As Lin Qingzhu finished speaking, the air in the Secret Chamber suddenly grew heavy.
The four Longevity Realm experts and Zhou Xuan, who had just escaped the Return to Void with his life, each harbored their own thoughts, yet all five fell silent at once.
"Steal the World Seed?"
Old Ancestor Xuanming was the first to erupt. His hair and beard bristled as he slammed a fist into the stone wall beside him, blasting a web of cracks across half of it.
"That old bastard Grand Hua! Does he think we're made of clay?"
Killing intent boiled around him, his voice thunderous. "So what if he's gathered six great immortal veins? We'll fight our way out! Let them see what my Dark Nether lineage can do!"
Old Ancestor Cangwu's face was livid, but he said nothing.
The Alliance Leader's expression was darker still. His withered hands clenched his cuffs, and veins bulged at his temples.
"No."
He spoke in a low voice, painfully slowly, each word seeming to squeeze through his teeth.
"Great Hua's move is an open stratagem."
Old Ancestor Xuanming faltered. "What do you mean?"
"He's set us against the whole of Central Province."
The Alliance Leader raised his head, his eyes brimming with frustration and fury he could not conceal.
"If we strike, we'll confirm the accusation that we've pocketed a sacred relic for ourselves. Then we won't be facing Great Hua alone, but the fury of all Central Province."
"Those fence-sitters, those wavering immortal veins, only need a reason to side with Great Hua. And Great Hua has just handed them that reason."
Old Ancestor Xuanming choked on his words. He opened his mouth but could find no rebuttal.
Old Ancestor Cangwu nodded slowly, his voice hoarse. "That's what makes an open stratagem so poisonous. You