The Supreme Being Against Heaven

--Translated by likesnovel--

“I’m sorry for making everyone worry these past days. Don’t worry… I’m fine now.”

Tan Yun gave a faint smile as he slowly rose from Zhongwu Shiyao’s arms.

His entire body ached, his limbs felt weak—

yet he still forced himself to stand.

“Senior Brother Tan! You’re our hero!”

“Yeah, that’s right…!”

“You not only won the championship for our Alchemy Line, you even defeated the Saintess of the Divine Spirit Immortal Palace!”

Unknowingly—

the way everyone looked at Tan Yun had changed.

There was now both **respect**… and **awe** in their eyes.

In contrast—

the disciples from the Talisman, Weapon Refining, and Formation lines aboard the spirit vessel remained indifferent toward him.

Hearing this—

Tan Yun couldn’t help but think of Nangong Yuqin.

He couldn’t understand—

why he cared so deeply about whether she lived or died…

But he quickly pushed the thought aside,

then turned to Zhongwu Shiyao with a smile.

“How long was I unconscious?”

“**8 days**,” she replied softly, supporting him.

“Tan Yun… it’s good that you’re awake.”

At that moment—

Tantai Xuanzhong walked toward him.

This was the **first thing** he had said in **8 days**.

“Disciple greets Sect Master.”

Tan Yun bowed deeply.

Tantai Xuanzhong nodded—

then gently patted Tan Yun on the shoulder… without saying another word.

That single action—

left everyone stunned!

Tan Yun… had gained the Sect Master’s favor to **this extent**!?

There was no need for words—

everyone instantly understood:

Tan Yun was now unquestionably the Sect Master’s **favored disciple**!

Tantai Xuanzhong withdrew his hand, clasped both hands behind his back, and took a deep breath.

His gaze swept across everyone on the spirit vessel—

his eyes sharp and cold, like a predator.

“You have all seen it…”

“This Four Arts Competition was not only a humiliation for me—Tantai Xuanzhong—”

“but also a humiliation for the **Huangfu Sovereign**!”

“Do you know… why things turned out this way?”

“Speak!”

At his command—

no one dared to answer.

His voice grew heavier.

“I said—speak!”

Everyone lowered their heads.

Who would dare point out the sect’s problems at a time like this?

“Since no one will speak… I will call on someone.”

His gaze landed on Gongsun Ruoxi.

“Ruoxi. You speak.”

“Disciple obeys.”

She pondered briefly before answering carefully,

“Reporting to Sect Master… it is because we disciples are incompetent.”

“You are too timid.”

Tantai Xuanzhong said meaningfully.

“You don’t dare to speak the truth… nor face it.”

He waved his hand, signaling her to step back—

then looked at Huangfu Tingfeng.

“Tingfeng. You speak.”

“Disciple obeys.”

Huangfu Tingfeng spoke frankly:

“First—”

“The Divine Spirit Immortal Palace has **6,000,000** outer disciples.”

“The Eternal Sect has **5,000,000**.”

“Our sect… only has **1,000,000**.”

“This shows… we lack fresh talent.”

“Second—”

“Our sect is located in the central region of the Heavenly Punishment Mountains.”

“The spiritual energy of heaven and earth here… is **30%** thinner than that of the Eternal Sect and the Divine Spirit Immortal Palace.”

“Third—”

“Even among our secluded elders… we lack both a ‘mid-level Saint-tier Formation Grandmaster’ and ‘mid-level Saint-tier artifacts.’”

“If we had them—”

“we could construct a ‘Mustard Seed Space-Time Formation’…”

“and a ‘Mustard Seed Space-Time Tower’…”

“for both inner and even outer disciples to cultivate in.”

“If that were possible—”

“the strength of our disciples would grow by leaps and bounds!”

“And the overall power of our younger generation… would increase dramatically!”

Hearing this—

Tantai Xuanzhong nodded in satisfaction.

“Anything else?”

“Reporting to Sect Master, I cannot think of more.”

Huangfu Tingfeng replied respectfully.

“Good… well said!”

Tantai Xuanzhong praised.

“As expected… of my ancestor’s bloodline!”

Suddenly—

Tantai Xuanzhong turned to Tan Yun and asked,

“Do you have a different opinion?”

“This disciple has limited knowledge and ability. I dare not make judgments on matters of the sect on my own.”

Tan Yun cupped his fists and answered humbly.

He understood very well—

even if Tantai Xuanzhong valued him highly,

some things… once spoken, could offend many people.

Tantai Xuanzhong let out a faint sigh.

“Tan Yun… you are someone I value greatly.”

“Your alchemy skills are extraordinary, and your strength was enough to defeat the Saintess of the Divine Spirit Immortal Palace.”

“When I look at you… I see the ‘hope’ of the Huangfu Sacred Sect.”

“If you have something to say, say it. I command you to speak the truth!”

Hearing this—

Tan Yun cupped his fists again and said sincerely,

“This disciple obeys… but some words may displease you. I ask for your forgiveness in advance.”

“Hahaha! That only makes me more interested!”

Tantai Xuanzhong smiled for the first time in days.

“Speak! No matter what you say—I will pardon you!”

“This disciple obeys.”

Tan Yun spoke respectfully.

“But I beg forgiveness for my boldness… I wish to speak with you in private.”

“Very well.”

Tantai Xuanzhong flicked his sleeve—

In an instant—

Tan Yun’s vision blurred!

When it cleared again—

the two of them were already inside a chamber on the spirit vessel.

“There is no one else here. You may speak freely.”

Tantai Xuanzhong stood facing him.

“Yes, Sect Master.”

Tan Yun thought for a moment before speaking:

“Before answering your question, I ask permission to ask you **3 questions** first.”

“Go ahead.”

Tantai Xuanzhong replied without hesitation.

“First—”

“You have not unified the **9 sects**… is it because you are being restrained by others?”

Tantai Xuanzhong frowned slightly.

“Yes.”

“Second—”

“Can you mobilize all the sect’s resources?”

Tantai Xuanzhong pondered briefly before answering,

“As long as it does not harm the foundation of the sect, I can use them.”

“Third—”

“What is your ambition?”

This time—

Tantai Xuanzhong fell silent.

After a long pause—

he slowly said,

“My ambition… is like a phoenix soaring to the heavens.”

Just that one sentence—

was enough for Tan Yun to understand.

This man—

harbored immense ambition. He sought to rule the world!

Tan Yun nodded, then said firmly:

“Since Sect Master has the heart to dominate the land—this disciple has an ‘excellent strategy’ to offer.”

“Good! Speak!”

Tantai Xuanzhong’s eyes lit up.

Tan Yun spoke word by word—

clear and resolute:

“Endure and bide time—cast aside pride—redistribute resources—revitalize the sect.”

“Establish **9 branches**—centralize authority—share achievements—absorb divine stones.”

“Offer sacred formations—enhance strength—destroy the Eternal Sect—battle the Divine Palace.”

“Unleash heavenly power—subdue heroes—pacify the world—bring peace.”

These **48 words**—

shocked Tantai Xuanzhong to his core!

“Explain! How can this be accomplished?!”

Tan Yun nodded and continued:

“The Eternal Sect and the Divine Spirit Immortal Palace… are wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

“Although they promised that within **100 years**, our disciples would gain access to the ‘Eternal Domain’ and the ‘God Battlefield’—”

“I believe that—”

“the moment we enter…”

“their disciples will attempt to ‘wipe out ours completely’!”

“And furthermore—”

“within **100 years**, or perhaps even longer—our sect will continue to decline.”

“And in the end… we may be destroyed by a joint attack from multiple sects!”

Tantai Xuanzhong nodded firmly.

“This is exactly what I have been worried about… continue!”

“Yes.”

Tan Yun continued steadily:

“In the next **100 years**, or even several hundred years—”

“no matter what schemes the enemy devises…”

“you must ‘endure and bide time’—and use the limited time you have—”

“to strengthen the sect!”

“To prepare for the confrontation with those two great powers in the future!”

Tantai Xuanzhong nodded, deep in thought.

“I understand… this is the ‘endure and bide time’ you spoke of.”

“But what about ‘cast aside pride, redistribute resources, and revitalize the sect’—what do those mean?”

He stared at Tan Yun seriously.

“I want a detailed explanation… the more detailed, the better!”