At the Star City Supreme Council.
Sitting in his seat, Ji He listened to the military department representative's report, somewhat lost in thought.
The crisis had come suddenly, and he was caught off guard.
According to the report from the military, the identity of the enemy had been basically confirmed—it was a wicked warrior from the mysterious faction "Infernal Abyss."
The battle had now ended, and Zhang Daowen had emerged victorious in the end.
However, Zhang Daowen had been injured in the battle and had chosen to enter seclusion.
As Star City's strongest combat force, Zhang Daowen clearly needed to maintain his battle strength at all times to deal with any sudden crises in the future.
Entering seclusion was perfectly normal.
Upon hearing this news, Ji He was shocked but suddenly realized that an opportunity had quietly arrived.
If he could seize this opportunity, it would push forward his reforms for Star City.
But this time, opportunity and challenge came hand in hand.
The opportunity was that with Zhang Daowen, the insurmountable mountain, gone, there would still be resistance to implementing the reforms, but this resistance was not impossible to resolve.
The challenge was that without Zhang Daowen, the situation for the human race would become even more dire.
The challenges from the surrounding regions were intensifying, and Zhang Daowen was not only the stabilizing force within Star City but also a deterrent to external threats.
Ji He's first thought was that the news of Zhang Daowen's seclusion must be kept under wraps.
During the meeting, Ji He had countless thoughts racing through his mind.
Numerous ideas intertwined in his head, and after the meeting ended and he returned home, he sat at his desk preparing for the next course of action.
The opportunity was right in front of him, and he no longer hesitated.
His first target was the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
The Tiger Soul Research Institute was second only to the military in terms of power. Its importance to Star City was unquestionable, and it held significant sway within the Supreme Council.
How to take control of the Tiger Soul Research Institute was something Ji He had already planned out.
In terms of influence and power, Ji He knew he could not compare to the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
But his advantage was that he was in the shadows, and the upper echelons of the institute were not on guard against him.
Over the years, he had trained over ten disciples who had joined various energy institutions, and they would be key players in his plan against the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
The various energy institutions had long-standing issues with the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
The main conflict stemmed from resource allocation and task distribution.
From the perspective of the energy institutions, the Tiger Soul Research Institute always required their cooperation, often asking them to draft multiple plans for approval, only for those plans to be returned for revision.
The energy institutions held a special status in Star City, seemingly always playing the role of the punching bag, with little power of their own.
Ji He saw this as an opening.
Five days later, in the early morning, the plan for seizing power began.
The first step of the plan was set into motion when three staff members from the Star City Research Institute took the initiative to contact the Supreme Council and began accusing the Tiger Soul Research Institute of oppressing the Star Research Institute and other energy departments.
These three staff members listed in detail the excessive demands made by the Tiger Soul Research Institute over the years.
This included issues related to resource scheduling, management, and more.
This accusation was not particularly serious, and similar situations had occurred in Star City's early days.
However, this would quickly escalate and the situation would be mediated.
At this point, Ji He's disciples, stationed at other energy institutions, stepped in. The accusations quickly spread to involve other energy departments, and one after another, the management of these departments joined the growing chorus of complaints against the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
This led to a flood of workers from the energy departments entering the fray, and the conflict grew between the various energy institutions and the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
As a result, the Supreme Council of Star City held a meeting three days later to discuss how to resolve the issue.
During the meeting, Ji He voiced his opinions and voluntarily took on the task of resolving the matter.
He did not harshly criticize the Tiger Soul Research Institute but instead took on the role of a mediator, attempting to smooth over the conflict and ostensibly working to resolve the issues.
After the meeting, he summoned the representatives from the Tiger Soul Research Institute and the various energy institutions.
After hearing the details of the conflict, Ji He proposed two solutions.
One solution favored the energy institutions, suggesting that the Tiger Soul Research Institute could delegate decision-making authority over energy design plans to the various energy institutions.
The other solution favored the Tiger Soul Research Institute, suggesting that the energy institutions should consider the greater good, as the Tiger Soul Research Institute's decisions were always made with Star City's development in mind, without selfish intentions.
Ji He did not make a direct decision but instead asked both sides to reflect and make their decision after further consideration.
He knew very well what direction this decision would take.
His disciples had only sparked the conflict, but they had no real power to influence the upcoming decisions of the energy institutions.
The two options he provided were intended to deepen the divide between the Tiger Soul Research Institute and the energy institutions.
The decentralization of the energy design authority was a goal long sought by the energy institutions. Faced with this hard-won opportunity, they would never let it slip away.
The Tiger Soul Research Institute, as one of the three major powerhouses in Star City during its early years, has been deciding the future direction of the energy institutions for hundreds of years. How could it suddenly agree to hand back power to the various energy institutions?
This also concerns the development of the Tiger Soul Research Institute itself.
After all, the technology of the Tiger Soul Research Institute is constantly being upgraded, and its internal energy infrastructure is continually improving. Commanding the various energy institutions is of great significance to the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Giving power to the energy institutions would mean that they could independently decide the future direction.
For example, recently the Tiger Soul Research Institute wanted to build a sub-base and needed to establish an energy infrastructure. At this time, the Tiger Soul Research Institute could directly contact the heads of various energy institutions and arrange the implementation of these matters.
But if the power were to be handed over to the energy institutions, they would have the authority to decide whether to prioritize upgrading the new energy structure for other institutions first.
This is an outcome that the Tiger Soul Research Institute cannot accept.
As Ji He had planned, the conflict gradually escalated, and even the senior members of the energy institutions, who had initially not wanted to expand the issue, joined the dispute.
Faced with a rare opportunity and the support of their subordinates, they chose to challenge the authority of the Tiger Soul Research Institute in order to gain more power for the energy institutions.
At this point, Ji He took action again.
In the name of the highest council of Star City, Ji He called another meeting to discuss how to handle the matter.
The current situation was that the Tiger Soul Research Institute was unwilling to retreat, and the various energy institutions were also unwilling to step back.
After the meeting ended, Ji He began his routine of traveling back and forth between the energy institutions and the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
When calling the senior officials of the energy institutions to discuss, he would express his willingness to fight for more power for them.
When visiting the Tiger Soul Research Institute, his argument was that the Tiger Soul Research Institute's jurisdiction over the energy institutions was a tradition of Star City, and he was willing to help the Tiger Soul Research Institute handle the matter and appease the energy institutions.
After gaining the trust of both sides, Ji He set his next step into motion.
A month later, the highest meeting of Star City convened again.
At the meeting, both sides were at a standoff, unwilling to give in. At this point, the representative of the military department, Lin Zhengyuan, spoke:
"Since this conflict cannot be resolved for now, in order to stabilize Star City's situation, I propose that both sides temporarily give up their power and let the highest council of Star City decide... I recommend that Ji He temporarily take charge of the energy institutions until this issue is resolved and the power can be returned."
Upon hearing this, there was a silence in the room.
Then, the representatives of the energy institutions voiced their support for this decision.
In the eyes of the energy institutions' representatives, Ji He had always stood with them, and once the power was transferred from the Tiger Soul Research Institute to Ji He, they had already succeeded halfway. At that point, Ji He would help them break free from the control of the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Soon after, the Tiger Soul Research Institute also voiced its support.
The senior officials of the Tiger Soul Research Institute believed that Ji He stood with them, and temporarily relinquishing power was for the purpose of stabilizing Star City's situation, after which the power would still return to the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
With that, Ji He gained control over the energy institutions.
However, Ji He knew in his heart that the Tiger Soul Research Institute was deeply rooted in Star City, and such a move alone would not allow him to reclaim all of its power.
This was just the first step in his plan for centralization.
Next, he would start with the Energy Research Institute and gradually expand his control over Star City.
Time passed quickly.
In the following years, Ji He's influence in the highest council of Star City steadily grew.
During this time, he never made any extreme proposals, always focusing on stabilizing Star City's situation. Through the energy institutions, he connected with various other power institutions, deepening his influence and gaining the trust of many.
This laid the foundation for him to fully control Star City.
There was also a growing trend for him to replace Zhang Daowen and become the next highest leader of Star City.
However, reclaiming all of the power still seemed to be a difficult task for Ji He.
In 402 of the Dawning Era.
Star City Hospital.
Sitting by the bedside, Ji He could hear the beeping of the instruments. His gaze was fixed on the frail elderly man lying on the bed.
At that moment, the elderly man opened his eyes and shakily reached out his hand toward Ji He, as if trying to say something.
"Teacher."
Ji He immediately took the elderly man's left hand.
"Xiao He… you've finally come this far."
The elderly man's voice trembled, and speaking seemed to take great effort.
"Teacher, our dream is near, you will see it with your own eyes."
"Our goal is correct… but the way things are developing may not necessarily go in the direction we expect… have you considered the consequences?"
"I have considered it, and I am confident I can solve it."
Hearing this, the elderly man nodded with difficulty.
"I probably won't live to see that day… before I leave… there is something I must tell you… since you have made a decision… you cannot have any more doubts… your methods must be ruthless… any hesitation or softheartedness will become an obstacle on your path forward."
After saying these words, the old man coughed violently.
That night, the old man passed away.
The old man's departure further strengthened Ji He's resolve.
He had been constantly thinking about one question: How to stabilize Star City's situation while seizing power?
He had overthought the matter, which caused his plans for seizing power to advance slowly.
From here on, he decided to change his approach.
A lot had happened that year.
Ji He's actions suddenly became more radical. As the highest decision-maker of Star City, he first dismissed the head of the city's human resources department and replaced them with one of his disciples, who had already been positioned there.
The reshuffling of Star City had officially begun.
Except for the Tiger Soul Research Institute, which still remained untouchable, Ji He's influence spread steadily from the small to the large organizations, gradually taking control.
Years of groundwork had been laid, and by the time the Tiger Soul Research Institute reacted, it was already too late.
When Ji He learned that the Tiger Soul Research Institute would convene the Supreme Council to accuse him of centralizing power, he remained unusually calm.
He still had one hidden move that he had yet to play.
This final move was a decisive blow to the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
That evening, he summoned the current head of the Tiger Soul Research Institute, Director Hu, to the military department under the pretext of a military matter.
Director Hu, believing that there was something important to discuss, hurried over. But when he saw Ji He sitting on the sofa in Lin Zhengyuan's office, he suddenly realized why Ji He's centralization had proceeded so smoothly.
Faced with Hu's righteous condemnation, Ji He's expression remained indifferent, without any rebuttal.
He had considered allying with Director Hu, but their conflicting ideals made it clear that Hu would never side with him.
As the head of the Tiger Soul Research Institute, Hu had become Ji He's greatest obstacle.
The next day, the Supreme Council of Star City would convene. If Hu were to accuse him in the meeting, Ji He would be caught in the whirlpool of public opinion.
Therefore, he had to stifle the situation before it could develop.
Without waiting for Hu to finish speaking, Ji He's gaze turned to Lin Zhengyuan.
Lin Zhengyuan lightly tapped the table. The military soldiers on guard outside entered the room and escorted Director Hu away.
The military prison was where Ji He had arranged for Director Hu to be sent.
As for how to deal with the chain reactions after Hu's disappearance, Ji He had already made preparations.
Once Hu was gone, the Tiger Soul Research Institute would fall into a period of instability. This would be the easiest time for Ji He to take back the power of the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Doing this to his own people was indeed ruthless.
When future generations look back at this moment in history, he would undoubtedly be seen as a historical villain.
But... so what?
The consequences and merits would be judged by later generations. What he had to do was implement his own vision.
This was the goal he had worked for his entire life.
The next day, when the Tiger Soul Research Institute found that Director Hu had not returned and could not be contacted, it was already too late.
The Tiger Soul Research Institute had a huge influence in Star City and controlled most of the media, but that very day, the communications department had already cut off the Tiger Soul Research Institute's external contacts. Then, military soldiers surrounded the research institute to prevent any leaks.
The official reason given was that domain creatures had possibly infiltrated the Tiger Soul Research Institute, and an investigation was underway.
At 8 AM, the Supreme Council of Star City convened.
In front of everyone's eyes, Ji He took the seat that had once belonged to Zhang Daowen.
Looking down at the decision-makers of the Supreme Council, Ji He calmly spoke:
"The Supreme Council of Star City is now in session. The relevant department heads may begin reporting their recent work."
At this moment, some of the decision-makers in the Supreme Council had not yet been brought under Ji He's control, but they were no longer able to stop him from becoming the highest decision-maker of Star City.
Had Director Hu still been here, they could have followed his lead and accused Ji He of his actions.
But now, none of them had the influence to lead.
After the meeting ended, Ji He and Lin Zhengyuan were the last to leave the meeting room.
"Old Lin, do you regret it?" Ji He asked quietly as they walked out the door and looked at the statue of Feng Qi in the distance.
"Having come this far, what's the use of regret? What about you? Do you regret your decision?" Lin Zhengyuan asked.
Ji He chuckled lightly.
"I've never thought that I was wrong, so how could there be regret?"
With that, Ji He took a step forward.
Watching Ji He's indifferent back, Lin Zhengyuan couldn't help but ask:
"Old Ji, I've always wanted to know, what made you come up with this idea in the first place?"
Ji He paused for a moment, then smiled without turning around and answered:
"The teacher I respect most has let go, and I've taken up his ideals and embarked on my own journey."