Sage Monarch (Sage Emperor)

Pontifex Scour Cloud was considered to be one of the top experts among the old-timers. He had plenty of experience, and was on the track to becoming an actual god. Despite that, he seemed completely convinced that he should support Yang Qi.

Unconvinced, some of the old-timers headed up to the stage to check things out more closely.

The first one to reach Yang Qi looked him up and down and said, “Do you really have some miraculous ability boy? Why not challenge Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven?”

“I do have an ability, but I'm still working on it,” Yang Qi replied. “And I'm definitely not a match for Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven. That’s why I decided to settle for the position of emissary. Please look favorably on my humble efforts. Senior, what is your honored surname and distinguished given name?”

“I'm Patriarch Heaven Casualty, a good friend of Pontifex Scour Cloud. And I'm not convinced that you won him over to your side so easily. You said you have an ability, but you’re still working on it? Is that supposed to mean that once you finish cultivating it, you’ll be able to challenge Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven for the position of league-lord?” Patriarch Heaven Casualty spoke in a very casual tone, but his words were as sharp as a blade and were forcing Yang Qi into a very dangerous position.

However, Yang Qi simply smiled and declined to say anything in response.

The old-timers with Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven were very angry. “Patriarch Heaven Casualty,” one of them said angrily, “you've got a lot of guts to ridicule the league-lord that way. That was very disrespectful!”

“Oh, I wouldn't dare to be disrespectful,” Patriarch Heaven Casualty said with a coy smile. “I meant no offense, Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven. Please forgive me.” Although it was worded like an apology, his smile made it clear that there was no sincerity in it.

His voice icy, Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven said, “It’s good we can handle so many important things today. Enough melodrama! Start fighting! Once we get matters all straightened out, I’m going to reorganize the Dao Defense League and make things much more orderly. We’re going to be an example for all the other immortal worlds out there.”

The meaning behind his words was clear; he wasn’t going to allow people to cause trouble the way that Patriarch Heaven Casualty was right now.

Many of the old-timers suddenly started wondering what things would be like in the days to come.

Uninterested in causing further problems for Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven, Patriarch Heaven Casualty turned to Yang Qi and said, “Come, boy. Let’s see what your energy arts are like. Are you going to make the first move?”

“Senior, everyone knows that you cultivate the legendary energy art known as the Heaven-Earth Mass-Casualty Grand Technique, an ancient practice that focuses on sorrow and death. The word ‘casualty’ refers to death in war, and the sorrow and grief that come with it. According to the stories, in the Primeval Age, when the kingdom of heaven crumbled, the legion of gods sang elegies of death. The truth is that in cultivating this technique to a high level, you’ve circulated your true energy improperly, thus developing a heart full of sorrow. In order to combat that sorrow, you’re always smiling in the hopes that it will relieve your negative emotions. Sadly, that’s like throwing a cup of water on a burning cart of firewood. You've really struck it lucky to meet me. I can take away all your pain.”

Patriarch Heaven Casualty burst out into raucous laughter. “Quite the sensationalist talk, boy. But I'm not so easily fooled by—”

Before he even finished speaking, he launched a palm strike at Yang Qi.

RIIIIP!

Numerous streaks of light shot out everywhere, surrounding every avenue of escape so that Yang Qi couldn’t go anywhere.

POP!

There was little for Yang Qi to do other than send his own palm out to meet the incoming attack. The two palms touched and true energy started pouring out of Yang Qi.

His hair whipped wildly about him and bright light shone off of his head. He poured so much power into Patriarch Heaven Casualty so quickly that the man inflated almost like a balloon. Terror filled his face as he said, “Your true energy is so strong! I concede! I admit defeat. Just let me go!”

The observing old-timers could never have guessed that Yang Qi would be so strong that he could defeat one patriarch after another.

POP!

Patriarch Heaven Casualty suddenly exploded, transforming into streams of sorrowful true energy that shot out in all directions.

“What are you waiting for?” Yang Qi said. “Form back up! I've already used my true energy to remove the impurities within you. Your cultivation will progress much more smoothly now.”

A chill wind swept through the temple, and a moment later Patriarch Heaven Casualty reappeared in a new form. Instantly, he dropped to his knees. “I'm convinced, Young Sir. Your cultivation base is enigmatically high, and you definitely deserve to be the Emissary of Radiance and Light. I, Patriarch Heaven Casualty, swear to devote myself fully to you for the rest of my life.”

“That's good. You're dismissed.”

Patriarch Heaven Casualty immediately flew back to his place.

Unfortunately, there were still some of the old-timers who weren’t convinced. ‘There's something odd about this kid. Is he really that strong?’

Leaf Dao-Denier was looking increasingly devastated as he realized that Yang Qi was truly starting to win the hearts of the old-timers. Before long it would be impossible to do anything about him.

The patriarchs who were already on Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven’s side could also tell what was happening.

“Grand Emperor, he’s trying to win people over to his side.”

“We can’t let this go on, otherwise he’ll be a threat to your glory.”

Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven snorted coldly. “You think a mighty emperor like myself should care about a brat like that? Just let him show off what he can do. After things calm down, I’ll force him to submit. If I can’t get a mere Emissary of Radiance and Light to listen to me, how could I be the league-lord of the entire Dao Defense League?”

Whoooooosh!

Meanwhile, more old-timers were flying out to challenge Yang Qi. Obviously, none of them believed that he had really defeated Pontifex Scour Cloud and Patriarch Heaven Casualty and wanted to see for themselves how strong he was.

However, each and every one of them met with failure. Yang Qi would identify their hidden injuries, then heal them. Slowly but surely, the old-timers were coming to admire Yang Qi and be convinced of the profundity of his cultivation base.

Eventually, the old-timers were lining up to get on the stage with him.

At a certain point, Yang Qi raised his voice and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is supposed to be a competition, not a healing session. Once I'm the Emissary of Radiance and Light, all of you can just come to the Sage Monarch Society to receive treatment. For now, I'm going to stop with the healings. Do you approve of me being the Emissary of Radiance and Light? If not, step forward so we can fight.”

“We approve, Young Sir!”

“Young Sir, your cultivation is profound and enigmatic and you can heal all sorts of conditions. Your energy arts are filled with boundless radiance and light, and that makes you the best candidate to be the emissary. None of us could possibly beat you in a fight, so I doubt anyone present would want to challenge you.”

“Exactly! The matter is settled. None of us will challenge you. However, we still have to decide about the nine dharmarajas and the twenty-four god-generals.”

“You’re the best person for the job of Emissary of Radiance and Light. No one will deny that. We’re all convinced.”

One old-timer after another was speaking out to voice their support for Yang Qi.

Not only had Yang Qi proven himself, it was also obvious to him that no one wanted Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven to have such an overabundance of power. Truth be told, Yang Qi was already contemplating how to take the position of league-lord for himself. He wasn’t afraid of the legion of gods, much less a grand emperor, even one who had founded the Heavenly Court of the past.

As the Emissary of Radiance and Light, he would definitely be in a position to eventually compete with Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven.

With so many old-timers supporting Yang Qi, and no one stepping forward to challenge him, he finally turned to Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven and said, “League-Lord, are you ready to accept me as being qualified to serve as the Emissary of Radiance and Light?”

Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven gave Yang Qi a piercing look that caused the entire scene to quiet down. Many of the old-timers suddenly wondered what exactly the grand emperor was thinking.

In the moment, Yang Qi suddenly felt like he had fallen into the deepest, burning depths of hell, a place from which his soul could never climb out and would be eternally tormented by endless heat.

Instantly, his heart turned cold. ‘If this Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven wanted to beat me in a fight, it would take him a while. And he thinks he's going to hurt me with a gaze? Yeah right. What does he think I am, an ignorant child?’

A tremor passed through him, along with a formless ripple. Sparks suddenly showered out from all of the pores in his body, raining down onto the stage like meteorites. He had simply shoved the flame of Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven’s gaze out of him!

The sparks melted the parts of the stage they hit, and the nearby old-timers scrambled to get out of their way. Those who were too slow burst into flames and let loose agonized screams as the other old-timers batted out the fire. All of them realized that Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven had been testing Yang Qi.

‘He’s so strong he’s not even afraid of Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven!’ That was what many people were thinking.

At the same time, Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven came to the realization that although he could probably defeat Yang Qi in a fight, it would be a costly battle. And if it dragged out for too long, he might not succeed in the end. ‘Where did this freak come from? I’ve dominated the world from ancient times until now, but I've never come across someone this young who’s so strong.’

Retracting his gaze, he said, “In that case, Yang Qi, you will lead the Army of Radiance and Light. You will carry out my orders, command the dao of righteousness, and fight the future world!”

“Yes sir!” Yang Qi said, clasping his hands in salute. He could already feel a convergence of destiny within him as he took some of the power that had previously belonged solely to the league-lord.

Grand Emperor Ragefire Broilheaven could apparently sense what was happening, and his face flickered with anger. However, he didn’t say anything about it. “Next, we will have contests to select the dharmarajas who will be leaders within the army.”

Moments later, fierce fighting was underway.