Chapter 1242 Agreement of the Year
Facing Yang Haoran's inquiry, Shui Ling dared not be remiss and quickly responded.
“This time, she not only killed a Three-star Demon Hunter from the Hunter Association, but also destroyed the Star God Temple that the Hunter Association had built in our Lecheng. ”
Though Yang Haoran typically remained expressionless, hearing Shui Ling's words still caused him to unconsciously furrow his brow. This alone revealed how deeply troubled he was by the matter.
The Hunter Association was, in fact, formerly the Demon Hunter Association; it had simply undergone a name change. While only a single character separated the names, their implications were vastly different.
The former Demon Hunter Association also had a president, but possessed no temples, nor did they even share a common deity they worshipped. Now, the Demon Hunter Association had not only changed its name but also established exclusive temples. The figure enshrined within these temples was none other than the Hunter Association's current president.
The intention behind this practice was obvious to anyone who gave it a moment's thought: it was clear that the Hunter Association's current president desired to achieve godhood.
As for why the Hunter Association was able to establish a temple in Lecheng, this matter harked back to the great war fought between the Yin Division and the Spirit Masters.
Originally, the Spirit Masters, in their ambition to prevail over the Yin Division in that grand conflict—to utterly eradicate them from this world and usurp their place—had employed every conceivable method to secure a multitude of allies for their faction. Among these, the most formidable ally was undeniably the Talisman Cult.
Initially, the Demon Hunter Association was reluctant to align with the Yin Division, primarily due to the Yin Division's overwhelmingly apparent disadvantage at the time. It was natural that they wouldn't readily join. However, their eventual allegiance stemmed from the alluring benefits presented by the Yin Division. Faced with such substantial incentives, the Demon Hunter Association ultimately chose to join the Yin Division's ranks, despite the immense risks involved. The condition agreed upon was that, following the conclusion of the war, the Yin Division would lend its full cooperation and provide substantial support for the Demon Hunter Association's construction of temples.
The Five Yin Division Emperors naturally comprehended the Demon Hunter Association's underlying motives. They were equally aware of the profound repercussions that granting this request would entail, not only for their own Yin Division but also for the very fabric of the New Beginning Realm. However, the Yin Division's plight at the time was indeed dire, and they were in desperate need of potent allies. Thus, despite knowing the immense ramifications of acceding to this, the Five Yin Division Emperors, after extensive deliberation, were ultimately compelled to accept the Demon Hunter Association's terms.
While many were aware of the negotiations between the Five Yin Division Emperors and the high-ranking officials of the Demon Hunter Association, few were privy to the specifics of their discussions. Even Yang Haoran, despite being highly regarded by Luo Yao, remained ignorant of the precise terms. It wasn't until the war concluded, and the newly renamed Hunter Association began preparations to construct temples within his jurisdiction, that Luo Yao finally disclosed the agreement reached between the Yin Division and the Demon Hunter Association.
Originally, Yang Haoran's Ninth District had long since purged itself of other factions. Entities with such distinct significance as temples, other than the Death God Temple, were virtually non-existent. Should any other temples indeed exist, they were unequivocally hidden in the shadows; not a single one was visible above ground.
However, Luo Yao's directive instantly shattered this status quo. Following his order, Demon Hunters immediately commenced preparations for temple construction within Yang Haoran's Ninth District, and even Lecheng, the very heart of Yang Haoran's Guardian District, was no exception.
Yet, as Lecheng was the most crucial city within Yang Haoran's jurisdiction—a fact well known to the Hunter Association—they harbored some reservations. They feared that commencing temple construction directly in Lecheng might utterly enrage Yang Haoran, the Guardian. This concern was not unfounded, as they were well aware that erecting a temple for one's own faction on another's domain was a deeply taboo act. Even with a pre-existing agreement, the territorial lord would undoubtedly feel extreme displeasure.
Therefore, to avoid thoroughly provoking Yang Haoran's wrath, the Hunter Association initially refrained from building temples in Lecheng. Instead, they began construction in the cities on the outermost fringes of Yang Haoran's jurisdiction, proceeding at a painstakingly slow pace. This gradual, probing approach was designed to achieve their ultimate objective.
It was precisely for this reason that Lecheng became the final city where the Hunter Association constructed a Star God Temple, with its completion only recently. Naturally, 'final' here referred solely to the territory under Yang Haoran's direct command.
Beyond Yang Haoran's Ninth District, other regions within the Yin Division's domain were likewise engaged in building Star God Temples; be it the Jingling Continent Yin Division or any other continent, none were an exception.
Upon learning the specifics of the negotiations between the Five Yin Division Emperors and the Demon Hunter Association, Yang Haoran felt a shock that simultaneously unraveled a long-standing mystery. The fact that the Demon Hunter Association had rejected the olive branch extended by the Spirit Masters, opting instead to join the disadvantaged Yin Division camp, had genuinely astonished him. He had often wondered what immense benefits the Five Yin Division Emperors could have possibly offered to entice the Demon Hunter Association to risk their very annihilation by aligning with the Yin Division.
Once he grasped the full narrative—the 'how' and 'why' of the entire affair—his lingering doubts dissipated entirely. He no longer found the Demon Hunter Association's decision surprising in the least. After all, the terms for their alliance with the Yin Division were truly astonishing, and for those who yearned for godhood, the gravitas of that condition was immeasurable!
Though his doubts were resolved, Yang Haoran found no joy in the revelation. The establishment of Star God Temples within his territory meant that the Hunter Association would also proselytize and recruit adherents there. This would not only impede his governance of the Ninth District but also inflict tangible losses. Unless he had lost his mind, he naturally wished to avert such developments within his jurisdiction.
Nevertheless, this was not a matter he could simply decline out of unwillingness. After all, the Five Yin Division Emperors themselves had issued the order; even with his reluctance, he had no choice but to comply. Thus, when the Hunter Association commenced construction of Star God Temples within his domain, he neither offered them support nor actively obstructed their endeavors. Instead, he turned a blind eye, permitting them to proceed with building the temples in his territory. Even when the Hunter Association recently completed the Star God Temple within Lecheng, he made no move to intervene.
It wasn't that he didn't *want* to intervene; rather, any attempt to halt the construction would undoubtedly lead to significant complications, offering him no benefit whatsoever and instead inviting considerable trouble. What he never could have anticipated, however, was that while he refrained from confronting the Hunter Association, Zhong Siyu would step in. Not only did she slay a Three-star Demon Hunter from the Hunter Association, but she even demolished the newly completed temple in Lecheng. This, for him, was far from a good development.
The reason was simple: Lecheng was Yang Haoran's territory, and it was the very city where his Guardian District resided. For something to befall the Hunter Association here, with their newly completed temple even being destroyed, it wasn't just the Hunter Association who would suspect foul play. Even outsiders would likely assume Yang Haoran was secretly orchestrating events due to his deep-seated dissatisfaction.
Shui Ling, observing Yang Haoran's slight frown, knew his mood must be quite vexed. After all, she had served him for a considerable time and was aware that he seldom furrowed his brow. Whenever such an expression appeared on his face, it invariably signaled an encounter with a thorny issue.
Shui Ling remained silent, standing respectfully before Yang Haoran, quietly awaiting his next instruction. The gravity of the matter was such that she dared not speak out of turn.
After a cigarette, Yang Haoran's subtly furrowed brow slowly smoothed, and his face regained its usual faint smile.
“Heh, is anyone outside aware of this? ”
Yang Haoran looked at Shui Ling, asking with a faint smile. Hearing him, Shui Ling immediately gave an affirmative reply.
“No, for now, no outsiders are aware that she was responsible, not even those from the Hunter Association. Furthermore, your subordinate has already deployed forces to secretly obliterate every trace she left behind. As long as we can erase all her footprints before the Hunter Association does, they won’t be able to trace it back to her, no matter how formidable their methods. My only concern now is that the Hunter Association might uncover something before we’ve had time to wipe away all her remnants. ”
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