Chapter 684: Intimidation and the Assembly
"An alliance could indeed curb the chaos in the Chaotic Demon Sea, but it isn't exactly urgent business for my Flame God Temple. I wonder, Young Master Lin, what benefits you can offer us?"
In the main hall, Tang Xinlian looked at Lin Langtian, a bright curve at the corner of her lips as she smiled.
Lin Langtian froze for a moment. Thinking about her own sect's interests at a time like this seemed a little inappropriate.
Moreover, from what he knew of Tang Xinlian's shrewd character, she could not possibly be unaware of the disaster that would follow if the Demonic Prison were allowed to keep rampaging unchecked.
"Hehe, Xinlian, are you trying to trick me? I don't believe someone as righteous as you would ignore how dangerous the Yimo are." Lin Langtian smiled as he met Tang Xinlian's teasing gaze.
"Tch, I'll let that pass."
Seeing how well he understood her, Tang Xinlian pursed her rosy lips, then turned those beautiful eyes toward Ling Qingzhu. She extended a slender jade hand, as if offhandedly, and said with a playful smile:
"You must be Ling Qingzhu? Langtian has mentioned you to me before. I even asked him once who was prettier, you or me."
At that, Lin Langtian's lips twitched slightly as he fixed his gaze on the mischief sparkling in Tang Xinlian's eyes.
"Oh?"
Ling Qingzhu narrowed her eyes slightly and returned a faint smile. "And what did he say?"
The two equally dazzling beauties smiled at one another in the hall. It should have been a lovely scene, yet Lin Langtian felt downright uncomfortable, as if sitting on a bed of coals.
Everyone else blinked at first, then quickly became quite entertained by the spectacle. Even Lin Dong scratched his head in sympathy. Even he could feel the tension building in the air.
Beside him, Ying Huanhuan's pretty face had taken on a faint chill, clearly displeased on behalf of her elder sister, Ying Xiaoxiao.
Then she shot Lin Dong a pointed look, as if warning him that he was not allowed to become a fickle womanizer.
Lin Dong gave a helpless smile. To be fair, he had no such designs. In his heart, there was only Ying Huanhuan.
"Ahem."
Lin Langtian coughed lightly. At a time like this, he really did need to put on the airs of a household head.
So he stepped directly between the two women and said to Tang Xinlian with some exasperation, "If I remember correctly, I never said any such thing."
"Did you?"
Tang Xinlian's eyes flickered as her lips curled slightly. "Oh? Then I must have misremembered."
Lin Langtian had nothing to say to that. Women really were creatures born to jealousy.
Tang Xinlian's smile blossomed as she looked at Ling Qingzhu. "You don't mind, do you?"
Ling Qingzhu smiled lightly and shook her head. Yet as she tilted her head aside, she shot Lin Langtian a gaze as cold as ice.
She had just been given a very clear reminder of how outrageously lucky Lin Langtian was with women. Tang Xinlian was no less stunning than Ying Xiaoxiao…
"All right, all right. Let's get back to the main topic." Lin Langtian shook his head and forced himself to be serious.
Seeing this, Ling Qingzhu and Tang Xinlian exchanged a look and shared a brief smile before they too settled down.
"The alliance is indeed the best option right now," Tang Xinlian said with a nod.
"According to the intelligence we've gathered, several sea regions in the Chaotic Demon Sea have already been bathed in Yimo bloodshed. Many weaker factions have started retreating toward the larger sea regions.
"If the Flame God Temple were to issue a call for an anti-Yimo alliance now, the effect would be excellent.
"However, once the factions pour in, the alliance will be extremely unwieldy. Whether it can even function properly will be a problem, let alone stand against the Yimo."
"It will be a headache, but with your abilities, Xinlian, I doubt it will be too much for you," Lin Langtian said with a soft laugh.
He trusted Tang Xinlian's leadership skills implicitly.
Tang Xinlian rolled her eyes at him, but when she saw the confidence in his gaze, she sighed helplessly.
"Showing up out of nowhere and dropping a mess like this in my lap… but for the sake of you saving that Flame God Temple squad earlier, I'll agree—reluctantly.
"However, besides the Flame God Temple, the alliance will need other truly major powers from the Chaotic Demon Sea to lend it weight. Among the human factions, the Myriad Sea Sky Palace is indispensable. They're an old and powerful force with great prestige.
"As for the Sea Monsters, the Undying Saint Whale Clan will have to take the lead. Can you deal with those two?"
"The Myriad Sea Sky Palace? Weren't they founded by the Myriad Sea Old Man? Is he still alive?" the Flame Master asked, frowning in thought.
"He is not. He failed his second Reincarnation Tribulation over a hundred years ago and perished. The current leader is his grandson, a one-tribulation Reincarnation expert and one of the top powers in the Chaotic Demon Sea."
"In that case, there's no problem. The Myriad Sea Old Man once received my guidance in his youth," the Flame Master said with a faint smile.
Lin Langtian and the others could not help but click their tongues in awe. This was what it meant to be a true antique.
"I'll go to the Undying Saint Whale Clan," the Desolate Lord added, sticking to their original plan.
"In that case, the Flame God Temple will announce the alliance today. I expect it won't be long before these doors are overwhelmed," Tang Xinlian said, nodding.
"Good."
Everyone looked at one another and nodded. With that, the Chaotic Demon Sea would finally be able to unite into a single rope to resist the Yimo.
Once the decision was made, the Flame God Temple sprang into full motion. Countless figures shot out from the palace, spreading the news at a staggering pace.
At that rate, it would take only two or three days for the Flame God Temple to become the busiest place in the entire Chaotic Demon Sea.
Even with that in mind, the storm the new alliance brewing here created still surpassed everyone's expectations. In just two days, reports flooded back to the temple.
Then the Flame God Temple was all but buried under the avalanche of powerful forces and experts converging on it from every corner of the Chaotic Demon Sea. The spectacle was even more overwhelming than when Lin Langtian had established the Anti-Yuan Alliance in the East Xuan Region.
After all, the number of factions and experts in the Chaotic Demon Sea rivaled the combined total of the Four Xuan Regions.
From a pavilion in the Flame God Temple, Lin Langtian looked out at the endless stream of figures streaking through the sky and pouring into the city. He could not help but let out a sigh.
"The Chaotic Demon Sea is truly something else," he murmured.
"Let's go as well," Ling Qingzhu said behind him.
Though the Flame God Temple was a top power, it was not quite supreme enough to command complete obedience. To truly solidify the alliance, they would need others present to deter dissent.
Lin Langtian nodded. Silver light flared around the two of them, and when it faded, they were standing before an enormous public square.
The square was packed to the horizon with people.
Every aura there was formidable. Clearly, most of those who had come were the true representatives of the major powers in the Chaotic Demon Sea.
"This really is quite the occasion," Lin Langtian said with a small smile.
He was about to enter with Ling Qingzhu when a clear, excited voice called out from behind him.
"Brother Langtian!"
He blinked and turned, just in time to catch a white-clad figure as it launched at him like a nimble rabbit.
As he steadied the newcomer in his arms, a delicate, lovely face came into view.
"Ling Shan, you're here too?"
"Hee hee, Brother Langtian, it really is you!"
The newcomer was Mu Ling Shan, who grinned and grabbed Lin Langtian's arm, her little face full of joy. She seemed truly delighted to have run into him.
"I came with my grandfather and the others."
She pointed with a pale little hand. Not far away, two figures stood watching them.
One was tall and handsome—it was Mu Lan, Mu Ling Shan's third grandfather, whom Lin Langtian had met once before.
At his side stood an elderly man with snowy hair and beard.
The old man's frame was thin and bony, and he stroked his beard as he watched them with a warm smile.
"Senior Mu Lan," Lin Langtian said, stepping forward with a cupped-fist salute.
"Haha, Langtian, your strength has already left me far behind. I'm hardly worthy of that 'senior' anymore," Mu Lan laughed as he approached, a faint tremor in his eyes as he regarded Lin Langtian.
When they had last parted, Lin Langtian had been only at the Death Profound Stage. In less than two years, he now felt like a mountain bearing down on him.
"This is my eldest brother, Mu Tian," Mu Lan added.
"An honor to meet you, Senior Mu Tian," Lin Langtian said with another respectful salute. This was clearly the great-uncle Mu Ling Shan had spoken of.
The fluctuations from the old man's body marked him as a peak expert who had passed a single Reincarnation Tribulation.
"Hehe, so you are Young Friend Langtian. This girl has been singing your praises ever since she returned home," Mu Tian said with a gentle smile.
Lin Langtian ruffled Mu Ling Shan's hair again. "I take it you're here for the alliance assembly as well, Seniors?"
"Yes. With the Desolate Lord himself coming to ask, my Undying Saint Whale Clan could hardly refuse," Mu Tian replied with a nod.
"In that case, let's head inside."
Lin Langtian glanced around. The square entrance was hardly the best place for such a gathering, so he smiled and led them in.
As they entered, a single sweep of his gaze revealed a sea of gathered elites stretching far beyond sight. Clearly, almost every notable figure in the Chaotic Demon Sea had come.
"Please, take your seats, Senior Mu Tian," Lin Langtian said.
Before long, an attendant from the Flame God Temple arrived and guided Mu Tian's group to seats at the very front of the square.
Here, strength was everything. Those who sat in the front row were all top-tier experts in the Chaotic Demon Sea, heroes known far and wide.
Ahead of even that row, however, were only a few seats.
The Flame Master and the others occupied them with eyes closed, sitting in silence. Countless staring eyes burned with fervor when they fell upon those figures.
"Let's go," Lin Langtian said softly.
He took Ling Qingzhu's hand and walked straight toward the most prominent seats, calm and composed.
"Mm."
Seeing him stride unhesitatingly toward the most conspicuous position in the venue, Ling Qingzhu merely smiled and nodded.
She knew her man was more than worthy of that place.
In a flash, the two of them landed among the main seats and sat down without a ripple in their expressions.
This row was the brightest spot in the entire gathering. Even Mu Tian and the other peak experts of the Chaotic Demon Sea did not qualify to sit there.
So when Lin Langtian's unfamiliar face appeared in those seats, it drew every gaze in the square.
Whispers broke out almost instantly.
"Huh, who's that brat? Is there such an Ancient Master?"
"I don't think so… but he does look a bit familiar."
"Now that you mention it, he does… Isn't that the guy who took first place in the Flame God Temple's battle years ago? Lin Langtian, right?"
"Lin Langtian? That junior? How outrageous. How dare he sit there!"
The Thunder Master and the others cracked an eye at this, then closed them again. Even they did not question Lin Langtian's right to that seat.
As for the faction leaders, Lin Langtian could handle them himself.
He was well aware of their looks. As the chorus of dissatisfaction swelled around him, his expression remained calm.
Then a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he gently slapped his palm onto the stone table before him.
In an instant, a terrifying aura erupted, sweeping across the assembly and smothering it completely.
Every murmur of protest cut off mid-syllable. The silence was so total that one could hear a pin drop.
Even Mu Tian and the other top experts at the front of the square could not help the look of shock that flashed across their faces.
Under that immense pressure, even they tasted an extreme sense of danger.
That feeling was, in some mysterious way, not inferior to the presence of the Ancient Masters.
"This Lin Langtian really is something…"
They exchanged glances, the same thought flashing across all their minds as any lingering doubts in their hearts melted away.
Dong!
Just as the crowd was reeling from this revelation, a deep, resonant chime echoed across the vast plaza.
All eyes turned toward the center, where Tang Xinlian stood tall and radiant in her fiery-red robes.
"Everyone," she said, her clear voice ringing out as she gave Lin Langtian—still looking far too smug for her liking—a brief glance. "I believe you all know why the Flame God Temple has summoned you.
"The Yimo are ravaging our lands. The second Great War of Heaven and Earth is on the horizon. Many of you have already experienced for yourselves how powerful they are."
She smiled, bright and moving, then swept her gaze slowly across the crowd.
"With such a mighty Yimo threat, the Chaotic Demon Sea alone cannot withstand them. I wonder what plans Master Tang has in mind?" Mu Tian asked after a short pause.
"To be honest, dealing with the Yimo is simple and difficult at the same time. Simple, because in the end, it all comes down to one word: alliance."
Tang Xinlian's smile blossomed as she raised her voice.
"Everyone, the Flame God Temple, under the commission of the five Ancient Masters, is here to invite you all to form an alliance and stand together against the Yimo!"
(END CHAPTER)
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