I Contracted All Ancient Divine Artifacts

Chapter 128: Chapter 27: Bird in a Cage

The tallest building in Titan City.

From here, you can overlook all the scenery.

And here, there is also an enormous aerogarden, which is the residence of the Shang Family’s direct lineage.

Today, Shang Siteng is dressed in an off-shoulder sweater with a cut-out, revealing her round, fair shoulders. Her pants are light blue jeans, giving off a youthful and vibrant yet slightly mature look.

She stared blankly at a portrait on the ground, lost in thought, when suddenly, footsteps sounded behind her.

Shang Siteng casually waved her hand and stood up.

”You seem quite leisurely.” A cold voice, devoid of any emotion, rang out from behind her.

”What’s the matter, little brother? Have you completed the mission that the Shang Family’s higher-ups entrusted you with this time?” Shang Siteng, unaffected by the tone, turned around with a smile and asked.

Shang Zexian saw her like this and frowned.

His gaze went past Shang Siteng to the ground she was staring at earlier. There, only scattered bird food was spread, and his expression relaxed a bit.

”It failed.” Shang Zexian’s voice revealed no emotional fluctuation.

But being Shang Zexian’s elder sister, how could Shang Siteng not know what her most determined brother was thinking inside?

”Oh? A task that could make you fail must be no small feat. I heard even the Celestial Net’s virtual brain was awakened. Something major must have happened, right?”

Shang Zexian pursed his lips and said nothing.

According to the Shang Family’s higher-ups, Shang Siteng no longer had the qualifications to participate in upper-level meetings, and consequently, her access to all information had been revoked.

Seeing Shang Zexian silent, Shang Siteng raised an eyebrow and muttered to herself, ”Is it related to the blackout?”

”The blackout was because the Celestial Net’s virtual brain required 100% power to combat a data flood.”

”The opponent able to push the Celestial Net’s virtual brain to its limits, that powerful adversary should only be Shang Jianyue, the first generation founder of the Shang Family.”

”Shang Jianyue, he resurrected and played you all like fiddles, didn’t he?”

Upon hearing that Shang Siteng had deduced most of the situation in just a few words, Shang Zexian opened his mouth, only to be left with intense resentment and helplessness.

”Shang Jianyue was very formidable. He controlled the rhythm of the entire battle and toyed with us within his hands.”

”Truly a legendary figure who could ’make an army of one.’ ” Shang Zexian paused, his eyes fixed on Shang Siteng, ”I’ve only seen two people like that, one is him, and the other, well, it’s you!”

”I won’t agree to it.” Shang Siteng shrugged, unconcerned.

”Why? Sister, you possess the immense talent and intellect of the Shang Family that could rival Shang Jianyue. Why must you tie yourself to that one tree?”

Shang Zexian finally couldn’t hold back.

Shang Siteng seemed to have not heard Shang Zexian’s last words. She picked up the scattered bird feed and began playing with the caged birds.

”Shang Zexian, do you think Can Shang Company is interesting?”

Startled by the sudden question, Shang Zexian paused.

”We are born like these caged birds, bound in captivity. Be it learning, growth, or life planning, everything must proceed according to their will, step by step, until one is qualified to become the captain of the Shang Family.”

”But then, what does it matter?”

”Even becoming the captain is no more than being an unfree puppet.”

”I don’t advocate for mechanical ascension. I even find it horribly dull and disgusting. I’ve told you this countless times.”

”The Shang Family is not my destination.” Shang Siteng concluded.

Bam!

Shang Zexian’s hand slammed against the birdcage, startling the birds eating their food into a flurry of flight and cries.

”The Shang Family is not your destination?!”

”Very well, my love-struck sister. Then where is your destination?”

”In Deep Blue City? That city has long been occupied by the Imperial forces. Li Shutong is dead, and that Han Zhan you admire is just struggling to survive in North County.”

”Where is your destination?” Shang Zexian asked again.

Shang Siteng gazed at the suddenly agitated Shang Zexian, lost in thought.

”Speak out, sent by the Shang Family as a persuader, what message do you want to deliver?”

”The Shang Family’s higher-ups changed their decision. They originally planned for you to participate in the 291st mechanical ascension plan six months from now. Because you are a Spirit Contract Master, possessing a talent not inferior to Shang Jianyue’s, theoretically the most likely to succeed in the fusion.”

”But now, they want to arrange a marriage alliance for you.”

Upon hearing this, Shang Siteng’s eyes slightly narrowed.

”A marriage alliance?”

”Yes, a marriage alliance.” Shang Zexian looked at her and sighed deeply, ”The wedding is in three days. All the Shang Family higher-ups will attend.”

”Or, you can agree to the higher-ups’ demands and become the next captain of the Shang Family. It’s not too late.”

”Understood.”

After Shang Siteng said this, she fell silent.

Shang Zexian glanced at his sister, who had turned her back to him, with eyes filled with regret. He sighed and turned to leave.

After Shang Zexian left.

The bird feed in Shang Siteng’s hand dropped to the ground, immediately disintegrating into countless tiny particles, which formed three words on the ground.

”Wedding,” ”Han Zhan,” ”Trap.”

After these words appeared, she waved her hand lightly, as if unconcerned.

With her wave, the tiny particles reassembled, condensing back into a single piece of bird feed fallen on the ground.

Shang Siteng gazed over the Titan City, scanning the vast sea of people as if trying to find the one person she wanted to see, to say to him.

”You’ve come, long time no see.”

...

”Achoo!” Han Zhan sneezed.

Across from him sat a small robot named October, or rather, it should now be called the small robot Shang Jianyue.

After devouring three ancient reels, Shang Jianyue was now just one step away from resurrection.

Through the escape tunnel from yesterday, Han Zhan successfully reconnected with Shang Jianyue. The new deep diving device was completed, shielding them from the Celestial Net’s perception.

”Speak, why did you save me?” Han Zhan asked bluntly.

”We are not enemies.”

Seeing the skeptical look on Han Zhan’s face, Shang Jianyue continued to explain, ”If my judgment is correct, you should be from the Great Xia.”

”To have survived the Seven Stars Abnormal Skeleton Warrior, that is the basis of our cooperation.”

”Because next, I want to invite you to join my plan.”

”Help me obtain the fourth ancient reel, and in return, I can share all the advanced technology I know with you.”

While speaking, Shang Jianyue revealed a photograph of a graceful young woman to Han Zhan.

His finger pointed to the necklace on the woman’s neck.

”Three days later is her wedding day. I want you to help me acquire that necklace.”

Han Zhan looked at the woman in the photo, his pupils slightly shrinking.