I Am Supreme

Everyone could distinctly feel the sudden surge of life in the small, enclosed space!

Their deific consciousness had been flowing, closely following Yun Yang’s arm, so it was even more pronounced for them to sense the trickle Qi of vitality originating from the seal on the latter’s arm.

Without wasting a single drop, Song Changgongv soaked it all up into his meridians.

As a portion of Lang Fantian’s divine senses was wrapped around Song Changgong, he felt as if he was the recipient, as Song Changgong’s wilting body gradually shone again with renewed vivacity.

The drained meridians were softening at a visible speed while the thickened blood that had flowed sluggishly began to circulate once more. The most significant change, however, was none other than the meekly pumping heart that began to thump with a steady rhythm!

As the Qi of vitality coursed through Song Changgong’s body at a greater speed, he, the actual beneficiary, unmistakably felt that his long-lost strength and youth, the buoyancy of life – things that had long left him – were all returning swiftly. He was regaining them all.

His body, from the continuous infusion of the vitality Qi, was slowly weeping dark-colored dirt… It was the impurities that were blocking his meridians being drained out rapidly. This feeling filled him with the delight of being rebirthed.

“Enough!” Song Changgong cried for a halt when about half of the Qi of vitality had been delivered, “It’s enough for me. There’s a lot left – quickly, give it to my brother!”

He struggled as he spoke, “This is more than enough for me to stay alive, for a long time… Stop, quickly.”

Yun Yang could only chuckle dryly and answered in a low tone, “This junior is in awe at senior’s sense of brotherhood, but this portion of Qi of vitality is truly only for one person and it can’t be given up halfway… Now that I have come into contact with the vitality Qi personally, I truly understand what it is. The Qi of vitality is a portion of life, a tune of that portion. It has its head and tail, a start and an end. Once it’s given up halfway, it’s like cutting a life into half… The remaining Qi of vitality in the seal will dissipate, while what has been delivered into your body will drain itself away… This is the death of the vitality Qi. Do you really not know this, as the receiver?”

Song Changgong was baffled. “What about my brother then?”

“It’s our effort that matters. When there’s a will, there’ll surely be a way.”

Yun Yang was brimming with assurance, “Just for this strong bond of your ties that life and death can’t break apart, I’ll request for the vitality Qi on my own initiative when I enter the next time. Even if I must pay a higher price for it, I shall bring along another ration of the vitality Qi.”

Song Changgong began to slow down his hoarse breathing. “Do help then, young brother.”

The Qi of vitality slowly and steadily penetrated Song Changgong. It had only been less than a quarter of an hour when the energy was fully transmitted.

Not much was known of Song Changgong, since when there was no more movement from him as he had gone into a deep, meditative state surrounded by a thick blanket of fog that he could not be seen anymore.

After another moment, Lang Fantian and the rest seemed to have broken out of their trance as their gazes at Yun Yang when they looked up were unprecedentedly passionate. The vigor contained within those eyes was ten or even a hundred times stronger, especially Wan Qingliu and Bai Yuxi’s unblinking stare as if they were about to swallow Yun Yang whole.

Yun Yang shuddered uncomfortably and replied, “Let’s wait patiently… I’m also very curious what change this Qi of vitality could bring.”

He extended his right arm. The spot where the Qi of vitality was originally sealed now had a mysterious pattern. The seal had left its mark on his arm, not yet completely vanished. However, when one felt it again, what was previously felt was not there anymore. It was simply bizarre.

Li Yixin had come in just about then. Watching the thick fog around Song Changgong and feeling the teeming energy of life, he was grinning with some hint of pride.

Lang Fantian turned around and spoke seriously, “Elder Li, don’t worry. I still have plenty of resources with me. The chief has spoken previously that if the Qi of vitality were true, he shall let all of you recover your youth, regardless of the cost. It won’t be long before you aren’t restricted by age anymore.”

“I thank the chief for his eagerness but I’m already content. I honestly dare not ask for more,” Li Yixin replied peacefully.

He smiled and reminisced, “Back then, big brother and I had very good luck. We had just thrown ourselves into the martial world and got to join a lower class Celestial Luck Banner sect and were even selected as true teaching disciples. Although our sect was taken over by another school in the Celestial Luck Banner meet, both of us were recruited together and even became the disciples of a middle-class Celestial Luck Banner school. Later on, we were scouted by an upper-class flag sect and became their disciples, inheriting the cultivation method and moving forward, side by side ever since…”

“Actually, big brother’s destiny has always been better than mine. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a good big brother like me!”

“Back then, the middle-class banner sect picked big brother first. Big brother said, ‘I have a brother who’s more gifted than me’.”

“When it came to the upper-class Celestial Luck Banner sect, big brother still said, ‘I have a brother who’s more gifted than me’.”

“Just like that, we stayed together all along.”

Li Yixin chuckled lightly. “It’s true. Even when the school’s person in charge stated repeatedly that they only wanted one disciple, big brother said the same, insisted to take me along…”

“People always say that a helping hand lent in need is gracious but not all helping hands will be requited with gratitude. I think that’s an excuse for insincere relationships. Otherwise, I’d have exploited him endlessly and have long harmed him, seeking success for myself!”

“Now, I’m forever grateful that the league could return big brother’s youth back to him. Any more requests would honestly be wishful thinking.”

“That’s why… there are also many who contributed massively to the commerce league, those that don’t pale in comparison to the both of us. How can the league’s resources be largely drained just for us both? It’s unreasonable and irrational. Even if there’s the Qi of vitality the next time, I shouldn’t be in the consideration,” said Li Yixin.

He smiled gently and said, “To gain another opportunity despite our withering days is too much – it is enough.”

The group was silent as they listened to him.

What Li Yixin had said was logical. Things that were scarce were precious. Effective as the vitality Qi was, it was currently an invaluable asset. The previous transaction that had cost more than four hundred thousand upper-class spiritual jade was more of a test, an assurance. It was a surprise to acquire the vitality Qi. The order for Song Changgong and colleagues to come was a fated occasion to them, but it was also taking the four of them as experimental rats, to evaluate the Qi of vitality’s efficacy and usage.

Now that the Qi of vitality’s efficacy could be proven, it would only invite criticism if Song and Li took the opportunities respectively, should there be an opening of the energy despite their achievements. It was indeed unreasonable.

In spite of it, it was not exactly irrational. This was what everyone thought to themselves.

Lang Fantian was in deep thought for a long time before he spoke up again, slow and serious, “Maybe Elder Li thinks this is already enough, but I don’t think so. The second transaction is definitely going to happen. If there was the Qi of vitality, it’s going to you for sure. It’s up to you whether you want it or not, but it’s up to us whether we fight for it.”

Li Yixin was also quiet for a long time before he replied, “Big brother has always been more perceptive than me. This is most probably why we serve the General Commerce League…”

He smiled lightly and commented in a soft voice, “We weren’t of service to the wrong part in this lifetime after all.”

He then looked at Yun Yang and asked, “Brother Yun, can you understand what I said?”

Yun Yang carefully pondered for a long moment, not saying a word for a good quarter of an hour, before he answered, “I think I understand.”

Li Yixin beamed with a comforted expression, cracking open his toothless mouth, and said, “I hope you can truly understand it and realize the enlightenment.”

“I understand, but I most likely won’t be able to do it,” said Yun Yang with a hint of sadness.

Li Yixin cracked another meaningful grin and replied, “People who admit that they can’t necessarily do it will usually achieve it instead. But sometimes, it’s better to be unable to do it than having done it with blood, sweat, and tears.”

“Yes, that is true indeed,” Yun Yang said with a long sigh.

Li Yixin let out a reassured sigh. “Looks like you really do understand. My words are not a waste of my breath.”

Yun Yang did not speak.

After a long time, he asked, “Senior Li, you’ve only known me. Why do you tell me these things?”

“One who’s going to die speaks kind words. It’s a saying. However, one who is about to die will have realizations and discernments that one usually can’t possess. Can you understand this?” Li Yixin answered, smiling warmly.

Yun Yang nodded.

Li Yixin continued. “I can feel that I’ll stay at the Residence of Nine Supremes for some time. Perhaps, for the rest of my life.”

“Young Brother Yun, these are a few lines that I conclude from my entire life. I think you’re really decent, so… I hope that you’re able to achieve something great.”

“Of course, most crucially, I think that… you’re hopeful.”

What Li Yixin told Yun Yang was vague, but it seemed to have been very clearly expressed in a certain way. Yun Yang thought that he had understood it, yet it was like he did not. This was an unusual feeling to Yun Yang, who prided himself on his above-average intelligence and shrewdness.

Lang Fantian, who was musing on the side, asked softly, “Senior Li… Then, do you think that – is it possible for the General Commerce League…”

Li Yixin considered momentarily and answered just as softly, “Just the word league in the General Commerce League… is in itself a restraint!”

“A restraint?” Lang Fantian repeated, looking perplexed.

“It’s a good thing,” said Li Yixin, “However, it’s also unnecessarily a good thing.”

Lang Fantian mulled over his words and asked, “How so?”

Li Yixin’s eyes were cast downwards. For a short while, the answer was not given.

“The higher authorities value brotherhood and martial world integrity too much.”

Lang Fantian did not understand, asking, “Isn’t valuing ties and bonds a good thing?”

Li Yixin kept his lips sealed then, not saying another word.

Lang Fantian was relentless but he did not ask any further. Musing alone, his frown knotted deeper. After a stretched instant, he asked Yun Yang, “Brother Yun, isn’t valuing brotherhood and martial world integrity a good thing?”

“Of course it is,” answered Yun Yang, after a stunned silence.

“Then – then why did Elder Li say that it was a restraint?” exclaimed Lang Fantian.

Yun Yang sucked in a deep breath and answered, “It seems that… this isn’t something I can interpret at my level…”

Lang Fantian looked dazed, murmuring to himself, “Brotherhood and martial world integrity are the basic tenets of the martial world!”

Yun Yang watched him with a rollercoaster of emotions running within him.

Brotherhood and martial world integrity were the basic tenets of the martial world… but they were never the fundamentals of an eternal organization!

Gazing at the General Commerce League’s Vice Chief and recalling the Chief’s words “let all of you recover your youth, regardless the cost”, he realized that the promise held far too much weight! Yun Yang immediately recalled everything involved since he formed ties with the General Commerce League.

Instantly, he understood each and every word Li Yixin had said, the meaning behind them. Yet, he could not explain it. This filled him with a helplessness that could barely be expressed.

As his thoughts raced, Yun Yang suddenly realized something.

The General Commerce League was powerful in its influence and capability. This much was obvious. Yet, it had stopped at the level of being a middle-class Celestial Luck Banner organization. It was rather illogical.

Speaking of Supreme Saint masters, he had met four of them today and they were close to death’s door! Then how many more others could there be in the league? At least, in the most reserved estimation, there had to be no fewer than ten?

Could there be masters of a higher level like the Regal Saint? Possibly!

In spite of such an impressive faculty, why were they only holding a middle-class flag?

Yun Yang was unwilling to keep thinking about it, once he thought of this. If he did, it would be saddening, a blow to his heart. Yun Yang did not want to damage his confidence. It would be too much of a loss to lose his competitiveness.

Unfortunately, this fact was indeed reality, indelible, no matter how cruel it was!