The room contained a long table, and everyone was seated around it, keeping things simple.
Luo Tiance took his place at the head of the table.
The eight great family heads surrounding him looked at Luo Tiance and sighed inwardly.
This old fellow had been comfortably holding the top position in Our Great Xia ever since the resurgence of spiritual energy.
Even now, he still suppressed everyone else.
They had hoped their children would grow up to surpass Luo Tiance.
However, the tragedy was that during their breakthrough to Transcendence,
they found that Luo Tiance was far more formidable than they had imagined.
Their limits were not Luo Tiance's limits.
What was most terrifying was that Luo Tiance's grandson was even more awe-inspiring.
He was incredibly powerful.
He left no leeway for others at all.
If their own children received even a slight benefit from Luo Yu, their strength would soar and they would transform dramatically.
Now, the family heads of the Liu, Cao, Xiang, and Zhao clans, even if they didn't want to admit it, had to acknowledge their debt to Luo Yu, since their grandsons had indeed reaped substantial benefits.
Of course, Luo Yu didn't need their help; they could only support every decision made by Luo Tiance.
Most of the Eight Great Family Heads of Great Xia were cunning and flexible leaders, capable of being both tough and soft. They naturally wouldn't dwell on some minor past grievances.
Holding a grudge was actually useless.
What they should pray for is that Luo Yu wouldn't hold a grudge.
Luo Tiance coughed once.
Then, speaking seriously, he said, "This time, the foreign forces are coming at us fiercely, Our Great Xia should prepare in advance."
"Indeed," Cao Xiong immediately nodded in agreement.
Liu Shengji asked, "Elder Luo, what are you planning to do? We will follow your arrangements."
Luo Tiance glanced at the two of them, fully aware of why they were so eager.
"You families shouldn't keep hiding your treasures anymore, bring out the treasures you've kept buried all these years."
"Imitations won't be enough against these God's Children; we need real magical treasures."
Zhu Wushi immediately laughed and said, "Elder Luo, others may not know, but our Zhu Family doesn't have a single real treasure, though we have obtained several imitation magical treasures."
"Bullshit!"
Luo Tiance directly swore at him, something nobody expected.
"Elder Luo, why are you cursing at me?" Zhu Wushi widened his eyes.
"I am cursing at you," Luo Tiance retorted with widened eyes. "At this critical moment of life and death for Great Xia, are you saving your treasures to benefit your future descendants?"
"I really don't have any," Zhu Wushi spread his hands.
"Haha."
Luo Tiance's laugh was cold.
"My grandson has no time to find a partner, sacrificing everything he should for the sake of Great Xia, now he is alone fighting for the dignity and safety of Great Xia."
"And you're not willing to bring out your treasures to fight?"
"If you can't show your stance today, then get out."
Luo Tiance pointed at his nose as he cursed, his words harsh and leaving no room for face-saving.
Zhu Wushi's face turned from green to purple, unable to save face.
"Why don't you ask the others first?"
"I am asking you first, got a problem with that?" Luo Tiance's voice was sharp.
Cao Xiong stood up: "As martial artists, we should take it as our duty to guard Great Xia. My Cao Family is willing to bring out two ancient magical treasures for the battle."
As soon as these words were spoken, they shocked everyone present.
All eyes focused on him, their faces filled with astonishment.
"Ancient... magical treasures."
"Two of them?"
"What magical treasures are they, Elder Cao?" someone asked.
Cao Xiong replied, "I'm afraid there might be a traitor among us, so there's no need to say what kind of treasures they are, right?"
"How could there possibly be a traitor among us?"
Cao Xiong replied, "If some families clearly have treasures but are unwilling to bring them out, aren't they the same as traitors?"
Zhu Wushi shouted angrily, "Cao Xiong, who are you insinuating at? Our Zhu Family is willing to bring out one ancient magical treasure for the battle."
"One treasure? Hmph," Cao Xiong shook his head.
Luo Tiance nodded, and he didn't question why Zhu Wushi had just claimed to have none.
Rulers often don't look at the process, only the outcomes of the power struggle.
Arguments are only to achieve an end.
Quarreling out of emotion is meaningless.
Luo Tiance turned his gaze to the others.
"My Liu Family is willing to bring out two ancient magical treasures for the battle!"
"The Xiang Family will contribute three pieces."
"The Zhao Clan is willing to contribute one piece."
Each of the major clans began to speak up, with the rest of the clans each contributing just one piece.
Luo Tiance sighed inwardly.
He didn't talk about the common sense that under a giant wave, no eggs remain unbroken.
This group of people still prioritized their clans at heart over Our Great Xia.
The magical treasures they could provide were surely not so few; they were all kept to guard their own clans.
Perhaps they felt that facing such an overwhelming siege from numerous formidable powers, Great Xia would have difficulty mounting a defense, and contributing magical treasures would be futile, after all, what you have, the enemy also has.
So they planned to keep their useful selves and magical treasures to extend the glory of their clans.
Nowadays, it was quite good that each clan was willing to contribute one piece.
After all, these were ancient treasures from Great Xia; even if they couldn't be fully activated, their power still far exceeded that of ordinary transcendence.
The four headmasters exchanged glances, and finally, Shi Kai said, "We have deliberated and are willing to contribute two ancient magical treasures."
The surrounding family heads heard this and all looked intently at him.
Shi Kai smiled wryly, "It's not that we only want to contribute two pieces, but that we only have two pieces."
"Alas."
He shook his head and sighed, which did not escape the observation of the Eight Great Family Heads.
A momentary silence ensued among them.
Zhao Yingtian said jovially, looking to lighten the atmosphere, "The heads of the four great institutions really have integrity."
"They are truly worthy of the title of Head Coach, nurtured by the talents of Our Great Xia people."
"Heh."
Shi Kai snorted coldly, not very willing to give Zhao Yingtian the time of day.
This guy was no good.
Being on very good terms with Luo Tiance, he naturally knew about this fellow's contempt toward Luo Tiance over benefits in the past.
Resulting in his daughter's continued refusal to associate with him to this day.
Under Luo Tiance's auspices, a series of emergency arrangements for dealing with the chaos were set up.
At the end of the meeting, as everyone was not in a hurry to leave, they asked anxiously:
"Elder Luo, exactly how strong is Godchild Luo Yu now?"
"Give us some hint."
Luo Tiance chuckled and shook his head, "Old and surpassed by the younger generation, I can't see through my grandson's strength."
"Do you have confidence in Godchild Luo Yu's battle tomorrow?"
Luo Tiance shook his head.
The expression on people's faces tightened.
Luo Tiance said, "Remove the word 'do', and ask me who else but me would have faith in my grandson?"
"The Dark Council is not easy to deal with though."
"Has Our Great Xia ever stood tall in the world for so long, and retreated just because the enemy was formidable?"
The meeting disbanded, and everyone left with heavy hearts, worried about tomorrow's competition.
They sensed a significant event was brewing.
As night deepened, silvery dawn light began to shimmer on the eastern horizon.
Beneath Mt. Li, Luo Yu also achieved a new breakthrough.
The tiny world within his Dantian strengthened, the green vegetation stretching upwards had now become a robust small tree, on which six blossoms that were about to bloom were joined by nine more.
This was the advancement brought about by absorbing the power of the Nine Great Pillar Gods' offspring.
Consequently, Luo Yu gained a deeper understanding regarding the sun, death, the sky...among other aspects of The Great Path, virtually seizing the opponents' enlightenment of The Great Path directly for himself.
Using the technique of Invisibility and the method of Earth Escape, he departed from the First Emperor's Mausoleum without a trace.
Before leaving, he glanced at the towering ranks of Terracotta Soldiers.
The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile.
...
The sky was clear and azure as all the God's Children arrived at the plaza for today's third round of the competition.
People all over the world also gathered before their phones, computers, or screens.
They watched the battle nervously.
The outcome of the competition was directly related to the future direction of the world and closely connected to everyone.
"The first match, Pantheon Temple versus Eight Tribulations Tribe."
This match was highly anticipated, as Pantheon Temple possessed absolute championship strength.
They were ranked second on the probability prediction board.
The Eight Tribulations Tribe, on the other hand, was the strongest dark horse with elusive and immeasurable power.
However, it seemed as if the Eight Tribulations Tribe had arranged it with Pantheon Temple.
Contestants from both sides flew up into the sky.
On Pantheon Temple's side, the Seven Sacred Angels and the Seven Fallen Angels simultaneously displayed their divine might, revealing distinctly different Dharma Aspects of deities.
Their divine presence brought an astonishing sense of oppression, making the ground seem as if it were starting to sink...