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"Strike first to seize the initiative, or strike late and be subdued." Leng Tianfeng's divine mind echoed beside Yaoguang's ear. "Letting the Xie family return to the Artifact Sect first is tantamount to handing them the initiative. If they come back bringing an even greater faction with them, all the effort and achievements you've poured into this place will serve only to benefit others." "I only asked you for information about the Cangwu Realm. Just answer the question," Yaoguang said. "I've already told you what needs to be said. My emotional fluctuations are completely transparent to you; you can tell which of my words are true and which are false," Leng Tianfeng replied. "So you also know I can tell you're deliberately saying this to sow discord out of your own inner fear," Yaoguang countered. At that, Leng Tianfeng fell silent, not daring to utter another word. Three days had passed since the Star Gate opened and Xie Yushu's group departed. Yaoguang was staying at the Longyou Stream villa, inquiring with Leng Tianfeng about the Cangwu Realm, which had led to this conversation. "The Artifact Nurturing Realm holds considerable value, but the Xie family might not dare to take such a step. Stronger cultivators naturally have higher pursuits," Yaoguang remarked placidly. "And what about you?" Leng Tianfeng asked. "Generally speaking, only high-tier cultivators whose potential is exhausted and who have no hope of becoming Great Cultivators choose to oversee a single realm. You are only twenty years old, with a boundless future ahead of you. Why didn't you choose to go to the Cangwu Realm alongside Xie Yushu, Ji Pingtian, and the others?" "You just want to know what the situation is over there yourself, don't you?" Yaoguang saw right through him. Still, what Leng Tianfeng said was not entirely unreasonable. As his cultivation stepped into the Heavenly Being realm, Yaoguang had gradually begun to feel what it meant to reside in a world lacking abundant resources and situated far from any spiritual nodes. If he remained in this world, reaching the ninth rank of Heavenly Being—the ninth layer of Godfiend Body Refining—would not be difficult given his realm. Even piling up his foundation to become a Star Lord was not an impossible dream. However... Without extra resources, the time required for his future cultivation would inevitably be exceedingly long. To become a Star Lord, it might take several decades. Although reaching the domain of a Great Cultivator within a few decades was a dream come true for countless practitioners, Yaoguang had no intention of waiting that long. "I will go to the Cangwu Realm, but only after getting a clear picture of the specific circumstances will I make a decision." With that, Yaoguang put away the Five Emperors Soul Refining Furnace, paying no further mind to the Moon Demon. Just then, his phone rang. When he answered the call, Lei Yun appeared on the screen, looking somewhat dejected. "Young Master... the Master... has passed away." "The Master?" Yaoguang was slightly taken aback. Not long ago, he had spoken on the phone with Su Chiming, who had seemed full of vigor. How could he... Wait. Yaoguang quickly realized who Lei Yun meant by "the Master"—it was Su Huaifeng. Once he understood, his expression quickly settled. Su Huaifeng... In theory, he should have died long ago. Yet as the Su family's influence grew and their access to medical resources improved, a man who was expected not to survive a single month when Yaoguang first arrived in the provincial capital of Tiannan had held on for nearly another full year. A year was truly his limit. Yaoguang felt no great grief over this. After all, he had not inherited all the memories and emotions of the original host, and he was barely familiar with Su Huaifeng, Zhang Ya, or Su Anping. Still, considering that the man was, in the end, the biological father of this body, and that his current cooperation with the Su family was going quite well, he spoke up: "Proceed with the funeral as appropriate." Lei Yun paused slightly, understanding his meaning. "I will inform the patriarch at once..." *** Several days later. A cemetery in the Su family's ancestral home. Dressed in black, Yaoguang watched as Su Yaoyu shoveled dirt shovel by shovel with a face full of sorrow, burying Su Huaifeng's casket with her own hands. Behind him stood hundreds of dignitaries from various circles with somber expressions, many of them with eyes brimming with grief. Among them were Su Chiming, Su Chixin, Su Huaigu, Su Huaiyue, and others. Out of the corner of his eye, Yaoguang even caught sight of Zhang Tianji and Zhang Ya. This biological mother was also covered in tears, appearing deeply devoted to her late husband, but Yaoguang caught a glimpse of deeply hidden gratification in her eyes. In addition to these family members, Su Yaoxue, Su Yaoshuang, and Su Yaoqin were assisting at Su Yaoyu's side. The three of them had lived with Su Huaifeng since childhood. Though they had harbored all sorts of grievances against this utterly irresponsible father, death erased past resentments. When the moment truly arrived, the sorrow in their hearts remained difficult to suppress. Yaoguang, who had not intended to help, saw how slowly Su Yaoyu and the others were shoveling dirt over Su Huaifeng and stepped forward to help speed things along. He recalled that in many places, custom dictated that close kin avoid this particular part of the burial. For some reason, the Su family did not observe that practice. However, as Yaoguang personally moved to help bury Su Huaifeng, as if taking it as a signal, Zhang Ya's wailing grew noticeably louder. It fully exemplified the sayings that a single day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of grace, and that couples hold no overnight grudges. Other emotional women in the family, such as Su Huaiyue, could not hold back their tears either. The sorrowful atmosphere reached an absolute peak. Even Su Yaoyu, and Su Yaoxue—who never shed a tear no matter how arduous her cultivation was—could not stop themselves from weeping. Listening to it all, Yaoguang felt none of the heavy, suffocating mood. Instead, he found it somewhat clamorous. The joys and sorrows of people were not shared. He, Yaoguang, was ultimately not that "Su Yaoguang." Yet on such an occasion, he could hardly say anything. He merely picked up the pace slightly and quickly finished burying Su Huaifeng. Once the burial was done, he dusted off his hands and walked out of the cemetery. The hundreds of people around parted to clear a path. As Yaoguang passed by Zhang Ya, she could not resist calling out, "Xiao Guang..." Yaoguang glanced at her, but did not stop. During this period, as the Su family gradually shifted its center of gravity to the Dayu royal capital, and even showed signs of moving toward Chixing's capital, they had relinquished their interests in Tiannan and handed them all over to Zhang Tianji and the Zhang family behind him. If the Zhang family maintained this momentum, rising to become an aristocratic family was by no means an extravagant hope. However, if they wished to step beyond Tiannan Province, the Zhang family's current foundation was clearly far from enough without external help. Yet as Yaoguang walked away without a second thought, everyone came to a clear realization. Ruling Tiannan Province was likely the Zhang family's limit. The favor had been exhausted here. In the future, unless the Zhang family produced brilliant geniuses capable of prompting the Su family to lend them another hand, it would be difficult for them to rely solely on family ties to keep up with the Su family and walk out of Tiannan when their own strength was lacking. "Yaoguang..." Watching Su Yaoguang head toward the sedan parked at the cemetery gates, Zhang Ya could not stop herself from calling out again. Zhang Tianji stepped forward to stop her, shaking his head. Zhang Ya could not understand. Why was the Su family, who had not even been that close to him, able to cling to Yaoguang's coattails and soar to prominence, while she, his birth mother, was brushed off with just Tiannan Province?! It was unfair! Utterly unfair! "How could he—" "Enough!" Zhang Tianji barked in a low voice. His heavy tone instantly subdued Zhang Ya, freezing her in place as she moved to pursue. Over the years, he had come to understand thoroughly how this younger sister of his had treated Yaoguang. That suffocating desire for control... If Su Yaoguang hadn't been driven to leap off a building to kill himself, it was only because of his extraordinary mental fortitude. Now that Su Yaoguang was accomplished and renowned, how could he ever submit to her manipulation again? Handing Tiannan Province over to the Zhang family had likely been done out of respect for him. Otherwise, the moment Yaoguang became a Grandmaster, both sides would have already become complete strangers—just like when he ran away from home upon reaching adulthood and practically never took the initiative to see Zhang Ya again. "Let it be," Zhang Tianji said. *** The funeral concluded. The core members of the Su family withdrew almost entirely from Tiannan. Even Su Yaoqin and Su Yaoshuang processed their school transfers, traveling together to the Dayu capital. As for the Buzhou Group, professional managers were hired to run its operations. In accordance with Yaoguang's wishes, Su Chiming appointed a man named Zhang Qing to oversee financial auditing and monitor the Buzhou Group's standard operations. By the time all these matters were settled, half a month had passed. *** Naturally, arriving half a month later were Su Yaoqin, Su Yaoshuang, and Su Yaoyu, who was to be groomed as Lin Xia's deputy. Yaoguang and Su Yaoxue had already returned to the Longyou Stream villa ten days earlier. Whatever Su Chiming's reasoning was, upon their return, he did not arrange for Su Yaoyu, Su Yaoshuang, and Su Yaoqin to stay in the royal palace. Instead, he placed them on Mount Yuhuang. After more than half a year of construction, Mount Yuhuang was now heavily guarded. Not only had the entire mountain become private property closed to the public, but numerous security personnel patrolled the perimeter. Not far from the foot of the mountain was an elite military division numbering over ten thousand soldiers, fully equipped with fighter jets and anti-aircraft weaponry. As for the mountain itself, vigorous development had greatly improved access, and the number of pavilions and villas had multiplied. It was foreseeable that with another year or two of development, Mount Yuhuang would truly take on the splendor of a cultivation sacred ground. *** In a newly built villa roughly four hundred meters from Yaoguang's Longyou Residence, Su Yaoxue had been granted a day off by Yaoguang and was gathered with the recently arrived Su Yaoyu, Su Yaoshuang, and Su Yaoqin. The four of them were chatting in the sunroom on the top floor. After glancing toward the direction of Longyou Stream, Su Yaoqin turned with a hint of envy toward Su Yaoxue, who was talking to Su Yaoyu. "Second Sister, is this how you've lived these past few months? You really have so much courage." Su Yaoxue was bewildered for a moment. Beside them, Su Yaoshuang chimed in, "Second Sister has always been bold." As she spoke, she snapped another photo of Su Yaoxue, who looked dashing and heroic. As for selfies, she had already been taking them for half an hour. Mount Yuhuang was currently the most popular and mysterious place in the outside world; countless people considered simply setting foot on it an honor. Now, not only could she visit Mount Yuhuang, but she also had her own villa here. She could already foresee what a sensation her photos tagged with Mount Yuhuang's location would create on her social media feed. Then again, lately no one dared to pick arguments with her online anymore, and her interest in posting photos seemed to have lost that eager anticipation for comments and likes. "What courage? What are you talking about?" Su Yaoxue turned and asked. "Third Brother, of course," Su Yaoqin leaned in curiously. "Second Sister, you've lived with Third Brother for half a year. Weren't you scared?" Hearing Su Yaoqin's words, Su Yaoxue took a moment to register them before realizing what she meant. She asked abruptly, "Why should you be afraid of Yaoguang?" "Him? Isn't he terrifying?" Su Yaoqin whispered. "Like last night during dinner—when he didn't speak, I didn't even dare to make a sound while chewing... He's far stricter than Grandfather." With that, she glanced at Su Yaoxue and Su Yaoyu. "I don't want to go to dinner tonight. Can I skip it?" "Why would you think like that?" Su Yaoyu was also taken aback. "Don't you think Yaoguang has changed a lot compared to before? Granted, we weren't very close to him, but when we met back then, he wasn't this frightening. Anyway, I just don't want to be around him..." "Shut up!" Before Su Yaoqin could finish, Su Yaoxue cut her off with a sharp rebuke. "Wrong! That kind of thinking is dead wrong!" "How is it wrong? Third Brother... we really can't get along with him, and we don't like spending time with him either. Most importantly, he never greets us or anything..." "Get along?" Su Yaoxue sneered. "Who do you think gave you the privilege to sit here spouting nonsense and enjoying this comfortable leisure? If not for Yaoguang, do you have any idea what fate awaited our Su family?" Seeing that her second sister was angry, Su Yaoqin sensibly clamped her mouth shut. "You shouldn't speak about your third brother like that," Su Yaoyu chided her gently, then turned to Su Yaoxue. "Yaoqin is still young. You can just explain it to her calmly..." "Explain it calmly? Do you know what her behavior is called? It's called ingratitude! It's called heartless villainy! Eating their meat from their bowl, only to curse them the moment you set down your chopsticks!" Su Yaoxue scolded without hesitation, "Go look through the family records yourself! If not for Yaoguang, the Buzhou Group would never have survived the coordinated strikes from Zhang Yushu and his clique. It would have fallen into other people's hands in no time. Given Zhang Yushu's ruthless methods and everyone kicking us while we were down, the best-case scenario would have been Grandfather going to prison, all the Su family's assets being seized, and everything you eat and use being auctioned off to pay debts!" She let out a cold laugh. "When that happened, forget living in villas and sunbathing on Mount Yuhuang like you are now—every single one of you would have had to drop out of school and wash dishes just to earn living expenses!" With that, she glared at Su Yaoyu. "You too! Without the status of a young mistress of the Su family, did you really think you could become the general manager of Xingyu International Hotel? You'd be working as a waitress!" This unsparing tirade startled not only Su Yaoshuang and Su Yaoqin, but even Su Yaoyu, the eldest sister, was cowed by Su Yaoxue's intensity, frozen on the spot. After a long while, Su Yaoyu finally managed, "It's not as exaggerated as you make it sound. The Su family was still a major clan in Tiannan..." "A major clan? What kind of major clan holds no real power?" Su Yaoxue laughed self-deprecatingly. "You're about to enter the Speaker's office as a member of the secretariat, so you'll have a bit of status and privilege. Go check for yourself whether I'm exaggerating. Did you really think your competitors were genuine gentlemen just because they acted polite? Do you think they'd magnanimously spare an opponent after achieving final victory? Wrong! More than ninety percent of losers are ruthlessly eradicated, leaving no way out. Commercial warfare is no different!" With an expression of despair over their lack of sense, she swept her gaze over Su Yaoqin and Su Yaoshuang. "You don't understand how to prepare for danger in times of peace, nor do you have any tact or discretion in what you say and do. You treat the blessings bestowed upon you as a matter of course. When catastrophe finally strikes one day, you'll curse fate and wallow in regret—what use will that be? What meaning will it have?" At these words, Su Yaoyu fell silent, at a loss for what to say. Su Yaoqin lowered her head like a frostbitten eggplant. Su Yaoshuang froze for a moment, and then a brilliant spark appeared in her eyes as she looked at her second sister, as if she had found a new purpose in life. "Everyone thinks they're a princess, but many only see the glamour of being a princess without seeing the indispensable skills required to grow into one. One who wants to wear the crown must bear its weight." Su Yaoxue looked at them all, including Su Yaoyu. "I'm telling you this because I want you to understand that nothing in this world is guaranteed. Even if you're able to enjoy a glamorous life right now thanks to Yaoguang leading the Su family's rise, that is no excuse for you to indulge yourselves and slack off. On the contrary, you should seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, strive upward, and continually make yourselves stronger." "This..." These words were an immense shock not only to the sixteen-year-old Su Yaoqin, but even to Su Yaoyu. "The greatest fortune for you, and for me, is that we are Yaoguang's family—his sisters—and that he is generous enough to lift us up. To us, this is our greatest stroke of luck!" Su Yaoxue cast a glance at Su Yaoqin. This foolish sister of hers failed to grasp such luck, to the point of not even wanting to share a meal with Yaoguang. Did she have any idea how many imperial and royal families in the world would willingly bankrupt themselves for such a chance, only to be denied? "If you don't understand this principle and fail to seize this opportunity, then decades from now, while I remain in my prime and glory, you will be decrepit old crones, bickering over petty domestic affairs and wallowing in self-pity. Don't blame me for not warning you today..." Su Yaoxue's tone held a touch of detachment. "Of course, no matter what your future looks like, we are sisters. As long as I, Su Yaoxue, have a bite to eat, I won't let you starve." Su Yaoyu, Su Yaoshuang, and Su Yaoqin exchanged glances. These words weighed heavily on them. They needed time to process it all. Su Yaoxue did not rush them. She had a premonition that Yaoguang was gradually drawing a line between himself and others to pursue what he truly sought. He could not stay with the Su family forever, acting as their guardian deity. Therefore, they had to grow strong as quickly as possible so that the Su family would possess the genuine might worthy of their current standing. Otherwise, should any mishap befall Yaoguang, everything they currently possessed would become a castle in the air, liable to collapse at any moment. After the heavy silence hung over the room for quite some time, Su Yaoyu, as the eldest, finally inferred something. "Yaoxue, are you saying..." "Don't ask me; I don't know. I'm merely accustomed to assuming the worst and preparing countermeasures in advance," Su Yaoxue interrupted. "Then what... should we do?" Su Yaoyu asked. "It's not a matter of what we should do, but..." Su Yaoxue tilted her head and looked at her. "Whether you are willing to do it. If you are, just follow my lead. Whatever I do, you do." Since her sisters were too foolish, it was better that they didn't bother using their heads. "Like you... practice martial arts under Yaoguang?" "Yes," Su Yaoxue nodded. "No matter the circumstances, the only things that are truly reliable are the capabilities and martial might you possess yourself." *** The following day, Yaoguang found himself with a few more sheep to herd. Though slightly surprised, he said nothing. Teaching one person was teaching; teaching several was the same. He would not force anyone to do anything, but if they possessed the initiative, he did not mind lending a helping hand. Heaven helps those who help themselves. *** Time flowed by in this seemingly tranquil fashion. Half a year later, maintenance on the Star Gate was completed, and a new round of calibration began. Another half a year passed, and calibration was complete, rendering the Star Gate ready for activation once more. However, Yaoguang was in no rush to activate it. He departed Mount Yuhuang, bringing along Kong Fang—whose cultivation had surged to the Hunyuan Martial Saint realm after consuming numerous Soul Nurturing Pills—as well as Spirit Intent Martial Saint Lü Tianhe and others, arriving at the site of the Star Gate on Mount Yujing. Yet they did not remain near the Star Gate. Instead, they stayed in an underground bunker over a hundred li away. At the Star Gate's location, hundreds of nuclear warheads capable of being detonated through various means had been installed. Even Great Cultivators who had forged a Dao Foundation could not withstand direct refinement by the Great Solar True Fire; at most, they could intercept attacks in advance or rely on high-speed mobility to evade. Hundreds of nuclear warheads essentially ensured that even if a Great Cultivator charged through immediately upon the Star Gate's opening, they would retain some control over the situation. *** "The agreed-upon time has arrived," Yaoguang said, glancing at his watch inside the underground bunker. "A slight discrepancy in time is only normal." Beside him was the Snow Dragon Federation's newly inaugurated president, Xie Tiandao. "Could it be that the environment on that side is no longer suitable for opening the Star Gate, and they are waiting for us to open it from our end?" Kong Fang suggested. Yaoguang pondered for a moment before looking at Xie Tiandao. "Then let us open the Star Gate. At worst, we'll simply wait another year." Hearing this, Xie Tiandao nodded. As the order was issued, all departments mobilized. At the same time, a new team composed of twenty Martial Saints stood prepared, intending to replace Xie Yushu, Ji Pingtian, and the others to continue exploring beyond the Star Gate. A day later, the activation reached its peak. Accompanied by a brilliance that practically illuminated Mount Yujing, the Star Gate formally opened. Almost the moment the passage was established, the personnel monitoring the Star Gate cried out: "According to our readings, living entities are crossing through the Star Gate..." At these words, everyone grew tense. Yaoguang glanced at the button before him. If anything went awry, they would immediately detonate the nuclear weapons buried around the Star Gate to annihilate the intruders. Under everyone's unblinking gazes, several figures finally emerged from the Star Gate. When those familiar faces came into view, everyone breathed a profound sigh of relief. "It's Xie Yushu!" "Zong Yan is here too!" "Wonderful! They survived over there for a year, safe and sound!" Muffled cheers echoed throughout the underground bunker. Xie Tiandao immediately ordered, "Hand them the communication devices and establish contact. We need to know the exact situation with the Artifact Sect." Moments after the command was issued, Xie Yushu, Zong Yan, and the others received communication devices. The instant the line connected, Xie Yushu delivered the two pieces of news everyone was most desperate to hear: "The war against the Moon Demon Empire—we won." "The Artifact Sect... is gone."