Someone disagreed, "If Master Zhuo is unsuitable to be the alliance leader, then no one present would be suitable. Don't you all agree?"
"Yes, yes, exactly! Exactly!..."
Deputy Master Ying Fan took the stage to ease the tension. "Everyone, everyone! Please calm down. I, Ying Fan, will speak a word of fairness. You are all powerful figures from various factions across the Seven Continents. We have all suffered under the oppression and humiliation of the Ming Tian Cult. Today, we must elect a respected alliance leader. And I believe that the person truly worthy of the title 'respected' is none other than Hu Sangong!"
Upon reflection, the crowd found his words reasonable and turned their gaze to Hu Sangong. "That's right! Hu Sangong is highly respected. The position of alliance leader for this Grand Assembly to Eliminate the Nether Cult should be his!"
Soon, more and more voices chimed in agreement. "Yes, yes, the position of alliance leader must go to Hu Sangong!"
Hu Sangong slowly stood up and raised his hand to signal for silence. "Esteemed sirs, this is not appropriate. I, this old man, have no great ambitions. How can I lead the heroes? Is this not a joke? Not to mention my frail health, I already have one foot in the grave. I won't stir up trouble. The future belongs to the young. As for me? I'm old, old..."
The crowd felt a sense of disappointment. Everyone was a shirker. They then shifted their gazes back to Zhuo Qiran. "Master Zhuo, would you agree?"
Zhuo Qiran shook his head and waved his hands. "Impossible, impossible. I dare not accept such a burden."
Unnoticed by others, Deputy Master Ying Fan's expression darkened. He thought, "I, Ying Fan, have served as Deputy Master of Wanping Mountain Villa for twelve years, yet my achievements still fall short of my elder brother Zhuo Qiran's status? They don't even spare me a glance. Heh! How ironic!"
While the crowd was still clamoring for Zhuo Qiran to be the alliance leader, Zhuo Qiran said helplessly, "Alright, let's put aside the matter of the alliance leader for now. The most important thing is how to deal with the Ming Tian Cult."
He then frowned deeply. "Alas, to tell you the truth, everyone, in the first half of the year, all of my businesses in the Hainan and even Haixi regions were looted by the Ming Tian Cult. They committed all sorts of evil deeds. Even my entire family was not spared. They killed everyone they saw and robbed everything they could. Yet I could only sit idly at Wanping Mountain Villa, helpless. It is truly detestable!"
Zhuo Qiran's heartfelt words struck a chord with the crowd, eliciting a chorus of complaints. "Indeed, in recent years, the Ming Tian Cult has become rampant, and we have all suffered greatly..."
"In this life, the primary concerns are sustenance and protecting one's family. But when both are taken away and destroyed by the Ming Tian Cult, a person becomes less than human, and a family ceases to be a family. How can one still pursue cultivation?"
"That's right, that's right... The Ming Tian Cult is detestable. If it is not eradicated, I vow not to return home!"
"The Ming Tian Cult killed my sister and my brother. This hatred is irreconcilable!"
"I merely spoke a single bad word about the Ming Tian Cult and suffered annihilation. If this revenge cannot be repaid in this life, I will seek it in the next!"
Zhuo Qiran looked at Ming Zhi Tian, who had remained silent. "Silence! Everyone, I sympathize with your plights. But we need to find the right approach. Brother Ming, I heard that you not only single-handedly annihilated a hundred elites of the Ming Tian Cult, but prior to that, you also killed the Eight Banners of the Netherworld and the Third Young Master of the Ming Tian Cult. Is this true?"
"What? Who is so awesome?" All eyes in the hall turned to Ming Zhi Tian, waiting for his confirmation.
Ming Zhi Tian smiled faintly. "Master Zhuo's news is indeed accurate. Yes, it is true."
"Wow! ... Is it really true?" The scene erupted in a clamor.