Above Destiny

Chapter 797 Meeting
The dog is barking.

Ji Jue didn't care, his eyes lowered.

Like civil servants in a meeting, they held pens and notebooks, seemingly engrossed in recording and understanding the key points.

And so, he started drawing little turtles on the paper.

I will study hard and practice diligently, and one day I will definitely compete with that lazy bum Ye Chun!
As for the Heavenly Furnace...

Hmm? Does such a person exist?
In my eyes, what difference is there between him and a dog?

I never expected that after arriving at the highest point of the association for the first time and attending the meeting in the Hall of Glory for the first time, I would end up drawing a little turtle.

So what?
Draw a few more.

Just like most government meetings, even more lengthy and tedious than most official meetings, it was as if it was trying to make up for the regret of not passing the imperial civil service exam back then. Once the Heavenly Furnace started barking, it went on and on, all long and complicated sentences.

Looking back on the past, looking forward to the future, recounting our origins, and seeking meaning...

It makes your mouth water just hearing about it.

"Young people should pay more attention." A deep voice reminded him, causing Ji Jue to blink and look across at the person opposite him.

The old man, leaning on his cane, seemed to be listening intently to instructions.

The last disciple of the Grandmaster Carrion Eater, and the head of the Empire's largest workshop, the Clock Tower, he is the Clock Tower itself.

At that moment, when Ji Jue looked over, Zhong Lou's pupils twitched slightly, and he glanced at him imperceptibly. It was mainly because Ji Jue was so focused on drawing his little turtle that he ended up drawing it like an old dog... which was a bit too much.

Ji Jue paused slightly and nodded, "Thank you for reminding me. I haven't thanked you for taking care of me yet."

As he returned from the boundary between the Deep Abyss and the Celestial Pivot, he sensed the aura within the Celestial Pivot, which vanished in a flash.

Throughout the entire ordeal, the clock tower remained an observer, keeping the craftsmen in the deep shadows in awe, ready to intervene should the situation deteriorate.

"It was just something I did, don't worry about it." Zhonglou gave me a wink. "Isn't your teacher here?"
"During the critical stages of research, the disciples will take care of the work whenever needed."

"That's wonderful, that's wonderful."

The old man smiled slightly, as if sighing with emotion: "It's rather strange that such a normal master-disciple relationship could appear in your lineage."

"Play with my kids more often when you have time."

"Okay okay."

"Hey, Old Deng, what are you talking about?" Veterinarian 'Miss' Despina's voice suddenly rang out from the hidden communication: "Where's the will-o'-the-wisp you promised me last time? Remember to leave it downstairs."

"Next time, definitely next time," the old man replied dismissively.

“Young people shouldn’t always hang out with old Deng, they’ll easily pick up his old-fashioned ways.” Despina looked at Ji Jue with a half-smile: “Little Egonu told me you’re always texting him, why don’t you come to me for advice? I was the one who taught him his life sciences.”

“Master Despina, those are all… cough cough, it’s nothing.” Egonu’s voice broke in, hesitant to speak. Despina smiled slightly and was about to speak when another voice rang out.

"You're just fooling kids again, old lady. Don't laugh too hard, or your makeup will cake up."

“You, surnamed Zhao, had better watch out.” Despina’s eyes sharpened.

"Hey! Old Zhao, you've gone too far. Where are the old ladies? I only see young ladies who are forever eighteen."

"Holy crap, there's another expert?"

"...The association is just too oppressive."

"No, can't you guys consider the occasion?"

"It depends on the occasion. Why don't you go and tell the Grandmaster to get to the point? Do you think he'll even acknowledge you?"

"Almost got it."

[Soybeans sweating.jpg]

Ji Jue was speechless for a moment.

With the old dragon from the clock tower taking the lead, the hidden communication network quickly became lively as more people joined in. Even though the meeting table was solemn and serious, the communication itself was bustling and noisy.

Clearly, they were already used to the style of Tianlu. The masters attending the meeting all looked solemn and dignified, but they were practically munching on sunflower seeds in private.

The leader was giving a speech, while everyone else was chatting and gossiping in the group chat. Everyone who could attend this meeting was a master. In just a few minutes, they had even developed emoji and anonymous functions. There were already trolls stirring things up.

Ji Jue's expression twitched repeatedly, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Dare not speak.

He lowered his head and focused intently on drawing a turtle.

Until the excited sound of someone slamming their hand on the table suddenly rang out.

"it is good!"

With a solemn expression, Tianlu announced, "Since no one has any objections, then it's decided!"

【? ? ? 】

For a moment, everyone was stunned.

Wait a minute, isn't something missing from the plot?
You beast, what decision have you made?!
The young people were still looking at each other in confusion, while the older men let out a helpless sigh.

Alright, I've been tricked by this old...master again.

It must have been tough on him; he even put on a show of democracy for everyone, calling out everyone's names to give the association a sense of participation.

Unlike other supreme virtues, the title passed down through generations of Heavenly Furnace can almost be called the spokesperson for the embers. In the succession of Heavenly Furnace, this title has come infinitely close to the position of supreme virtue.

It can be described as a complete privilege hog.

Not only can it easily take over the manifestation of the furnace in the mortal world, but it can also interfere with the connection between the craftsmen and the embers, weaken them without limit, and even completely seal their titles.

Even though he never used this power of his own, everyone knew perfectly well that he simply wasn't interested, not that he couldn't do it.

In a sense, he could make the decision about the embers with a single word; everyone present would simply need to nod and sign, without even having the opportunity to express any objections.

This is a flaw and weakness that has been present in all dynasties of the Tianlu furnace, and it applies to all craftsmen: they value the meaning represented by the title more than its function.

As the undisputed strongest of the Embers, if he were to be reduced to needing the authority of the Heavenly Furnace to deal with another craftsman, it would already show that he is no longer worthy of the title.

For the generations of Heavenly Furnace, the power that ambitious people dream of has always been nothing more than a meaningless and utterly useless thing.

Now, just as he was returning this power to everyone, he chose to hand over the battle between the Ember and the Decay to the Association. "Since it is a battle between the Association and the Deep, the focus is not on the Grandmasters, but on everyone present here today."

Tianlu said decisively, "Things have come to this point. That old turtle, Anvil, won't show his face. Even if I do it all by myself, there's still not much I can do."

Ultimately, the superiority of the Embers and the Decay will fall to the Association and the Deeper Abyss.

As soon as the words were spoken, the brief silence was broken, and then the meeting room erupted in noise again.

The last decisive battle against the lingering embers was over two hundred years ago, far too distant for the new generation of craftsmen. The old guard, who already understood the nature of this struggle, remained calm, while the 'youngsters' who had only emerged in recent decades couldn't help but change color slightly.

Then, I saw the palm of the Heavenly Furnace.

As that hand slowly rose, a massive projection of the entire mortal world appeared on the tabletop.

What followed were patches of shadow scattered across the islands, and even taking root in the Federation and the Empire, like mold, entwining themselves on the present world.

When countless fine threads converge at one point, they form a pillar of decay that rises from the ground, a stagnant and corrupt creation witnessed by all!
That seemingly towering pillar in the sea is, in essence, nothing more than a facade.

The real problem lies in the countless spreading 'mold spots,' the decadent and distorted changes that have silently sprouted and spread from people's hearts over the past few centuries.

If the root of the problem is not addressed, even if one pillar of depravity is cut off, two more will grow back... Even now, the depravity of the four seas continues to accumulate, and under the nurturing of the Great Evil Essence, its erosion of the entire world is imminent.

The scope of the issue is so broad that the association has already done its utmost to secure the leading role and control over the handling of the incident from all parties involved.

The current deep erosion and the pillar of decadence are rooted in the stagnation and depravity of humankind.

Once the seeds are planted, they take root and sprout, growing wildly in patches, much like an invasive species.

The problem isn't that there's no way to solve it, but rather that there isn't a reliable solution.

Illness comes like a mountain down, sickness goes like a thread.

How can the intricate entanglements and complexities of the world be severed so easily? It is only natural that things remain connected and entangled.

Of course, the safest way is for the association to step in and intervene in the operation of the world again, take over all the polluted areas involved, and then eradicate and sever all the foundations of depravity... or even burn down all the polluted areas in the world, and the problem will naturally be solved.

Unfortunately, it's impossible and we shouldn't do it.

If the Association could do that, it wouldn't be the Ring of Taiyi; it might as well be called the Ring of the Present World. Federations and Empires are just roadside affairs; even the former Pillar of Heaven didn't have that capability.

The easiest way is... to press and hold it.

Forget about this and that, just blockade the entire sea area, forcibly use the lock's authority to seal the entire Pillar of Depth, close the door, and lock it.

I leave it alone because I find it troublesome.

The simplest and least strenuous method, but also the one that will ultimately lead to endless troubles... Once the blockade is completely out of control, the Pillar of Depravity, which has been accumulating power for so long, will probably tear a hole between the real world and the vortex. At that time, no one will be able to have a good time.

The best strategy is unusable, and the worst strategy is ineffective.

That leaves only the middle option.

Since it is formed by evil, it can naturally be eliminated by good.

The old man wanted to use this good deed to transfer karma, and the association could do the same, or even transfer it even more!
As for how to transform and change... there is a whole set of complex, rigorous, and feasible theories and methods behind it. It is inevitably complicated to talk about, but the previous two Ember Deep Judgments have already proven the reliability of this method.

To put it simply, it's really just one word.

--【kill】!
Isn't that how it always is during the Ember's Deepest Strike?
The embers kill the stagnant and corrupt, the association kills the deep and dark, the more the better.

The pull and interference of the embers and stagnation is the perfect time for the demons to vanquish and the Taoists to prosper, like a sacrifice... As long as enough evil craftsmen die, won't the broken Pillar of Depravity naturally collapse on its own?
Even the stagnation of corruption will be weakened again.

vice versa.

People have played it so many times that they've even developed a set routine.

It was almost like a classic war from the chaotic era—the opposing sides exchanged declarations of war, selected their opponents, and then chose an auspicious day to come, set out in their chariots and horses, and face off against each other.

One-on-one duel.

Furthermore, absolute fairness and impartiality must be ensured. Before the duel begins, poisoning or curses are strictly prohibited. No third party can interfere, and no one can manipulate the situation behind the scenes…

Ji Jue flipped through the regulations that had been sent to him, raising his eyebrows slightly: If you had to describe it, it didn't seem like a war, but rather more like a world's number one craftsmen's conference.

Unfortunately, they weren't that civilized, nor that kind, and their survival rate wasn't that high.

So many seemingly redundant formalities and numerous restrictions are all just to maximize the efficiency of the conversion between good and evil, and even to ensure that there is no room for easing the cruelty of the struggle.

There was no draw, no negotiation, no deal.

Once the duel begins, the two sides will naturally take the place of Ember and Decay in the fight. Therefore, one of the two who take the field must die!
Even the slightest possibility of resurrection doesn't mean the end!

Even if creation is shattered, spiritual energy is dried up, and a person is about to die, as long as there is still a breath left, one must rush forward and strangle the opponent to death.

If your nail breaks, use your finger; if your finger breaks, use your teeth to bite the enemy's throat.

Without swords or blades, I would gladly sharpen my own arm bones to pierce my opponent's heart!

Even if it means losing one's life, one should use one's soul to curse, sacrificing one's own life to drag the life of one's enemy into the abyss as well.

We've abandoned all notions of reason and are judging winners and losers solely by who is superior. We've disregarded the concepts of good and evil and are defining right and wrong based on who is stronger.

This is the essence of the Ember's Profound Decision.

For a craftsman, is there any way in the world more pleasing to the eye and more natural than this?

"The meeting is adjourned."

Tianlu finally stood up and slowly said, "Everyone should rest well today and make full preparations."

"Starting tomorrow, the Battle of the Embers and the Deep will officially begin. The distinction between good and evil, the struggle between the virtuous and the wicked, and the question of who is superior between the Association and the Deep will all depend on you."

In the dead silence, no one spoke.

Only amidst the deafening roar did the gloomy sky outside the window suddenly turn pitch black.

The countless stars within the celestial dome fell like embers, and the celestial furnace overturned.

In the ink-black expanse above the vast sea, wisps of emerald fire rise, endlessly sinking and converging to form a furnace. The flames at the heart of the furnace open like eyes, coldly observing everything.

Driven by the Heavenly Furnace and the Anvil, the lingering embers and decay gradually appeared here, bearing witness to everything.

It's a duel between you and me, a fight to the death!
(End of this chapter)