Realms In The Firmament

Master Guan seemed to be enlightened but really did not understand anything.

“In my place, with the Hall of Life and Death, nobody dies. I am sure I can keep everybody alive. No matter had badly our men get hurt, I will save them. There will be no fatal damage!

“Other than that, there is a simple reason… I wrote on the four flags. They seemed to be four rules. The last one was quite different from the other three. Think about it. I want to have a winner in a contest, but I don’t want any of my men to die. However, on the last two flags, I am telling them to fight as hard as they can. Meanwhile, if anybody would like to sacrifice our own men to build their own prestige, I don’t need them. I will let them go. No matter how powerful they are, if they don’t see others as their brothers.”

Ye Xiao blandly smiled and said, “I need people that I can trust with my life. They will be absolutely loyal to me. The most important thing about them is honesty. I won’t take any risk on that.

“Old Master, you are an experienced man. You know how important it is for me.”

Ye Xiao looked at Master Guan and said, “This group of people, who only serves me, is the most important part of the organization. The contests will help us find out who are the most capable men, but also the most caring and beneficent to the organization.”

“Relax, Master Guan.” Ye Xiao looked at Master Guan and said, “I know what I am doing. I do.”

After a while, Master Guan was still thinking about what Ye Xiao said, “I know what I am doing. I do.”

“I know what I am doing. I do.”

He didn’t mean the possible consequences, because he had explained it already. What he meant was, ‘I know you are kind to me!’

He really did!

Ye Xiao was young, but he was so wise. That was rare and commendable. He didn’t just want to have some capable men who won the titles… What he wanted was to knock out those who were dishonorable!

He wanted something deeper than others could think of… He didn’t want to run a gang in the martial world. He wanted an organization that would stand in the world forever! He wanted a strong foundation for that!

“For those who survived the severe competition…”

Master Guan murmured and staggered away.

It didn’t seem to be wise to use those glorious titles just to knock out some suspect people…

However, it was such an efficient and powerful way to do so.

Nobody could pretend to be what they were not before such valuable offerings!

In the end, Ye Xiao would be able to choose some really loyal ones who would build the strongest foundation for his organization!

These people together would eventually create a great future!

As Ye Xiao said, Master Guan knew how important it was!

It was the most important to have a group of really reliable people!

Master Guan surely understood!

“He is going to build his powerful team…” Master Guan murmured, and then made a sigh.

“If we showed ourselves earlier and pledged loyalty to the Monarch’s Hall earlier, things would be different. We would have gained enough trust. If we still hold back from supporting him now… I am afraid… the opportunity is going away from us…” Master Guan was worried.

The Guan Clan was in a much better situation than the other clans because Master Guan had gotten many of his men to join the Monarch’s Hall already. However, the really capable ones in the clan were still hiding, and they would have to keep hiding.

If Master Guan let them out now and join the Monarch’s Hall, the other clans would be pissed. The Guan Clan couldn’t afford the cost to mess with the other clans.

Besides, when he got his men into the Monarch’s Hall, he told Ye Xiao that his people could only offer civil service, and they were all weak cultivators. If he told Ye Xiao that any of his people could destroy the entire Monarch’s Hall alone, what would Ye Xiao think of it? The Guan Clan would become a threat!

Master Guan had done the right thing in the beginning, but now it became a restraint to his people.

He tried to think of a way to solve the problem, but there was nothing he could think of.

The next day.

This day was known as, The Beginning of the Legend afterward.

It was September the second!

(Author’s Note: Ahem. September the second is my birthday… Hah hah…)

September the golden season, the sky was blue and the air was fresh. It was a good day.

There was a piece of empty land before the entrance of the Hall of Life and Death, which was a thousand feet wide.

The giant tree, which had become the sign of the Hall of Life and Death, was waving in the wind. On the leaves, there seemed to be some glow. When the leaves moved, it was like the waves of light.

The tree was like the entire sky with all the stars, which was splendid.

Ye Xiao and all the members of the Monarch’s Hall had gathered together. They had flown up to the sky and stayed in the air, a thousand feet from the ground.

Ye Xiao was staring at the giant tree of the Hall of Life and Death. The shining starlight on the tree had drawn everybody’s attention.

It was the color of life.

Many people didn’t know why they must watch the tree, but they just did.

“Guys, when I was a child, I heard a story. I wonder if you heard about it before.”

Ye Xiao’s voice was deep and powerful. He was still staring at the shining tree when he was talking. He said, “Somebody told me that every influential figure in the world used to be a star in the sky. As their lives in the sky end, they come down to the world with the different colors of the stars, and the stars remain in the sky.”

“A man is living, if he lives like a hero, the star that he represents will shine brightly. If he dies, the star will be dim, and even fall off the sky.”

Everybody slightly nodded.

It was a story that widely spread in the Human Realm Upon Heavens. Everybody had heard about it.

It wasn’t special.

However, they didn’t know what the Lord Monarch truly wanted to say yet.

“I believe you all know there are many low-level realms below the Human Realm Upon Heavens.” Ye Xiao blandly said, “In the eyes of those who lived in the lower realms, we are gods. Well, we know what we are. We are not gods, and we are not sacred. Over our heads, there are stars.

“A man should travel the world, and we should have the world in our heart. The stars are shining in the sky. Do you want to take one of them, and become a legend?”

“Do you want to be a legend of the world?”

What Ye Xiao said suddenly thrilled everybody up.

Everybody wanted to be a legend, but they need an opportunity!

“Because of the Hall of Life and Death, the Monarch’s Hall is built.” Ye Xiao said, “The Hall of Life and Death is exactly this giant tree, which never dies! For us, this giant tree is our foundation, our root!

“Every leaf of the tree is shining, and the glow of the leaves are the lights of the stars!”

Every leaf glowed like a star!

Everybody stared at the tree, looking at the waving lights of the leaves!

“This is our world, and these are our stars!

“Today, the Monarch’s Hall starts the path to our legendary story. When we become an influential force that shocks the world someday, we are the stars of the world! We will become the stars! We will be the ocean of stars!”

Ye Xiao turned around. His clothes were flickering in the air. His eyes were sharp like lightning. He looked around the people in front of him. Those were over one thousand and seven hundred cultivators.

Everybody stood straight up, looking ahead with spirited and sharp eyes.

“There are twenty-two positions of the Monarch’s Hall that any of you have the chance to take!” Ye Xiao looked around and said, “One Blade, Two Warriors, Seven Stars, and Twelve Divine Stands!”

“The Five Kings will remain empty until the next contest.”

“Qiu Luo, who will stand on the stage for the challenge as the One Blade. The Dark Evil Spirit and Bai Long will stay on the stage for the challenge as the Two Warriors. The Seven Stars are the seven guardians. The Twelve Divine Stands are the twelve leaders of the twelve units of the Department of Battle!”

“The legendary contest begins today. Who wins the fight takes the position.”

“After the fight, the position will be kept for the winners for three years. Three years later, we will have another legendary contest. Who wins the contest takes the position.”

“If you want to have the position, you must fight for it! There is no other way to get the title!”

“No cunning schemes are allowed in the contest. This is only about power!”

It became silent.

Everybody was lost in thought. They had to make a choice about which position they should fight for.

“Well, remember this though. The Twelve Divine Stands are different from the One Blade, Two Warriors, and Seven Stars. We need to think more about the twelve special positions. Guys, you must think deeper.

“From a point of the past, there are twelve symbolic animals associated with a 12-year cycle. The twelve units are associated with the twelve animals.”

“Think about it, guys. Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, why are these animals the twelve symbolic animals? Why not other animals?”

“We know there are phoenix, rosefinch, and swan… These animals are more famous and powerful than some of the twelve symbolic animals, but they didn’t get selected. Why?”

Ye Xiao’s eyes glittered, and he kept looking at the people.

The others were confused.

They surely knew about the twelve symbolic animals, but not the reason why these twelve animals were selected. Ye Xiao’s question had made them lost in thoughts.

‘That’s a good question. Why?’

‘Everybody knows about phoenix, rosefinch, and swan… These are famous, known as powerful creatures. There are some beasts known to be fierce too. They didn’t get selected, but the weak ones, such as dog, goat, ox, were chosen. Is there a secret behind it?’

‘Didn’t our ancestors know about those fierce and powerful animals?’

‘Impossible.’

‘Those animals are from the old stories. Our ancestors knew it more than we do.’

‘Since they knew those famous animals, why didn’t they choose these powerful ones?’

‘However, the twelve symbolic animals aren’t all weak and normal animals. Dragon is a special and powerful one, just like phoenix. Tiger and snake are fierce and powerful.’

When everybody was confused, Ye Xiao said, “I am going to share my opinions with you today. It is simple. Think about it. The twelve symbolic animals have different dispositions, habits, and methods in doing things.

“As I know, the twelve animals represent the twelve different kinds of personalities of a human. No matter how powerful the other animals are, these twelve animals have shown all the personalities we have.”

“These twelve animals live with the methods that we need to live our lives! They got all the talents we need!”

“That is why these animals were selected.”

“And that is why I set up these twelve units in the Department of Battle.”

“It is also something I want you to know before you decide to fight for the position in any of the twelve positions. You must know who you are and what you are going to be. Whoever wants a position of the twelve must understand what the position stands. Before that, you don’t get to fight for it.”

“As the leader of the unit, you should be brave and responsible, also capable to deal with things alone!”

“Enough for the talks. Let’s begin now!”

Ye Xiao had started the contest, but the crowd was still in silence. Nobody moved.

The old men, who were the judges of the contest, were also lost in thoughts. They were thinking of every word Ye Xiao had just said.

Master Ju was lost in thought. ‘One Blade, Two Warriors, Seven Stars, and Twelve Divine Stands… beyond these, there will be five kings…’

‘What is the plan behind all these positions? What does he want?’

‘Personalities? Twelve symbolic animals? That is some theory…’

‘The five kings are empty…’

On the other side, Master Yun was also lost in thoughts.

He frowned and thought while rubbing his beard. ‘Well, it is not difficult to understand his opinions about the other positions, but the five kings… Why does he keep these five positions empty?’

Suddenly, maybe he thought of something important because he accidentally grabbed off some hairs of his beard after a tremble. It hurt, and the pain made him take a cold breath immediately.

“You old guy, what is going on? Have you taken ill?” Master Song asked.

The old men knew each other well. Master Song saw Master Yun pull of some hairs on his beard, so he was shocked. He knew that Master Yun had some ideas in mind, so he asked.

The other two old masters looked over as well. ‘Yun is always cautious and calm. How come he lost it this time? What the young man said is shocking, but not this shocking, is it?’

“Why the five kings?” Master Yun slightly groaned about his painful chin, and there were still some white hairs in his hand. He was murmuring, and he looked lost.

“The five kings? What is the matter with the five kings? What shocks you so much?” Master Ju humphed and asked with a sneer,

“What is the matter? Are you sure? You actually asked this? You don’t get to call yourself a smart man anymore!” Master Yun coldly smiled and looked at Master Ju. “Have you ever thought of the fact that how many conquerors there are in the Human Realm Upon Heavens?”

“Five… Everybody knows that! Do you really need to… Wait… You…” The answer slipped out of Master Ju’s mouth, but then he realized something. He was shocked. He was not smiling anymore!

The other two old masters were shocked as well.

“The East, West, South, North, and Glaze Skies!

“The five sky kings are the only kings that are recognized in the world. Even the Great Master Ye is only known to be equal to the kings, but not a king himself.”

“Ye Xiao wants to set up five positions in the Monarch’s Hall, the Five Kings!”

“When he first mentioned the positions, there were the One Blade, Two Warriors, Seven Stars, and the Twelve Divine Stands… He never mentioned the Five Kings to any of us!”

“He added it afterward.”

“If he added it afterward, he must have spent a long time considering it.”

“Why does it have to be Five Kings? Is it just a coincidence? Or does he want something?”

“The positions of Five Kings are only below the Monarch in the Monarch’s Hall! What does that mean?”

Master Yun’s voice started shaking and he said, “What does it truly mean? Have you thought of anything?”

The old men were all shocked.

As they were lost into the void of thoughts, the first fight of the contest had already begun. Swords and sabers were glittering. Wind and shadow were fleeting. The stage was like under a snow storm…

The old men didn’t notice anything from the fight, because they were still in shock!