Chapter 223: Babata

Jiang Yan withdrew from the inner space of the light sphere, carefully coated its surface with Chaotic Void Ancestral Spirit until not a trace of aura could leak out, then stored it away with relief.

If even a hint of aura were to escape and be sensed by that Sky Demon, Jiang Yan’s current strength would be far from sufficient to confront him.

“My current strength should be enough to return to Blue Star now. I wonder how Old Wang is doing.”

“Zhuozhuo, check where the nearest fuel supply point is.”

…

Fuel was expensive, but for Jiang Yan, who had a bit of money to spare, it was nothing.

He didn’t have a fortune, but he could splurge on small expenses.

If he ran out of money, he’d just take it.

After refueling the shuttle, Jiang Yan deliberately stored an extra tank, which should last him quite a while.

“Dust Diviner, set course for the destination—Blue Star!”

The shuttle slowly activated, blue flames erupting from its rear, and vanished from the spot in an instant.

…

Meanwhile, on Star Star.

The Supreme Council.

Babata sat in the highest seat, gazing down at his subjects.

Now, the royal family of Star Star existed in name only. Ever since Prince Star’s defeat at the hands of Jiang Yan, his reputation had plummeted, and he had lost all support.

Babata had completely seized all power.

Sending Prince Star to challenge the Myriad Realms Ladder back then had indeed been a brilliant stratagem.

If he won, the entire nation would celebrate.

If he lost, the prince’s popularity would decline, and Babata’s rise to power would be all the more justified.

But now, even as the one holding supreme authority,

Babata still had many unresolved concerns.

“Konador, how long has it been since that day?”

He stared at his confidant and asked calmly.

“Reporting, Marshal, it has been over four months.”

Thud!

Babata slammed the table, erupting in anger:

“How is it only four months!”

“Marshal, please calm your anger!”

“Marshal, please calm your anger!”

The subjects below dared not remain seated in their positions. They all left their council seats and knelt, shouting in unison.

On Star Star, offending the royal family might still leave a path to survival, but offending the Marshal was a sure path to death.

Moreover, the Marshal had been restless lately due to matters involving that genius youth from Blue Star, often taking his anger out on everyone.

“Damn it! That youth’s whereabouts are unknown now. He’s likely being secretly trained by Blue Star or sent to a hidden planet for cultivation. Given time, how can Star Star remain at peace!”

Babata burned with rage, troubled by the events involving Jiang Yan four months ago.

The memory of that genius youth, unparalleled among his generation, was still etched in Babata’s mind.

He desired more than anyone to eliminate that potential future obstacle to his grand plans.

If possible, he would even personally step in to nip Jiang Yan in the bud.

But…

“The Myriad Realms Ladder…”

That legendary cross-universe corporation loomed over Babata’s head like a mountain.

That youth from Blue Star might one day invade Star Star and take Babata’s head.

Yet, if he were to attack Blue Star now, the entire Star Star would be destroyed.

These two mountains weighed on him, leaving him unable to eat or sleep peacefully for the past four months.

“Marshal, please calm your anger. In my humble opinion, that youth cannot make significant progress within a year. Previously, he was at the Fourth Rank Inner Astral realm. At most, he might reach the Fifth Rank Comprehending Mysteries after a year.”

“Moreover, the Blue Star Martial Way has always lagged behind the Transcendent powers of our Star Star. Given this comparison, even if that youth is exceptionally talented and arrives within the year, we can invade Blue Star and eliminate him there. Wouldn’t that resolve the Marshal’s concerns?”

“Fool!”

Bang!

The speaker was thrown to the ground.

Babata, furious, stomped on the minister’s face. The white jade floor cracked in multiple places, crimson blood seeping into the fissures.

“Do you truly think the people of Blue Star are fools?”

“The world’s circumstances are ever-changing, and the vastness of the universe is beyond the imagination of petty minds like yours. Since Blue Star knows it will face my wrath in a year, it will inevitably make changes!”

“What if that youth encounters a miraculous opportunity, his cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds, or he becomes a disciple of a Supreme being who could annihilate our great nation with a single hand? How would you fools handle that?”

The ministers all sighed, outwardly flattering but inwardly dismissive.

How much could change in a year?

“Get out!”

Babata kicked the minister beneath his foot, sending him flying out of the conference room.

The others knelt on the ground, not daring to look up.

Only one of Babata’s trusted aides, Kannador, stepped forward.

“I believe, Marshal, rather than worrying here about changes a year from now, it would be better to amass troops and secretly lay plans. In a year, we can catch those ignorant Blue Star civilians off guard.”

“Even if a mere Fourth Grade Martial Artist has some capability, it cannot compare to the importance of expanding our territory. How can the value of a single Martial Artist match the resources of an entire planet?”

The minister’s words were firm and impassioned. Facing Babata’s fierce gaze, he did not retreat in the slightest, his unyielding resolve moving to behold.

Babata staggered a step, shaking his head as he looked at his trusted minister with disappointment.

“Even you doubt me?”

Kannador knelt on the ground but kept his back straight.

“Truthful advice is often hard to hear. I hope the Marshal will listen and believe.”

“Fool!” Babata roared, never expecting that even his most trusted minister would fail to understand him.

“I beg the Marshal to reconsider!”

“Get out!”

Babata’s disappointment gradually faded, replaced by boundless indifference.

“Guards, drag Kannador away and execute him.”

“Marshal, please calm your anger!”

“Anyone else who speaks will receive the same punishment!”

No one dared utter another word, but all believed the Marshal had gone mad.

“Hmph, short-sighted fools.”

Babata spat.

He looked at the minister he had always valued most, his eyes showing not a trace of attachment.

“Babata, if you kill me today, you will lose the people’s support. Even if you ascend the throne in the future, you will not be loved by your ministers!”

“Tyrant! Tyrant!”

“Hurry up and do it. The noise is unbearable.”

Thud—

A head hit the floor.

The conference room fell so silent one could hear a pin drop.

The ministers were dazed and bewildered.

Their Marshal Babata seemed to have been driven mad by that Blue Star youth.

Babata swept his gaze around, then stormed out, slamming the door behind him. He looked up at the vast sky.

“If you all understood me, why would I be in this state?”

His hands trembled. The sixth sense honed through years of warfare was exceptionally keen.

“Until the last breath, miracles still have room to unfold.”

“In the past, when I sought to conquer Blue Star, I was thwarted by the Myriad Realms Ladder.”

“If that one-year deadline arrives…”

Babata’s mind was restless, his fierce expression softening.

“If it truly is as those foolish ministers think, and all this is just my own groundless anxiety… that would be good.”

With that, he turned and left, hands clasped behind his back.

In the Star Domains near Star Star, Babata’s subordinates continuously searched for traces of Jiang Yan, but found nothing.

Babata’s spies on Blue Star also reported that the youth had suddenly vanished without a trace on the planet.

All of this left Babata unable to eat or sleep in peace.

Over these past four months, he had practically worn himself out worrying about Jiang Yan’s affairs.

“They say wildfire cannot burn it all away, for spring winds will bring it back to life. If even I, Babata, were to lose despite all this, then surely it wouldn’t be my fault, would it?”

The air fell into Silence, with no one to answer him.

“No, this Marshal cannot lose! Not even if there’s only the slightest chance!”

He gazed into a certain direction within the Void, his expression twisting and shifting, until finally he let out a helpless sigh, as if making some momentous decision.

“Fine, then.”

“It seems I’ll have to beg that Old Undying to emerge from seclusion.”