"This is how things are. We can only rely on ourselves from now on." As soon as Sima Yang finished the meeting, he came to find Zhongli Tianlang. He was not surprised at all to see Zhongli Tingzhou and the others were there.

"That's exactly what I meant. I don't feel safe leaving it to them." Zhongli Tianlang had expected this and was not as angry as expected.

Zhongli Tianlang added, "Don't blame Xiao Zheng. He has his own considerations. This raid failed, and he still has to explain to others. Those old guys are troublemakers. Only Xiao Zheng can tolerate it. If it were me, I would have killed them with a hammer long ago."

Even though they formed a united front with the Council of Elders to deal with the Yuan family last time, in fact, that was only temporary.

The relationship between the Council of Elders and the big families has always been unclear.

Once there is a conflict of interest, the other party will change their attitude faster than turning the pages of a book.

Therefore, generally speaking, if they can avoid having direct relations with them, large families will try not to deal with them.

Gao Han had no idea about the relationship above. Last time, the two major families and the Council of Elders worked together to deal with the Yuan family, and they thought they were allies.

"Dad, let me go on this investigation." Zhongli Yunfeng waited until they finished speaking before speaking.

Old Master Zhongli was not surprised, but still shook his head, "You can't. Your safety is related to the stability of the military. Once something happens to you, the balance of the military will be broken. Humans haven't figured out how to deal with the mutant creatures on the seabed, but they have already started fighting among themselves."

"Second brother really can't go, so I'll go. One more or one less won't make much difference anyway." Zhong Lihe immediately stepped forward.

Old Master Zhongli was actually interested in letting the third child go, but...

"You can't do that either. You're not strong enough."

"Dad, I have at least first-class cultivation, so why can't I do it? And don't keep saying no, no, it always makes me have bad associations and want to prove myself." After less than a few seconds of being serious, Zhong Lihe started to make jokes.

Old Master Zhongli glanced at him calmly and said, "Do I need you to close the curtains and prove it in public?"

Zhong Lihe coughed violently, choking on his own saliva. He looked at his old father in disbelief, "Dad, when did you become such a rogue?"

"I specialize in dealing with hooligans." Old Master Zhongli snorted coldly.

The most uncomfortable person here was Sima Yang. Seeing that the father and son were about to quarrel, he quickly coughed and interrupted them, "Zhongli Tianlang, I will send one person, and you will send one person. Let's discuss it first. Tell me when you have decided. I'll leave first."

If I stayed any longer, I wouldn't know how much rude words I would have to listen to from the father and son. I didn't expect that the people in the Zhongli family would get along like this in private.

A father is not like his father, and a son is not like his son.

"Oh my god, it's decided." Zhongli Tingzhou retracted his gaze and his cold voice put an end to the dispute.

The ward fell silent in an instant.

After a long while, old man Zhongli sighed and said to him, "This matter is not a joke. All the things that happened before were just my guesses. Before the facts are confirmed, that place is a time bomb and problems can occur at any time."

"If you go and never come back, how can I live? You should understand that my father is old and can't stand the torment anymore."

Gao Han found it very strange. It sounded like deliberately sensationalism.

Looking at Zhongli Tingzhou's unmoved and cold expression, they are indeed a family.

"As long as your body can handle it, stop talking nonsense. I have made up my mind." Zhongli Tingzhou looked impatient.

Old Master Zhongli shut up immediately and secretly glared at the second brother. Didn’t he say that Tingzhou already knew what happened that year? Why did he still have this expression?

Zhongli Yunfeng touched his nose and felt that he was innocent. How could he know why? This matter was told to him by his elder brother. His elder brother would not lie to him about such a thing, right? It was not a good thing.

Grandpa Zhongli became serious, "Little one, Daddy is not kidding you, it's very dangerous there, more dangerous than any other place on Earth."

"It's not because of the mutant creature, but there is a mysterious power there. When Dad first discovered that place, he didn't feel much. But these days, he has been there several times in succession, and the feeling has become stronger each time."

"You mean, that kind of strange power is constantly expanding?" Gao Han asked hurriedly.

Elder Zhongli glanced at him and said, "Yes, it is different from the feeling that the mutant gave me. Although the mutant was extremely powerful, I still felt that I could defeat it. But that power is not like that. The stronger it gets, the more powerless it feels. That aura makes it impossible for me to resist."

Gao Han calmed himself down and said, "So, as long as we solve the mystery of the black crystal fragments, we will know all the answers."

"In theory, we can say that the mutant creature suddenly summoned back all the black crystal fragments. The most likely reason is that it wants to break through and then resist this force. Only in this way can we be sure."

At this point, the old man asked again, "Do you have any black crystal fragments on you?"

"How do you know?" Gao Han asked. He could hide it from outsiders, but there was no need to hide it from the old man.

"It's very simple. When the incident at Heitanling happened, several advanced mutant creatures there were not only killed, but their lairs were also raided. According to the information we received in advance, those advanced mutant creatures should have black crystal fragments in their hands, especially the Black Dragon. He should have the most black crystal fragments in his hands, but I heard that he is missing too. Most likely, he is in your hands too. Of course, the most important thing is the Silver Essence Lizard on you." The old man narrowed his eyes, and the shrewdness in his eyes revealed the wisdom of strategizing.

Hearing someone talking about him, Fugui immediately popped his head out. His pair of dark eyes met the old man's gaze. He was immediately startled and shrank back.

The old man smiled and said, "Although this silver lizard is weak, its bloodline is extraordinary. Its teeth can eat all the ores in the world. Treat it well. Maybe there will be some surprises waiting for you in the future."

For now, Gao Han didn't see any surprises, but instead felt that it was becoming increasingly difficult to support his wealthy family.

Now it won’t eat anything except high-level crystal cores or high-level mutant creature meat.

"It doesn't matter whether we are surprised or not. We want to go to the main disaster area to investigate. I want to go with Tingzhou." Gao Han said.

"No." Several voices immediately sounded in the ward.

The only one missing was Zhongli Tingzhou, who even raised the corner of his mouth, "Then let's go together."

Old Master Zhongli frowned, "His cultivation is too low. There are often high-level mutant creatures in that place. It will be of no benefit to you if he goes there."

From their point of view, what the old man said was true, and Gao Han didn't feel hurt.

"I won't hold him back."

"It's too dangerous. If your parents and grandfather knew about it, they wouldn't allow it." Zhongli Yunfeng also disagreed with him going.

Gao Han said, "I didn't intend to tell them that you have things you want to figure out, and I have things I want to figure out too."

Zhongli Tingzhou said to him gently, "Don't pay attention to them, just agree with me."

The family of three, headed by Grandpa Zhongli, "..."

What should I do if my son and younger brother forget about their family after they got married? I feel so heartbroken.

"Forget it, you can go if you want, I don't care." Old Master Zhongli was so upset that he decided to let go.

"Dad." Zhongli Yunfeng and Zhongli He shouted at the same time.

"What do you mean by dad? Your brother has already said that he doesn't need to care about us. Can you change his mind?" The old man said confidently, "I have let it go now. If they really want to go, I will support them. After all, I am a good father."

"You make it sound like we're not good brothers." Zhong Lihe muttered.

The old man glared at him.

Gao Han was stunned for the first time when seeing this painting. This old man's position was too unsteady.

"You'll get used to it." Zhongli Tingzhou put his arm around his neck calmly, "Let's go first."

Not long after they left, Zhongli Yunfeng and Zhongli He took the old man back to the Zhongli family to recuperate.

一号城因为少了老爷子镇守，钟离家主回来后，连钟离长青，也终于有机会回帝都，元老会只能自己派人去镇守。

另一边，袁岳回去就发了一次大火，把元老会的决定告诉袁争山后，剩下的就让他自己看着办。

“父亲，您相信钟离天朗说的，那头变异生物是自愿留守在主灾区深处，那里存在真正威胁地球的东西？”袁六不大相信。

袁争山嘴角透着一丝阴冷的笑意，“若海底果真存在威胁地球的东西，元老会又岂会如此淡定。”

袁六微微一讶，“您的意思是说，那东西有可能是钟离天朗拿出来的说辞，掩盖自己失误的借口？如果真是这样，元老会定会对他不满吧。”

那这里面能让袁家操刀的地方就多了，或许他们还可以借机报先前被罚巨款的仇。

“这件事透着古怪，看来得找个机会问问了。”袁争山的声音似在自言自语。

袁六没有听到最后一句，“您说什么？”

“你去把唐渊找来，就说我有事与他相商。”袁争山自顾自道。

唐渊是唐家的家主，唐羽希的父亲，袁六找上门的时候，他们也正在商讨这件事。

“袁争山找父亲做什么，不会又有什么阴谋，要针对钟离家？上次被元老会罚了巨款，居然还没让他们死心。”唐羽希冷笑道。

“唐渊，袁争山善阴谋诡计，若不是上次唐家抽身快，已经被袁家连累了。”唐剑，即唐家的强者，因为有他在，唐家才有如今在帝都的地位。

唐渊对老祖宗的话还是很上心了，“那老祖的意思，是不与袁争山合作了？”

“可以试探他在计划什么，合作就免了，以袁争山的手段和心计，未必不是想让唐家当他的挡箭牌。”唐剑摇摇头。

他虽然也不喜欢钟离家和司马家，但是说实话，宁愿和这两家打交道，也不想和袁家，袁家绝不是一个好的合作对象。

“父亲，老祖宗说的没有错，袁家这条贼船，我们还是不要上的好。”唐羽希亦道。

“老祖的意思我明白，那就先试探一下袁家的意思，至于高寒那边……”唐渊顿了顿，高寒现在跟钟离家焦不离孟，孟不离焦，很难下手。

唐剑略一思索，“我记得，这个高寒是从青市的唐家分支来的？”

唐渊眼前一亮，“老祖说的不错，他是青市唐家唐振平的外甥，据说唐振平把他接回唐家的时候，对他很不错。”

“武力不行，那就让他来试试。”唐剑直接做出决定。

“我马上让人把他叫到帝都来。”唐渊立即道。

几人下意识的忽略了，唐振平接高寒回来是为了参加唐家死亡率不低的试练。

次日早上，接到主家消息的唐振平，听说是为了高寒的事，虽然心里很不是滋味，但还是马上启程赶到帝都，到达唐家大宅时，在大门口看到憔悴的儿子唐铭皓。

“父亲。”唐铭皓看着面色阴沉的父亲，不知道该说些什么。

自从高寒到帝都后，他就像坐火箭一样，修为人脉蹭蹭的往上涨，不出一年，就把他们远远甩在后面。

原来计划报仇的唐铭皓，看着高寒越爬越高，一转眼，他已经是二等修为的强者，他却还在原地，别说报仇，这辈子想追上他都难。

高寒，已经强到让他眼前一片茫然，曾经坚定的目标，也渐渐消失，他甚至不知道自己该做什么，才能报复高寒。

杀了高寒的养父母，让他后悔一辈子？

人家住在军区大院里，连袁家人都进不去，何况是他。

败坏他的名声？

之前也不是没败坏过，但是人家根本不理会，甚至轻描淡写就化解了，他费尽心思，在高寒眼里，可能就是一个跳梁小丑。

唐振平示意他先别说，问道：“你怎么会来，是家主叫你来的？”

唐铭皓摇摇头，“没有，我来主家找人，没想到会遇到父亲，那父亲您先去忙吧。”

唐振平意外的看着仿佛变成熟却又失去锐气的儿子，最终没说什么。