"Could it have something to do with the Paragon who passed by earlier?" Linley asked.
"How could it? That Paragon was only targeting our clan. He showed no interest in the Eight Great Clans," Jiawei replied. When Hodan had left the Tianji Mountain Range, he'd vanished from sight in a flash. He'd also returned to his clan in secret, and only the clan's higher-ups knew how powerful he was now. So, it hadn't caused a stir.
Jiawei didn't think that Paragon had anything to do with the Eight Great Clans, either. Otherwise, they would have come to wipe out the Four Divine Beasts Clan long ago. None of them could stand against a Paragon. The truth was, Jiawei had no idea just how deep the waters of Hell ran.
Linley couldn't help feeling weighed down by worry, too.
"Rumble~~~" The doors of the Chief Sovereign Palace suddenly slammed shut.
Linley snapped out of it. Jiawei lowered his voice. "The elders are all here. The four clan leaders should be coming out soon." Linley looked around carefully. There were now sixty-eight elders in the hall, including the Great Elder and the others.
One after another, four people emerged from a side hall and took their places on the dais, sitting side by side. They were Gaiseresen and the other three clan leaders.
The hall fell silent.
Gaiseresen and the other three clan leaders swept their gazes over the crowd below, then looked at one another. At last, Gaiseresen spoke, his deep voice echoing through the hall. "Everyone, I'm sure you can guess why we've called you here today!"
"The Eight Great Clans haven't come to Bloodbattle Valley in a long time. Even when we provoke them now, they don't respond. They must be preparing for something."
Silence fell over the hall.