"Everyone gathered here, I presume you all understand the purpose of convening this alliance."
Ye Ming stepped forward, glancing at everyone, his gaze lingering for a moment on the grey-robed elder, then he continued,
"A new era is about to dawn, an era that belongs to the immortal path. At the same time..." His voice lowered significantly here, and he spoke with a somber tone, "it is also an era of destruction."
An era of destruction?
Upon hearing this, most of the crowd gasped.
Some were bewildered!
Some were worried!
Some were terrified!
Ye Ming observed all of this.
"Ye Ming, by destruction, do you mean the chaos and conflict caused by disputes?" Leng Qianqiu asked in a deep voice from below. This was likely the consensus of most present. They believed that the invasion of the mortal world by powerful sects from the extraterrestrial realms would inevitably lead to unavoidable chaos and conflict. At that time, war might become the tone of the new era, and no one would be spared. This would undoubtedly be a devastating catastrophe for the people living on the planet.
However, Ye Ming's answer directly negated their assumption.
"The destruction I speak of is not the conflict you imagine." Ye Ming shook his head, a hint of sorrow in his expression. "The true destruction refers to... the end of all humanity."
The end of all humanity! The apocalypse?
"Wha... What?"
Everyone was stunned. Including Fang Junxue and the other women. Among everyone present, perhaps only that grey-robed elder could truly grasp the deeper meaning behind Ye Ming's words.
At this moment, he stared at Ye Ming, his cloudy eyes filled with complex emotions and a hidden trace of helplessness. Some things, they, the inheritors and guardians, had known for a very long time. But even knowing, they were powerless to do anything. They could not change anything. The only thing they could do was to believe in the prophecy left by their ancestors, to believe that a destined child would appear to alter the shattered fate.
However, over these past ten thousand years, most of those who held faith were eliminated by time. Those who abandoned their faith might have already forgotten the warnings left by their ancestors. The current inheritors and guardians had long since become corrupted. Perhaps those who betrayed their beliefs now thought that their ancestors' words were merely exaggerated.
The end of all humanity, who could achieve that? Who possessed such power? They did not believe it! Therefore, when the new era arrived, they too would seize a piece of it.
The heavy atmosphere in the hall lingered for a long time. Ye Ming did not break it, simply watching quietly.
A few minutes later.
"Ye Ming, tell us the truth!" Fang Junxue raised her head, her icy blue eyes filled with determination. She had always known that Ye Ming had not told them everything, that the heavy mission was still being borne by him. Now, she wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. Even if it was just to share a sliver of the burden.
"Young friend Ye, we also wish to know!" Zuo Fengliu and Ruo Ying exchanged glances, their eyes filled with gravity.
"Two seniors, some things, I believe your Palace Master of the Yin-Yang Palace should also know. Otherwise..." Ye Ming's eyes flashed with admiration, "she wouldn't have formed the Peacekeeping Faction."
"You mean the destruction of all humanity is related to the reason your Palace Master formed the Peacekeeping Faction?" Zuo Fengliu was somewhat shocked.
"Exactly!" Ye Ming nodded and asked, "If I'm not mistaken, your Palace Master has been strongly urging other sects not to enter the mortal world, right!"
"You... How did you know?" Ruo Ying looked confused. Their Palace Master had indeed personally visited the leaders of the other seven super powers, asking them to abandon the idea of entering the mortal world. But judging by the final outcome, it had clearly failed.
"I know more!" Ye Ming did not rush to explain the reason, instead, he gave a self-deprecating smile and said, "For instance, your Palace Master probably doesn't have a very good opinion of me, does she?"
"You... this... you know this too?" Zuo Fengliu stood up in shock, pointing at Ye Ming with his finger, his eyes full of disbelief. Judging by his reaction, it seemed Ye Ming was telling the truth. The Palace Master of the Yin-Yang Palace indeed did not seem to favor Ye Ming. And this was a polite way of putting it. If one were to be more blunt, she had even harbored murderous intent towards Ye Ming.
However, the Palace Master's attitude towards Ye Ming was known only to core elders like Zuo Fengliu and Ruo Ying within the entire Yin-Yang Palace. Moreover, when Zuo Fengliu conveyed Ye Ming's invitation to the Palace Master previously, he had personally heard her say: "It's simply laughable. That fellow is the cause of the immortal path opening, and now he wants to form an alliance? Is he toying with us?"
Thinking back now, Zuo Fengliu couldn't help but shudder. At that time, he had truly felt the murderous aura emanating from the Palace Master. And this was also a point of confusion for Zuo Fengliu. Clearly, the Palace Master had even considered killing Ye Ming, yet in the end, she had sent them to attend this alliance meeting and join. What was she trying to achieve?
Zuo Fengliu and Ruo Ying were completely bewildered. Now, combined with what Ye Ming had said, Zuo Fengliu had reason to suspect that the young friend Ye, who had saved them, might have a feud with their Palace Master.
At this moment, more than just the two of them had this suspicion. Fang Junxue had already cast a scrutinizing gaze at Ye Ming, a playful smile gracing her lips. The other women glared at him fiercely, clearly thinking of the same thing.
Unexpectedly, Nangong Qianyu did not react like her sisters. Instead, she sat quietly, her fists clenched, her expression in her eyes extremely complicated. Ripples even appeared. She raised her head, looking at the young man with a face full of self-mockery, biting her lip, preventing the frost in her eyes from falling.
Their hearts were connected; she knew all of his secrets. But it was precisely because of this that she felt heartache. No one knew better than her what a heavy mission that man bore on his shoulders behind that self-mocking smile.
"Ye Ming!" If it were not for the occasion, Nangong Qianyu would have undoubtedly rushed forward to give him a warm embrace.
"Mhm!" Fang Junxue seemed to have noticed Nangong Qianyu's unusual behavior, her delicate brows furrowing. She held Nangong Qianyu's slightly cool small hand and asked, "What's wrong?"
Nangong Qianyu shook her head, still biting her lip, stubbornly refusing to answer. These things, she knew, but they were not suitable to be spoken of now. What she wanted to do was to always accompany him by his side. To not let him be so alone. So... tired!