The blood-red countdown hung over the heads of all living beings in the Myriad Worlds like the Sword of Damocles. Every passing second mercilessly hammered at everyone's nerves.
Within the Myriad Heavens Divine Pass, the atmosphere was so oppressive it seemed frozen solid.
Although Chu Tian had used a heaven-defying method to strip the "reverse-law bombs" from the bodies of a hundred thousand Silent Abyss refugees, the crisis had not been resolved. The hundred thousand refugees had been placed in an isolated starfield behind the Divine Pass. Though the bombs within them were gone, the residual reverse-law patterns deep in their bloodlines remained like ticking time bombs, capable at any moment of becoming poisoned blades aimed at the Alliance's rear under the Return-to-Silence Heavenly Emperor's control.
"Heavenly Lord! We cannot keep them!"
Inside the council hall, several clan chiefs from neutral starfields knelt on the ground, pleading through tears. "Who knows how many Silent Abyss Divine Court death warriors and priests are hidden among these hundred thousand people? If they turn against us from behind during the decisive battle, our Myriad Worlds army will be attacked from both front and rear! For the greater good, Heavenly Lord, please order their execution!"
"Yes, Heavenly Lord! Mercy cannot command an army!" Voices of agreement rose everywhere.
The newly established Myriad Heavens Alliance showed cracks once more under the immense pressure of life and death. If Chu Tian refused, these races, already stretched taut by fear, would very likely choose to split apart out of a loss of security—even flee before the battle began.
Seated at the head of the table, Chu Tian lightly tapped his fingers against the tabletop, producing a steady "tap, tap." His gaze swept over the kneeling clan chiefs, his eyes so calm that they were frightening.
"Execute them?"