Chapter 982: The Thirteen Founders’ Internal Conflict
Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Balance. Ji’an repeatedly emphasized this word, seemingly of the view that the grand ancestor’s promotion was what had shattered the inherent equilibrium of the universe. What Xia Gucheng had done was like a catalyst toward the universal pandemonium; he even linked his promotion toward the Inverse’s sudden assault of the Cosmic Gate…
Xia Fei shook his head and said, “Men will always seek for greater improvement, while water will always flow lower. There’s no reason for anyone to stop and not make any progress. Since our clan’s grand ancestor has been given the opportunity to reach the Founder tier, why shouldn’t he grab it? What does it have to do with the Cosmic Gate? Even if he didn’t successfully advance, I’m afraid that the gate’s days of peace are numbered. Plus, the Inverse watching us is an open secret in this circle.”
Ji’an chuckled softly before screeching, “The founders originally had the opportunity to avoid the decline of the Cosmic Gate, but it’s you! Because of Xia Gucheng’s pride, everything has gone up in smoke! By stipulation, our universe can only have sixteen powerhouses at the Founder tier: Thirteen for the Law Realm and three for the Dark lifeforms. Now, the number of Founder tier experts has far surpassed this stipulated number!”
“The sudden promotion of Xia Gucheng has even more so displaced the balance. It’s already too late for me to tell you all this, though. The Inverse Army has already started the assault and will soon be charging into our side to cleanse the place anew! It shall be a true calamity as the universe ushers in tens of thousands of years of darkness and slaughter!”
*Slap*
Just As Ji’an ended his rant, Xia Fei gave him a tight slap.
A true warrior would constantly improve themselves, all for the goal of breaking their own limits. They would rather die standing than live kneeling! Xia Fei saw that Ji’an’s logic was nothing short of nonsense. For the sake of equilibrium, everyone must not advance or improve themselves. Such an act was practically a disgrace to any warrior!
In his anger, Xia Fei moved to kill Ji’an, but the grand ancestor waved his arm and sent Ji’an someplace else, causing his Nirvana to cut nothing but air.
“Grand ancestor, why did you stop me?” Xia Fei was puzzled.
Xia Gucheng answered, “There’s no use killing him. Ji’an is no more than a pawn of the thirteen founders—someone who has already been completely brainwashed. Besides, I’m afraid that what he said is the truth.”
“Truth?” Xia Fei was mildly startled, asking. “Is there truly such a balance in the universe?”
Xia Gucheng nodded. “It seems to be the case. Every time there’s war between the God Race and Demon Race, both sides will lose plenty of their elites, which results in the severe weakening of the Law Realm. Every time, the reason the war happens is the instability of the Cosmic Gate.
“Strangely enough, as long as the Law Realm remains weak, the Cosmic Gate will regain its stability, almost as if the thirteen founders have had an agreement with the intelligent lifeforms from beyond the Cosmic Gate, and they’re merely in charge of maintaining this equilibrium. As long as the equilibrium isn’t disrupted, those lifeforms from beyond won’t invade our universe.”
Xia Fei found this logic to be unbelievable, and he lowered his head to mull this over.
“Let’s not worry about this matter for now. Tens of thousands of our clansmen are still waiting for us. Let’s settle everyone down in the safe place first before we plan other matters,” Xia Gucheng said.
Xia Fei suggested, “I do have a place able to accommodate everyone in our clan. Though it’s a little far from the Law Realm, it is a very safe place.”
Xia Gucheng shook his head with a smile. “Xia Guanghai has already told me about your place, where there aren’t just countless AI robots but also some revolutionary superwarships, currently in the middle of being constructed. Even the Pinnacle research station is hidden there.
“It’s not a bad location, but this grand ancestor of yours’ title isn’t just for show. I already found a new place for the Skywings to stay, and it isn’t any worse than yours. You’ll understand when we go there and you see it for yourself.”
Xia Fei suddenly realized that Xia Gucheng’s smile was profound, seemingly hiding something.
‘I wonder just where that place the grand ancestor is referring to is…’ Xia Fei wondered to himself.
...
On some unnamed little planet out in the universe.
In the expanse of the universe, this fairly beautiful planet was just one of many and was hardly conspicuous.
There was a waterfall, formed from a gushing river that fell off a cliff thousands of meters high, in a valley. From afar, it looked like a white ribbon wrapped around the mountain wall.
By the pool beneath this waterfall was an elderly gentleman. He was seated on a granite boulder, lazing under the sun. The water from the waterfall splashed from the crash that persistently rained over his body like a drizzle, making for a very pleasant experience.
This elder was almost completely nude, wearing just a pair of blue underpants. Despite his white goatee and hair, he looked to be full of vigor, his bronze skin and muscles hardly any different from that of a healthy young man, sparkling under the sun.
*Whoosh*
A shadow flashed past, and a pale middle-aged man appeared next to the elder. This person had a very sinister and frigid aura about him, which seemingly chilled the valley around them; even that elderly gentleman could not help but frown slightly at his intrusion.
“Chill, that killing intent of yours still follows you wherever you go. The peace and serenity here on Jade Mountain Peak has been ruined by your presence,” bemoaned the elder softly without even raising his head.
Chill was one of the thirteen founders with the most glacial aura. To think this middle-aged man was actually one of the thirteen gods that stood at this side of the universe’s peak!
“Crane, how much longer are you planning to be in seclusion? The universe has already fallen into complete disequilibrium!” said Chill in his perpetually low tone.
Elder Crane waved his hand dismissively, turning his back toward Chill and saying, “I know, I know. This Old Crane is still in seclusion, so don’t come bothering me if it’s nothing.”
“Seclusion?!” No matter how good-tempered Chill was, he could not help but be piqued hearing this. Obviously, Elder Crane was not in seclusion, but skiving off!
Controlling the anger welling up inside him, Chill said in his low voice, “The universe is in turmoil right now, and it needs the strength of all thirteen of us combined. When do you plan on returning?”
Elder Crane let out a yawn and replied, “I reckon several thousand years more will do. Aren’t Mortis, Atrophy, Constant, Smile, Youth, and Rock still around? The seven of you can just discuss the matter among yourselves; no need to come out here and find this wretched old man.”
Chill’s face immediately turned a shade of purple; if Elder Crane was saying that he needed several thousand years more before he would be willing to leave, then clearly he was very blatantly toying with him!
Crane’s venomous lips were still flapping even though Chill had almost angered himself to death. “All those years back, it’s the seven of you who personally claimed the responsibility of maintaining the universe’s balance, saying that you’ll do this until the end of time. As long as we agreed with your plan, there won’t be a need for us to intervene, as you’ll be in charge of everything. Those were your words; why have you come looking for me now, Old Crane? Has the situation perhaps developed to the point that it’s gotten out of your control?”
Chill snorted. “I’m only here to send word on behalf of Constant. I won’t ask any further questions if you’re unwilling to head back, but don’t you forget that the Law Realm was built by us thirteen brothers after much difficulty back then! If it ends up getting destroyed, no one will feel good about it.”
Elder Crane’s eyes shone the moment he heard that line. He almost seemed inundated by what had happened in the past, though his two eyes dimmed and became a lot more despondent soon enough.
“I didn’t forget,” Crane rumbled. “That’s something we brothers made together, after much blood, sweat, and tears, way back. It’s not a truth that anyone could change.
“Still, since you all decided to control the life and death of the entire universe following its inception, our relationship then has turned into nothing. Solo decided to become a recluse, living his life solitarily, far away from all, in his anger. Even now, no one knows whether he’s dead or alive. Yore got disheartened and returned to his hometown; no one could find him, either. Meanwhile, Lingua turned to meditation; that lively and chatty person of yesteryear is now a stone Buddha. Talking with him is no different from playing the zither to a bull. Could you all have forgotten about this all?!”
By the end of his speech, Elder Crane had actually gotten agitated! It did not seem to be the usual indignation and anger.
Disputes. There would always be disputes where there were people gathered!
It turned out that the thirteen founders were not all in it together and that there were some irreconcilable strifes between them!
Chill gritted his teeth and quibbled, “Those are the choices you all made; what has that got to do with us? Besides, we agreed on deciding life and death with a vote, and it’s seven to six. You guys lost!”
*Zing*
Elder Crane immediately leaped to his feet when he heard that, and the killing intent inside him was unleashed in its full glory! He was a completely different person from that wretched old man with no care of the world that had appeared moments prior!
There was a glow of determination that shone in his two eyes! Countless veins popped out on his forehead as Elder Crane stared at Chill and said in a deep tone, “Don’t force my hand! I’ve been wondering all these years: Just where did we all go wrong? Why did something that everyone had decided to do make me, Old Crane, so sick in my stomach?!
“It was later that I understood why: The voting itself is flawed! We vote to decide the fate of others, but that’s completely illogical! If you dare to mention what happened all those years back, then don’t blame me for forsaking the relationship we once shared! In any case, you’re left to pick up the pieces of the problem you’ve caused! Don’t even hope that I’ll help you all.”
“It’s not just me. Solo, Yore, Ocean, Lingua, Vista… All six of us won’t be lending you a hand! Two wrongs just don’t make a right; we refuse to keep making one mistake after another!”
Crane was vehement! Only at this moment did this founder’s true strength erupt in majesty! That waterfall got torn apart by Crane’s aura, breaking into tens and thousands of pieces!
Chill was taken aback. He had never thought that his one comment would actually agitate the extraordinary Elder Crane to such a degree. He turned around and coldly remarked, “I understand. Since you feel that this universe should join the Dark World, then I shall send you all to the darkness!”
Crane was unimpressed. “Whatever will come will come. So what if you’ve worked so hard for all these years, managing the balance in the universe? See how it developed still? Don’t we have to face them in the end? You may have evaded them for a time, but you can’t hide the entire time! This is also one of the principles of the universe!”
Chill harrumphed. “No matter what, we have to give it a try. Farewell!”
*Whoosh*
The figure disappeared with his final parting words, and that valley returned to its serene state.
Elder Crane gazed up into the sky for a long time before getting up, heaving a sigh.
“Come out. Chill has already departed,” said Crane loudly.
*Whoosh*
Two figures suddenly appeared, and they were none other than Ocean and Vista.
Ocean, a supergiant who was over three meters tall and weighed over two tons, made his way to the boulder and sat down, nearly breaking the granite as he did. All it took was a light brush of his palm and a handful of popcorns appeared in his hand; Ocean then began stuffing some into his mouth and munching on them.
Meanwhile, Vista was just a projection. No one had any idea where his true body lay.
Lifting his head up, Vista looked in the direction that Chill had departed to and said with some concern, “Though Chill is wreathed in killing intent, he isn’t really the type who walks down the path of a heartless killer. What matters is how the most powerful individual, Constant, decides. Given how he is as a person, I reckon the bloodshed and massacre that will visit this universe will be unavoidable.
The giant fatty Ocean did not say a word, seemingly concerned with just eating the food he had in his hand while he acted as if he had heard nothing. Crane nodded lightly as he gravely noted, “Crucially, there are just the three of us. Solo, the one who can go a hundred rounds against Constant, isn’t around anymore. Even if we want to stop the coming calamity, we still won’t be a match for him.”
Vista and his illusory figure shook his head slowly and said, “That’s not the case.. I heard that the one who broke past the limit this time is a very powerful individual, and his clan isn’t anything to be scoffed at as well.”
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