Hsu Ziyan responded calmly, "So what if I do? So what if I don’t?"
The Grand Elder studied him for a while. "Back then, if you had devoted this ambition to other pursuits, your achievents might have been even greater than they are now."
Hsu Ziyan let out a laugh from beneath his mask, as if he had just heard a joke. "You’re wrong. If I hadn’t taken this path, I never would have known that outside the Androda Universe, there is a vaster, more powerful world."
The Grand Elder sighed. "For a thousand years, I have never stopped regretting agreeing to let you go back then. It led you astray, and you made so many mistakes."
Hsu Ziyan remained silent, but the oppressive aura around him continued to intensify. "Too bad there are no what-ifs."
Back in those days, the Grand Elder had been Hsu Ziyan’s senior, both of them serving under the sa General.
At that ti, Cristóbal had been sent by the General to the troubled Solvaris Star System, while Hsu Ziyan was ordered to remain on Planet Omicron.
However, the day before Cristóbal’s departure, Hsu Ziyan suddenly approached him, saying that he wanted to go to the Solvaris Star System as well.
Cristóbal initially refused because the General had not given such an order.
But in the end, he couldn’t resist Hsu Ziyan’s persistent pleading and went to the General, who reluctantly approved the request.
That decision would beco Cristóbal’s lifelong regret.
It was then that he finally understood sothing the General had once said, "Hsu Ziyan is talented, but he is not fit to be a general."
The difference between talent and leadership was just a single word, but the gap between them was vast.
A true leader had to be unwaveringly loyal.
Yet, regret was aningless.
What had happened could not be undone.
After that fateful trip to the Solvaris Star System, Hsu Ziyan kept finding excuses to go back.
At the ti, Cristóbal believed that Hsu Ziyan was moved by the suffering of the people and was helping them out of compassion.
It wasn’t until Hsu Ziyan’s strength grew at an astonishing rate, his personality beca more unruly, and he eventually defected from the military that Cristóbal realized the truth.
All those years, Hsu Ziyan had been secretly cultivating techniques developed by the Crimson Moon Dynasty.
The Grand Elder fell into a brief silence before asking, "Hsu Ziyan, have you ever regretted your choices?"
Hsu Ziyan answered without hesitation, "Never."
The Grand Elder’s expression darkened. "Even knowing that sacrificing your wife for enlightennt was not the only path, do you still not regret it?"
Hsu Ziyan’s aura remained steady. "And what if I do? What if I don’t?"
The Grand Elder sighed. "I was wrong. I always thought you had simply taken a wrong turn and that one day you would realize your mistakes and return to the person you used to be. But today, I finally understand—this is your true nature."
"Grand Elder, you’ve given him too much credit," the Third Elder said softly. "Hsu Ziyan has been rotten to the core from the very beginning. If a thousand years couldn’t make him see reason, then the problem isn’t ti—it’s who he is."
The Grand Elder let out a helpless sigh. "Even you all see it clearly, yet I was blind."
Hsu Ziyan chuckled. "Don’t impose your own standards on others. It’s been a thousand years, Cristóbal, and you’re still as naive as ever. If you’re hoping to stall for ti, it’s useless. If you’re counting on those two cultivators from the Erythar Star System, then I’m sorry to say—they may not be able to fulfill your hopes."
The Grand Elder frowned.
Santiago smirked. "When we arrived, we didn’t even see a trace of Erythar Star System’s battleship. It’s been so long—who knows where they’ve gone?"
Xel’Anzeth suddenly thought of sothing. "I might know where the Erythar Star System’s people are. The Solvaris Star System has imprisoned many of their people. If they disappeared right at the start, then chances are they went to rescue them."
His words reminded Xel’Markos of sothing. "I rember—those mining planets are still so distance from Planet Neo-Shengis. Even if they’re powerful, it would take quite a bit of ti to free everyone from several planets."
"Who said our only hope is the cultivators of Erythar Star System?" Zehaan drew his sword with a blank expression.
His sworn enemy stood before him, and this ti, he would settle their blood feud once and for all.
At that mont, Aeryn’Thar and Xel’Anzeth exchanged a glance.
Several powerful aliens instantly charged at the Grand Elder.
A fierce battle was about to erupt.
Those people with weaker strength had no chance to interfere.
The sheer force of the clash between the strongest fighters created shockwaves powerful enough to send bystanders flying.
"Grand Elder, leave Xel’Anzeth and Xel’Markos to us!" Two elders, ranked fourth and fifth among the powerhouses, imdiately leaped forward to engage the enemies.
However, the aliens had co well-prepared this ti.
They had studied their adversaries in advance and had tailored their battle formations accordingly.
Their greatest advantage was that not all of the mbers of th Pleadian Ascendancy had co; so of them had remained on Planet Omicron to guard against a surprise attack.
Zehaan gripped his sword, preparing to strike at Hsu Ziyan, but was stopped by the Third Elder.
"Zeyan, you’re not his match. Let handle him."
Hsu Ziyan smirked. "You’re not my match either. Maybe Cristóbal would stand a chance."
Zehaan who is blinded by hatred, charged forward. "Enough talk—take this!"
The next second, he was sent flying, his clothes stained with specks of blood.
The Third Elder rushed to help, but Xel’Anzeth, having broken free from Fifth Elder’s entanglent, intercepted him.
The Third Elder imdiately shouted to the Fourth Elder and Fifth Elder nearby, "Fredrick, help Zeyan! Fernando, take his place!"
The Fourth and Fifth Elders switched positions seamlessly, their movents practiced as if they had done this a thousand tis before.
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