609: Chapter 609 Elders' Meeting

[Your voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the hall heard it clearly.]

[Some people's eyes lit up.]

["Then there's the academy," you continued. "The Kunlun Dao Academy, claiming to be the orthodox lineage of the Immortal Realm, poking their noses into everything."]

["They act recklessly on our Heavenly Palace's territory, never showing us any respect."]

["Today it's the academy, tomorrow it's the Holy Land. At this rate, will every Tom, Dick, and Harry feel entitled to trample over us the day after?"]

[Some in the hall nodded.]

["As for the Holy Land," you sneered, "they claim to be aloof from worldly affairs, but in reality, they want everything."]

["I've always despised those who want to have their cake and eat it too."]

["Aren't they building a city on our land? Tear it down."]

["Tear it down?" someone asked. "And then?"]

["And then?" Your lips curled upward. "And then, if they dare to lift a finger, we fight."]

[The hall fell silent for a moment.]

[Then, someone spoke up.]

["Star Lord Qin makes a valid point! We truly have yielded too much over these years."]

["Exactly! That mineral vein of the Xuanyuan Immortal Clan was originally ours. Why should we give it up?"]

["Those people from the academy are becoming more and more excessive."]

["The Holy Land too; they act all noble on the surface, but they're greedier than anyone behind the scenes."]

[Listening to these voices, you picked up your teacup and took a sip.]

[Liu Tianxing's face was ashen, but he remained silent.]

[Qi Yuan glanced at you and then closed his eyes again.]

[Patriarch Sima Gongzhi's smile returned, and he even gave you a slight nod.]

[Yan Ji waited until you finished your tea before asking, "Star Lord Qin, everyone agrees with what you've said. But acting against the other four powers simultaneously? Isn't that a bit overconfident? Is there no better way?"]

[You set down your teacup and spoke slowly, "Doesn't the Holy Land hold the Immortal Realm Genius Competition periodically?"]

["Yes," Yan Ji nodded. "Once every hundred years. Various factions send young Disciples to participate, and they stop before any serious harm is done."]

["Stop before serious harm?" You laughed. "What's the point of that?"]

["It's like children playing house. Losing doesn't hurt, and winning doesn't matter."]

["We might as well host our own."]

["Host our own?" someone asked in confusion.]

["Yes, we host our own." You stood up and walked over to the Star Map.]

["A Nascent Soul division, a Soul Transformation division, and a Void Refining division. For Void Refining, the original body must participate."]

[You paused and added, "Oh, and let's add a Body Integration division."]

["A Body Integration division?" Someone gasped.]

["Yes, Body Integration. Only one match, life or death doesn't matter."]

[The hall went completely silent.]

[Everyone was processing your words.]

[You turned around and looked at them.]

["The one the Holy Land hosts is all show and harmony. What's the point of winning? What's the loss in losing?"]

["Ours will be different."]

["In the one we host, life or death is irrelevant."]

["Will they send people?" You raised your voice.]

["If they don't, it means they're afraid. They'll lose all face. How will they ever hold their heads high in the Immortal Realm again?"]

["If they do, then people will die."]

["Kill one Prodigy, and you sever a generation's Legacy."]

["Kill two, and you sever two generations."]

["If enough die, they will naturally decline."]

["And what about us?" You smiled. "Our Heavenly Palace is full of talent and has a deep foundation. Losing a few won't hurt us."]

["As they weaken and we remain strong, it won't be long before our word is law in the Immortal Realm."]

[The hall fell into silence.]

[Then—]

["Good!" Patriarch Sima Gongzhi slammed his hand on the armrest and stood up. "Star Lord Qin's words speak directly to my heart!"]

["He's right!" another Elder stood up as well. "Instead of bickering over every border, we might as well have an open fight!"]

["Exactly! Let them taste our power!"]

["Star Lord Qin truly is someone personally recruited by the Flame Emperor; he is indeed extraordinary."]

[Praises rose one after another.]

[You glanced around.]

[More than half of the twenty-eight Elders were nodding.]

[Of the remaining minority, some frowned, some were silent, and some remained expressionless.]

[Liu Tianxing's expression was so dark it looked like it could drip water, but he said nothing.]

[Qi Yuan finally opened his eyes and looked at you.]

[It was a brief look, but you saw it—there was no approval or opposition in his eyes, only something indefinable, as if he were scrutinizing you, or perhaps waiting.]

[Yan Ji stood up.]

["Star Lord Qin's proposal will be discussed later," she said, looking around. "That's all for today. Everyone, go back and think about it. We will deliberate again at the next Elder Council meeting."]

[After speaking, she glanced at you and then turned to leave.]

[The people in the hall began to disperse.]

[Someone passed by you, cupped their hands, and said, "Star Lord Qin, let's communicate more in the future."]

["Star Lord Qin, I'll host a gathering another day; let's have a few drinks together."]

[You nodded with a smile, responding to each of them.]

[Patriarch Sima Gongzhi walked over and patted your shoulder. "Brother Qin, your words today really resonated with me."]

[He lowered his voice, "When you have time, come visit my manor. I have something good to show you."]

[You smiled. "I certainly will."]

[He laughed loudly and left.]

[The hall gradually emptied.]

[You stood before the Star Map, looking at the four points of light.]

[Qin Han poked his head out from your shoulder and whispered, "Daddy, they all seem very happy."]

["Mhm."]

["Is Daddy happy then?"]

[You smiled but didn't answer.]

[You were certainly happy.]

[But not because they were happy.]

[It was because—more than half of the Elders actually thought what you just said was right.]

[This showed that many people didn't understand their own strength.]

[They truly thought you were acting in the Heavenly Palace's best interests.]

[They really believed that by hosting a life-and-death struggle, the Heavenly Palace could gain an advantage.]

[They forgot that Prodigies aren't as common as cabbages.]

[Every one that dies is one less.]

[No matter how deep the Heavenly Palace's foundation was, it couldn't withstand such attrition.]

[And you?]

[You were merely handing them a blade.]

[A blade that would cut them.]

[They were holding the blade and laughing happily.]

[A few days later,]

[At Patriarch Sima Gongzhi's manor.]

[He had arranged a private banquet in the backyard; there was no one else, just the two of you sitting opposite each other.]

[After a few rounds of drinks, he began to open up.]

[Holding your wine cup, you casually asked, "The Heavenly Palace has stood in the Immortal Realm for so many years; besides the three Mahayana experts, there must be other trump cards, right?"]

[Patriarch Sima Gongzhi set down his cup, glanced at you, and his smile deepened.]

["Brother Qin, you've hit the nail on the head."]

[He lowered his voice, as if sharing some incredible secret.]

["The Flame Emperor has a damaged Immortal Artifact in his possession."]

["An Immortal Artifact?" You frowned.]

["Yes, an Immortal Artifact," Patriarch Sima Gongzhi nodded. "I don't know where he got it, but even though it's damaged, its power is still terrifying. An ordinary Mahayana Cultivator wouldn't be able to withstand a single strike."]

[You held your wine cup, remaining still.]

[Your current immortal slaying sword couldn't be considered a true Immortal Artifact until all ten blades were gathered.]

[Although the Flame Emperor's was a damaged Immortal Artifact, the power it could harness was not something you could currently contend with.]