Within Black Mountain Fortress stood a council hall dedicated to deliberations.
Normally, it was where Black Mountain Fortress's highest-ranking commanders discussed military affairs. After the poison fog erupted, however, its use had been handed over to the many experts of the Jia Ma Empire.
Very few people were qualified to enter, so most of the time, the spacious council hall remained silent.
Today was different. It was the liveliest gathering since the council hall had been built, with over a hundred experts above the Dou Wang level assembled here.
Yet most of these experts appeared constrained. Many were so nervous that they did not even dare sit down, and standing made them equally uneasy.
After all, most of them were affiliated with Heavenly Snake Mansion, and they had just directly opposed one of Heavenly Snake Mansion's most prominent figures in recent times.
Xiao Yan sat in the seat of honor, and no one dared object.
At first, Jia Xingtian had intended to invite Yang Lingyan, Heavenly Snake Mansion's next-generation heir, to take the seat of honor. Yet before Xiao Yan or Yang Lingyan could say anything, the two Dou Zong elders of Heavenly Snake Mansion specifically assigned to protect Yang Lingyan had already made their stance clear.
Seeing the two men glaring fiercely, as though they would immediately start fighting if Xiao Yan did not take the seat of honor, Jia Xingtian promptly changed his words.
Still, he could not help grumbling inwardly. He did not understand why the two were so tense. No matter how strong Xiao Yan was, he was only an elder, while the one they protected was Heavenly Snake Mansion's true heir. In a few decades, Yang Lingyan would most likely become the true helmsman of Heavenly Snake Mansion.
Jia Xingtian could never have understood just