Chapter 528: Chapter 54 Unmatched in the World_2

“So even now that you’ve become like this, you still fantasize about your dream becoming a reality?”

“…At least, I don’t want it to be because of me that this dream gets destroyed.”

“…”

Li Fei was a bit speechless.

But he could somewhat understand True Man Qingding.

This world is never short of idealists.

…

Lanling City, Inner City.

Ye Residence.

In this Imperial City, there were many prominent families surnamed Ye, with several cabinet officials bearing the name Ye as well.

However, when mentioning the ‘Ye Residence,’ people would first think of only one–the mansion of the current Chief Minister, Ye Ze’an.

It was now past 10 o’clock in the evening.

Ye Ze’an had returned to the Ye Residence from the Imperial Palace, a rare occurrence.

This Chief Minister had been in office for forty-six years, and aside from a few days of annual leave each year, he would spend every day punctually at the Cabinet’s Zixu Hall to handle official duties, often working till late into the night.

Therefore, most of the time, Ye Ze’an would simply sleep in the Cabinet, not going home.

Out of the more than three hundred days in a year, the Chief Minister would spend less than thirty nights in his opulent mansion granted by the Emperor.

The Chief Minister’s return to the mansion tonight had set the entire household bustling with activity.

Ye Ze’an had two sons and one daughter, all of whom did not serve in the court.

Only the second son had the talent for Martial Arts and was capable of hosting an Implant, but his Realm was still stuck in the Qi Change Early Stage, making him just an ordinary martial master.

Looking across the Da Lan Dynasty, with such a powerful father dominating the court and yet living such an ‘ineffectual’ life, only Ye Ze’an’s children could manage.

Ye Ze’an had also always been scant with words and warmth towards his children. After returning home late at night, he sent the three who had come to greet him away and finally started playing cards with one of his students in the study.

This was a kind of card game popular among the people of the Da Lan Dynasty, called ‘Duelling Generals.’

Up to four people could play, with a minimum of two.

The Chief Minister, Ye Ze’an, was not fond of beauties, fine wines and delicacies, gold, silver, jewels, or rare curiosities.

His only hobby was playing ‘Duelling Generals.’

But he only played it privately with a few friends or his students.

“Tingzhong.”

While playing his cards, Ye Ze’an spoke up, “What do you think about the Daluo Sect changing its Master?”

The person sitting across from Ye Ze’an was named Hu Tingzhong. He was thirty-five years old and already a Cabinet Minister, a University Scholar of the Zixu Hall!

Hu Tingzhong was one of the youngest ‘cabinet ministers’ in the Cabinet and was also Ye Ze’an’s proud disciple.

Many people thought that Ye Ze’an was grooming Hu Tingzhong to be the next Chief Minister, planning for him to take over his mantle!

Hu Tingzhong did not have a striking appearance; his skin was somewhat dark and he didn’t look the least bit dashing or imposing as a ‘cabinet minister.’

Compared to the unease and tension of others in front of Ye Ze’an, he seemed much more at ease, studying the cards in his hand and saying,

“I don’t know the ins and outs of it, but I think it’s better to have the Daluo Sect close its gates for ten years than to change the Master. With ten years’ time, you and His Majesty can naturally have the entire Taoist sect in your grasp.”

After speaking, he played a card.

Although he didn’t know the specifics of the issue, he could see that the whole affair was actually a scheme concocted by Ye Ze’an and the Emperor.

It targeted the Daluo Sect and the entire Taoist community.

In this scenario, even powerful True Monarchs and Martial Saints were merely pawns on the chessboard!

“Hmm.”

Ye Ze’an showed no surprise at Hu Tingzhong’s assessment. If he didn’t even have this much discernment, he wouldn’t be fitting as his student.

He said calmly,

“Qingxu True Monarch and True Man Qingding have joined forces to steal the Emperor’s Dragon Qi by using the Lifespan Extension Pill–that is the origin of this incident.”

Upon hearing this, Hu Tingzhong’s hand, holding the cards, trembled, and he almost dropped them all.

He looked up at his teacher with a face full of astonishment.

After a moment, he came to his senses and said,

“So, changing the Master is His Majesty’s request? He can no longer tolerate Qingxu True Monarch even for a moment?”

“No.”

Ye Ze’an replied indifferently, “His Majesty has grand plans yet to unfold; he can afford to overlook Qingxu True Monarch for now. The change of the Master is my intention.”

“Ah?”

Hu Tingzhong showed a puzzled expression for the second time.

He saw Ye Ze’an fall silent and knew this was his teacher’s test, so he quickly contemplated.

Soon, he thought of the answer,

“Is Teacher worried about Qingxu True Monarch?”

Ye Ze’an looked at the cards in his hand, “Considering the world as a chessboard, the earth and sky that fill one’s vision seem vast, and it always feels like everyone in this world is but a chess piece, even True Monarchs and Martial Saints are no exceptions.”

As he spoke, he played a card,

“But for someone like the Master of the Daluo Sect, he has the potential to flip the chessboard at any time, I can no longer tolerate him for another ten years.”

Qingxu True Monarch’s explanation to the court was that stealing the Dragon Energy was only for the pursuit of the Elixir of Immortality.

But Ye Ze’an did not believe it.

He was unwilling to give the other party more time and would rather pay a higher price to topple him from the throne!

As Ye Ze’an continued to play cards, Hu Tingzhong found that he was about to be ‘defeated’, and no matter how he played his remaining cards, he would lose.

So, he discarded his hand and saluted Ye Ze’an,

“The student has learned his lesson.”

Once he sat down again, just as he had finished shuffling the cards and was ready for another round with Ye Ze’an, a rush of hurried footsteps came from outside the study.

Then the voice of a eunuch came through,

“Chief Minister, His Majesty summons you to the Imperial Palace immediately!”

Hu Tingzhong was sharply startled and looked up at Ye Ze’an.

A sudden urgent summons for the Chief Minister to enter the palace at this late hour must mean something significant had happened!

Ye Ze’an’s expression was calm, and he stood up unhurriedly, pushing the door open to leave.

Under the night sky, the entire Lanling City was brightly lit.

Peaceful.

…

In the Daluo Sect, the forbidden area behind the mountains.

In the cave dwelling, Qingxu True Monarch held the Jinlian transformed from the eight hundred years of the sect’s accumulated Qi entirely in his hands.

With this Qi at his disposal, he easily blocked Tai Yu’s attack.

Then, with a sweep of his sleeve, all the runes engraved on the surrounding stone walls of the cave dwelling lit up, as though the stars in the heavens had been ignited!

Countless invisible forces descended upon Tai Yu, firmly suppressing him in place.

At this moment, not only did Tai Yu lose control of the forbidden barriers of this place, but he was also temporarily subdued by the restrictions within the cave dwelling!

With the eight hundred years of Qi from the Daluo Sect in hand, even if Qingxu True Monarch had surrendered the Daluo Token, he could easily control everything in the Daluo Sect!

If Tai Yu were a True Monarch, then there might be a chance to compete with Qingxu True Monarch for control via the Daluo Token.

But now Tai Yu could only rely on his own strength to counterattack.

His entire being radiated with blinding and intense light!

In an instant, the cave dwelling seemed to quake, as if the entirety of Daluo Peak was violently shaking!

But in reality, the cave did not tremble, nor did Daluo Peak; it was the fierce clash of the Taoism causing the space to shudder!

“At first, I thought it was all thanks to Yun Shu silently assisting you, Uncle Master, that you could defeat me that day. It seems now that I have underestimated you.”

Qingxu True Monarch looked at Tai Yu with admiration.

The collision of Taoism at this moment was a true test of power and realm, and Tai Yu displayed a strength that was even greater than during the conflict on Cloud Sea Plateau!

Qingxu True Monarch was not a man fond of idle talk, the reason he was still conversing with Tai Yu was that the preparations he had to make were not yet ready, and he was waiting for a response from the outside.

“Die–”

Tai Yu unleashed his fists, and the mighty force of his Daoism surged like a torrent from the heavens, pouring out!

All the Magicians and Martial Artists of the twelve peaks of the Daluo Sect felt the grandeur of this power and were filled with awe.

Qingxu True Monarch stood firm as a mountain, easily neutralizing this wave of assault:

“It’s useless, today not just you, Uncle Master, even if Yun Shu were here, the two of you joining forces would be of no use.”

His usual demeanor appeared to be aloof from worldly concerns, almost celestial.

But at this moment, he was razor-sharp, exuding an unparalleled arrogance and confidence as if he were the supreme ruler of heaven and earth!

Qingxu True Monarch spread his arms wide, his voice booming like thunder, reverberating throughout Daluo Sect Territory:

“As long as I’m within the Daluo Sect, I am invincible in this world!”

…

The second update will be around 12 o’clock tonight, asking for monthly tickets.

PS: I have seen everyone’s comments, thank you all for your concern, to put it briefly:

The house was purchased in Chengdu, with no issues; the seller was in a rush, so indeed, it was luck to find such a deal. Next, I’ll focus on updating and repaying the loan~