Chapter 1036 (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

They would not make Vivian and Lily’s identities public just yet.

Hao Ren knew how it would be from the beginning. The news of the First and Fourteenth Sages would impact the demon hunter world negatively, especially during such time of uncertainty. When the demon hunters began to doubt their beliefs, telling them that their 6,000-year history was a joke would cause unimaginable consequences: it was not going to be mental shock therapy.

The shock was guaranteed but not therapy.

The identity of Vivian and Lily would remain confidential, but at the right time, it would be revealed gradually, one at a time.

After an intense debate with the support of Gregowen’s memories, evidence of ancient instruments and artifacts, and testimony of Lily, the elders had no choice but accepted Vivian as the Fourteenth Sage and Lily, the First Sage reincarnated. But not everyone was convinced; some had reservations, but that was not going to change anything.

For now, this truth was only known to the elders. They would reveal it to the more matured assistants and apprentices, including the masters under the Council of Elders. Meanwhile, they were going to set up a research team. The main task of this team was to explore the collections and ancient treasures in the Netherrealm Clock Tower. During the process, they would gradually reveal more truth and then prepare for public discourse to pave the way for fully disclosing the truth.

The process was complicated. There would be the guidance of public discourse, the creation of momentum, maintenance of stability, and assurance of a channel for criticism and suggestion. Hao Ren had to cover every aspect, but the wise elders would take care of that. Hao Ren believed that the demon hunters would overcome these difficulties. They had strong organizational ability and sense of obedience.

At a small shrine next to the Netherrealm Clock Tower, Hao Ren and several demon hunters were standing on high ground and watching the ethereal technicians calibrating the portals. Though there were still more than half a month before the demonic army could go back, the experts of the demonic army had already begun to prepare for their return. The military portals required a massive amount of energy and Lanina did not want to bother Hao Ren this time. The ethereal technicians were trying to connect the military gateways to the abundant energy nodes of Coldpath to harness the energy that the goddess of creation had left behind.

The experiment was fruitful. Earlier this morning, they had successfully fired up a portal with ancient energy of Coldpath. But it overloaded the gateway, which then exploded.

Lanina was not worried though; it was not a technical problem. The reason for the explosion was probably due to Y’lisabet was passing by the portal at that time. Though Lanina was not sure what the little princess had removed, she must have dismantled something.

“Fate has made a bad joke out of us,” Hasse said, standing beside Hao Ren. He looked at the noisy demons in the square with his only one eye. His voice was low. “The noble idea, the lifetime mission that the demon hunters had been pursuing for the past 6,000 years turned out to be just an illusion that the whisper of a fallen weapon created. Now one of the supreme leaders of the demon-hunter organization is a vampire, the other one is a werewolf,” he said.

After careful consideration, Hasse decided not to follow Hao Ren in calling Lily a husky demon.

“Would you accept these ‘supreme leaders’?” Hao Ren asked and looked at the old demon hunter with a wry smile.

Hasse faintly said, “What did you say?”

Hao Ren waved. “Nothing. They are not interested in staying and rebuilding this goddamn place anyway. Coldpath is too small a stage for us,” he said.

Hasse was silent. His eyes were glowing as if thinking of something.

“But you always have to remember,” Hao Ren continued, “from a moral and logical point of view that you have two supreme leaders. You could say that Lily had died once and abdicated her position. But Vivian… she is your Fourteenth Sage. The title itself may not mean anything, but I believe that it still influences you all significantly.”