"Third, the ancestral shrines of all great clans and princely houses may retain only their main halls as memorials-all endowment lands and clan assets must be surrendered, save a small portion to maintain the shrines' incense offerings."
"Fifth, all gold, silver, copper, iron, black iron-and all varieties of unusual mineral deposits-held by great clans, princes, and sects shall henceforth belong to the Dao Court."
"Seventh-"
"You've gone too far!" A furious roar exploded like thunder, setting the great hall trembling with a resonant hum.
As many in the hall knitted their brows, a man rose to his full height and slammed his broad palm onto the table before him with an explosive bang.
The sandalwood table shattered instantly, dust billowing as splinters shot in every direction like arrows.
None of those seated in the hall showed the slightest alarm.
Whoosh!
Figures darted out from behind them. Some merely raised a hand, surging force pulverizing the incoming splinters; others swept their sleeves, gathering the fragments lightly within them; still others flipped their palms and drew short blades, cold light flashing as they shredded the flying wood to powder-
Within a single breath, calm returned to the hall. The figures flickered back behind their respective masters and stood motionless, steady as mountains.
The man who had roared possessed a towering, powerful frame, his gaze flashing like fierce lightning. In his fury, a savage aura erupted from him.
He was Xiong Li, the Earl of Lingnan, one of the six princely rulers, who held the Lingnan Circuit firmly in his grasp!
Naturally, none of those qualified to deliberate in the same hall as Xiong Li were ordinary figures.
The King of Chuxiang, the Duke of Min, the Marquis of Shu, the King of Diannan-the Cui of Yue Province, the Jiangling Xie Family, the