I Am Supreme

“Well, it’s decided then, isn’t it? So be it, but there is more to this…”

Yun Yang smiled.

“Ultimately, it just depends on how you phrase the same outcome in a different way to conceal its ugly truth. What is the difference between sincerely helping each other out and lending help with the hope of obtaining a reward?”

“Helping each other out is putting in effort together, but if they stay with us, both we and they will similarly have to help each other out as well.”

Shi Wuchen sighed, “I’ll never win an argument against you and I have to accept that your logic is sound as well.”

“It’s just that you haven’t properly figured it out for now,” Yun Yang did not paraphrase himself as he said, “The saying of one losing his conscience being trapped at a dead end is just another way of saying that one can’t always be thinking or doing things in the same way. Isn’t this the case for those who roam the martial world?”

Shi Wuchen snorted derisively, but a sense of agreement rose within him.

‘Perhaps, Yun Yang’s thoughts are more well-rounded than my own.’

Even as he pondered upon this, Shi Wuchen grew discouraged. It seemed that other than cultivation base, Yun Yang was much stronger than him in every other aspect, be it strategizing or intelligence. In addition, the advantage of his cultivation base level did not seem like it could last much longer.

Well, there was nothing he could say when he had met such a monster.

Yun Yang, on the other hand, chortled inwardly.

He was utilizing every opportunity and every situation he could manipulate to secure his position as the supreme leader and superior in this team of his.

The founder of a sect had never meant that one was the most eligible leader since the beginning of time. A founder and a leader were two very different things.

Therefore, Yun Yang was using his intelligence and tactics to stand out as much as he could in this team in order for others to defer to him in a genuine and otherwise contented manner. If this wasn’t the case, it would be a challenge for him to enforce his position as the true leader.

‘Not only am I the founder, but I am also the most eligible leader.’

If the leader had no command over the team, it would cause the rise of small, isolated factions. The presence of these selfish factions had always been the biggest threat to a team – one that could dissolve and collapse the team at any moment!

Throughout this period of time, Yun Yang prioritized the establishment of his position, be it through schemes or trickery. The scenario of losing command over his group was one that he would never allow to happen.

Fundamentally, his current capability was still too weak, so much so that he could only depend on details like this and temporary workarounds.

As they conversed, it was apparent that Lan Ruojun and Ren Qingkuang were eventually losing out and would soon be subdued. While the pair was excellent in their partnership, their combined cultivation base and capability were far lacking compared to the three attackers. They could not turn the battle around.

The attacking trio wielded their swords confidently; one of them separated Lan Ruojun from the group, one of them pressured Ren Qingkuang while the third one gracefully rained down a flurry of attacks, viciously successful in his blows.

Gashes of blood continuously bloomed on Lan Ruojun and Ren Qingkuang’s clothes.

The intent to kill from the trio was palpable, evident from their aggressive attacks, but they did not kill their victims immediately. Instead, like a cat toying with a mouse, they added new wounds to the pair relentlessly, perhaps worried that the pair would fight back vehemently in desperation or for some other reason.

An abrupt swoosh was heard. A sudden gleam of sword light flashed, and Lan Ruojun cried aloud as the jade he wore on his waist flew into the air with the sound. One of the attacking trio sprung up and caught it swiftly. Holding the Yin Yang Jade in his hand, he exclaimed, “Got it!”

There was a twitch that ran through Lan Ruojun. He howled, unconcerned that his waist had been stabbed, “You instructed the Steel Castle men to sacrifice themselves besieging us, then put on a show f avenging them, all for this piece of Yin Yang Jade? You have another piece of the Yin Yang Jade, don’t you?”

The trio laughed.

“Very clever! However, everything regarding this jade after this has nothing to do with you anymore. No matter how precious a thing, it’s useless for the dead.”

“Excellent words! It’s not as easy to obtain the Yin Yang Qi of life and death from us as well!”

Lan Ruojun smirked menacingly and roared, “Break!”

A deafening crack could be heard immediately. It was the Yin Yang Jade that the attacker had just snatched away. It had exploded in his palm, turning into a handful of dust.

The man’s expression was murderous.

“You still have the Yin Yang Jade with you!”

Ren Qingkuang guffawed and whisked his sleeve, sprinkling the dust on the ground. He spoke distantly, “If we don’t have a trick like this One-hearted Jade, how is Ruojun wearing his Yin Yang Jade like a show-off?”

“Why? Is it so upsetting that we tricked you once when you’ve done things your way for so long?”

Ren Qingkuang cackled, a glimmer of insanity showing on his otherwise seemly face.

A soft sigh escaped Yun Yang. He could hear just how maniacal and indignant Lan Ruojun and Ren Qingkuang were at this moment. At the same time, he seemed to have realized something.

These two men roamed the martial world wearing the Yin Yang Jade. They looked like they carried a terribly expensive treasure, parading it and asking for trouble, but the reality was that they were using such extreme measures to retaliate against the humiliation that the Celestial Luck Banner sects had forcibly placed upon them, the Demiurge-Flawed Ten!

‘I wear the Yin Yang Jade. I know that you fellows are going to try to take it – not only will you scoundrels steal it, but you’ll also have to make yourself an excuse to do so.’

‘The Steel Castle men were threatened to rob us, we killed them. For you fellows to come after them, you fellows aren’t robbing, you fellows are avenging a martial world resentment.’

‘What a perfect way of avoiding the heaven’s rule.’

‘This is why you fellows are undaunted.’

‘Nonetheless, I also carry the opposite with me. I can react when it’s necessary!’

‘If I beat you, all of you will be my whetstone. If I am defeated, I shall destroy everything – I shall never let you take advantage of me!’

‘What you want is what we’re not giving!’

‘As for the consequence, do what you may – we don’t mind, even if you kill us.’

‘We just don’t want everything to happen according to your wishes!’

“What’s this Yin Yang Jade? What’s its particular use? Is it very precious and rare?” Yun Yang asked softly.

“The Yin Yang Jade… is an incredibly rare resource to rogue cultivators. Instead of being called Yin Yang Jade, it’s more fitting to call it the Treasure Hunting Jade. This jade is formed by the condensation and combination of Yin and Yang energy. Once it’s activated, one can find heaven and earth resources within hundreds of yards with this jade as the center point. It rarely fails.”

“Still, this gem has a big taboo. If two pieces of the Yin Yang Jade are activated at the same time, they’ll both be damaged simultaneously. It’s most probably the magnetic field formed by the Yin and Yang energy’s resistance and the countercharge towards a similar field!”

Interested, Yun Yang pursued the topic further, “Does the simultaneous destruction happen as long as there is more than one piece of jade?”

Shi Wuchen shook his head and replied, “Not exactly. Similar to another method of usage by the sect disciples, one can also use three pieces in unison or in five, seven, nine… As long as it’s used in odd numbers. Not only will the Yin Yang Jade not be destroyed, but the treasure hunting effect can also be magnified. However, this approach can only be used by disciples who have the providence from the Celestial Luck Banners. It hasn’t been realized by any rogue cultivator, so it’s not known if there’s anything else about it.”