The three years agreement was coming to an end. Sword 1 returned as promised.
Lin Huang knew the result of the three-year investigation without having to ask.
Apart from Sword 1, Lin Huang also welcomed some of his old friends throughout those three years.
His old friends from the gravel world, such as Leng Yuexin, Li Lang, the siblings Yi Zheng and Yi Yeyu, had broken through to heavenly god-level one after the other. Lin Huang brought them to the great world.
Under the 10,000 times accelerated time flow, almost all of the cultivators in Lin Huangās Kingdom underwent a significant elevation in their combat strength.
Some ten Lords were cultivated throughout those three years. They were accepted into the Sword Alliance.
Although the 16 Lords only unlocked 16 Dao seals for Lin Huang, he was very satisfied with the result.
The Sword Alliance was flourishing in its development.
It had the deterrence of being the No. 1 organization in the God Territory.
However, Lin Huang finally received news from Liu Fu from the universe.
He knew that it was almost time for his departure.
A few days before departing, he gathered everyone.
Not only all of his Sword Servants, but Mr. Fu, Lin Xin, Yang Ling and the rest as well as his old friends such as Yi Zheng and Yi Yeyu were included.
Lin Huang only spoke after taking a glance at them.
āIāve received news from the universe that the mystic territory that Iām going to is opening. Iāve decided to depart three days later. Iāll officially head out into the universe. From that point onward, I might not return for a period of time.ā
āI know that most of you here might want to go out into the universe. However, I canāt just leave the Sword Alliance behind. This will still be our training base, as well as the root of our development in the universe. We need the Sword Alliance to stay, recruiting more talents and geniuses. Weāll then send them to the universe to strengthen our organization in the universe.ā
āTherefore, I need a portion of people to stay behind and hold down the fort for me.ā
Lin Huang knew that most of them definitely hoped to head out into the universe.
After all, it was a whole new world. Not only that, there would be more opportunities to develop themselves.
However, it was impossible that he would bring all of them along. He could not leave the Sword Alliance that he had spent a few years building behind.
Apart from commemorating Great Heaven, his initial intention of founding the Sword Alliance was to make it a training base, training more talents under him.
As a ātraining centerā, the Sword Alliance had a purpose of existence.
The room fell into momentary silence after Lin Huang was done speaking.
At that moment, Mr. Fu was the first to speak up.
āIāll tell you what I think.ā
The people knew that he was Lin Huangās master. Although his combat strength was only at true god-level, they dared not neglect him. They paid attention to him.
āEveryone knows that Iām nominally Lin Huangās master. Iāve only taught him cultivation during his earlier years, and he soon surpassed me later on. Throughout the few years in the Sword Alliance, Iāve been accumulating resources, while my combat strength has only elevated to fourth-rank true god-level. After all, my talent and potential are limited. I canāt compare myself with you young ones.ā
āI think, to me personally, this great world is vast enough. Of course, Iād love to go to the universe, but I donāt think itās for me. At the very least, itās not suitable for me to live in a place that has Lords everywhere like the universe, where just the impact from a battle alone might kill me. Of course, if itās just a vacation, Iām more than willing to go.ā
āTherefore, Iāve decided to stay. Iāll stay in the great world. You can see it as retirement or holding down the fort for you. Iād love to settle down here.ā
āMasterā¦ā Lin Huang did not expect that that would be Mr. Fuās decision.
In reality, to him, Mr. Fu was family.
Naturally, he wished to bring him along to the universe.
āWith your talent and potential, you can go further than anyone. However, not many have the talent and potential to be with you until the very end. Itās not that I donāt want to go with you guys. Itās just that Iām really tired.ā
āYou can treat this as your hometown. Just visit whenever you have time. Itās not like weāll never see each other again.ā Mr. Fu insisted on his decision.
Lin Huang stopped advising him after hearing that.
The second who spoke was Chan Dou.
āIāll stay too.ā It was not only Lin Huang; everyone present who knew him was shocked by his decision.
After all, with Chan Douās talent and potential, the great world should not be his ideal destination.
āDonāt overthink this. Itās not that I want to stay in the great world forever. I just think I owe Lin Huang and the Sword Alliance too much. I think that I have the obligation to stay to do something for the Sword Alliance.ā
āAlso, as soon as Iāve succeeded in my unification and am elevated to Lord, Iāll head out into the universe.ā
āThen weāll stay too. Weāll go to the universe together when weāve cultivated to lord-level,ā Yi Zheng and Yi Yeyu stated their opinion immediately as well.
Lin Huang felt melancholic to see his old friendsā attitude on this matter.
In reality, Leng Yuexin, Yi Zheng and the rest had only reunited with him for a short time.
Moreover, although they were not considered powerhouses with their heavenly god-level combat strength, they were considered to be of normal standards.
Lin Huang interrupted things when he saw the half-step lord-level Sword Servants begin to stand up to speak.
āI welcome everyone here who would like to go to the universe with me. I hope that everyone who decides to stay is really willing to stay instead of being forced to stay.ā
āThereās an opportunity for half-step Lords to elevate. Iāve found a way to fix your Dao seals to elevate you guys to Lords. This method doesnāt have any side-effects. Youāll be able to elevate to middle-rank, upper-rank and even supreme-rank lord-level like the others later on. Therefore, thereās no need for you to make the decision of staying to retire because of the lack of elevation potential for half-step Lords. However, itād still depend on your own hard work as to how far youāll go in the end.ā
āNo matter what, you have to be willing to stay.ā
āIām staying.ā The first person who spoke up was someone who nobody expected to again. It was Sword 2.
Even Lin Huang was stunned momentarily.
āSword 1 took care of most of the matters in the Sword Alliance before. I hope that I will have his leadership abilities and share a portion of that burden in the future. Also, Iāve figured out that the Swordmaster actually has many helpful people around him. Apart from Sword 1, there are some who have abilities more powerful than mine.ā
āI think, as compared to the rest, the Sword Alliance might need me to stay.ā
āOf course, I wonāt stay forever. When the time is right, Iāll get someone to replace me. Iāll then head out into the universe and be by Lord Swordmasterās side.ā
After Sword 2 spoke, more Sword Servants took the initiative to stay behind.
In the end, there were 154 Sword Servants who chose to stay.
At that point, Lin Huang finally confirmed the list of the people that he would bring along to the universe.
After the meeting ended, the Sword Servants left one after the other. Sword 1, Sword 2, and a bunch of old friends were the only ones left in the meeting room.
āMaster, youā¦ā Mr. Fu was the first person that Lin Huang looked at.
āI know what youāre trying to say.ā Mr. Fu smiled, feeling grateful. āNo matter whether I go to the universe with you or not, weāll always be family.ā
āI really want to stay. I didnāt say that just to save you the trouble. I just thought Iād start the conversation to tell you what I have in mind.ā
Lin Huang nodded lightly and said nothing more. He then looked at his old friends like Leng Yuexin, Yi Zheng and the rest.
āGiven your current combat strength, itās actually sufficient to follow me out into the universe. Over there, there wonāt actually be lord-level powerhouses everywhere. Itās just an exaggeration. True god-level and heavenly god-level are still the main combat strength levels.ā
āWeāve only been to the great world for less than a year. We havenāt become familiar with this place yet, and youāre bringing us to the universe instead. I donāt want to go. Iād like to enjoy the great world for a few more years.ā Li Lang was the first to speak.
āAlthough true god-level and heavenly god-level are the main combat strength levels, weād definitely slow you down if we go.ā Leng Yuexin spoke the truth.
Lin Huang would have liked to say that they would still slow him down even when they had become Lords. However, he only dared to think about those words. It would be terrible for him to say those words out loud and crush their self-esteem.
āWe think so too.ā Yi Zheng and Yi Yeyu nodded. āAlso, the Sword Allianceās resources are enough given our level of cultivation now. Thereās no need for us to head out into the universe. Itās not too late for us to head out when we get to lord-level and run out of resources.ā
Lin Huang then looked at Chan Dou.
āDonāt look at me. I hate owing someone a favor. Consider this to be my way of returning the favor by staying this time,ā Chan Dou said expressionlessly.
Lin Huang stopped encouraging them seeing that they had made up their minds. He then looked at Sword 2.
āGather all of the half-step lord-level Sword Servants. Bring them over to the big meeting room on the first floor.ā