Stepping into the hall, Lin Lei swept his gaze around. "There are only twelve elders here, after all." The Azure Dragon Clan actually had thirty-six elders in total. The other elders in the hall saw Lin Lei and greeted him with smiles.
"Lin Lei, sit over here," Elder Gavi called out.
Lin Lei walked over and sat beside Gavi.
This Council of Elders was held in the hall, where a large, dark-red round table was placed, surrounded by chairs. Lin Lei glanced around and noticed, "Huh? Why are there only sixteen chairs?"
The round table was large enough to have forty chairs around it. Yet only sixteen were set out.
"Gavi, are there only sixteen chairs? Aren't there thirty-six elders?" Lin Lei asked in a low voice.
"The elders stationed in Blood Battle Valley don't come," Gavi explained.
Lin Lei sighed inwardly.
This Blood Battle Valley was the most crucial location within the entire Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range. It was also the gathering place for the strongest members of the Azure Dragon Clan, the Vermilion Bird Clan, the White Tiger Clan, and the Black Tortoise Clan. The Azure Dragon Clan had a full twenty elders stationed there.
"They don't even come for the Council of Elders," Lin Lei thought. The day he became an elder, there had only been a dozen or so elders in the great hall. None of the elders from Blood Battle Valley had shown up.
"Those elders in Blood Battle Valley are indeed risking their lives to fight for the clan," Gavi had explained fifteen days ago when he and Lin Lei were discussing elder responsibilities. He then spoke of Blood Battle Valley.
Eight great families were eyeing them covetously. The Four Divine Beast Clans were facing a crisis. Although they could hide in the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range and live like turtles pulling their heads in, the Four Divine Beast Clans were proud. Would they hide forever?
Moreover, how could a large clan permanently cut itself off from the outside world? The Four Divine Beast Clans needed to interact with the outside, and those sent to do so would face slaughter and attack from the eight great families.
Could the Four Divine Beast Clans remain silent? Impossible!
They had to retaliate, had to strike back hard. Thus, 'Blood Battle Valley' was formed.
Blood Battle Valley was where the majority of the strong members of the Four Divine Beast Clans gathered. For example, the Azure Dragon Clan had twenty elders there, along with many six-star demons. The minimum requirement to enter Blood Battle Valley was being a six-star demon.
Blood Battle Valley was the true gathering place of the elites of the Four Divine Beast Clans.
"All sixteen elders have arrived," an elder with silver hair announced from the side of the round table. "The Council of Elders convenes once every millennium. Compared to the last time, our clan has gained one new elder. This is cause for celebration."
Many elders smiled and looked towards Lin Lei.
Lin Lei smiled and nodded to each elder, then looked at the silver-haired old man. He recognized him as the Second Elder of the Elder Council and also the son of the Patriarch, 'Geisserison'.
"For now, we will set aside the discussion of assignments," the Second Elder said formally. "Allow me to recount the achievements over this past millennium of our Azure Dragon Clan's twenty elders stationed in Blood Battle Valley."
All the elders' expressions became solemn.
Blood Battle Valley represented the continuous, bloody struggle between the Four Divine Beast Clans and the eight great families.
"Our Azure Dragon Clan's twenty elders have, over the millennia, slain two seven-star demons and thirty-six six-star demons from the enemy ranks! The number of high-level gods beyond that is countless," the Second Elder declared, his voice resonant and firm.
So many?
Lin Lei was secretly shocked. A millennium was a very short time for divine-level powerhouses. Yet in this short span, the Azure Dragon Clan alone had killed two enemy seven-star demons and thirty-six six-star demons.
How many of the enemy's experts had the entire Blood Battle Valley actually killed?
"The struggle between the Four Divine Beast Clans and the eight great families is truly brutal," Lin Lei thought.
"However, among our twenty elders, two have suffered significant power loss: the Eleventh Elder, 'Bondun', and the Ninth Elder, 'Gifusi'. Elder Bondun's most powerful water-type divine clone was destroyed, and he no longer possesses seven-star demon strength. He is currently in secluded cultivation. As for Gifusi, his most powerful water-type divine clone was also destroyed. Fortunately, his main body has never refined a divine spark. He refined a water-type divine spark with his main body, so his strength has been restored... But from now on, his progress will likely be halted," the Second Elder stated gravely.
Instantly, the atmosphere in the hall grew heavy.
"Two elders—one without seven-star demon strength, the other unable to progress further," Lin Lei sighed inwardly.
Lin Lei knew the rules of Blood Battle Valley. The elders stationed there for battle would leave their weaker clones behind. That way, even if their main bodies were killed in battle, their clones would remain.
Presumably, the enemy did the same.
Although the report stated they had killed two seven-star demons, those enemy seven-star demons likely also had clones left at their base.
"Having a main body that hasn't refined a divine spark has its advantages."
That elder named 'Gifusi' had his most powerful water-type divine clone destroyed. But since his main body had never refined a divine spark, just like Lin Lei, this elder could use his main body to continuously refine water-type divine sparks until he became a high-level god.
Because his comprehension of water-type fusion was already established.
Therefore, even if he reached high-level god status by refining divine sparks, his strength wouldn't differ much from before. Only... he would find it difficult to advance further.
For Lin Lei, even if his earth-type divine clone were destroyed and he could no longer cast 'Black Stone Space', he could still have his main body sequentially refine low-level, mid-level, and high-level earth-type divine sparks.
Then, Lin Lei would still be able to cast 'Black Stone Space'. He just wouldn't be able to improve.
"This time, besides the two elders mentioned who will withdraw from Blood Battle Valley, the Sixth Elder, who has been fighting there for another three thousand years, will also withdraw! Therefore, among us sixteen, three must be sent to fill the positions!" the Second Elder announced loudly.
Instantly, the elders present began discussing via divine sense transmission or lost in thought.
"Three elders are going to Blood Battle Valley?" Lin Lei understood clearly what entering Blood Battle Valley meant.
"Because the Patriarch has ordered, as punishment, that Immanuel must report to the Grand Elder. Therefore, among us sixteen, Immanuel must go to Blood Battle Valley. So, we will choose two more from the remaining fifteen," the Second Elder continued.