Silence hung over the conference room. This sum was enough to make even the Federation's heart ache, let alone the fact that this was happening after the Federation had already lost all its face.
Exemption from taxes for three years!
After the Chairman finished speaking, he looked as though all his strength had been drained, collapsing limply into his chair.
Yet there was no help for it... The Federation was in the wrong, and furthermore Chen Xinjie had expressed his dissatisfaction, leaving the Federation with no choice but to swallow this bitter pill.
Right now he wanted to strangle Wang Yu so badly he could die. Why on earth had he provoked Tang Wulin?
Tang Wulin buried himself in Leng Yaozhu's arms, the corners of his mouth curving up slightly into an arc before he quickly resumed a pitiful, wronged expression. He raised his head, looking at the Chairman with tear-filled eyes. "Uncle... is what you said true?"
The Chairman looked at him and forced out a smile. "True... truly true."
"Child, I am truly, truly sorry. I apologize to you on behalf of the Federation... we wronged you."
At the side, Li Tian's mouth twitched. This kid had actually managed to make the Federation Chairman apologize in person.
"In addition, the War God Temple and the Federation will also penalize the personnel involved. War God Wang Shi will not appear within the Federation for ten years... As for Li Tian, his military rank shall be demoted by one level."
"That major shall be directly stripped of his military discipline, and as for that Wang Yu, he is confined for twenty years and forbidden from stepping foot in Shrek City for life."
Chen Xinjie also spoke up on this side, and one could say he showed utmost sincerity.
The Chairman, Li Tian, and the others had no choice but to grit their teeth and swallow it.
Tang Wulin also knew this was about enough. Primarily, his parents hadn't truly suffered any harm, and he had turned misfortune into a blessing.
Tang Wulin sniffled. "Then... then I forgive you."
Watching this scene, Chen Xinjie's mouth twitched slightly. He always felt that this child... didn't seem quite so simple.
In the conference room, the atmosphere finally eased.
The compensation of twenty billion was settled once and for all. The Federation Chairman's face turned green from the financial heartache, but at least the matter was considered put to rest.
Yun Ming, Zhen Hua, Zhuo Shi, Leng Yaozhu, and Mu Ye also revealed satisfied expressions on their faces.
Everyone in their hearts knew clearly that going to war was just talk; no one truly dared to brave universal condemnation and plunge the entire continent into the flames of war.
Yet face needed to be saved, and a way down offered. Since the Federation had conceded and paid the money, the matter was considered a closed chapter.
Chen Xinjie sat in the primary seat, remaining silent for a moment before suddenly turning his gaze to Tang Wulin. His look carried scrutiny as he sized up the little fellow curled in Leng Yaozhu's arms from top to bottom.
"Child," Chen Xinjie began, "I heard... you tore apart two black-grade mechas with your bare hands?"
Tang Wulin raised his head and blinked. "Pure luck, pure luck."
"Luck?" Chen Xinjie raised an eyebrow. "Black-grade mechas-those possess combat power equivalent to the Soul Saint level. You, a mere Three-Ring Soul Elder, tore apart two by luck?"
Tang Wulin chuckled, offering no reply.
Chen Xinjie's gaze grew even deeper. He pondered for a moment before suddenly speaking, "I'm very curious about your strength. How about you let me verify it?"
Tang Wulin immediately shrank his neck back, saying in a pitiful manner, "Grandpa Chen, I'm hungry... and I still have injuries on me."
Chen Xinjie's face darkened. "Cut the act. When you were gnawing on that chicken leg just now, I saw it loud and clear."
Tang Wulin: "..."
He hadn't expected that the pathetic look he put on earlier was an act, yet the scene of him gnawing on a chicken leg had still been seen by Chen Xinjie. He gave an awkward laugh and was just about to say something when Chen Xinjie suddenly produced a plant from his robe.
It was a vine entirely emerald-green in color, about a foot long, its surface suffused with faint golden patterns and exuding a rich aura of life. The moment the vine appeared, everyone present stirred slightly.
"Ten-Thousand-Year Dragon Tendon Vine." Chen Xinjie handed the vine to Tang Wulin. "A greeting gift."
Tang Wulin's eyes lit up instantly. A Ten-Thousand-Year Dragon Tendon Vine-that was truly a top-tier spiritual resource. Just this single item could break nearly half of his seals. It was priceless on the market, impossible to buy even with money.
As expected of the War God Temple Master, he was truly exceptionally generous.
He snatched it right up, beaming with joy.
"Thank you, Grandpa Chen!"
He put away the Dragon Tendon Vine, his entire person brimming with vigor-where was there any trace of his earlier weak appearance?
Leng Yaozhu watched this scene, the corners of her mouth curving up slightly. She looked toward Tang Wulin, her tone gentle.
"Wulin, since the Temple Master wants to see your strength, then go ahead and display it. Don't panic, we are here."
Tang Wulin nodded and stood up. He loosened his joints, took a deep breath, and released his Martial Soul.
The Soft-Boned Enchanting Rabbit Martial Soul manifested behind him, its form that of a snow-white rabbit phantom with eyes casting a faint red glow. Seeing this Martial Soul, Chen Xinjie's brow arched slightly.
The Soft-Boned Enchanting Rabbit? This Martial Soul looked... quite ordinary. While its quality was decent, it hardly seemed top-tier.
Yet the next moment, his expression shifted.
A rich surge of Bloodline Power suddenly welled up from within Tang Wulin, and two golden soul rings rose from beneath his feet, emitting an aura that made one's heart palpitate.
Immediately following, a layer of golden scales emerged across the surface of his skin, flickering with a metallic sheen under the lights.
Golden Dragon Body!
Then, yet another layer of golden light shrouded his entire body, and his Bloodline Power surged explosively once more. Golden Dragon Tyrant Body!
Chen Xinjie's pupils constricted slightly. This Bloodline Power... had already far surpassed the boundaries of a Three-Ring Soul Elder.
Tang Wulin did not stop. His figure flashed as Teleportation activated, and he vanished from the spot. In the next instant, he appeared right before Chen Xinjie, his right hand clenched into a fist. The Golden Dragon Claw condensed, carrying terrifying force as he threw a punch forward.
Berserk!
This punch condensed his entire strength. The Berserk amplification of the Soft-Boned Enchanting Rabbit, the defensive reinforcement of the Golden Dragon Body, the bloodline eruption of the Golden Dragon Tyrant Body, coupled with the sharpness of the Golden Dragon Claw-all these forces stacked together, forming a terrifying impact force sufficient to tear through steel.
Chen Xinjie's gaze sharpened, and he instinctively raised his hand to block, caught in a hasty defense.
Boom!
With a muffled, earth-shaking blast, the air itself was warped by the shockwave. Chen Xinjie's figure swayed slightly, actually retreating half a step!
He froze.
Everyone present froze.
That was Chen Xinjie! The Vast Sea Douluo! The War God Temple Master! A quasi-god-tier powerhouse! The number one person on the continent! He had actually been forced back half a step by a punch from an eight-year-old child?
Though it was because Chen Xinjie had failed to prepare and grown careless, never imagining that a child's explosive power could be so terrifying.
Yet it was still more than enough.
A trace of pleasant surprise flashed in Leng Yaozhu's eyes as the corners of her mouth lifted upward, while Zhen Hua cracked a wide laugh, slapping his thigh in applause. Zhuo Shi revealed a rare trace of an approving expression, and Mu Ye also nodded slightly, his eyes carrying admiration.
Chen Xinjie lowered his head to look at his own palm, then looked back at Tang Wulin, remaining silent for a long time.
Although he had only raised a hasty defense earlier, that force... He clearly felt that the explosive force of that single punch had approached one hundred thousand catties!
An eight-and-a-half-year-old child throwing a punch approaching one hundred thousand catties of force? Are you kidding me!
Chen Xinjie took a deep breath, and the look in his eyes as he gazed at Tang Wulin changed completely. He was silent for a moment before suddenly speaking. "Child, would you be willing to join the War God Temple?"
Before you continue