Chapter 70: Suspicion

The Yue family had operated in Tiannan for centuries, and their roots ran deep and firm. Had they not been wary of the Liao royal family, they would not have feared being suppressed by Lu Zhenhai and Wei Kongming. Even though Lu Zhenhai and Wei Kongming held positions of authority, their actions against the Yue family had been cautious and incremental, as they both feared that pushing the Yue family too hard would force a desperate, mutually destructive retaliation.

After learning that Yaoguang had become a martial paragon at the age of nineteen, which signaled a future of limitless potential, the Yue family had no reason to hesitate any longer. They threw their support entirely behind Yaoguang.

Early the next morning, Yue Nanxing personally visited Yuyuan Estate. Upon receiving Yaoguang's approval and instructions, the head of the Yue family issued a command. A tremor within the local authorities began in the capital of Tiannan and rapidly swept across the entire province. It soon became an earthquake that neither Lu Zhenhai nor Wei Kongming could control.

That same afternoon, Ji Pingtian, one of the three presidents of the World-Saving Society and a top-tier powerhouse who had condensed his psychic will, arrived in Tiannan through a private jet. Without stopping for a moment, he headed straight for Yuyuan Estate, where Yaoguang resided.

***

Yaoguang was on a video call inside the house. Su Chiming was on the screen, looking utterly dumbfounded.

"Follow the lead of the Yue family and take over the management of water, electricity, gas, and the internet to ensure the normal operations of Tiannan's capital. The Yue family will handle the rest, including transportation, logistics, firefighting, and public security," Yaoguang explained systematically. "Someone from the Yue family will coordinate with you regarding the specifics."

"Yaoguang... Yaoguang... W-What exactly are you planning to do?" Su Chiming's voice trembled slightly.

"Don't ask too many questions. Simply mobilize every resource the Su family has and work with the Yue family to allow the capital to operate normally," Yaoguang said.

"This..." Su Chiming felt as if his heart were suspended in mid-air. The tasks Yaoguang had assigned seemed far too surreal.

"You need to change your way of thinking," Yaoguang remarked. "Do you know the greatest difference between an aristocratic family and a non-aristocratic family?"

He did not wait for Su Chiming's answer and directly continued speaking, "No matter how powerful a common family or corporation is, they must behave themselves and operate their businesses within the established rules. At most, they might try find loopholes in those rules to make a profit, but even then, they remain terrified, as if treading on thin ice. But an aristocratic family..."

He looked at Su Chiming through the screen. "They are the ones who make the rules! All rules are established to ensure their interests while allowing the entire system to run in a relatively stable way. They use the formidable power in their hands to force other entities to obey and act according to those rules."

Su Chiming was momentarily stunned. Then, as if a realization had struck him, his pupils suddenly constricted. "An aristocratic family!?"

"Correct." Yaoguang nodded.

"An aristocratic family! An aristocratic family!" Su Chiming pondered the term. After a long while, he looked at Yaoguang with disbelief. "You... Have you already...?"

Yaoguang smiled. "I have become a martial paragon."

"A martial paragon!" Even though he had already guessed as much based on Yaoguang's words, hearing him admit the fact personally left Su Chiming out of breath, looking at the screen with open eyes as he couldn't believe what he was hearing. It took several seconds for him to digest the news, and a wide grin gradually spread across his face.

"A martial paragon!" He muttered the words again. Then, he began to laugh, his voice growing louder and louder. "A martial paragon! My Su family has produced a martial paragon! Hahahaha!"

Laughter was contagious. Seeing Su Chiming’s heartfelt, joyous outburst, a slight smile appeared on Yaoguang's face as well.

"Good! Good! This is truly wonderful!" Su Chiming slammed his hand onto the desk and couldn't help but stand up, looking as if he wanted to announce to the entire world that the Su family had produced a martial paragon!

Zhang Tianji suddenly appeared at the door. Noticing that Yaoguang was on a call, he didn't disturb him.

"The Su family will have a lot to do soon. You must be prepared," Yaoguang said.

"Yaoguang, you can rest assured. I won't make empty boasts, but as long as I am alive, the Su family will absolutely never hold you back!" Su Chiming said, waving his hand emphatically.

"Good." Yaoguang hung up the phone and turned his gaze toward Zhang Tianji.

Zhang Tianji immediately spoke. "President Ji has arrived."

"Excellent." Yaoguang smiled slightly. He had been looking forward to meeting one of the presidents of the World-Saving Society.

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

He went downstairs and walked out into the outer courtyard. As he did so, he saw Zong Yan entering the courtyard with a group of people. There was a familiar face among them: Fang Lu. However, Yaoguang paid her no mind. His gaze was immediately drawn to the vigorous-looking man in his fifties at the head of the group.

His essence, qi, and psyche were noticeably different from everyone else's. Based on Yaoguang’s profound understanding of the psychic-will realm, he instantly guessed the man's identity. He was Ji Pingtian, one of the three presidents of the World-Saving Society and a psychic-will martial paragon. He was roughly at the same level as Zhao Sheng, whom Yaoguang had recently killed.

However, that was not the point. The point was...

"President Ji," Yaoguang said, stepping forward to take the initiative and greet him with a smile.

"Su Yaoguang." Ji Pingtian sized Yaoguang up. When he saw Yaoguang's mental state, which was clearly different from that of an ordinary person, a smile also appeared on his face. "Your name has been ringing in my ears like thunder over the past few days. A nineteen-year-old martial paragon is a rarity not only in the Central and Eastern Continents but even in the Crimson Star and Snowdragon Empires."

"You flatter me. Please, come inside. Let's talk," Yaoguang said politely.

Ji Pingtian nodded. But Fang Lu suddenly spoke up. "President."

Ji Pingtian, who was about to step inside, paused and came to a halt. Fang Lu’s gaze fell upon Yaoguang. "Su Yaoguang, before our exchange begins, I wonder if you could answer one question for me. How did you manage to become a martial paragon in just one short year, starting as a newcomer who knew nothing of martial studies?"

Beside them, Zong Yan hurriedly tried to explain. "There will always be geniuses in this world that ordinary people cannot understand. Do not judge a true peerless talent by our standards."

"That may be true, but as the president just said, a nineteen-year-old martial paragon is unheard of, not only in the Central and Eastern Continents but even within the Crimson Star and Snowdragon Empires. If I remember correctly, the fastest person to become a martial paragon in the Crimson Star Empire was the nineteenth prince of the imperial family, Jiang Xuntian! He was twenty-one when he made his breakthrough! Furthermore, he had his foundation laid since childhood, and consumed countless supplements while growing up. Even after he began practicing martial arts at the age of twelve, it still took him nine years to become a martial paragon." As Fang Lu spoke, she looked at Yaoguang. "As for Yaoguang... He only used one year."

After saying this, she added, "We investigated thoroughly. It has indeed only been one year since he officially began practicing! Moreover, the contrast in his personality before and after is extreme! When such a situation occurs... There is usually only one possibility!"

"Impossible!" Zong Yan said without hesitation. "Since Yaoguang entered the martial world, he has been slaying daemons. He can't be..."

"A daemon?" Yaoguang repeated.

He thought about it for a moment. Since even some daemons thought his origins were suspicious, it was only natural for the World-Saving Society to have such thoughts. In certain aspects, he did indeed share some traits with them. So...

The smile on Yaoguang’s face faded slightly. "Whether you believe it or not, I am not a daemon."

"Whether you are a daemon or not is not for you to decide." Fang Lu sneered.

"Fang Lu!" Zong Yan barked in dissatisfaction. He then turned to Ji Pingtian. "President Ji, aren't you afraid that such baseless accusations without evidence will alienate the hearts of true geniuses who wish to join us?"

"That is why I came personally. This in itself represents the sincerity of our World-Saving Society," Ji Pingtian said in a solemn voice.

He looked at Yaoguang. "If you had spent nine, eight, or even seven or six years to become a martial paragon, the World-Saving Society would have spared no effort to cultivate you without hesitation. However, the existence of fiends should make you realize that the world is not as simple as it appears. There will always be special lifeforms capable of hiding within a human body to deceive the world. Therefore, I hope you can accompany me to the headquarters and undergo a period of observation. Once it is confirmed that you are indeed not a fiend, all the resources of the World-Saving Society will be placed at your disposal."

After finishing, the President added with heavy emphasis, "I hope you can understand and cooperate."

"Go to the World-Saving Society's headquarters and accept observation?" Upon hearing Ji Pingtian’s words, Yaoguang suddenly turned to Zong Yan and Fang Lu. "This scene feels very familiar to me."

"What do you mean?" Fang Lu frowned.

"A few days ago, Xia Wuyuan, who exposed the truth of the Rebirth Society, was also placed under control and kept in the royal capital's Grand Prosecutor's Office. In the end... he died." Yaoguang smiled. "The scene before me seems the same; it's just a different person and a different place."

"Su Yaoguang!" Fang Lu shouted sharply. "What is the meaning of that? Are you suggesting that we are in league with the Rebirth Society—"

"I am simply stating a fact." Yaoguang reached out to interrupt her. "Compared to Xia Wuyuan merely exposing the existence of the Rebirth Society, I directly killed the person in charge of the Rebirth Society in Dayu and nearly uprooted their power in this country. Right now, I am likely the person the Rebirth Society wants to eliminate most."

He turned his gaze to Ji Pingtian. "So... do you still insist that I go to the World-Saving Society's headquarters for observation?"

Ji Pingtian shook his head. "The World-Saving Society is not Dayu's royal family."

"In my eyes, there is no difference." Yaoguang gave the president of the World-Saving Society a serious look. "Now, hand over the 300 billion aster that belongs to me, and our deal remains valid. When the World Martial Assembly comes around, I will still help the World-Saving Society fight the martial paragons of the Crimson Star Empire. If you plan to go back on your word... I will not say anything more. We shall part ways on good terms, and the previous 10 billion can be considered your cancellation fee."

"Su Yaoguang! You are insolent!" Before Ji Pingtian could speak, Fang Lu could not help but reprimand him. "What kind of place do you think the World-Saving Society is? Do you think you can come and go as you please? Refusing to return to the headquarters with us is a clear sign of a guilty conscience..."

"Can you speak properly?" Yaoguang looked at Fang Lu. "If you cannot speak properly, could you please shut your mouth?"

"Asking me to shut up?! You—" Fang Lu wanted to say more, but a terrifying qi suddenly surged from Yaoguang’s body, which was not particularly burly or tall, and locked directly onto her.

The murderous aura obtained from killing countless daemons, coupled with a hint of will that he had only recently begun to nurture, yet surpassed psychic will in quality, immediately caused an unspeakable, skin-crawling sensation to rise within Fang Lu.

A massive amount of goosebumps rapidly broke out across her arms.

"Do you think that you are stronger than Zhao Sheng or Xie Yusheng once they manifested their daemon forms?" Yaoguang said.