Let alone Tian Jing, who trusted Yun Ye to the point of near worship.
Even the others showed not the slightest slackness, putting on an attentive appearance as they listened to Yun Ye speak.
Yun Ye possessed a Dao Artifact—the symbol of the Tomorrow Society. They would take seriously anything concerning him.
Moreover, the information Yun Ye had gradually sent back over the past six months had made them increasingly feel that this successor was extraordinary.
He had summoned them as soon as he returned. Something major had inevitably happened.
Yun Ye nodded to everyone. "I do have something important to tell you this time. You should all already understand the function of a Dao Artifact, right?"
"We know. It is the Echo of the Heart, the artifact that lays down rules, and it represents the path of our Tomorrow Society. Without profound recognition of the Tomorrow Dao, one would never obtain this Dao Artifact. And whoever obtains it can lay down rules after earning everyone's recognition!" Tian Jing immediately answered.
Everyone nodded. That was what a Dao Artifact was. Although it was utterly unreasonable, that was precisely why they recognized Yun Ye.
For someone who controlled such a Dao Artifact, betraying the Tomorrow Society was absolutely impossible. No matter who it was, that person could always be trusted.
If a Dao Artifact Wielder truly betrayed them, there was only one possibility: the entire Tomorrow Society had changed and no longer conformed to the Tomorrow Dao.
Alternatively, the Dao Artifact Wielder might have had extenuating circumstances, compromising for certain matters in hopes of securing a greater future.
The final possibility was that the Dao Artifact had shattered...
Yun Ye waved his hand, and bands of water, fire, and light scattered outward.
They rose to illuminate the sky.
They descended to shine upon the earth.
A Dao sword appeared within the Council Hall, its surface faintly etched with human figures.
Warm like the sun, it illuminated everyone present. Looking at the Dao Artifact floating in the air, everyone revealed joyful expressions.
The final possibility was that the Dao Artifact Wielder had turned away from his own principles, causing the Dao Artifact to shatter outright!
But Yun Ye's Dao Artifact was so brilliant, without the slightest trace of dust upon it. Naturally, he could be trusted!
Yun Ye nodded silently.
Tomorrow had the effect of imperceptibly strengthening their wills. Thus, even when facing a desperate situation, they would continue to grow and, at the very least, remain unbroken.
The deeper their understanding of and belief in the Tomorrow Dao, the more obvious this strengthening of their wills became.
This power of a True Name was an important guarantee that allowed Yun Ye to raise the rebel flag. After establishing a force, it would let him swiftly unify their beliefs and bind the strength of the entire force together like a single rope.
"That's right. That is roughly how the Dao Artifact works. To define rules, one must first obtain recognition and receive an echo, using it as the foundation for construction... Four months ago, I killed two Spirit Realm cultivators from the Chao Family."
When Yun Ye reached this point, he stopped and glanced at everyone.
Yang Shu, Tong Huoyang, and Ning Xiao's expressions had already changed drastically. They knew something major had happened.
Spirit Realm cultivators—the Tomorrow Society did not have even one. In White Stone Town, they were already among the upper echelons!
Yet Yun Ye had actually killed two of them in succession. There was no way that would not attract White Stone Town's attention!
Such an important matter—Dao had actually kept it from them for four whole months!
"You told us not to leave Tomorrow Village these past four months because of this? Dao, why didn't you explain it clearly!"
Yang Shu's fingers trembled. He was angry and furious, yet could not bring himself to vent his anger.
They had all walked once along the edge of life and death!
"What is the Spirit Realm...?"
"Will killing two Spirit Realm cultivators make White Stone Town take it very seriously?"
Compared with Yang Shu and the other two, Tian Jing, Cheng Cang, Chai Xin, and the others had not had much contact with news from that level. They were relatively bewildered. Still, judging by Yang Shu and the others' expressions, they could more or less tell that the problem was serious—they simply did not understand exactly how serious it was.
"It certainly will. The Spirit Realm represents White Stone Town's strongest power in the open. One of the Spirit Realm cultivators I killed was even the Chao Family's Clan Head. Because of that, the Chao Family Old Ancestor also took action, attempting to kill me and seize the secret realm."
Yun Ye answered, then looked toward Yang Shu, preparing to respond to his questioning.
At that moment, however, Tong Huoyang suddenly rose to her feet. She slammed both hands onto the table and stared at Yun Ye, enunciating each word. "The Chao Family Old Ancestor? The Dharma Realm? Are you joking? How did you come back alive?"
"The Chao Family Old Ancestor was in the Dharma Realm? Dao, how exactly did you escape? That's the Dharma Realm!" Ning Xiao exclaimed in disbelief the moment she finished.
Tian Jing and the others hurriedly pressed him for answers. "What is the Dharma Realm? Is it stronger than the Spirit Realm?"
"Of course..."
Tong Huoyang sighed. "Mortal, Spirit, and Dharma—the three great realms. The Dharma Realm is already the strongest level of cultivator in White Stone Town, granting a lifespan of four hundred years! Even the current Ji Family Clan Head is merely the third-generation Judge. Judges possess power far beyond that of Spirit Realm cultivators and can flatten this entire valley with a casual gesture. And Dao is only in the Mortal Realm."
"So escaping the pursuit of someone like that was impossible... right? Indeed. By common sense, it was."
Yun Ye nodded calmly. "But he failed. I killed two Spirit Realm cultivators in succession, one of them even a Clan Head. That accorded with the Tomorrow Dao, so I received an echo out of thin air and became burdened with the Great Calamity Embodiment."
"In the past, ordinary people were enslaved and slaughtered by them, used as two-legged cattle and sheep, casually fried, stir-fried, deep-fried, boiled, or steamed. Though each of their thoughts was exceedingly weak, over a thousand years, there would always be people whose hatred was strong enough to form the echo of a Dao, allowing quantitative change to evolve into qualitative change."
"I killed the head of an Aristocratic Clan and raised the rebel flag, which accorded with the Tomorrow Dao... No, it should be said that this was precisely the righteous path of the Tomorrow Dao. Obtaining their recognition was inevitable."
"Thus, I received an echo out of thin air and became burdened with the Great Calamity Embodiment, gaining power sufficient to contend with the Dharma Realm. This power allowed me to feign death and escape. I hid in the secret realm for another four months before finally returning."
"Under the power of a Judge, we are far too weak. Telling you this information would serve no purpose beyond shaking the army's morale. You might even choose to relocate, increasing the probability of being discovered by another twenty percent, to a full thirty percent. That would be personally sending you into a dead end."
"So it was better not to say anything. If you were discovered, you could at least die without pain. Afterward, I would avenge you... I still possess that much resolve."
Yun Ye spoke, then waved his hand. The Dao Artifact fell into his grasp, and the human figures upon it became increasingly distinct, drawing everyone's attention.
But at that moment, no one was in the mood to focus on it. Ning Xiao in particular was the most familiar with Yun Ye. She looked at him uncertainly. "Dao, what exactly happened this time...? You've changed far too much!"
It was not only Ning Xiao. Tian Jing, and even Yang Shu and Tong Huoyang, had noticed it.
The young man before them had undergone a tremendous change.
That transformation had come rushing toward them in merely those few sentences. In the past, even if Dao had thought this way, he would never have said it aloud...
"Die without pain?"
Yang Shu repeated the words several times. After a long while, he shook his head and smiled. "Indeed. As practitioners of the Tomorrow Dao, we should have been prepared to die long ago. It is only a matter of sooner or later. Dao, what exactly are you trying to say? Just tell us directly!"
Yun Ye nodded silently. "Put simply, I received an echo, so I forged a rule. This rule can allow those who swear an oath to keep secrets. Even under interrogation by a Divine Art, they can guard those secrets!"
"With this, the final piece of the puzzle is complete. I believe you have always been wondering why Master and I could contend with the Spirit Realm, and even the Dharma Realm, while in the Mortal Realm..."
The longer Yun Ye spoke, the stranger the expressions of everyone present became.
Tong Huoyang could not help interrupting him. "Wasn't that your talent? Innate spiritual fire? Or some other innate gift?"
"Talent? No. This isn't talent. It is skill and knowledge."
"In the past, Master and I were always worried that this knowledge would spread into the hands of the Aristocratic Clans, so we never mentioned it... But things are different now. The time has come."
Yun Ye looked at everyone and said amid their varied expressions, "The secret to defeating Spirit Realm, and even Dharma Realm, opponents while still in the Mortal Realm—I will teach it to you!"
"This is a technique that Master and I call Ultimate Spirituality!"
Before you continue