Everyone’s gaze once again fell upon the table where Zhou Yuanjue and his group were seated.

Daoist Bailong’s expression remained unchanged as he slowly rose from his seat.

"Everyone, there was a time when ordinary people were a symbol of weakness. Their fragile bodies and short lifespans were insignificant in the face of Celestial Demons and disasters. A Spirit Level individual appeared only once every few centuries, unable to exert any real influence on the state of the world."

"But now, everything has changed. Technological advancements allow humanity to soar through the heavens and tunnel through the earth, to command vast amounts of knowledge and information. Moreover, in terms of individual power, there has been a qualitative leap. Human Martial Artists have forged a path different from that of the Spirit Guardians. Even with the frail bodies of ordinary people, they can attain immense power that surpasses the Spirit Guardians."

"In the past six months, Donghua has produced a total of four young, Spirit Level Martial Artists, with many more on the verge of breaking through. The popularization of the Martial Dao, the establishment of Martial Arts Universities, and the reforms throughout Donghua will cause this number to grow larger and larger, and at an ever-increasing rate. This will be an evolutionary leap for the entire human race. Ordinary people are no longer powerless before the Celestial Demons!"

"I believe that the great undertaking our ancestors never completed—the total eradication of the Celestial Demon threat—will be achieved in this generation! Right now, the resurgence of the Celestial Demons is intensifying. The situation within our borders is still manageable, but the international situation has become critical! The Starry Sky Country has thrown its full support behind the Celestial Demons and has already initiated a plan to eliminate the Spirit Guardian forces within its own nation. If we don’t take appropriate measures, more and more countries will join their side!"

"Everyone, this is no longer an era where the power of Spirit Guardians alone can decide the fate of the world. The Donghua Official government and the Martial Artists stand firm against the Celestial Demons. We are friends, not foes! We are here today to seek an alliance. A new era has arrived. How can we still cling to the ancient teachings of a bygone age and simply wait for our doom?"

Daoist Bailong’s voice, amplified by his resonating magnetic field, echoed throughout the entire plaza.

His words immediately sparked an even more boisterous discussion among the seated Spirit Guardians.

"Four Spirit Levels in half a year? That sounds terrifying. The growth of our Spirit Guardians doesn’t even come close to that rate."

"I’ve also heard about what’s happening abroad. The Spirit Guardian families in other countries don’t seem to be faring well."

"I’m actually in favor of this alliance. Otherwise, we can’t stand on our own. Our situation is far too difficult."

"Ancestral teachings are ancestral teachings! Besides, how can we be sure the Donghua Official government isn’t secretly working with the Celestial Demons? Daoist Bailong might have been kept in the dark, becoming a Sharp Sword in the hands of those political schemers!"

"If we cooperate and get entangled with worldly power, the Donghua Spirit Guardian will likely be corrupted!"

"..."

Voices of support and opposition were endless. The Great Clan Elder stood on the stage, watching everything quietly, finally casting his gaze toward the locations of the several great clans.

"You all represent the great clans among our Donghua Spirit Guardian. I wonder what your opinions are on this matter?"

The Great Clan Elder spoke.

Following his words, the discussions in the plaza ceased, and all eyes turned toward the members of the great clans.

The Moon Race, the Xuan Clan, the Qi Clan...

These few great clans possessed nearly two-thirds of the top masters among the Donghua Spirit Guardian. Their opinion carried immense weight.

At that moment, the representatives of the great clans exchanged glances, and a burly young man with strong, masculine features stood up.

"Elder Bailong, you keep saying a new era has arrived, that ordinary people can possess power surpassing that of Spirit Guardians. Well then, we would like to see for ourselves what this power is really like, and why you dare call it a new era."

"As the saying goes, ’seeing is believing.’ If those present here don’t witness it with their own eyes, I’m afraid it will be difficult to gauge the value and weight of this proposed alliance."

"The Cleansing Ceremony has always included a segment for the various families to spar and exchange pointers. If one of the new-era powerhouses you speak of can defeat us and earn our genuine respect, then that will prove your words are true. We of the Qi Clan will agree to the alliance and discuss the details."

the young man said, his expression calm.

"On behalf of the Xuan Clan, I agree with the Qi Clan’s proposal. Elder Bailong, since you have brought four people, we will also choose four of our elites for individual matches. If you can win three, we will agree to discuss the matter of an alliance."

The speaker was Hong Miao, who had also risen to his feet from across the way and was speaking slowly.

"The Shadow Race agrees!"

"The Rock Clan agrees!"

"..."

The great clans had already discussed their opinions and now stood up one after another.

The surrounding smaller clans followed suit and echoed their agreement.

Since they were championing this so-called new era, then let everyone present witness the power of this new era with their own eyes.

Without equal power, how could there be an equal partnership?

"On behalf of the Moon Race, I agree to this proposal."

Just then, the Great Clan Elder also spoke with a calm voice.

With the Great Clan Elder having spoken, the matter was effectively settled.

"Something big is about to happen! Can your idol win? The strongest of the younger generation from those great clans are all here tonight. Especially Hong Miao, the successor of the Xuan Clan, who reached the Spirit Level upon awakening. Prodigies of that caliber are here..."

In one of the seating areas, Zuo Xi grinned at Zuo Xian as she spoke.

"He can win... probably..."

Zuo Xian also sounded like she was losing her confidence.

Seeing this, Zhou Yuanjue and the others perked up, knowing the main event was finally about to begin.

Faint smiles appeared on their faces.

This was exactly what they had been hoping for.

"Since everyone agrees, and since I was the one who first made this proposal, allow me to be the first to fight,"

the burly young man who had spoken first said softly. The Great Clan Elder and the others stepped down from the high platform, and the young man walked up, his gaze fixed on where Zhou Yuanjue and his group were seated.

"Well? Who among you will be first?"

the young man asked calmly.

"Ge Honglin of the Qi Clan. It seems the clans don’t intend to let us get by easily this time."

"Who do you want to send up first?"

Daoist Bailong smiled and shook his head, turning his gaze to Zhou Yuanjue and the others.

"Let me be the vanguard. I haven’t had a real fight since reaching Saint Awakening. This is the perfect opportunity."

Zhang Zhizhen stood up with a calm expression and walked slowly toward the high platform.

"Ge Honglin of the Qi Clan? What’s his story?"

Jiang Jiushan asked Daoist Bailong.

"The Qi Clan is a great clan, second only to the Moon Race and the Xuan Clan."

"The Qi Clan’s Bloodline ability is extremely powerful. In ancient times, their ancestor, ’Hong,’ was considered a formidable being expected to become the strongest in the Donghua Region. Unfortunately, he drew the wariness of a Celestial Demon Ancestor. Two Primordial Ancestors from the east and west joined forces to kill him, which is why the Qi Clan is a step weaker today."

"And among all the successors in the history of the Qi Clan, this Ge Honglin’s Talent and Bloodline Power can be considered among the absolute best,"

Daoist Bailong said.

"What’s so special about the Qi Clan’s Bloodline?"

Zhou Yuanjue asked with some curiosity.

"The Qi Clan should actually be called the ’Qi’ (炁) Clan. In ancient legends, ’Qi’ (炁) was actually another name for the human body’s magnetic field. The human body has countless meridians, but ordinary people have an extremely low utilization rate of them. Even Martial Dao masters find them difficult to truly use."

"But the Qi Clan is different. Their Bloodline makes their meridians innately special, transforming them into ’Qi Veins.’ It’s almost like having an extra set of organs, capable of storing the magnetic field and serving as channels for its circulation. These Qi Veins crisscross the body, and different methods of circulation and combination can form different ’Qi Meridian Circulations,’ producing completely different effects and giving rise to countless unique abilities."

"In a sense, the Bloodline Users of the Qi Clan are the prototype for the legendary ancient Qi Refiners. The origins of many legends about Divine Powers, Daoist Techniques, Magic, and so on are actually closely related to this clan."

"Therefore, the Qi Clan has another name."

"The Magic Race."