One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

They are the true power core of the world of supernatural beings—the Ten Elders.

Seated in the main seat was an elderly Taoist priest with white hair and beard, a compassionate face, and dressed in a moon-white robe. His white hair and beard were so pure and without a single blemish, like snow. His face was thin, with slightly prominent cheekbones, but his skin was smooth and almost wrinkle-free, a paradox that made it impossible to guess his age. His robe was moon-white, with cloud patterns embroidered in silver thread at the collar and cuffs, which shimmered faintly under the lamplight.

His eyes weren't large, and their shape curved slightly downwards, as if he were always smiling. But at this moment, he wasn't smiling; his expression was peaceful, even somewhat indifferent—as if he were listening to something that had nothing to do with him.

It was Zhang Zhiwei, the current Celestial Master of the Celestial Master's Mansion on Longhu Mountain.

Beside him sat a tall, stern-faced middle-aged man dressed in a Tang suit. The suit was dark blue, made of fine silk, with a subtle sheen under the light. His hair was thick and black, neatly combed back, revealing a full forehead. His eyebrows were thick, with slightly upturned ends, giving him an air of quiet authority.

He is Feng Zhenghao, the president of the World Society.

Among the others present was Mu You from Jianghu Xiaozhan (an intelligence organization), who was upright and honest, and possessed a great deal of leverage over various parties, making him a figure of great fear among the others.

Master Jiekong, abbot of Shaolin Temple, suffered a significant decline in his cultivation due to his disciple Xiao Zizai breaking the precepts and abandoning his own cultivation. He is a representative of Buddhism.

The head of the Lu family, Lu Jinsan, is the only surviving successor of the Yimen sect. He possesses the Tongtian Talisman, one of the Eight Extraordinary Techniques, and can reverse the three levels of life. He is known as the flawless one in life.

Then there's the Lü family, one of the four great clans. Lü, nicknamed "Old Dog Lü," is a master of the Ruyi Jin (a type of martial art). The Lü family's Minghun Shu (a type of martial art) is actually a flawed double-handed technique, and they are ruthless in protecting their clan.

And the Ma family of shamans from Northeast China, a highly senior sorceress whose abilities are restrained by the ability to control spirits and command generals, and who has a forthright personality.

Na Ruhu of the Ancient Pavilion, one of the two heroes, is the only one among the Ten Elders who rose to power purely through his own strength without relying on his family. He is the youngest and extremely powerful. Then there is Chen Jinkui, the leader of the Art Sect, who is proficient in the Six Lines Coin Divination and the Tortoise-Fly Body, and is obsessed with competing for the Feng Hou Qi Men.

Finally, there is the newly added representative of the independent cultivators after the destruction of the Wang family—a man whose exact age is unknown, dressed in gray cloth, and with an ordinary face. He is the representative elected by the independent cultivators. Although he has no sect background, his cultivation is unfathomable.

Chairman Zhao, as the company representative, sat at the lower end of the table.

His position was one level below the Ten Elders—not because the chair was lower, but because the seat was more secluded. This wasn't a matter of status, but a matter of etiquette. The Ten Elders were senior figures in the world of supernatural beings, and as a junior, it was only right that he sit in a secluded position.

He was giving a detailed account of what Nie Lingfeng had reported at yesterday's meeting, as well as the relevant intelligence the company had gathered, to the Ten Elders.

He spoke slowly but clearly and logically. He began by recounting the initial intelligence the company had received, unfolding the story step by step, like peeling an onion, layer by layer. His description of the underground base was more concise than Nie Lingfeng's, but his supplementary information on the background and global layout of the "Polaris Council" was more detailed.

"...That's roughly the situation."

After finishing speaking, Chairman Zhao picked up his teacup and took a sip. The tea was warm, with a faint jasmine fragrance, which soothed his slightly dry throat.

His gaze swept over the ten bigwigs present.

"The 'Styx' base of the 'Polaris Council' and the 'nest' of the 'Nidhogg' hatchery pose a threat that exceeds what our company alone can handle and bear. Therefore, we earnestly request that you all discuss this matter and come up with a proper solution."

He put down his teacup, the bottom of which touched the table with a soft "click".

The main hall was silent for a few seconds.

After listening to Chairman Zhao's account, the ten elders present had different expressions.

Some had furrowed brows and worried expressions—like Ru Hu, whose fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. The frequency was not fast, but it was very heavy, and each tap seemed to be hitting the table rather than the air.

Some were deep in thought with their eyes closed, their fingers lightly tapping the table—like Master Jiekong of Shaolin, whose eyes were closed and lips moved slightly, as if chanting scriptures or pondering something. He tapped the table quickly, but with very small amplitude, so that only those close by could feel it.

Some had a glint in their eyes, as if they were calculating something—for example, the head of the Lü family, whose eyes were narrowed to slits, his pupils darting rapidly behind his eyelids, as if he were calculating something. His fingers were not tapping on the table, but resting on his knees, his fingertips rhythmically tightening and loosening, as if he were gripping something.

"Amitabha……"

Master Jiekong chanted a Buddhist prayer. His voice wasn't loud, but in the quiet main hall, every word was clear and distinct, like someone tapping a wooden fish in one's ear.

He spoke slowly, his voice loud and peaceful, carrying a unique Buddhist magnetic field that calms the mind.

"Such a desecration of living beings and defiance of the natural order is a great misfortune for us cultivators. Such calamity must not be allowed to continue."

His eyebrows were long, drooping at the ends, and trembled slightly as he spoke. There was no anger on his face, only compassion—a compassion not directed at the "mother nest," but at the innocent lives used for experiments.

"Hmph! A mere overseas organization dares to run wild on my Chinese soil? And create such inhuman and ghostly things?"

The head of the Lü family, a hot-tempered old man, slammed his hand heavily on the table. His palm struck the rosewood surface with a dull thud, causing the tea in the cups to slosh. The teapot on the table clanged twice, its lid nearly falling off.

His face was flushed red, and his beard and hair stood on end, as if he might jump up at any moment.

"In my opinion, there's nothing to discuss! Just gather our forces and raze that dilapidated base to the ground, along with that monster!"

"Mr. Lü, please calm down."

Feng Zhenghao waved his hand. His movement was small; he simply raised his right hand slightly, palm down, as if soothing a cat with its fur standing on end.

His expression was calm, and his voice was neither hurried nor slow.

"Since that 'mother nest' could withstand Xiao Nie's earth-shattering ice seal and possesses near-immortality and evolutionary characteristics, it is by no means an ordinary being. A rash attack would likely result in heavy losses and might even alert the enemy, potentially forcing it into a desperate act and causing an even greater disaster. We need to plan carefully."

His words were polite, but his meaning was clear: Mr. Lü, you were too impulsive.

"President Feng is right."

The Wudang Sect Leader, an old Taoist priest with an air of otherworldly wisdom, stroked his beard. His beard was very long, reaching down to his chest. When he stroked his beard, his fingers slowly slid from the base to the tip, the movement very slow, as if he were playing a zither.

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. The most urgent tasks are: first, to thoroughly investigate the other locations and strongholds of the 'Polaris Council' within our country; second, to deeply study the weaknesses of the 'Mother Nest' and find ways to counter it; and third, to integrate our forces and build a sufficiently elite and well-coordinated team before we can take action."

He spoke slowly, but every word was carefully chosen, with no unnecessary words.

"Study its weaknesses? How? Do we have to slice that monster into pieces?"

"Or should we start with that girl named Xiaoyun? As far as I know, she seems to have a special connection with the 'Mother Nest'..."

Mu You didn't finish speaking.

Then I felt a cold gaze fall on me.

It wasn't just "like" cold—it was cold. That gaze was like two unsheathed swords; though not yet drawn, the chill already seeped through the scabbard.

It was the Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei.

Although the old Taoist priest still had a compassionate expression, his eyes carried an undeniable air of authority. This authority wasn't deliberate; it wasn't the kind of pressure that said, "I'm going to dominate you." Rather, it was a natural pressure that arose from looking down from above, an pressure that made people instinctively want to bow their heads.

Be careful what you say.

Four words. Not repeated. But each word felt like a nail, driven one by one into Mu You's ear.

"Since that girl was saved by Layman Nie and is traveling with us righteous people, she is one of us. Before we understand the whole story, we should not make any wild guesses, and we should not do anything unjust."

Mu You felt a chill run down his spine when the Celestial Master swept his gaze over him.

That "shiver" wasn't an adjective, but a primal, instinctive reaction—he felt a chill on the back of his neck, his hair stood on end, his spine felt like it had been pressed down from behind, and he involuntarily straightened up. His heart skipped a beat, and his fingers paused on his knees.

He quickly lowered his head: "The Celestial Master is right, I misspoke."

His voice was three octaves lower than before, and his tone changed from sarcastic to respectful—at least outwardly respectful.

"Hehe, Mu You is also anxious, which is understandable."

Lu Jin, the head of the Lu family, smiled and tried to smooth things over.

"However, the Celestial Master is right. Let's put the matter of that girl aside for now. The most urgent task is to figure out how to deal with the 'Mother Nest' and the Council."

"The old Taoist priest thinks—"

Zhang Zhiwei, who had been silent all along, finally spoke slowly.

His voice was calm, like a mountain spring, flowing quietly and steadily. But it was precisely this calmness that quieted everyone down—not because of his high status, but because his voice itself possessed a power to soothe.

"Mr. Zhao is right. This matter can no longer be resolved by any one family or faction alone. It requires the concerted efforts of the entire supernatural community."

His gaze swept across everyone present, passing over each person's face. It didn't linger, it didn't focus on anything, but everyone whose gaze swept over them felt seen.

"I suggest that the company and the Ten Elders jointly establish a temporary 'Purge Command Center.' Each faction should select elite disciples based on their own strengths to join the command center's action teams. At the same time, some of the factions' classic texts and resources should be made available for research and development of techniques, formations, and magical artifacts specifically targeting the 'Mother Nest's' characteristics."

He paused.

"As for the overall commander of the operation—"