The First Sword of Godhood

First Elder Dihong’s Secretary Li stood up of his own accord, a remote control in his hand, and spoke: “First, allow me to briefly explain the circumstances to everyone. A few days ago, Yuanshi Tianzun applied to headquarters to borrow the Yin-Yang Dial under the pretext of exploring a faction dungeon. “After exiting the dungeon, he falsely claimed the Yin-Yang Dial had been lost inside. Yesterday, Elder Cold-Blooded Detective of the Jianghuai Branch and I went in person to inquire into the details, but he refused to answer and was even less willing to pay the compensation previously agreed upon. “At that point, Elder Cold-Blooded Detective and I realized something was amiss. We had the headquarters finance department look into Yuanshi Tianzun’s accounts, only to discover that immediately after borrowing the Yin-Yang Dial, he withdrew all the cash from his accounts and transferred a villa under his name to Fu Qingyang. “Elder Cold-Blooded Detective and I immediately recognized this as a premeditated embezzlement of official assets. We subsequently applied to headquarters for a detention order and brought Yuanshi Tianzun back to the Jianghuai Branch for interrogation.” At this point, he raised his hand and pressed a button on the remote. “Following an interrogation by the Jianghuai Branch, Yuanshi Tianzun has already confessed. Please take a look, everyone.” Behind Elder Cai, a screen slowly descended. The projector beamed an azure ray of light, casting a twenty-second video onto the screen. Onscreen, Yuanshi Tianzun sat in an interrogation chair, staring straight ahead. Elder Cold-Blooded Detective’s voice rang out: “Yuanshi Tianzun, look at my medallion. Now answer me: was the Yin-Yang Dial truly lost or not?” “It was not lost.” “Why did you lie?” “I wanted to keep the Yin-Yang Dial for myself.” The video ended there—brief, but irrefutable as an iron mountain. Elder Cai said impassively, “Under official law, how is the embezzlement of public property handled?” Secretary Li answered: “The Yin-Yang Dial is a top-tier Saint-stage item, its value immeasurable. Converted into cash, it is worth at least two hundred million—and even then, it is priceless with no seller. According to the law, Yuanshi Tianzun has met the threshold for capital punishment.” “I question the authenticity of this video!” Elder Dog spoke up first. “That day, the Jianghuai Branch tried to swindle the Yin-Yang Dial from Yuanshi Tianzun at a bargain price, leading to a bitter falling-out between the two parties. I have reason to suspect Yuanshi Tianzun was compromised. The contents of this video cannot serve as proof. Elder Cai, I propose a retrial, jointly witnessed by elders from both the Songhai and Jianghuai Branches.” “Swindle? You old dog, how dare you insult us like that!” An elder from the Jianghuai Branch sneered. “Then how do you explain Yuanshi Tianzun transferring his assets? Furthermore, the statement he provided regarding the loss of the Yin-Yang Dial was vague and evasive, and he refused to disclose information about his faction members. There are no witnesses to prove he genuinely lost the Yin-Yang Dial.” Elder Cold-Blooded Detective chimed in, “I possess a complete chain of evidence.” “This is no minor affair. Every step ought to be verified repeatedly, rather than Jianghuai taking the man away and arbitrarily presenting so-called ironclad proof. I apologize, but if that is the case, our Songhai Branch will not accept it,” Elder Huangsha Baizhan stated in a frigid tone. “Fine by me. However, I suggest remanding him into custody first, having an elder from the Taiyi Sect purify him, and having Elder Fu request the Tiger Tally from the Grand Marshal. Only then will it be fair and just,” the black-robed elder from the Jianghuai Branch remarked sarcastically. “What are you implying?” Songhai’s World-Destroying Skyfire slammed the table in fury. “Looking for a fight, are you? Name the time and place! If I don’t send you returning to the Spirit Realm, I’ll resign as elder!” An argument broke out between the two sides. Fu Qingyang alone remained silent, sitting coldly like a bystander. *Knock, knock!* Elder Miao’s secretary tapped the table, cutting through the squabbling between the two branches. He was an elegant, gentle middle-aged man dressed in traditional Hanfu. “There is no need to bring up capital punishment; let us speak of practical matters. First, embezzling official assets is an extremely grave offense. Headquarters will not allow such a thing to occur.” He picked up his teacup and took a slow sip, unhurried and exuding the ease of someone in high authority. Setting the cup down, he continued: “The Jianghuai Branch has already secured a complete chain of evidence, and judgment should have been passed. Yet headquarters decided to convene this meeting today—a private meeting, with no recordings kept. So let us speak frankly. “Everyone here knows full well what is actually going on, so there is no need for endless wrangling. On behalf of Elder Miao, I shall propose a solution for your consideration.” The secretary looked around the room and said: “Have Yuanshi Tianzun return the Yin-Yang Dial, and compensate with another item of equal value. The matter will be concluded right there, with no public announcement or formal statement.” “The Yin-Yang Dial is a top-tier Saint-stage item! Do you think an item of equal value can just be handed over on a whim? What if Yuanshi Tianzun doesn’t have one?” World-Destroying Skyfire fumed. Elder Dog raised a paw, signaling him to calm down. His button eyes fixed on the cultured, genial middle-aged man, and he spoke slowly: “Secretary Yang, what do you want? Or rather, what does headquarters want?” Secretary Yang said nothing. Beside him, Secretary Li said coolly, “Doesn’t Yuanshi Tianzun possess a Heaven-Worship Set? If he is willing to surrender it as compensation, the Yin-Yang Dial can be considered lost and gone. Headquarters will let bygones be bygones.” Elder Dog’s gaze swept slowly past Elder Cai and across the nine secretaries. He understood headquarters’ mindset now. The evidence did not matter; the video recording was merely a pretext for headquarters to make its move. Headquarters’ stance was clear: the Yin-Yang Dial belonged to the organization. It had in the past, and it would in the future. Whoever touched official assets would pay the price. Furthermore, there was another signal: headquarters wanted the Heaven-Worship Set! Elder Dog did not know what divine secrets lay behind the Heaven-Worship Set, but headquarters had tried repeatedly to acquire it, proving that something crucial was hidden within it—something whose importance far exceeded the set itself. Compared to headquarters’ zero-tolerance stance toward embezzling official assets, it was the Ten Elders’ level of “interest” in the Heaven-Worship Set that worried Elder Dog most. Fortunately, for now, that interest had not yet reached the point of determining to seize it at all costs. Otherwise, those attending this meeting would not be the secretaries, but the Ten Elders themselves. “The Heaven-Worship Set will never be given to the Jianghuai Branch as compensation,” Elder Dog flatly refused. “Do not be so hasty to refuse,” Secretary Li chuckled. “To put it plainly, this entire affair arose from Yuanshi Tianzun’s greed, so he should pay the price. Elders of Songhai Branch, there is no need for you to foot the bill for his mistake. Headquarters proposed a private settlement out of consideration for his face. You may certainly refuse, but next time, it might come down as a red-header document.” This was a threat! A red-header document was an official directive from headquarters, akin to an imperial edict of old. Once such an order came down, refusing it meant betraying the organization. At that point, it would either be enforced by compulsory execution or turn the violator into a wanted fugitive; there was no third possibility. The elders of the Songhai Branch fell silent. A single rank in office was enough to crush a man, let alone a decision from headquarters—a decision from the central authority. How could a regional branch stand against the center? “To hell with this!” Elder World-Destroying Skyfire logged off in fury. His figure vanished from the fluorescent blue beam, leaving it empty. Luo Shen and Huangsha Baizhan sighed softly. Elder Dog remained silent. On the Jianghuai Branch’s side, however, Elder Cold-Blooded Detective and the others smiled. Even before the meeting began, they had already anticipated this outcome. The Jianghuai Branch was merely a vanguard pawn; the one truly seeking to discipline Yuanshi Tianzun was headquarters. Though the Heaven-Worship Set was ostensibly compensation for the Jianghuai Branch, headquarters would undoubtedly take it in the end. Still, the Jianghuai Branch would receive a massive sum of compensation as well as an item no less valuable than the Yin-Yang Dial. *Knock, knock!* A crisp, forceful knocking echoed through the conference room, breaking the silence. Everyone looked toward the sound. It came from Fu Qingyang, who had not spoken a single word since the meeting started. Wearing a snow-white suit, the young master of the Fu family, whose features were handsome to the point of breathlessness, spoke slowly: “I recall that when Fu Qingxuan advanced to demigod and took over the post of Grand Marshal, all Ten Elders sent gifts. Do you remember what she said upon receiving them?” The statement seemed utterly unrelated to this meeting, yet the faces of all nine secretaries changed drastically, and the light mist surrounding Elder Cai violently trembled. This sight left the elders of both branches even more puzzled and intrigued. What had the Grand Marshal said back then? A single sentence from Fu Qingyang had caused headquarters’ representatives to pale and even struck fear into Elder Cai! “Fu Qingyang!” Secretary Li flew into a rage. “Do you realize what you are saying?” The other eight elders’ secretaries glared at Fu Qingyang with hostile expressions, the chill in their eyes completely undisguised. What the Grand Marshal had said back then was: *Let me think—did I put any of you ten old fogies on my hit list?* The implication of the Grand Marshal’s words had been: *Count yourselves lucky that you didn't offend me past the point of no return. Otherwise, the first sword of godhood would strike headquarters folk first.* Now, Fu Qingyang’s dredging up of the past was a warning to headquarters and to the Ten Elders: do not push a young man with the potential of an Alliance Master into an irreconcilable corner. It was an overt threat! “What I mean to say is,” Fu Qingyang continued with a haughty, aloof expression, uttering nonsense that nobody believed, “the Ten Elders of headquarters are men of high virtue and prestige, ever ready to guide juniors, benevolent and kindly. They will surely forgive Yuanshi Tianzun’s fault in losing the Yin-Yang Dial. Perhaps in a few moments, the Ten Elders will pardon him.” Secretary Li gave a cold laugh. “I think you are—” Before he could finish with *daydreaming*, Elder Cai tilted his head as though listening to something, then announced, “The meeting is adjourned temporarily!” Immediately, he vanished from the fluorescent blue beam of light. This sudden turn caught everyone off guard. Elder Cold-Blooded Detective frowned. “How could Elder Cai—” Suddenly realizing something, he glared furiously at Fu Qingyang and gritted his teeth. “What trick are you pulling now?” The other elders of the Jianghuai Branch likewise cast frigid looks toward Fu Qingyang. With any matter, the biggest dread was delays breeding trouble. On the verge of victory, Elder Cai had abruptly stepped away, giving them an ominous premonition. The four elders of the Songhai Branch, on the other hand, showed expressions of curiosity and anticipation. The nine secretaries frowned in deep thought. Fu Qingyang remained seated in silence, neither pleased nor dismayed. Like a master seducer gliding through clusters of flowers without a single petal clinging to him, he had thrown the elders’ hearts into disarray with just a few words while maintaining his own aloof composure. Time slipped by quietly. Half an hour later, the fluorescent blue beam at the head seat flickered, and Elder Cai’s figure reappeared in the conference room. His gaze swept over the elders, lingered on Fu Qingyang for several seconds, and then he slowly announced: “Regarding Yuanshi Tianzun’s loss of the Yin-Yang Dial, headquarters has reached a decision. The punishment is as follows: forfeiture of one Class-A and one Class-B merit, a fine of five million yuan, and one Saint-grade item, with the fine to be paid within three days.” The conference room fell deathly silent. Everyone was stunned. Elder Cold-Blooded Detective’s face froze, sitting dumbfounded in his high-backed chair like a statue. The Jianghuai Branch elders shared the exact same expression. As for Elder Dog and the others from the Songhai Branch, they were shocked, delighted, and utterly bewildered, glancing repeatedly at Fu Qingyang. “Meeting dismissed!” Elder Cai said in a deep voice. *Bang!* On the top floor of the Jianghuai Branch office building, Elder Cold-Blooded Detective shattered his expensive desk with a single palm strike. Documents, books, the computer, and office supplies burst into fragments. The immense crash drew the assistant from the adjacent office, who rushed over and pushed open the leader’s door. “Elder, what happened—” The assistant froze mid-sentence, terror written across his face. Elder Cold-Blooded Detective’s face was hideous with rage, eyes bloodshot and blue veins bulging on his forehead, teetering on the verge of losing control completely. Never having seen his superior so furious, the assistant dared not ask another question. “Get out!” Elder Cold-Blooded Detective snarled through clenched teeth. The assistant scrambled out of the office and closed the door behind him. Elder Cold-Blooded Detective stood in the office for a moment, taking a deep breath to suppress his negative emotions. Blank-faced, he dialed Secretary Li’s number. The other end hung up. A message followed shortly after, saying he was in a meeting. Another half hour passed before Secretary Li finally returned his call. “What on earth happened at headquarters? Are you telling me we’re just standing by and watching Yuanshi Tianzun embezzle the Yin-Yang Dial? And what is with that fine—five million? Are you tossing scraps to beggars?” Elder Cold-Blooded Detective was trying hard to restrain himself, but his tone grew agitated in spite of him. Secretary Li fell silent for a few seconds before sighing. “Let the matter drop here. There will be no further action.” The fury Elder Cold-Blooded Detective had just subdued flared right back up. He ground his teeth: “The reason!” “Fu Qingyang offered headquarters compensation,” Secretary Li whispered. “Compensation that the Ten Elders simply could not refuse. In comparison, parting with the Yin-Yang Dial was acceptable.” “What compensation?” “It is still classified; I cannot disclose it.” “And what about the Heaven-Worship Set? Headquarters was the one that wanted it! Are you just throwing this chance away for nothing?” “Don't let anger speak for you,” Secretary Li’s tone grew solemn. “Forcing him to surrender the Heaven-Worship Set would be tantamount to driving Yuanshi Tianzun to rebellion. If he is pushed to rebellion, the Alliance Masters will inevitably intervene, and none of us will gain anything.” Pausing, he sighed. “Fu Qingyang gave far too much. If that kid enters headquarters in the future, we probably won’t have an easy time.” “And the fine!” Elder Cold-Blooded Detective gritted his teeth. “Not a single cent less than fifty million!” “Do not bring up money. The First Elder already gave me a dressing-down; he found out about the eighty million. Fu Qingyang didn't bring it up earlier as a warning to us—he holds leverage over us,” Secretary Li said grimly. “Accepting an eighty-million bribe is enough to get us into serious hot water.” Elder Cold-Blooded Detective nearly crushed his teeth. He silently hung up the phone. Moments later, the sound of smashing and crashing echoed from the office once more. Outside, the employees trembled, not daring even to breathe loudly. At Fujia Bay, inside the study, Zhang Yuanqing asked delightedly: “It’s over? The Yin-Yang Dial really belongs to me now?” Having just returned from the Jianghuai Branch, he received the good news from Fu Qingyang. This aligned with the deductions of his Astromancy, though the divination had been imprecise, as it involved peak Dominators—figures of that status fell outside the scope of such deductions. Fu Qingyang sat impassively by the desk and nodded coolly. “Boss, how did you negotiate with headquarters?” Zhang Yuanqing asked curiously. He knew Fu Qingyang intended to use the mechanical weapons as leverage to settle the Yin-Yang Dial issue for him, but as for the specific terms of the deal between the Money Prince and headquarters, he was in the dark.