Chapter 281

Chapter 281: Ye Xuan, Qing’er!

Ye Tianming looked at the woman, his face full of confusion.

Miss Ding glanced at him and flicked her sleeve once more. Quickly, the image within the light screen shifted to the scene from before — Zhantai Zhan being stepped on by Zhantai Ge.

In the image, Zhantai Ge lay on the ground, utterly feeble, and in her final moment, she had drawn on her own power to absorb all the misfortune from Ye Tianming’s body.

Seeing this, Ye Tianming felt as though he had been struck by lightning.

In that instant, he finally understood why the misfortune on him had suddenly vanished without a trace.

So that was it.

Soon after, Zhantai Zhan was disfigured by Zhantai Ge, then discarded into a ruined world below.

Amid the ruins, Zhantai Ge had lost all her cultivation and her memories. Because she was extremely ugly in appearance, she was bullied every single day in that wasteland, surviving by scavenging through garbage……. But in this wasteland, everyone survived by scavenging, so even garbage food was not something easily obtained.

Zhantai Zhan survived each day only by picking up moldy, rotten food that others had discarded — and even that kind of food was hard to come by.

Watching this scene unfold before him, the emotions that had piled up inside Ye Tianming could no longer be suppressed. His eyes suddenly grew moist, “Miss Zhan…….”

Miss Ding watched the light screen with an expressionless face, “Look at yourself — how many people have you harmed? Can you honestly face them?”

Ye Tianming slowly closed his eyes, yet he never let his tears fall.

In truth, he had always known all of this. He had simply been keeping it buried deep inside.

A moment later, Ye Tianming suddenly turned to look at Miss Ding, “Miss Ding, everything you said is correct — they all died because of me. Including your point that I lack the strength to go head-to-head with the Yang family, that is also absolutely right, because these are all facts, and I cannot refute them. Furthermore, the implementation of my new policies has also caused a great deal of injustice…….”

He shook his head slightly, “Everything you said is fact, and I cannot refute it. But there is one point where you are wrong.”

Miss Ding looked at him, “What is wrong?”

Ye Tianming met her gaze, “When those above make mistakes and cause those below to resist, those below are not wrong to resist. You cannot say that people who resist because they have suffered injustice are in the wrong. That is not how it works — it is just like the most famous case in the galaxy: it wasn’t you who knocked them down, so why did you help them up?”

He shook his head, “Miss Ding, the person who helps is not in the wrong! Someone who has suffered injustice and chooses to resist is not in the wrong either! Those who resist pay a great price, and you cannot use that to say they were wrong, then turn around and demand of them: why did you resist? If you hadn’t resisted, wouldn’t you have been fine?”

Miss Ding fell silent.

Ye Tianming looked at her, “Miss Ding, do you think the people at the bottom want to resist? They don’t actually want to, either. If they weren’t pushed to the very edge with nowhere left to go, who would choose to resist? Do you think I wanted to fight the Xiao family? Do you think I wanted to fight Yang Jia? Miss Ding, I had already been driven to a dead end back then! The Ye family filed appeals, I broke into Guanxuan Dao……. but it was truly no use. You gave me no path to live, yet you won’t allow me to resist…… is this really the purpose and original intention behind three generations of the Yang family establishing order?”

Miss Ding looked at him and still said nothing.

Ye Tianming shook his head slightly, “I know — my teacher, Ye Zong, Ye Nan, and the others all died because of me. I have always blamed myself deeply for that. But Miss Ding, you cannot place all of this on my shoulders as my fault. Yang Jia’s original intention was to do good for those below — I have never said otherwise. But knowing full well that I had suffered injustice, knowing full well that I had broken into Guanxuan Dao, why did he still cover for and show favoritism toward the Xiao family?”

He fixed his gaze on Miss Ding without blinking, “Miss Ding, everything you said just now amounted to one thing: that because I lacked the strength, I should have endured it, swallowed it down, and that everything I have suffered is entirely the result of my own resistance…… If that is so, then let me ask you this, Miss Ding — when the mother of the Azure Robe Sword Master was hounded to death by Hundred Flowers Palace…… could I say the same of him? If the Azure Robe Sword Master had knelt down and submitted back then, his mother wouldn’t have died, and he wouldn’t have had such a tragic life……”

Miss Ding looked at him, her hands slowly tightening into fists, unable to say a word in response.

Ye Tianming continued, “You say my new policies have caused a great deal of injustice — but Miss Ding, every injustice I have been aware of, I have done my best to address. I am working to reduce these injustices to the absolute minimum. On that count, I, Ye Tianming, have a clear conscience. But when it comes to my own affairs — can your Yang family say the same?”

Miss Ding still said nothing.

Ye Tianming shook his head, “Miss Ding, the deaths of my teacher and the others — I, Ye Tianming, have always felt deep guilt and regret…… If my death could bring them back to life, I would choose death without a moment’s hesitation. But I know clearly in my own heart — the true fault does not lie with me, Ye Tianming. It lies with this world……”

As he spoke, he slowly raised his head and looked toward the light screen. Within it, Zhantai Zhan was curled up in a corner, her eyes filled with terror.

Watching Zhantai Zhan trembling there, the tears in Ye Tianming’s eyes could no longer be held back, and they slowly streamed down.

His teacher, his senior sister, his sister-in-law, Ye Zong, Ye Nan, Sister Qianqian.

These people surfaced in his mind one after another.

Regret!

How could he, Ye Tianming, feel no regret? As Miss Ding had said, all of these people had once had their own brilliant lives ahead of them — but now, because of him, Ye Tianming, each of their lives had come to a premature end.

Regardless of right or wrong, all of these people had died because of him, Ye Tianming.

After a moment, he withdrew his gaze and pressed every last emotion in his heart deep down to the most hidden place within him. Then he turned to look at Miss Ding beside him, “Miss Ding, thank you for letting me see them one more time…… But, it is time for us to go.”

With that, he turned and walked toward the outside.

Miss Ding watched his departing figure in silence.

After returning to Guanxuan Academy, he made his way to Guanxuan Hall, with Miss Ding following close behind.

Ye Tianming sat down in the seat of honor and said quietly, “Miss Ding, please help me summon everyone from the inner and outer cabinets. Also, have Xianbao Pavilion activate the cloud recorders of every universe and broadcast this live to the entire universe.”

Miss Ding looked at him, “What are you planning to do?”

Ye Tianming shook his head, “Miss Ding, just do as I say.”

After a moment of silence, Miss Ding nodded.

Very soon, every member of the inner and outer cabinets had gathered inside Guanxuan Hall, and Xianbao Pavilion, following Ye Tianming’s instructions, had activated all the cloud recorders and begun broadcasting live to the entire Guanxuan universe.

The entire Guanxuan universe was bewildered — what was this young master planning to do?

Everyone was deeply curious.

Ye Tianming swept his gaze across the assembled crowd, “I know — the Yang family is an autocratic rule.”

The moment these words fell, the entire universe was stunned.

An Yan and the others inside the hall also looked at Ye Tianming in utter disbelief.

Miss Ding, too, gazed at Ye Tianming with a trace of confusion.

Ye Tianming spoke slowly, “The Yang family is an autocratic rule — but now, I will use autocratic means to end autocracy. From this day forward, the future dean of Guanxuan Academy will be chosen through a vote. Each term of office will last fifty years, with no more than two consecutive terms permitted. After one hundred years, no member of the Yang family will serve as dean any longer — the Yang family will be responsible only for oversight……”

He paused, then continued, “Within the academies across the entire universe, a Faith Board will be established. Once a Faith Board turns from white to black, it signifies that the dean has lost the hearts of the people, and the inner cabinet will have the authority to impeach the dean. The members of the inner cabinet will henceforth all be chosen through a vote by council representatives. Each of them will also have their own individual Faith Board — once any individual’s Faith Board turns from white to black, they will be immediately removed from office and never employed again…….”

He looked toward the cloud recorders, “Democratic power is elected by the people and answerable only downward — that is how votes are won. Autocratic power is granted from above and answerable only upward — that is how office is kept and advancement is secured…… From this day forward, the ruler of Guanxuan Academy will be chosen by the people. Beginning with me, the Yang family will return power to all living beings, and I will be the first to stand as overseer.”

The moment these words landed, the entire universe fell as silent as death.

Miss Ding stared at Ye Tianming in utter disbelief.

Ye Tianming suddenly stepped forward — and in that one step, he stood directly before the statue of the Guanxuan Sword Master. At that moment, every cloud recorder turned to point at him.

All living beings throughout the entire Guanxuan universe were now watching him.

Ye Tianming slowly raised his head and looked directly at the statue of the Guanxuan Sword Master, “Guanxuan Sword Master, from this day forward I will return power to all living beings — do you permit it?”

For a heartbeat, silence. Then the statue of the Guanxuan Sword Master began to tremble slightly, and in the next instant, an immense tide of faith energy and Yang family fortune surged out from within the statue like a flood, pouring entirely into Ye Tianming’s body.

Consent.

Whoosh!

The entire universe erupted in an uproar.

The Yang family was relinquishing power.

Returning power to the people.

And personally serving as overseer.

Everyone was dumbstruck.

Very soon, from across heaven and earth, vast amounts of faith energy began converging. Like the faith energy within the Guanxuan Sword Master’s statue, all of it was golden fortune — and this golden fortune poured ceaselessly into Ye Tianming’s body.

Faith energy!

And in that same moment, Ye Tianming’s aura surged wildly. In the blink of an eye he reached the Patriarch realm, and beyond that — on the Grand Dao Board, Ye Tianming’s name appeared once more.

Dao of Order. Its founder: Ye Tianming.

This Dao was not one he had cultivated himself — it was a gift bestowed upon him by all living beings.

And the Grand Dao Board recognized it.

The moment the Dao was founded, it was immediately established, and his aura continued to surge in frenzy…… His Dao of Order climbed wildly in the rankings on the Grand Dao Board, reaching the top ten in the blink of an eye — and it was still rising.

The Yang family’s fortune.

The faith of all living beings.

United within one person.

After reaching the Patriarch realm and establishing his Dao, his aura pressed toward the Circle-Drawing realm.

But at that moment, Ye Tianming suddenly shook his head, “This world does not need a living god……”

As he spoke, he slowly spread both hands open.

Boom!

In an instant, all the faith energy within his body began to dissipate.

Scattering the Dao.

Several top-tier powerhouses in the hall witnessed this and were once again struck dumb — what was this young master doing?

Miss Ding also looked at Ye Tianming with something close to disbelief.

Ye Tianming slowly closed his eyes. His voice resounded in the minds of all living beings throughout the entire universe, “Remember this — everyone teaches you to love your country, but I hope even more that you love yourselves. You must always remember: a nation is made of people. You must first learn to love yourselves well……”

He drew a long, slow breath, then said, “From this moment on, you are each your own god, and the Guanxuan universe will never again see a single ‘god’ arise. Where the multitude of dragons have no single leader — fortune follows.”

The Third Law of Living Beings: the multitude of dragons have no single leader.

The instant his words fell, not only did the faith energy and Yang family fortune on his body rapidly vanish — his own cultivation realm began plummeting wildly as well.

Scattering the Dao.

This Third Law was the act of returning faith to all living beings, allowing each person to become their own god.

And in that moment, the living beings of the entire Guanxuan universe received, without question, the greatest gift of all. This gift was not merely the return of their own faith energy — it also included Ye Tianming’s own Grand Dao cultivation and the faith energy that the Guanxuan Sword Master had bestowed upon him. Most importantly, Ye Tianming also returned to all living beings the Yang family fortune that the Guanxuan Sword Master had granted him.

In worldly terms, it was roughly equivalent to an emperor personally canceling your mortgage and car loan.

Of course, that was not the most important part. What truly mattered was that from this day forward, Ye Tianming was urging all living beings never to blindly place their faith in another.

The Faith Board.

Whenever living beings felt dissatisfaction toward the inner cabinet or the dean, the Faith Board would turn black.

Power would be granted by the people — not assigned from above by decree.

Very soon, Ye Tianming’s cultivation realm was reduced entirely to zero. Not only that — every last trace of his cultivation and fortune was completely scattered and gone.

Ye Tianming said weakly, “From this moment on, the matters of the Faith Board and the inner cabinet will be presided over and completed by Miss Ding. As for me……” “I will be going into seclusion for a while.”

　　With that, he turned and walked into the Guanxuan Hall.

　　And the entire universe was still in a daze.

　　After Ye Tianming returned to the Guanxuan Hall, Miss Ding followed him inside. She looked at him, “You……”

　　Ye Tianming said softly, “Miss Ding, it’s over.”

　　As he spoke, he opened both hands, and the demonic bloodline within him dissipated little by little. Once it had completely faded away, he placed the Sword Ancestor on the table before him, then turned and left.

　　Miss Ding said, “You……”

　　Ye Tianming said nothing. He walked straight out, taking nothing with him — he had come alone, and he left alone.

　　Miss Ding stood frozen in place, silent for a long while.

　　Ye Tianming arrived at the foot of the mountain and suddenly stopped. He slowly raised his head, “I know you’re there. May I see you?”

　　A brief silence.

　　Then, before him, a woman slowly stepped out.

　　She wore a plain white dress!

　　And beside the woman in the plain dress stood a white-haired man dressed in a dark robe.

　　Ye Xuan, the Sword Master of the mortal world!

　　Ye Tianming looked at the woman in the plain dress and said softly, “Do you know why I agreed to Miss Ding’s wager?”

　　The woman in the plain dress looked at him and said nothing.

　　Ye Tianming suddenly broke into a grin, “I have fulfilled my duty of overseeing the Yang family’s order…… From this moment on, I should owe you nothing.”

　　The woman in the plain dress slowly clenched her right hand.

　　Ye Tianming turned to leave. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped again, then turned back and slowly knelt before the woman in the plain dress. He bowed his head with great reverence, “Regardless of everything, I am still grateful that you gave me life. Thank you……. Senior!”

　　With that, he rose and walked away, never looking back.