Chapter 1438: I Want to Get Off!

Ye Guan sat silently in the hall, listening to Soul's detailed report. From the highest levels of governance down to the smallest administrative systems, everything was thoroughly considered.

Sui Gujin had thought of it all—laws, systems, and reforms. In addition, she had already implemented them across the Guanxuan Universe, yielding exceptional results.

The Guanxuan Universe underwent a dramatic, groundbreaking transformation.

Waves of realization swept across Ye Guan as he listened to Soul's report. He finally realized just how many flaws and shortcomings the Guanxuan Academy had, and he finally understood the difficulty of governing an entire universe.

In truth, even managing a single city was no easy feat. However, what he sought to build wasn't merely a replication of existing systems; he wanted a brand-new Order, one that would overturn the old, break it all apart, and rebuild everything from scratch.

From the beginning, Ye Guan had rarely been involved in the actual governance or construction of the Guanxuan Academy. Even the Guanxuan Laws weren't his sole creation; it was a collaborative effort led by Lady Ding and Lady Mu.

He had been like an outsider all along. His dream was to create Order, create a brand-new system, but in truth, he had done little to bring that dream to life. He had been doing things on repeat—conquer a universe, draw in the clans and sects to help manage it, and then he would move on to the next universe.

The cycle would then repeat itself.

He was moving too quickly for anyone to keep up with him. Moreover, he was still living in constant anxiety about the future, as his enemies were always more formidable than him, forcing him to keep getting stronger.

His life... resembled that of countless ordinary people, a routine of working and getting by each day. No matter how hard he tried, life never truly got better for him.

Ye Guan looked down at the golden strand of faith in his palm. He finally understood his inadequacy. He lacked the power, yet yearned desperately to accomplish great things. The result? He accomplished nothing.

To put it simply, Ye Guan's strength was not yet enough to support his ambitions of unifying the vast expanse under a new order.

After completing her report, Soul withdrew.

Ye Guan stepped out of the halls of the Inner Committee and walked outside. Within the tiny pagoda, the development of the Guanxuan Universe had indeed been astonishing.

It was particularly astonishing when Sui Gujin took over. In fact, everything changed.

Every city governor and Academy Chief now had to earn their keep. Their positions were temporary; they served ten-year terms and would be forced to step down afterward.

Losing the position meant losing all power. If they wanted to rise higher or serve longer, there was only one way to do so—govern their cities well.

It was a system that left no room for laziness. If one wanted to become powerful, then one ought to advance one's interests rather than one's ideals. Trying to restrain people with morality alone is naïve, as not everyone had morals.

What truly unnerved Ye Guan was that Sui Gujin was not only motivating people through their vested interests, but she was also instilling them with ideals.

"Establish the Guanxuan Order to Build Universal Peace." This was the shared dream and goal of countless members of the Guanxuan Academy. Their ambition was no longer limited to this world but the entire vast expanse.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Whenever people talked about this dream, their eyes would light up with zeal. Seemingly fueled by pure adrenaline, they would vow to change the vast expanse itself.

Even the great sects and clans were handled by Sui Gujin. A decree from the temporary Inner Committee said, "With great power comes great responsibility. The powerful clans and sects must shoulder the mission of exploring the vast expanse and developing new outposts for the brand-new Order."

Internal development and expansion.

Ye Guan stayed in the Guanxuan Universe, wanting to fully understand the laws and systems that Sui Gujin had established.

A month later, at the Divine Temple of the Old Lands.

The core leaders of the three great civilizations of the Old Lands had gathered, and their faces were heavy with tension.

After a long silence, the heavy expressions on the faces of the two leaders, Qiu Yuan and Li Chen, slowly transformed into resolute determination.

Two hours later, Sui Gujin walked out of the Divine Temple. She looked up into the sky. In the distance, dark clouds were slowly rolling in.

"Summon Lord Ye," she commanded.

Fifteen minutes later, Ye Guan and Sui Gujin stood together in the starry skies. Powerful auras stirred around them in the dark.

Ye Guan looked at the woman beside him. Her long hair cascaded down her back, tied two-thirds of the way down with a violet ribbon, ending in a small ponytail. She wore a black dress, exuding an indescribable elegance and nobility.

Yet, she was cold and distant as always.

To her, it had only been a little over a month since they last met. But to Ye Guan, it had been over two hundred years, most of which he spent inside the tiny pagoda.

Sui Gujin ignored his gaze. "News just came in, the Ancestral Starry Domain has appeared."

Ye Guan frowned. "The Ancestral Starry Domain?"

Sui Gujin nodded and explained, "Que Zhan left and went there. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have discovered it."

"Why?"

"You'd never guess where it is."

Ye Guan smiled. "Now I'm curious."

Sui Gujin whispered, "It's inside a single drop of water."

Ye Guan was stunned. "A... single drop of water?"

She nodded.

"How big is the Ancestral Starry Domain?" inquired Ye Guan.

"No idea." Sui Gujin shook her head. "Que Zhan is guarding the droplet right now. Countless forces have already set out from across the vast expanse."

Ye Guan asked, "What do you intend to do?"

"We intend to leave immediately."

Ye Guan hesitated. "What about the Great Daoist Brush Master and the others...?"

"I'm sure they've laid traps for us."

Ye Guan's expression turned grim.

Sui Gujin added, "Don't worry, I'll handle him."

Ye Guan looked at her.

Sui Gujin calmly met his eyes, asking, "Do you trust me?"

"I do," Ye Guan said. "But the Great Daoist Brush Master..."

Sui Gujin turned toward him, her gaze resolute and unwavering. "I will defy even fate itself if I have to."

Ye Guan smiled faintly. "Alright."

Sui Gujin turned away and closed her eyes.

He didn't ask about her plan, and there was no need for him to do so..

Ye Guan said, "Other civilizations will be joining, too, right?"

Sui Gujin replied, "The Ancestral Starry Domain holds the legacy of the Ancestral Civilization. Even a single item from it could shift the balance of power. For weak civilizations, it's a chance to rise up the ladder. For the top elites, it could push them even further beyond.

"That's why every top civilization in the observable universe is heading there, but you don't need to worry, I can handle them."

Ye Guan nodded. "We're leaving now?"

"Yes."

"Lead the way," Ye Guan said.

"You lead," Sui Gujin replied, "Your sword is faster."

"All right." Ye Guan nodded and said, "Show me the way."

Sui Gujin pointed to the right.

Ye Guan opened his palm, and the Qingxuan Sword appeared. He then extended a hand toward her, but she remained unmoving. Ye Guan's face dimmed slightly. "You can go into the pagoda, then."

Sui Gujin shot him a look. "And how would I guide you from there?"

With that, she finally placed her hand in his.

A smile tugged at Ye Guan's lips. "Let's go."

With a flash of light, the two vanished into thin air.

As they traveled through spacetime, Sui Gujin stood before Ye Guan. They were close, close enough to clearly feel each other's breathing.

Ye Guan asked, "Just the two of us?"

Sui Gujin nodded. "The others will arrive later."

Ye Guan nodded, and the two went silent.

After a while, Ye Guan said, "Lady Sui, I feel like we've grown distant since what happened last time."

Sui Gujin said nothing.

"I'll admit," Ye Guan said. "There were times when I wanted to take advantage of you."

Sui Gujin eyelashes trembled but she still said nothing.

"But I swear," he said, "this time, I have no such intentions. None. Really."

Still, Sui Gujin said nothing, but she slowly clenched her fists.

Ye Guan went on, "You always stop me from looking at you. Do you know why I like to look at you? I think you've misunderstood. I don't look at you out of lust. I've read countless books, and I've long since transcended such desires.

"When I look at you, my gaze is full of appreciation. It's like someone staring at a masterpiece. There is no ill intent whatsoever. Do you know which part of you I love to look at the most?"

Little Soul whispered, "Her chest?"

"Shut up!"

Ye Guan cursed inwardly. Then, he stared deeply at Sui Gujin and said, "It's not what you think it is. What I love the most are your eyes. In them, I see confidence and wisdom that sees through the world. That clarity and brilliance set you apart from all other beautiful women.

"There isn't the slightest hint of flirtation or pretense about you, and that is what makes you so irresistible. It makes people want to lose themselves in you... to melt into you completely..."

"Stop, stop!" Sui Gujin's face turned bright red. She stomped in place and exclaimed, "I want to get off! I want to get off this ride!"