Chapter 358 The Great Ancestors’ Choice
Ou Yangming sat alone on the high platform, and he was rather pale. Assisted by many gems throughout the three days, the mental power consumption was far lesser than before.
Nonetheless, he was still depleted of energy after producing 70 Supreme Great Ancestors.
The young fellow wanted to sleep right away without caring about anything else.
However, Ou Yangming’s strong willpower helped him persevere. He gathered his spirit again after performing the Runes Secret Technique to recover his vigor. This was because he knew this was going to be the most important day for him.
Below the platform, the newly-advanced Supreme Great Ancestors and the other cultivators looked at him with respect.
In just a bit more than a month, the Humans gained 100 more Supreme Great Ancestors. The glorious result was certainly unique in history.
The person who made this history record possible was none other than the young man, who was standing alone on the high platform. At the spur of the moment, there was a disturbance outside.
Five elders entered the square one after another, and they looked grim. The crowd was dumbfounded when they saw the elders, and even the new Supreme Great Ancestors’ eyes lit up.
The elders were the well-known Five Imperial Elders in the capital.
Very few matters could make the five elders show up together because if the five of them together could not solve a problem, the Humans’ number one powerhouse would have to make a move.
That would be the Humans’ last resort, and nobody would want that to happen.
Wu Xuanji led the elders. With eyes like lightning, he glanced at the crowd.
It was worth noting that they made such a timely appearance. If they were slightly earlier, Ou Yangming would still be making a powerhouse at the Peak of Yang Grade experience a life or death moment on the platform. If that was the case, the elders would surely cause public indignation if they tried to stop the young fellow. The imperial family was not afraid of challenges, but they were not foolish enough to provoke many aristocratic families as a whole.
On the other hand, if the elders arrived later, perhaps Ou Yangming had fully recovered and integrated the powers of the Supreme Great Ancestors. By then, as strong as the imperial family’s deterrence was, they would become inferior. Nevertheless, the elders came on the dot, hence the other people were anxious instead.
Ou Yangming opened his eyes on the high platform and looked around him, then he slowly made his way down. Wherever he passed, the powerhouses made way for him.
In terms of attitude only, the Five Imperial Elders were prominent, noble, and reputable, but the crowd was more respectful toward Ou Yangming.
Wu Xuanji noticed how the crowd reacted, so he sighed.
‘If a freak like him isn’t willing to become a member of the imperial family, we’ll truly suffer a huge loss…’
Despite that, he remained a straight face and looked at Ou Yangming as he remarked, “Master Ou, you help the Humans gain 100 Supreme Great Ancestors in total. This is definitely a first; congratulations.”
Ou Yangming grinned and responded, “Senior, you’re being too polite.”
He addressed Wu Xuanji as a senior, but he stared at the elder without showing a weak impression.
Although there was nobody beside the young fellow as though he was the only one facing the Five Imperial Elders, he was extremely confident. The confidence came out of nowhere, but it was abundant and could not be questioned.
“Given that you made such a huge contribution, you’re making things difficult for me,” Wu Xuanji commented as he nodded. He stroked his beard and smiled. “I won’t be rewarding you for it; His Majesty should reward you instead.”
The other powerhouses were relieved. After seeing Wu Xuanji’s attitude, they understood that the imperial family did not intend to confine Ou Yangming through force. As long as the imperial family showed a gesture of conciliation and did not make things irreparable, the powerhouses would not need to make a difficult choice.
Ou Yangming smiled and responded, “Senior, I don’t need to be rewarded. I only hope to bring like-minded friends to Changlong County to contribute toward the Humans’ upcoming disaster.”
“Master Ou Yangming, since you know Changlong County’s disaster is about to happen, you shouldn’t go and risk your life.” Wu Xuanji furrowed his eyebrows and had a grave expression on his face. “Your value doesn’t lie in the enemies you kill in the battlefield, but in the number of Supreme Great Ancestors you produce and the magic tools you smith for the Humans.”
Woo Lejia and the other people were stunned. They exchanged glances and agreed with what the elder said.
From a certain aspect, Ou Yangming had a more important existence than the imperial family’s supreme powerhouse. In particular, given that the catastrophe was about to take place, having more Supreme Great Ancestors and magic tools could help to reduce the Humans’ overall damage.
That said, Ou Yangming shook his head without any hesitation. “Thank you for your kindness, senior, but I can’t stop worrying.
“Master Ou, I’m sure you’re aware of His Majesty’s decree,” Wu Xuanji noted sternly, “His Majesty ordered that you’re not allowed to leave the capital’s area before the disaster ends.”
In actual fact, His Majesty the Emperor decreed that the young fellow was not allowed to go beyond the capital’s walls, but the Five Imperial Elders dared not say it so bluntly.
“Changlong County’s my hometown, so I can’t watch it undergo war and let my fellow soldiers sacrifice themselves while I do nothing,” Ou Yangming expressed in a deep voice after he looked up. He sounded as firm as a rock as he stressed, “I’m returning to Changlong County, and anyone who stops me will be my enemy forever!” Wu Xuanji’s face darkened at once. He questioned coldly, “Master Ou, are you going to defy His Majesty’s order?” Ou Yangming shook his head gently. “I respect His Majesty and the imperial family very much, but there’s no room for discussion for this matter.”
Woo Lejia and the other people began to worry again. Seeing as both parties were slowly becoming headstrong and were giving each other tit for tat. As such, it was incredibly torturous for the other powerhouses.
The temptations given by Ou Yangming were too noteworthy, and each clan had now gained more than two Supreme Great Ancestors. Even if the powerhouses were to die the cruelest death to repay his kindness, it would not be too much.
Moreover, Ou Yangming was so potent that it made him fearsome. The powerhouses were not willing to have an enemy like him.
Having said that, if they were to disobey the imperial family for Ou Yangming…
When they thought about the imperial family’s prestige, which lasted for more than a millennium, as well as the Humans’ number one powerhouse, who was hiding in the secret realm, they felt uneasy.
Wu Xuanji took a deep breath and glanced at the other people.
Three days ago or even a month ago, most of the people present were still at the peak of Yang Grade, and they were not qualified to speak to the Five Imperial Elders. Now, there were 100 Supreme Great Ancestors here.
How many Supreme Great Ancestors were there in total among the Humans?
Nobody did the math before, but even when the Humans were at the peak, there were less than 500 Supreme Great Ancestors in total.
The Humans occupied the capital and eight counties, thus the 500 Supreme Great Ancestors were scattered like pepper. Normally, powerhouses of such a level could not be easily met.
However, 100 Supreme Great Ancestors gathered in this square at the moment. Most importantly, they had all advanced through Ou Yangming’s help.
In a way, the Human’s high-end combat power increased by at least a fifth.
Even though the Supreme Great Ancestors were not disrespectful toward the imperial family, Wu Xuanji was still not confident. What would the Supreme Great Ancestors choose to do if he had the guts to attack Ou Yangming? The Five Imperial Elders looked at each other and felt aggrieved.
For many years, the imperial family was prestigious enough to oppress everything and everyone. Not to mention the five elders acting together, even if only one of them made a move, nobody would question them.
This time, the five elders were timid.
Despite that, they could not be blamed. After all, they were faced with 100 Supreme Great Ancestors.
The Supreme Great Ancestors had just advanced, but they were still in the Extreme Grade…
“Master Ou, His Majesty is only doing this for the sake of your safety,” Wu Xuanji explained gently after he sighed. He paused and turned to ask, “You’ve become Supreme Great Ancestors, so you’re considered top-notch figures now. Do you truly agree to let Master Ou risk his life?”
Woo Lejia and the other people were taken aback. Qian Yuxing stood out after some time and stated loudly, “Master Ou, please stay in the capital. We’ll head to Changlong County together and will slaughter that spirit beast even if it costs our lives.”
“Exactly. Master Ou, please trust us.” Woo Lejia stood out too and assured the young fellow. “Based on our powers, we’ll find the spirit beast for sure and kill it.” “Master Ou, please believe in us. Regardless of the price, we won’t let the spirit beast wreak havoc in Changlong County.”
Supreme Great Ancestors stood out one after another, and they gave Ou Yangming their word.
Ou Yangming was deeply moved. He could tell that Woo Lejia and the others were not forcing the emperor to be renounced, but they were genuinely worried about his safety.
If Ou Yangming was only worried about Changlong County’s people, he would have agreed to it.
Nonetheless, deep down he had other concerns.
The young fellow took a deep breath and nodded at Woo Lejia and the other powerhouses. “Thank you for your good intentions, brothers, but there’s another reason I insist on going back. If I don’t, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”
Everyone else was struck dumb, but they could feel how resolute Ou Yangming was.
At last, Woo Lejia sighed and uttered loudly, “Great Ancestors, please allow me, Woo Lejia, to set out to Changlong County with Master Ou.”
“Please allow me, Chen Yixian, to set out to Changlong County with Master Ou.” “Please allow me, Chen Yilian, to set out to Changlong County with Master Ou.” “Please allow me, Qian Yuxing, to set out to Changlong County with Master Ou.” “Please allow me…”
One by one, a hundred people’s voices echoed in the square. The voices spread far and wide, so much so that Heaven and Earth were also moved.