Looking at the group of gods gathered, brimming with excitement, Lan Xiao couldn't bring herself to speak the words in her heart. She knew that if she did, it wouldn't be honesty, but foolishness! Didn't she see Chen Fan, known for his fiery temper and impulsive nature, remain silent and keep signaling at her?
Lan Xiao smiled bitterly, understanding very well that Chen Fan understood too. Although the world below was not as powerful as the divine realm overall, it was not a place they could easily crush either!
Especially Heavenly Emperor Chu Mo, he was truly an unmatched hero and a peerless fierce figure.
Lan Xiao's appearance was considered top-notch throughout the divine realm. Generally, when attending those banquets, she attracted countless suitors. Who among them wasn't exceptionally polite and graceful in front of her?
Only Chu Mo was different!
That emperor from the lower realm, whom she hadn't initially regarded as a lowly being, delivered a fierce punch to her face, and in that instant, Lan Xiao's inner feelings were incredibly complex. On one hand, she hated Chu Mo for being so insensitive, striking a girl without mercy.
Yet on the other hand, for some reason, deep within her heart, there was an inexplicable sense of joy!
It was as if... as if she had seen a real man!
Indeed, before this, those young men from the divine realm never counted as real men in her eyes; they were gods... On gods, there was only divinity, lacking true masculinity or manly vigor!
Although some of the divine realm males also displayed considerable charisma, with strong auras and impressive bearings, in Lan Xiao's eyes, those qualities seemed more like affectation—something immature young men used to attract the opposite sex.
Like the peacocks of the Peacock Clan, they displayed their brightest feathers to attract mates.
In two words: immature.
As for the elders, although they were extremely composed and also very graceful, Lan Xiao felt they lacked something essential.
Until she met Chu Mo!
Until Chu Mo punched her in the face, and with a few blows, completely shattered her head.
Although Lan Xiao was unwilling to admit it, she was acutely aware that she might never forget this man!
The savage, domineering, and overpowering presence of him impacted her with a pleasure she had never experienced before.
At that moment, she really wanted to transform from a girl into a woman.
Therefore, when these people spoke of Chu Mo being insane, harboring the delusion of challenging the divine realm as a mere lower realm emperor, in her heart, Lan Xiao thought the opposite. She felt that this Human Clan emperor might... just might succeed!
Deep down, Lan Xiao even felt a bit of longing to return to that world, though she had never considered going there and didn't like anything about that world.
Compared to the divine realm, that world was too filthy and too crude!
The feeling was like a princess in a palace stepping out for the first time into the common market, watching people feasting on the roadside. Although she was intensely disgusted deep in her heart, she felt an equally strong desire arising in her bones.
At this time, Senior Elder Lan spoke up, saying, "There's still room for negotiation in this matter. A single refusal doesn't necessarily mean a genuine refusal. Maybe he thinks our sincerity is lacking, perceiving our promises as mere lies..."
Saying this, Senior Elder Lan looked around at everyone: "I propose that this time, we send Chen Fan and Lan Xiao to run another errand. This time..."
Before he finished speaking, Du Wei's uncle, carrying Du Wei, flew over directly and harshly dropped Du Wei before everyone, saying outright, "I've brought this disobedient son here. This incapable fool dared to make up lies to mislead us, almost causing a major disaster. You may deal with this useless brat as you wish!"
Du Wei's uncle's words were harsh, but in reality, everyone present was an old fox, too shrewd not to understand his true intentions. Although he spoke harshly, he still hoped they would give Du Wei another chance.
"Almost caused a major disaster."
This sentence was the key.
Almost meant it had not happened. Since no major disaster occurred, dealing with an incapable brat, even killing him, would be meaningless.
Du Wei, his divine power sealed, lay prostrate on the ground, looking very pathetic. His face was ominously pale, his eyes tightly shut. He knew Lan Xiao and Chen Fan must be here, but he didn't have the courage to look at them.
Only at this point did he suddenly feel some regret, thinking that if he hadn't turned and fled at that time, but stayed with them... he would have certainly been fine now, right? Little did he expect that those big figures didn't care at all about his allegiance to a mortal from the lower realm or becoming someone's servant. If he had known this, why did he run?
He was just afraid that once he pledged loyalty to that human and became someone's servant, it would become his biggest stain, and he would lose the qualification to return to the divine realm.
In hindsight, he realized he was naive and immature to the extreme, indeed childishly naive!
Even though he believed himself to be mature and steady, boasting far greater wisdom than others.
Utterly nonsensical wisdom, just a stupid fool beyond compare!
Endless regret now filled Du Wei's heart, for he truly felt unbearably uncomfortable. He knew very well that after this incident, any possible ties between him and Lan Xiao or Chen Fan were conclusively severed.
Even the most forgiving person could not return to being life-and-death companions with someone who once betrayed them.
With this thought, a couple of tears actually rolled down from Du Wei's tightly closed eyes.
At this moment, Senior Elder Lan glanced at Du Wei and sighed, "Forget it, let him go home. From now on... anything related to the Three Major Clans will have nothing to do with the child."
Wow!
Du Wei, lying on the ground in utter disgrace, couldn't help but burst into tears.
At this moment, he knew he was completely finished!
From now on, although he remains a legitimate son of the Du Clan of the Three Major Clans, all matters of the Three Major Clans are unrelated to him. He will not be confined or receive any punishment. But from now on, he is utterly abandoned.
He will no longer receive those top-tier resources, nor will he have any power. As for identity and status... what power and status can a person abandoned by the Three Major Clans have?
Over there, Lan Xiao and Chen Fan, upon seeing Du Wei crying, both revealed a hint of pity on their faces; after all, they had been good friends for many years. However, even though they felt some pity, both held back and did not plead for Du Wei.
On one hand, these significant figures present were unlikely to give them this face. Of course, this was not the most important thing; the important thing was that they did not want to plead for this.
Therefore, Du Wei was eventually dragged away.
Many times, the affairs of the world are such that a single thought can decide between heaven and hell.
Senior Elder Lan seemed unaffected by this matter and continued discussing with everyone, "My idea is to let these two children go there. They are inconspicuous and won't arouse great vigilance. Plus, they have a connection with the Heavenly Lord Chu. However, this time, my idea is to let them take a million crystal stones directly."
A million crystal stones?
Everyone present couldn't help but to show a look of shock.
This is indeed a huge fortune.
Even for the Three Great Families to take out such a large sum is quite painful.
However, no one said anything and quietly observed Senior Elder Lan.
The reason they respected Senior Elder Lan like this is justified, as before the collapse of the divine realm this time, Senior Elder Lan represented the Three Great Families and controlled the fourth ruling seat of the Human Clan!
The other three seats were held by the heads of the Three Great Families. Nowadays, the three family heads have other matters to handle, thus the Palace of Ten Thousand Gods here is left for Senior Elder Lan to preside over.
"A million crystal stones, this is a massive fortune. I believe everyone is aware. But in my view, this is still not enough." Senior Elder Lan astonishingly remarked, "My meaning is that these are merely an advance payment."
Just an advance payment?
At this, the other significant figures present became somewhat uneasy. They looked at Senior Elder Lan with bitter smiles on their faces.
"Elder, might this be... overestimating that Human Emperor a bit?"
"Indeed, isn't it a bit excessive? Do we need to flatter that person like this?"
"Would this make them feel... we're begging them?"
"Could it foster a sense of pride in them?"
"For a being from the lower realm... is this necessary?"
Many people directly questioned. Although they did not openly criticize Senior Elder Lan, the dissatisfaction in their tone was quite evident.
For a very simple reason, this asset is a collective asset of the Three Great Families. The more assets there are, the more these significant figures stand to gain. The fewer assets, the more they shrink during distribution.
No one is willing to divide their profits from their own pockets, and they are naturally unwilling. Not to mention these crystal stones are fundamentally not ordinary wealth. They are the basis of their existence!
Senior Elder Lan took in all of the reactions of the crowd, then he calmly said, "My suggestion is, five million crystal stones for a ruling seat, plus the divine qualification of ten billion souls. Also, this Palace of Ten Thousand Gods... after success, we will gift it to him!"
Senior Elder Lan's words were truly earth-shattering, stunning everyone present.
They dumbfoundedly looked at Senior Elder Lan, wondering if he was really an insignificant and cheap Human Clan creature in disguise. Did he go mad to suggest such a proposal?
Among these ideas, they could only accept one!
That is, giving Heavenly Emperor Chu a ruling seat in the future after success. This, for them, was already the greatest concession!
Moreover, in their thinking, that seat would be reclaimed some years after success! Either by then, Chu Mo would also be a puppet of their Three Great Clans.
Otherwise, how could such an important position be held by others long-term?
So now, in everyone's eyes, Senior Elder Lan's proposal is not a joke; it is that he has gone insane.