Chapter 9)Internal affairs

POV Unknown

Two individuals found themselves in an unknown space. One was an ordinary-looking teenager, aged between 14 and 16 years old, while the other was shrouded in darkness, with only two blood-red eyes piercing through the shadows.

"How is the boy progressing?" the teenager asked.

"As predicted by the master, the boy is swiftly acquiring knowledge and growing stronger. In 1 to a maximum of 15 years, we can begin," the figure in darkness responded.

"Hmm, that's too long. The longer we wait, the more time the clan head will have to prepare. He might disrupt our plans. Are you certain we cannot approach the boy?" the teenager questioned.

"That's correct. The demon brothers are keeping a close watch on him and training him. We cannot get close," the figure explained.

"Heh, the clan head even deploys two faithful dogs to protect his son. He doesn't trust the elders as much as he claims publicly," the teenager remarked with a bow, refraining from commenting further on his master's statements.

"It matters not. When the time comes and all our pieces are in place, we will proceed, and even he will be unable to stop us. Not to mention those pathetic gods he fears so much," the man cloaked in darkness stated before closing his eyes and vanishing from space. The teenager bowed once more in the man's direction and also departed.

POV Young Man

Finally, we have found the traitor. I must report this to the Patriarch immediately before it's too late.

The young man hurriedly ran across the icy fields toward the clan, but suddenly...

"Icy doom."

His body rapidly froze, encased in thick layers of ice, leaving only his head free. He attempted to employ his spiritual power to free himself, but as soon as he initiated the process...

"Eternal death."

A beam of icy energy struck him, not only freezing his insides but also rendering his spiritual power inert. Before his demise, he gazed in horror toward his assailant.

"So, you have also betrayed the Patriarch..."

The young man perished before he could finish his sentence, and the mysterious figure vanished into the snow. A blizzard quickly swept through the area, reducing the young man encased in ice to a pile of frozen dust.

POV Unknown

"Are you certain we should proceed with this?" one person asked another.

"Yes, they must continue their conflict, and the traitor must remain unknown to the Patriarch for now. Otherwise, our plans may be jeopardized," the other replied.

"But our recent actions might make him suspicious, and he may initiate a purge," the first person expressed concern.

"He is ruthless, but without concrete evidence, he cannot purge the clan. He needs the support of the remaining members and his wife," the second person explained.

"We should temporarily halt our movements. Otherwise, he may take action against us," the first person suggested.

"Indeed, we shall lie low for now. After all, there are still two years remaining until the first opportunity," the second person agreed.

POV Bai

In my office, I was reviewing the latest advancements within the clan and the progress of the children's training, when suddenly, a shadow appeared behind me.

"What are the results?" I inquired.

"The agent has gone missing and is unresponsive. We suspect a double-cross," the shadow reported.

"Damn it! I never anticipated their involvement. I knew they were obsessed with the idea of divinity, but not to this extent," I expressed frustration.

"Should we commence the purge?" the shadow suggested.

"No, we lack sufficient evidence of their involvement. Moreover, we are unaware of the traitor's identity, and the only agent who made contact with them is deceased," I explained.

"We can send more agents," the shadow proposed.

"They will be exposed and silenced once again. We need to dig deeper, but they have always abided by the clan's rules, and if they have deviated, they are clever enough not to leave any traces," I pondered.

The shadow remained silent, awaiting my orders.

"With two demons by my son's side, they won't be able to harm him. They will only have one chance in two years. When that time arrives, I want you to deploy half of our forces to protect him," I commanded.

The shadow trembled, signifying its understanding.

"Indeed, on that day, I shall meet with the Silver Dragon, forcing them to lower their guard. I want you not only to capture the traitor but also to uncover which among them is involved in this scheme," I added.

"As you command, Patriarch."

POV Ruiling

I sat quietly, engrossed in a book when the spatial energy around me shifted.

"How is my boy?" I asked.

"Fear not, Madam. As the Patriarch said, your son is strong and thriving," the person responded.

"And how is my husband handling the situation?" I inquired further.

"He is on the verge of uncovering the traitor, but the meddling elders hinder his progress," the person relayed.

I furrowed my brows but continued to inquire.

"Have you managed to identify the worm who wishes to exploit my son?" I questioned.

"I regret to inform you, Madam, that due to the movements of the Patriarch's shadows, the elders, and the traitor themselves, we are unable to intervene significantly," the person explained.

"These bastards seek to achieve their goals, but they are either too foolish or lacking in talent, attempting to use my son for their schemes," I seethed with anger.

"Madam, your husband is also playing his part in this game," the person revealed.

I sternly gazed at the corner of the room, causing the spatial energy to tremble. To someone attuned to emotions, they would sense a wave of fear emanating from the tremors.

"He wants our son to grow strong enough to survive the forthcoming conflicts. I know he can achieve divinity himself, and with the aid of the old monsters, he aims to establish a divine realm. However, our son would become our vulnerability in that war, and he desires for him to endure. Yet, I fail to comprehend his methods," I expressed.

"The Patriarch always possesses greater knowledge than others, his vision encompassing a broader scope," the person offered.

"I am aware, but that does not excuse his actions. We could wait, a hundred or two hundred years. Hell, at his level, he should live for a thousand. I cannot fathom why he is in such a hurry," I lamented.

"Madam, you know you can always inquire of him," the person reminded me.

He will only respond if I persist, and that might worry him further. He never wished for me to be entangled in any of this—clan politics, the planned demise of the gods, the research, and the potential connections with the old monsters who might possess their plans for the gods.

Silence enveloped the room, but I was not concerned about whether anyone was listening.

"It wasn't until I reached the rank of Super Douluo that he informed me of the impending war and how we must prepare for it. However, he has yet to disclose the reason for his haste," I pondered.

"Perhaps he knows that the war among the gods will commence in this century," the person suggested.

"Perhaps, but only he knows the true motive behind his actions. Send our people to protect my son in two years. I care not for the vermin within our clan, but should anything befall my son, I will take matters into my own hands, regardless of the consequences," I declared.

The room became suffused with terrifying spiritual power, and everything swiftly became coated in ice. Even the space itself gradually froze.

"As you command, Mistress."

POV Servant

The chilling atmosphere in the room intensified as Lady Ruiling's power surged. The freezing temperature seemed to penetrate even the very fabric of space itself. The air grew heavy with anticipation, and I could feel the weight of her determination.

"As you wish, Mistress," I replied, my voice tinged with a mix of awe and reverence. "I shall ensure that your son is protected at all costs. Our forces will be ready in two years to safeguard him from any threat."

Lady Ruiling's piercing gaze bore into me, her eyes filled with a mother's fierce protectiveness. "Remember, failure is not an option," she warned, her voice laced with an icy resolve.

I bowed deeply, my utmost loyalty and commitment on display. "Rest assured, Mistress. We will not falter in our duty. The traitor will be exposed, and those who conspire against your son shall face the consequences."

With a final nod, Lady Ruiling's intense presence subsided, and the room gradually returned to its normal state. The air warmed, and the ice that had formed began to melt away.