Chapter 390: It Must Be Supreme Cloud!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"Elder Yun may not know about this, but the current situation is only a temporary solution. This land devoid of spiritual Qi is only the beginning. If Elder Yun is free, this chancellor shall have a chat with Elder Yun to quell your doubts."
As he spoke, Lan Wuxin exchanged a look with Zi Yuanxiang before saying, "Let’s dismiss, everyone. I shall have a good talk with Elder Yun tonight."
The group murmured their agreement and dispersed.
In Yun Yang’s small yard, Lan Wuxin ordered a few dishes to be made and sent over. He then began to explain the situation in detail.
"Elder Yun has been hidden from the secular world for years. Might I be bold enough to hazard that you might not be up to speed on what is going on in this continent?" Lan Wuxin asked.
"This old man has long been away from the worldly realm. Indeed, I am not clear of current affairs." Yun Yang sighed bleakly, "The bustling secular world has long been unrelated to this old man…"
"However, I see that Elder Yun is still concerned about his home country and have pointed your words at Ziyou’s national fate and its people’s livelihood. The passion remains, despite the passing of time and the vicissitudes of life! Elder’s nobility puts our generation to shame," Lan Wuxin said in exclamation.
Yun Yang kept quiet for a bit and said wistfully, "You think too highly of me. This old man is a man disconnected from the secular world and without the intention to step foot in it as well. How the Empire of Ziyou turns out is of no consequence to this old man."
Lang Wuxin chuckled. He no longer had doubts about the identity of this person before him.
"Regarding the matter of this city becoming stale land, it is with reason. There is a purpose for this spiritually-restrained state. As long as this matter comes to an end, there will naturally be a way to recover the spiritual Qi. Everything is done for the empire’s vision, for the future," Lan Wuxin said in a low voice.
"I would like to hear about it," Yun Yang said calmly.
Lan Wuxin sighed and said, "Elder Yun has only stepped back into the world for such a short while. I guess you may not know about Yutang’s Nine Supremes?"
"Yutang’s Nine Supremes?" Yun Yang frowned and lifted his head to meet Lan Wuxin's eyes. "What is the Yutang’s Nine Supremes?"
Lan Wuxin was greeted with puzzlement in the other’s eyes and could not help but sigh as he said, "Those are nine demons."
"Demons?" Yun Yang looked startled.
He was not actually faking his shock.
It was his first time hearing someone proclaim Yutang’s Nine Supremes as demons.
After all, the Nine Supremes were legends to Yutang’s people; they were men of justice who had saved the nation and the people's lives in the eyes of Yutang’s higher authorities as well. Even to most of their enemies, Yutang’s Nine Supremes were heroic figures!
Among the nine of them, the Nine Supremes were all good, heroic people with benevolent hearts! Each one of them was courageous and forthright!
Comments like calling the Nine Supremes demons were really unheard of!
"So I’m a demon to people in other countries?" Yun Yang felt rather uncomfortable being in the enemy’s country and listening to the enemy’s comments about himself. It was truly an unpleasant feeling.
Lan Wuxin heaved a long sigh and said, "It’s a really long story about Yutang’s Nine Supremes…"
Lan Wuxin proceeded to narrate everything from the Residence of Nine Supremes being bestowed by heaven, the appearance of the Nine Heavens Demesne and the Nine Supremes, to the battlefields of various nations being tackled by Nine Supremes continuously.
"Ever since Yutang had the Nine Supremes, the Empire of Ziyou has never had another victorious war. I still remember when the four empires have collaborated to attack Yutang with tens of millions of men in unison, attempting to finish Yutang off in a single war with several times more manpower than Yutang. However, the Nine Supremes emerged then. The wind blew and clouds swirled, the ground cracked and the heavens fell. The tides were turned instantly, a war that was destined to be victorious turned out to be a grand defeat!"
"All these years, the Empire of Yutang is right in the center of the continent and has always faced the invasion of other countries. They have had hard times, but the damage borne by the four other empires due to the war has also been tremendous. In five short years, the total number of Ziyou’s great men perishing in the battlefield has exceeded tens of millions!"
Lan Wuxin’s eyes were moist. "More than tens of millions of Ziyou men were buried in the battlefield even when victory was close enough to grasp!"
"It was two years ago when the Nine Supremes were suddenly ambushed by formidable foes and annihilated; all four empires could breathe in relief again and begin to recuperate. Everyone was prepared to take Yutang down after recovering and then begin their efforts for world domination. In truth, the Nine Supremes were not totally wiped out then. One Supreme has survived."
Yun Yang asked in a low voice, "An intact egg of a fallen nest? A battle that failed! Which Supreme is it who has survived?"
Lan Wuxin snorted coldly in reply, "The official news and the survivor's display of skills has led everyone to believe that the sole survivor is Supreme Wind. However, in our eyes, if it had been Supreme Wind, he would not have been able to possess such great skill as this survivor has shown."
Yun Yang, inwardly stunned, said, "Oh? Why so? Didn’t you say that Nine Supremes were all capable people? Why would you shun them now?"
Lan Wuxin said, "Elder Yun has no idea. We’ve meticulously analyzed the approaches taken, tactics used, and the battles participated by each one of the Nine Supremes. The information on Supreme Wind indicates that despite being equipped with the ability to decide the result of a war, he never possessed the foresight like he does right now. With his extremely impetuous character, it is unlikely that he would behave like this now."
"Such a person would never be able to achieve what the surviving Supreme has in recent times."
"Due to this doubt, we made another detailed analysis for quite some time and came to a conclusion – although this surviving Supreme has been showcasing his ability as Supreme Wind, he’s actually setting a smokescreen. In other words, he is not Supreme Wind himself!"
"Since this person has reappeared, he has been slowly but surely unraveling and drawing out the spies hidden in Yutang’s imperial court. He has then destroyed a hundred year's worth of the Four Seasons Tower’s planning, bit by bit. He has even been manipulating the continent’s state of affairs step by step. Unknowingly, he has maneuvered the winds and clouds and controlled Tianxuan’s general state."
"More so, nobody has ever seen this person’s real self up to now. No one knows where he usually appears and where he’s disappeared to. Each time he emerges, it is in a ghostly and covert manner."
"Such a calculative and tactical approach can only be achieved by the top intelligence."
"Only by thorough contemplation and foresight which decides on an extremely secure route in addition to considering all unexpected circumstances could this be done! This involves unimaginable foresight and tremendously scrupulous thinking!"
"According to our understanding of Supreme Wind, he does not have such wisdom nor is he an intelligent one. As for the other Supremes, they have their fortes, but not a single one of them could have been so all-rounded. Therefore, we’re assuming this remaining Nine Supremes has to be their think-tank, Supreme Cloud!"
Yun Yang frowned and commented in a faint voice, "Is this the Empire of Ziyou’s suspicion? Or does every country in the entire continent think so too?"
Lan Wuxin replied, "The higher authorities of our empire have discussed plenty of times once were we certain of this. It’s furtively acknowledged by the authorities of other empires too. Even when the handful of Yutang’s higher-ups is indicating openly that the person appearing now is Supreme Wind, I believe they must have known, deep down, about the actual truth!"
"This survivor of the Nine Supremes must be Supreme Cloud! Only an intelligent one like Supreme Cloud who is wise, manipulative, and scrupulous could possibly escape a definite death trap. Only Supreme Cloud could possess such assiduous mind. Only Supreme Cloud can manipulate the world’s general direction and the ability to steer Tianxuan without showing his face!"
Lan Wuxin was adamant and confident of his suspicions.
Yun Yang nodded in his heart and said, "If this is so, do you mean that the actual reason the capital city is being made into this state is to target Supreme Cloud?"
Lan Wuxin lauded the ability of the man before him to draw inferences and said with a smile, "Elder Yun is indeed experienced with age. You have hit the bullseye."
Yun Yang smiled deprecatingly, "What is so hard to guess? If it were to target someone else, what you’ve told me would basically be pointless. However, what’s the correlation of sealing Zilong City and targeting Supreme Cloud? Are you certain that Supreme Cloud will definitely come to Zilong City? How did you narrow down the period in which he would arrive?"
Lan Wuxin answered, "Under normal circumstances, Supreme Cloud would not come here. Even if he has a reason to come, he wouldn't be impulsive enough to spring a trap targeted at his cultivation method. That being said, if there were to be a special case and he had no choice but to come, then it’s a different story!"
"Special case? What special case?" Yun Yang asked with a frown.
Lan Wuxin kept quiet for a bit and said, "An elder of Supreme Wind has fallen into our hands."
Yun Yang chuckled faintly. "A good trick indeed."
Lan Wuxin was flustered.
"I won’t sugarcoat this matter. We have indeed acted unscrupulously and in a contemptible manner. However, that elder of Supreme Cloud isn’t someone kind either. This person has assassinated the higher authorities of four empires multiple times previously, with at least several thousand lives in his account. Since we have captured him alive, he should be utilized to the fullest. His life will be used to end the reign of the Nine Supremes!"