Chapter 1731: Many level nines

"Ah, it's Ah Lang. Come, sit."

Ji Ruiguang glanced at the young man who had knocked and entered, smiling as he beckoned before continuing his tea-brewing ritual.

Ah Lang removed his hood and sat beside the chair, eyeing the elder before him with curiosity.

No—aside from ingrained perceptions, the man before him showed no trace of aging. Instead, he exuded an air of... vitality.

This was not how a man nearing seventy should look.

It was as if he had reversed the aging process.

Perhaps this was the power of nine-star evolution.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Ji Ruiguang placed a smooth celadon teacup in front of Ah Lang, filled with amber-hued tea.

Though Ji Ruiguang had suffered setbacks, he had quickly rebounded. To the outside world, he might have seemed to vanish, but within the Resistance Zone, he remained the undisputed leader, his authority unchallenged.

Now, as a nine-star evolved, his grip on the Resistance Zone had reached its zenith.

Even Zhang Hetai and Wen Zhong were deferential in his presence.

Only Ah Lang could remain so composed, even bordering on audacious.

Ji Ruiguang’s fondness for him was genuine.

Not because Ah Lang was his grandson or illegitimate child, but out of true admiration.

At just twenty-two, Ah Lang possessed a maturity beyond his years. His "Vortex" combat division, established just two years prior, had already risen to become the Resistance Zone’s elite. He himself had reached eight-star evolved without relying on the Resistance Zone’s resources. How could Ji Ruiguang not appreciate such talent?

Another reason for Ji Ruiguang’s leniency was Ah Lang’s uncanny luck. When spinning for his own evolution potions, from one-star to eight-star, he had succeeded three times on the first try.

In the apocalypse, strength mattered—but luck was just as crucial.

The older Ji Ruiguang grew, the more he preferred keeping company with the fortunate.

"Uncle, Ye Zhongming reached nine-star days ago. Now Cloud Peak has another. And you... You’re just sitting here drinking tea?"

Ah Lang’s voice was as steady as his actions—just as he had calmly delivered the news at Fat Sheep Tavern.

He had assumed that once Ji Ruiguang became nine-star, he would make sweeping decisions and lead major initiatives. But instead, the man who allowed him to call him "Uncle" in private had done... nothing.

Not only had he retreated to the comfort of Tang City, but he spent his days drinking tea, reading, gardening, and playing chess. It was practically...

A waste of time!

"Oh?" Ji Ruiguang smiled. "What do you think I should do?"

Ah Lang faltered, opening his mouth but finding no words.

Should he suggest eliminating Zhang Hetai, that ungrateful wolf? Challenge Ye Zhongming to settle old scores? Or seize this moment to unify the Resistance Zone? ṝ𝘢ƝＯ𝔟Ęꞩ

He had considered all these before, but under the elder’s wise gaze, none of it felt worth voicing.

It all seemed... childish.

Nine-star might mean invincibility—but not omnipotence.

"My boy, I had many ideas too... before reaching nine-star." Ji Ruiguang sipped his tea, feeling the warmth spread through his limbs.

Some of Cloud Peak’s products were truly exceptional. Even as adversaries, he had to admit that.

"But once you stand at the pinnacle of this planet, you realize many things—and many people—are not what you imagined."

Ji Ruiguang’s gaze grew distant, becoming unreadable to Ah Lang.

"You see me drinking tea and playing chess, but I am thinking. Or rather... making decisions."

Ah Lang straightened slightly.

But to his disappointment, Ji Ruiguang didn’t elaborate, let alone reveal what those decisions were.

"As for Cloud Peak Villa..." Ji Ruiguang’s expression turned complex at the name. "It’s a remarkable place, with a remarkable leader. I lost to him once, and I accepted that defeat wholeheartedly."

Ah Lang’s expression finally shifted dramatically. He hadn’t expected his uncle to hold that man in such regard.

"But now we’re both nine-star. Who is stronger? Who can say?"

Hearing this, Ah Lang relaxed. As long as his uncle hadn’t lost confidence, that was enough. He firmly believed the current King of the Resistance Zone would not be weaker than the King of Cloud Peak!

"Then... will you face him in a duel? A battle at the summit?"

Ji Ruiguang burst into laughter, leaving Ah Lang baffled.

"Ah Lang, you are the finest of the Resistance Zone’s new generation. If you were in my position—leading not just your 'Vortex,' but the entire Resistance Zone—what would you do?"

Ah Lang was stunned. Even if he had pondered this before, he had never seriously considered it. He couldn’t answer carelessly—nor did he fully grasp why Ji Ruiguang was asking.

"No need to answer now. We have time. Think it over, then tell me. Don’t stress—this isn’t a test."

Ah Lang exhaled in relief. After sharing two more cups of tea, he stood to leave.

At the door, Ji Ruiguang suddenly called out again.

"Ah Lang, don’t turn around. Just listen."

His voice seemed almost ethereal, as if it didn’t come from behind. Ah Lang could even hear the sound of tea being sipped—an eerie sensation that sent chills down his spine.

"I once had a chosen successor. But he has changed. If one day, you take my place, remember this:"

"The Resistance Zone belongs to the Chinese region."

Ah Lang waited, expecting more, but only the sound of tea-drinking followed.

……………………………………………………

"Crack." "Crack." "Crack."

Walnuts were being crushed one after another. On the table, fragments had piled up half a meter high.

Fourteen people sat along the conference table in utter silence, all watching the man at the head methodically destroying walnuts.

Had anyone witnessed this, they would have been astounded—for this was a gathering of the Glory Army’s highest leadership.

"Sigh. Still not great at controlling this strength. Wonder how Ji Ruiguang and Ye Zhongming adjusted so fast."

Tossing the last walnut aside, the man finally spoke, and the room seemed to come alive again.

"Should we... write to them for advice?"

A short, bald man rubbed his head and chuckled, drawing light laughter from the others.

The leader laughed too. "Third Brother, they say your men are the cheekiest. I see now it’s your influence."

The bald man grinned, as if receiving praise.

"But... it’s not a bad idea."

The room froze. Even the bald man stiffened before stammering, "B-Boss, don’t joke. At your level, a fight would have massive consequences. Think carefully—don’t listen to my nonsense."

Mu Hanyi waved dismissively before standing and locking eyes with the middle-aged man at his left.

"Strategist, while I’m gone, assist Second Brother in leading the Glory Army."

The man called Strategist frowned. "Hanyi, you’re not seriously planning to fight the other two, are you?"

Mu Hanyi shrugged, avoiding a direct answer. Instead, he asked, "Who’s the second nine-star at Cloud Peak? That black-hearted Xia Lei? Or that lapdog Xia Bai?"

The others shook their heads—no confirmed intel on that yet.

The Radiant Army’s leader smirked and strode toward the door, tossing over his shoulder:

"Second Brother, hold the fort. If I don’t return, the Glory Army is yours. But remember—"

"Find Ninth Brother. No matter what."

With that, Mu Hanyi left. The remaining members exchanged glances before their eyes settled on the room’s sole empty chair.