Chapter 2682: End of the Assembly

When the others heard the representative from Jade City’s question, they subconsciously clenched their fists in anticipation. For the first time in history, the secret to achieving the Perfected Heavenly Refinement was finally about to be revealed.

They turned to look at Yuan, quietly waiting for him to reveal it.

Seeing this, Yuan shook his head and said, "Sorry, but I was born with this physique."

"What?!"

The representatives widened their eyes in disbelief.

"That can’t be! You’re lying to us because you want to keep the secret to yourself!" the representative from Jade City exclaimed, refusing to believe that Yuan had been born with such a legendary physique.

Yuan shrugged and replied to such an accusation, "Take a look at my cultivation. I’m still in the Fifth Ascension. If I wasn’t born with this physique, would my cultivation be so low?"

"What he’s saying does make sense," the representative from Mirage City said. "Perhaps the reason no one has ever discovered a method to attain the Perfected Heavenly Refinement physique is simply because no such method exists. Maybe the only way to possess it is to be born with it."

Although that was the most logical explanation, it was still difficult for the others to accept. If true, it meant that Yuan—or more precisely, Gaia’s Heaven—would be the only power in possession of the Perfected Heavenly Refinement physique.

Considering that Gaia’s Heaven was already at the top in terms of strength and influence, this revelation would only widen the gap between it and the other cities even further, especially when the others are aware of Yuan’s capabilities from the recording.

"So, what should we do about this situation?" someone suddenly asked.

"While his cultivation is nowhere near Tian Yuchen’s level when he became independent and factionless, I believe he should still be treated in a similar manner, especially since he is the only person capable of fighting the Void Hunter right now," said the representative from Rising Sun.

"I agree with Rising City that he shouldn’t be tied to Gaia’s Heaven."

"But he’s only at the Fifth Ascension. He’s still too immature to be independent," said the representative of Cloudpiercer.

"Then we can all share the responsibility of strengthening him. That way, no one can claim they contributed more effort or resources than anyone else."

Yuan raised an eyebrow as he listened to the representatives discuss his future as though they already owned him and had every right to decide for him.

"Now wait a minute." Yuan finally spoke, unable to listen any longer. "Who are you to decide what I’m going to do—or whether I become an independent power in the first place?"

His words immediately silenced the room, and everyone turned to look at him with raised eyebrows, looking like they’d just heard something puzzling.

Yuan continued, "I’m not going to be trained by any of you, and I certainly have no intention of leaving Gaia’s Heaven to become an independent power like Tian Yuchen."

The representative from Jade City then spoke. "I don’t think you understand the situation. You’re the only person in this world capable of defeating the Void Hunter, which poses a threat to all of humanity—"

"So what?" Yuan coldly interrupted. "That doesn’t give you the right to control me. If you want me to defeat the Void Hunter, then it would be in your best interest to serve me—not the other way around."

"You have a moral obligation to defeat the Void Hunter as a human!" the representative from Ember City exclaimed.

Yuan turned to look at him with a disdainful smile. "Weren’t you just calling me a Void Specter?"

"T-That’s beside the point! If you’re a real human, you wouldn’t have any issue fighting for us—as one of us! If you refuse, you’re definitely a Void Specter, and nothing you say will change my mind!"

Of course, Yuan already intended to defeat the Void Hunter even without their urging. What bothered him was how they treated him like nothing more than a tool, and it made him want to defy their wishes.

Meanwhile, Supreme General Tian remained completely silent, merely observing Yuan as though he wanted to see how he would handle the situation on his own.

"If you don’t wish to become independent, that’s fine. However, don’t forget that Tian Yuchen chose independence for a reason. Not even the strongest cultivator in the world can stop a war by himself," the representative from Jade City said, essentially threatening war.

Yuan burst out laughing.

"So you’ll go to war with Gaia’s Heaven if I refuse your demands? Hahaha! Go ahead!"

"?!?!"

Everyone there were baffled by Yuan’s response, including Supreme General Tian.

"Are you saying you don’t care what happens to Gaia’s Heaven?" one of the representatives asked with a frown.

A cold expression settled over Yuan’s face as he replied in a chilling voice, "No. I’m saying that if you want to attack Gaia’s Heaven, then go ahead. But understand this—if anything happens to Gaia’s Heaven, you can forget about me ever defeating the Void Hunter, even if that means letting it wipe humanity out entirely."

"You can’t be serious!"

The representative from Eastern Dawn slammed the table in disbelief.

"If you don’t believe me, then feel free to test me," Yuan replied coldly.

The people in the chamber stared into Yuan’s eyes, yet not one of them could detect even the slightest hint of hesitation or deceit.

If anything, they became convinced that Yuan truly wouldn’t hesitate to let humanity perish.

"I-I knew it... You’re not human!" the representative from Ember City muttered, terror creeping into his expression.

He pointed at Yuan and continued speaking while looking at the others, "We should kill him now! If he refuses to defeat the Void Hunter, then he’s essentially useless to us! Moreover, there’s still a chance that someone else will eventually be born with the Perfected Heavenly Refinement physique! It’s not like we’re facing any imminent danger either, so we have plenty of time to wait for someone else capable of defeating the Void Hunter to appear!"

"Kill me?" Yuan chuckled.

"What the hell is so funny?! You think you’re invincible?!"

"Attack me, and you’ll find out," said Yuan with a provocative smile.

As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, Supreme General Tian finally spoke.

"Enough."

"Well, what do you think should happen, Supreme General Tian?" The Spirit City representative asked him. "Even if he doesn’t want to leave Gaia’s Heaven, you have the authority to exile him from the city, forcing him to become independent."

Supreme General Tian sneered. "When my grandfather, Tian Yuchen, chose to become independent, he did so of his own accord. Even if I have the authority to exile him, I don’t have the right to tell him to risk his life and fight the Void Hunter. And as the footage we all just watched clearly showed, he is still too weak to defeat the Void Hunter."

He then turned to Yuan and asked, "What do you want to do now?"

Yuan remained silent for a moment before replying, "Right now? After being treated like some kind of tool by everyone here, I don’t feel like doing anything—especially not defeating the Void Hunter."

After a brief pause, he continued, "However, if I’m allowed to live my life the way I want without anyone trying to control or influence me, then perhaps I’ll feel like taking on the Void Hunter someday. After all, I have a debt to settle with it after such a humiliating defeat."

Supreme General Tian then said, "Well, you’ve all heard him. I have nothing more to add on that matter."

He paused to take a deep breath before continuing, "Now that that’s settled, let me address something else. If any of you think I’ll sit here and allow Gaia’s Heaven to be threatened, then you clearly don’t know me at all. Regardless of the circumstances, if anyone dares to attack Gaia’s Heaven, we will retaliate with everything we have."

The chamber fell silent after that, and several minutes passed before someone finally broke the silence.

"Since this is an unprecedented situation, especially considering how suddenly all of this was revealed, I think we should return to our respective cities and take some time to think it over before discussing it again at the next assembly."

The representative from Spirit City then continued, "Two years. How about we schedule the next assembly for exactly two years from now and continue this matter then?"

"I agree," said Heavenly Furnace’s representative.

"Me too."

One by one, the other cities agreed. Ember City, however, remained silent.

"Then we’ll meet again in two years. Until then."

The representative from Spirit City did not linger and immediately left the chamber with his people. The others soon followed, not bothering to wait for Ember City’s response, as an assembly only required the participation of at least five cities to take place.

Soon, only Gaia’s Heaven and Ember City remained in the chamber.

"You may have managed to fool the others, but you won’t fool me, you Void Specter!" the representative from Ember City shouted, pointing accusingly at Yuan before storming out of the chamber with his people.

Shortly after, Gaia’s Heaven also left.

"We’re leaving immediately. Pack your things and assemble here in fifteen minutes," Supreme General Tian said once they returned to their residential area.

"Yes!"

"Also, you are all prohibited from revealing anything that was discussed at the assembly today to anyone, even if they are your superior," he suddenly said.

"As for General Mei and General Gu, I will be briefing them myself."