Chapter 947: Old Feelings
Azure Dragon carried the bloody head of Heaven Pig in his hand and slowly placed it on the table. He took a handkerchief from his bosom and wiped the crimson blood off his hands.
"Everyone, I might have been a bit too heavy-handed," Azure Dragon said. "But this was necessary. I hope this serves as a warning for all of you not to try any clever tricks again."
None of the people in the room dared to speak; they just stared at Heaven Pig's eyes, which remained wide open in death.
The deaths of the "Heavenly Ranks" had begun; the landscape here had truly changed.
"Heaven Dog." Azure Dragon turned to look at the obese man.
"I-I'm here..."
"Just now... did anyone down there mention the name 'Heaven Dragon'?" Azure Dragon asked.
Heaven Dog thought for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "No."
"No...?" Azure Dragon narrowed his eyes. "I advise you to think carefully before speaking. Even though I was busy just now, I might have heard something too."
A flicker of panic crossed Heaven Dog's face. He once again carefully recalled all the sounds he had heard, and finally said, "I truly did not hear the name 'Heaven Dragon'..."
Simultaneously listening to all the sounds in the "Land of Endings" was naturally not an easy task for Heaven Dog. Tens of thousands of people often spoke at the same time, and Heaven Dog felt as if thunderclaps were exploding in his ears.
So he could only selectively listen for certain important words, or, as Azure Dragon ordered, monitor certain important individuals.
But neither the important words nor the important individuals had mentioned "Heaven Dragon."
"Why so nervous?" Azure Dragon chuckled. "I was just asking casually. In fact, I was focused on dealing with Heaven Pig just now and didn't hear anything."
Heaven Dog nodded upon hearing that, then cast a sidelong glance at Heaven Pig's head on the table.
This was the fate of those who defied Azure Dragon. If he wanted to survive, he had to follow Azure Dragon's orders as best he could.
"Everyone, from now on, no one except Heaven Dog is allowed to use 'Immortal Arts,'" Azure Dragon said. "Losing a partner I've worked with for decades is deeply painful for me. So I hope you'll all behave yourselves and stop courting death."
With that, he dragged over a chair and sat down again, resting his chin on his hand as he silently watched everyone. The atmosphere in the room was stifling.
Though no one spoke, everyone knew the truth.
There was no such thing as "decades of camaraderie" or "misunderstanding." For Azure Dragon, killing Heaven Pig was no different from casually squashing a bug.
But at that moment, among the remaining nine "Heavenly Ranks," two or three of them looked at Heaven Pig with equally cold eyes.
They seemed more like "gods" who had abandoned all human emotions and desires.
Heaven Rat, whose face was covered in wrinkles, not only remained expressionless but even revealed a cunning smile a few seconds later.
"Well..." he said, breaking the silence.
"Speak," Azure Dragon said.
"Now that Heaven Pig is gone... shouldn't we allow new people to be 'promoted'?" Heaven Rat asked.
"'Promoted'...?" Azure Dragon slowly grinned. "If you hadn't mentioned it, I almost forgot that rule."
"Ah..." Heaven Rat, unsure if he had said something wrong, gave an apologetic laugh and said, "Many Earth-levels are finding it hard to get promoted, and their work enthusiasm is already declining. If we tell them that the 'Pig' position is available for promotion, quite a few people will work harder."
"That will only produce a group of hardworking 'pigs,'" Azure Dragon laughed. "And what about the other 'zodiac' positions?"
Upon hearing this, the wrinkles on Heaven Rat's face tightened as he felt that he had indeed said something wrong.
"What do you think about leaving a few other 'zodiac' positions vacant... so our 'Utopia' can thrive," Azure Dragon said. "After all, 'Heavenly Zodiacs' have very little to do anyway; it's much easier than being an 'Earthly Zodiac.'"
"Th-this..." Heaven Rat blinked. "That can't be right... Even though I have little work, I can still help you manage some 'Earth-levels.'"
Azure Dragon looked down at the numerous remote controls hanging at Heaven Rat's waist. "With just these?"
"Yes..." Heaven Rat nodded. "We're all 'Zodiacs'... but only in my group do people's legs tremble when they see me. Doesn't that prove my management skills?"
"Their legs would also tremble when they see me," Azure Dragon said. "You mean we're about the same now?"
"No, no, no..." Heaven Rat quickly shook his head. "Of course not. I'm just following in your footsteps..."
Azure Dragon grinned, then slowly stood up and said to everyone, "As you've all realized, these so-called 'Heavenly Ranks' are essentially useless. Anyone who reaches the 'Earth-level' can replace you."
His gaze swept over Heaven Ox. "A group of silent 'ants'—do you think you're the only one in this vast 'Utopia' who can manage?"
Then he looked at Heaven Dog. "Are you the only one in the entire 'Utopia' who can listen to sounds?"
"Heaven Snake, how many years has it been since your so-called 'research' produced any new results?"
"Heaven Monkey, Heaven Rooster—there are countless people capable of becoming 'Unity of Yin and Yang,' yet after decades, only you two have failed."
"Heaven Horse, Heaven Tiger—I often see people who dream, but few are willing to dream while awake. Are the grandmother and grandson beside you truly your own family?"
Finally, he turned to Heaven Rabbit and said calmly, "As for those who never want to wake up, I see no need to comment."
These successive statements left everyone speechless.
"The current 'Earth-levels' have undergone far more trials than you have," Azure Dragon said. "Any one of them picked from below could do better than you. The reason Heaven Dragon and I are merciful enough to let you stay here and keep your seats is out of old feelings."
Though Azure Dragon spoke of "old feelings," anyone could tell that he meant all "Heavenly Ranks" could be replaced.
"But now every one of you has thoughts of rebellion. What is this all about?" Azure Dragon said. "I only wanted you all to sit here quietly for one night, yet someone stood up and tried to fight me to the death. I am very disappointed. I hope you'll all behave yourselves."
Seeing that his words had taken effect, Azure Dragon casually dropped the blood-stained handkerchief on the ground and walked to the other side of the room. Closing his eyes, he passed through the locked door.
A tree of emerald green appeared before Azure Dragon's eyes. He walked over with a hint of delight to examine the fruit on its branches, then his expression became extremely complicated.
Meanwhile, a few steps ahead on a raised platform, there was a massive throne upon which Heaven Dragon sat sleeping with his chin resting on his hand.
"What a beautiful dream..." Azure Dragon grinned. "Heaven Dragon... our entangled lives should also come to an end."
Heaven Dragon's breathing was heavy, but his brows stirred slightly.