119: The ancestors' secret talks, war compensation

When that cold, emotionless, electronically synthesized voice echoed deep within everyone's Soul like a final judgment, the entire Taihe Hall Plaza fell into an absolute, deathly silence, more suffocating than death itself.

The Third Prince of the Qin Family, Qin Wushuang, was just... gone?

In front of his father, in front of the Head of the Qin Family, a Divine-Grade patriarch, he was completely erased from this world by a voice of unknown origin, in a manner almost like a 'Divine Punishment,' utterly devoid of reason?!

This was no longer a provocation.

This was war!

This was the most blatant and uncompromising declaration of war against an ancient Imperial Dynasty that had been passed down for thousands of years, with unfathomable Legacy, and a Divine-Grade expert at its helm!

The Head of the Qin Family, Qin Zheng, his majestic, god-like face, all emotions vanished at this moment, leaving only a terrifying gloom, like a ten-thousand-year-old iceberg. He stared intently at the young man who had remained calm throughout, as if everything had nothing to do with him, his eyes as unfathomable as the deep ocean, brewing with monstrous rage and killing intent that could drag the entire planet into endless warfare.

"Long... Family..."

He squeezed these two words through gritted teeth. Each word seemed to carry a heavy force capable of crushing mountains.

All the leaders of top powers watching this scene live across the globe held their breath at this moment. They knew that a full-scale war between two top powers, capable of changing the world's pattern, was about to fully ignite in the next second!

However, just as Qin Zheng was about to unleash a thunderous strike on Lin Tian, regardless of the consequences, as a Divine-Grade expert.

A voice even older, more distant, and more majestic than his, like a divine oracle from the Nine Heavens, slowly emanated from the deepest part of the Forbidden City, from that Forbidden Ground perpetually shrouded in mist.

"Stop."

The voice was not loud, but it seemed to possess a magical power to calm all things and stabilize the universe. As soon as it appeared, the almost uncontrollable, world-destroying Divine Might emanating from Qin Zheng instantly vanished like smoke, as if it had met its nemesis.

Immediately after, a slightly hunched, ethereal figure, dressed in simple hemp clothes and appearing like an ordinary old man next door, slowly appeared above the plaza.

The true highest authority of the Qin Family, the 'Grand Supreme Elder' who had lived for hundreds of years and had long become the 'stabilizing force' of the Qin Family!

"Old Ancestor!" Seeing the newcomer, Qin Zheng's overwhelming anger and killing intent instantly turned into endless grievance and unwillingness. He pointed at Lin Tian, his voice trembling, "He... they..."

However, the Grand Supreme Elder ignored him, merely casting his turbid eyes, which seemed to have seen through eons, towards Lin Tian's side.

Almost at the same time.

Deep within the Long Family's Forbidden Ground, in that Chaos space that even the Head of the Long Family, Long Zhanye, could not easily enter, a similarly ancient projection, but with an even more archaic and domineering aura than the other, silently appeared beside Lin Tian.

It was the Third Ancestor of the Long Family!

The two 'chess players' at the very top of the world's pyramid, truly capable of deciding the life and death of billions with a single word, their wills transcended endless space, facing each other from afar at this Forbidden City summit.

"Brother Long, long time no see, I hope you are well," the Qin Family's Grand Supreme Elder slowly spoke, breaking the stalemate.

"Hmph." The Third Ancestor merely snorted coldly, his eyes, like the rise and fall of stars, filled with undisguised arrogance and disdain. "Don't try to be chummy. Today's matter started with your Qin Family's junior actively provoking. My grandson was merely acting in self-defense. What wrong did he commit?"

"As for that good-for-nothing who didn't know his place, daring to incite an attack on my Long Family's Qilin child..." The Third Ancestor's gaze, like two invisible sharp swords, swept across Qin Zheng's ashen face, "...he died for nothing!"

Domineering!

Extremely domineering in protecting his own!

Upon hearing this, a flicker of imperceptible anger flashed in the Qin Family's Grand Supreme Elder's turbid old eyes, but he ultimately suppressed it. He knew that, in terms of 'reason,' their Qin Family truly had no standing today.

He sighed, choosing to concede a step: "This matter is indeed due to our Qin Family's lax discipline. However, to kill his most favored son in front of Qin Zheng, Brother Long, your actions are a bit too disrespectful to my Qin Family."

"Disrespectful?" The Third Ancestor scoffed as if he had heard a huge joke. "What is your Qin Family? Do you even deserve the Long Family's respect? If not for the fact that we are both 'Guardians,' today, it wouldn't have been as simple as just one good-for-nothing dying!"

The conversation between the two highest-level existences was not heard by anyone. An invisible barrier, formed by the power of Law, had long enveloped them, shielding all external perception.

This was a behind-the-scenes secret talk that only the two of them could participate in.

The Third Ancestor looked at the other party's unpredictable face, knowing that the time was right, and directly presented his "evidence" and "conditions."

He flicked his finger, and an image, recorded by Lin Tian, bearing a Soul imprint, and unalterable by any technology, appeared before the Qin Family's Grand Supreme Elder.

In that image, it was the entire process of Qin Wushuang issuing assassination orders to the assassins of the "Shadow Kill" organization in a secret room!

The evidence was irrefutable!

The Qin Family's Grand Supreme Elder finished watching and fell silent. He knew that in this game, they had already lost, losing completely.

"Speak, what do you want?" he asked in a deep voice.

"Very simple." The Third Ancestor extended three fingers, his tone not like a negotiation, but more like an unquestionable notification.

"First, the 'Pangu Tomb' must be unconditionally open to my grandson, with the time limit decided by him."

"Second, my grandson came to Yanjing this time, had a qin duel, got into a fight, and was even assassinated by your Qin Family's junior, suffering immense 'shock.' Your Qin Family must hand over the permanent ownership of three S-grade energy ore veins as 'compensation for emotional distress.'"

"Third..." The Third Ancestor looked at the other party's increasingly ugly face, a cold arc forming on his lips, "...make your useless son apologize to my grandson in front of the whole world."

Too much bullying!

Even with the Qin Family's Grand Supreme Elder's centuries-old composure, upon hearing these three conditions, he couldn't help but be enraged!

Open a Forbidden Ground, cede ore veins, and even make the Head of a clan apologize to a junior?!

This was simply stomping the Qin Family's dignity into the ground!

However, when his gaze once again met the Third Ancestor's eyes, filled with absolute domineeringness and a willingness to fight, all the anger in his heart ultimately turned into a helpless, bitter sigh.

He knew he had no choice.

Because the other party not only had "reason" on their side, but more importantly, their "fist" was harder!

...The secret talk ended, and the Law barrier slowly dissipated.

The Qin Family's Grand Supreme Elder's ancient yet majestic voice once again resounded throughout the hall.

He announced the final result in front of the whole world.

"This matter is due to our Qin Family's failure in educating our son, and we are solely to blame. The Third Prince, Qin Wushuang, defied his superiors and deserved his death."

"As an apology, our Qin Family will unconditionally open the Forbidden Ground, 'Pangu Tomb,' allowing Long Family's Lin Tian to enter and explore it."

"And..." He glanced at Qin Zheng, who stood beside him with an ashen face, clenched fists, and trembling body, and continued in an undeniable tone, "...additionally compensate the Long Family with three S-grade energy ore veins located on the South American continent, as... compensation for this conflict."

As soon as these words were uttered, the entire place fell silent!

Everyone was utterly stunned by the Qin Family's almost "humiliating" compromise!

How was this compensation? This was clearly ceding territory and paying indemnities!

The Long Family... was actually terrifying to such an extent?!

After announcing the results, the Qin Family's Grand Supreme Elder's phantom deeply gazed at Lin Tian, then slowly dissipated.

And the Head of the Qin Family, Qin Zheng, after intense internal struggle, finally, under the crushing humiliation, slowly bowed his noble head, symbolizing imperial power, to Lin Tian.

Although no words of apology were spoken, this action itself spoke volumes.

Thus, this tumultuous storm, triggered by the "martial arts competition for a spouse" and sweeping across the entire Golden Generation, concluded in Perfection with the Long Family and Lin Tian's... great victory.