Then you have to chat with me every night before you go to sleep. You have to tell me good night.”

Zu An was speechless. He suddenly felt as if coming up with this kind of invention was crushing his own foot…

He quickly added, “We only managed to come up with this tool recently, so it still has many flaws. The greatest problem is the distance of transmission. We can communicate normally within a hundred miles, but outside of that, it will frequently not receive messages, or the message received will be scrambled.”

“You didn’t do that on purpose, did you?” Bi Linglong asked, giving him a suspicious look.