Chapter 1425: Borrow the Strength of All Beings, Sweep the Vast Expanse Clean

Ye Guan was sitting by a riverside somewhere in a bamboo forest. The water before him was crystal clear. It flowed slowly, and a gentle breeze occasionally stirred ripples across its surface.

There was a thick ancient book in his hands. He had retrieved it from the bamboo grove behind him. The book was a collection of essays written by an unknown author.

It chronicled significant events in the history of the Old Lands Civilization and was filled with annotations written by Sui Gujin.

Ye Guan found those annotations to be particularly intriguing.

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from behind him.

Ye Guan closed the book and turned his head. Sui Gujin was walking toward him at a leisurely pace. She was wearing a long, moon-white dress that was spotless and pristine. Her graceful, slender figure was accentuated by a purple jade belt cinched at her waist.

As always, she had a calm and composed demeanor.

Sui Gujin glanced at the book in Ye Guan's hand. Seeing her gaze fall on the book, Ye Guan smiled and asked, "You don't mind if I read this, do you?"

"Do you enjoy reading, too?" Sui Gujin asked.

"Yes."

"You want to understand the Old Lands?"

"Yes."

She opened her palm, and a thick ancient book floated over to Ye Guan.

"What is this?" Ye Guan asked curiously.

"The Ancient History of the Old Lands. This book details the entirety of the Old Lands' history. It spans over three hundred billion years. During that period of time, there were mighty cultivators who overcame countless hardships to establish sects and legacies, befitting the reverence of future generations.

"There were also those who defied fate with their own strength, broke through the shackles of the vast expanse, and sought out the ultimate truths.

"Some even pioneered entirely new cultivation paths and founded civilizations that still stand after hundreds of billions of years. Of course, some peerless talents perished unexpectedly and vanished like a fleeting blossom..."

Sui Gujin paused for a moment before adding, "The world is like an infinite cycle. From life to death, and death to life... it's a cycle that repeats endlessly."

Ye Guan sighed with emotion. "Sometimes, I wish I could escape the vast expanse. I want to look at it from a different angle and see what it truly is."

"Your aunt and your father should be able to do that."

"They definitely can," Ye Guan said, nodding confidently.

Sui Gujin looked at him and asked, "Have you ever wondered what interests them now?"

Ye Guan frowned slightly. He had never thought about that. His father and aunt were invincible, so what could still interest them?

"I think it has something to do with you," Sui Gujin remarked.

Ye Guan looked at her.

Sui Gujin calmly said, "That's just how I feel."

"Why?"

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Call it intuition."

Ye Guan was silent.

"What are your plans?" Sui Gujin asked.

"I'd like to hear your advice."

After thinking for a moment, Sui Gujin said, "Since they've invited us to join, we should take advantage of the situation and turn the passive situation into an active one."

"When do we set out?"

"First, let's help your people settle in. I'll handle it for you. During this time, you should focus on improving your strength. It'll be important for later..."

Ye Guan was more than happy to agree. "Alright."

Sui Gujin turned around to leave, but Ye Guan called out to her. "Wait."

Sui Gujin paused and turned back to look at him. "What is it?"

"Do you have any goals or dreams?"

Sui Gujin fell silent for a moment, and then she turned to look at the Old Lands Divine Hall. In a soft voice, she muttered, "I want to sit in a certain chair."

Ye Guan followed her gaze and laughed. "The chair of the Old Lands Sovereign..."

Sui Gujin withdrew her gaze and shook her head. "I'm too weak. I couldn't possibly sit there."

With that, she turned around and began walking away.

Ye Guan casually said, "I'll help you."

Sui Gujin turned to glance at him, but she said nothing before disappearing into the distance.

Left all alone, Ye Guan looked down at the ancient book in his hand and put it away before vanishing into thin air.

There was a massive plain on the southernmost tip of the Heavenly Capital. Sui Gujin was walking across the wild plains, and she was accompanied by a lady, Mu Shuo.

Looking into the distance, Sui Gujin said, "This land is vast. It's more than enough for your people to settle in. However, this land is part of the Old Lands. Once they come here, there will be strict rules and regulations. There shall be no chaos. Even the smallest troubles can lead to major consequences."

Mu Shuo nodded. "Understood."

Sui Gujin opened her palm, and a thick scroll floated to Mu Shuo.

"In the tiny pagoda, you've governed the Guanxuan Universe for years. Your governance has been average. I'm going to point out something important now, and it is something you've overlooked."

Sui Gujin looked at Mu Shuo and asked, "He knows what you all need. But do you know what he needs?"

Mu Shuo froze.

"He needs pure faith power. So, how does one obtain the purest faith power? By treating people well. Those at the very bottom can clearly tell who treats them well and who doesn't. This scroll contains what is called "Ten Policies to Benefit the People."

"How to carry them out is written in detail, so just follow what it says."

Sui Gujin suddenly stopped walking and added, "And don't forget to promote it. You must brainwash the aristocratic faction and clans. 'Brainwash' sounds bad, so let's refer to it as ideological work.

"You must help them understand that the Academy Master is someone to be revered. Only by unwaveringly following the Academy Master can they have a good future."

Mu Shuo was speechless.

Sui Gujin continued, "And here's another critical problem. So far, in the entire universe, only your Academy Master is thinking about establishing a brand-new Order. But what about those under him? Have you ever thought about that?"

Mu Shuo hadn't, and she appeared flustered upon hearing that.

"Your Academy Master has a goal, but the people of the Guanxuan Universe do not. We must make his goal everyone's goal. He led the people of the Ten Desolate World and the Forbidden Wildlands into overthrowing our Suiming Civilization's rule and blockade.

"As a result, the beings of the Ten Desolate World and the Forbidden Wildlands reaped boundless benefits..."

Sui Gujin turned to Mu Shuo and sharply asked, "So how come you haven't done anything to publicize that? Why have you not done anything to spread that news?"

Mu Shuo had no words to say.

"Of course, it's not too late. Remember, you must promote and emphasize it nonstop," Sui Gujin remarked, "You must help them understand that following the Academy Master in building a brand-new order will bring them hope and benefits.

"Once everyone knows that, creating a brand-new Order will cease to be the Academy Master's personal goal. It will become everyone's goal. It will become an Order desired by all beings. Have you considered how terrifying that is?"

Mu Shuo's face became slightly pale.

"Many people don't understand how the world works. Their paths to ascension are limited and sealed. While they understand when they were wronged, they don't know how to express their feelings, let alone resist that injustice.

"But that doesn't mean that they're stupid. They know that things are getting harder. At times like this, we must find ways to guide them, to ignite the fire in their hearts, and let it sweep across the entire universe..."

Su Gujin paused, then added, "I even thought of a slogan for you—overthrow all evil and strive for a universal peace together."

"Circling back to my earlier question, how do we obtain the purest faith power? It's simple. The Academy Master's interests must align with the people's interests. When someone wishes to harm the Academy Master, it basically means that they are out to harm the interests of the people.

"If we can achieve that, all of the Guanxuan Universe will fight the Academy Master's enemies to death, and the Academy Master doesn't have to ask them for help.

"We will know if we have achieved that once the people start feeling that killing the Academy Master is like killing one's parents."

Mu Shuo hesitated before asking, "Lady Sui, isn't that a bit extreme?"

Sui Gujin stared deeply at her and asked, "When has any founding emperor ever gained power through love and kindness? You need to understand that you are trying to change the vast expanse itself.

"This isn't a mere family matter. I actually have more extreme ideas. I don't want to share them with you because you won't be able to handle it."

Mu Shuo was speechless.

"Borrow the strength of all beings, sweep the vast expanse clean!" Sui Gujin exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with a strange light. Then, she added, "If he doesn't do that, he will always be fighting by himself.

"During the war against the Old Lands, did the forces under him help him at all? Not in the slightest. Why? Because those forces have yet to truly align with him. Some of them don't even understand what he's doing..."

Su Gujin looked at Mu Shuo again and asked, "Have you ever had a secret crush?"

Mu Shuo was stunned.

"There are so many people who secretly like someone, but they're too afraid to confess or act on it, so what's the point of that? It really is pathetic."

Mu Shuo's expression turned a little sour.

"If none of you were to change, it'd be useless no matter how many civilizations or forces he gathers under him. After all, they'll never be able to keep up with him.

"Only when his Order aligns with the interests of all beings would he obtain power beyond measure. In future battles, he would wield the purest faith power.

"At that point, if one's father tries to harm the Academy Master, one would kill their own father to protect the Academy Master. Human nature is the hardest thing to control. The best way to control it is to make use of human interest."

Mu Shuo hesitated before asking, "Does the Academy Master know that?"

Sui Gujin turned to look at her without saying a word.

Under her gaze, Mu Shuo felt small and incompetent. Sui Gujin's gaze seemed to be saying that Mu Shuo was a naive little girl.

Sui Gujin looked away and said, "You must understand that leaders can't personally do certain things. Just like what we've discussed today, the Academy Master can't carry it out, but we can do it for him.

"A leader's image must remain positive, radiant, and untarnished. If things go well, the credit goes to the leader. If things go wrong, then we will take the fall. The leader will then step in to set things right."