Chapter 248

No one likes to be forced.

Because being forced means having to make a decision one does not want to make.

Power giants like it even less.

A common man can, in a fit of rage, splash blood ten steps away.

But for power giants, there is more weighing of pros and cons!

They often compromise because of interests!

If this proposal by Star River Battlefield Grand Marshal Wei Xu today had been discussed behind closed doors with a few power giants, it would truly be a proposal.

But he called so many domain lords, even calling the heavyweight Sixth-Tier domain lords and the only Seventh-Tier domain lord.

If this wasn't an intention to force them, even a ghost wouldn't believe it.

But it must be said that the influence of these domain lords was quite large.

The power giants of the mortal world were unwilling to offend these domain lords.

Because these domain lords not only made contributions and sacrifices for the human race of the mortal world, but also represented huge risks and interests.

The interests were very direct; the various materials within the star domains they controlled, no matter which country they flowed to, would bring huge gains to that country.

As for the risks, the star domains they controlled themselves represented huge risks.

The star gates of the suppressed and controlled star domains could also descend upon the mortal world during the star tide.

How much risk would be exported then would depend on the actions of these domain lords.

Therefore, for these power giants, although they were unhappy, compromise was actually the norm.

Very quickly, as Tianyang Xingjun Tianyang's star light rose first above his head, Emperor Dahong, Tianyang Xingjun Cangming, Tianyang Xingjun Zhen'e, and the Great Chen Grand Master all had star light rise above their heads.

Passed unanimously.

In fact, it could not be considered being forced helplessly.

In essence, Star River Grand Marshal Wei Xu's proposal was actually very good.

Previously, when taking the initiative to strike, everyone just went through the motions; now that it was combined with the Battle of Building Tribute, everyone had to fight with their lives.

Under such circumstances, no party would suffer a loss.

As for the star gates that descended on one's own territory during the Nine-Star Great Tide, that was purely a matter of luck.

"Good!

With everyone's cooperation, the losses of this Nine-Star Great Tide will definitely be significantly reduced," Wei Xu said.

After saying this, Wei Xu proposed again, "But to maintain impartiality and fairness, I have drafted a ranking rule. See if everyone wants to modify or supplement it. After modification or supplementation, we will submit this rule for the Battle of Building Tribute directly to the Star Spirit and let the Star Spirit execute it.

This is the fairest way and can also avoid the situations everyone is worried about."

There were many specific details, more than ten items.

Mainly regarding the acquisition of points and the requirements for participating in the battle.

For example, slaying a Third-Tier alien, regardless of strength, counts as one point for every five.

Slaying a Fourth-Tier alien earns different points; for example, slaying a Fourth-Tier early-stage alien earns two points, a Fourth-Tier mid-stage alien earns three points, a Fourth-Tier late-stage alien earns four points, and slaying a Fourth-Tier peak alien earns five points.

The increase in points is not large.

But the points for slaying a Fifth-Tier alien begin to rise significantly.

Slaying a Fifth-Tier early-stage alien earns ten points directly, a Fifth-Tier mid-stage alien earns fifteen points, and so on.

And the points for slaying a Sixth-Tier alien are directly multiplied by ten.

Slaying a Sixth-Tier early-stage alien earns one hundred points directly, and slaying a Sixth-Tier late-stage alien earns two hundred points directly.

Although the possibility of slaying a Seventh-Tier alien is extremely small, it was still listed.

Slaying a Seventh-Tier early-stage alien earns two thousand points directly.

In addition to these quantitative requirements, there were other point requirements.

Slaying an alien star domain lord, even if it is an alien star domain lord of a Third-Tier star domain, earns five hundred points directly.

Seizing a trace of the star will of the star domain where one is located also rewards at least five hundred points.

For a Fourth-Tier star domain, these two items are doubled to one thousand points.

A Fifth-Tier star domain is even more astonishing, ten thousand points.

As for a Sixth-Tier star domain, it reaches an astonishing two hundred thousand points.

It can be said that whichever family can slay a Sixth-Tier star domain lord will directly win and rank first.

But this probability is not even one in one hundred thousand.

Sixth-Tier star domain lords are usually of Seventh-Tier late-stage or even Seventh-Tier peak cultivation.

To slay a Sixth-Tier star domain lord, it would require at least two or three Seventh-Tier late-stage powerhouses to besiege them, or even an Eighth-Tier powerhouse to take action.

And Seventh-Tier powerhouses themselves cannot directly enter a Sixth-Tier star domain; to enter, it can only be Sixth-Tier peak experts on the verge of breaking through who enter.

But even if they enter and break through to the Seventh Tier, the possibility of slaying the star domain lord is non-existent.

Moreover, once they go in, they cannot come out.

Sixth-Tier and Seventh-Tier powerhouses are already the main combat forces of all parties, or even the Star River Battlefield; no party is willing to easily bury such elite forces.

So this is just a rule setting.

The real battlefield is still within the Third-Tier and Fourth-Tier star domains.

Those who take the initiative to attack Fifth-Tier star domains are extremely rare.

Besides this, there are other regulations.

For example, for a Fifth-Tier star domain, you must attack at least one.

If you do not attack, one thousand points will be deducted directly.

These are all details.

After a little discussion and modification, all the power giants of all parties passed them.

What was controversial were a few major rules, especially the last one.

"The last place, that is, the party ranked fourth in points, if the gap in points with the first place exceeds double, they will directly bear an extra half-percent of the Star-Plucking Tower's support resources, and the first place will have their support proportion reduced by another half-percent from their own ranking burden.

Isn't this rule a bit too much?"

Grand Master Cheng Yueshiao pointed to the last punitive rule and raised a question.

Upon hearing this, Grand Marshal Wei Xu explained, "Grand Master Cheng, formulating this rule is to prevent any party from completely giving up. Under normal circumstances, the strength of the four parties in the mortal world is about the same; even if there is a gap in points, it will be at most a ten or twenty percent gap, and there will not be a double gap."

Cheng Yueshiao frowned.

No matter how he looked at this rule, it was very unfriendly to Great Chen.

This was because looking back at the previous six sessions of the Battle of Building Tribute, Great Chen had always been the bottom existence, that is, fourth place.

Because the Spirit Chronicle Star Palace was locked, and Great Chen had been continuously selected for the best over the years, Great Chen's foundation was far worse than the Tianyang Star Palace and the Cangming Star Palace.

Even compared to the Zhen'e Star Palace, it was inferior.

Like the previous Battle of Building Tribute which compared the strength of a few disciples, Great Chen always took fourth place.

Not to mention this kind of great battle that compares comprehensive overall strength.

Great Chen's disadvantage would be even more obvious.

If it were like the previous sessions of the Battle of Building Tribute, Cheng Yueshiao felt that with Xu Jin, it was possible to take third or second, and they should not take fourth.

But this kind of great battle that compares comprehensive strength and foundation, Great Chen would inevitably be at the bottom.

Therefore, on this point, Cheng Yueshiao was exceptionally firm.

Just by taking fourth place, they had to bear as much as thirty percent of the support resources, which was twice that of the first place.

If they had to bear another half-percent, the burden would be even heavier.

And it was the proportion for the next three years.

Cheng Yueshiao had to be cautious.

"I think this fourth rule should be modified! My Great Chen will definitely do our best in this battle, but if we take fourth place, and if our points are doubled by the first place, then the support burden will become thirty-five percent.

My Great Chen will likely be plunged into misery," Cheng Yueshiao insisted.

"Change it?"

Emperor Dahong laughed first, "Grand Master Cheng, it's not that I don't believe you, but if there is no such constraint, what if your Great Chen just gives up? Anyway, it's fourth place, so why not just give up and save combat strength? Wouldn't that be even better?

Then in the upcoming Nine-Star Great Tide, Great Chen will reduce losses.

With this saving and this reduction, Great Chen would have taken a huge advantage."

Cheng Yueshiao frowned, and just as he was about to say something, Tianyang Xingjun Tianyang also laughed, "This fourth rule is good; I think it must be added."

"I also think it should be added."

"Adding it is best; at least there is a limit."

"Adding it is good."

Very quickly, all the power giants of the mortal world expressed their agreement, and only Cheng Yueshiao opposed it alone.

Under such circumstances, Cheng Yueshiao's opposition was invalid!

Cheng Yueshiao was also helpless.

He wanted to cancel this rule, which actually meant that it was fine to just get by; anyway, no matter how they fought, they would be fourth, so it would be better to save some strength for Great Chen. But looking at it now, they would have to fight with their lives.

Otherwise, for the massive amount of material resources to be paid to the main building of the Star-Plucking Tower in the next three years, Great Chen would very likely have to pay an extra half-percent.

Don't underestimate this half-percent.

This extra half-percent would all have to be squeezed out of the mouths of countless commoners in Great Chen.

If they encountered a disaster year, there could even be starving people for a thousand miles.

But now, it was clearly impossible to change this rule, so they could only fight with their lives in the upcoming initiative to strike.

However, Great Chen was having a hard time, and Cheng Yueshiao did not want the other parties to have an easy time either.

"Since that is the case, then this kind of rule only targeting the last place is unfair. I suggest modifying it so that between any rankings, if any party is doubled in points by the party ahead of them, or doubled in points by the top two or top three, they all need to bear an extra half-percent of support materials."

Since he couldn't change it, he would expand it.

Once these words were spoken, the first to have an unnatural expression was Tianyang Xingjun Zhen'e.

The Zhen'e Star Palace was ranked third year-round, occasionally second, but there was still a significant gap with the Tianyang Star Palace, which was ranked first year-round.

Although it was unlikely that their points would be doubled, what if?

This rule still had some pressure!

But in the end, this rule expanded by Cheng Yueshiao was successfully passed.

Because there was no reason to only target the fourth place.

But for Cheng Yueshiao, this was just a moment of satisfaction.

Under this overall rule, Great Chen truly needed to fight with their lives.

The relevant details were discussed for a full half-hour before the final plan was determined, making all parties in the mortal world agree.

"Since that is the case, then submit it to the Star Spirit and let the Star Spirit execute it."

After confirming, Wei Xu suddenly called out, "Star Spirit, Star Spirit."

"So annoying! Wei, you are the most annoying one, always calling me! Speak, what is the matter this time?"

The Star Spirit's opening remarks were always like this.

Everyone who publicly called the Star Spirit had been complained about by the Star Spirit, and Wei Xu was long used to it.

Wei Xu provided the rules for the Battle of Building Tribute, and the Star Spirit just took one look and was happy.

"Ho, you finally know how to change the rules!

A bit interesting.

This time, there can finally be some new tricks. I will preside over it, right?" the Star Spirit asked.

"Of course, handing it to you is the fairest! Everyone has no objections," Wei Xu said.

"Good! Then I will write it directly into the Building Tribute rules for the next three years. If any family cannot pay and is suspended from using the Star-Plucking Tower, don't blame me."

A few breaths later, the Star Spirit left, and the matter of taking the initiative to strike before the Nine-Star Great Tide and combining it with the Battle of Building Tribute was completely settled.

Within three years, no one could change it.

"Good, let's talk about the second matter, which is the support problem for the Great Desolate Domain. Elder Cai is suppressing the Great Desolate Domain, and his situation is extremely difficult. It is also during the Nine-Star Great Tide, so he needs a few Seventh-Tier powerhouses to enter the Great Desolate Domain to support him.

However, after the Seventh-Tier powerhouses enter, they can still return after the Nine-Star Great Tide ends.

So my suggestion is, the four parties of the mortal world each send one Seventh-Tier powerhouse to support the Great Desolate Domain, how about that?" Wei Xu proposed.

As soon as Wei Xu's voice fell, Cheng Yueshiao opposed it with a very clear attitude, "Our Great Chen cannot support the Great Desolate Domain; our Great Chen does not have any spare Seventh-Tier powerhouses."

"Oh? How did I hear that the Great Chen National Dao Academy's University Rectifier Kou Jing has just broken through to the Seventh Tier? Isn't there spare manpower?" Tianyang Xingjun Tianyang laughed.

"Spare?"

Cheng Yueshiao sneered, "Our Great Chen's Seventh-Tier powerhouses, not one is spare."

"Grand Master Cheng, each family sends one, it would be fairer," Wei Xu proposed.

"Then it wouldn't be too much for me to ask Elder Cai to explain the details of the Star Lao He Guan riot twenty-one years ago, right?

Why was it that among the experts who died in battle during the Star Lao He Guan riot, seventy percent were from Great Chen and the Spirit Chronicle Star Palace?

Fine, this is a coincidence!

For the peace of the Star River Battlefield, our Great Chen and the Spirit Chronicle Star Palace of that year disregarded our own safety and sent a large number of experts to support the Star River Battlefield!

As a result, in less than half a year, you know what happened.

The Spirit Chronicle Star Palace was directly killed until they locked the palace.

Our Great Chen's former Grand Master also fell because of this.

Since then, our Great Chen has started to be at the bottom among all parties!

I want a clear explanation; right now, I just want to know the truth!" Cheng Yueshiao retorted directly.

In an instant, the entire Star River Marshal's Mansion secret realm became quiet.

This public case had always been considered a taboo.

No one dared to mention it.

And no one dared to mention it in front of the two star lords, Tianyang and Cangming.

Except for the victim, Great Chen.

Once this matter was mentioned, others did not dare to speak.

Tianyang Xingjun Tianyang frowned and said, "Yueshiao, our two great star palaces besieging the Spirit Chronicle Star Palace was not because of this, but because Tianyang Xingjun Lingji violated a certain taboo and committed public anger!

It has nothing to do with Elder Cai."

"I don't care about the Spirit Chronicle Star Palace being besieged! But our Great Chen's former Grand Master died because of this, Great Chen declined because of this, and we pay thirty percent of the Star-Plucking Tower's massive support materials every year, which is related to this.

Therefore, I want an answer!" Cheng Yueshiao insisted.

"There is no answer; everything you have linked is just a coincidence! It's just that Elder Cai happened to be there at the time," Tianyang Xingjun Cangming spoke up.

Once the two great star lords spoke, it was equivalent to their subordinate two great emperors also expressing their stance.

That meant this matter would be left unsettled again.

However, Cheng Yueshiao also revealed his true purpose at this moment.

Cheng Yueshiao no longer insisted, but laughed, "Since both star lords say it is a coincidence, it seems it really is a coincidence.

However, our Great Chen has declined, and we really don't have any spare Seventh-Tier powerhouses!

As for the newly promoted Seventh-Tier powerhouse Kou Jing, firstly, I have other arrangements for him, and secondly, I will absolutely not and dare not let any Seventh-Tier powerhouse from Great Chen enter the Great Desolate Domain to support it!

Because I am afraid that the coincidence will repeat itself!!"

The last sentence was said by Cheng Yueshiao while staring fixedly at Cai Shu, word by word.

It was clear that it was pure distrust, not believing Cai Shu even one bit!

"Hmph!"

"If you are not afraid that the Great Desolate Domain will descend upon your Great Chen territory, then go ahead," Cai Shu said angrily.

"If you have that ability, I will wait! I will take action myself!" Cheng Yueshiao stared at Cai Shu, not giving an inch.

In an instant, the atmosphere of the entire Star River Marshal's Mansion collapsed to the extreme.

The next instant, Cai Shu suddenly laughed, "Grand Master Cheng is joking, how could I have that ability. I just wanted to eliminate the crisis in advance to avoid this Seventh-Tier star domain from wreaking havoc on the mortal world. As a person who cannot return to the mortal world, what selfish motives could I have?"

"I also have no selfish motives, just pure distrust of you, the former Star River Grand Marshal who was extremely derelict in your duty!"

Cheng Yueshiao put his hands behind his head and looked at Cai Shu quietly.

That cautious gaze caused the old face of Cai Shu, which had just floated a smile, to gradually turn gloomy.

Just when everyone thought it was going to be an awkward silence, Cheng Yueshiao laughed again.

"Various star lords, emperors, and domain lords, allow our Great Chen to sell a bit of misery! You know the situation of our Great Chen; we really don't have any Seventh-Tier powerhouses to support the Great Desolate Domain! This time supporting the Great Desolate Domain, we really don't have the ability."

This could be considered Cheng Yueshiao giving everyone present a way out.

After a long time, Star River Grand Marshal Wei Xu sighed lightly, "Great Chen indeed has Great Chen's difficulties; this point is obvious to all, so this time regarding the Seventh-Tier powerhouse supporting the Great Desolate Domain, Great Chen will not participate.

Everyone, what do you think?" Wei Xu proposed.

Since things had been said to this point, naturally no one would oppose it again.

Tianyang Xingjun Tianyang and Tianyang Xingjun Cangming did not speak to oppose it, and others naturally would not speak to oppose it; this matter was considered tacitly agreed upon.

Only the Seventh-Tier domain lord and former Marshal Cai Shu accepted this result with a gloomy face.

Today, he had lost quite a bit of face!

He didn't expect Cheng Yueshiao not to give him any face at all, but it could only be so.

This matter was also settled here.

"Everyone, I have sensed the stars of the heavens on the Star River Battlefield; the Nine-Star Great Tide will arrive at the earliest in ten days, and at the latest in twelve days.

Therefore, each party only has three days of preparation time.

Three days later, all parties will simultaneously begin to take the initiative to strike according to the rules and begin the Battle of Building Tribute!

Everything will be left to the Star Spirit to adjudicate!" Wei Xu said.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Dachu asked, "Marshal Wei, when will the people from the Sumeru Palace arrive?"

"Two days later, the successors of the Sumeru Palace will take up residence in the main buildings of the Star-Plucking Tower of your four parties, and according to the star domain coordinates you provide, they will open the star gates for you according to your requirements," Wei Xu said.

"That is very good."

"If you have no other questions, then today's meeting ends here."

A few breaths later, beams of star light dispersed and left.

In the end, only Tianyang Xingjun Tianyang and the Seventh-Tier domain lord Cai Shu remained and did not leave.

But in the end, the two just looked at each other and then dispersed into star light one after another, without saying a word.

(End of chapter)