Chapter 224: Chapter 200: Sharp Transformation, A Qualitative Leap

The Princes from the other clans exchanged glances. With their ancestors’ protection, they now felt safe enough to enter the city, unafraid of any tricks the Celestial Race might pull.

Saying no more, the twenty-plus Princes filed into the city.

"Father, I really didn’t do it! I didn’t do anything! Father, you have to believe your son... I’m truly innocent!" Atop the city walls, the Sixth Prince was still shouting at the top of his lungs.

But no one paid him any mind.

Only a wall of spears pressed in around him.

"Your Highness, Sixth Prince, just keep kneeling peacefully. Once the ancestors have concluded their discussions, the Clan King will handle this himself."

"I really didn’t abduct the bride... I truly didn’t..." The light in Sixth Prince Mueller’s eyes dimmed; he could already foresee how this incident would be resolved.

But he couldn’t accept it.

He had truly done nothing at all...

...

「As the Celestial Race "gathering" began,」

eight elders were also assembled inside the Eastern District Fortress of the City of Hope.

Aside from "Ghost Eyes" Li Tiannan and "Celestial Eye" Zhang Dingmou—who was stationed at the Eastern District Fortress—the other six had all hurried here from across the City of Hope.

Right now, all eyes were fixed on Li Tiannan, as he was the one who had just returned from the Elf Race’s territory in the Eastern District.

"A military exercise, ten four-man scout teams, and that’s it." Li Tiannan knew what everyone wanted to ask, so he got straight to the point.

"That’s it?"

"That’s it."

"Thirteen of the Strongest gathered in the Celestial Race Royal City... Something like this hasn’t happened in over a decade. I fear it’s not as simple as it seems!" Celestial Eye Zhang Dingmou spoke up after a moment of silence.

"Some time ago, Chen Yichuan brought back intel that the alien races possess a ’Seed of Resurrection’ that allows for early revival," Li Tiannan added. "Perhaps this is related?"

"The Seed of Resurrection? You can’t be suggesting... that the alien races are planning to attack ahead of schedule?"

"It’s not entirely out of the question."

"..."

The entire room fell silent.

The possibility of an early attack is something any normal strategy would consider. However, the aliens’ twenty-year cycle had become such an established fact. Who would have given this matter a second thought?

Besides, if this turned out to be true, humanity’s fate would be truly grim.

It would mean that the Strongest of the alien races had already completed their cycle ahead of schedule. All of humanity’s original plans would be in shambles, leaving them completely unable to stand against the alien races.

"Regardless, with thirteen alien Strongest gathered with the Celestial Race, we must prepare for the worst-case scenario!" Zhang Dingmou spoke up again.

"What are your thoughts, Elder Qin?" All eyes turned to the most senior elder present.

"If we’re truly preparing for the worst, then we only have that one plan left..."

"Must we truly resort to this? Five hundred million people... how many can we even save? This is the land that gave us life, the land that raised us! I absolutely refuse to leave!"

"I won’t leave either!"

"Even if I have to die, I’d rather die here than out there!"

"Right!"

"Since no one is willing to leave, we’re back to square one. We can’t rely on us old geezers anymore; our only hope lies with the younger generation!"

"Are you talking about the reform, Elder Wang?"

"Yes. The only thing we can do now is buy as much time as possible. But if the aliens attack ahead of schedule, then the reform must also be pushed forward. We can’t keep delaying this; it has to happen now!"

"But isn’t the reform already underway?"

"Only within the Military Department."

Everyone fell silent once more.

The Military Department had proposed the reform, a plan that was put forward a long time ago. Yet, even now, its progress remained slow. The resistance was simply too great.

"Gentlemen, we’re all old..." Elder Wang spoke again.

"Fine. Since it’s come to this, I have no objections. You all decide."

"I have no objections either."

"None."

...

"This isn’t a matter of having objections; it’s a matter of mandatory execution! This is a life-or-death situation. What’s the point of bickering over resource allocation now?" Li Tiannan’s gaze turned cold.

Silence again.

"You old fools, the aliens are already making their move! How much longer are we going to wait? Until they’re breaking down our gates?" Elder Wang spoke up again.

"Even if we go through with the reform, what about the slots? It’s easy to talk about pooling resources, but who gets those slots? We can’t just ignore that question, can we?"

"That’s right. The agreement was for the Military Department to lead the way. You’ve had your head start, so what are the results? Have you even finalized your own slots yet?"

"The slots for the ’seeds’ have always been decided by fair competition. What’s there to argue about?"

"Fair? Is there such a thing as absolute fairness? At the very least, we have to consider their background and character, right? What if we pour all these resources into a traitor? Everything would be ruined!"

"Enough. Let the younger generation handle the matter of the slots. What are we old men arguing for?" Elder Qin finally interjected.

"Elder Qin, you mean...?"

"The Military Department, the major clans, and... the descendants of us old men—each will put forth some candidates. As for whether those candidates are ultimately chosen, that will depend on their own merits!"

"What Elder Qin suggests... is one way to do it. I have no objections."

"Let’s do as Elder Qin says."

"Then how do we allocate the selections?"

"The Military Department, the major clans, and the descendants of us old men will each nominate 200 people to start. How you choose them is your business! But in the end, the number of final slots is fixed. You should understand what I mean!"

"Two hundred people?! The Military Department has hundreds of thousands of soldiers... How many do their clans even have...?"

"Elder Wang!" Li Tiannan shook his head.

"Fine! Since Elder Qin has spoken, the Military Department has no objections!"

"We have no objections either."

"No objections."

"Alright, then it’s settled. We old men will make another trip out. These are turbulent times. We can’t just leave that group of people stranded in the Dark Night Elf Clan’s territory..." As he spoke, Elder Qin’s gaze fell upon Li Tiannan.

"Let’s go!" The others stood up one by one.

"Thank you," Li Tiannan said with a smile.

"Don’t be so formal, Old Li. If fifty high-tier fighters were truly lost to the Elf Race, it’s not just a loss your Military Department couldn’t bear—the entire Human Alliance couldn’t afford it!"

"And a thousand elites!"

"Haha, very well. Then let’s go bring those one thousand elites home!"

"..."

...

「On the outskirts of the Dark Night Elf Royal City.」

Gao Neng, who had been moving stealthily, finally came to a halt.

The explosive energy rampaging inside his body had gradually subsided. He could feel his body undergoing some kind of extraordinary metamorphosis.

’It seems this Spring of Life does more than just boost my energy.’ Gao Neng found a suitable spot and poked a small hole for air.

He peered through the small hole.

A forest.

Nothing but green... and more green!

He couldn’t get his bearings at all.

Moreover, he had no idea which garrison on the second defensive line the Human Alliance army had captured. He could guess the first, but he had no clue about the second.

’Fang Tangtang said the Military Department would be in the Elf Camp for three days. It’s already the middle of the night, so there’s no rush to find the main force. It’s probably better to find a place to focus on this metamorphosis.’ Gao Neng knew that an opportunity for metamorphosis was incredibly rare. If he missed this one, he might never get another chance.

He settled down and began to carefully focus on the feeling.

Just as Fang Tangtang had said.

Lin Ying had transformed just from eating a single Elf Fruit.

Treasures could change a person.

’And he had drunk at least a whole barrel of the Spring of Life.’

’And not only that, he had also kidnapped the Seventh Princess of the Elf Race. He still had her Space Necklace on him. Could there be things like Elf Fruits inside?’

Thinking of this...

Gao Neng felt a surge of excitement.

’The haul this time was truly massive. My strength has successfully broken through to Tier Three, and it feels like I’m at least at the Tier Three Mid Stage, maybe even on the verge of reaching the Late Stage.’

’I just wonder if this metamorphosis could push me all the way to Tier Four in one fell swoop?’

’Tier Four!’

’A qualitative leap!’