Chapter 427: Say, What Does He Want?

Emperor of Ziyou was like an injured lion, glaring dangerously at the civil and military officials gathered in front of him.

"I used to laugh at Yutang's emperor. He doesn't have the support of deeply rooted noble families. Even when he managed to garner their assistance and they were loyal to the empire - the likes of the Leng Family, the Shangguan Family of Generals, the Fang Family... these noble families ultimately lost their heirs during the years of bitter war. They had no one to continue their heritage - their collective fates were to remain legends!"

"Tell me, what meaning do such legends hold? Where's the value in it?"

"It was my understanding that they no longer held the power and influence they used to, fallen apart to become scattered sand! An opportune chance would have seen them removed entirely from the equation - how can a tower built from sand stand for long?"

"Today, I know what Yu Peize lays claim to. I am truly envious of him, utterly jealous!"

"I was wrong! Right from the start, I was wrong, very wrong, so very wrong it's incorrigible!"

"It isn't true that he does not own the heritage of noble families, it's because Yutang's noble families have all died from fighting for the country! Without their sacrifice and their contribution, how can Yutang, who faces the enemy on all sides, stand until today?"

"how can I not be envious and jealous of a man who has the support of such families and having subordinates and officials who are so loyal to him?"

"Previously, I was grateful that Ziyou could boast of having the best warriors, that it could be free of worries and it would never have to worry about falling. Now, I know the truth, the reality of it all. These elite families, the experts who reside in Ziyou, are all people afraid of death!"

"The reason they can stand tall and long is because they have never been to the battlefield. They dare not step into danger! That's why they live!"

"They have never served the country, never contributed, never sacrificed - of course, they can continue to survive, safe and sound!"

"The casualties of the Ziyou warriors, the acquisition, and loss of Ziyou territory, the glory, and humiliation of the Empire of Ziyou, are of no concern to them. Of course, they can live; to live for the sake of living is how one can drift along a long and meaningless life!"

"So, those who have existed long in this world become kings! Saints! Finally, they become your watchdogs! Yes, you heard that right, you!"

"I used to believe if the Nine Heavens Demesne had been in Ziyou instead of Yutang, I would have taken over the world a long time ago! Now that I think about it, I was absolutely wrong! If the Nine Heavens Demesne had indeed landed in Ziyou with all you powerful families behind me, how could I still have held on to this empire? I would have lost it a long time ago!"

"If my Ziyou was being attacked forcefully on all sides like Yutang, how could I have defended it? I would probably have lost it all within a year and a half, much less a decade!"

"Somehow, Yutang continues to survive and thrive. Furthermore, their ambition for Tianxuan hegemony never fades!"

"I - how can I be put on the same level of discussion as Yutang's Emperor, Yu Peize? We're too far apart! Too far!"

"I am utterly impressed with the emperor! F*ck, he's one hell of an emperor and a great leader of a nation!" Emperor of Ziyou shouted until he was hoarse, "What a f*cking ruler of our time!"

Emperor of Ziyou laughed uproariously.

Not a single one of the twenty officials dared to lift their heads up to speak.

Mainly, they had nothing to say.

It was true. Everything that the Emperor of Ziyou had said were cold hard facts that were irrefutable.

Could the undivided power of Ziyou not catch Supreme Cloud, whose manifestation powers were restrained? What kind of a joke was this?

It was impossible!

There were hundreds of thousands of army personnel attacking in a siege, blocking the way so securely that even a fly could not escape. Could Supreme Cloud have ascended to heaven?

Everyone was thinking and waiting to hold out - maybe the experts from the other families would strike and annihilate Supreme Cloud!

Let the risk of loss be borne by other families, as long as our own families did not suffer any of it! As long as our combat power can still be considered intact; maybe we could even absorb some other forces or turfs after this battle.

They waited as it dragged on... When everyone finally felt that the situation was grave, they began to actually strike the waiting list.

Their target had indeed disappeared into the sky!

He was a short distance from exiting the city, a mere step away.

It was really too late for anything to be done.

Selfish! Egocentric!

It was these characteristics that destroyed the chance of the Empire of Ziyou to totally wipe out the Nine Supremes!

The Emperor of Ziyou looked desolate and forlorn.

"Lan Wuxin, Chancellor Lan, you've done all that you could about Supreme Cloud's incident." His Majesty said softly, "I - don't blame you!"

Lan Wuxin bawled then, tears drenching his wrinkled face.

"I'm only very curious now." Emperor of Ziyou said with his eyes closed, "Yutang's emperor... Yu Peize... how did he hold himself against the storm coming at him in all directions? Putting myself in his shoes and asking myself truthfully, how can I handle what he has all these years?"

The officials all looked ashamed.

The Emperor of Ziyou's harsh criticism struck a chord with some people, rattling the deepest parts of their heart.

It was painful to listen to, but it was reasonable. It was the truth!

A lot of people were ashamed, immediately regretting their behavior.

As the emperor had said, how could it be in time? If being regretful was useful, this world would not have had so much remorse!

The Emperor of Ziyou's voice was ominously quiet, "Everyone, I've spoken my honest thoughts. Now, it's your turn to ask yourselves; if things were to be repeated, will you all still do the same?"

The officials were shaken, everyone thinking about the question that had been posed - if things were to start anew, what would we have done differently?

They thought it through, but no one made a sound. Instead, even more, people lowered their heads in shame.

Obviously, even if there was a second chance, there would not necessarily be people and families that would extend their help!

...

Emperor of Ziyou sighed helplessly in the face of his current crisis. A bitter smile tugged at his lips.

My officials, my arms, my backbone - my empire!

The tension was broken when a messenger entered to deliver a report.

"A report for Your Majesty.Supreme Cloud didn't leave at once upon arriving outside the city. He announced his threat, saying he'll return an hour later."

"What were his actual words?" the Emperor of Ziyou asked curiously.

"Supreme Cloud said, 'I hope that there's someone I can speak to by then!'. He also said, 'I believe that you all know what I want!'."

Once the officials heard his words, they were perturbed.

Supreme Cloud finally managed to escape danger, but didn't leave immediately and even stated his intentions to return. To top things off, he even asked for something in return!

What does he want?

He believes that we know what he wants. Do we?

The Emperor of Ziyou smirked chillingly and exclaimed, "My dear officials, do you know what he wants? He somehow believes that we would know."

For a moment, everyone was deep in thought.

They could not accept that he was actually coming back when he had already left.

What did he want?