No strange things are allowed to evolve!

That would be no different from self-disclosure, and it would also make him seem very unhappy, which would definitely make him dislike it even more.

Fortunately, Jiang Shu has a very active mind.

He then thought, "Who says I have to say I want catalyst stones?"

"Well then, since you've set an example for me, I also want an ascension ceremony made entirely of Cataclysmic-level items. Please give me one."

Jiang Shu blinked honestly and said.

Snow King's father hadn't expected Jiang Shu to make such an outrageous demand, and he sat up straight instantly: "What? What do you take me for? Doing charity?!"

"Didn't you say you could say anything?"

Jiang Shu scratched his head:

"I thought nothing was more important to you than your daughter, so you would be more generous to me, the one who gave your daughter the life-saving item at a critical moment."

Now, Xue Wang's father not only sat up straight, but his muscles tensed up. He pointed at Jiang Shu and said sternly, "I'm warning you, don't try to sow discord! And what do you mean by 'you gave it to me'? It was originally given to my daughter, okay?!"

"Then let me put it another way," Jiang Shu sighed. "I had a chance to survive, and I gave that chance to your daughter without hesitation. Is that alright?"

Snow King's father frowned.

Although he still felt something was strange, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Jiang Shu could have actually run away with the life-saving item back then.

"Well..." Thinking of this, he forced out a sentence through gritted teeth: "It's fine too."

“So, the items needed for a mere sublimation ceremony should be…” Jiang Shu probed.

"Cough cough."

Snow King's father cleared his throat tactically:

"But, putting aside whether I can even gather so many precious items, you..."

Can you utilize a Cataclysmic Ascension? Also, have you prepared the blueprints and guides?

"Whether I can use it or not is my business, but I certainly won't waste it."

Jiang Shu didn't waste any more words:

"I know it's a bit difficult to ask for both the diagram and the guide. So how about this, besides the guide and the spiritual root essence, just give me the catalyst stone and any other miscellaneous general-purpose stuff."

"But as I just said, I can only keep my promises within my capabilities."

Snow King's father frowned:

"If we all need Cataclysmic-level monsters, even the Holy Temple might not be able to gather enough."

"Then just tell me what you have, and I'll figure out the rest myself," Jiang Shu said generously.

Snow King's father squinted at him for a long time: "No...no!"

"What's wrong?" Jiang Shu asked.

"This is just not right!" Snow King's father said unhappily, "Why is it like I owe you something? Isn't this like you're demanding a debt?"

"Well... okay." Jiang Shu shrugged. "Then forget it. I appreciate your kindness, but I don't want anything else."

No! You have to have it!

Snow King's father gritted his teeth, determined to finish the act, no matter how difficult it was.

"To tell you the truth, I do have a Catalyst-level Catalyst Stone. I was originally keeping it for a great use, but since I asked first, I'll give it to you!"

As for other miscellaneous things, I can only say I'll try my best to prepare them for you, but if I really can't, then there's nothing I can do.

Seeing him like this, Jiang Shu felt a little sorry for him: "Actually, you don't have to push yourself like this."

"No pressure!"

"Well... thank you then," Jiang Shu sighed.

Now that things have come to this point, he's too embarrassed to admit that he actually just wants the catalyst.

However, it seems that the Holy Temple is indeed less well-established than the Bureau of Different Principles. At least the Bureau of Different Principles doesn't seem to have such difficulty in allocating those miscellaneous items that better represent resource reserves.

"Wait a couple of days," Snow King's father took a deep breath. "I'll have my daughter bring it to you."

"Okay." Jiang Shu nodded obediently.

Now he believes whatever the other party says, and the minor conflicts from before are no longer a big deal to him.

"This guy is awful" has now become "This old man is actually quite cute".

"But let me be clear from the start, if you actually find it useful, then that's fine."

Snow King's father earnestly reminded him:

"If you don't need it, you have to return it to me. If I find out you sold it or anything, you know what I'm capable of."

"Uh..." Jiang Shu didn't know whether her bag would be of use, so she could only say, "I'll try my best."

"And another thing you need to remember," Snow King's father added, "I'm only giving you these things because of my daughter. I'm only letting you off the hook because of her, because of your lack of sportsmanship and your exorbitant demands. Do you understand?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shu said seriously, "I've got it."

"That's fine then." Seeing this, Snow King's father suddenly stood up and patted Snow King, who had been lost in thought for some reason since then: "Let's go."

"Huh? Oh!" Xue Wang stood up blankly, waved to Jiang Shu, and then jogged to catch up with her father, who had already arrived at the entrance.

Jiang Shu also stood up: "Why don't you eat before you leave?"

"I'm not eating! If I have another meal with you, who knows what else you'll pull out!" Snow King's father's voice came from the stairwell.

Then, the door was closed.

Jiang Shu sat back down on the sofa, his expression grave.

"I have a feeling... he's hinting at something at me..."

"Although I got what I wanted, but..."

"What will the price be...?"

Meanwhile, Xue Wang's father, who was in the elevator, also looked solemn.

"He's even more tolerant than I imagined..."

At this moment, Xue Wang, who was standing next to him, said with some concern, "Dad, if he really doesn't need it, you can't really take back what you gave away, can you? I don't feel right about that."

Upon hearing this, Snow King's father's face showed a mixture of doting affection, helplessness, and a touch of sadness.

"Don't you consider your dad at all?"

"That's not what I meant..." Xue Wang realized that she had subconsciously sided with outsiders and lowered her head in embarrassment.

Ruffled Snow King's hair and sighed, "I'm really worried you'll be deceived. How can you be so naive?"

"Huh?" Snow King looked up, puzzled, and asked, "You mean he'll harm me? No way?"

"Deceiving and harming are not the same thing."

Snow King's father shook his head:

"Although he won't harm you, the way you are acting, you might actually be being scammed and even helping the scammer count the money."

"How could that be? Don't always judge people with prejudice," Snow King retorted. "Didn't you always teach me, 'Never underestimate a young person's potential'?"

"You don't really think I look down on him, do you?"

Snow King's father chuckled:

"If I really didn't like him, why would I waste so much time talking to him? But this kid is something else. He can hold back with such a good opportunity right in front of him. Some other young and impetuous people would have been eager to prove themselves long ago."

"What do you mean?" Snow King asked, puzzled.

"A mere natural disaster-level catalyst stone, your Uncle Xia wants it, how could I refuse?"

The Snow King's father looked at the Snow King with eyes full of love:

"Isn't it because the difference between your Uncle Xia giving it to him from me and giving it to him personally is significant?"

Snow King was taken aback: "You mean, the person you're talking about is actually...?"

“That’s right.” Snow King’s father nodded. “Your Uncle Xia didn’t say it explicitly, but I’ve actually been keeping an eye on him ever since [Town of Lies]. How could I not know about the friends you associate with?”

Although his remarks were somewhat related to his family of origin, Xue Wang clearly didn't care, because she had always trusted her parents and knew that his words came out of love, not oppression.

So the Snow King simply asked, "Then why don't you just say so?"

“Saying it directly changes the meaning.”

Snow King's father patiently explained to her:

“I need to make him understand that I helped him out of his time of need, not because of the Bureau of Different Principles, not because of you, Uncle Xia, and not because he is outstanding and has potential. I only helped him because of you.”

Only by leaving a deep enough impression on him can we make him realize how hard-won this opportunity is.

So no matter what happens in the future...

When the elevator reached the first floor, Snow Queen's father gently patted her shoulder:

"You will always be the person he should be most grateful to, and he will never hurt or betray you."

Chapter 197 Saying Goodbye to the Past

For some reason, Jiang Shu felt that something was off.

However, things have progressed a little too smoothly.

He had originally thought that Snow King's father would propose some difficult conditions, after all, given how precious the Catalyst Stone was, and how he had other uses for it, he hadn't even given it to the director when he asked for it.

So you just handed it over to me because of a few words?

Either the other party has ulterior motives and wants something very big, so they made such a big move, using a natural disaster-level catalyst as an investment.

Either the other party is indeed a person of strong character, possessing the courage and spiritual roots of the Righteous Banner, where morality and the principles they believe in are above all else.

Both scenarios are possible.

The former fits Jiang Shu's image of a qualified big shot, while the latter may be the reason why the Bureau of Different Principles and the Holy Temple are on good terms. After all, the director never looks at strength when making friends, because no one has as much strength as him, so it must be something else, such as character or personality.

Standing on the balcony, looking through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the father and daughter who had just left the building below, Jiang Shu decided to stop thinking about it.

Since I can't figure it out now, let's deal with it later. Anyway, I haven't made any explicit promises, and time will tell.

Watching the two, especially Xue Wang, disappear from sight, Jiang Shu earnestly muttered to himself.

"No matter what, I owe you a huge favor this time."

He drew the curtains and dialed the bureau chief's number.

He needed to tell the other party what had just happened as soon as possible.

He hung up after only one ring.

Because he suddenly wondered if it would be presumptuous to call out so abruptly.

To be honest, even though they had met several times, he still felt a strange sense of awe towards the bureau chief.

So he first edited a message, asking if it was convenient for the other party to answer the phone, and only after receiving permission did he call back.

"I was wondering why it only rang once and then hung up. Don't overthink it in the future, just keep calling." The director's calm voice came through.

"Understood, Director," Jiang Shu said with a smile, his laughter tinged with obsequiousness.

"If I don't want to answer, I'll hang up on myself."

"...?"

Xia Zhi then chuckled softly, "So, what do you want from me?"

"It's like this, Director," Jiang Shu said, getting back to the point: "I've obtained the catalyst stone."

"Oh?" Judging from his tone, Xia Zhi seemed somewhat surprised: "What happened?"

Jiang Shu told him everything that had just happened. After listening, the latter didn't say much, but simply asked, "Does he know that the person I'm talking about is you?"

"I don't know." Jiang Shu wasn't sure: "I think he probably doesn't know, but I also feel like he knows something."

As expected, Xia Zhi understood Jiang Shu's intentions without needing to say much.

"So, besides wanting to put the sublimation on the agenda, you also wanted to confirm whether we should accept this catalyst in this way?"

"Ah."