novelraw Chapter 1398 - 706: Saving Face
Chapter 1398 - 706: Saving Face
Tyrant?
A Tyrant is nothing!
It's not that Ji Jue has played too many high-end games and grown disdainful of Tyrants.
It's because, in high-end games, everyone generally looks down on Tyrants!
It can be said that among all the Great Evil's followers, Tyrants are the most disgraceful bunch.
Disgraceful to the point that when the Vortex calls for a meeting, they have to sit at the same table as the White Hall... even less than the Evil Cult without Lu Changsheng!
At least they're real cockroaches, everywhere you look.
And the Tyrants? Each one is a shut-in, seemingly all-powerful within their own small territory, saying one thing and meaning it, but even adding a friend requires them to fuss like a cockroach, and besides scaring people, they accomplish nothing.
Even between Tyrants, it's a mutual disdain, with no possibility of cooperation; what they love most is a life-or-death struggle.
They can't integrate internally, and they're doomed not to integrate; how could a Tyrant bow to anyone else?
But externally, they're of little use.
What use could they be?
Brother, the Federation and the Empire are still watching you!
You could say, success and failure both find roots in Tian Yuan.
In this world, they don't dare fight over food in the Federation's and Empire's bowls, and under the Vortex, they're even more at a loss.
Other factions under the Vortex at least have leaders and experts.
Not to mention Wulou Temple, tightly-knit across branches, You Sui gathering a crowd, or the Heavenly Heart Society dropping an instance at whim; even the Wolf has the Mountain Wolf and the Heart Wolf, and now Ji Jue has joined.
The Tower?
Sorry, there's nothing there!
Only a tower, cold and calmly consuming everything.
On this road, from the start, there can only ever be one ruler, and that's the tower itself!
The Tyrants of this world are at most agents, or even thieves; whether they live or die, the tower doesn't care.
The Unformed Tower hides in shadows, coexisting with Tian Yuan in the world.
This connection is even tighter than that between the White Deer and the Wolf.
The cause of the tower's Mutated Transformation lies in the souls of all Tian Yuan's Chosen Ones; the seed is planted the moment they are chosen.
That's why Tian Yuan needs exams the most, needs the collective, needs the protection of the Heavenly Governor and Earth Emperor, or else the higher they climb, the closer and more terrifying the tower's shadow becomes.
If luck is slightly off, a single misstep could lead to complete assimilation, leaving no remains behind, reduced to chaotic disordered objects.
With a bit better luck, they can avoid it for now, but that's only temporary, as playing with fire will eventually lead to trouble.
Even better, if luck is a touch better, they can leverage this authority from the tower to maintain their dominion and control below...
That's what a Tyrant is under the tower.
The tower doesn't need Tyrants; it's the Tyrants who need the tower's existence.
Abyss Lord?
Isn't it just the king of the sewers?
Do you even understand the worth of the Flame of Non-Life!
Back at the Ancient Temple, Wu Wei and Changle both fell to him, Wuyou was killed, and he's supposed to fear an Abyss Lord?
In the end, what others see as monumental, is trivial for Ji Jue; he even considers fishing again.
A rat accustomed to life in the gutter can't conceive how those in the sunlight live.
If the Abyss Lord dares show up, there's no need for the Flame of Non-Life; he dares to call over the Heavenly People of the Federation, without a hint of courtesy, and he might even turn a profit.
Such opportunities, the Security Bureau would be ecstatic!
So, what's there to fear?
Fear it doesn't show up, that's the truth!
At this moment, the elderly lady's kind expression momentarily stiffened upon hearing this, but she quickly calmed down, her smile unchanged: "As expected of the Master of New Spring, with such ambition. Has Mr. Ji come representing the Federation?"
"Must one represent the Federation to have the qualification to set foot in the Seven Cities? If I came representing the Federation, would you, old duffer, even have the place to speak in front of me?"
Ji Jue glanced at the crowd before him, feeling the gaze of those upon him, not knowing how many spies or representatives from various factions were present, but he remained unapologetic.
Courtesy?
Is courtesy meant for you!
"I don't like beating around the bush. Say what you want directly.
No need to beat around the bush anymore, let out all the devious thoughts you have in mind, it's better for everyone and saves time."
The eyes of the elderly woman shifted slightly, still calm.
Clearly, she didn't believe a single punctuation mark of what Ji Jue said.
Ji Jue not representing the Federation is as believable as Ji Jue not being a Mohist; it's just a formality, he might not represent the Federation, but he easily could at any moment!
The top munitions dealer of Sea Tide Military Industry, the prime partner craftsman of the Hai Zhou Security Bureau, founder of Coastal Industry and Coast Technology, king of the wilderness scavengers, Master of New Spring...
So many identities, each one inseparable from the Federation; If you're not, then who is?
Is it me?
I wish it were!
She merely chuckled and asked, "Mr. Ji, having traveled from afar, what is it that you truly seek?"
"What else would a craftsman desire?"
Ji Jue smiled and looked directly at her, as if scrutinizing, "Of course, it's excellent material and fine jade."
That gaze...
So calm.
Neither fierce nor cold, just looking, yet it made the corners of the old lady's eyes twitch for a moment.
As if looking at the materials laid out on the table.
Thinking about where to cut, most appropriately.
Just as she sighed lightly, wanting to speak again, she heard a sneering voice: "That's enough, stop pretending, it's tiresome. Even the act of wielding seniority must have its limits."
Ji Jue withdrew his gaze, no longer interested.
For such scraps, he couldn't even bother to take another look.
Arrogant disregard.
And right in the courtyard crowd, seeing the old lady silent, someone couldn't hold back anymore, suddenly stood up and questioned: "Isn't the one pretending you? This is the Seven Cities, this is Xiang State, the Chopra family is not a place for you to flaunt your power! Others fear you, I do not!"
The man adorned with jewels all over his body puffed up his chest, glanced around, then furiously rebuked: "In the end, isn't it just to make everyone the Federation's dogs!"
Then, Ji Jue finally raised his head, no longer cold and indifferent, and solemnly said: "Rest assured, as long as I'm here, I won't let you become the Federation's dogs."
The man who had made the accusation was taken aback, and then saw Ji Jue's smile.
Even, a resounding promise:
"—Everyone, just be my dogs!"
In an instant, in the sudden silence, countless people stood up in anger, the sounds of scolding and shouting were endless, but Ji Jue turned a deaf ear, not caring how harsh the words were, only gazing at the ripples in the tea.
A gentle voice echoed in everyone's ears.
"After getting used to being a junkman, everything looks like misplaced treasures, even a grain of rice cannot be wasted. The Federation looks down on scraps like you, but I don't mind."
Ji Jue glanced at those shadowy eyes in the crowd, grinning: "After all, it's still better than being dogs of Wulou Temple, or the Heavenly Heart Society, right?"
"Such shameless boasting!"
In the crowd, that emaciated man who had been resting his eyes under the service of many servants suddenly opened his eyes, a stunningly bright light shot out from his eyes, his voice thunderous: "Outer Path Demon, how dare you slander my Righteous Law!"
The old lady who was pretending just now grinned: "The Heavenly Heart Society doesn't care how unpleasant others sound, but Mr. Ji's tone is so grand that today it seems hard to end well."
And those burly, muscular legion members, blood flames have silently emanated from their bodies, full of malice.
"Mr. Ji, I advise you to think it through clearly."
The man who had accused earlier curled his lips into a smug sneer: "This isn't a place for you to run wild, and the Chopra family isn't something you can manipulate just by relying on that Minkler bastard."
"Is that so?"
Ji Jue's smile grew more mocking, unconcerned: "Do you think if this weren't the Chopra family, and without giving face to Minkler, your bunch colluding with the Evil Cult would still be standing here talking to me?"
At that moment, spiritual force exploded violently, and the sound of air cracking erupted, countless Chosen Ones and Mutated transformed beings released their aura, staring intently at Ji Jue.
In the deadly silence, even no one spoke anymore, like a mountain of gunpowder awaiting a spark, ready to explode at any moment.
Drawn swords, on the brink of eruption!
Yet Ji Jue suddenly laughed.
"Everyone, don't be nervous."
He said, "I was just joking."
As if intimidated by everyone's might, he voluntarily backed down, but before others could even smirk sarcastically, his voice was heard.
So regrettably.
He said, "Because of the face of Minkler, I won't give it either."
Boom!!!
An even more terrifying wave than before surged from thin air, sweeping mightily.
A tide of silver light and mist transformed into a frenzy, erupting from beneath Ji Jue's feet, raging and spreading, the curtain unfolded.
Then immediately afterwards, like countless invisible hands suddenly stretching out, controlling everything!
Give face to Minkler?
What Empire joke is that? Minkler's face is given by himself, does he still need to look at his face?
In the vast courtyard, dull echoes resounded incessantly.
Like an invisible scythe sweeping through, cleanly pruning the chaos, trimming the wildness.
Under the sudden eruption of unseen pressure, every figure that had just been strutting arrogantly, standing tall and rebuking, instantly fell, struggling, unable to get up.
In the spinning world, they stared wide-eyed in confusion, unable to understand what had happened.
Struggling in vain.
Even found it hard to breathe!
A cold voice seemed to come from the clouds:
"Since you don't want to be dogs, then kneel and speak!"
Ji Jue snapped his fingers.
The sound of shattering rang continuously, like a rainstorm, countless alchemy creations shattered instantly, the spirit light dimmed, utterly scrapped. The invisible Spiritual Sword whistled through the thin mist, mercilessly piercing into the soul.
When the crisp sound appeared beside their ears, it was already too late.
Half of the Chosen Ones blacked out, vomited blood, severely injured, those even weaker had already fallen into a faint, not realizing what had happened!
In just a brief moment, the courtyard that was once crowded with people now had only a scant few left standing, shocked and bewildered colleagues, even unable to believe.
Facing opponents over dozens of times more than himself, a craftsman had actually taken the first move?!