LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 368: Intrigues and Power Struggles
Chapter 368: Intrigues and Power Struggles
Within the thirty-second stage, the other two newly ascended Supremes also laughed heartily.
“Fifteen thousand years! Fifteen thousand years have passed since my youth, when I, Bai Luohe, was an incomparable genius, unmatched by any of my peers. I swept through every challenge, advancing without hindrance all the way to the Sage Realm. Even within the Sage Realm, I faced no obstacles-until I reached the ninth stage, where I encountered the bottleneck that has plagued me for so long. And now, finally, after all these years, I have become a Supreme!”
“Yes,” another voice boomed, “the Monument of Supremes in the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands will now bear my name, He Changfeng!”
“…” Xu Lian was left completely speechless by these outbursts. Were Meng Hao, Bai Luohe, and He Changfeng so overwhelmed by their breakthrough that they had gone mad?
The entire Heavenly Mystic Sacred Land fell into an awkward silence. From the elders to the disciples, everyone had a strange expression on their faces. Three Supremes ascending at once should have been cause for immense celebration, but something about it just felt… off.
Perhaps it was because the previous ascension of the Time Supreme-her triumph over the chaos tribulation to become a Great Supreme-had been so awe-inspiring that this current event paled in comparison. The sense of awe was muted. After all, the Time Supreme was a Great Supreme, capable of defeating dozens of ordinary Supremes on her own. Adding three “ordinary” Supremes to the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands didn’t seem to significantly bolster its strength.
Moreover, these three new Supremes appeared overly excited, almost giddy with their newfound power, which diminished their dignity. They lacked the serene, ethereal presence of the Time Supreme, who exuded an aura of calm detachment, like a celestial being untouched by worldly concerns.
Fresh from their ascensions, the three Supremes seemed oblivious to their awkwardness. They emerged from the thirty-second stage and ascended to the thirty-third stage.
Xu Lian finally got a good look at them. Since they had just become Supremes, their appearance hadn’t yet undergone the eerie transformations typical of those at their level. Two of them looked like elderly men with snow-white hair, while the third appeared to be a youthful figure.
The two elderly men were most likely the former Supreme’s junior brothers-uncles to both the Time Supreme and the Goddess of the Nine Heavens. Their names were Bai Luohe and He Changfeng. The youthful-looking one was their senior brother, Meng Hao.
Bai Luohe spoke first, his tone calm but firm. “O, I recall you saying when you took over the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands that it was only temporary until a new Supreme emerged. Now that we have three, it’s time for you to step down.”
Meng Hao chimed in, “Younger Sister, I know your temperament is quiet and you do not like the burden of leadership. Let me take over as ruler of the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands.”
He Changfeng looked at Xu Lian and added, “Hmm, Little Xu is also here. I no longer need the Metamorphosis Elixir . From now on, all the elixirs produced by the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands are yours to use freely. Strive to reach the higher levels of Sagehood and master the laws of the Divine Kingdom. I have high hopes for you. Don’t you think it would be fitting for me to take over as the Supreme of the Nine Heavens?”
Good heavens… Xu Lian groaned inwardly. These three had barely become Supremes, and already they were vying for the position of Nine Heavens Supreme? Talk about inflated egos.
The Time Supreme interjected, her voice steady. “I am willing to step down, but before you three decide who will take over as Nine Heavens Supreme, I want to avoid any internal conflict. You must unanimously agree on one person to assume the position before I can hand it over,”
Of course, Xu Lian didn’t want the Time Supreme to relinquish her position. He needed her to remain in charge of the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands to ensure a steady supply of Metamorphosis Elixir . If one of the other three took over, there was no telling whether they would prioritize him or make changes that could jeopardize his plans. He did not like variables – he preferred stability.
Xu Lian spoke up, supporting the Time Supreme. “That’s right. Since the three Supreme Predecessors cannot come to an agreement, it’s best for the Time Supreme to continue holding the position. This was the late Supreme’s wish, and it reflects the hopes of everyone in the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands”.
At these words, the three Supremes visibly grew agitated.
Bai Luohe and He Changfeng exchanged glances and seemed to have reached a silent understanding.
Bai Luohe then said, “Brother, I think the position of Nine Heavenly Supreme should be decided between the two of us. Meng Hao, our junior nephew, has only been cultivating for six or seven thousand years. He’s still too young and lacks the seasoned experience required to lead the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands. Do you agree, brother?”
This marked the beginning of a tense power struggle among the newly ascended Supremes, each vying for dominance while Xu Lian and the Time Supreme worked to maintain stability and prevent internal strife.
He Changfeng nodded his head in agreement. “Senior Brother is absolutely right. Even though the world seems calm on the surface, there is a torrent of hidden dangers underneath. The waters run deep, and Meng Hao, our junior nephew, still lacks the depth of cultivation necessary to steer the massive ship that is the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands. It would be best for one of us to take the helm.”
Meng Hao was stunned. He had been excluded?
These two cunning old foxes… Xu Lian almost burst out laughing.
Meng Hao sighed helplessly. “Fine. Since the two senior uncles have teamed up to exclude me, there’s nothing I can do. If it’s impossible to become the Nine Heavens Supreme, then I’ll settle for the Nine Heavens Divine Son.”
At the thirty-second stage, he turned his attention to the more than ten Quasi-Supremes. “My juniors, you are all former Nine Heavens Holy Sons. Now that I am the first among us to break through to the Supreme Realm, it is only natural that I assume the position of Nine Heavens Divine Son. Does anyone object? If there are any who dare to challenge me, step forward now.”
The Quasi-Supremes remained silent. A Quasi-Supreme challenging a true Supreme? There was no chance of victory – they lacked the power of the Law.
Meng Hao smiled confidently. “Very well. Since no one challenges me, I hereby declare myself the Nine Heavens Divine Son. And as my Dao Companion, the Goddess of the Nine Heavens will become my partner.”
Xu Lian immediately objected. The Goddess of Nine Heavens was already his preordained “consort” – how could he allow someone else to claim her? Without hesitation, he spoke up. “Respected Supreme Meng Hao, I must inform you that I have already secured a relationship with the Goddess of the Nine Heavens. You may take the position of Nine Heaven Divine Son if you wish, but the Goddess of the Nine Heavens is already my Dao Companion.”
Meng Hao’s smile froze. What? They were already together?
Once the shock wore off, Meng Hao erupted in anger. His Supreme Aura surged and pressed down on Xu Lian. “Repeat that!”
Although Xu Lian was only at the level of a Sage, his divine body and soul made him comparable to a high-level Sage. With the aid of the Laws of Elevation and Suppression from his Laws of the Divine Kingdom, his true strength rivaled that of a Quasi-Supreme. While he couldn’t match a true Supreme, the oppressive aura alone wasn’t enough to cow him.
Therefore, Xu Lian stood firm under the pressure. “I have already established a relationship with the Goddess of the Nine Heavens. It happened two hundred years ago.”
Meng Hao was furious. Among all their fellow disciples, the Goddess of Nine Heavens had always been the most coveted. Her flawless beauty, her perfect talents-she was the dream woman for all of them. For centuries, they had silently competed to see who would reach the Supreme Realm first. Now, after finally achieving supremacy, Meng Hao thought he could claim her as his Dao Companion. But Xu Lian had beaten him to it. How could he not be enraged?
As for the Goddess of Time O, none of them dared to covet her. Only reverence remained. Back when she was still a high-stage Sage, she had thoroughly trounced all of them. After mastering the Laws of Time, she had become untouchable-a figure they could only look up to.
Thus, their ideal Dao companion had always been the Goddess of the Nine Heavens.
The more Meng Hao thought about it, the angrier he became. His hands clenched, his veins bulging, and he wanted nothing more than to crush Xu Lian with a single strike. But suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. He noticed the piercing gaze of Time Supreme and quickly forced himself to calm down.
Meng Hao looked at Xu Lian and sighed slightly. “Even though it seems like you’ve already secured your relationship with her, you still violated the sect’s rules. Do you understand?”
Xu Lian replied calmly. “The sect’s rules are meant for ordinary disciples. I am not an ordinary disciple. Senior Supreme, did you not violate the orders of the Nine Heavens Supreme by misappropriating the Metamorphosis Elixir ? That is also against the rules.”
“You may have broken a mid-tier rule of the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands, but that’s minor compared to what you’ve done. However, disobeying the orders of the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands is the most serious offense-it is tantamount to treason. According to the sect’s rules, you should be executed,”
Meng Hao’s expression shifted uneasily as he glanced at Time Supreme. Then, forcing a laugh, he amiably patted Xu Lian’s shoulder. “We are all fellow disciples. Let’s not dwell on such trivial matters.”
Xu Lian smiled back. “You may take the position of the Nine Heavens Divine Son, but the Goddess of the Nine Heavens is already my Dao Companion. I hope you’ll respect this, Senior Supreme.”
Meng Hao’s face hardened. “Why bother with formalities? Since the Goddess of the Nine Heavens has already chosen you, what use is the title of Nine Heaven Divine Son to me? It rightfully belongs to you.”
With that, Meng Hao announced to the entire Heavenly Mystic Sacred Land and the other eight sacred lands: “After deliberation among us Supremes, Nine Heavens Holy Son Xu Lian has been promoted to Nine Heavens Divine Son and shall be paired with the Goddess of the Nine Heavens as his Dao Companion.”
The disciples of the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands were baffled. Meng Hao, a former Nine Heavenly Saint Son, had ascended to the highest status. As the strongest among them, shouldn’t he naturally become a Nine Heavens Divine Son and pair with the Goddess of the Nine Heavens? Why had Xu Lian taken his place?
The two elder Supremes, Bai Luohe and He Changfeng, didn’t care about the position of Nine Heavens Divine Son – it was irrelevant to them. Their focus was on the Nine Heavens Supreme Seat.
Bai Luohe looked at He Changfeng. “Junior Brother, now that Meng Hao has been excluded from the competition for the Nine Heavens Supreme Seat, only the two of us remain as candidates. We should decide this matter quickly, before other Quasi-Supremes ascend and further complicate things. What do you think?”
He Changfeng chuckled. “Senior Brother speaks wisely. We should indeed make a decision. Allow me to assume the position of Nine Heavens Supreme. Once I take the role, I’ll make sure that you’ll be treated favorably in all matters. What do you say?”
Bai Luohe’s expression darkened. “I am the senior brother – it should be me who takes the position of Nine Heavens Supreme!”
He Changfeng countered, “The position of Nine Heavens Supreme has never been determined by seniority, but by suitability. I think I am more qualified than you!”
The two argued endlessly, neither willing to back down. In the end, they decided to settle the matter by voting. Anyone above the level of Sage was eligible to participate.
And so they summoned the Quasi-Supremes from the thirty-second stage and the Sages from the thirty-first stage, explaining the voting rules.
“I will cast my vote for myself, and the Goddess of the Nine Heavens will cast hers for me. Farewell,” Xu Lian said with a smirk. His eyes burned with desire as he swiftly whisked the Goddess of Nine Heavens away. Although he had already claimed her affection, the final step remained incomplete. There was no time to waste.
He arrived at the palace of the Goddess of the Nine Heavens.
Her cheeks flushed red, and her beautiful eyes gazed at him with a mixture of emotions. “You rascal… you finally got your way.”
Xu Lian earnestly gazed at her exquisite face. “Are you unwilling? If you are, I won’t force you.”
The Goddess of Nine Heavens’ eyes softened with a hint of reproach. “Do you not already know my feelings? You have long since entered my heart. If I were unwilling, would I have let you get this far?”
Overjoyed, Xu Lian wasted no time. He consummated their bond right away.
It had to be said – the Goddess of Nine Heavens truly lived up to her name. Everything about her was perfect.
Some time later, the two of them returned hand-in-hand to the thirty-third stage, where Bai Luohe and He Changfeng were still embroiled in their argument.
Bai Luohe glared angrily. “The majority of the votes support me! I should rightfully be the Nine Heavens Supreme. Why do you refuse to recognize this?”
He Changfeng remained unfazed, his face as thick-skinned as ever. “I have changed my mind. The position of Nine Heavens Supreme has always been directly appointed by the previous holder. If no appointment is made, then it will be settled through strength, not votes. What kind of nonsense is this?”
Bai Luohe exploded in anger. “You proposed the vote! Now that the results are out, you refuse to accept them! Did you plan this all along? If your votes were higher, you’d take the position; if they were lower, you’d renounce. How despicable!”
He Changfeng sneered. “Yes, I did plan to renege if necessary. But don’t act so righteous, Senior Brother. We’ve known each other for over ten thousand years. Who doesn’t know who we really are? Stop pretending – you’re just as much an old fox as I am.”
These two cunning elders… Xu Lian was deeply impressed. After all, anyone who had cultivated for over ten thousand years was bound to be like this.
But that was fine with him. He didn’t want either one of them to prevail. As long as the dispute dragged on indefinitely, Time Supreme would continue to lead the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands-and his priority would remain secure.