Chapter 295: Yang Potian's Plan
Hearing Yang Potian's explanation, Qian Renxue hesitated for a moment. "My grandfather can indeed help me dispel the dark energy, but he says I haven't trained enough. So I've been traveling to gain experience, and somehow, I ended up here at Tianxing Academy."
Scanning her surroundings, she added, "The academy's environment seems acceptable. I'll be staying here for a while to rest; I assume there's no problem with that?"
Before Yang Potian could refuse, Qian Renxue promptly chose a room in his home and settled in, leaving Yang Potian speechless. Meanwhile, Ye Lingling looked on with a puzzled expression. Yang Potian quickly explained, "Lingling, last time, I borrowed her Angelic Holy Sword to eradicate the Rakshasa God's evil aura in the Slaughter City, which caused her to be tainted by that energy. She's probably been suffering ever since."
But Ye Lingling simply nodded and left without another word, leaving Yang Potian standing there, unsure of how to handle this situation. As he watched her leave, he felt a chill—one that even his near-invincible strength couldn't dispel.
Contemplating his next move, Yang Potian quietly sought out his parents and handed his father a storage ring. His mother, Niu Jinfeng, looked at him in curiosity. "What's in here, son? Why the secrecy?"
Upon examining the ring, she was stunned, her jaw nearly dropping in disbelief. Inside the spatial ring, which had a capacity of several cubic meters, lay an abundance of precious treasures, including dozens of lead-sealed boxes—each containing a soul bone. Although Yang Potian hadn't done much fighting during the recent hunts, his gains had been considerable.
The wealth in the Star Luo Empire's royal treasury was staggering. It held dozens of soul bones, not to mention countless other treasures—the fruits of an empire that had flourished for thousands of years. Tang Hao and Tang Xiao's stores, too, included rare soul bones, each of at least fifty-thousand-year quality. Additional soul bones had been retrieved from the remains of elders in the former Clear Sky Sect, though its vaults had long been emptied. It seemed that the Clear Sky Sect's rapid growth in recent years had come from its members absorbing their precious reserves of soul bones.
After examining the loot, Yang Zhen was deeply impressed. "Son, where did you acquire so many rare soul bones?"
Yang Potian replied, "Don't worry, Father. These came from the Clear Sky Sect and the Star Luo royal family. Both factions have been eliminated, so no one can trace them to us."
"Clear Sky Sect and Star Luo… Could it be that their destruction had something to do with you?"
"Not exactly," Yang Potian replied, smiling. "From beginning to end, I didn't lift a finger. I merely seized the opportunity. If there are any suitable soul bones here, feel free to distribute them among Grandfather and the others, but don't tell them where they came from."
Understanding, Yang Zhen nodded, knowing that his father and uncle had both spent their lives devoted to the Clear Sky Sect. They wouldn't find it easy to bear its complete destruction.
Then, turning serious, Yang Zhen asked, "With the Spirit Empire on the brink of unification, shouldn't we make plans of our own?"
Yang Potian shook his head slightly. "There's no need to worry. I have a cooperative agreement with the Spirit Empire. Neither Bibi Dong nor Qian Daoliu has the strength to target us yet. What matters now is seeing who can ascend to godhood first."
"Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue from the Spirit Empire have the potential to reach godhood, as do Tianyue and I. I'll soon begin my next divine trial, and Tianyue should be ready after a year in the Slaughter City."
Yang Zhen looked at his son with a hint of concern. "Potian, why did you choose to cooperate with the Spirit Empire? All these years, we've never fully understood your intentions. Could you share them with us now?"
Seeing his parents' worry, Yang Potian sighed. "At present, the Douluo Continent has only a few people with the potential for godhood: myself, Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, Lingling, Tianyue, and Tang San. Within two years, gods will likely walk the earth."
"Knowing the Clear Sky Sect's character—and especially Tang San and Tang Hao's dogged persistence—they'd come for us eventually. It's far better to let someone else take care of them first, nipping that threat in the bud."
"Besides, if we're considering the well-being of the common people, the Spirit Empire is actually their best option compared to the chaos brought on by Clear Sky Sect or the two empires. This was the path I chose for the greater good."
Yang Zhen frowned in thought. "You're young, son. Are you really so uninterested in ruling? Have you never thought about uniting the continent yourself?"
Yang Potian laughed wryly. "It's important to know one's limits. Even though I train hard, the idea of ruling the entire continent has never appealed to me. It would be nothing but trouble, with endless schemes and struggles. Even if I forcibly unified the land, I have no desire to handle the tedious task of governance."
"Bibi Dong rose from humble beginnings and is unmatched in both ambition and talent. I'd rather observe the changes in the world. If chaos does break out, I can step in at that time."
Yang Zhen, listening, could only nod. "You're right. Neither I nor your grandfather is suited to lead an empire. We've dedicated our lives to cultivation and medicine, and we struggle enough just managing Tianxing Academy. Ruling a continent would be overwhelming. It's frustrating, though, to see the Spirit Empire reap all the rewards."
Yang Potian chuckled. "The world is unpredictable. Though the Spirit Empire is powerful, they aren't invincible. And don't forget, the beasts of the Star Dou Forest still pose a formidable threat. Let them clash and see who prevails."
"Are you referring to the beasts that helped Tang Hao escape, like Di Tian?"
"Yes. Compared to the Spirit Empire, they're no less powerful, and perhaps even stronger. They currently support Tang San, whose ally, Dai Mubai, has already lost the Star Luo Empire as his base. If Tang San and his friends are truly pushed to their limits, things could get interesting."
"Father, all we need to do is focus on our cultivation. Strength is the foundation of everything. As for the coming war between the Spirit Empire and the soul beasts, let's simply watch from the sidelines."
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