Exterminating the Soul-Eaters improved his physical fitness; seizing Ta Lo led to an increase in energy. Hong Fei had gradually mastered the art of reaping dual benefits from a single event. By the lakeside, Hong Fei, Frank, and Xu Wenwu walked side by side. As they strolled along the shore, the Great Protector Dragon followed them, swimming slowly in the shallow waters of the lake.
Hong Fei pointed to the Black Mountain on the opposite shore and said, "That mountain is too dark. Although it's gradually regaining its vitality with the fall of the Soul-Eaters, I think it's better to just intervene directly now. We should spruce up that mountain range and build a large complex of palaces along the ridges." Frank asked, "Isn't Blackwater Town in Sokovia almost finished? Why develop this place too?"
Hearing this, Hong Fei couldn't help but sigh wistfully.
"Sigh, maybe it's because I'm afraid I won't be able to afford a house, so I always think about building more in different places."
Frank rolled his eyes at him and asked, "Then you don't want the Villa anymore?"
"The style of a Villa doesn't fit this place at all. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. You can all live here in the future."
By then, you'll all be eunuchs and maids in the palace, and I'll be the Emperor. Hmm, I could even officially appoint you as the Chief Eunuch of the Inner Court. Hong Fei squinted his eyes and smiled at Frank. Frank's brow furrowed instantly.
"Are you thinking about something wicked again?"
"Nonsense, I'm just thinking about how to schedule the construction."
Xu Wenwu said, "Ta Lo only opens once a year, and the path inside isn't easy. Arranging construction personnel is a problem, and I'm afraid it might compromise the secrecy of this place."
Hearing this, Frank also nodded. Hong Fei, however, asked, "What kind of place do you think Ta Lo is?" Frank replied, "A village hidden on purpose?"
Xu Wenwu said, "A secret realm that exists in a different world from the outside?"
Hong Fei pointed at Xu Wenwu.
"You're right."
It wasn't that Frank was dull, but rather that his life experience lacked this kind of related knowledge or mental framework. In other words, it would be hard for him to imagine it out of thin air.
"If we view the main universe we live in as a large bubble, then Ta Lo is a small bubble attached to it. They share many similarities. The most obvious difference is that Ta Lo's area is very small; it doesn't take long to find its boundaries."
"Oh?"
The two immediately became interested, and Frank took the initiative to ask, "Have you seen it? What is its boundary?"
"I just rode the dragon over to take a look. It's a void of chaos, like a massive cluster of quiet gray mist. There's no movement, but I can feel that it's actually very dangerous." Frank said, "So this is a small universe with boundaries?"
"Calling it a universe is an exaggeration. The area here isn't even as large as any continent on Earth. At most, it's about the size of Greenland."
Xu Wenwu said, "That's not small then. It's larger than the area of many countries. Moreover, the environment everywhere here is excellent; it's very suitable for living."
Hong Fei couldn't help but nod.
"That's true. That's why I can't understand why the population of the Ta Lo people is so small. They seem to completely violate the instinctive laws of biological reproduction and survival."
"Because we revere nature, align our hearts and bodies with heaven and earth, and have far fewer desires compared to those from the outside world."
The two sisters, Ying Nan and Yingli, quickly caught up from behind. The one speaking was naturally Ying Nan. Hong Fei turned back and smiled.
"Desire is desire, and instinct is instinct. If everyone restrained their desires, then humans wouldn't even exist on Earth."
Ying Nan said without changing her expression, "But this allows us to become stronger."
"The foundation of strength is a resilient heart, clear goals, and efficient execution. Restraining desires is meant to temper the heart, reduce distractions, and avoid interference from external things. So your restraint, at its root, is because your spirits themselves aren't strong enough, and you have no other better tempering methods."
Ying Nan frowned slightly. Hong Fei gazed at the Black Mountain and continued, "The Soul-Eaters from the Dark Dimension forced you to maintain a powerful combat capability for generations. Yet, this combat capability cannot be improved by relying on numerical advantages, so most of you repeatedly restrain your desires to temper your hearts. Over a long period, this habit gradually evolved into your custom. Thus, your population today is only in the four digits. If this continues, in the future, you will either have to actively absorb fresh blood from the outside or stay here and wait for your race to go extinct."
"Impossible, we know the importance of bloodlines." Hong Fei smiled suddenly.
"It's a good thing you didn't say 'lineage.' Bloodlines are important, of course, but when the base population is too small, it might be unsustainable even if you try to save it. To be honest, I quite admire you. Knowing that doing this might bring disastrous consequences upon yourselves, you can actually endure it. This determination is indeed worthy of admiration."
But then again, with this way of survival, there must have been many lovers in Ta Lo's past who were unable to be together, right? Ying Nan smiled bitterly.
"Now no one needs to continue paying the price for this. Most of them have chosen to leave this place."
Hong Fei's smile grew wider.
"That's a good thing. Although this place is nice, it's actually not suitable for you. Even without the Soul-Eaters, given the form of this space's boundary, perhaps other terrifying creatures will arrive at some point in the future. In the outside world, humans have many Guardians, but in Ta Lo, you can only rely on yourselves. Sometimes, letting go might allow you to gain even more."
Ying Nan let out a long sigh.
"Unfortunately, after leaving here, they will all lose their original power."
"It's just a matter of gain and loss," Hong Fei said nonchalantly. The reason why the people of Ta Lo lose their power upon leaving is not because the Great Protector Dragon actively takes it away, but because their power is inherently inseparable from the space of Ta Lo itself. The so-called power taught to them by the Great Protector Dragon is essentially a crude method of utilizing the power of the Ta Lo dimension itself. On a small scale, it's similar to Earth's magic; on a large scale, it's the power of rules. Therefore, while in Ta Lo, they are Imperial Envoys holding the Imperial Sword. Once they leave Ta Lo, it's equivalent to a sudden change of dynasties. How can you use the sword of a previous dynasty to execute an official of the current one? Besides, the previous dynasty of Ta Lo is pitifully small compared to the current dynasty of the main universe. The Great Protector Dragon and the Ta Lo dimension have achieved a high degree of fusion. Strictly speaking, it is the true Master of Ta Lo. Hong Fei had suddenly jumped out to become the Retired Emperor who indirectly controlled the "Imperial Court."
As a result, the Dragon can autonomously control the opening time of Ta Lo, so the once-a-year time constraint no longer exists. However, the connection point between the Ta Lo space and the main universe cannot be changed for the time being, so the entrance is still in the same old place. One day, when the Dragon's power grew stronger still, it might reshape Ta Lo's entrance itself. The group ambled back toward the lone palace standing sentinel in this realm. Inside the great hall, the others sat clustered together in conversation. Hong Fei strode in and cut straight to the point.
"How many chose to leave?"
"Two-thirds."
Big Head's expression darkened with concern.
"Boss, with the compensation you set earlier, our funds won't last long before we're stretched thin."
Xu Wenwu stepped forward before the words had fully settled.
"If needed, I could provide substantial funding." Hong Fei's head snapped up, the entire group turning as one. Xu Wenwu stood with hands clasped behind his back, his smile as measured as his tone.
"As you know, I've lived... extensively. The Ten Rings granted more than power—they gave me immortality. At first, this thrilled me beyond measure. I grew careless with time, that precious commodity others treasure. But by the first century's end, my perspective shifted."
His gaze turned inward.
"Everyone around me aged while I remained unchanged. I watched them wither—youth to middle age, old age, then dust. To keep eternity from driving me mad, I cultivated a habit: collecting one symbolic artifact from around the world each year. Now, a single object can resurrect an entire year's memories."
A collective intake of breath rippled through the room—not fear, but awe. Xu Wenwu had walked the earth for over a millennium. Conservatively estimated at a thousand years, that placed his origins in 1013 AD. In the East, Emperor Zhenzong ruled the Northern Song Dynasty, composing verses about golden houses and jade-like maidens. The West languished in the Middle Ages, three centuries shy of the Renaissance. Against the vast tapestry of Eastern civilization, Xu Wenwu's mere thousand years seemed almost modest. Yet artifacts from that era, wealth accumulated across those centuries... Hong Fei leaned forward.
"Exactly how much money are we talking about?"
Xu Wenwu shook his head.
"I don't deal in currency."
Hong Fei waited, sensing the reveal.
"Gold maintains its worth across ages," Xu Wenwu continued. "I've amassed considerable quantities. Remember my ancestral mountain? Hollowed long ago—its core is nearly pure gold. There are antiquities too, the sort museums covet. And since the modern era, various stocks and bonds. Some may have depreciated—I've never bothered to tally."
Hong Fei glanced sideways. Frank and Big Head stood frozen, eyes wide as saucers. People joked about "having a mine at home," but gold ore wasn't refined gold. A hundred mines couldn't yield a mountain of the gleaming metal. After a beat, Hong Fei nodded.
"Then I'll accept graciously. Coordinate with Big Head—no need for excess, just a meaningful contribution."
Xu Wenwu inclined his head in understanding. Hong Fei's agreement to let him contribute money was not entirely to take advantage of him. In truth, it served dual purposes—establishing Xu Wenwu's place as third-in-command required visible gestures of goodwill. This opportunity arrived perfectly timed. As for financial concerns? Hong Fei hadn't a single doubt. The Federal Reserve's location was never exactly a secret.
"This ends here. Next comes everyone's favorite part—rest time. You're free to explore outside or stay here if you prefer."
He paused, glancing toward the entrance.
"The Great Protector Dragon has already opened the gates of Ta Lo. Come and go as you please."
"In addition, from now on, this place is no longer 'Ta Lo,' but 'Dragon Palace.'"