"So? Why is everyone so quiet? What happened to my grand plan of conquering the world with little to no bloodshed?" The man seated on a lavish throne bellowed at his gathered advisers, his voice echoing in the opulent hall. The room fell silent, tension thickening as all eyes turned to the bravest soul among them.
"There was a grave mishap, my lord," the adviser began cautiously, choosing his words with care. "Out of the six targets we aimed to subdue, we managed to achieve success in only three. The Divine Yin-Yang Couple unexpectedly appeared at the Heavenly Sword Sect, complicating our plans. Furthermore, the daughter of the Jade Empress, with her innate affinity for the mystical arts, proved to be a formidable obstacle. She now possesses one of our coveted Immortal Pagodas."
A murmur of dismay rippled through the assembly, a grim reminder of the setbacks they faced. The adviser continued, "Yet, amidst these failures, there is a faint glimmer of relief. Our losses amounted to approximately 2,000 esteemed experts, a regrettable toll but far from catastrophic."
"With the Divine Yin-Yang Couple involved, I presume there were minimal casualties at the Heavenly Sword Sect and likely the same for our other target. It is beyond my imagination that we could overcome the defensive formations of such esteemed sects so easily and swiftly. Moreover, your failure has cost us one of the precious Immortal Pagodas, rendering it unusable for future endeavors. What a pack of imbeciles!" The man's voice echoed through the grand hall, shaking the heavens and causing the earth to tremble in response to his fury. The gathered advisers dared not meet his gaze, fully aware of the immense cultivation prowess that allowed him to command such elemental force with a mere utterance.
The ruler leaned forward on his throne, his eyes flashing with unrestrained rage. "Do you comprehend the gravity of our losses?" he continued, his voice cutting through the tense silence like a blade. "We have squandered not only valuable resources but also our reputation for invincibility. Such failures are unacceptable."
The emperor seethed with rage. Despite his vast wealth and resources, he could only afford to create six of these immortal pagodas. If only he had an infinite supply, he could effortlessly conquer all the great sects of the Eternal Flame Continent simultaneously. Alas, crafting an immortal treasure like the pagoda required immense resources. The emperor stewed in silence, knowing that now his enemies, in possession of one of these pagodas, could devise ways to counter it. Genius was not confined to his Azure Dragon Continent; such was the impartiality of heaven in all matters.
"What of the third failure? You only mentioned two," the emperor demanded, sensing a crucial omission in the report.
"This... my lord..." the man faltered, unsure of how to proceed.
"Out with it!" the emperor thundered.
"None of them returned," the man finally confessed, the silence that followed punctuated by the faintest sound of a dropped needle.
***
But of course, the Azure Dragon Emperor would soon learn the truth of what had transpired. There was little point in concealing the reality of the event. Thousands of disciples from the Golden Lotus Sect had witnessed the massacre firsthand, and with each retelling, the story grew more embellished. Such exaggeration was all too common in events of such magnitude.
"I saw Master Gideon Blackwood slaughter a trillion enemies in a single breath!"
"Everyone turned to bleached bones, yet even that was not enough—they were reduced to dust scattered by the wind! Never to be seen again!"
"I heard another version. They say there was a rain of blood that day, enough to fill a dozen rivers!"
News of the event spread swiftly across the Eternal Flame Continent, instilling both awe and fear among its people. In such uncertain times, when enemies emerged from distant lands and life was as cheap as a grain of rice, these tales offered a glimmer of hope.
Of course, no one dared insinuate that Gideon Blackwood might be an evil cultivator, despite the ruthless methods attributed to him. In the face of a common enemy, such suspicions were set aside, uniting the people of the Eternal Flame Continent as one force against a greater threat. However, while the general populace remained unaware of this truth, the most formidable factions and powerhouses were indeed privy to such suspicions.
Meanwhile, Gideon spent an entire week cultivating without success, finding himself frustratingly stuck at the 10th stage of the Qi Gathering Realm.
"It's useless," Gideon muttered, shaking his head in disappointment as he emerged from his cultivation chamber. The doors swung open before he could even reach for the handle.
"Thank you, Alexander," Gideon acknowledged with a nod.
"I live to serve, master," Alexander replied dutifully, kneeling without hesitation.
"Hmm... I have somewhere I need to be, Alexander. Can you assist me in getting there?" Gideon inquired carefully.
"Of course, master. Shall I assume my true form now?" Alexander asked, ready to transform.
"Not now. We'll save that for later," Gideon decided, gently tapping the old dragon man on the shoulder. He then sought permission from the sect master before swiftly departing for the City of Angels—his long-abandoned home that he hadn't set eyes on in over twenty years. True to his word, within an hour, Gideon and Emily could be heard exclaiming with joy as they soared through the skies atop the back of the elder dragon.
***
"Is it wise to do that, Sect Master?" an elder asked, concern etched across their face as they watched the massive dragon ascend from the mountain's base into the boundless sky above.
"There's no longer any need to fear attacks. Someone has already cracked the secrets of the Immortal Pagoda. If it returns, we won't be defenseless against it," the Sect Master reassured, his voice steady with conviction.
"I meant concerning the bo... Master Gideon, Sect Master," the elder hesitated.
"What about him? Are you suggesting that someone who has single-handedly defeated countless powerhouses requires protection?" the Sect Master challenged.
Silence fell among the gathered elders.
"I understand your concern. Master Gideon is evolving, uncovering hidden potential within himself. We must trust that he will wield his newfound power wisely. Isn't that the same for us all, Elder?" The Sect Master's smile held a knowing edge, hinting at a secret about Gideon that only she possessed—at least for now.