165: Chapter 165 The Meeting: The Last Remaining Power of China!

The China Martial Arts Administration, top-level core conference room.

The heavy dark iron alloy doors were tightly shut, and the walls were engraved with dense restriction patterns, through which not even the mental power of a Divine Will Celestial could penetrate.

Everyone who could sit in this room was a Dharma Aspect Realm powerhouse who held down a region; if any one of them were released, they could shake several provinces.

Yet at this moment, the atmosphere inside the conference room was so heavy it felt nearly frozen.

Master Ming sat at the head of the left side, his fingertips tapping the cold tabletop nonchalantly, a hint of undisguised sarcasm in his eyes.

He swept his gaze over the several white-haired, solemn-aura elders opposite him, and finally unable to suppress the anger in his heart, he let out a cold snort, his words laced with thorns: "You old fogies, finally willing to let go?"

"Back then, you guarded that place tighter than your own lives, terrified that others might take a single extra glance. What's wrong? Now that the beast tide is pressing in step by step, the border defense line is retreating again and again, and we're almost at death's door, only now are you willing to release it?"

As his voice fell, the Grey-robed Elder leading the opposite side furrowed his brows slightly, his aged voice steady and powerful, refuting him unhurriedly:

"Master Ming, you cannot speak like that."

"What was our purpose in controlling that place? It was all for the harmony and peace of all humanity. Just like those high-level cultivation techniques and forbidden martial arts, if they were allowed to spread without restriction, the world would have been in chaos long ago; how could there be the order we have today?"

The elder paused, his tone sinking a few degrees, "Moreover, digging up these old accounts now is meaningless. Communications from abroad have been cut off for five full days; presumably, they have been completely overrun by beasts."

"On the vast Blue Star, it is highly probable that only our China is still struggling to hold on."

"We have reached this point; we should be working together to overcome the difficulties, not like you, creating opposition the moment you open your mouth!"

"You—"

Master Ming slammed the table, golden Divine Intent surging uncontrollably around him. The air in the conference room instantly stagnated, and even the light seemed to distort slightly.

The incident a few days ago where Cultists infiltrated Jingdu Martial Arts University and razed the villa area to the ground had already left him simmering with anger, and now, being provoked by the other party, his temper was about to boil over.

Just as both sides were at daggers drawn, a calm yet supremely dignified aged voice slowly sounded from the head seat.

"That is enough."

Just two words, yet they seemed to carry some kind of strange suppressing power.

The previously restless air instantly calmed down, and Master Ming's surging Divine Intent was also pressed back into his body as if by an invisible giant hand, not even a fraction of the aftermath leaking out.

Everyone in the conference room restrained their expressions and looked collectively toward the head seat.

Sitting there was an extremely elderly man, his eyes cloudy, his back slightly hunched, and his withered fingers resting on the armrest, looking just like an ordinary old man on the verge of death.

Yet no one present dared to show the slightest disrespect.

The old man's cloudy gaze slowly swept over everyone, his voice not loud, yet every word struck clearly into everyone's heart:

"Regardless of how many disagreements or considerations there were in the past, right now, the National Martial Arts Tournament is what we should be pouring our efforts into."

"This is humanity's last remaining hope. If even this sliver of hope is extinguished, then arguing about right or wrong or talking about order in the future will have no meaning at all."

After saying this, his gaze shifted slightly, landing on Master Ming.

"Master Ming."

"I am here."

Master Ming immediately restrained all his anger, bowed, and saluted, his posture respectful to the extreme.

"How is the progress of Jingdu Martial Arts University's research on that object?"

Hearing this, Master Ming showed a trace of shame on his face and replied with his head lowered:

"It is still the same as before. It indeed contains an incomparably vast amount of energy, and its quality far exceeds any spirit crystal or beast core we know of."

"But we have tried every method, whether it is guiding with blood energy or refining with Divine Intent, we simply cannot extract or utilize the power within it. The only certain effect is that if worn close to the body for a long time, it will subtly nourish the physique and temper the Divine Intent, which is of great benefit to cultivation."

The old man nodded slowly upon hearing this, appearing not at all surprised by this result.

"It is precisely because of this that using it as the final reward for the Youth Group of this Martial Arts Tournament is the most reasonable arrangement."

"The child who can fight their way to first place among all the prodigies in China will have no lack of luck, talent, or character. In the hands of such a person, it will be more useful than gathering dust in the hands of us old fogies."

He waved his hand, his voice carrying a hint of imperceptible exhaustion:

"Alright, everyone disperse."

"As for the fate of humanity, in a few more days, it will be revealed."

The moment his voice fell.

The old man's figure sitting there, as if blown away by the wind like dust, began from his fingertips, bit by bit turning into fine specks of light, slowly drifting away into the air. In the blink of an eye, the head seat was empty, as if no one had ever sat there.

The group of Dharma Aspect Realm powerhouses present showed not the slightest surprise at this.

Everyone stood up in unison, straightened their clothes, and bowed respectfully toward the empty head seat.

Their posture was solemn, and they did not straighten up for a long time.

The atmosphere in the conference room became even heavier.