Chen Xinjie's smile froze. At the same time, the eighteen War Gods behind him could no longer keep up their stiff, fake-serious expressions. All nineteen faces looked exactly the same: utterly dumbfounded.
Chen Xinjie and the eighteen War Gods: ???
Did Leng Wuduan have any idea what the Abyss Battlefield was?
It was a forbidden place of such terror that it was known as a meat grinder for Soul Masters, somewhere the vast majority of them dreaded going. Yet it was also a place that drew in the ambitious, those with a grand desire to save the world!
Chen Xinjie stared wide-eyed. Leng Wuduan didn't look like the latter at all!
Could it be that appearances were deceiving, and he really had misjudged him?
Chen Xinjie began to wonder if perhaps he'd been a little wrong.
Just then, Su Jiu smiled. Since Leng Wuduan had started by abusing his position for revenge, he didn't mind doing the same.
Na'er rolled her big, round eyes, a hint of slyness in them.
She knew that smile all too well, so she smiled along with him. Looks like Old Man Chen was in for a rough time~
"Hall Master Chen, I can go to the Abyss Battlefield, but I'll be going alone. Forgive me for speaking frankly, but I'm only a Super Douluo. At best, I'd be a cannon fodder who lasted a little longer than most. I wouldn't be able to change a thing."
"And you said yourself, Hall Master Chen, that this is a matter for all of Douluo Planet. Yet only the Federation is expected to contribute, while the Star Luo and Dou Spirit continents sit back and enjoy the peace won by generations of Federation patriots who laid down their lives and shed their blood?"
"Don't you think that's outrageous?"
"Why should only the Douluo Federation work so hard and make sacrifices? Is that fair? It isn't! It's completely unfair!"
Suddenly, Su Jiu turned his gaze on Chen Xinjie, scrutinizing him as if he were a vicious criminal!
He pointed at Chen Xinjie and shouted,
"And you, Chen Xinjie! As the Federation's top official and the head of its military, you've turned a blind eye to this. Do you know what would happen if the Dou Spirit and Star Luo empires sent people to support us? How many families have been torn apart and how many predecessors have died because of your incompetence and inaction?"
"As one of the culprits, a sinner who can never wash away his guilt, shouldn't you spend the rest of your life guarding the Abyss and repaying the monstrous sins you've committed?"
"And I, Leng Wuduan, will become your greatest and sternest watchdog, bearing witness before the world to your resolve and your actions!"
"I'll make this clear: where Hall Master Chen goes, I go!"
"Also, I propose that every major family and organization send one Limit Douluo or Super Douluo to the Abyss Battlefield. Many hands make light work, and we can end the Abyssal calamity sooner. Surely none of the great families present would turn down such a chance to bring honor to their ancestors and earn the world's admiration!"
"Oh, right! I'm sure everyone here knows that they shouldn't say or do anything that undermines unity, correct?"
Su Jiu snapped his fingers. The giant screen behind him flickered to life: the event was being livestreamed, and everyone's every move was on display.
Everyone froze.
Su Jiu took out a blank sheet of paper. Written across it in elegant characters was: "List of Patriots Heading to the Abyss." He immediately signed his name and pressed a red handprint beside it, then held it up high!
The screen showed it clearly.
"There are no cowards in the Leng Family. I'll lead by example!"
"That's the Xu Family head, Xu Zhimo! What are you doing?"
The big fat man was slowly dragging a little fat man toward the exit when sharp-eyed Su Jiu grabbed him. Cold sweat poured from his temples. He gave an awkward smile and said,
"Your Excellency Wuduan, my son Licheng ate something that upset his stomach. I'm taking him to the bathroom. Yes, just to the bathroom!"
"Bang!"
Su Jiu suddenly slammed the table in front of him, smashing it to pieces. Fury surged across his brow, and his aura turned icy and fierce.
"Douluo Continent's Abyss has endured for so long because of cowards like your Xu Family. If you want to leave, then leave now! I, Leng Wuduan, won't stop you!"
At the same time, the livestream was projected directly onto the banquet hall's entrance. There was no mistaking it: he was openly forcing every major family and power to sign!
Anyone who left would brand their family as selfish, cowardly, shameless, and disgraceful in the eyes of Douluo Continent—objects of the world's ridicule...
Everyone glared at Su Jiu with bloodshot eyes, panting like bulls, their eyes bulging with rage. They looked ready to tear him apart on the spot.
This man had earned his death!
Su Jiu didn't care in the slightest.
Once Leng Yaozhu successfully advanced to Limit Douluo, and with him already the strongest person on the continent, he could expose all the despicable deeds of Qiangu Dongfeng and the Ghost Emperor. It wouldn't be impossible for him to become the next head—or even have Qiangu Dongfeng removed outright and topple the Qiangu Family. The position of Spirit Pagoda Master was practically his for the taking, and the Spirit Pagoda would become a possession of the Leng Family. Let these families hate him all they liked~
Did they think they could do without Soul Spirits? Did they not want to raise their soul power? Did they want their descendants to remain at level ten for the rest of their lives?
What a joke.
Wouldn't they all come crawling back in the end, wearing obsequious smiles and begging him to sell them a top-grade Soul Spirit?
Chen Xinjie was already furious beyond words. He was a scion of the Sea God Family, the most legitimate descendant of the Sea God line. He should have been the object of everyone's envy, so how had Su Jiu made him sound like a great sinner?
And for no reason, he'd been saddled with all those accusations?
"Leng Wuduan, you..."
"Chen Xinjie, you're old. Stop clinging to the position of War God Temple Master and let someone more capable and younger, like Guan Yue, take it! The Abyss Battlefield needs you even more! For the glory of the Sea God Family, for the honor of Sea God Tang San, and for the millions of Federation families, go on shining your light and giving all you have!"
Chen Xinjie fell silent. He couldn't refute that, and he hesitated too.
"Why are you hesitating now? Chen Xinjie, are you afraid? Tell me why! Why? Why?"
Su Jiu strode up to Chen Xinjie, slapped the paper down on the table in front of him, and forced him to sign his name and handprint!
The eighteen War Gods behind him lowered their heads like quails.
There was nothing they could do to stop this. Anyone who tried would be disgraced and ruined, and they treasured their reputations!
Chen Xinjie drew several deep breaths. Long Yeyue's peerless face surfaced in his mind.
I'm sorry, Yeyue. I meant to hunt the goose, but the goose pecked me instead.
I promised to spend the rest of my life with you, but now I've broken that promise!
Eyes blazing, Chen Xinjie signed his name, then strode away from the banquet.
"Hall Master Chen, remember to announce the exact date in good time. I'll pay to livestream it around the world again, so the people of Douluo can send us off and see us off on our grand mission!"
Those words made Chen Xinjie quicken his pace. Leng Wuduan, you've earned your death!
After that, Su Jiu went from family to family, forcing them to sign. In all, he got nearly fifty Titled Douluo to go to the Abyss Battlefield. At least he'd done one good deed.
The Leng Family banquet ended far earlier than planned. Everyone regretted attending and getting dragged into this mess for no reason.
What rotten luck!
"A-Jiu, about the Abyss Battlefield..."
"Haha, Sister Yaozhu, I'll definitely go, but that'll be later."
If he went early, it would only be A-Qi controlling his Phantom Night Wanderer to go in his place, study the Abyssal Creatures, and rack up merit points.
"After all, I can't bear to leave this Leng Family—or you two."
"Mwah~"
"I'm very satisfied with that answer. Here's your reward."
Watching them while she ate, Na'er suddenly found that, for some reason, she couldn't eat another bite.
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