My Twin Sugar Mommies and Two Systems are 100 Years Late! Volume 2 – Chapter 10.
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"Systems, I want to conceal my cultivation. Not completely, but enough to not startle that Miss Sun too much."
Yan Anle stood at the center of his room in the Prosperity Abode with nothing but his pants on, his hands resting on his waist. Having immersed himself in the [Seven Skies Fist Technique] and his Divine Sense for over two hours, his skin was matted with a thin sheen of sweat.
"Recommend a Concealment Technique for me that is within my price range. As long as it can bring my aura down to the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, it would suffice."
He could scroll through the Shop himself, but why bother when the system could do that automatically for him? The system could have also helped him pick out auction items, but he had opted to handle that matter personally. He wanted to lie flat, but not as flat as those AFK game enthusiasts. At least this way, he could develop some experience and knowledge on things like consumer behavior in the cultivation world.
[Myriad Worlds] said: [Master, there are indeed Concealment Techniques that meet your Realm Suppression requirement and current budget in the shop, but their effectiveness before that person is nonexistent.]
It paused for a moment before clarifying, [Anyone in the Nascent Soul Realm and above will see through them at a glance.]
Yan Anle took a moment to digest its words, and his eyes widened. "Are you saying that Miss Sun's cultivation base is above the Nascent Soul Realm?"
Both Systems went silent.
He sucked in a breath of cold air through his teeth, then stomped his foot and asked, "You both knew? Why didn't you warn me?"
[Immortal Clan System] said, [Host, even without us warning you, you were already somewhat cautious. Plus, even if we did, what could you do to resist? Let's not even consider if you gave away the fact that you saw through her disguise.]
[You couldn't possibly hide in the Mobile Secret Realm like a turtle forever, right? We thought this was a good chance for you to gain experience in the cultivation world.]
He snorted and probed, "What is her real cultivation base exactly? Early-stage Nascent Soul? Mid-stage? Late-stage?"
He dared not imagine anything higher. That would be comparable to the rumored Ancestors in year-round seclusion. She could swat him and Dou E into a blood mist many times over, even if he poured the remaining half of his [Bitter Cultivation] from the system into himself. No, what swatting? Just a snort would suffice.
She wasn't some spy from a rival force or demonic sect, was she? Were there other people like her infiltrating the Great Yan Clan?
[Immortal Clan] and [Myriad Worlds] were as silent as corpses.
"What's wrong? Not going to tell me?" Yan Anle got agitated. "Are you her systems or are you mine?"
[Immortal Clan] said, [Master, some things are best left unknown for mental stability. I can only assure you that, in the meantime, I have not detected any malicious intent from her whatsoever.]
[Myriad Worlds] supported its sister-in-crime: [That's right, Master. You can put your mind at ease. She seems to mean you no harm. On the contrary, as long as you leave a good impression on her, she may even become your biggest shield and support.]
Yan Anle held his forehead in his palm, and his back felt cold. Just what was her cultivation base exactly? The systems seemed to imply that if he found out her true cultivation base, he would be shocked silly. It couldn't be the Soul Transformation Realm, could it?
[Immortal Clan System] suddenly added, [Since things are being put out in the open like this, there is one more thing you should know, Master.]
Yan Anle's brows slammed together. "What else are you two keeping from me?"
[Immortal Clan System] told him, [Master, this matter, you already know the surface. Just not the depths.]
"Hmm?" Yan Anle's curiosity was roused. "Hit me."
[Immortal Clan System] said, [It's the matter about your clan and the Sword River Sect. The ins and outs are like this—]
By the time the narration was over, Yan Anle's face was so dark and twisted he looked like he had been overtaken by an Inner Demon.
He gnashed his teeth and cussed creatively, then muttered, "What a very good Righteous Flame Dynasty Royal Family! What a very cunning Fourth Prince! To maintain their fragile rule, they can really strike high and low!"
"As for that cheap younger brother of mine..." He scoffed and added, "He's really something else. He has been raised into something I do not recognize anymore. His heart is now actually so treacherous and rotting with greed!"
A brief moment of silence followed, then he drew in a deep breath, held it for a second, and released it. "How long until the Sword River Sect's fleet arrives?"
[If they continue uninhibited as they have been till now? Three days.]
Three days!
Those words were like a sledgehammer, and he felt dizzy for a moment.
He had the urge to go out and warn the clan, but it was fleeting. Such a large mobilization—if the clan's higher-ups remained unaware, then they might as well have lived so many years in vain.
Each member of the One Palace, Five Great Clans, and Nine Prosperous Sects had spies in every other one.
Forget it. With this little cultivation I've gotten, I still can't meddle with such a major event. I'd best focus on preserving my and my people's lives.
"Back to the matter of aura concealment," he switched back to the original topic. "So, I can't afford the concealment techniques that can put that Sun Ziyun off my trail? If that is even her real name."
[Myriad Worlds] first confirmed, [From my research, that is indeed her real name], then told him, [The concealment, on the other hand, you do not have to worry about. This system can naturally handle it.]
"It won't cost me points?" The transmigrator probed.
[Myriad Worlds] chuckled, [No, Master. I may be a profiteer, but selling a feature like this to you for a hundred percent pure profit? Even I am not that perverted.]
[Immortal Clan] snickered, [Is that so?]
Yan Anle raised a brow. Curious as he was, neither system expatiated on that comment, so he did not press the issue.
As long as his systems helped him gain what he desired, what did it matter if they scraped the icing off his cake?
After a brief, awkward silence, [Myriad Worlds] asked, [Master, please specify the cultivation base you want to suppress your aura to.]
"Foundation Establishment Level 6. No, 5. Let's go with Level 5."
[Iron Skin and Bronze Bone Level 5; noted. Would you like the system to actively help you conceal your combat power and Divine Sense as well, so you do not slip up when under duress?]
"That is possible? Good, do that also!"
[Alright, Master. Your cultivation base will be suppressed from now on. When you want to release it, all you have to do is issue a mental command.]
"Okay." He went on to give it a try. "Mm. It works. Suppress it again."
[Yes, Master.]
Next, he stood before the mirror and activated the Ten Faces Transformation Art, changing his appearance back to his aged self.
It only took him two breaths to mimic his withered self of yesternight. He stared at his reflection for a moment, then frowned and shook his head.
"Why not just say that my old appearance and concealed cultivation base were the disguise all along? Same for the cultivation base."
"This way, she will believe that the aura I reveal is everything. She can play so well; will I still be a gentleman if I don't accompany her in this game?"
The 'her' naturally referred to a certain Demon Princess.
[But, Master, that will pique her interest in you more. She would be really curious what kind of Disguise Technique or Artifact you used to conceal everything.]
He shrugged. "Let her imagine. You already said she doesn't seem to harbor ill intent. This way, her curiosity will be stoked."
[I said "so far." That could change at any moment. Besides, should you not be trying to drive her away?]
"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. She may have great cultivation, but she is still human. She may slip up."
[…]
The systems secretly tabled whether to clarify that not only was Sun Ziyun not human, but she was also no simple enemy.
Soulshift cultivators for the current Yan Anle were still like nukes to a mortal. If triggered, the outcome could only be death.
In the end, both systems' avatars shook their heads in agreement. Better not to for the time being.
[Immortal Clan System]: [Whatever you say goes, Master.]
[Myriad Worlds]: [That's right, Master. Better to keep her within our range of observation.]
Besides, even if he tried to flee—except for entering the Secret Realm—could he escape from that Demon Princess's pursuit?
As Yan Anle climbed down the stairs of the auction house, [Immortal Clan System] decided to change the topic.
[Master, now that you have gained a second spring and some self-protection capability, how about tackling some Starter Missions?]