Once the shimmering twilight around him dispersed, Chen Chuan found himself seemingly back in the ceremonial hall from earlier.
Ahead stood an immense figure: Elder She sat there, with the bulbous lamp still resting before him.
However, he was not the only one present this time.
Glancing to the left and right, Chen Chuan saw two more figures shrouded in light, both just as gargantuan as Elder She, appearing easily twenty-seven or twenty-eight meters tall.
The figure seated cross-legged on the left wore an antique robe, his hair bound in a topknot. His features were resolute, his lips drawn into a tight, thin line, and his eyes steeped in weathered sorrow, while behind him, a white light like a river of stars swirled and flickered across his frame from time to time.
The man on the right had thick brows and piercing, blade-sharp eyes, with sharply chiseled facial features, a firm jawline, and broad shoulders and back. He sat with one hand propping up his cheek in a casual posture, surrounded by wafting, flame-like crimson light.
Vaguely, through the shadowy void behind the three, ash-like black motes could be seen drifting in, only to be instantly obliterated upon entering their radiance with rapid flashes. Even so, each contact carried an impression of violent collision.
Elder She spoke: "The one to your left is named Yu Chenggang, and the one to your right is named Meng Zhenyang. Both are fellow comrades of our Purist Faction, as well as members of Tianshu.
"As for the others, they are all occupied, so only the three of us have come to meet with you. Comrade Chen, I imagine you may have some questions. Whatever you wish to ask, we can answer."
Chen Chuan pondered briefly, then said, "This junior does indeed have a few questions for the seniors. If I recall correctly, I was not among the original recommendations for the Advisory Group. Why did Tianshu ultimately decide to elevate me?"
Elder She's reply was simple. "Of the three candidates recommended originally, your chances of breaking through to the upper realm were the greatest. So, do you think you are more important to us, or are they?"
Chen Chuan nodded. So that was it—practical enough.
In truth, he had sensed all along that the upper realm's intervention to place him in the Advisory Group was never truly due to merits or achievements, even if those had been factored in.
He had also wondered whether it might be because he had previous ties to upper-realm forces.
After all, to say nothing of his involvement with the Tianji Sect, Meteora, the head of the Investigation Delegation, had also openly expressed support for him through official channels. Pacifying him was equivalent to winning over two allies beyond Great Shun's borders.
Yet it now appeared they valued his personal worth above all. Furthermore, it seemed this recognition came not just from the upper-realm powers of the Purist Faction, but from other upper-realm figures as well.
Even as this thought crossed his mind, he felt the entire hall shudder slightly, while the light cloaking the three figures flared violently.
Yet none of their expressions showed the slightest change.
Elder She said, "The Great Impact draws near, and the number of entities across the boundary is increasing. Lately, they have been probing us incessantly, trying to discover flaws in the Ring of the World.
"For now, we can still hold the line. If all goes well, we might even delay the arrival of the Great Impact a little longer.
"Yet that is merely an optimistic estimate. What we truly hope for is more fellow travelers joining us to share the burden."
Chen Chuan felt a slight chill in his heart. In other words, the pressure from beyond had compelled upper-realm factions—even those normally at odds—to set aside some of their existing conflicts. The situation was indeed growing more dire by the day.
Looking up at the three, he said, "This junior has another question. Whether within the Advisory Group, inside the government, or among the martial arts schools, there are undoubtedly those colluding with forces from beyond our realm. I trust their actions have not escaped the notice of the seniors."
Elder She remarked, "You are asking how we can tolerate the existence of such people." He let out a dry laugh. "They are hardly the only ones. Do you think no one within Tianshu harbors similar notions?
"Were that not the case, how could those below act so audaciously?
"Yet there is a reason for this. The entities across the boundary do not all stand against us. Some are willing to help us—or appear to help us on the surface—and we have indeed benefited from them, which is why those people established long-term cooperation with them.
"Back when Great Shun was first founded, those individuals communicated with these extraterrestrial entities, working alongside them to overthrow the former imperial house. This is not unique to our East Continent; nations all across the world face similar issues.
"Severing ties completely is impossible. Relying solely on our own strength leaves us far too weak. Therefore, we cannot simply turn away entities that have extended a friendly gesture; their power can still be utilized, and thus someone must communicate with them."
Meng Zhenyang spoke up then, his voice deep and resonant, carrying a cadence that steadied the spirit:
"By the philosophy of our Purist Faction, we thoroughly despise such dealings, wishing nothing more than to cleanse all this filth.
"Yet it is a fact that the opposing side is far stronger than us, and the Ring of the World cannot be defended by our East Continent alone. It requires the united strength of nations across the world, all of which partake in such cooperation to varying degrees.
"If we were to take a stand, we would be fighting against the prevailing tide. Moreover, the East Continent cannot endure internal turmoil of that scale. Under these circumstances, we too have no choice but to make certain compromises.
"If we wish to realize our true vision, nothing less than power that completely overwhelms the other side will suffice.
"We have continuously sought to enhance our strength, but so has the other side. In truth, this competition has imperceptibly elevated our world's overall capability. Applied to the situation below, the principle remains the same."
Hearing this, Chen Chuan could not help but nod. With that, he had gained a clearer understanding of the current landscape and realized why Tianshu tolerated the existence of certain interest groups.
At that moment, another impact seemed to hit. The tremor felt more violent than before, and the flickering light cloaking the three endured for several moments.
Yu Chenggang spoke up: "Time is nearly up. Let us conclude here." His voice was somewhat cold and rigid, rumbling as it echoed through the air.
Elder She said, "Advisor Chen, we shall leave things here for now. If you have any further questions, you know how to reach us."
Chen Chuan nodded and cupped his hands to the three in salute.
Elder She and the other two gave him slight nods as their light gradually receded, finally sinking back into the shadowy void.
When Chen Chuan looked again, the void had vanished; he stood alone within the ceremonial hall.
He could tell that the three had merely sent projections before him. Still, perhaps because this was a mental contact, he had been able to perceive something of the conditions beyond this world.
After standing in contemplation for a few moments, he turned around and strode out of the hall.
As he walked, he reviewed the public profiles of all Advisory Group members.
At present, excluding the five-member advisory panel, among the remaining seventeen—including himself—there were three Purist Faction advisors, two Implant Faction advisors, two Nature Faction advisors, two Refined Practice School advisors, three Convergence Faction advisors, one Wuyi Academy advisor, three military advisors, and one state enterprise advisor.
The military, Wuyi, the Purist Faction, and the Implant Faction currently formed the core of the Progressive Faction; perhaps the state enterprise could be included as well. On the surface, the Progressive Faction held an overwhelming advantage.
However, one had to consider that the military harbored numerous internal factions with conflicting opinions, and the state enterprise representative would not necessarily take their side, which had resulted in the tied vote from before.
In truth, the maneuvering within the Advisory Group was the pinnacle struggle among the nation's interest factions.
It hinged not only on the advisors' martial might, but also on their responsibility to communicate with the upper realm. The Advisory Group adjusted state policies submitted by the Administration Council according to the specific needs of different phases and those from above, steering the overarching direction.
Yet given the overall efficiency issues of the current governance system, coupled with the friction and entanglements among interest groups, what ultimately emerged was rarely an optimal solution, but rather a compromise struck among various sides.
In Chen Chuan's view, certain factions had become severe impediments. If one indulged in slow political games with them, things would remain forever unchanged, and even the best possible outcome upon the Great Impact's arrival would be nothing more than this.
As for what needed to be done, the Progressive Faction had already provided a clear precedent during the overthrow of the former imperial house.
The only problem now was that every member of the Advisory Group enjoyed the backing of upper-realm powers. If action were truly to be taken, that factor could not be overlooked.
This could not be decided in haste, nor accomplished by him alone. For now, he kept it tucked away in his thoughts and turned to examining the concrete duties required of an Advisory Group member.
First, regarding state affairs, the Advisory Group convened unscheduled meetings—usually when the governing administration submitted critical motions and national policies, such as the current assault on the convergence zone, which required the Advisory Group's approval.
All advisors were required to attend; an advisor could abstain, but attendance was mandatory.
Second, and of greater importance, was guarding the immortality fissure beneath Chiqiu.
It was one of the most vital nodes of the Ring of the World, where Zhongjing and the four surrounding center cities jointly generated a formidable field force to block that breach.
This task was assigned to the members of the Advisory Group on a rotational basis, requiring a set duration of guard duty each year.
Of course, advisors could dispatch power avatars in their stead, provided nothing went awry. So long as no complications arose, no one would question it; should something go wrong, however, accountability would be demanded immediately.
Lastly, advisors were required to break through to the upper realm as much as possible. This was also Tianshu's demand of them, which was why every recommended nominee was the person of highest potential or greatest strength from each faction.
From these varied requirements, Chen Chuan could see that Tianshu was preparing for the Great Impact, gathering as much strength as possible before it arrived.
And for himself, the primary focus going forward would likewise be breaking through to the next realm.
If there was any single greatest gain today, it was obtaining that wisp of primordial remnant; had he searched for it himself, there was no telling how much time and effort it would have taken.
As for the precious materials and cultivation site, he would have to gather and forge them on his own. The next step was to visit the Ring of the World for a look, but before that, he intended to make a trip back to Jibei Dao.
Chapter 1476