"That, Boss, something's happened! Our external liaison team has been detained by Chuan Shan Island, and we've lost contact. Our National Security Department people sent back word that they've been confined and restricted."
Ye Yun was woken from his stupor early in the morning by Zhou Ningdong's booming voice.
"What's the situation? What reason did they give for detaining our people?" Ye Yun got out of the bath, the heat evaporating the viscous nutrient fluid.
"A few days ago, our Dragon Palace was invited by the Ming Guo team under Guo Ming of Chuan Shan Island to attend an exchange at their headquarters. Unexpectedly, our people were intercepted at the airport when they were about to leave. They claimed our people were suspected of stealing intelligence," Zhou Ningdong said, handing the documents from the National Security Department to Ye Yun.
"What does our Executive Yuan say?" Ye Yun didn't take the file but lit a cigarette and slowly walked to his desk, sitting down.
"Strong diplomatic protests. If they are not released within twenty-four hours, we will suspend port trade!"
"Heh, they're showing some backbone, but it's still not enough. These guys are like the warlords who used to claim territory in our country back then. But what's more detestable than warlords is that some of them rely on the United States and betray their masters." Ye Yun exhaled a plume of smoke, leaning back in his chair, watching the sunrise outside the window.
Chuan Shan Island, a territory belonging to Hua Yi Nation. But it's controlled by a bunch of idiots who have caused no end of trouble for Hua Yi Nation over the years, especially with the United States egging them on from behind.
"Tell the Prince and the Pope to handle this. How long have they held our people? Make them pay one hundred gold coins per second per person for lost work and emotional damages. Also, since they are in charge, have those old men, the Pope and the Prince, crush those people!"
"Also, summon Zhang Junbao, that old fellow, to see me. I have something for him to do."
The Chuan Shan Island incident was a trivial matter for Ye Yun, not even requiring his personal attention. He could have resolved it in minutes if he had given Zhou Ningdong enough authority.
"Understood, I'll go now," Zhou Ningdong nodded and said. Having passed the trials of the Enlightenment Tower twice, with his current strength and status, he wasn't worried about this matter, only the issue of face.
"Oh, right, Boss. Ding Yi is also on the application list for the first batch heading to Mi Li Island. What do you think..." Zhou Ningdong stopped at the door, looking back at Ye Yun.
The development of Mi Li Island was much faster than Ye Yun had anticipated.
"Let her go, then. She can come back once a week anyway," Ye Yun said indifferently, after a moment's pause.
"Boss, has anyone ever told you that you have terminal 'straight man syndrome'?" Zhou Ningdong walked out, speechless.
Terminal straight man syndrome? Is that a disease? I only know about liver cancer, but that was over twenty days ago. Now, I've forgotten.
"Don't forget, have someone bring me some breakfast..."
Damn it, do subordinates nowadays not consider if their boss is hungry?
"Boss, you were looking for me?" Not long after Zhou Ningdong left, Zhang Junbao appeared in Ye Yun's office. Since Xiao Hei was materialized, this guy had been staying in Dragon Palace, ready to be dispatched by Ye Yun at any time.
His white beard, which used to reach his waist, was now completely shaved off. His long, graying hair had also gained some black streaks due to his increased strength, tied loosely.
Anyone who didn't know him would mistake him for a cool, artistic older guy.
"Do you remember the Devil's Den?" Ye Yun asked, holding a bowl of white rice porridge in one hand and a fried dough stick in the other, glancing at the old man's new look.
"Mmm..."
"I have a task for you. I've established a human settlement on the other side of that spatial node. However, I don't trust those people who didn't grow up here. I want you to go and manage it for me!"
Zhang Junbao's current strength was above the Celestial Being realm, slightly stronger than Zhao Youqin, whose power had declined after being implanted with a demonic seed. However, he was still far behind Zhang Boduan.
"A human settlement?! Boss, what kind of place is that?" Zhang Junbao was shocked by Ye Yun's words, looking at him with a stunned expression.
"What kind of place? Heh, it's one of the Three Realms. What do you think?" Ye Yun smiled.
"The Demon Realm?" Zhang Junbao, remembering the demons he had killed before, couldn't help but gasp.
He had thought it might be another world, but he never expected it to be the Demon Realm.
"Yes, these are descendants of some predecessors. Their entire bodies have been corroded by the demonic energy of the Demon Realm. You'll go there for three to four days a week. I'll sort out the specifics and send them to you later."
As Ye Yun spoke, true energy circulated on his fingers, directly imprinted into Zhang Junbao's mind before he could react.
The preface and the first level of the Great Nirvana Art were imprinted into his mind, along with some fragments of foreign races descending in his past life.
"The Great Nirvana Art has a special effect in the Demon Realm and can also prevent oneself from being eroded by demonic energy. As for the subsequent scenes, they are my recent prophecies, scenes that are bound to happen within three years."
"Prophecies? Within three years? If this is true, it will be a great catastrophe for our humanity," Zhang Junbao said in alarm.
Throughout history, anyone capable of generating prophetic visions was a genius who could overshadow three lifetimes. Ye Yun's methods were already akin to immortal means.
"That's right! I've made prophecies at different times and locations, but the results are all the same. Demons, and even more foreign races, will descend upon our Earth. It will be very, very difficult for humanity to survive this catastrophe," Ye Yun could only explain it to him like this.
"I see. I always wondered why you insisted on taking over Dragon Palace. So it was to cultivate more experts." Zhang Junbao, as one of the materialized powers among the myriad 'Heavenly Dao' entities, naturally knew how crucial 'Heavenly Dao' was for humanity's strengthening.
"Thousands of years ago, we might have had the ability to fight against demons, immortals, gods, and Buddhas. But after the last Human King three thousand years ago, it was destined for our human cultivators to decline. Therefore, 'Heavenly Dao' is our opportunity. Now, you are the first person to know about this prophecy. Don't disappoint me!"
The porridge was finished, and the fried dough stick was eaten. Ye Yun watched Zhang Junbao's departing back, stretched his back with satisfaction, and with light steps, entered the bath again.
If one is not invincible throughout the ten directions of the universe, how dare one show the slightest negligence?