94: Aftermath, new storm

The Grand Elder's finger was like a light of creation spanning time and space, and also like a thunderous clap of destruction announcing the end of an old era.

It not only physically erased the arrogant 'Duke' and the nearly thousand-year-old demigod Elder behind him, along with all their ambitions and conspiracies, from this world, but also, on an informational level, ignited a terrifying storm that swept across the globe, causing all top powers to tremble.

That video clip, though only a dozen seconds long, contained a series of subversive information such as 'demigod arrival,' 'standoff across space,' and 'double kill with one finger.' Like the most lethal meme virus, it spread at light speed through various encrypted and unencrypted network channels to the highest decision-making levels of every top power worldwide.

For a time, the world fell silent.

Whether it was the major Wall Street financial groups controlling the world's economic lifelines, the European reclusive Martial Dao clans with unfathomable foundations passed down for thousands of years, or the underground organizations that had long lurked in the dark world, claiming to be outlaws—at this moment, all fell into a deathly stunned horror and panic.

The Long family.

This behemoth, entrenched on the Eastern continent and long hailed as one of the world's strongest powers, once again revealed to the world its unfathomable and terrifying fangs, hidden beneath the iceberg, capable of making even gods tremble.

"A demigod... just killed just like that? Even his main body couldn't escape?"

"That wasn't an ordinary demigod! That was 'Hawkeye,' the most senior and strongest Elder of the 'Holy Light Council'! In the European continent, he was an undefeated myth! He... he couldn't even withstand a single finger from the opponent!"

"What kind of terrifying existence is that Third Old Ancestor of the Long family? Has he already surpassed demigods and stepped into that legendary... True God Domain?"

"What's even more terrifying isn't the Third Old Ancestor, but Lin Tian! Did you see clearly? The Third Old Ancestor's projection only appeared after the Elder on the other side arrived! Moreover, his elimination of the 'Duke' was more like a 'convenient' cleanup! What does this represent? It represents that the Old Ancestor has always been watching Lin Tian! It represents that his status in the Long family has exceeded all of our imaginations! He is not just an heir; he is a mobile, strategic symbol with the highest level of nuclear deterrence!"

After several hours of deathly silence, various underground forums across the globe completely erupted. Countless analysis posts, intelligence posts, and speculative posts surged like bamboo shoots after rain, ultimately converging into a consensus written in blood and fear—

The Long family is not to be provoked.

And Lin Tian is an untouchable, ultimate taboo, above all rules!

...In the magnificent temple built on the mountaintop, the atmosphere was as oppressive as ice, as if even the air had frozen.

The twelve Elders of the Supreme Council sat like twelve silent stone statues, staring intently at the video loop playing on the central light screen. Each face was etched with lingering fear, relief, and a hint of unconcealed humiliation.

Their meticulous arrangements in the African continent were utterly crushed by Lin Tian with lightning speed. Kyle, one of their ace 'Twin Stars' sent to the Kunlun Mountains for strategic probing, was publicly crippled. Although he benefited from misfortune, Awakening a deeper 'Seraphim' Legacy in the 'Holy Land's' Fountain of Life, the shame broadcast globally was deeply imprinted on the proud glory of the 'Holy Mountain.'

And now, the 'Duke's' force, which had intricate ties with them and even acted as allies in certain plans, was uprooted by the Long family in a way that was almost 'divine punishment,' utterly unreasonable.

Elder 'Hawkeye' of the 'Holy Light Council,' that ancient existence who was once their equal, even superior in some aspects, was effortlessly obliterated from half a world away, like crushing an ant.

This made those of their same rank feel a chilling empathy.

After a long while, the most senior Grand Elder, whose hair and beard were both white, slowly spoke. His voice was hoarse and heavy, like two rusty metals rubbing together, setting the final tone for this event, which was destined to be recorded in history.

"Endurance."

A single word, yet it seemed to drain all his strength.

"From today onwards, all actions against the Long family and against Lin Tian are indefinitely suspended. Until the 'Twin Stars' truly grow up and possess the strength to contend with such 'rule-level' power, we... need to lie low."

He scanned all the Elders present, his eyes filled with unwillingness, but more so with rationality and clarity in the face of absolute power.

"Allocate all of the organization's S-level strategic resources to Adam and Kyle. Tell them to forget the current humiliation, and transform that hatred into the most extreme motivation. The Long family's Old Ancestor cannot protect Lin Tian forever; the era ultimately belongs to the young. The day of future revenge will not be far off."

Facing the Long family's absolute and unreasonable strength, even the proud 'Holy Mountain' had to temporarily lower their noble heads, choosing the most humiliating but also the wisest strategic endurance. They placed all their hopes on the 'Twin Stars' who were undergoing a painful metamorphosis...

Compared to the oppressive and heavy atmosphere of a funeral at the 'Holy Mountain,' the atmosphere at the 'War God Academy' was somewhat subtle and peculiar.

Elder Wang, who had been humiliated at Kunlun Airport earlier, was now reporting in detail to the other members of the council about Bai Feng's crushing defeat, as well as Lin Tian's unfathomable strength and endless trump cards, still with lingering fear. His voice still carried an unerasable tremble.

The council members listened to the report, their expressions varied. There was gravity, astonishment, but more often, a scrutinizing gaze as if facing an equally matched opponent, and even a hint of... excitement.

The 'War God Academy,' as the world's top Martial Artist Holy Land, has always maintained a neutral stance, focusing more on the cultivation and research of 'Genius,' and even the dissection and analysis of 'Prodigy.' In their view, Lin Tian's appearance was not so much a threat as an... unprecedented, perfectly valuable research sample.

"Interesting, truly interesting."

A clear, ethereal voice, like a heavenly melody, broke the silence of the conference room. The voice showed no trace of tension, but rather a hint of pleasure, as if discovering a new toy.

Everyone's gaze involuntarily converged on the beautiful woman sitting at the head, whose temperament was like a banished immortal, seemingly untouched by worldly affairs.

Bai Zhi.

The true, undisputed 'new king' of this generation of the 'War God Academy,' hailed as the ultimate Genius, the 'Goddess of Wisdom.'

After listening to all the reports, including the final video about 'the Third Old Ancestor obliterating a demigod,' she showed no anger or hostility. Instead, her clear eyes, as deep as the sea of wisdom, sparkled with intense interest, like a chess player discovering a masterpiece.

She gently tapped the tabletop, made of unknown white jade, and spoke in an almost evaluative tone:

"To make Bai Feng lose so thoroughly in his most Good at Domain of strategy, almost to the point of a Dao Heart collapse, this Lin Tian indeed has the qualifications to be my opponent."

After a pause, she added a sentence that stunned Elder Wang and others present.

"Inform Bai Feng not to be discouraged. Tell him that encountering an opponent of Lin Tian's caliber and surviving his hands is not a disgrace, but the most precious experience of his life. Let him recuperate well and summarize his gains and losses. The future stage is still vast; losing one game of chess does not mean losing the entire life."

This demeanor, this breadth of vision, made all the council members present nod in approval.

Compared to the 'Holy Mountain's' 'endurance' filled with hatred and unwillingness, this new king of the 'War God Academy' had clearly taken a higher dimension to view this failure. In her eyes, Lin Tian was not an enemy to be killed, but an anticipated opponent who could make the game more interesting...

As the external storm intensified and countless forces were sleepless, the eye of the storm was a place of unprecedented tranquility and peace.

Lin Tian returned to the group headquarters, where order had been restored.

He walked slowly down the central avenue of the city. On both sides of the road, all the employees, guards, and even ordinary citizens he had saved stood there spontaneously, watching him with fervent, adoring gazes, as if looking at a god.

Their eyes no longer held the fear and despair from before, only the purest gratitude and faith of those who had survived a catastrophe.

As he passed, cheers erupted from the crowd like a mountain roar and a tsunami, the sound even louder than when the 'Bulwark' squad had descended earlier.

"Mr. Lin!"

"Long live the Chairman!"

Su Mucheng, Long Ao, and others stood behind him, watching this scene of ten thousand people revering him, their hearts filled with the excitement and pride of sharing in his glory.

Lin Tian merely nodded calmly, his expression unchanged. For him, this was merely the respect a king naturally receives.

He walked through the crowd and returned to his top-floor office.

He stood before the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the city below, which was being reborn from the ashes, and at the people within it who held the most fervent faith in him.

He slowly spread out his palm.

In his palm, four 'authority chip' pieces, each shimmering with a different light, floated quietly like four completely tamed stars, emanating an ancient and mysterious aura. They resonated with each other in a marvelous way, as if cheering for the imminent reunion.

All enemies had been settled.

All pieces had returned to their positions.

This chapter, filled with blood and fire, conspiracy and betrayal, thus came to a Perfection.

And the key to the next, grander, more mysterious chapter, was already in his grasp.