During the time Li Yue was talking with the Ancient One, the Senate Armed Services Committee meeting in Washington had already begun.
The leading senator first challenged Tony, demanding that he hand over the Iron Man suit technology. In a later movie, it was revealed that this senator was actually a member of Hydra.
But Tony was no pushover; in just a few sentences, he silenced the senator. The Hydra senator, left with no choice, could only invite Justin Hammer, the CEO of Hammer Industries, hoping he could put pressure on Tony.
However, Justin Hammer was also unlucky, as he was immediately ridiculed by Tony upon entering.
Justin Hammer, the current CEO of Hammer Industries, had always hoped to surpass Stark Industries and collaborate with the US military. When Tony suddenly shut down Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing division, he was so happy he almost jumped for joy, thinking Tony Stark had lost his mind to make such a foolish decision.
His Hammer Industries also took the opportunity to get involved in arms deals with the government, selling their manufactured weapons to the US military.
While Justin Hammer was practically laughing in his sleep over this, he never expected Iron Man to suddenly appear, and for Tony Stark to openly admit that he was Iron Man.
The US government, seeing such advanced technology, couldn't help but be envious, practically wanting to drive tanks to Tony's villa and forcibly seize the Iron Man suit technology. However, they couldn't and dared not do so.
They could only secretly and strongly support Hammer Industries, hoping they could replicate the Iron Man armor. Unfortunately, not everyone was a genius like Tony. Despite strong government support, Hammer Industries made no progress whatsoever in replicating the Iron Man suit.
The government had no choice but to give up. With large sums of money invested and no hope of any return, even a fool wouldn't continue.
However, as Iron Man's reputation grew stronger, and he even upgraded his Iron Man armor generation after generation, public support for Iron Man surpassed that of the government, which alarmed some politicians.
Therefore, with Hydra's covert strategizing, today's hearing came about, aiming to force Tony Stark to hand over his Iron Man suit technology. Justin Hammer was also invited to act as a government weapons expert.
Justin Hammer was already less articulate than Tony, and under Tony's ridicule, he could only retort by mocking Tony's father.
Seeing that Justin Hammer's appearance didn't have much effect, the Hydra senator had no choice but to invite the military representative, Tony's good friend Colonel Rhodes, to read a specific passage.
However, Rhodes was Tony's friend and naturally spoke in his favor. If it weren't for Rhodes mediating between the military and Tony, the military would have long since been unable to resist seizing Tony's suit technology.
Yet, Tony didn't want to waste any more time arguing. He directly pulled out his phone, and with a few operations, hacked into the system there, making videos of various countries' failed attempts to replicate the Iron Man armor public.
Watching the gruesome results of North Korea, Iran, and Hammer Industries' failed attempts to replicate the Iron Man suit on the monitor, the crowd below gasped in astonishment.
Tony also took the opportunity to mock Justin Hammer, saying, "It will take other countries five to ten years to replicate the Iron Man suit, and for Hammer Industries, it will probably take twenty years."
This caused a burst of laughter from the audience.
"I alone can bring world peace!"
...Ultimately, this confrontation ended with Tony's victory. However, the government would not let it go, especially that Hydra senator.
At this moment, in a rather dilapidated, dimly lit room, a disheveled man with long hair watched Tony's triumphant and smug demeanor on TV, his face filled with hatred.
He then stopped paying attention to the TV screen and intensified his efforts to build a device.
Finally, a simple exoskeleton armor was donned on his body, with whips continuously sparking with electricity in both hands, and a similar arc reactor on his chest, just like Tony's.
--- At this time, Li Yue had finished his conversation with the Ancient One and was preparing to leave Kamar-Taj. However, before leaving, Li Yue still had to bid farewell to Master Kaecilius and Master Mordo.
When he found Kaecilius, he was diligently practicing magic, which Li Yue had become accustomed to.
"Master Kaecilius, I've come to bid you farewell. I'm leaving Kamar-Taj."
Seeing Li Yue arrive, Kaecilius stopped practicing magic.
"Master Li Yue, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
Upon hearing Li Yue's words, Kaecilius couldn't help but ask, puzzled.
"Nothing much, it's just that my cultivation has entered the right track, and I'm not an official sorcerer, so I don't need to continue staying in Kamar-Taj for arduous training. So, I'm preparing to go back."
Of course, Li Yue couldn't say, "I'm going back to participate in the plot," so he could only find an excuse to brush it off.
Kaecilius didn't say much either, only expressing regret that he couldn't continue cultivating with Li Yue, but he still respected Li Yue's departure.
"Master Li Yue, until we meet again!"
"Master Kaecilius, you also take care. Remember that the departure of your wife and child was not your fault. I hope you can come to terms with it soon, and I hope we are still friends when we meet again."
Li Yue finished speaking with profound meaning, then turned and left.
"Friends? I hope so!"
Kaecilius watched Li Yue's departing back, his eyes flickering, wondering what he was thinking... "Master Mordo, I've come to bid you farewell."
Li Yue then found Master Mordo, but it seemed Mordo already knew Li Yue was leaving, as he didn't show any surprise.
"Master Mordo, let me tell you a story!"
Without waiting for Mordo's reaction, Li Yue spoke directly.
"A long time ago, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gave birth to a Primal Pearl with immense power. The Primeval Lord of Heaven refined the Primal Pearl into a Spirit Orb and a Demon Orb. The Spirit Orb was reincarnated as a human, capable of slaying demons and protecting the world from harm; while the Demon Orb would give birth to a demon king, bringing disaster to the human world."
"The Primeval Lord of Heaven activated the Heavenly Tribulation Spell, and three years later, heavenly lightning would descend to destroy the Demon Orb. Taiyi was ordered to have the Spirit Orb reincarnated as Nezha, the son of Li Jing in Chentang Pass. However, by a twist of fate, the Spirit Orb and the Demon Orb were swapped. Nezha, who should have been the Spirit Orb hero, became the Great Demon King of Chaos."
..."Ultimately, Nezha and Ao Bing sacrificed their lives to save the world."
That's right, Li Yue had adapted the plot of the domestic animated film "Nezha: The Devil's Rebirth" that he had watched in his previous life and told it to Mordo, primarily highlighting Nezha's greatness.
"Master Mordo, even those born as demons can change their destiny and save the world. So, power has no good or bad. You can use power to save the world, or you can use it to destroy the world."
Li Yue continued to try and persuade Master Mordo.
Mordo's face now showed an unreadable expression: doubt, shock, and disbelief. Li Yue's story had a tremendous impact on his worldview.
Although he didn't know who the Primeval Lord of Heaven was, who Taiyi Zhenren was, or what the Heavenly Tribulation was, he could still grasp the general idea of the story: someone who was supposed to become a demon ended up saving the world.
He was now starting to doubt himself, questioning whether his persistence was correct.
"So, Master Mordo, don't be rigid in everything; learn to break through worldly boundaries. I hope you'll have figured it out by the next time we meet."
Li Yue looked at Mordo, who was deep in thought, and thought to himself, "I can only help you this much. Whether you can change your future destiny still depends on you."
Li Yue did not disturb Mordo further, directly disappearing from his sight and from Kamar-Taj.