“You’re overestimating him,” remarked a beautiful woman who was seated among them, speaking frankly. “He’s just a reckless brat. Even if he obtained ancient secret techniques, how far could he really advance?” Despite her fiery temper, the woman elder possessed a remarkably elegant name—Rong Li.
The current head of the council was Elder Xu Yi, who sat upright with a long beard stretching from his jaw down to his chest, exuding a refined, ethereal aura. He spoke cautiously: “Rong Li, don’t underestimate him. Last time we discussed matters, we underestimated Yang Hao, and when we met again, he had already broken through to the Yuan Ying stage. Tell me, how many people in the Empire have achieved that in recent decades?”
His words indeed unsettled the other eight council elders.
Sighing, Elder Wu Yi continued: “Since the Chief decided on the unification of the cultivation sects, the number of cultivators in the Empire has dwindled. Rare talents that do arise have mostly been recruited by us. Yet we never expected trouble to arise from the outer territories, with someone so troublesome emerging.”
“So what? Kill him before he becomes a threat!” Rong Li slammed the table, her words shocking everyone.
“Kill him?” Hei Feng turned his head slightly. Naturally, he wanted him dead, but he asked, “Can we kill him?”
This question was directed at an elder seated beside Hei Feng, who had remained silent throughout, even closing his eyes as if meditating while others spoke. However, with Hei Feng’s inquiry, he could no longer remain silent.
“Since Yang Hao emerged from the Divine Realm, his abilities have advanced another level, reaching the Yuan Ying stage. It seems the imprisoned monsters of the Divine Realm must have bestowed great benefits upon him,” the elder said, causing the elders to exchange uneasy glances at the mention of the Divine Realm. “Later, his battle with Situ Hai was earth-shaking. Situ Hai even mastered the Twelfth Sword, yet still failed to defeat Yang Hao…”
The elder paused briefly, as if organizing his thoughts. He was known as the Celestial Strategist Elder, the most calculating among the elders—not in financial matters, but in ranking martial cultivators and techniques across the realm.
Elder Wu Yi suddenly asked, “What level has Situ Hai reached now?”
“Among all cultivators, he ranks fifth,” the Celestial Strategist raised one hand. “Ever since he mastered the Twelfth Sword, he has ascended to the level of Sword Sage. Fifth place is certain.” The “all cultivators” he referred to naturally excluded the Elders’ Council but included the Emperor, meaning fifth in the entire Empire—already an elite level.
Rong Li sneered disdainfully, “According to Celestial Strategist, does that mean that brat is about to break into the top five, climbing even above our Emperor?”
“Let Celestial Strategist finish,” Elder Xu Yi interrupted Rong Li.
“If our intelligence is accurate, Yang Hao must have used the supreme divine art ‘Reverse Flow’ at a critical moment. Surely none of us believe he could actually wield a Shu clan deity’s technique,” the Celestial Strategist’s lips curled slightly in mockery. “By his own strength alone, he couldn’t have defeated Situ Hai. However, since Situ Hai performed that respectful gesture, Yang Hao should be ranked within the top hundred without question.”
“Even you can’t pinpoint his exact position?” Elder Xu Yi felt concern. If even the Celestial Strategist couldn’t determine Yang Hao’s true strength, then no one in the world could accurately assess it.
Hei Feng sighed deeply: “In merely half a year, from an unknown impoverished student to a warrior ranked within the top hundred—Yang Hao is indeed admirable. But if we continue letting him run free, he’ll inevitably become a major threat to us.”
“He already is a major threat,” another elder, who managed the Empire’s political situation, interjected. “The outer territories have always resisted imperial rule. That brat Yang Hao started trouble on Remon Star, then on Holy Bear Star, costing us a major recruitment base. Now he’s even leading an anti-Empire alliance, uniting scattered forces. If that’s not a major threat, what is?”
“So then… shall we kill him?”
“Kill or not?” Elder Xu Yi stroked his beard thoughtfully. This was indeed a dilemma. Yang Hao was still inexperienced and far from escaping the Elders’ Council’s control. Killing him now was still feasible. Yet even with reconnaissance efforts, Xu Yi hadn’t fully grasped Yang Hao’s background—how he gained his initial opportunity on Remon Star, or how he earned the favor of the old bear Herd. What troubled Xu Yi even more was Yang Hao’s journey to the Divine Realm—what benefits had he obtained from the Divine Race, and what other hidden support might he still have? These were all potential dangers to be wary of.
As Elder Xu Yi was pondering anxiously, the entire hall suddenly blazed with brilliant white light, shining from above the sacred altar.
“The Supreme has arrived!” Several council elders hurriedly knelt, not daring to lift their heads.
Elder Wu Yi quickly knelt as well, his heart filled with both surprise and relief. He felt relieved because the difficult decision of whether to kill Yang Hao no longer lay upon his shoulders. His surprise stemmed from the fact that the Supreme, of such lofty status, had personally arrived because of Yang Hao. Could it be that Yang Hao indeed concealed some hidden secret?
If the Elders’ Council was already regarded by the Empire’s people as a divine temple, then the Supreme Elder was the true god among the elders. Since the unification of the cultivation sects, the Supreme Elder had been wandering the world, rarely making public appearances. His sudden arrival today was entirely unexpected.
“Your Highness, we were discussing Yang Hao,” Elder Xu Yi said, knowing that the至尊was an all-knowing immortal, so no further explanation was necessary.
From the dazzling white light emerged a faint silhouette, and a calm, aged voice rang out: “Yang Hao? He must not be killed.”
“Not be killed?” Hei Feng was stunned, daring to lift his head in disbelief. After all, Yang Hao had defeated several sword sects, especially disgracing Hei Feng’s Black Wind Sword Sect—he was deeply resentful.
“There is another great secret hidden within Yang Hao. I have a use for him, so do not kill him for now,” the至尊’s voice was indifferent yet left no room for argument. “The boy himself is not dangerous. However, an old friend dwells within him. Be careful.”
Although the secret of the ancient spirit within Yang Hao wasn’t completely concealed—several elders already had knowledge of it—none were aware of Hun Yuan Zi’s identity from a thousand years ago or his connection to the Zun.
“How should we proceed with caution? Please advise us, Zunzhi,” Elder Wu Yi asked cautiously. Although there were significant reasons why Yang Hao must not be killed, determining the appropriate level of caution was challenging.
“Prepare the materials for the sword core,” the Supreme One issued his command. “Have the Ten Sword Streams safeguard them carefully. Don’t let them be taken as easily as the previous swords.”
Elder Wu Yi and Hei Feng both felt a chill run down their spines. After all, the Ten Sword Streams were their disciples and protégés.
The second command: “Tell the Emperor to suppress the rebellions on both sides. The world has become too chaotic.” The Supreme One’s words were like an imperial edict; even the Emperor had to kneel to listen. “The Empire’s success or failure is his responsibility, but it must not interfere with my great undertaking…”
Although the Supreme One did not elaborate, his meaning was chilling enough. Yet the elders could not understand—now that the Supreme One had already become a celestial immortal, the supreme being in heaven and earth, what greater matter could he possibly have?
“An old friend… it’s time we met again…” The words, filled with loneliness and melancholy, left unclear to whom they were directed. After a final surge of blinding white light, the Supreme Being vanished from the sacred altar. Yet the nine elders below remained kneeling for nearly ten more minutes before they dared to rise.
“What now?” Hei Feng leaned over, whispering.
Elder Wu Yi shook his head and raised one finger, saying, “Let Ming Se retreat. Who dares to defy the至尊’s will?”
Hei Feng sighed, reluctantly disappearing into the breeze.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, as the Elders’ Council convened, Yang Hao was also holding a meeting.
But this meeting was extremely dull. Although they had just won a battle, and everyone’s faces were glowing with triumph, feeling like great achievements were within reach, the people present were simply tiresome, making their words tiresome too.
“No war on the western front,” emphasized Steve repeatedly. “The Galactic Empire is preoccupied, still reeling from the defeat of the Sunset Fleet. They now recognize our strength. Although they’ve learned of the rebellion in the Three Crystal Sea, they’ve kept their distance. Most of the imperial forces on the western outer territories have retreated into the inner regions.”
This was news received that very morning. The Three Crystal Sea had been worried the rebellion news might provoke a strong backlash from the Empire, even a joint attack by garrisons from dozens of nearby star systems. Yet, surprisingly, within a single day, all imperial forces seemed to have received orders, uniformly withdrawing to the eastern side of the Three Crystal Sea system, constructing a long-term defensive line primarily around three dead star fortresses.
This effectively ceded the western outer territories to the anti-Empire alliance, making the alliance leaders laugh as if they’d just married new brides.
Only Yang Hao sat there drowsily. Outside, Steve was lecturing enthusiastically, while inside his mind, Hun Yuan Zi was reciting the Daoist Canon in its entirety. Recently, for reasons unknown, the old ghost had suddenly decided to tutor Yang Hao in foundational cultural knowledge, reciting one volume after another from the thousands in the Daoist Canon—truly a fate worse than death.
“Chief Yang Hao, what do you think we should do next?” Steve suddenly asked, startling Yang Hao from his drowsiness. He turned, almost glaring at Steve—what could he possibly say? Hadn’t he always been just a puppet chief?
Yet halfway through his glare, Yang Hao stopped, instead smiling cheerfully: “With Mr. Steve here, naturally everything follows his guidance.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage