novelraw Chapter 386: Variable
Chapter 386: Variable
Mo Yuan held his teacup with rock-steady hands, signaling him to continue.
“It’s about Chen Qing, or rather... Su Zhan.”
Zhang Daoxuan cut straight to the point.
Mo Yuan’s face betrayed no surprise, he said calmly, “It seems your side has already reached a consensus?”
Zhang Daoxuan gave a small sigh, not answering directly. “Old Mo, you should understand that the Su Zhan matter is no longer just about his personal identity.
A dual identity, especially someone who was once shaped into a hero and now possesses calamity-level power, if mishandled, could trigger catastrophic chain reactions.
Daxia just came through a great war; it cannot afford such upheaval.
The Council, the Military Department, the Aberrant Purge Division... the pressure from all sides is immense.
I know you admire him and value his potential.
But sometimes, when individual potential clashes with the stability of the whole, we must weigh which carries more weight.”Mo Yuan listened quietly, slowly setting down his teacup, his gaze meeting the other’s with calmness. “Old Zhang, I understand what you’re saying.
But your so-called handling is to remove him solely because of a possibility, before he has done anything to actually harm Daxia?
Isn’t that overly arbitrary and... cowardly?”
Zhang Daoxuan’s brow knit slightly. “This isn’t arbitrary, it’s precautionary. His existence itself is a massive unknown.”
Mo Yuan shook his head. “From where I stand, this is not an unknown but a variable, a hope.
Daxia has been fighting the Mist for three hundred years—has the situation fundamentally improved? What we need is precisely those variables that can break the norm.
Killing genius out of fear of change is the saddest thing.
Old Zhang, how many years have we both lived? Can’t you see it by now? The true threat has never been an individual, but our unwillingness to face the unknown.”
Zhang Daoxuan fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, “So you’ve decided to protect him?”
Mo Yuan didn’t answer directly, instead asking, “If today the one with this potential were a pure-blood human prodigy, would you be so eager to remove him?”
The question struck at the core.
Zhang Daoxuan was silent again. After a long while he sighed, “Different positions lead to different perspectives.
Old Mo, I didn’t come to argue with you today; I only hope you can understand the difficulties of the higher-ups, and... if possible, persuade him.
Perhaps there’s a better solution that doesn’t have to go that far.”
His words left room to maneuver, not speaking in absolute terms.
That showed the higher-ups were not entirely united; at least Zhang Daoxuan’s faction preserved some flexibility.
Hearing this, Mo Yuan’s expression softened somewhat, and he nodded. “I will consider it. But in the end, his path must be chosen by him. What I can do is provide him with a relatively fair environment before he makes that choice.
So... what about the Grand Elder? What is his stance?”
The Grand Elder—the true anchor of Daxia—was an existence who had outlived normal Ocean Realm and calamity-level standards, whose age and strength were unfathomable.
His will would ultimately decide Daxia’s direction.
Zhang Daoxuan’s face betrayed helplessness as he shook his head lightly. “After the war, the Grand Elder was heavily depleted and has gone into secluded recuperation to restore his energy.
Before entering seclusion he issued strict orders: unless a Mist Surge of the scale that last time breaks out again and endangers the nation, no one is to disturb him.
So for now, daily affairs and most decisions are being jointly agreed upon by the higher-ups.
Regarding the handling of Su Zhan—or Chen Qing—the leadership is deeply divided.
Those advocating for thunderous measures, to completely eliminate him before he causes greater harm, are currently about half and the loudest voices.
Those advocating keeping him, believing his potential far outweighs the risk, account for about twenty percent; Ye Hongyu is one of them.
The remaining roughly thirty percent choose to remain neutral and observe.”
A meaningful smile creased Mo Yuan’s face as he slowly rose and walked to the window, staring at Black City’s distinctive skyline.
“So that means, as long as the Grand Elder does not speak... then if those who are dancing the most now actually dare to storm my Black City and try to snatch him from under my nose...
they shouldn’t blame me for forgetting past favors and making sure they... do not return.”
In Black City, Mo Yuan’s word was law.
Without the Grand Elder’s explicit directive, half the voices of the higher-ups were not enough to make him yield.
Anyone who wanted to move Su Zhan would first have to get past him, Mo Yuan.
Zhang Daoxuan sighed inwardly.
Mo Yuan’s words were no idle boast.
He knew this lord of Black City’s temper and power all too well.
...
Five Great Academies’ Grand Competition.
Day twenty-five.
Top fifty elimination matches.
The atmosphere inside the Celestial Arena had already reached a fever pitch.
Each duel was a clash of titans.
On the huge display, the new pairings prompted a ripple of gasps.
[Vermilion Bird Academy: Liu Ziming VS White Tiger Academy: Bai Pojun]
The audience buzzed with commentary.
“Bai Pojun—White Tiger Academy’s killer this year. His Supreme Fist is said to shatter mountains with a single blow!”
“Liu Ziming’s Purple Thunder is fierce, but compared to something like the Supreme Fist, it feels a bit lacking.”
“He’s a realm level lower—how is this supposed to work? White Tiger favors killing moves, and the Supreme Fist is the pinnacle of that. Liu Ziming’s going to get crushed.”
“Vermilion Bird’s really had bad luck this year. Getting this far in the competition, they might stop here.”
...
On the stage.
Purple electric snakes flickered around Liu Ziming’s body.
Bai Pojun wasn’t especially bulky, but simply standing there he radiated a keen, cutting aura.
He wore White Tiger Academy’s white combat uniform trimmed in gold, eyes full of disdain.
Bai Pojun looked at Liu Ziming and said in a booming voice, “Liu Ziming? I hope you’ll warm me up.”
Liu Ziming spat disdainfully, refusing to show weakness. “Cut the crap. Whether a fist is strong you only find out after you’ve been hit. Don’t cry and call for your mom if you get electrocuted!”
Bai Pojun laughed instead of taking offense. “Good, I like someone with backbone!”
Tension as thick as gunpowder filled the space between them.
The referee waved an arm. “Fight!”
“Boom!”
Bai Pojun stepped forward, the ground trembling slightly as his right fist shot out, simple and direct.
“Mountain Shatter!”
A white fist qi burst forth. Where the fist qi passed the air detonated with explosive thunder, surging straight at Liu Ziming.
Liu Ziming’s pupils constricted; unwilling to take it head-on, he retreated while clenching both fists, unleashing a wild explosion of purple thunder.
Thick purple electric serpents, each as large as a child’s arm, roared forward to meet the white fist qi.
“Bang—!!!”
Lightning and fist qi collided with violent force.
The purple electric serpents held for a moment, but were violently blasted apart by that incomparable punching power.
The aftershock of the fist qi swept through.
Liu Ziming’s qi and blood surged; he was forced backward repeatedly.
“What tremendous power!”
Liu Ziming was secretly astonished—the destructive force of this Supreme Fist far exceeded any opponent he had faced before.