Chapter 454: Chapter 454 To Save the World, I Must First Find a Decent Pair of Sandals

Even the furious elders from earlier suddenly became quiet.

Many expressions turned extremely grave.

These old monsters had all lived for millions of years and possessed knowledge far beyond ordinary cultivators.

Because of this, they understood something that ordinary people did not.

The outside world beyond Azure Heaven Continent was unimaginably vast and terrifying.

Compared to the greater universe beyond, Azure Heaven Continent was merely a remote corner of existence.

And the experts who descended from those greater worlds...

Every single one of them was monstrous beyond imagination.

In the ancient records of the Ming Clan, there had once been terrifying outsiders who suppressed entire continents single-handedly.

Some had even destroyed immortal inheritances that stood for millions of years.

Thus, no one dared underestimate the possibility.

If Lin Feng truly came from beyond Azure Heaven Continent... then provoking him recklessly could potentially bring disaster upon the entire Ming Clan.

The elders gradually fell into deep thought.

Finally, all of them slowly turned their gazes toward the very front of the hall.

There, upon the highest seat beneath the ancient clan emblem, sat a middle-aged man in black robes.

The man had remained silent the entire time.

His face was calm and unreadable, yet the pressure radiating from him caused even the surrounding space to distort faintly.

Merely sitting there quietly made him seem like the center of the entire world.

He was the current clan leader of the ancient Ming Clan.

At this moment, every elder present waited for him to decide their next course of action.

"I have heard all your opinions," the clan leader finally said after a long silence.

His calm but authoritative voice instantly suppressed the noisy discussions within the grand hall. "And I think we should do both."

The elders immediately quieted down and listened carefully.

"We all know how troublesome it is to deal with ancient clans like ours," the clan leader continued while slowly sweeping his gaze across everyone present.

"We are stubborn, prideful, and set in our ways. Once a decision is made, very few are willing to compromise. If we attempt to pressure the other side directly, matters may only worsen further."

Several elders nodded in agreement. Ancient clans had existed for countless years.

Their pride was rooted deeply into their bones.

Even in the face of destruction, many would rather die than lower their heads.

"But," the clan leader said, his tone turning heavier, "we also cannot afford to do nothing. Ming Ye and Old Xi are important figures of our clan. Their capture has already caused enough damage to our reputation. If word continues spreading across the continent unchecked, others may begin to think our Ming Clan has become weak."

The expressions of many people in the hall darkened slightly. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

That was precisely what they feared the most.

The ancient clans stood above countless powers not only because of their strength but because of their untouchable image.

The moment cracks appeared in that image, hidden enemies would begin circling like wolves smelling blood.

"Therefore," the clan leader concluded, "we shall prepare for both peace and force. Secretly gather our experts and place them on standby, but publicly, we will first send someone to negotiate for Ming Ye and Old Xi’s release. See it done before the day ends."

The hall quickly became lively once more.

"This subordinate agrees!"

"A wise decision, Clan Leader!"

"If negotiations fail, we can still move later."

Soon, the discussion shifted toward selecting the negotiators.

"We cannot send ordinary people," one elder said seriously. "Lin Feng is no fool. If our sincerity is lacking, he may not even bother meeting them."

Another elder narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Furthermore, we must be careful with our attitude. Young geniuses like him are arrogant by nature. Too much pressure may provoke him instead."

"Hmph. He already captured people from our Ming Clan. Do we still need to lower ourselves before a junior?" an elderly man coldly snorted.

"And what if that junior truly possesses heaven-defying backing?" another elder replied calmly. "Have you forgotten the rumors surrounding him recently?"

That immediately caused the old man to fall silent.

The recent rise of Lin Feng had simply been too shocking.

His fame was spreading throughout the Azure Heaven Continent at an unbelievable speed.

Not only was his strength mysterious, but his true origins were also shrouded in mystery.

After some time, another elder slowly spoke.

"I think we should send a woman."

The hall became slightly quiet.

"Oh?"

The elder stroked his beard and calmly explained, "Lin Feng is still a man in the end. No matter how talented or mysterious he may be, men will always share certain tendencies. From the information gathered so far, he does not dislike beautiful women. In fact, there are already many exceptional women surrounding him."

Several people exchanged glances before nodding subtly.

"That makes sense."

"A female negotiator would also soften the atmosphere."

"If things go well, perhaps she can even improve our relationship with him."

The clan leader silently listened before finally giving a slight nod.

"Very well. Select someone intelligent, adaptable, and presentable. Remember, she represents the face of our Ming Clan. Do not embarrass us."

"Yes, Clan Leader!"

Orders were immediately passed down throughout the ancient clan.

Servants hurried through the enormous palaces while elders began making preparations.

Information networks were activated, treasures were gathered, and several hidden experts quietly entered standby in case negotiations failed.

The atmosphere within the Ming Clan became strangely tense.

Although the clan still appeared calm on the surface, everyone could feel the invisible pressure looming over them.

It had been a very long time since the Ming Clan had treated an outsider with such seriousness.

Before the sun fully disappeared beneath the horizon, a massive flying boat slowly rose from the depths of the ancient Ming Clan domains.

The flying boat was magnificent and ancient, covered in golden inscriptions that glowed faintly with spiritual light.

Several powerful guards stood at the front and rear like unmoving statues while streams of spiritual qi flowed around the vessel like mist.

Many clansmen raised their heads to watch silently as it departed.

Whoosh!

The enormous flying boat tore through the skies and disappeared into the horizon.

Its destination was naturally the place where the increasingly famous Lin Feng currently resided.