Chapter 14: The Decision
The rain pattered incessantly outside the window. Inside the office, Su Xiao finished reviewing the necessary documents and glanced at the time. It was time to head to the Soul Clock Tower.
Bringing Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha along, he had just stepped out when he encountered Vice Minister Tor Enta, who approached with an anxious expression.
"Lord Bai Ye, His Majesty the King requests your presence. A meeting at the Royal Palace tonight at eight."
"..."
Su Xiao paused mid-step. He didn't believe this was a coincidence. Just as he had reached a preliminary alliance with the three old immortals, the old king summoned him.
From his first meeting with the old king upon entering this world, the monarch had shown considerable goodwill. Yet in Su Xiao's view, though this old king was a frail ordinary man on the verge of death, in some respects, his danger level was no lower than that of the three old immortals.
The empire was the tool the three old immortals used to control this world, and only secondarily did it yield various benefits.
Originally, the three, who had all been at the "Supreme Peak" during the First or Second Era, had little need for the various resources produced by this world. Their sole purpose was to break the "Causal Lock Chain." Once that was done, they could return to the "Supreme Peak" before long.
On this basis, the old king had achieved the current situation in less than fifty years of his reign. That was truly remarkable. In terms of a monarch's political maneuvering and balancing abilities, across the entire Star Realm, the old king stood above the T0 tier, one of the few in his own exclusive rank.
In truth, Su Xiao had known from the start what this monarch intended. This one was ruthless. His ultimate goal was to expel the Soul Clock Tower and the Lune Family from this world. Yet his attitude toward the gods was subtle—he didn't seem to plan on driving them away, but he also didn't intend to let them live.
That left only one possibility: usurpation, perhaps even using some desperate method to further amplify that power. If so, this world would finally have the day it could transcend, becoming the first transcendent realm of the Third Era.
That was the ideal outcome, but Su Xiao wasn't optimistic. It wasn't that he underestimated the old king's methods; it was that the time the other party had to scheme was too short—just a few decades. Simply usurping the power of the gods couldn't be accomplished in such a short time.
Thus, the old king's plans were even more unknown. The unknown equated to danger. Su Xiao truly didn't believe the old king had any special regard for him. He was certain that a max-level monarch like the old king could sacrifice everything. The other party could even place his own life on the chessboard, let alone others'.
Even more terrifying was that the people under the old king were willing to give their lives for his schemes. They willingly handed their lives over to the old king, using them like currency, without regret.
"Mm. Go back and tell His Majesty that I will attend."
Su Xiao looked at Vice Minister Tor Enta. From their first meeting, Tor Enta had always seemed steady with a hint of slickness. Now, meeting Su Xiao's gaze, his eyes were as resolute as they had ever been.
The current situation in this world: first, all parties lay their plans, then engage in covert struggles before open confrontation? No. From this moment on, the chaotic battle among the various forces and major factions in this world had truly begun.
"Very well, Lord Bai Ye."
Tor Enta bowed slightly and headed downstairs. As he turned the corner, he nearly lost control of his expression. Meeting that gaze just now—the pressure was absurdly intense. He felt his heart spasm and tremble.
He descended to the second floor. Under the setting sun of dusk, he watched the minister's vehicle drive out of the forest path from the headquarters. He pulled out a communicator from his pocket, hesitated for a long time, but ultimately didn't make the call and tucked it back.
"Minister, the demon you sealed has been released. Who would have thought that you, the most likely to ascend to the Supreme Peak, would die so absurdly."
The afterglow of the setting sun reflected on Tor Enta's face. He looked up at the sky filled with fiery clouds and murmured to himself, "Your Majesty, in this clash with these madmen... can we really win?"
...
West City District · Soul Clock Tower Headquarters.
Unlike the madness displayed by the Ascended Sorcerers, their headquarters was surrounded by a large academic district. All schools of the soul system received resource support from the Soul Clock Tower. Perhaps this was why the Soul Clock Tower had developed to this day—it never stopped pursuing knowledge of the soul.
The academic atmosphere here was strong. Vast academic districts were nearby. Soul-type ability users of various races walked the streets. A peculiar sight was the translucent blue soul jellyfish floating above buildings or high in the streets.
These soul jellyfish came in various sizes. Some even clung to building tops, resting temporarily. The residents were long accustomed to this.
Bubu Wang drove the vehicle unimpeded, stopping at the square before the Soul Clock Tower's main tower. As Su Xiao stepped out, he faintly sensed traces of a Violator's presence here.
"Who is it."
Su Xiao spoke, asking Bubu Wang. When tracking Violators, Bubu Wang's olfactory memory was more accurate.
Bubu Wang sniffed around for a while but didn't detect anything. He took out a metal device like a muzzle, fitted it over his snout, and after activating it, took a deep breath.
"Woof!"
Bubu Wang barked, meaning it smelled like Soul Master, but very faint. The other party had only stayed here for a very short time. The source of the scent extended into the main tower ahead.
Soul Master?
Su Xiao was puzzled. Soul Master had just gained the ability to trick others into joining the Dawn Paradise. At this point, he should be in worlds with the lowest danger at the Supreme tier, such as "Ice Sea World," "Dome's Peak," "Tar Secret Realm," "Eternal Spirit Realm," or "Dream Kingdom."
These were the most common and preferred worlds for "Newly Ascended Supremes" to "Veteran Supremes." The universally recognized method for Supreme growth was: after ascension, mindlessly enter the "Eternal Spirit Realm" as many times as possible. Some even experienced seven or eight consecutive "Eternal Spirit Realms" before considering other Supreme-tier worlds.
Regardless of the benefits, risks, or Soul Master's modus operandi, he shouldn't be coming to the God Realm. So, was he here for the "Soul Clock Tower"? Don't joke. Soul Master had a dual soul—a soul beast inside his body that he needed to seal, not open a hole in his head.
With Soul Master's "Soul Talent," the strongest in the current Star Realm, cultivated by devouring through "Soul Imprints," if Clock Tower Master Xilgof sensed him, he'd be bound and brought back in an instant, becoming a beloved disciple. Don't think that's a good thing. In the soul system, the body was never the most important.
Moreover, every generation of the Soul Clock Tower's master was this old immortal. Where had all those brilliant successors gone?
In fact, viewing the "Soul Clock Tower" as a faction was sometimes a mistake. It was a high-tier power inheritance, yes, but from the First Era to now, the "Soul Clock Tower" might only represent one person: the current Clock Tower Master, Xilgof.
Having confirmed that Soul Master wouldn't be stupid enough to come to the Soul Clock Tower to deliver himself, only one possibility remained: Soul Master didn't want to come, but he had to. He entered this world not for gains, but to share the risk.
Who would he share the risk with? Su Xiao didn't think Soul Master had any acquaintances here. So, who was he tracking into this world? Moreover, in the previous world, he had interacted with the other party. Was the other party tracking him into this world?
Tracking the Hunter Bai Ye was impossible—it would trigger the Reincarnation Paradise's anti-tracking mechanism for Hunters. But tracking the Law Destroyer Kukulin Bai Ye had a good chance.
In summary, if Soul Master had a risk he could share with Su Xiao, only one remained: an old friend coveted Soul Master's ability to pull people into the Dawn Paradise and gain massive benefits from it. For a certain divine stick, this ability was an ultimate fit.
Soul Master's decision to come to this world was too incongruous, narrowing the scope of subsequent speculation. Su Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly. If this conjecture was true, then how could he not share this cooperation with the three old immortals with this old friend who had a "life-and-death bond"?
As for how to get the three old immortals to pull this old friend into the group, Su Xiao only needed one sentence: "This person's abilities are bizarre, and his strength is not inferior to mine."
Now, the three old immortals were driven mad by the "Causal Lock Chain." By then, it wouldn't be whether the old divine stick was willing to join the team; it would be Su Xiao and the three old immortals knocking on his door to invite him. If that old divine stick refused, these three old immortals plus a Law Destroyer all knew a bit of martial arts.
Su Xiao entered the main tower. The moment he stepped inside, he felt himself pass through an invisible membrane. He pressed one hand on his sword hilt, ready to use "Extreme Realm: Star Realm" at any moment. This was why he had Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha wait outside.
Even though all clues indicated the three old immortals wouldn't turn hostile now, believing them completely wasn't courage—it was foolishness.
The surroundings gradually became shrouded in mist, leaving only an upward staircase. Su Xiao stepped forward. Invisible pressure fell on his entire body, but his expression remained unchanged. He stopped before the two open metal gates, still composed.
Entering the misty hall, everything around was fog, with only a black stone table and four high seats not submerged by the mist.
A figure, one meter forty tall, clad in a loose black robe, with a large head and a gaunt body, and eleven "Spirit Holes" on his bald head—this was Clock Tower Master Xilgof.
At this moment, Clock Tower Master Xilgof made no effort to hide his aura, like a soul-eating evil ghost: greedy, brutal, with a cruel devouring of souls as his instinct.
Let me reintroduce him properly. This was the founder of the Soul Clock Tower, the first Ascended Sorcerer in Star Realm history, the top soul scholar who developed "Soul Sublimation," also known as the "Spirit Hole Secret Art."
Across the entire Star Realm, there seemed to be only three known "Supreme Peak" soul-type beings.