Chapter 92: The Envoys

At Yuhuang Mountain's villa, Ji Pingtian arrived quickly. He had led a team to the Dayu Headquarters over a month ago. On one hand, he was responsible for managing the affairs of the World-Saving Society in Dayu; on the other, he served to keep Shangguan Xiong in check. It was precisely his presence that kept Shangguan Xiong in line for over a month—the same Shangguan Xiong who, upon receiving Yaoguang's reply, had been so enraged he laughed and planned to show him directly who the real master of Dayu was.

Ji Pingtian was not the only one to arrive. Hong Feng, the strongest powerhouse of the World-Saving Society and the nephew and eldest disciple of Hong Chuan, had also arrived as a representative.

After entering and ordering Lei Yun, Pang Long, and others to guard the perimeter, Ji Pingtian went straight to the point. "We verified the message you had Zong Yan send us. Whether it is the Crimson Star Empire or the Snowdragon Empire, the Star Gates leading directly to the Artifact Sect have not opened for decades. Something... Some kind of change has likely occurred within the Artifact Sect."

"Mhmm," Yaoguang replied. He then asked directly, "How much do you know about the Rebirth Society?"

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"The Rebirth Society?" Ji Pingtian pondered for a moment. After a while, he said, "Because of the Snowdragon Empire’s presence, the Crimson Star Empire cannot openly commit acts that cause public outrage or border on genocide, even if they act as they please internationally. Therefore, they promoted the Rebirth Society. The core purpose of the Rebirth Society is to refine a Ten-Thousand-Fiend Blood Soul Banner. It seems the Crimson Star Empire intends to use this terrible, fiendish artifact to turn the tide of their currently unfavorable situation."

"So, is the Ten-Thousand-Fiend Blood Soul Banner truly behind the fiends? And is the Rebirth Society backed by a great noble of the Crimson Star Empire?" Yaoguang inquired.

"Immortal weapons and fiendish artifacts are the core technologies of the Crimson Star Empire and the Snowdragon Empire. We previously conjectured that they gained global dominance precisely because they bore the responsibility of helping the Artifact Sect refine these weapons. Therefore, the person in control of the Ten-Thousand-Fiend Blood Soul Banner is very likely a member of the Jiang family, the Crimson Star Empire's imperial family," Ji Pingtian said gravely.

However, this was not the information Yaoguang wanted, nor did he believe it was the correct answer. Since he could not get a satisfactory response from the World-Saving Society, he said plainly, "I need specific clues regarding the high-ranking members of the Rebirth Society."

He then added, "Ideally, the whereabouts of President Mo Guang."

As soon as those words were spoken, Ji Pingtian instantly guessed Yaoguang’s intention.

"Absolutely not!" he exclaimed. "According to our intelligence, Mo Guang is likely a top-tier powerhouse cultivated in secret. His strength probably rivals that of Lei Ting, the master of the Stellar Sanctum!"

Lei Ting, a unified martial paragon, was one of the strongest men in the Crimson Star Empire. Moreover, compared to a psychic-will martial paragon, a unified martial paragon had forged a Flawless True Body, which greatly enhanced their endurance and turned them into monsters who rarely ran out of energy. If three psychic-will realm masters from the World-Saving Society charged at once, they would be exhausted by him and killed one by one.

"As martial paragons in the psychic-will realm, there is still a gap between us and the Crimson Star Empire. This gap is not in strength, but in equipment. Our combat suits are mainly level S, made primarily of Golden-Black Thread, and their protective function is designed against hot weapons. However, the combat suits within the Crimson Star Empire are much more advanced," Ji Pingtian said in a heavy tone. "Against hot weapon brigades, they have battle armor, and for life-and-death combat between martial artists, they wear artifact robes that can significantly reduce damage from jin. Although the level of these robes does not match immortal weapons or fiendish artifacts, they are still formidable and can allow the weak to defeat the strong."

"Can these robes block divine weapons?" Yaoguang asked.

"They cannot," Ji Pingtian shook his head. "The Artifact Sect is renowned for the Dao of Artifact Refinement. They have always wanted to make refined artifact-level equipment available to everyone. The so-called famous swords, treasured swords, and divine swords on the market are merely failed products created in their attempt to standardize refined artifacts. However, the materials they originally used were undoubtedly high-grade, so the robes of a Crimson Star Empire martial paragon certainly cannot withstand them."

He immediately followed up, "But compared to divine weapons that are merely made of better materials, those robes are true refined artifacts. It is like the difference between two pieces of steel: one can only be forged into a sword, while the other can be made into a firearm. How can the two be compared?"

"It is enough that they cannot block them," Yaoguang said calmly. "To a martial paragon, there is no difference between a sword and a firearm."

Ji Pingtian was left speechless. On the side, Zong Yan offered a timely reminder. "President, you cannot view Lord Yaoguang through the lens of an ordinary person. Since he spoke with such confidence, he must have a certain level of assurance."

Having spent over a month with him, Zong Yan had clearly seen how rapidly Yaoguang’s strength grew.

"Just find a way to give me Mo Guang’s whereabouts," Yaoguang said, pausing briefly. "In addition, I have a theory."

The eyes of Ji Pingtian, Hong Feng, and Zong Yan fell upon him.

"The main reason the Crimson Star Empire and the Snowdragon Empire lost contact with the Artifact Sect is that a change occurred within the sect. It was either attacked or outright destroyed. The source of this change is the Rebirth Society! However, the Crimson Star Empire and the Snowdragon Empire cannot verify this news, so they turn a blind eye to the Rebirth Society's actions," Yaoguang said slowly. "Their silent permission led you to mistakenly believe that the Rebirth Society was a pawn pushed forward by the Crimson Star Empire to deal with your World-Saving Society."

"Impossible!" Hong Feng, who had been waiting to interrupt, refuted him immediately. "How could the Artifact Sect be attacked? Your understanding of them is far too shallow; you have no idea how great that power is! The place where they reside is sacred beyond measure! It is a supreme immortal kingdom whose full scope we cannot even begin to imagine! How could they... How could they be destroyed...?"

Yaoguang glanced at him. The tone Hong Feng used made it seem as though Yaoguang’s words had trampled upon the most beautiful, ideal sanctuary in his heart.

Not only him, but Ji Pingtian also shook his head. "I will give you detailed information regarding the Artifact Sect in a moment. Once you have read it, you will no longer say such things. The Artifact Sect is indeed powerful beyond your imagination. Zong Yan told you before that behind the Crimson Star Empire is an elder of the Artifact Sect who forged a Dao Foundation. Yet, even such a powerhouse is not their limit. Above them, there are said to be even greater existences... The radiance they emit rivals the sun in the sky."

He looked at Yaoguang. "The ultimate weapons possessed by the Crimson Star Empire and the Snowdragon Empire are merely modeled after the way energy flows within those beings. Refiner masters from the Artifact Sect reverse-engineered those energy patterns and mastered only the basics to develop such weapons. So..." He paused. "Do you truly believe an organization guarded by such great beings could fail?"

Yaoguang glanced at Ji Pingtian and said nothing more.

Ji Pingtian, Hong Feng, and even many other martial paragons were fanatics of the Artifact Sect. Through countless years of tradition and perception, the Artifact Sect had long been sanctified in their minds. To them, it was the dreamland they pursued throughout their lives. To disparage the Artifact Sect was to defile their dreams.

But Yaoguang was different. He had been in this world for only a little over a year. Furthermore, the influence he had soaked up in his original world meant he did not harbor a deep-seated longing for the Artifact Sect. This was a gap in perception. It was much like how ancient people were trapped by the "Three Fundamental Bonds and Five Constant Virtues," unable to break free from them for their entire lives.[1]

In this world, although thinking had begun to be liberated, the process was far from complete. Therefore, continuing the conversation was pointless.

"Search for the whereabouts of the Rebirth Society’s president for me," Yaoguang said, changing the subject. "The truth of the matter... will reveal itself in half a year at the earliest, or a year at the latest."

Ji Pingtian nodded.

***

While Yaoguang and Ji Pingtian were conversing, a guest arrived at the Crimson Star Empire’s military base in Dayu.

Accompanied by Shangguan Xiong, who personally came out to greet him, a man standing over two meters tall and wearing a black leather trench coat quickly entered the parlor, flanked by a large entourage. Throughout the process, Shangguan Xiong appeared extremely enthusiastic.

"I didn't expect such a trivial matter would be worth your personal visit, Brother-in-law," Shangguan Xiong said with a smile.

"The matter isn't exactly small. A hidden gem has been discovered, so our Jiang family naturally had to come and take a look," the man responded coolly.

He was surnamed Jiang, and Shangguan Xiong addressed him as brother-in-law. If Zong Yan of the World-Saving Society had been there, he would have immediately recognized him as Jiang Zhengming, the sixteenth prince of the Crimson Star Empire’s imperial family. He was a genius who had become a martial paragon at only twenty-three years old.

Of course, his brilliance was currently overshadowed by the meteoric rise of Jiang Xuntian. Additionally, since he was now thirty and had still failed to obtain psychic will, his standing had been declining year by year. Otherwise, two years earlier, he would not have married the daughter of the Shangguan family to consolidate his position.

"Enough. Where is Su Yaoguang? Have him come see me. My father was quite interested after hearing news of him and sent me, a prince, to personally invite him... Heh... the last person to receive such treatment was six years ago," Jiang Zhengming said indifferently.

"Uhh..." Shangguan Xiong hesitated.

"Is there a problem?"

"Brother-in-law, you may not know, but I invited him as soon as I learned he had become a martial paragon at such a young age. However, I didn't expect Su Yaoguang to be so arrogant and headstrong. He didn't take my invitation seriously at all. He even boasted that we should walk our own paths, clearly intending to break free from our control... Furthermore..." Shangguan Xiong paused. "According to the information we have, Su Yaoguang is very close to the World-Saving Society and has their full support. Not only did a former director, Zong Yan, personally move into his residence to serve him, but even the president of the World-Saving Society, Ji Pingtian, rushed over to stay at their branch, clearly intending to back him up."

"The World-Saving Society?" Jiang Zhengming sneered. "Those rats who are afraid of the light actually dare to step out into the open?"

"Yes. It was because of their arrival that the people I had called upon to teach Su Yaoguang a lesson about hierarchy and respect became too cowardly to act," Shangguan Xiong complained.

"Heh, it seems some people are forgetting their place. We’ve been too busy with important matters to deal with them, and they’ve grown bolder as a result. I will inform my father to officially declare the World-Saving Society a terrorist organization. Then, I’ll see if those little runts in the Central and Eastern Continents still dare to support them. Anyone who stands up for Su Yaoguang, not just the World-Saving Society, but the nations behind them, will be overturned as well."

"You are right, Brother-in-law," Shangguan Xiong said quickly with a smile. "As long as we speak the word, there are plenty of people who want to be our dogs and replace the original rulers of their countries."

"Well, since I'm already here, we should follow the procedures. We of the Crimson Star Empire are people who follow the rules. However, to ensure he understands the situation, let’s have the World-Saving Society be eradicated by their own people first," Jiang Zhengming said.

Jiang Zhengming leaned back and gave a casual command, "Once the people of the World-Saving Society recognize who their true master is, send a message to that little brat Su Yaoguang and have him come pay his respects to me."

1. In Confucianism, the Sangang Wuchang (Chinese: 三綱五常; pinyin: Sāngāng Wǔcháng), sometimes translated as the Three Fundamental Bonds and Five Constant Virtues or the Three Guiding Principles and Five Constant Regulations, or more simply "bonds and virtues," are the three most important human relationships and the five most important virtues. They are considered the moral and political requirements of Confucianism as well as the eternally unchanging "essence of life and bonds of society." ☜