The Torch Still Burns

A short while later the High Heaven Palace was once again filled with the Elders from each Cave Heaven Paradise. All of them wanted answers, and some were hoping to take advantage that a young man was put in charge of the Palace. However, I wasn't about to be so easily walked over. 

Either way though this puts me into a slightly more difficult position. Since Wen Xue Qing, the princess of Azure Sun Temple had arrived, chasing after her parents. Apparently she was hoping to stop them from making a scene. Only to realize that she was too late for all that. As a result she was now sitting there with a difficult time sitting still, which only got worse every time she looked at me.

"Alright, as everyone knows by now, my father, Void Great Emperor has broken through to the 8th rank Open Heaven Realm. He has placed, myself, Temporal Thunder Great Emperor at the head of the Palace in his stead. However, I will begin by saying that I won't be upending anything. In fact your business between your Cave Heaven Paradises and my High Heaven Palace & by extension Void Land, will still go through the same proper channels as they have been before. That said, I can understand that there is likely to be some worry among you, that I may not be a good fit for such a position. And some are plainly thinking of ways to use my inexperience against me. I would advise you against doing this, as it will result in the immediate termination of any and all agreements with your Force." I announced, making it blatantly clear that I wasn't going to be so easy to deal with, I'm no pup. 

The looks on some of the Cave Heaven Paradise's Elder's faces changed. Each expressing a different emotion, and some grimacing at the fact I already called them out, and made it clear what the consequences will be. However, one of these Elders was curious about something as a result of my words. Her name was Luo Sheng. 

"You make such a bold claim, yet it seems it's already presented a problem. You do know that us cave heaven paradises work together incredibly closely right? So I don't see how you could possibly make such a declaration much less go through with it." Luo Sheng said, narrowing her eyes, not in an intimidating way though. 

"That's obvious, the worst possible thing on a battlefield is not a competent enemy, but an incompetent ally. If you try to take advantage of my High Heaven Palace now, simply because I am temporarily taking care of it in my father's stead. Then you are incompetent, as you'd fail to see the importance of the situation. In other words, I'd rather fight the entirety of the Ink Clan on my own than deal with an idiot who can't keep their priorities straight. So, I guess you could say that it's in your best interest not to do anything rash." I replied with a glare of my own, clearly demonstrating not a single one of them scares me in the slightest. "Also, keep in mind I still haven't forgiven you for suppressing my father's cultivation. And then didn't stop a war against us, and then proceeded to take advantage of the situation and use my Star Boundary for your own ends." I added, further explaining their position. 

"I see, so that's how it is. But isn't it true that it was..." Luo Sheng started saying. 

"HAHAHA! You really think I'd just allow you to use such a ridiculous excuse like that? Or have you already forgotten what you said to start this conversation? You're dumping off blame when it is convenient for you and then changing the situation to fit your ends on a whim. I'm not old, but I also wasn't born yesterday. So don't bother trying to pull the wool over my eyes with a trick a 5 year old could see through." I said, abruptly cutting Luo Sheng off from speaking. "Moreover, if you want me to treat you as elders, simply having the cultivation level isn't enough, not when I've seen some pathetic examples so far." I laughed, explaining the stupidity of her words. 

The room fell silent, after hearing my words. None of the Cave Heaven Paradises dared to refute what I just said. After all, the fact I accurately predicted and shut Luo Sheng down, on its own would have been enough. However, the additional effect of inflicting an incredible degree of damage at all of them in the process was nothing to scoff at. 

"Leiji, I think that might be enough now. I'm sure that none of them will bother making any problems now. So why not dismiss them so they may reflect on what just happened." Smiles suggested, breaking the silence. 

"As you wish mother Smiles. It's for the best anyways. If they are to pull the wool off of their eyes, they will likely need some time to reflect. It's just so infuriating. They should know exactly where I came from, yet they still act high and mighty as if I was a simple pup who still knows nothing of the world. This is in direct conflict with what I've done. And even just sensing ink disciples alone would have been enough to want to be on my good side. Let alone completely restoring the mind on my own. It's quite insulting, and not just to myself, but my wives, my mothers and my father. How could I not put them in their place?" I explained myself calmly. 

"True, But I'm not sure they really believe everything you did on that battlefield. After all, I might not believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes." Feng Ying chimed in. 

"I understand that, but that is also precisely why they are blind. Mother Feng, you are their peer, if not even a little senior to some. And yet they don't believe your own account of the situation. It's disrespectful." I sighed, explaining the final piece of the puzzle. 

All of the Elders from the Cave Heaven Paradises stood up, and excused themselves almost the very moment that they heard my final explanation.