The body of Japan’s leader trembled violently before he slumped backward, his life force completely extinguished.

Sakagawa Satoshi, the very Guardian Japan’s leader had hired for protection, had just personally ended the man’s life.

Even Yi Beidou’s face showed a flicker of surprise at the scene.

"What in God’s name are you doing?!"

The Japanese leader’s secretary looked like he was about to lose his mind, utterly unable to believe what he was seeing.

"The leader of Japan is dead. I implore you to leave us our last shred of dignity. Afterward, the new leader of Japan will personally apologize to you. I only ask that you no longer harm innocent lives and the Japanese People."

Sakagawa Satoshi bowed deeply to Yi Beidou, his body bent at a ninety-degree angle.

"I heard Japan had a Martial Artist who survived the nuclear blast all those years ago and managed to reach the Saint Realm. It looks like that’s you. Interesting. Truly interesting."

Yi Beidou gazed intently at the old man bowing before him. A slight smile played on his lips, which then grew wider and more unrestrained.

Then, his figure flickered. He truly made no other move, simply vanishing through the window without a sound.

He left only silence in his wake.

Only when Yi Beidou’s aura had vanished completely did Sakagawa Satoshi straighten up, his gaze calm and impassive.

"You... what have you..."

The Japanese leader’s secretary snapped out of his shock and terror. As if driven mad, he lunged at Sakagawa Satoshi, intending to confront him.

However, Sakagawa Satoshi merely turned his head. A single glance from him felt like a nuclear bomb detonating inside the secretary’s mind, and the man collapsed, stiff as a board, onto the floor.

’The Emperor of Japan has been assassinated, and the nation’s leader is dead. For that man to appear here alive, it must mean the hidden power in the shadows has already been dealt with.’

’Fukuda Hisao, Mr. Ju, Tanaka Shoukichi—a remnant of the original Twelve Martial Saints—and several other important figures in the Saint Realm are all dead. The rest have fled overseas and won’t dare to return.’

’Now, within all of Japan, if I claim to be the second strongest, no one would dare claim to be the first.’

’The colossal powers that have lorded over Japan for ages are now in unprecedented turmoil. Thanks to Yi Beidou’s appearance, the fear of Cultivators among both the public and the politicians has reached its zenith. The time has come for me to step forward and do something.’

’Perhaps all of Japan is about to witness a great reshuffling.’

’I am a survivor of the nuclear blast. My parents, my family—they all died in that catastrophe. And though it was the Starry Sky Country that dropped the bomb, I know full well where the true root of it all lies.’

’It wasn’t some foreign power. It was right here, in our own country. It was with those old masters who made mistakes but refused to admit them, who failed but refused to acknowledge it—just like what happened today.’

’Even now, they refuse to openly admit their mistakes.’

’But even I was powerless against them. The foundations of those powers ran too deep; they had never once faltered. So, I could only keep my opinions to myself.’

’But things are different now. The moment I have been waiting for has finally arrived.’ 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

’And in a way, I suppose I have that Demon Lord of a man to thank.’

「Elsewhere.」

Yi Beidou stood atop a distant rooftop, gazing toward the conference building.

He could sense a shift in the Great Trend of Japan.

"The transformation of Yin and Yang, the intertwining of fortune and misfortune... after calamity comes rebirth. How interesting. I’m rather curious to see how you all will change."

Yi Beidou muttered to himself, seemingly gaining an even deeper understanding of the nature of calamity and change.