Chapter 1390: Annihilate Them

Obliterate the Ten Desolate Universe along with its starry region!

Upon hearing the shadowy figure's words, the eight elders in the hall were all taken aback.

The Dao Illumination! It was one of the three great divine artifacts of the Suiming Civilization, and it was an artifact that symbolized the entire civilization. The Dao Illumination could represent the civilization, as it was forged with the full might of the Suiming Civilization.

Everything beneath its light would be reduced to nothingness.

It could be said that this was the Suiming Civilization's ultimate trump card!

What shocked everyone was that the Chief Strategist had actually suggested using such a divine artifact against the Ten Desolate Universe.

After all, the Ten Desolate Universe was nothing more than a low-tier starry region compared to the Suiming Civilization. That place hadn't even produced a Supreme Emperor in ages.

Deploying a civilization's divine artifact for such a backwater place... wasn't that like using a thousand cannons to kill a mosquito?

Just then, the white-haired elder said, "I agree!"

Ruler Yong was his grandson, and his grandson had died an unclear death in the Ten Desolate Universe. For him, having the entire Ten Desolate Universe buried alongside his grandson would be the perfect vengeance.

"This is unacceptable!" a hunched elder beside him interjected, "Grand Elder, that is an unwise move."

The white-haired elder glanced at the hunched elder with displeasure. "And why is that?"

The hunched elder gravely said, "There are three reasons—first of all, activating the Dao Illumination consumes an enormous amount of pure-grade immortal crystals. Using so many pure-grade immortal crystals just to kill a Supreme Emperor is an immense waste of resources. Secondly, the Ten Desolate Universe is unlike other places; it's the ancestral land of our Suiming Civilization.

"It has declined, but it remains our birthplace. Destroying it outright is going to be emotionally unacceptable to the many elders of our civilization, myself included. Thirdly, and most importantly, Beixin Ci!"

Beixin Ci!

The mere mention of that name made everyone in the hall turn pale.

The hunched elder's expression was equally grave. "Grand Elder, do not forget that there is a seal on that place. That woman left the seal specifically to protect the Ten Desolate Universe. If we unleash the Dao Illumination and cause such a massive disturbance, we might awaken that woman..."

The implications were unmistakable.

The faces of everyone in the hall darkened.

If they ended up awakening that woman... who could possibly withstand her wrath?

The Grand Elder fell into silence.

He desperately wanted to annihilate the Ten Desolate Universe to avenge his grandson, but he knew that the Second Elder was right. Using the Dao Illumination for the sake of a single Sword Emperor was far too great a cost.

If they provoked Beixin Ci, it wouldn't just be a matter of spending too much. It would be sheer stupidity. Just then, another elder hesitantly said, "But the Chief Strategist's suggestion..."

The Second Elder also fell silent.

The Chief Strategist! She was not a part of the Elder Council, but her influence in the Suiming Civilization was immense. Even rulers had to take her advice seriously.

Another elder offered, "I believe her suggestions have two meanings. First of all, the reason she suggested using the Dao Illumination is that she believes that the swordsman is an extraordinary individual. Eliminating him with the Dao Illumination will ensure his demise.

"Secondly, perhaps she was merely making a casual remark. After all, if one wanted to kill a mosquito, a cannon could do the job, but so could a mere flick of the finger. Maybe she just mentioned the first option in passing..."

The hall fell into silence.

Clearly, they weren't convinced. Wasn't that just nonsense?

Someone suddenly said, "Why don't we ask her directly?"

Everyone turned in unison to look at the speaker and said, "You go!"

The elder hurriedly waved his hands. "No, not me."

Hell no! The Chief Strategist's temper was like a rabid dog. A hundred years ago, an elder once asked her a simple question, and she cursed him nonstop for a full century!

A hundred years! Every time they met, she'd say, "Idiot."

For an entire century!

The worst part was that no one could outargue her; no one could defeat her; and no one could even outwit her.

She wasn't just the most intelligent person in the Suiming Civilization; she also commanded an entire faction of geniuses, an assembly of terrifying intellects whose sole purpose was to scheme against other civilizations.

Their traps, their ruthless tactics, and their insidious plots... were endless!

The other two civilizations were so fed up with their schemes that they once joined forces in an assassination attempt, and the attempt nearly triggered a third Civilization War!

The elder who was once cursed for a hundred years? He eventually resigned and went to work elsewhere just to escape her wrath. And now they wanted someone to question her decision? That was more like a death sentence.

"Ahem."

An elder cleared his throat and suggested, "This is but a minor matter. There is no need to trouble the Chief Strategist. We can resolve it among ourselves."

The others eagerly nodded in agreement.

The Second Elder said in a grave tone, "That swordsman may be just a Supreme Emperor, but the Chief Strategist has singled him out, so we cannot take him lightly."

"Indeed, we cannot!" another elder said, "We all know the Ruler Yong's personality. He has always been cautious and meticulous. He was a brilliant strategist, but he still died at the young man's hands.

"That alone proves that his enemy is no ordinary figure. Furthermore, the seal remains in place, so we must not act carelessly..."

The true problem was Beixin Ci's seal. It suppressed the cultivation of anyone from outside, reducing them to mere Supreme Emperors. Those with weaker cultivation bases would be suppressed even further.

Another elder suddenly said, "Send Xuan Zheng."

Xuan Zheng!

The hall was silent for a moment before everyone nodded. "Agreed."

The Grand Elder added, "Have him bring one hundred Gold Divine Guards to ensure success."

The elders were momentarily surprised but ultimately agreed.

***

Strategist Pavilion.

This was one of the most critical institutions of the Suiming Civilization. Every major decision made by the civilization was influenced by this department. It was a gathering place for the civilization's most brilliant minds.

Inside one of the grand halls, there was a woman clad in an elegant silk gown and with an ancient-looking scroll in her hands. She wore no makeup, yet her beauty was otherworldly.

Around her, four walls stretched out like boundless starry skies, densely packed with ancient books and records. She was none other than Suiming Civilization's Chief Strategist—Sui Gujin.

Only five people in the entire Suiming Civilization had the surname "Sui."

At that moment, a young man entered the hall and bowed. "My lady."

Sui Gujin said, "Notify the Suiming Divine Pavilion to prepare the Dao Illumination."

Her voice was like a drop of cold water upon icy stone, chilling and piercing.

The young man was startled but quickly responded, "My lady, does this mean the Elder Council will not deploy the Dao Illumination against the Ten Desolate Universe?"

Sui Gujin's expression remained calm. "They will underestimate the enemy."

"That youth may be formidable for having slain Ruler Yong, but using the Dao Illumination directly seems excessive... May you enlighten me?" asked the young man.

Sui Gujin slowly closed her eyes. "He did not ascend to the Supreme Emperor Realm through a wisp of Supreme Emperor Origin Essence; he achieved it himself and established an Order.

"Furthermore, the fact that he slew Ruler Yong meant that his Order has already taken shape; he has already founded a complete Dao Lineage.

"In a place like that, no one can build a Dao Lineage by themselves. Deploying the Dao Illumination serves two purposes. First, to ensure his destruction. Secondly, if he withstands it, then it means an unknown, powerful civilization stands behind him. If so... we may either use them or recruit them."

"I understand," said the young man. Then, he hesitated before saying, "My lady, they have sent Xuan Zheng to the Ten Desolate Universe."

Sui Gujin replied indifferently, "When he dies, then we're going to use the Dao Illumination."

The young man was stunned. "My lady..."

Sui Gujin remained expressionless. "Those who make mistakes must face consequences. Otherwise, they will err again."

The young man bowed once more and silently departed.

Sui Gujin suddenly opened her eyes and muttered, "Fan Zhaodi... what exactly is your objective? Does that young swordsman have anything to do with you?"

***

Ye Guan was examining the two storage rings before him, the very ones left behind by Ruler Yong and the black-robed elder. He had to admit, this was a massive windfall.

Inside Ruler Yong's ring, there were a total of thirty-two thousand pure-grade Supreme Emperor Origin Essences!

There were also countless divine treasures, including hundreds of Emperor-grade weapons and thousands of sacred artifacts. In addition, the ring contained all sorts of elixirs, arrays, and martial techniques. They were all high-level items. In fact, some of the martial skills and divine spells were so powerful that they were overpowered within the Ten Desolate Universe.

Most importantly, Ruler Yong possessed two pure-grade Supreme Emperor Origin Essence Veins. The storage ring contained a separate world, and the two pure-grade Supreme Emperor Origin Essence Veins were hidden within the vast mountain ranges in that world.

Thanks to those veins, the spiritual energy within the storage ring's world was incredibly dense, and the very air carried a tinge of a Supreme Emperor Origin Essence!

When Ye Guan discovered the two Supreme Emperor Origin Essence Veins, he was overjoyed. To him, they were priceless. With these pure-grade Supreme Emperor Origin Essences and Supreme Emperor Origin Essence Veins, there were countless things he could accomplish.

Of course, this also made him realize that Ruler Yong's status within the Suiming Civilization was anything but ordinary. To Ye Guan, even in the Old Lands, pure-grade Supreme Emperor Origin Essence Veins had to be incredibly rare, but Ruler Yong actually had two of them.

As for the black-robed elder's ring, it was also filled with treasures, including over two thousand pure-grade Supreme Emperor Origin Essences and three Emperor-grade weapons!

Gazing at the two rings before him, Ye Guan couldn't help but sigh.

He was rich!

Now, he had the resources, but what he lacked was time!

Ye Guan's expression gradually grew solemn. He knew the Suiming Civilization wouldn't give him much time.

After a moment of contemplation, he immediately moved the two pure-grade Supreme Emperor Origin Essence Veins into the tiny pagoda. As soon as they entered, the spiritual energy within the pagoda surged visibly.

Ye Guan then gathered the two hundred swordsmen. At present, a hundred and thirty-seven of them had already reached the Quasi-Emperor Realm. Moreover, thanks to the rigorous training of the Bronze War Generals, their combat prowess had improved by an unimaginable degree. It could be said that if they stepped outside, they could effortlessly crush the entire Ten Desolate Universe and the Forbidden Wildlands.

After all, they had spent hundreds of years in bitter cultivation within the tiny pagoda!

Without wasting words, Ye Guan flicked his sleeve, and one hundred thirty-seven wisps of Supreme Emperor Origin Essences appeared before the Quasi Emperor swordsmen.

Upon seeing the wisps of Supreme Emperor Origin Essences, the swordsmen were momentarily stunned.

Ye Guan calmly remarked, "From this moment on, you will focus on becoming a Sword Emperor."

Hearing that, the swordsmen's blood boiled with excitement. The next moment, they all dropped to their knees, and their voices trembled with emotion as they said, "Thank you, Supreme Emperor Guan!"

They were deeply grateful to Ye Guan. Without him, they had no idea how many lifetimes it would take them to reach the Quasi-Emperor Realm.

And now, he was even giving them Supreme Emperor Origin Essences to help them reach the Supreme Emperor Realm. This was something they had never even dared to dream of!

"Everyone, a great battle is nigh. When the time comes, I will need your strength," he said.

The swordsman responded in unison.

"We will fight to the death for you!"

Ye Guan nodded, smiling. "Continue your cultivation."

The two hundred swordsmen bowed deeply before transforming into streaks of sword light, vanishing into the distant void to resume their training.

Ye Guan watched them disappear before shifting his gaze toward the distance.

Just then, Little Pagoda asked,

"Aren't you afraid that once they reach the Supreme Emperor Realm, they might develop ulterior motives?"

Ye Guan replied calmly, "Who would dare?"

With that, he turned and faced the two hundred Bronze Guards. They had already been subdued by Little Soul, and now, his task was to gain control over them.

He had attempted to use the secret technique from the Suiming Ruins to control them, but he failed. Still, this was no obstacle for him. With a thought, he commanded, "Little Soul!"

Soon, fragments of Ruler Yong's memories that were extracted by Little Soul entered Ye Guan's sea of consciousness.

Little Soul possessed the ability to extract memories, though unfortunately, they were in fragments.

After a moment, Ye Guan slowly opened his eyes. He now had a basic understanding of the Suiming Civilization. The memories were too fragmented, but fortunately, he had obtained the method to control the Bronze Guards.

He chanted an incantation, and the Bronze Guards trembled. Moments later, they all knelt before him.

Seeing that, Ye Guan's lips curled into a smile.

The Bronze Divine Guards were far from ordinary. Even in the Old Lands, they would prove immensely useful, after all, their cultivation was being suppressed here.

Just then, Ye Guan recalled something and said, "Eclipse Sun."

Swoosh!

A streak of sword light descended beside him.

Ye Guan opened his palm, revealing a storage ring, which he placed before Eclipse Sun. "Take this to my elder brother and the others. There's a wisp of Supreme Emperor Origin Essence inside for you as well."

Eclipse Sun was ecstatic. He accepted the ring, bowed slightly, and said, "As you command!"

With that, he transformed into a flash of sword light and vanished.

Ye Guan turned his gaze toward the Bronze Guards, his eyes narrowing in thought.

Little Pagoda suddenly asked, "What are you scheming now?"

Ye Guan smiled but said nothing.

"Come on, give me a hint! My brain is fried from reading too many books lately!"

"Master Pagoda, tell me, how do you think the Suiming Civilization will deal with me?"

Little Pagoda fell silent before replying in a grave tone, "You mean..."

"I hope they'll come at me with full force this time..."

"Holy shit!" Little Pagoda suddenly grew excited. "I see what you're planning now! Damn, you're such a devious punk!"

***

The once-silent starry skies. The next moment, a rift in spacetime was torn open. A man slowly stepped out of the rift. He wore a dark robe, and his long hair cascaded down his shoulders.

He was exuding an air of wild dominance mixed with chilling coldness.

A white-armored cultivator, gripping a long spear stood beside him. The white-armored cultivator's face was cold, and he was radiating a murderous aura.

Over a hundred spear-wielding Gold Divine Guards stood in silence behind them.

The dark-robed man closed his eyes and murmured, "As expected of the strongest Chief Enforcement Officer in the history of the Suiming Civilization... No matter how I struggle, I cannot break free from her mysterious seal..."

Beixin Ci!

The white-armored man's gaze flickered, not just with respect, but with deep apprehension as well.

The dark-robed man suddenly looked at the starry region down below. "Bai Qin, tell me, how should we deal with that swordsman?"

Bai Qin emotionlessly replied, "I will follow my lord's command."

The dark-robed man's expression was indifferent as he said, "Let's annihilate them, then."