1040 Fourth Court Meeting
"How is it?" asked Pei Lang, calmly glancing at Old Ma in the communication array before him.
"Lin Fan has returned, and he's like the others - with a powerful seal in his soul."
"Even Yang Guowei and Xiao Songxi?"
"Yes. It appeared that Kong might have intervened and helped them."
"I see. What do you think these people are hiding?"
"It could just be that they're just being cautious."
"Even you don't believe these words," sneered Pei Lang. Previously, these people had no direct contact with their faction, but everything changed after their return. Some of these factions even sent warnings toward their cause, telling them to treat their members with better care. It's obvious they've brought a piece of information that is beyond valuable.
An intense killing intent flashed in Pei Lang's eyes as he contemplated eliminating these people. Instead of becoming his aid, they've turned into unknown and uncontrollable variables, and he was unhappy about this. However, the contract they signed indicated he could not intently attack his own people.
Furthermore, other people in the cause did not like him and would take this opportunity to deal with him if he attacked them, not to mention the factions behind these people.
'I also have to consider their relationship with the destined one. Becoming the enemy of someone protected by fate is a foolish choice in these circumstances, ' thought Pei Lang, who successfully convinced himself to calm down.
"Anything else to report?"
"Some of our men have spotted movement from Kong. He might have contacted some of his people."
"He values Lin Fan this much?"
"It appeared so."
"Any sign the Dao Opening Sect has also intervened in this fiasco?" Pei Lang knew the source of these people's changes was most likely Emperor Wang in the lower dimension despite no concrete proof; he might be the source of this valuable information.
"So far, no."
At least there was some good news. Pei Lang grunted softly, "Where are Yang Guowei and Xiao Songxi?"
"Do you still want to convince them?"
"They are the best chance I have to learn what they know."
More than an hour later, Pei Lang closed the communication array with red eyes. His attempt was futile as none of them were willing to speak about what they knew, even with promises of immense wealth and resources. Yang Guowei remained mostly quiet while Xiao Songxi spoke nonsense; he seemed to insinuate he would sell the information in exchange for a Paragon.
Pei Lang was unsure, but if he was, he knew this lad was mad if he thought such a deal would succeed. He had to control every urge in his body to not secretly send these people on a suicide mission. He exhaled as he realized what he must do - become a Paragon.
If he succeeds, his power in the cause and the world will drastically increase. Whatever news these two hid will not be kept from his eyes by then. He might be reluctant to attack the others, but he won't have the same restraint against Lin Fan and the other three.
'Although these people are busy, they would definitely attack me during the process. So, my biggest worry is not the breakthrough but the battle during and after; that's what I must prepare for.'
With his foundation, once he becomes a Paragon, he should not have any issue fighting one or two of these people. However, he will definitely lose if there are more, and if Time Eater shows up, death is the only fate awaiting him.
'I need to time the breakthrough perfectly so that he cannot show up or prepare a way to keep him busy.'
Pei Lang's eyes were deep as he planned his future. The way of Paragon was so close yet rife with adversity and challenges. Regardless, this was his only way forward.
Myriad Emperor World, Heavenly Court:
More than a month after these descending Eternal left, the Heavenly Emperor summoned the fourth meeting. Everyone important participated, including Tong Ruobing's clone and Feng Heng's projection.
"Before we begin, you can bring up any issue of your own," declared Wang Wei, and people looked at the Sea Clan from the corner of their eyes. However, the representative looked calm, as if nothing happening was not related to him.
"I have something to say." Xu Shi stepped forward.
"Oh, I 'm all ears."
"I would like to become a permanent resident in the court."
Wang Wei's eyes immediately lit up, "What great news. Welcome. Since you're officially the first, I will prepare the room with the most amount of Innate Qi and the best blessing of luck."
"Thank you, your majesty."
Everyone looked at Xu Shi with shock before a sense of haste rushed into their minds. The pieces had already fallen into place; now, it was only a matter of time before the court was lively, and all top powerhouses were under his majesty's eyes.
"What good news to start the meeting. Anything else?"
No one said anything since they could not make such a bold decision on the spot; however, people understood certain things were inevitable. Wang Wei looked at the Origin Weapon Mountain's representative: "What about my project?"
"We are making great progress and are now 70% finished."
"70%? That's a lot of progress, assuming you're not lying. Keep up the good work and finish in a timely manner."
The representative bowed; he knew why he was singled out on this occasion: to display a close relationship between his faction and the court, thus elevating them politically, and to pressure them into finishing the project as soon as possible.
The managerial tactic of praise and beating has been popular amongst mortal and fortune rulers since time immemorial.
"For today's meeting, we have a major and minor plan to discuss," continued Wang Wei. "For the minor part, I present to you - the National Preservation Library."
Wang Wei snapped his finger, and a projection of a snow-white building materialized in the room; everyone could tell its purpose was to preserve scriptures or a general form of knowledge, but they also knew it could never be so simple - there must be a bigger plot or meaning behind the appearance of this thing.
"This library, as of now, contained all the heritage of the Dao Opening Sect: perfect copies of all our techniques, Emperor Scripture, pill recipes and all other profession knowledge, our history, and much more," calmly stated Wang Wei, making many people looked at that projection with such greed that they almost salivated.
"Its purpose is to preserve our inheritance or lineage in case of a cultivation-destroying catastrophe, just like the Null Era. If something were to happen to Myriad Emperor World and the cultivation civilization was destroyed and had to start over, this library would preserve our knowledge and pass it on to the future. I invite many of you to preserve your inheritance on it."
'Damn this conniving Emperor,' thought Ao Shen. If something similar to the Null Era happens in the future, the world will revert to a period similar to the Ancient Emperor Era, where people competed to spread a new system and for titles like Pill or Talisman Ancestor. More importantly, the current factions that hold these titles or recognition would lose the Luck and protection that comes with it - unless they can preserve everything in that library.
Such an act appeared that Wang Wei was preparing for the worst possible outcome, but the truth is he wanted to preserve the Dao Opening Sect's luck from the [Daofather Title].
Ao Shen secretly gritted his teeth. According to the future he envisioned and prepared for the demon race, they had to wait until the Heavenly Era crashed and burned. He knew such a vibrant and prosperous era would not last forever. Based on the balanced operation of the world, the more prosperous this era is, the harder it's fallout will be to balance things out.
By then, civilization might have to start over, which will be the demon race's opportunity. They can compete for the position of the world's protagonist and successfully dominate this plane. Alas, his vision might be nothing but a dream now.
"I agree to preserve the Ancient Clan's inheritance in the library." Huo Fenghuang was the first to speak. Such a plan benefited them the most. In a future calamity of this scale, the chances of their clan preserving all their Memorialized Qi Luck were the lowest. In fact, it would be in Heavenly Dao's best interest to eliminate them and allow new individuals to hold these Memorialized Qi Luck, and this library was the perfect way to prevent that from happening.
"We also agree," said Tong Ruobing, followed by Wu Ming, who represented the Origin Rune Palace and the representatives from the Origin Pill Dao Sect, Origin Weapon Mountain, the Body Dao Cave, and Feng Heng - who also wanted to preserve Buddhism.
The others discussed amongst themselves and people back in their faction. A few minutes later, the Sword Casting Villa was the first sect without any Memorialized Qi Luck who agreed. They saw this as an opportunity to continue leading the swordsmanship world in the future.
By the end of this discussion, a few more sects accepted the proposal, while others were still hesitant.
