Domain Spirit City, Inside the Great Hall
Within the grand hall, the lofty dome was inlaid with countless glimmering spirit stones, radiating a cold brilliance.
The surrounding walls were engraved with ancient spirit scripts, exuding a sense of overwhelming oppression.
Along the sides of the conference table, more than a dozen Spirit Envoys were seated, each emanating a formidable aura.
Their gazes, filled with indifference or disdain, were fixed on Qin Gongming, who stood in the center of the hall.
Draped in a deep blue robe, Qin Gongming stood tall and composed, his demeanor exuding an unmistakable coldness and confidence.
His calm gaze swept over the Spirit Envoys without a trace of emotion, as if their thinly veiled hostility and open mockery had nothing to do with him.
Suddenly, one of the Spirit Envoys seated on the left spoke first, his tone dripping with scorn and derision.
"What? He claims that if necessary, he'll establish his own faction? Hah! Typical arrogance of a foolish human.
Just because he possesses a modicum of skill, he dares to defy the rules. Utterly laughable!"
Another Spirit Envoy sneered at this, his gaze sharp as a blade cutting toward Qin Gongming.
"Hmph! Don't think we're unaware of your human schemes! From the moment you set foot in the Spirit Domain, we saw through your filthy ambitions. Do you truly believe that with the trifling strength of the Dragon King's Hall, you can stand on equal footing with us Spirit Envoys?"
He slammed his palm onto the table, the sound booming like thunder, causing the entire hall to tremble slightly.
His eyes gleamed with unabashed contempt and anger.
"Let me warn you, human scum of the Dragon King's Hall, take a good look around! The true masters of this Spirit Domain are us! You are mere outsiders—parasites we barely tolerate! Do not test the limits of our patience!"
Qin Gongming remained silent all this time. At last, he let out a cold chuckle, his tone tinged with disdain.
"Spirit Envoys, if not for our Dragon King's Hall, your kind would likely have been annihilated long ago. The fact that you are still here, spewing your arrogant nonsense, is thanks to the years of sacrifice and effort we have put into protecting and maintaining this Spirit Domain."
As his words fell, the atmosphere in the hall grew taut. A hot-tempered Spirit Envoy abruptly rose to his feet, his fury boiling over as he roared.
"Impudent fool! Do you truly think that your pitiful human strength gives you the right to flaunt your arrogance here? Just because the Grand Ruler granted the Dragon King's Hall some authority, you believe you can trample over us? In this Spirit Domain, you humans will always be beneath us! Remember your place and act like the servants you are!"
His voice thundered across the hall, reverberating like a storm. Yet, Qin Gongming's expression remained calm as ever, without the slightest ripple of emotion. Without so much as glancing back, he turned on his heel and strode out, leaving no room for further argument.
"Arrogance! Utter arrogance!" The enraged Spirit Envoy bellowed, slamming his fist onto the table.
The surge of spiritual energy cracked the table's sturdy surface.
The other Spirit Envoys exchanged meaningful glances, their expressions heavy with thought.
None of them spoke further, but they did not believe Qin Gongming's composure was mere pretense.
A foreboding suspicion took root in their minds—perhaps the Dragon King's Hall harbored ambitions far more terrifying than they had imagined.
Outside the Hall
The cold wind swept across Qin Gongming's face as he stepped out of the grand hall.
He stood atop the high stone steps, overlooking the bustling splendor of Domain Spirit City. His deep gaze carried an unreadable chill, reflecting a hidden resolve that seemed to stretch far beyond the city before him.
Outside the Spirit Domain City
The Conversation Between Bai Qiu and Qin Gongming
Qin Gongming stepped out of the grand hall, his expression still stern, though a trace of suppressed anger lingered between his brows. Bai Qiu, who had been waiting outside, immediately approached him and asked,
"What happened? You don't look well."
Qin Gongming stopped in his tracks, his gaze cold and disdainful, his tone dripping with contempt:
"Hah, the Spirit Envoys… still the same arrogant fools. They have no idea how close the crisis is to their doorstep."
Hearing this, Bai Qiu frowned slightly. "What do you mean? Did something happen in the hall just now?"
Qin Gongming looked up, his deep eyes fixed on the sky, a faint, mocking smile curling his lips:
"They still think they are the masters of the Spirit Domain, deluded enough to believe they can continue stepping on us. But let me tell you this: their days of arrogance are numbered. Xiang Cheng has said it—give him one more year, and he'll gain entry to the Spirit Palace to meet the Great Heavenly Sovereign. By then, the Netherworld Divine Orb will be ours!"
"What?!" Bai Qiu gasped in shock, stepping back as disbelief colored his voice. "You mean to say… what exactly are you planning to do?"
Qin Gongming's gaze darkened. With his hands clasped behind his back, his tone carried an undeniable air of ambition:
"Once the netherworld Divine Orb is in our possession, the Spirit Domain City will fall! Those self-proclaimed lofty Spirit Envoys will become nothing more than a joke. I can assure you, their end is near."
Bai Qiu's expression turned complex as he lowered his head in thought. After a brief pause, he looked up, his voice tinged with concern:
"Do we really need to go this far? The Spirit Envoys are indeed detestable, but can we truly control the situation? The Spirit Domain could descend into chaos."
Turning to Bai Qiu, Qin Gongming's eyes were sharp as ice, and his voice brimmed with resolute confidence:
"We can!" His tone was unyielding. "The Netherworld Divine Orb commands the Yin Soldiers and wields the immense power of yin and yang. While only the Great Heavenly Sovereign can fully unleash its might, Xiang Cheng has meticulously planned everything. When the time comes, the balance of power in the Spirit Domain will shift entirely. Humanity will finally become the true rulers!"
Bai Qiu still appeared hesitant, his voice betraying his lingering doubts: "But… the power of the netherworld Divine Orb is immense. What if something goes wrong?"
"Something goes wrong?" Qin Gongming let out a cold laugh, disdain seeping into his words.
"Do you think the Spirit Envoys are truly powerful? Their strength is laughable. They've only managed to cling to their positions because of the Great Heavenly Sovereign's protection. Without the Divine Orb, they are nothing! Besides, the current Great Heavenly Sovereign hasn't even fully matured. Once the Orb is in our hands, even if we can't activate it, the Spirit Domain City will still fall."
Qin Gongming's gaze burned with fervor as he spoke, his voice dropping to a chilling murmur:
"This Spirit Domain has long needed a change in leadership. The Spirit Envoys pride themselves on their nobility, but in truth, they're nothing more than parasites feeding off the Divine Orb's power. What sets us humans apart is our true ambition, while they are merely cowards, terrified of change!"
Bai Qiu remained silent for a moment, his gaze complicated as he looked at Qin Gongming.
"Qin Gongming, I understand your grand aspirations for humanity and your desire to change the status quo. But this plan is fraught with danger. Are you truly confident it will work?"
"Confident?" Qin Gongming scoffed, turning away from Bai Qiu to face the sprawling Spirit Domain City below. His voice carried a tone of unwavering conviction:
"There are no guarantees in this world. But one thing is certain—if we don't act, humanity will remain under the oppression of the Spirit Envoys forever. Taking risks might lead to failure, but doing nothing leaves us with no chance at all."
Bai Qiu sighed softly, lifting his gaze to the brightly lit Spirit Domain City in the distance. He could feel Qin Gongming's determination and knew that every word he spoke came from a place of truth. Yet the faint unease in Bai Qiu's heart refused to dissipate.
"What's the next step?" Bai Qiu asked quietly after a moment of silence. "What do we do now?"
"Wait," Qin Gongming replied flatly, his eyes glinting with a cold light.
"Wait for Xiang Cheng's orders. Within a year, he will complete his preparations. Until then, we must ensure that the plan remains undiscovered, especially by the Spirit Envoys. If anyone dares interfere…" He turned, his gaze filled with a murderous edge. "No matter who they are, they will pay the price."
Bai Qiu nodded but said nothing more. He knew that from this moment on, the conflict between the Dragon King's Hall and the Spirit Envoys had reached a point of no return. The Spirit Domain's future would soon be engulfed in an unprecedented storm.