777 Sharpen a Sword in Ten Years (1/2)
However, since the Tombs of Immortal was fully developed ten years ago, and the treasures from within it came out, the Southern Heaven Region went from prosperity to decline. It was just like a gold mine that had been mined out. Due to inertia, the prosperity of Feng Du, the city at the gate of the Tombs of Immortal, continued to flourish. But it's gradual decline was a forgone conclusion. Until three years ago, where a large area in the Southern Heaven Region which centered around the Tombs of Immortal was designated as a controlled area overnight. Ordinary people were not allowed to enter or leave at will. Many industries in the city were forced to move out. Although the Union of Ten Thousand Immortals compensated for this, the Southern Heaven Region was completely decayed. Due to the fact that this change happened too fast, the economic bubble of the Tombs of Immortal burst ahead of time. For this reason, there were countless people from the mortal world and immortal cultivation world who killed themselves. Every other day, it was often seen on the cliff in the Southern Heaven Region that people jumped to their deaths one after another like dumplings. It was indeed a marvel in recent years in the Nine Regions.
As a result, the Union of Ten Thousand Immortals who inadvertently caused this severe consequences due to its ban had to bear the public pressure. Even if the people who issued the ban were in the joint name of Wang Lu and Hetu, it could not shut the protest from the people of the Southern Heaven Regions. For this reason, at the high level meeting of Heavenly Sage Hall, the Elders from the Southern Heaven Region repeatedly made troubles against the proposals from Shengjing Sect and Spirit Sword Sect. So much that there were even signs of uproar within the several Immortal Cultivation Sects in the Southern Heaven Region.
However, this was the limit that the Southern Heaven Region could do. Perhaps ten years ago they could still use all kinds of resources to protect their interests. However, now, when the joint document of Wang Lu and Hetu was issued, this was the general trend, and no one could stop it. Now the Union of Ten Thousand Immortals was far more powerful than it was ten years ago.
——
”Bai Ze, are you still not giving up?”
On the grassland, Bai Ze's lonely back looked extremely small. Compared with ten years ago, he looked much older. But his eyes still contained the awn essence, which showed that he had not lost his sharpness. On the contrary, he had become more reserved because of ten years of tampering.
The woman in front of him was as beautiful and picturesque as ten years ago, and with the same perfect face.
Faced with the question from his old comrade, Bai Ze chuckled lightly: ”... It's not about giving up or not, but just doing what I should do.”
”And the thing that you should do is to wander aimlessly on the grassland? Bai Ze, everyone is waiting for you.”
”I know.” Bai Ze's smile was unchanged. ”Did Lu Biechen help you find me?”
”Since you hide yourself this far, how else could I find you?” Xuan Mo was a bit angry. ”You still can't accept our submission to the Union of Ten Thousand Immortals?”
”If you agree to bet, you must accept to lose. There's nothing unacceptable to it. We lost the Grand Competition, and the Union of Ten Thousand Immortals won the approval and inheritance of the boss. Even Senior Gem Emperor is dead set on being at Wang Lu's side. Under such circumstances, what else can we do if not submit? You guys have made the right choice by not using your precious power for internal friction.”
These words caused Xuan Mo to startle a bit.
Saying truthful things was Bai Ze all right, but this was not like what Bai Ze would say. In her memory, Bai Ze was a straight talker guy. But when he encountered anything, he would negate it first. He rarely approved of anything or recognized anyone. Many people once used to call him mad dog. If this mad dog had not also been Sun Buping's loyal dog, he would've been ostracized. Now, however, it seemed that Bai Ze had changed a lot.
Xuan Mo was silent for a while and then asked, ”Do you blame Senior Gem Emperor for banishing us?”
”How could I? Under the circumstances at that time, Senior Gem Emperor only made the most correct choice. It could only be said that Black's calculation was too deep that she lost right at the finish line. However, for Black to be able to accomplish that step, it was indeed my responsibility. If I had the Supreme Negation at that time, he wouldn't have dared to be so reckless.”
”Since you don't blame Senior Gem Emperor, then what on earth do you want to do?”
”Like I said, I'm doing the things that I should do… When the boss asked me to be his deputy, he needed me to check for his shortcomings. He was so kind to me that I couldn't repay his kindness even if my bones were to be crushed. Now, although I am not willing to admit it, Wang Lu has inherited the boss' inheritance, so I regard him as the new boss.”
Xuan Mo was even more surprised. Bai Ze's hatred of Wang Lu and his Master Wang Wu was so strong that it could be rated as absolutely irreconcilable. But after ten years, it actually became like this!
”He's the chosen successor of the boss, so even if I have hatred in my heart, I would endure it.” Bai Ze explained.
”In that case, there's no reason for you not to come back.”
”On the contrary… It's because Wang Lu doesn't need me to be by his side. He is the boss' successor not his reincarnation. Do you think he needs a noisy person to keep saying in his ear what he did wrong?”
Xuanmo was stunned but she felt that it was really hard to imagine that Wang Lu would allow others to question him at will… In a sense, Wang Lu was much more headstrong than Sun Buping.
”It's not headstrong, but just a difference in the work style. He doesn't need others to negate him because he can do it himself. Therefore, even if I go back now, I can't do anything. Instead, I will make my peers angry because of my habits. So, why should I do that?”
”But…”
Bai Ze interrupted, ”Xuan Mo, what do you think of our situation now?”
Xuan Mo seriously said, ”It's grim.”
”Yes, it's very serious. In my opinion, at any time the sky could split open and the Fallen Immortal swarm in. Ten years ago, they defeated Canglan, which must have alerted the upper realm…”
”Maybe not so…”
”Don't lie to yourself!” Bai Ze suddenly raised his voice, ”Think about the layout of the Fallen Immortal when we were asleep. Do you think they are a group of brave but unscrupulous reckless men? Could it be that they are just a mob with no strategy? Even the loss of a loyal dog can immediately attract Canglan. Do you think there's no one behind Canglan?”
”That's why we should gather our forces to deal with the crisis!”
”So what if we gather our strength? Will the Union of Ten Thousand Immortals lack my strength now? The mass-produced giant Divine Weapon brought out by Wang Lu would be as powerful as me when their performance is maximized. And that batch of production has twelve of them! What is a mere Bai Ze then?”