The Human Race's council hall was packed with people.
More people had come this time than on the day Suiren Clan announced his abdication.
Not only had all the First Generation Sages arrived, but the lords of every major city had come as well. Even some old fellows who had been in seclusion for years had emerged.
Taihao, Shennong, and Xuanyuan sat in the center.
The three had only recently returned from the Earth Immortal Realm, and their auras had yet to fully stabilize. Illusory Eight Trigrams drifted around Taihao, Shennong carried the faint fragrance of medicinal herbs, and the Xuanyuan Sword at Xuanyuan's waist still hummed softly.
The seat of honor at the center of the hall stood empty.
Suiren Clan had occupied that seat ever since the Human Race built its city at the foot of Mount Tai, all the way until the Human Race became the Prehistoric World's greatest power.
Today, he would willingly relinquish that seat.
Suiren Clan walked out from the side hall and stopped before the seat of honor.
He did not sit down. Instead, he stood beside it, facing everyone present.
"Today, I called you all here for one final matter."
"The next leader of the Human Race has been chosen."
Suiren Clan swept his gaze across the hall. He could call every person here by name.
He had spent countless days and nights in this hall, handled countless affairs of state, and made countless decisions.
From this day onward, he would no longer need to do those things.
"I hereby declare that, from today onward, the affairs of the Human Race shall be jointly governed by Taihao, Shennong, and Xuanyuan."
Suiren Clan's voice was aged yet calm.
"I am old. It is time for me to step down."
The hall fell silent