Choices, Challenge (Please Follow)

Seeing that the three of them had yet to give an answer after a long while, Shu Yan exchanged a glance with the Snow Empress beside him before continuing, his tone slightly gentler.

"What I've shown you is already enough for people in your current position. It may still fail to move you, but that isn't a problem. It can even be said to be very easy to resolve."

With that, Shu Yan cleared his throat, pulling the three completely out of their shock and contemplation. He glanced at the composed Snow Empress beside him, shrugged, and said:

"Perhaps I should properly introduce this senior to you. That might change your opinions more quickly."

"I already told you that this senior bore the title Ice God. She was the Chief Worship of the Imperial Hall of Worship, a Rank 99 Assault System Limit Douluo, and also my teacher. As for whether that is true, you can ask Elder Qian yourselves. His answer will be no different from mine."

Following Shu Yan's voice, all three pairs of eyes landed on the Snow Empress, who radiated an icy aura. Almost instinctively, their throats bobbed. In their eyes, the Snow Empress, whose aura had previously seemed ordinary and restrained, suddenly appeared to have become a completely different person. Just one perfectly normal lift of her eyes made them break out in a thoroughly chilling cold sweat.

In response, the Snow Empress merely cast Shu Yan an indifferent glance, showing no other reaction.

Before coming here, she had already guessed that Shu Yan would use her to speed up his efforts to win over the descendants of the Martial Soul Hall Remnants. Now, it seemed she truly understood Shu Yan quite well.

Shu Yan noticed the Snow Empress's calm gaze, but for some reason, he somehow detected a trace of... wanting praise in it??

As though realizing that this line of thought was far too dangerous, Shu Yan hurriedly stopped himself at the edge of the cliff and cut off his strange thoughts. Then he turned to the three again and said:

"It's time to make your choice. Will you follow me and gamble on reclaiming the glory and splendor of the past, or wait for Shrek to grow ever stronger before effortlessly wiping you out like rats in a filthy gutter? Give me your answer now."

Chen Ming and Wang Lin exchanged a look, their expressions complicated. Instinctively, they looked toward Luo Qinghan, who was still sitting silently on the sofa before them, but received no useful response.

Their thoughts raced in a short span of time. The humiliation from ten thousand years ago seemed as vivid as ever. Taking into account the current circumstances of their own family forces, Chen Ming, dressed in red with flamboyant crimson short hair, was the first to step forward and speak.

"To be honest, I know our family's situation very well. Either we abandon the hatred and humiliation of ten thousand years and enter the world to seek a way to survive, or we destroy Shrek and rebuild the reputation our ancestors once forged across the continent."

"I don't know what choices others will make, but I at least know just how despairing everything our ancestors stood for was. Entering the world would undoubtedly mean indirectly bowing to the enemies our ancestors once faced. Whoever wants to do that can go ahead, but I sure as hell can't. If things are truly as you say, then from now on, I, Chen Ming, will follow you!"

Shu Yan looked Chen Ming over with some surprise, then said with a light laugh:

"Without question..."

Beside Chen Ming, Wang Lin, dressed in black, also lowered his eyes in thought. His gaze moved back and forth between Shu Yan and the Snow Empress beside him. Before long, he made his choice as well.

"If it truly rests on the premise you described, I am also willing to join."

As he spoke, he forcibly pulled a smile onto his cold, stiff face, though it looked rather awkward no matter how one viewed it.

Shu Yan smiled lightly as well, then nodded.

His gaze fell upon Luo Qinghan, the last person who had yet to make a choice. Shu Yan was not anxious. From their brief interaction earlier, he could tell that Luo Qinghan was a smart person. Naturally, the final result did not disappoint him.

"I am willing to join as well, but I have one final request."

Luo Qinghan's cold voice rang out. Shu Yan's figure was reflected in her beautiful smoky-blue eyes, as though she were waiting for his response.

"Go ahead. As long as it isn't excessive, everything can be discussed."

Shu Yan said with a soft smile, his tone much friendlier and gentler than his initial indifference.

"I want to fight you. Or rather, all of us want to fight you. We know what kind of existence the Heavenly Snow Woman is, and we also know how rare and powerful an Extreme Attribute is. But just like our faith, only someone who defeats us on the battlefield is qualified to be our leader."

Shu Yan raised his brows, then said:

"Fine, I agree. According to the information I have, the leaders among your group are not limited to just the three of you. Tell them your choice. Tomorrow, we fight at Star Luo Arena. When the time comes, you may choose one-on-one battles or come at me all together. Remember the time: noon tomorrow."

As he spoke, Shu Yan rose with Xu Jiujiu and the Snow Empress, who had remained silent all this time. His gaze swept over the three of them. After smiling, he directly led the two women out of the resplendent hall...

As they passed through the hall downstairs, under the curious or fearful gazes of the others, Shu Yan lightly knocked on the fellow who was still an Ice Block. With a crisp sound, the ice that everyone else considered indestructible shattered outright. The burly man inside was suddenly freed. He immediately began gasping for breath, trembling as he dropped to one knee on the spot. Ice Crystal still clung to his hair, eyelashes, and other body hair, making him look pitiful, as though he had been mercilessly bullied.

Shu Yan patted his shoulder and said with a light laugh:

"That isn't how you test someone. Be smarter next time, and you'll suffer less too."

Once he finished speaking, Shu Yan paid no further attention to the terror in the burly man's eyes. He led the two women straight out through the hotel's front entrance. Before long, the sound of a carriage starting came from outside. Only then did these people, still stunned, gradually come back to their senses. They looked at one another, each at a loss as to what they should do next.

It was not until the carriage had returned to the bustling streets, and the surrounding clamor gradually drowned out everything that had just happened, that Xu Jiujiu softly asked:

"A Yan, although I have great confidence in your strength, if they choose to fight as a group, I can't help but worry. After all, they aren't geniuses from some minor sect or faction. They are ancient families that have endured in darkness for nearly ten thousand years..."

"Besides, such a brief interaction cannot prove much. It isn't even enough for us to truly understand them. What if they only agree on the surface, while behind our backs they..."

By this point, Xu Jiujiu's meaning was already very clear.

But upon hearing this, Shu Yan merely reached out and gently scraped the bridge of Xu Jiujiu's smooth, elegant nose, then said softly:

"You don't need to worry about that. Those who can become leaders are not fools. They won't consider matters solely from their own perspectives. They will make choices based on the circumstances of the forces behind them. This is the fate and responsibility they must bear. Rest assured, if they have any sense, then after verifying a few things, they will eventually make the right choice."

"Winning them over in a short time won't be difficult. I'll just have to throw out some bait so they can see the meat."

"The talent and confidence I displayed have allowed them to see hope of returning to the pinnacle of the continent. Once they discover that following me can bring them benefits and gains they never even dared dream of before, they will gradually learn how to write the word loyalty on their own..."

At this point, Shu Yan's tone changed slightly before he continued:

"Of course, if they really are hopeless trash, then I can only say that I misjudged them. The loss to us would not be great anyway..."