How Many Group Chats Can 11 People Make?

At 8:30 a.m. on November 22, in the large conference room of the guest residence in Qiongfang City, Demon Race territory.

The conference room was so quiet a pin could be heard dropping. Outside the windows, the morning light refracted through the glass with a wintry chill, freezing everyone indoors into silence.

"Everyone," the team leader seated at the head of the room finally said, "I must first announce some terrible news."

At the words "terrible news," everyone realized something was wrong, and their expressions grew serious.

"One of our members, Tan Anqing from Mao City, was killed last night."

"His attacker was apparently the wanted criminal Eight-Tailed Owl. We suspect he has ties to the Demon Race."

The news sent an uproar through the room.

The delegation had only just arrived in Demon Race territory and had not even fully settled in before something happened to one of its members.

This meant that this year's "friendly" exchange conference was more dangerous than those of previous years.

It also meant that the Demon Race's stance toward outsiders might no longer be peaceful.

"From now on, no one is to go anywhere alone, and unnecessary outings are to be kept to a minimum."

"If you need to leave the foreign guests' residence, you must report to me beforehand. Is that clear?"

"Understood!"

"Yes!"

"All right, we'll leave the matter there for now. Next, let's go over the pre-competition arrangements."

With the return to a relatively lighter subject, the frozen atmosphere thawed somewhat.

The exchange conference's full name was the Three Races' Friendly Communication and Exchange Conference and Youth Sparring Tournament.

As the name suggested, besides a number of lengthy meetings, it also included sparring matches.

Generally, each race had ten official contestants and two substitutes, all outstanding members of their respective younger generations.

Although it was not a world-class tournament, it was an official competition hosted by one race and co-organized by the other two, so it still carried considerable weight.

The Human Race's leadership generally placed great importance on the results for the sake of their reputation.

Thus, preparations had already been made for team coordination, the division of roles and tactics, and the things to watch out for in the individual matches.

What they needed to discuss now was what they would need to check and get accustomed to after arriving at the venue later.

The conference room gradually grew lively. Lan Xundong quietly moved closer to Lin Shunan, who was sitting nearby, and leaned down to whisper.

"That Tan Anqing from your Mao City is dead. That leaves Mao City without a contestant in the entry-level competition. Is that all right?"

Both he and Lin Shunan came from the Academic Faction, and the powers behind them were close. As an ally, he naturally had to show some concern.

"It doesn't matter. He was only a substitute anyway. Besides, his surname was Tan."

"True. Mao City's Tan Family is staunchly on the side of the Aristocratic Faction."

"What about your Wu City, though? Why did you only grab a substitute spot in the elite competition?"

"The situation on Ringwater Continent has changed. Things under the sea might become chaotic in a while. As for the Demon Race, taking a stance is enough. We don't intend to get too involved."

"Under the sea? You mean the Dragon Palace? I understand. I'll pass it on."

Using the noise as cover, the two exchanged a few brief words for less than half a minute before quickly separating.

Lin Shunan glanced at Lan Xundong. Once he saw him settle back into his seat, he took out a small mirror.

Blood seeped from his fingertip and dripped onto the mirror, then slowly formed a short string of words.

"Demons eliminated Tan. Change at sea."

He would report that much for now. He would have to find a chance to tell the academy's spy stationed here the details.

Lin Shunan had originally planned to eliminate Tan Anqing himself, but Tan Anqing had gone and gotten himself killed instead. He had really done Lin Shunan a huge favor.

Still, Eight-Tailed Owl actually had ties to the Demon Race. No wonder he had attacked indiscriminately in the secret realm, killing so many Beastfolk.

Lin Shunan put away the mirror and rejoined the lively discussion about the competition.

Not far from him, two other people were also quietly discussing Tan Anqing's death.

"Brother Lun, what's the word from your Zi City?"

"Now that Anqing is dead, the aristocratic families in Mao City have no chance this time. The higher-ups told us to sacrifice the pawn to save the rook."

"Mao City was Academic Faction territory to begin with. Tan Anqing was never going to escape it. Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent someone only at the Mid Fourth Realm."

"That's enough. We're all on the same side, so watch your mouth."

Guo Lun cut off Fang Muyu's mocking remarks and shot her a somewhat disdainful sideways glance.

Unlike the Fang Family in the capital, Zi City, the Fang Family in Wei City was only a branch.

And the Tan Family, which had managed to put down roots in Mao City, where the Academic Faction held sway, was not one that a mere branch family could mock as it pleased.

Besides, Fang Muyu was only at the Fourth-Realm Peak herself, hardly much better than someone at the Mid Fourth Realm.

And she had the nerve to mock someone else?

"Keep a lower profile lately," Guo Lun reminded her, for the sake of their shared membership in the Aristocratic Faction.

"The Reformist Faction just caught us out, and they must be eager to press their advantage."

"So they'll be watching us closely for a while. You'd better behave yourself and make sure you don't hold us back."

Guo Lun discreetly pointed into the distance, signaling Fang Muyu to look over there.

She stole a glance, met someone's eyes, then curled her lip and answered somewhat reluctantly, "Oh, I know."

The four contestants from the Reformist Faction were sitting there.

They paid no attention to the death of a scion of an aristocratic family. They were the only group in the room actively discussing their pre-competition preparations.

After all, the team leaders for both levels of competition were currently members of the Reformist Faction.

But their advantage was only temporary. Only if the younger generation led their teams to victory could they consolidate their current advantage.

"Haomiao, you only recently advanced to the Fourth-Realm Peak. Make absolutely sure your cultivation is stable before the competition."

"I understand, Sister Hongyan."

Song Haomiao nodded solemnly to Jiang Hongyan, determination shining in his eyes.

All his anger toward the aristocratic families had been transformed into nourishment for his growth, allowing him to reach the Fourth-Realm Peak in a short time.

He had joined the Reformist Faction and cultivated day and night so that he could suppress and eliminate the aristocratic families.

Song Haomiao looked in the direction of the two Aristocratic Faction members, just as Fang Muyu looked his way.

One pair of eyes was full of hostility, the other filled with disdain.

Their gazes parted as soon as they met, and Song Haomiao immediately resumed discussing the competition with Jiang Hongyan.

"Um... shouldn't we discuss things too?"

"It doesn't matter. If the Reformist Faction in Si City weren't kicking up such a fuss, our temple wouldn't have planned to get involved at all."

The young monk responded to one of the young men dressed as Daoists who were sitting in the corner beside him.

"Senior Brother Yin, Novice Monk Qu Yi is right. I say we should stay out of it."

"Junior Sister Zhan, I wasn't talking about the competition." Yin Xingyao was speechless for a moment. "I meant, shouldn't we discuss how to get back alive?"

Although they all belonged to sect forces, Yin Xingyao and Zhan Yuyun were disciples of a Daoist temple, while Qu Yi came from a Buddhist temple.

And back when Yin Xingyao had still been at the Daoist temple, his master had cast a divination for this trip.

"Threats without and troubles within. This journey will be perilous."

Yin Xingyao shared some of what his master had said, sighed, and added, "In any case, staying alive comes first."

"Got it. Thanks, bro."

"Understood. I'll get ready to run."

"?"

Sunlight fell on the conference room windows, and the shifting light and shadows cut the entire room into fragments.