When Mr. Nian reached this point, he heaved a long sigh, finally unable to hold it in.

"Originally, with the Four Seasons Tower's forces expanding their infiltration deeper into Yutang, I expected this to cause more disruption for the Nine Supremes. However, as more men of the Tower infiltrated Yutang, the providence of the Nine Supremes blossomed even more. These bizarre circ.u.mstances made me even more helpless than ever, for this situation only justified that regardless of who I sent over, they would only contribute to Yutang's power and increase the providence of the Nine Supremes. For all we knew, the man could be a spy who fostered malicious intent to Yutang, yet the outcome would be entirely opposite."

"The providence of the Four Seasons Tower inevitably grew weaker by the moment. However, G.o.d's Grave was easier to enter after my plans were in motion, and relatively, G.o.d's Bones were easier to obtain. This only proved that the strategies I formulated were useful after all."

"Hence, the key to the survival of both parties lied in whether or not I could eradicate the Nine Supremes at the root if I could put an end to the possibility of them ascending to the Nine Heavens."

Mr. Nian continued, "At this point, I believe that with Lord Supreme Cloud's impeccable wisdom, you should understand the history of everything by now, right?"

"Yes, I understand — I understand everything now!"

"It's a shame that this affair did not just end here — there was so much more to it," Mr. Nian laughed bitterly.

"I conspired with Dongxuan and orchestrated the battle at Tianxuan Cliff. Dongxuan sent their military personnel to aggravate the situation, forcing the Nine Supremes to show up and a.s.sist in the battle; we also planted our men within your ranks to be updated on the Nine Supremes' every move. In the end, all of you made your way up to Tianxuan Cliff to ambush Dongxuan, walking right into our trap. Well, you, Supreme Cloud, were one of the key individuals involved in this matter — so there is no need for me to go on further."

"Precisely after that battle that wiped out eight Supremes — the battle in which you, Supreme Cloud, miraculously survived — the providence of the Four Seasons Tower suddenly experienced an overwhelming transformation. Our providence escalated instantly, increasing almost ten-fold, reaching heights even beyond the time of our most prosperous reign in the past!

Mr. Nian continued, nonchalantly. "From that point on, members of the Four Seasons Tower found that their providence and cultivation bases experienced growth and improvement; only those… those who were deployed to finish you off did not experience such an effect."

"Supreme Cloud, who was the only one left, was never found — so it can't be said that we've completed our job."

Yun Yang was suddenly hit by a moment of epiphany. "So the reason that you allowed those men to purposely expose themselves was to have me help you eliminate them — just to have their providence return to the Four Seasons Tower, and to prevent your own from draining away?"

"Of course it wasn't just that. My bigger wish was to reach my goal by following the breadcrumbs, to know who Supreme Cloud is — he who had concealed himself for the longest time — and put an end to this, once and for all. However, it's a shame that Lord Supreme Cloud appears to be a little too vigilant."

"Quite the contrary, when the providence of these men was returned, the providence for the rest of the Tower's forces blossomed even more. It was especially useful in nurturing G.o.d's Bones. The surging providence improved the coalescence between G.o.d's Bones and the human body by a large degree, making the union even more compatible. Thus, I concluded that as long as we have a sufficient amount of providence, all of the twelve sets of G.o.d's Bones would eventually be in the Tower's possession one day."

Yun Yang frowned. "I don't understand. It's not that I don't understand what you're saying — I just find the logic behind your statements hard to digest."

Mr. Nian chuckled bitterly. "I have not figured out that particular part myself. Those who perished were all my men of the Four Seasons Tower, yet why did they get embedded into Yutang's providence after they went to Yutang — regardless of how they had malicious intent, regardless of being spies, or how they had caused harm to the nation and its people?"

"Or perhaps these men — after basking in the providence from the other side — could still possess such an effect even if their providence was returned to the Four Seasons Tower after their deaths… I can't seem to understand this part even more."

Mr. Nian uttered. "Eventually, I resigned myself to acknowledge it as the wondrous mysteries behind the Residence of Nine Supremes. This, perhaps, could be an opportunity or a favorable development."

"The Four Seasons Tower, you were against us because of this very reason…" Yun Yang murmured, sighing softly.

"Now I've finally understood everything."

Mr. Nian smiled. "Whatever you understood was only half of it. As for the other half, you'll know the answers once you enter G.o.d's Grave if you win the battle today. However, if you lose, well — there's nothing much to say about it."

Mr. Nian straightened his body and glanced at Yun Yang. "Now, it is my turn to question you!"

"Please speak. Whatever that I can answer, I will answer everything to the best of my capabilities without holding back," Yun Yang replied calmly.

"Being able to talk openly with one's sworn enemy before a deathmatch will truly render people like you and me with no regrets, whether we live or die."

Mr. Nian burst out in laughter.

"First of all — how did you manage to hide your ident.i.ty as Lord Supreme Cloud? We've investigated the backgrounds and ident.i.ties of the Nine Supremes to the best of our capabilities, be it pre- or post- battle at Tianxuan Cliff. Somehow, our efforts amounted to nothing. If it wasn't for the lingering lifeforce of the Nine Supremes after that fateful battle, this reputed one would've thought that we have completely eliminated the Nine Supremes. Supreme Cloud — Yun Yang — you are a man whom the Tower has dealt with the most, yet you could still come this far, maintaining your anonymity without leaving the slightest trace — impressive, indeed!"

"Secondly, what is the mystery behind the Residence of Nine Supremes? Or perhaps I should say — what are the secrets behind it? Till this day, there shouldn't be any more questions shrouded with more secrecy than this!"

"Is that all the questions you want to ask, Mr. Nian? These two are essentially the same question," Yun Yang replied calmly.

"Oh?"

"Honestly, Supreme Cloud has never tried to hide from the Four Seasons Tower. I was always in plain sight."

Mr. Nian grimaced. "It was precisely this point that had to cause a terrible outcome like this today!"

"After the battle at Tianxuan Cliff, I noticed that the lifeforce of the Nine Supremes was weak, but still not completely erased. From my queries with Gu Chaliang and the rest, I realized someone among the Nine Supremes had managed to escape from the clutches of death. Using the lingering traces of lifeforce as our lead, we manage to track and pinpoint your location to be in Tiantang City. We've inspected almost every person in Tiantang City, barely leaving anyone out, and that includes you."

Mr. Nian was clearly feeling perplexed regarding the decision made on that fateful day and its unimaginable outcome. He reiterated, "In truth, you — the infamous Young Master Yun who had an incredibly low cultivation base — were among the first batch of suspects to be eliminated…"

Yun Yang spluttered. He could not help but feel amused at Mr. Nian's theory.

He certainly did not expect to be among the firsts to be ruled out from the list of suspects based on Four Seasons Tower's intelligence…

How did this G.o.d-like logic come about?

Notoriety and the infamy of being a well-known fop was not the greatest way to conceal one's ident.i.ty. You couldn't say that this was a fault from coincidentally being in the blind spot!

"In this particular aspect, the Four Seasons Tower had truly conducted an enormous error of judgment!"

Mr. Nian heaved a heavy sigh. "If it wasn't for that, we wouldn't have gone easy on you, allowing you the opportunity to start afresh and steer away from your doomed fate … perhaps, this entire farce would've ended way earlier, and the outcome would've transformed into a completely different one."

"During the first round of inspection, all the well-known young masters of Yutang — like the young masters of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter households respectively, and Yutang's king of all fops, 'good-for-nothing' Young Master Yun — were eliminated foremost. Back then, Lord Supreme Spring Frost was personally in charge of that inspection — he was the one who personally listed down the first batch of suspects to be ruled out… sigh!"

"You — you good-for-nothing Young Master Yun Yang — you were number one on that list. Which also meant… in the eyes of He Hanqing back then, you were the most unlikely person to be Supreme Cloud!"

"In retrospect, that decision seemed painfully absurd and ridiculous, doesn't it? It was simply the most aggravating decision ever made!"