The Stone Tribe’s original chief’s stone house had vanished, replaced by the spacious and bright Council Hall.
After entering, Lin Qian took the central seat, signaling other clan leaders to sit on the two rows of seats opposite.
These leaders of the Human Clan, upon arriving at the Stone Tribe, knew the feeling of bathing for the first time. They learned what it was like to have a good meal and what it felt like to wear comfortable, warm clothing.
Having witnessed a scene earlier, the Tribal leaders of the Human Clan were thoroughly convinced by this young human.
After they had taken their seats, two figures hurried into the Council Hall from outside. The clan leaders from other tribes were startled upon recognizing them. These two were Shi Yun and Qin Xing, who had fought with the Dwarf Ghost Clan and the Giant Ghost Clan.
Their appearance here was easily explained—they must have slain the Dwarf Ghost Clan and the Giant Ghost Clan.
"What remarkable speed!" exclaimed the clan leaders from other tribes, sharing a glance that showed their surprise.
However, Lin Qian, seated at the highest place, showed no surprise in his eyes, as if he had expected this. "Good, it’s about the time I had calculated."
Earlier, when Lin Qian had come to this Council Hall, he had already estimated the time it would take for Shi Yun and Qin Xing to kill those from other clans, which is why he had slowed down his pace.
Sure enough, just as he calculated, Shi Yun and Qin Xing arrived at the Council Hall in time.
"Sir, we succeeded!" After arriving at the Council Hall, Shi Yun and Qin Xing expressed their joy.
Indeed, when Lin Qian had originally asked them to fight the Dwarf Ghost Clan and the Giant Ghost Clan, both were somewhat disbelieving and even scared.
Though after a few days with Lin Qian’s help, Shi Yun and Qin Xing could feel their strength advancing by leaps and bounds. However, deep down, they still had no confidence.
"Both of you, would you share with everyone how you felt during your recent encounter with the Dwarf Ghost Clan and the Giant Ghost Clan?"
"It wasn’t as fast as I imagined. I could keep up with the Dwarf Ghost Clan’s movements and see their actions clearly," Shi Yun said excitedly, "Also, their defenses, which once seemed impregnable, now feel extremely fragile."
"I had the same feeling. Previously, the Giant Ghost Clan seemed powerful and indestructible in my eyes, like true war gods," Qin Xing, looking at his own hands, remarked emotionally, "Now, they’re more like moving targets, just with a bit more strength."
Lin Qian nodded in satisfaction, addressing the other clan leaders, "Their words come from the heart and hold no falsehood. You’ve seen it with your own eyes. Therefore, the Human Clan is not weak; it’s merely that your cultivation has been interrupted."
Then, Lin Qian explained what the Dangyuan Sect was, making it clear that they might be descendants of disciples from this sect, having lost the cultivation traditions of the Human Clan, thereby unable to utilize their race’s innate characteristics.
Lin Qian spent half a day briefly introducing them to the outside world, what real realms were like, the unique Elemental Weapon Armaments, Soul Devices, Arrays, and Pills the Human Clan possessed.
All the clan leaders of the Human Clan in attendance listened intently. With greater understanding came greater astonishment.
"It turns out we of the Human Clan are not entirely useless; we simply hadn’t tapped into our potential."
"We only knew the term ’Martial Soul’ but never understood its many wonderful uses."
After hearing Lin Qian’s descriptions, the clan leaders of the Human Clan sighed and chuckled bitterly.
"I will pass on cultivation techniques to you, provide Primordial Weapons, Soul Devices, and have you take my specially formulated Potions, enhancing the entire battle power of the Human Clan within this Small World."
"After the Dwarf Ghost Clan and the Giant Ghost Clan move southward, you will go and fight personally. Wash away past disgraces with your own hands and the blood of your enemies. Rely on your own strength to reestablish your dignity."
After Lin Qian’s words, the cluster of tribal leaders from the assembly were silent, pondering his words.
Among them, Zhao Wei was the first to stand up and pay respectful homage to Lin Qian. "Sir, you are correct. We could not repay the help you have offered even if we were to become horses and oxen for you. If we let you handle the foreign clans personally, it would be too embarrassing for our kind."
"Indeed, we’ve borne the shame of the past. Each time the Giant Ghost Clan and the Dwarf Ghost Clan attacked from the south, we had to pay a price. Now with your help, I refuse to believe we can’t fend them off better than before!" At the same time, Qian Ling also stood up vigorously.
"The strength displayed by Clan Chief Qin and Chief Shi assured us of the Human Clan’s potential. Please rest assured, Sir. Concerning the war for survival, we will win it on our own."
"We will not let down the help you have given us!"
Liu Ang and Li Yi also stood up and paid their respects to Lin Qian.
The four major clan leaders set an example, and other leaders followed suit by bowing as well.
Watching this unfold, Lin Qian nodded silently to himself.
"According to the information we’ve received, there are still eight full days before the Dwarf Ghost Clan and the Giant Ghost Clan will move southwards. Before then, I need all of you to gather all members of the Human Clan together," Lin Qian said to all the clan leaders present.
Zhao Wei nodded and responded, "Sir, is your plan to gather all the Human Clan, find a place to temporarily hide, and once our strength is sufficiently developed, confront the foreign clans in one decisive battle?"
"You’ve guessed correctly, clever!" Lin Qian responded with a smile.
Indeed, he wanted the Human Clan of this Small World to wash away their past humiliations on their own, but that didn’t mean sending them to die now.
Therefore, Lin Qian planned to gather all of the Human Clan together, temporarily help them enhance their strength, and allow them to master their Martial Soul powers before taking further action.
This would give the Human Clan enough time to fully unleash their racial powers and ensure no accidents occurred—such as someone being captured by the Black Blood Clan, hindered from interfering with their plans, killing two birds with one stone.
"Is there a place in this southern region, extremely hidden, not easily found? Don’t worry about living conditions; if there aren’t any, I’ll create them myself," Lin Qian asked again.
"Yes, our habitat further south is in the extremely dense Dead Tree Forest, completely devoid of gaps. Anyone entering it would disturb numerous walking corpses. Even the Dwarf Ghost Clan and the Giant Ghost Clan dare not approach that forest," Zhao Wei quickly replied.
Lin Qian nodded to himself, looking towards the distant south, "In that case, why don’t we just go there and hide?"