The atmosphere inside Jade Dragon City's Council Hall was as oppressive as a clandestine meeting to divide the spoils that could turn ugly at any moment.
Traces of dark Metal patterns, scoured by vow power, still lingered on the tall, austere black stone pillars.
Zhou Xuan sat at the head, with Yang Wudi and Qin Keqing flanking him, one forceful and the other cold, creating an overwhelming sense of pressure.
The elders of the Extreme Aperture Sect and the Extreme Defense Sect sat along either side below them, alongside several trembling representatives of the Extreme Speed Sect's remnants.
Word of Zhao Ji's escape had already spread. The Extreme Speed Sect's people barely dared to breathe now, terrified that Zhou Xuan would sacrifice them to rally his forces.
Zhou Xuan mentioned neither Zhao Ji nor the devil tide gathering frantically out on the Wasteland.
He merely tossed several Jade Slips onto the broad stone table, letting them slide toward the sect representatives.
Recorded in the Jade Slips were the new Contribution Value rules they had just finalized in the underground warehouse.
Scrap, broken artifacts, slag, beast bones—anything with even a trace of spiritual essence could be converted into Contribution Value.
These old foxes, who had lived for hundreds of years, exchanged glances. Their first reaction was not delight at all, but profound wariness.
Feng Wuhen, the Extreme Aperture Sect's Supreme Elder, had not come. He had sent an elder with real authority named Sun He to stand at the forefront instead.
Sun He picked up a Jade Slip and skimmed it, his brows immediately twisting into a tight knot.
Setting down the Jade Slip, Sun He sighed and began complaining with an air of earnest concern.
"Master, these rules certainly seem to show everyone a clear path forward. But sects have