Chapter 814: Everyone Present

As expected, just as the team leader had predicted.

Because he brought back that mysterious Heavenly Artifact Venerable, the matter of the team's losses was simply brushed aside.

Nine hundred Life Artifact bearers — even now, with new Life Artifacts constantly being produced and the number of bearers greatly increased, even surging — are not a combat force that can be lightly discarded.

But compared to a Heavenly Artifact Venerable, they amount to nothing.

The difference in value is that between nine hundred heavy cannons and a single nuclear bomb.

With a nuclear bomb, who cares about Italian cannons? Even multiplied by ten it doesn't matter; multiplied by a hundred, there's room for comparison.

However, the golden path the team leader imagined did not immediately unfold.

He was merely a six-star Life Artifact bearer.

To tell the truth, he wasn't even as good as those nine hundred Life Artifact bearers with strength ranging from one to four stars.

The Heavenly Artifact Venerables gave him a few words of verbal praise and sent him away — now is a critical moment, not a time for commendations.

Everyone should strive and contribute, so as to better resist the extraterritorial demons.

Otherwise, the human race will perish.

At a time like this, still thinking of personal gains and losses — one's ideological awareness is too low.

How could someone with such low ideological awareness hold high position? They need more tempering.

Further matters are shelved for now; we'll talk later.

Ahead of you, there are many people stronger than you, with higher ideological awareness than you.

【11】 The Heavenly Artifact Venerables dispatched that six-star Life Artifact bearer in short order, but toward Tang Luo and Zhu Bajie, they wore faces full of smiles.

The Heavenly Tool Venerable chased away the Six-Star Fate Artifact bearer in a few swift moves, but he wore a broad smile toward Tang Luo and Zhu Bajie.

Mainly toward Zhu Bajie.

Tang Luo, this "nine-star powerhouse," was merely incidental.

The Heavenly Fate Alliance has eleven Heavenly Artifact Venerables in total; adding the injured Tian Yuguang makes eleven and a half.

The number of nine-star Life Artifact bearers directly multiplied by ten, totaling over a hundred.

Not worth the Heavenly Artifact Venerables putting on welcoming smiles.

"I see. Venerable Zhu's lineage is a reclusive one, yet willing to step forward in the face of the human race's great calamity — truly admirable." After conversing a while, Venerable Zhenlong said with a smile.

The eleven Heavenly Artifact Venerables have differing personalities.

Not everyone is willing, and suited, to manage affairs.

Currently in this grand hall there are eight people in total; besides Tang Luo and his disciple, six Venerables are present.

Of the other five Venerables, two left after showing their faces, and three never appeared at all.

They wholeheartedly seclude themselves, seeking a breakthrough in strength.

As for the front lines near the War Fog, bordering the extraterritorial demons and frequently clashing with them — Heavenly Artifact Venerables will not go garrison there; with eight-star and nine-star powerhouses present, they can barely hold for now, and at worst can fight a fighting retreat.

If Heavenly Artifact Venerables went, it would provoke a massive offensive from nearby extraterritorial demons — counterproductive instead.

The extraterritorial demons still retain a certain degree of respect for Heavenly Artifact Venerables — though this respect is not something the Venerables want.

Not all Heavenly Artifact Venerables appeared; Sun Wukong and Ao Yulie naturally would not show up at such a boring social occasion — the two had long since wandered off together.

This speaking Venerable Zhenlong is one who handles more of the Heavenly Fate Alliance's daily affairs.

He is tall and large-framed, with coarse features, looking like a brainless martial brute, but in reality he is adept at social maneuvering; the Heavenly Fate Alliance was founded under his leadership.

The origin of the title "Zhenlong" is the rumor that this person once suppressed and killed a true dragon.

The Dragon-Slaying Saber Life Artifact in his hand, stained with dragon blood and reinforced with dragon bone, possesses extraordinary power.

"The human race is in peril; everyone should contribute." Zhu Bajie said with a smile.

"Well said!"

Venerable Zhenlong clapped his hands and laughed heartily, "Let's drink a big cup, please!"

"Please!"

Zhu Bajie was equally full of heroic spirit.

The two drank tea as if it were burning liquor, as if they would get drunk the next second, publicly burning yellow paper and beheading a chicken to swear brotherhood as sworn brothers of different surnames.

"Cough, cough."

One Heavenly Artifact Venerable coughed lightly, giving a subtle reminder.

The groundwork has been laid, the high hats have been mutually donned, the principle of dedicating oneself to the greater good for the continuation of the human race has been agreed upon by all — shouldn't we talk business now?

Venerable Zhenlong cast a glance at Tian Yuguang.

Your turn.

Tian Yuguang did not shirk: "Venerable Zhu, I have a matter I wish to inquire about, concerning my Tianyu Kingdom's royal treasury."

"I didn't introduce in detail earlier; Venerable Tian Guang is of the Tianyu Kingdom's royal family." Venerable Zhenlong added.

"Oh, Venerable Tian Guang." Zhu Bajie nodded, not saying more.

Playing dumb — he's best at that.

During the Journey to the West, he muddled through the whole way; aside from the Little White Dragon, it was him.

Seeing Zhu Bajie not picking up the thread, Tian Yuguang went straight to the point: "The Life Artifacts in the treasury — may I ask if Venerable Zhu can return them to me?"

He had to be direct; he truly needed that nine-star Life Artifact that was relatively compatible with him to repair his natal Life Artifact and recover his strength.

He was on good terms with several Heavenly Artifact Venerables, and brought the Tianyu Kingdom's remaining forces into the Heavenly Fate Alliance, thereby gaining equal standing with the other Venerables.

But this standing has no guarantee; like a castle in the air, it will gradually collapse as time passes.

If he cannot recover his strength soon, he will only be slowly squeezed out of the Heavenly Fate Alliance's core.

"This... I'm afraid not." Zhu Bajie shook his head.

Tian Yuguang's expression changed: "Venerable Zhu, those belong to my Tianyu Kingdom!"

"It's like this — those few Life Artifacts, I've already used them." Zhu Bajie said.

"Use?" A pile of Heavenly Artifact Venerables looked somewhat puzzled; what did this mean?

"Right, for artifact refining." Zhu Bajie nodded.

Everyone suddenly understood; it turned out this person was in the same situation as Tian Yu Guang.

Similarly injured, his Life Artifact damaged.

"This belongs to my Tian Yu Nation! Why does Venerable Zhu take it without asking!" Tian Yu Guang's eyes reddened slightly; this was key to his recovery.

Not just any Life Artifact could repair his Destiny Artifact.

It had to be sufficiently compatible; if not compatible enough, even other Destiny Artifacts wouldn't work.

The Destiny Alliance wasn't without spare Destiny Artifacts; they even had a few more than the Heavenly Artifact Venerables.

But the one suitable for Tian Yu Guang was a single Nine-Star Life Artifact in the Tian Yu Nation treasury.

"They really were all refined." Zhu Bajie spoke the truth.

"Venerable Zhu! The Life Artifact in the treasury is extremely important to me, and I only need one Nine-Star Life Artifact!" Tian Yu Guang stood up.

Yes, just one Nine-Star Life Artifact would be enough.

The rest, even if they were Destiny Artifacts, he was willing to contribute.

Ownerless Destiny Artifacts were actually worth less than ownerless Seven- or Eight-Star Life Artifacts.

Destiny Artifacts cannot be manufactured; they are "upgraded" step by step together with their Life Artifact wielder. The original owner's imprint runs too deep; even falling into a Heavenly Artifact Venerable's hands, they can only be used in a limited way, unable to unleash their original power.

Heavenly Artifact Venerables all have their own natal Destiny Artifacts; they have no need for other Life Artifacts at all.

When Tian Yu Guang said this, the other Heavenly Artifact Venerables became somewhat displeased.

The original agreement was you take one Nine-Star, the rest go to the Destiny Alliance (us); now you're turning around and selling them to someone else?

But at this moment, they would definitely stand on Tian Yu Guang's side.

To join the Destiny Alliance, bringing some good things as a pledge of allegiance isn't excessive, right?

"Venerable Zhu, this is where you're wrong."

"Yeah, the Tian Yu Nation has fallen; Venerable Tian Guang just wants a memento to remember things by."

"Right, exactly."

"Venerable Zhu, wanting to join our Destiny Alliance isn't something settled with a couple of sentences."

Venerable Zhen Long's expression was a bit unbearable to watch.

These guys have held high positions too long; they don't even know how to speak anymore.

Tian Yu Guang's expression also turned slightly ugly; what did they mean the nation had fallen? It was true, but saying it out loud made him feel terrible all over, okay?

Insulting without cursing, exposing weaknesses — if you can't speak, can you shut up?

"How about this."

Seeing these people taking a somewhat coercive stance, Zhu Bajie thought for a moment, then directly reached out and produced something.

He produced two Life Artifacts, both Nine-Star.

"I've also collected some Life Artifacts in other places." Zhu Bajie looked at Tian Yu Guang and didn't continue speaking.

The meaning was very clear: your Tian Yu Nation Life Artifact really isn't there, but other Life Artifacts are, and can serve as compensation.

Tian Yu Guang's eyes narrowed slightly, pondering something.

"To speak frankly, Venerable Tian Guang needs the Life Artifact to repair his damaged Life Artifact." Venerable Zhen Long said, "It's not about making Venerable Zhu work for nothing."

Zhu Bajie merely shook his head, then produced an Eight-Star Life Artifact: "Here."

"Venerable Zhu! We respect you, give you face, and also hope you join the Destiny Alliance, but acting like this now shows insufficient sincerity."

A Heavenly Artifact Venerable suddenly spoke up.

This person was a Heavenly Artifact Venerable on good terms with Tian Yu Guang, Venerable Xing He.

"Yeah, stalling and making excuses — indeed insufficient sincerity."

"It seems Venerable Zhu never intended to join our Destiny Alliance; in that case, at least things should return to their original owner, no?"

Several Venerables spoke up in succession.

Venerable Zhen Long frowned; these guys were planning to turn hostile.

Not that they weren't smart — fighting internally with a great enemy before them — but that they were too smart.

The reason this Venerable Zhu refuses to hand over the Tian Yu Nation Life Artifact is probably because, like Tian Yu Guang, he is injured and his Life Artifact damaged, and the Tian Yu Nation treasury's Life Artifacts contain the one he needs.

At a time like this, a battle team is needed.

Standing on the new Venerable Zhu's side, what can they gain?

Right now, the Life Artifacts he's produced, Tian Yu Guang's hatred, years of friendship destroyed in an instant.

Standing on Tian Yu Guang's side, they can obtain all the Life Artifacts this Venerable Zhu has collected, and Tian Yu Guang's gratitude.

If Venerable Zhu weren't injured, everyone would also have to weigh the difference between a peak Heavenly Artifact Venerable and an injured one.

Whether Tian Yu Guang's connections and subordinate forces could make up this gap.

But now both are injured; how to choose is obvious.

Moreover, this Venerable Zhu's injuries are probably heavier than Tian Yu Guang's; he urgently needs a stable place to heal and repair.

Otherwise, he could keep delaying, break through more War Fog zones, and head for the Demon Extermination Alliance.

Rather than being willing to pay a price to compromise here.

It's just a pity he probably doesn't know Tian Yu Guang is also injured.

Those prices aren't enough; neither side can compromise.

The smart Heavenly Artifact Venerables have already seen through everything from the slightest clues and traces!

"Venerable Zhu, let's put our ugly words upfront: the current situation, everything is for the overall situation, for the continuation of the human race!" Venerable Xing He spoke with righteous indignation, "You privately hoarding Venerable Tian Guang's property like this is abandoning the greater good! You are the enemy of the entire human race!"

Venerable Zhen Long frowned; they were smart, alright.

It's a pity he was too impatient, too overbearing.

Lacking emotional intelligence, unlike Venerable Zhēnlóng who acts flawlessly.

But in the end, as the strongest, one indeed doesn't need to consider others' thoughts; never mind insufficient EQ, even insufficient IQ can be compensated for with strength.

Venerable Zhēnlóng's personality is such; one cannot say the other Venerables' choices and methods are wrong.

The strong do not make mistakes.

"The big picture." Zhū Bājiè reached out and tapped the small table beside him. "What you say isn't wrong. I actually really want to earnestly persuade you all, for the sake of the big picture."

"But my persuasion definitely won't work; this old pig isn't good at persuading."

"Master, the persuading from here on is up to you."

"You just know how to slack off." Táng Luò, who hadn't spoken since earlier and was focused on petting the cat, glanced at Zhū Bājiè.

"Hehe." Zhū Bājiè chuckled twice, not arguing.

Where was he slacking off? He just felt that when it came to persuading, Táng Luò was even more skilled.

Guiding people toward goodness — a Buddha's fruition is definitely more formidable than a Bodhisattva's fruition.

"Fine then."

Táng Luò didn't mind either; most likely it would come to blows in the end anyway. He took out the Duànshuǐliú Whip. "See this whip?"

"What do you mean?" Tiānyǔ Guāng asked.

"It means everyone present here is trash."