That said, one still has to run when it's time to run.
The elder of the Vidyadhara glanced at the few timid ones running toward the escape passage and gave a disdainful snort.
Such conduct, what a disgrace! The Vidyadhara had their own dignity and bearing.
He had never once considered truly forcing open a path with strength, for at the end of this path lay that colossal beast.
The Luofu Vidyadhara might be foolish, but he wasn't so brainless as to think that.
"Bang!"
At that moment, a deafening crash shook the entire chamber.
Several shadowy figures, their features obscured, flashed before their eyes.
"Thud!" The sound told enough of the state of things. The Xianzhou bodies were still sturdy.
With just a glance, they could see several large craters newly gouged into the wall.
"Elder Yuan, long time no see."
A familiar voice broke the silence, brimming with authority.
The others, who had not yet managed to escape, looked on in panic, trying to suppress their fear as they shouted: "What do you think you're doing? As Xianzhou generals, how dare you strike at us? I'll make sure this is reported at the Alliance Assembly!"
"Bastard!" Feixiao would never indulge those too blind to see the situation clearly.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
With three swift moves, she finished them off, dusted her hands.
Indeed, nothing was more satisfying than roughing up the Alliance's higher-ups.
"Hehe, Vanquishing General, what fine skill you have."
Following the voice, they turned toward the three figures gathered together.
This was no trivial affair within the cosmos.
If it had been a simple matter of chasing down rebels, one person, or perhaps a specialist, would have sufficed.
But among those present were high-ranking figures from across the Xianzhou fleet.
Once they reached a certain level of authority, they stepped back from direct affairs of their own ships, instead taking on posts in the Alliance Assembly.
Most of the time, these positions were little more than a retirement arrangement, though at key moments, the Assembly could indeed exercise real power.
By chance, several high-ranking officials from the Yaoqing and Zhuming fleets happened to be here.
In fact, one of those Feixiao had just kicked aside was someone she'd even met when she first took up her own post.
Elder Yuan's gaze lingered on the three before him, his ancient, unruffled eyes calm as though greeting old friends.
Jing Yuan looked at this elder of Xianzhou Fanghu.
Ever since Fanghu suffered devastating losses, many of its famed elders had gone into hiding.
Xianzhou Fanghu was a Vidyadhara-dominated ship, home to the majority of the Vidyadhara across the Alliance, truly the greatest sanctuary of the Vidyadhara within the known universe.
But that one Lux arrow from the Reignbow Arbiter, the shot that felled the Abundance's coalition, had brought the Vidyadhara unbearable suffering.
Already troubled by difficulties in reproduction, the Vidyadhara were nearly crushed in spirit by that blow.
The entire ship was Vidyadhara; even the smallest losses were immense. And that arrow had been a fully powered one.
If Fanghu had not already docked in a quiet system to recuperate, its condition today would be far worse.
"Elder Yuan." Jing Yuan met his eyes, carefully choosing his words.
"This gathering is lively indeed. But tell me, why no young ones? I may look youthful on the outside, but I am an old man all the same. If you don't invite me, I'll feel rather left out."
"Hehe, how could this old one dare disturb yourself, so burdened with duties? Still, for you to have found your way here, perhaps fate itself willed it." Elder Yuan chuckled, then lifted the teapot on the table, setting out three cups and pouring for them.
Fragrant steam rose from the fresh brew.
A subtle, indescribable aroma wafted through the air.
"This tea, I grew myself. Each harvest yields only seven leaves every fifty years, and most I've consumed on my own, or had pilfered by freeloading old friends. What remains is my most precious store."
Jing Yuan recalled only having heard once of the elder's vast tea plantation, where the leaves were considered a rarity of the highest order.
Yet to think such a plantation yielded merely seven leaves in the end.
Huaiyan and Jing Yuan sat down, savoring it slowly.
"Whew... Elder Yuan, this tea truly is fine tea. What a pity, I fear I won't have the chance to drink it again." Huaiyan stroked his beard and sighed.
"Haha, if General Huaiyan likes it, I still have a little stashed away. Take it with you if you don't mind. You two as well?"
Seeing the three of them enjoy his tea, Elder Yuan chuckled, proudly stroking his white beard.
"Then I'll thank you in advance, Elder." Jing Yuan smiled faintly and lowered his gaze, watching the brilliant tea within his cup.
"The fragrance of this tea reminds me of my days serving as a general's guard. At first, the memories are dry and bitter, but the longer I reflect, the sweeter they seem. Time is merciless indeed, it presses heavily upon us." Jing Yuan's expression was tinged with melancholy.
"Yes, time is merciless. I still faintly remember the very moment I opened my eyes after rebirth. I was carefree then, without a single worry." Elder Yuan nodded lightly, his eyes glimmering with remembrance.
"Elder, even now you ought to be carefree." Feixiao shook his head slightly.
"Hehe, how could one ever live in this world entirely without care?" Elder Yuan laughed heartily at Feixiao's words.
"Elder Yuan, though we've only met a few times, crossing paths here and at a handful of Assembly meetings, I've heard people speak of you. By their accounts, you were never one to chase profit so eagerly." Jing Yuan's gaze bore into him, a mixture of doubt and scrutiny, as if seeking some hidden truth.
"General, you misunderstand me. In my youth, I was nothing if not eager for gain. Only now, in old age, am I slowed and stilled."
At those words, Huaiyan's eyes opened slightly wider, a glimmer of remembrance flashing within them.
That was one benefit of age, he had seen it all.
Though Elder Yuan now stood at the dusk of his lifespan as a Vidyadhara, soon to undergo rebirth, Huaiyan could honestly say, he had watched him grow up.
In his younger years, Elder Yuan had indeed possessed a unique boldness, even once devoting a period to living the life of a star skiff's pilot.
In commanding warships, he was no less skilled than the Foxians, at least when it came to courting danger.
"Elder Yuan, by all rights, with your merits and standing, there's no need for you to resort to such deeds." Jing Yuan spoke in a low voice.
"'Don't want to' and 'can't' are two different things."
The silence in the atmosphere spread.
"Then, for what purpose did you do this?" Huaiyan asked. "The Xianzhou has always valued harmony and would never do anything harmful to its allies. Elder Yuan has been in the Alliance leadership for a long time, he should understand this truth."
Elder Yuan was truly one of the old veterans of the Xianzhou.
Such a simple truth was something even a child on an ordinary planet could understand. With his vision and conduct, how could he possibly be the one behind such a plan?
After all, everyone present here was Alliance leadership. Even if they were disposed of reasonably, it would not cause much upheaval, but still, they were high-ranking figures.
And yet they had agreed to take the risk?
"When interests grow large enough, there will always be some arrogant fools willing to risk everything." Elder Yuan's expression was calm as he answered.
"You never truly expected this far-fetched plan to succeed." Huaiyan looked at Elder Yuan with doubt.
Elder Yuan nodded frankly, admitting it.
What kind of mindset would make someone believe they could injure an existence higher than a combat-specialized General?
It was nothing more than a lie meant to deceive.
As for why he did not stir trouble with the Judges of the Ten-Lords Commissions regarding Hanya and Xueyi, did one really think the Ten Lords of the Ten-Lords Commissions keep quiet?
Besides, to lay hands on people of the Ten-Lords Commission meant that the prison cells of the Shackling Prison would never run out of room.
"I just want to know, Divine Foresight General, what exactly are you hiding?"
As soon as the words fell, Elder Yuan's originally calm temperament shifted, his gaze sharp, piercing directly into hearts.
"By the lifespan of the Vidyadhara, I have about two years left. Whether I reincarnate or am killed, I no longer care. I have lived long enough. When I was first born, the Vidyadhara were still in their prime… and after that, I watched them decline."
"For the revival of the Vidyadhara, I have waited far too long, done far too much. I am tired. So I want to know, Divine Foresight General, can the truth you are hiding allow the Vidyadhara to flourish again?!"
These words came straight from the heart. Elder Yuan never hid his intentions.
He wanted to see the Vidyadhara rise again, to see them regain vitality… Not like now, in this twilight decline.
Even with the Xianzhou Fanghu serving as their stronghold, the Vidyadhara still steadily marched toward decline.
It was unavoidable. The fall of Long had long fated it.
But this truth was too cruel, too hard to accept. Especially for one who had dedicated his life to the Vidyadhara.
The Vidyadhara could accept decline, but not extinction.
Elder Yuan knowing a few things did not surprise Jing Yuan. It was precisely because of this that their actions began.
Normally, because of the special role of the Ten-Lords Commission, even the Alliance leadership seldom dealt with them. The intricacies were not so easy to untangle.
But Godzilla's existence made him the natural focal point.
The Scalegorge Waterscape of the Luofu Xianzhou had become barren due to Dan Feng's actions.
And with the influence of the Ambrosial Arbor, the realm had become a wasteland of sand, where not even grass grew.
Yet ever since Godzilla claimed the Scalegorge Waterscape as his territory, it erupted with unimaginable vitality.
Countless plants appeared, dazzling the eyes of scholars who studied such things.
They dreamed of entering the Scalegorge Waterscape to see these treasures.
But their hopes were doomed. No matter how much they offered, Jing Yuan would never allow them to set foot in Scalegorge Waterscape.
"Before this, I had people investigate. The Yaoqing General once sought treatment from the Healer Lady for Moon Rage." Elder Yuan narrated calmly.
"But you and I both know, Moon Rage cannot be understood through common reasoning. Strictly speaking, it isn't even a disease, but a symptom, etched deeply into the genes of the species."
If Moon Rage were truly a disease, the Xianzhou Alliance would have long sought out the Genius Society for help.
One Arbiter-General alone would have been worth any price to save.
All the more, if Moon Rage could be cured, the Foxians would no longer need to live under the shadow of the Borisin.
The internal atmosphere of their people would transform dramatically. If the Healer Lady really could cure Feixiao, the pressure on the Foxians would be lifted like never before.
But! The power of a High Elder was strong, considered the highest tier below the Emanators.
Against an Emanator, they could even exchange blows, so long as the Emanator wasn't serious.
Yet Elder Yuan never exaggerated the power of the High Elder.
Besides, Bailu possessed only half of that power. Otherwise, she would have long been recognized by the Vidyadhara High Elder of the Luofu.
With only half of the High Elder's strength, she wanted to resolve Moon Rage? Elder Yuan would sooner believe Moon Rage had vanished on its own.
But ever since Bailu had stayed by Godzilla's side, her power had abruptly strengthened severalfold.
Whether her healing abilities had touched some domain related to Godzilla, no one knew. But it was enough that Feixiao might really withstand Moon Rage.
And this was one of the key reasons why Elder Yuan chose to act.
"I cannot promise," Jing Yuan said, "but I assure you, no matter what, this will be placed at the very forefront. Without pause. That was the vow once sworn by the Xianzhou, the Foxians, and the Vidyadhara."
To watch over and help each other unconditionally.
Elder Yuan met Jing Yuan's eyes for several seconds, then gave a relieved smile.
"Let it flow naturally." As descendants of the Permanence, the Vidyadhara were extraordinary by birth.
And Elder Yuan's extraordinariness lay in his intuition. His keen intuition gave him unshakable faith in his decisions. This would bring new life to the Vidyadhara, new transformation.
Everything… was about to change.
"Oh, by the way, these fellows are yours to handle. As for the others, leave them to keep me company. I've already recorded their deeds in full. Someone will come knocking when the time is right."
Elder Yuan's tone shifted, smiling cheerfully. They were all carefully prepared gifts of his. The parasites within the Alliance, after this, would suffer a grievous blow.
"Elder Yuan, you, ******!!"
"You'll die a horrible death!"
"%…%%...%..."
Elder Yuan accepted all their "praise" calmly.
It was nothing more than the howls of defeated dogs.
And it proved one thing, when an old man, sharp of mind and seasoned with age, decided to make trouble, no one could withstand it.