As soon as the black clothed middle aged man left, Shentu Yanran immediately stopped concealing her emotions, and she revealed a wisp of anger.

Chen Xi noticed all of this, and he couldn’t help but ask. “What? Would they dare to use force if you’re unwilling to join the Divine Institute?”

Shentu Yanran shook her head and said, “This matter isn’t as simple as you think it is. If it’s merely joining the Divine Institute to cultivate, then I wouldn’t refuse like this. But the Divine Institute’s objectives aren’t so simple.”

“Oh?” Chen Xi’s brows raised. “What do you mean?”

“To put it simply, the Divine Institute intends to seize this opportunity to bring my Shentu Clan into its side and become its vassal.” Shentu Yanran ordered her thoughts and said slowly, “In other words, if I really join the Divine Institute, then while it seemed to be inconsequential, in the eyes of the outside world, it would mean that my Shentu Clan has already joined the Divine Institute’s side.”

Only now did Chen Xi come to an understanding, and he couldn’t help but frown. “Then what do those great figures of your Shentu Clan think about this matter?”

Shentu Yanran laughed coldly and said, “Them? They naturally wish for nothing more than to partner up with the Divine Institute. After all, the Divine Institute is one of the five extremes of the Imperial Region, and they’re naturally happy to watch the Divine Institute become out clan’s backing.”

Chen Xi was stunned. “If its based on considerations for the benefits of the clan, then doing this does seem to be not bad.”

Shentu Yanran glared at him and said, “Do you really not understand, or are you feigning ignorance? Amongst the five extremes of the Imperial Region, if it’s in terms of being the most merciless and cruel, then it’s naturally the Sovereign Sect that comes out at the top. However, the Divine Institute isn’t much inferior when compared to the Sovereign Sect, so partnering up with them is undoubtedly like acting as the paws of a tiger.”

She paused for a moment and continued. “Of course, this is my own opinion, and everyone has their own opinion on whether the Divine Institute is good or bad. For example, your Oracle Mountain’s relationship with the Sovereign Sect and Divine Institute is very tense, and they’re like irreconcilable enemies to your Oracle Mountain.”

As she finished speaking, she couldn’t help but laugh. She felt it was quite strange to describe matters of the Oracle Mountain to a disciple of Oracle Mountain.

However, Chen Xi didn’t laugh because he really didn’t know about all of this in the past.

When he thought about how the Oracle Mountain wasn’t just enemies with the Sovereign Sect and was even like fire and water with the Divine Institute, besides feeling surprised, Chen Xi couldn’t help but immediately draw a line between him and the Divine Institute in his heart.

As a personal disciple of Oracle Mountain, he would naturally not hesitate to choose to see thing from the standpoint of Oracle Mountain, and this was an unquestionable fact.

“What do you intend to do?” Chen Xi couldn’t help but ask this question.

“Me?” Shentu Yanran sighed, and then she revealed a wisp of a resolute expression. “They can join forces with the Divine Institute if they want, but if they want me to join the Divine Institute as well, then I’ll absolutely not agree.”

Chen Xi nodded. He was very clearly aware that this matter was too significant. It was a cooperation between two powers, but Shentu Yanran’s didn’t carry much weight in the clan, so she was utterly unable to change all of this according to her own will.

“Will your father agree to this decision of yours?” asked Chen Xi.

This was precisely the problem that caused Shentu Yanran to be distressed, and she couldn’t help but sigh upon hearing Chen Xi’s question. “I’ll just have to improvise as the situation unfolds.”

As she spoke, she took a deep breath, and then she smiled as she turned around to look at Chen Xi. She said, “However, all of these are trivial matters. Come, let’s head to the Clan Hall to see my father and settle what you came here for first.”

Is it a trivial matter? Chen Xi glanced at her and didn’t say anything.

…

The Shentu Clan’s Hall.

When Chen Xi arrived here under Shentu Yanran’s lead, he noticed that numerous figures were already gathered within the vast and grand ancient hall.

A violet clothed middle aged man sat at the central seat of the head. He had a handsome and dignified expression, a gaze that was sharp and brilliant like a bolt of lightning, and as he sat there casually, he seemed like an imposing overlord that emanated an oppressive aura.

Obviously, he was the Patriarch of the Shentu Clan, Shentu Qingyuan, an Imperial Monarch that was rather renowned even in the entire Imperial Region!

Even though Chen Xi had never met Shentu Qingyuan in the past, he’d received Ye Yan’s guidance before he came to the Shentu Clan, so he was clearly aware that this Patriarch of the Shentu Clan possessed a cultivation at the Eighth Star of the Imperial Monarch Realm. Moreover, Shentu Qingyuan possessed a tenacious will and extraordinary ability, and he couldn’t be underestimate at all.

A few men and women of all ages sat below Shentu Qingyuan. All of them possessed vast and monstrous imposing auras, and they were actually all Imperial Monarchs!

Besides them, there were some figures standing at the sides of the hall, and there was no lack of Universe Enlightened Ancestral God Realm experts amongst them.

This was the ability of a top-rate power in the Imperial Region. In any other region, it seemed extremely difficult to meet even a single Imperial Monarch, but such figures were often seen in top-rate powers like the Shentu Clan.

Even if it was Chen Xi, he couldn’t help but be slightly surprised when he witnessed this scene, and he finally understood how terrifying the might of these top-rate powers in the Imperial Region was.

The atmosphere in the hall was extremely relaxed, and there was even a large amount of bustling sounds of conversation coming from the hall when Chen Xi and Shentu Yanran arrived.

However, when they noticed Chen Xi accompanying Shentu Yanran to appear before the entrance to the hall, this sort of bustling atmosphere instantly quieted down, and the gazes of everyone had shot over in succession.

Unfortunately, Chen Xi’s current appearance and aura were ordinary, so it didn’t draw much attention, and those gazes merely swept him briefly before they were withdrawn.

“Yanran, you’ve come.” A warm voice resounded, and it was the Patriarch of the Shentu Clan, Shentu Qingyuan, that spoke.

“Father, this is my friend….” Shentu Yanran brought Chen Xi into the hall, and she was just about to introduce Chen Xi when she was interrupted by a cold voice.

“Yanran, it’s good that you’re here. The emissary of the Divine Institute will be here in a moment. Are you prepared?” The person that spoke sat below Shentu Qingyuan. He had a thin appearance, sunken cheekbones, and a pair of eyes that were cold and fierce like a hawk.

“This is my father’s elder brother, Shentu Mingda, and he’d Shentu Xing’s father. The two of them have been constantly urging the clan to join forces with the Divine institute, and for the sake of attaining their goal, they wish for nothing more than to send me to the Divine Institute as soon as possible.” Shentu Yanran couldn’t help but frown slightly from being interrupted by Shentu Mingda, and she swiftly sent Chen Xi a voice transmission while her voice carried faint displeasure.

Most displeasing to her was that she’d clearly brought Chen Xi over. However, from the beginning until the end, no one paid any attention to Chen Xi, and it was even to the extent that they directly disregarded his existence. This caused her to be unable to help but feel slightly embarrassed.

“Does Uncle still not know about my thoughts on this matter?” After she spoke indifferently like this, Shentu Yanran led Chen Xi to sit at an empty space at the side. After that, she sent Chen Xi a voice transmission. “Don’t take it to heart. Those fellows in the hall have placed all their attention on the cooperation with the Divine Institute, and it has caused them to neglect you slightly.”

“It’s fine.” Chen Xi smiled. He’d changed his appearance when he came, and it was more agreeable to him if he didn’t have to expose his identity.

As for those gazes of disregard, he didn’t take them seriously at all.

When he heard Shentu Yanran, Shentu Mingda’s face froze slightly, and then it covered to its precious state while he chuckled. “You little girl. It’s already at a time like this, yet you’re still being so headstrong.”

He paused for a moment, and then his expression became solemn as he said in a low voice. “But unlike how it was in the past, the emissary of the Divine Institute has already arrived at our clan, so you can’t continue acting as you please.”

“Oh?” Shentu Yanran answered inattentively, and she seemed as if she couldn’t be bothered to speak with Shentu Mingda, causing the latter’s expression to sink slightly and feel embarrassed.

“That’s enough, it wouldn’t be too late to discuss this matter later.” When Shentu Qingyuan who sat at the seat of the head witnessed all of this, and he immediately spoke out to restrain them.

“Fourth Brother, it’s already at a time like this. If we still don’t confirm his matter, then it’ll probably be troublesome when the Divine Institute’s emissary arrives.” Shentu Mingda frowned as he spoke.

Even though Shentu Qingyuan was the Patriarch, in terms of seniority, he was the fourth brother in age, so Shentu Mingda called him ‘’Fourth Brother’.

“Big Brother, such a significant matter is tied to the interests of the entire Shentu Clan, and it isn’t something that can be decided on in a short period of time. Don’t be anxious because whether we’ll be able to join forces with the Divine Institute is still unknown.” Before Shentu Qingyuan could speak, a rough and heroic voice resounded, and it caused Shentu Mingda’s face to immediately sink.

Chen Xi raised his eyes to look over, and he instantly recognized the person that spoke. This person had a figure that was tall and mighty like a mountain and dense ink black brows. Surprisingly, it was Shentu Bao!

All those years ago when they returned to the shore of the God Burial Ocean from the Desolate Manku Ruins, it was he who’d come to receive Shentu Yanran.

If Chen Xi didn’t remember wrongly, then Shentu Bao was Shentu Yanran’s third uncle, and he was rather doting to her.

“Third Brother, joining forces with the Divine Institute will only be beneficial to our clan. If we don’t grab such an opportunity, then we wouldn’t have another in the future.” Shentu Mingda took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “You’re slightly ignoring the overall situation by constantly refusing this matter, and you’re playing with the interests of the clan!”

These words carried a berating tone, and it caused the atmosphere in the hall to become slightly tense.

At this moment, Chen Xi noticed that the entire higher-ups of the Shentu Clan hadn’t established a unified opinion when it came to the partnership with the Divine Institute.

For example, Shentu Mingda represented the force in the Shentu Clan that advocated joining forces with the Divine Institute, whereas, Shentu Bao represented the force that was against it.

As for the Patriarch, Shentu Qingyuan, based on his current attitude, his opinion was slightly difficult to ascertain.

Shentu Bao glared at Shentu Mingda, and he was just about to say something.

“Alright. I know that all of you have the clan’s interests in mind, so stop arguing.” Shentu Qingyuan suddenly roared with laughter and waved his hand as he spoke.

“Then what’s Fourth Brother’s opinion on the matter?” asked Shentu Mingda in a low voice.

Shentu Bao shot his gaze over as well.

“It wouldn’t be too late to make a decision after the emissary of the Divine Institute arrives and we have a proper discussion with him.” Shentu Qingyuan spoke indifferently.

When he spoke up to here, he suddenly picked up a jade slip and sighed with emotion. “This is a piece of news that I just obtained, and its contents can be said to be world shocking. If this information spreads throughout the entire Imperial Region, then the calm situation in the Imperial Region that had been formed through the countless years of the past would probably be destroyed!”

When they heard Shentu Qingyuan directly change the topic and avoid the current topic that was the cooperation between their clan and the Divine Institute, no matter if it was Shentu Mingda or Shentu Bao, both of them couldn’t help but feel slightly helpless.

Up until now, they were still unable to figure out exactly what sort of attitude their fourth brother had towards the cooperation with the Divine Institute.

But no matter what, Shentu Qingyuan’s words had successfully drawn out the curiosity in the hearts of everyone present here.

World shocking?

Destroy the calm in the Imperial Region?

Exactly what news is that?

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