I Have A Sword
Chapter 1374: Shameless

Chapter 1374: Shameless

The Qin Clan's annihilation and the Mu Clan's submission left the entire Ten Desolate Universe reeling in disbelief.

In a single day, one clan was wiped out, and another bowed its head. A chilling air gripped the entire Ten Desolate Universe. After years of peace, fear and uncertainty spread like wildfire.

The most powerful members of the Yuan Clan had gathered inside the vast, grand hall of the Yuan Clan.

Clan Leader Yuan Zhen sat at the head of the table, and his face was as dark as the abyss. The others looked equally grim, pale, and uneasy.

Their greatest source of confidence had always been the remnant soul of their ancestor. The remnant soul was the reason that they dared to negotiate with Ye Guan, hoping to secure a wisp of Supreme Emperor Origin Essence.

However, Diyi Jingzhao's mysterious Bronze War Generals had shattered the Qin Clan's ancestral soul, proving that even the remnant soul of a Supreme Emperor couldn't be relied on.

Their strongest reinforcement was gone.

What now?

A long silence filled the hall until an elder stepped forward and let out a deep sigh, saying, "We have no choice but to surrender."

The words hung heavy in the air, and even though no one spoke against them, everyone's faces were filled with complex emotions.

Fight?

That was no longer an option.

They finally realized that they were in a dire situation.

All eyes turned to Yuan Zhen.

After a long silence, Yuan Zhen let out a deep sigh. "Then, we will surrender."

There was bitterness in his voice, but he knew that if the Yuan Clan were to refuse to submit, they would be wiped out.

Diyi Jingzhao wasn't someone to be trifled with, after all.

***

Shen Yong had gathered the members of the Divine Clan. The hall was deathly silent, and the slow, measured breathing of the gathered experts could be heard. There was also a thick, palpable tension in the air.

Suddenly, Shen Yong stood up.

Everyone's nerves tightened, and their bodies were tense like drawn bows, ready to snap at any moment.

Shen Yong exhaled and said, "We surrender."

A collective sigh of relief swept through the hall, and everyone felt as if a boulder had been lifted off their chest. To be honest, they were afraid that their notoriously hot-tempered clan leader would insist on fighting to the death.

At this point, resisting would be like throwing eggs at a rock. It would be utter suicide.

Now that Shen Yong had spoken, everyone immediately became more relaxed.

However, Shen Yong's eyes shimmered in regret. However, his regret wasn't because he couldn't fight to the death. He knew full well that the Divine Clan stood no chance against Supreme Emperor Guan. He was feeling regretful for his hesitation back then.

If he had acted as decisively as the Dao Clan and the Di Clan... if he had the same keen insight of the Diyi Clan... things would have been drastically different. Surrendering now meant surviving, but they could no longer obtain an advantage.

In the days to come, the Divine Clan would inevitably fall behind those clans.

Shen Yong sighed deeply and said, "We have failed our ancestors."

Just then, a stunning young woman stepped forward. Her voice was steady as she said, "Grandfather, the young man you once wanted to introduce to me... was it Supreme Emperor Guan?"

Shen Yong nodded.

The young woman smiled calmly. "Then I've changed my mind. I want to meet him."

However, Shen Yong shook his head. "Forget it."

The young man's delicate brows furrowed. "What? You don't think I'm good enough for him? My looks aren't inferior to Diyi Jingzhao's. Everything she has, I have them, too..."

"No, that's not what I meant." Shen Yong sighed. "That young man's mind is just too terrifying. Forget you, even I wouldn't be a match for him in a battle of wits.

"If you were to go to him, you'd be selling yourself and losing everything in the process. Knowing your temperament, it'd take him three days—no, two days to turn you against me. You'll stab me in the back by then."

The young woman had no idea what to say.

***

At the same time, the Royal Clan's leader, Chen Yue, gathered his strongest experts in one hall, and the hall was deathly silent. They were still holding on to a sliver of hope, after all, they had a remnant soul of their ancestor.

However, when they heard that Diyi Jingzhao's Bronze War Generals had shattered the remnant soul of the Qin Clan's ancestor, they all lost hope.

There was no fight to be had.

Now, they had only one thought—surrender.

Just then, Chen Yue's voice rang out. "My friends, our Royal Clan has stood for countless years. If we surrender so easily, wouldn't that be shameful?"

The hall froze. Had their clan leader lost his mind? Was he really thinking of fighting back at a time like this?

Some of the elders were already considering taking drastic measures.

Damn it! If the clan leader truly insisted on something suicidal, they would have no choice but to put the survival of the clan above his leadership.

Just then, Chen Yue added, "Compared to the Diyi Clan, the Di Clan, and the Dao Clan, we've already lost our advantage. Even compared to the Mu Clan, we're already a step behind.

"We cannot afford to fall even further. If we must surrender, we cannot do it the same way as everyone else."

"What does Supreme Emperor Guan care about most? We must appeal to his interests!" he said, standing up.

An elder hesitated before saying, "You mean... offering him women? That... might not be a bad idea. My granddaughter is pretty..."

The room fell into an awkward silence.

Chen Yue glared at the elder. "Shameless."

The elder coughed awkwardly.

Chen Yue shook his head. "Supreme Emperor Guan is not a man who would be swayed by beauty. Everything he has done so far is for the sake of promoting his Guanxuan Laws and establishing his brand-new Order.

"That is what we should focus on. If we want to gain his favor, we need to show our sincerity. Only by embracing his ideals can we earn his trust and be granted an important role in his bigger picture."

Another elder said, "So, what do you propose?"

Chen Yue's eyes narrowed. "Starting now, we will cultivate the Guanxuan Laws. We will show him our dedication, not because we fear his might, but because we genuinely believe that his teachings can benefit the world."

There was silence throughout the hall.

They felt... so ashamed, but no one objected.

They all knew that from this moment forward, their survival depended entirely on Supreme Emperor Guan's favor. Whoever won his recognition would profit the most, especially since he had a monopoly over the legendary Supreme Emperor Origin Essence.

***

By the afternoon of the following day, every clan in the Ten Desolate Universe surrendered, and the Ten Desolate Universe was finally united.

Meanwhile, Ye Guan was still busy training his swordsmen inside the tiny pagoda. For nearly fifty years, they had been endlessly fighting the Bronze War Generals.

Under Ye Guan's guidance, their strength improved exponentially. They still couldn't defeat the Bronze War Generals, but their instincts had undergone a complete transformation.

It wasn't just his teachings that helped them; it was the constant, brutal fights that forced their latent potential to awaken.

And, of course, there was also the support of his Pure-grade emperor crystals; these spiritual crystals were what Supreme Emperors ought to use. Within the Ten Desolate Universe, these treasures were unprecedented, yet Ye Guan handed them out freely as if they were mere candies.

Of course, there was a reason behind his generosity. He wanted them to reach the Quasi-Emperor Realm. By then, they wouldn't be just a Quasi Emperor, they would be Quasi Emperors stronger than their peers.

Ideally, they had to be on par with the war generals.

Unfortunately, Ye Guan's efforts were expensive, and he could already feel the financial strain. To make matters worse, the Ten Desolate Universe had run out of Pure-grade emperor crystals. He wanted more, but it was impossible.

And then there was also the issue of Supreme Emperor Origin Essences.

He simply didn't have enough of them. And even if he had enough, the foundation of the Ten Desolate Universe was too weak, so many people wouldn't be able to ascend, even with a wisp of Supreme Emperor Origin Essence.

However, he knew that trying to elevate the overall strength of the Ten Desolate Universe in a short period of time was simply unrealistic.

Just then, Ye Guan sensed something. He left the tiny pagoda and saw Diyi Jingzhao.

Today, Diyi Jingzhao was dressed in a magnificent embroidered gown, adorned with exquisitely detailed flowers. Each petal was so vivid and lifelike, as if it had been plucked straight from nature.

Her figure was already impeccable, but with this elegant gown, her slender and graceful silhouette appeared even more alluring and refined.

Beyond her figure, her breathtaking beauty was also a rare sight in this world. She was so mesmerizing that once one laid eyes on her, it would be hard to look away.

Today, she was not wearing a veil.

Ye Guan thought he had a powerful self-control, but even he was momentarily stunned upon seeing her. However, he quickly regained his composure and smiled. "That dress looks amazing on you."

Diyi Jingzhao stared at him but nothing.

Ye Guan spoke in a gentle tone. "Everything has been settled?"

Diyi Jingzhao nodded. "All the clans across the Ten Desolation Universe have submitted. Their clan leaders are currently waiting for you in the grand hall."

"Let's go meet them."

With that, the two made their way to the hall.

As soon as Ye Guan arrived, the leaders of the Supreme Emperor Clans and the Immortal stood up, bowed respectfully, and said, "Greetings, Supreme Emperor Guan."

Ye Guan nodded slightly and walked to the main seat. He sat down with a smile and said, "Please take your seats."

The crowd sat down, but they all remained tense and uneasy.

Ye Guan swept his gaze over them and said, "There's no need to be so nervous. My unification of the Ten Desolate Universe is to establish a new Order, not for the sake of slaughter or conquest.

"From now on, there's going to be an academy in the Ten Desolate Universe, and it will be called the Guanxuan Academy. I will serve as its Academy Master, and Miss Jingzhao will be the Vice Academy Master.

"Dao Zhi, Di Ling, and Mu Shuo will serve as elders of the Inner Committee. Jingzhao will select outstanding talents from the various clans to assist in managing the academy.

"From now on, the Ten Desolate Universe has only two priorities—establishing the academy and gathering the finest talents across the land, and lastly, promoting the Guanxuan Laws, making it accessible to all."

"At present, the academy lacks manpower, and the clans are still governing their own desolate region," said Ye Guan, "Thus, I will be observing you closely. Whichever clan implements the Guanxuan Laws most effectively within its region will be rewarded with a wisp of Supreme Emperor Origin Essence."

At these words, the clans and sects that had yet to obtain a wisp of Supreme Emperor Origin Essence were instantly filled with excitement.

Many were already eager to return and begin promoting the Guanxuan Laws. Moreover, the Guanxuan Academy itself was bound to become a coveted institution in the future, one that countless people would strive to enter.

Of course, it would be for the sake of power.

The establishment of the academy was no different from the founding of an empire in the secular world. In the future, a clan's influence in this world would depend entirely on its standing within the academy.

And if Ye Guan's expansion continued, perhaps even conquering the Forbidden Wildlands and beyond, the academy would become even more powerful.

The clan leaders silently made up their minds. They had to secure a position within the academy.

Just then, Ye Guan stood up and swept his gaze across everyone.

"The good news is over. Now, let's talk about the bad news."

The crowd immediately stared at him, feeling worried.

Ye Guan's gaze bore down on them, an invisible pressure filling the hall. "There are three kinds of people who must never be forgiven—a ruler who brings ruin to their nation, a general who brings disaster to their lord, and a minister who brings suffering to the people.

"Now that you've joined my academy, you are now my people. You may not be able to betray me, but you can bring harm to the people. As the saying goes, 'there are four types of people who are the greatest scourge to the people—the officials, their attendants, their relatives, and their servants.

"These people have no official responsibilities, yet they wield authority. They are always willing to exploit their positions by abusing their power and oppressing the weak.

"They'll leave the people with nothing but despair and misery. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

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