Chapter 174: Dilemma of the clan elders
A cold chuckle escaped Alex’s lips.
The sound was not loud.
Yet the moment it echoed across the plaza, countless people felt chills crawl down their spines.
"...then they may try."
Silence followed afterward.
Complete silence.
Even the wind itself seemed to freeze for a brief moment.
The supreme elders hidden inside the observation towers felt their hearts tighten violently. Some of them even unconsciously held their breaths.
Those words were simple.
However, the meaning hidden behind them carried terrifying confidence.
Alex was openly declaring that he did not fear the Light God Temple.
Lucien himself became briefly stunned.
Although he had already realized Alex was unfathomable, hearing such words spoken so casually still caused waves to rise inside his heart.
Meanwhile, Leon stood behind Alex with his mind completely shaken.
For years, he had lived cautiously while hiding his bloodline. Fear had followed him since childhood. Every place he entered carried the possibility of betrayal. Every smiling face could secretly belong to the temple.
Yet this man had simply accepted him without hesitation.
Not only that.
Alex had openly declared protection before the entire academy.
Leon slowly lowered his head.
His fists tightened silently.
Inside the distant observation tower, several elders immediately began communicating through spiritual transmission.
"This is troublesome."
"Extremely troublesome."
"The Light God Temple will never ignore this matter."
A thin old man wearing silver robes narrowed his eyes coldly.
"We should immediately report this matter to the temple."
Another elder instantly frowned.
"And offend that monster below?"
The silver robed elder’s expression darkened.
"Then what do you suggest? The temple specifically warned all major clans. Concealing descendants of the Demonic Sword Clan is equivalent to treason."
A heavy silence descended afterward.
Nobody answered immediately.
Because every person present understood the real problem.
The issue was no longer Leon.
The issue was Alex.
One elder slowly exhaled before speaking in a grave tone.
"Have any of you actually sensed his cultivation clearly?"
The surrounding elders became silent once more.
Not a single person could answer.
Because none of them had sensed anything.
That was the most terrifying part.
Alex stood there calmly without releasing even the slightest pressure. Yet merely standing near him caused everyone to instinctively feel fear.
It was like facing an endless ocean.
Or a bottomless abyss.
Impossible to measure.
The silver robed elder clenched his jaw slightly.
"The Light God Temple possesses divine level experts. No matter how mysterious he is, he cannot possibly challenge the temple alone."
A white haired elder immediately sneered afterward.
"And if he actually can?"
The question caused everyone’s expressions to stiffen.
The white haired elder continued slowly.
"Do not forget what happened three days ago."
"The Sky Flame Sect’s grand elder attempted to probe his cultivation with spiritual sense."
"And what happened afterward?"
Nobody spoke.
The atmosphere became noticeably heavier.
The white haired elder’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"His soul was damaged instantly."
"He remains unconscious even now."
Cold air spread through the tower.
Many elders had secretly heard rumors regarding that incident already. However, hearing it confirmed directly still caused fear to rise within their hearts.
A supreme elder suddenly spoke in a low voice.
"What if... he truly possesses strength above this continent?"
The moment those words appeared, the entire tower became deathly quiet.
Above this continent.
That phrase alone carried enormous implications.
The silver robed elder immediately shook his head.
"Impossible."
However, despite saying that, even he lacked confidence.
Because Alex was simply too strange.
Nobody knew his origin.
Nobody knew his cultivation.
Nobody knew his age.
Yet the academy headmaster himself treated him with extreme respect.
More importantly, Alex’s reaction after hearing the name of the Light God Temple remained completely indifferent.
That was not arrogance.
It was genuine unconcern.
As though the temple truly meant nothing to him.
Far below, the atmosphere within the plaza remained tense.
Many students quietly stared at Leon with complicated expressions.
Some revealed envy.
Some showed fear.
Others secretly admired Alex’s overwhelming confidence.
At that moment, a loud laugh suddenly echoed from another observation tower.
"Hahaha! Interesting! Truly interesting!"
A burly old man wearing crimson robes stepped out openly this time without bothering to conceal himself anymore.
His sudden appearance shocked many students instantly.
"That is the Crimson Blade Clan’s ancestor!"
"He personally came here?"
"Heavens..."
The old man ignored the crowd entirely while staring directly at Alex below.
His sharp eyes carried intense interest.
"Teacher Alex," he called loudly, "this old man admires your courage greatly."
Several nearby elders immediately changed expressions.
This old bastard actually dared to openly show support?
The crimson robed elder continued laughing.
"The Light God Temple has become increasingly overbearing these years. Someone needed to challenge their arrogance eventually."
The silver robed elder’s face darkened instantly.
"Crimson old ghost, watch your words!"
The crimson elder merely snorted.
"What? Are you scared already?"
His eyes swept across the surrounding towers mockingly.
"You people call yourselves supreme elders, yet all of you tremble like frightened rats after hearing the temple’s name."
"You’ve cultivated for hundreds of years only to lose your spine completely."
Several elders became furious instantly.
"Old bastard!"
"Do not drag us into your madness!"
However, despite their anger, nobody dared to truly escalate the conflict.
Because the current situation was simply too sensitive.
Meanwhile, Lucien silently observed the scene while inwardly sighing.
The academy was about to become the center of a terrifying storm.
And this storm had only just begun.
At that moment, Alex suddenly moved again.
His gaze swept across the remaining students calmly.
"The selection will continue," he said indifferently.
The students immediately straightened.
However, compared to before, their mentality had completely changed now.
Earlier, they viewed Alex as mysterious and powerful.
Now?
Many of them already viewed him as someone capable of opposing the Light God Temple itself.
That was an entirely different level of existence.
Alex slowly walked through the plaza while continuing to observe the students.
Several chosen disciples were selected one after another.
One possessed extraordinary soul perception.
Another carried an unusually stable dao heart.
A quiet girl from a declining clan possessed terrifying ice affinity hidden beneath weak cultivation.
Every person Alex selected possessed unique qualities others had overlooked.
Meanwhile, inside the observation towers, the elders continued arguing intensely through spiritual transmissions.
"We cannot stay neutral forever."
"The temple will eventually investigate."
"If they learn we concealed information..."
"And if we offend Alex now?"
The arguments became increasingly heated.
Nobody could reach a decision.
For the first time in many years, these supreme elders discovered themselves trapped between two terrifying choices.
Offend the Light God Temple.
Or offend Alex.
Neither option seemed survivable.
Finally, the silver robed elder spoke again with cold determination.
"We should secretly inform the temple while avoiding direct involvement."
A nearby elder frowned immediately.
"And when the temple arrives here?"
The silver robed elder remained silent briefly before answering.
"Then we observe."
"If Alex falls, we lose nothing."
"And if the temple fails..."
His voice slowly became heavier.
"...then we immediately sever all relations with the temple."
The surrounding elders inhaled sharply.
That decision was dangerous beyond imagination.
However, nobody could deny its logic.
At that moment, far above the academy, hidden beyond the clouds themselves, a pair of ancient golden eyes slowly opened.
The eyes silently gazed downward toward Alex.
Several seconds passed quietly.
Then an ancient voice echoed softly within the void.
"So... another variable has appeared."
A faint trace of amusement emerged within that voice afterward.
"The continent is about to become lively again."
