The Main Assembly in Seven Days, Reactions of the Various Factions

Chen Xuan turned to Du Busi again. "There is even less need to mention your Body Sect.

With awakenings spreading across the entire continent, you stand to benefit the most.

Body Martial Souls are already rare. Awakening even one more is an immense gain.

In the future, when the Firmament Tribunal searches the world for Body Martial Soul geniuses, they will all be given priority placement in the Body Sect for training.

This opportunity is not something you can wait for by shutting yourselves away from the world."

Du Busi lightly rubbed the rim of his cup, and the casual amusement in his eyes vanished completely. A sharp glint suddenly lit his gaze.

He threw back his head and laughed, his voice shaking the hall with the wild confidence of an old Titled Douluo.

"Interesting. Shrek has finally done something sensible this time."

He leaned back slightly, his tone open and proud, neither submissive nor overbearing. "Searching the entire continent for Body Martial Souls—such an opportunity is rare.

Since the benefits are laid out before us, the Body Sect will join the game."

The First Elder of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect stood among the crowd. His expression remained calm, as befitted a senior member of the sect, but his heart had already sunk.

He saw the situation clearly. The only ones who would truly receive great authority and benefits from this Firmament Tribunal were the four Core Sects.

The other top sects could at most follow behind them and receive a little leftover profit.

Yet he did not dare raise even half an objection.

Though the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had deep foundations, compared with the Four Core Sects, the gap remained enormous.

If they rashly resisted, they might lose even their remaining seats and opportunities completely.

The faces of the envoys from the Three Empires were even uglier.

All four Core Sects were sectarian powers. The imperial courts, mighty as they were, had been completely left out.

Yet they still had to provide money, manpower, and labor, with no room for refusal.

Whoever dared object now would be making enemies of all four Core Sects and the newly established Firmament Tribunal at once.

By then, there would be no need for pressure from outside. The sect-affiliated powers within their own countries, all relying on these opportunities, would be enough to overturn the order of the imperial courts.

The Southern Pacifying King of Douling sat in his seat, his mouth full of bitterness.

Not one of the Four Core Sects came from Douling.

They had to shoulder their obligations in full, yet had no right to participate in core decisions. The resources they could obtain were pitifully few.

The saying that weak nations had no diplomacy was displayed vividly upon them.

As discussions gradually rose throughout the hall, Mu En raised his hand again to suppress the room. "Quiet."

The old man swept his gaze across the hall, every word steady and forceful.

"This matter cannot be delayed.

Only by spreading martial soul awakenings across the entire continent can we stop the emergence of Evil Soul Masters at its root.

Countless gifted children have gone astray and fallen onto the evil path because no one discovered them and no one guided them.

Only by giving every child in the world a chance to awaken, allowing countless talents to take root in the righteous path, can we bring true and lasting peace to the continent."

Chen Xuan smoothly took over. "This old man knows that among those present today, some hold full authority, while others can only listen and await orders.

Therefore, today is merely a preliminary discussion."

"The true summit will be held seven days from now, still in the main hall of the Sea God Pavilion.

All of you should immediately send word to your respective sects and imperial courts. Invite those who truly hold authority to attend in person.

Seven days is the deadline. Anyone who fails to arrive in time will be deemed to have voluntarily relinquished all rights to join."

The entire hall fell into dead silence. No one spoke.

Mu En slowly rose to his feet and said softly, "Dismissed."

As if waking from a dream, everyone bowed and took their leave, filing out of the main hall one after another.

The moment they left the Sea God Pavilion, the long-suppressed factions erupted completely, with undercurrents surging everywhere.

Jing Hongchen and Xu Taiwang hurried forward side by side, their expressions grave.

Xu Taiwang said urgently in a low voice, "Elder Kong must come in person."

Jing Hongchen slowly nodded, his eyes deep. "I will send word tonight. I cannot enter the Firmament Tribunal under its rules.

Those who take office in the Tribunal cannot retain real power in their original factions.

If I enter the Tribunal, I must give up both my positions as master of Illustrious Virtue Hall and dean of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. The loss would outweigh the gain."

He paused slightly, then continued his analysis. "Besides, the Core Sects must each send three people. The few Ninth-level Soul Engineers in the hall may obey me on the surface, but in their hearts, Elder Kong is the only one they truly respect.

Only if Elder Kong comes personally can Illustrious Virtue Hall be stabilized and Sun Moon secure its core seat."

"I will immediately send word to the imperial capital and ask Elder Kong to reach Shrek City within seven days!" Xu Taiwang declared at once.

Not far away, the First Elder of the Clear Sky Sect hurried along while quietly instructing the accompanying disciple.

"Quickly send word to the sect's First Master and Second Master!

Shrek has established the Firmament Tribunal. The great trend of continent-wide martial soul awakenings has already formed.

My seniority is insufficient, and my authority is lacking. I cannot secure a core seat. Please ask the two sect masters to come in person and decide the overall situation!"

The First Elder of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect also looked grave as he gave his orders through clenched teeth. "Return to the sect immediately and ask the sect master to personally go to Shrek!

We cannot compete for the core seats, but the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect must seize one of the Outer Nine Seats of the Arbitration Council!

If we miss this chance, there will be no opportunity to rise again!"

The Three Empires were thrown into even greater turmoil.

The Crown Prince of Heavenly Soul, the Southern Pacifying King of Douling, and the Elder Prince of Star Luo all dispatched urgent messengers without exception.

"Quickly send word to the Worship Hall! Ask the hall master to depart at once and reach Shrek within seven days! Without the hall master presiding over matters, we will have no voice at all!"

The remaining small and medium sects and second-rate factions all frantically sent messages back to their mountains. "Sect Master, come quickly! The great reshuffling has begun. Arrive one step late, and we will be reduced to bottom-tier vassals forever!"

That night, not a single person in Shrek City could truly sleep peacefully.

The assembly had only just ended, yet every faction moved like racing horses lashed by a whip.

Message Soul Tools sounded one after another through the dark night. Messengers galloped on horseback, while the lights inside and outside the city gates remained lit all night.

The entirety of Shrek City was like a boiling pot, its bubbling roar echoing without end.

Body Sect residence.

The moment Du Busi returned to the courtyard, he summoned Jinpeng and the other two into the main hall.

Only a few lamps were lit. The moonlight outside the windows cast shifting light and shadow across the four faces.

"Jinpeng." Du Busi sat at the head of the room with a wine cup in hand, but his tone no longer carried any of the casualness he had shown in the hall.

"Sect Master." Jinpeng stepped forward.

"This old man hereby announces that, from today onward, I resign from my position as sect master of the Body Sect."

Du Busi said it with utter casualness, as though he were merely explaining some trivial matter.

Jinpeng and the other two froze at the same time.

"Sect Master, this..." Jinpeng's expression changed drastically.

"You will succeed me as sect master.

This old man, along with the First Elder and Second Elder, will enter the Firmament Tribunal."

Jinpeng opened his mouth, but did not manage to say anything for a long while.

Lou Xuwang also cried out in surprise, "Sect Master, even if you wish to enter the Tribunal, there is no need for you to resign as sect master!"

"Idiot, did you forget what was just said the moment you heard it?" Du Busi slammed his wine cup onto the table.

"The Firmament Tribunal has clear rules. Anyone who enters the Tribunal may no longer hold real power in their original sect.

If this old man wishes to enter, I must resign.

Otherwise, forget the three core seats—they will not leave even one for us.

Did Shrek not establish this rule precisely to make each of us cut off an arm? Then we will cut it off.

The cleaner the cut, the fuller we eat."

He looked at Jinpeng, his gaze like a blade. "When you return, assume the position of sect master and suppress all those in the sect who refuse to accept it.

Do not let the Body Sect cause even the slightest disturbance during these seven days.

If anyone drags us down at a time like this, once this old man returns, I will deal with him personally."