The men stopped chanting and looked up together.
The voice coming from the flesh was halting, yet every word was clear.
"The seed favored by the Holy Sovereign has appeared again."
"The seed is accompanied by a very powerful man and two women from outside. All of them possess leader-level strength."
"Of our two Flourishing Branch-level teams, one was wiped out, and the other suffered heavy losses."
"We need the grand leaders of the Withered Wood Seat to provide support and reclaim the Holy Sovereign's seed."
As the voice faded, silence settled over the platform once more.
The man in the middle slowly opened his eyes.
"The Holy Sovereign's plan can advance another step," he said slowly. "This time, more than one person came? And two outsiders have actually entered this world as well."
Four people sat cross-legged on the platform. All of them were grand leaders of the Heretics in the Withered Wood Seat.
The four gathered to discuss their response and decide who would go.
"Let's go together," the man at their head said. "We of the Withered Wood Seat have lingered here with the Holy Sovereign for too long. There's no need to keep advancing the plan. We might as well meet these outsiders together. If we can bring the Holy Sovereign a few new brothers and sisters, that would be a good thing."
"Agreed."
The other three rose together. "Then let's all go."
The man at their head considered it, then turned his gaze to one of them and nodded.
"You stay here for now. The Great Tower cannot be left undefended. You'll hold the Great Tower." He raised a hand and pointed at the other two. "You two, come with me."
The man he had singled out sat cross-legged again without another word.
With the