“You’re right from your standpoint. But they’re right from their standpoint too.” Feng Qingyou answered seriously after giving it some thought. Everyone had their own standpoints and opinions. No one was wrong for defending their own standpoints. In the end, it was all a matter of greed and desire. Feng Qingyou had no interest in poking that beast. What she was really curious about was the preparations Old Man Profound Firmament had made to achieve his objective. “You must have toiled in secret for many years, Elder Profound. The City of No Return is probably just one of the many moves you have made. What else have you done to fulfill your goals?” If the City of No Return was the only move Old Man Profound Firmament had prepared after all these years, then she could only say that she was disappointed. He would have a better shot hoping that someone would finally discover their conscience than becoming the ruler of all. “Of course not. Don’t look down on me that much, lass!” Old Man Profound Firmament could not be bothered to conceal the truth from her. “The City of No Return is just one of the many nice-to-haves but hardly essential things I’ve prepared over the years. I dare not say I have made a thousand moves like it, but eight hundred? Most likely.” “Besides that, you’re aware that the Profound Alliance is constantly divided by all sorts of things, right?” Thɪs chapter is updated by ɴoᴠel Fɪre.nᴇt Feng Qingyou exclaimed in realization, “It was your doing?” “Hahaha... but of course,” Old Man Profound Firmament declared proudly. “Without exaggeration, I’m the one who singlehandedly stirred up the eternal conflicts between the top five factions of the Profound Alliance. Today, they coexist about as well as water and fire, and it is only a matter of time before a war breaks out. Both tigers must sustain terrible wounds should they fight each other, so all I need to do now is to play the patient fisherman.” “I must say you have concocted quite an excellent conspiracy.” Feng Qingyou’s expression grew a tad scornful. “But have you never thought that the weakening of the Profound Alliance would allow the Rakshasa Kingdom key opportunities to undermine humanity?” “If the nest falls, no eggs will survive intact. Of course I’m aware.” Old Man Profound Firmament smiled. “That is why I’ve also made sure to maintain a precarious yet definite balance between the major factions over the years. I made sure that they would fight, but never break. It is precisely because I’m worried that the Rakshasa Kingdom would pose an existential threat against the Profound Alliance.” “I’m glad to see that you haven’t forgotten your identity yet,” Feng Qingyou replied. Despite her sarcastic tone, she meant it. She was glad to see that Old Man Profound Firmament hadn’t yet become so foolish and desperate that he would prioritize his own selfish desires over the safety of humanity. Then again, if he was that foolish, then he wouldn’t have been able to become the mastermind who played the entire Profound Alliance like a fiddle. “My dream is to become the king of kings, not the prisoner of some petty monster.” Old Man Profound Firmament ignored her tone and nodded solemnly. “That, I have not yet forgotten.” “Hah. I’m not flattering you, so save it.” Feng Qingyou chuckled humorlessly. “Things have taken an unexpected turn though. I do not think that your grand conspiracy will be fulfilled anytime soon.” “No, it will. It will simply take longer than expected,” Old Man Profound Firmament declared confidently. “Even if two tigers are able to battle each other without sustaining wounds, they will surely deplete their stamina. On the other hand, I am gathering my strength and waiting for an opportune moment to strike. One day, I will fulfill my ambitions.” “You have excellent patience, Elder Profound,” Feng Qingyou commented smilingly. Indeed, she would not be surprised if he told her that his zodiac sign was the tortoise. “But things are different now.” Old Man Profound Firmament beamed at her. “Now, we have this god demon corpse. Barring any accidents, the Profound Alliance should be able to deal a heavy blow to the Rakshasa Kingdom, if not wipe them out completely. Once the foreign threat has been dealt with, I won’t need to hold back the factions any longer. It won’t be long before my grand ambitions are fulfilled.” “Now that I think about it, you and young friend Joyless have given me quite the gift.” “Is that so? Does that mean we’re your benefactors?” Feng Qingyou did not comment on Old Man Profound Firmament’s dreams. Instead, she asked, “You’re trying to kill us though. Don’t you think you’re being quite ungrateful?” “That is why I’m giving you a chance to save yourselves.” Old Man Profound Firmament smiled. “No, that’s not right. I should say that I’m giving you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Feng Qingyou prodded, “Tell me.” Old Man Profound Firmament smiled. “You are a phoenix, and young friend Joyless is a dragon. You are both one-of-a-kind geniuses and heroes of the world, and I have a need for such heroes right now.” “If you are willing to join me and serve me, I can forgive all of your past offenses. When I take over the Profound Alliance, you will become the master of all and servant to only one. Influence, wealth, Magia, secret arts, rare materials, extraordinary treasures... I can give you anything and everything you want.” Unmoved, Feng Qingyou asked, “You’re making this offer because you think that killing Joyless and I would cost you more than it is worth, aren’t you?” “Am I?” Old Man Profound Firmament countered. The next moment, a pair of evil-looking, blood red eyes abruptly split open in the pale white sky. The eyes were pupilless. They were blood red in color because a sea of blood was raging inside. Blood poured down the corners of the eyes like waterfalls, quickly forming rivers and lakes that polluted the surrounding world. By the time the blood eyes had fully opened, what felt like infinite power spanned from one end of the nine firmaments to the other. The pale white world had also been completely dyed in red. When Old Man Profound Firmament slowly spread his arms, his sleeves billowed, and his aura choked the world. He looked like the lord and master of this bloody world. “Still think I can’t kill you both?” Old Man Profound Firmament said while looking at Feng Qingyou. Her silhouette reappeared in the right eye, whereas Ye Qing’s silhouette in the left eye became so clear it was lifelike. “It’s not that I can’t kill you. I’m just unwilling to waste such talent, that’s all.” The reason he was willing to waste so much breath on Feng Qingyou was to prepare this art. Now that it was complete, he no longer feared anything. “The Jade Firmament Blood Eyes...” Feng Qingyou was observing the bloody eyes in the sky, however. “You’re a vermin who survived the cleansing of the Jade Firmament Sky Sect?” “You recognize the Jade Firmament Blood Eyes?” Old Man Profound Firmament exclaimed in surprise before laughing a little neurotically. “And vermin... boy, it’s been a long time since I heard that slur. My heart grows fond even though I know I shouldn’t.” “You’re not denying it then.” Feng Qingyou was a little surprised herself. “To think that someone from the Jade Firmament Sky Sect manages to survive to this day. You must be a direct disciple too considering that you have mastered the Jade Firmament Blood Eye.” The Jade Firmament Sky Sect was one of the Nine Dark Ways. Was, because they had been wiped out ages ago. Over four hundred years ago, the Jade Firmament Dark Lord had founded the Jade Firmament Sky Sect. Legend had it that the Jade Firmament Dark Lord was of humble roots until he received the inheritance of an ancient sect of the Dark Ways and invented the great Magia known as the Jade Firmament Blood Eye. The Jade Firmament Blood Eye possessed boundless power. Anyone living creature who was seen by it would explode in body and scatter in soul. It could even dye all the realms red using the Jade Firmament Blood Domain. Not only that, the caster’s strength and power increased by leaps and bounds inside the domain. So long as the blood eye or blood domain remained intact, the Jade Firmament was indestructible. The Jade Firmament Dark Lord was tyrannical and brutal by nature. He once used the Magia to massacre tens of thousands of families at once. Wherever he went, the blood flowed like a river, and the bodies piled up like mountains. Everyone feared him for a time. “The Jade Firmament opens its eyes, and all the realms bleed.” That was how the saying came to be. Thanks to the Jade Firmament Dark Lord’s brutality and strength, what was originally a nameless sect quickly became one of the Nine Dark Ways. They even rivaled a longstanding sect like the Demonic Mountain for a time. Alas, the Jade Firmament Dark Lord was also the reason behind the Jade Firmament Sky Sect’s downfall. The man was brutal and vicious, and he murdered people like flies. To say that he was infamous would be an understatement. As if that wasn’t enough, every art he ever invented was evil and ruthless to the max. The worst of them all was the Jade Firmament Blood Eye.