Chapter 598: Dividing the Spoils

Chapter 598: Dividing the SpoilsAs Zhang Lie was dealing with the schism in the world federation, the post-war meeting was occurring in the second realm. That meeting was, more colloquially, when the allied Renhuang forces gathered in order to divide up the spoils of war, as was standard practice.

The same situation had occurred after the second and third intergalactic wars in which the Milky Way had participated.

The result of the second intergalactic convention was the construction of the world federation, and the result of the third was the institution of the highest authorities who would oversee the Milky Way as a whole.

Team Zenith, on behalf of Renhuang, had indicated that they would be building a kingdom atop the sura ruins. In fact, Renhuang was already doing so, led by the human race and the four prime races of the Milky Way, along with the countless races that supported them.

They were starting to settle the land, and the barest outline of a kingdom could be seen amidst the sura ruins. This kingdom would encompass human and alien alike, and it would dominate the second realm.

However, there were quite a few races that didn't want to see the humans supplant the sura.

Renhuang had grown into its strength far too rapidly—in just two or three years, there were countless hunters within who had strength equivalent to that of a sura king.

Some of these contrary races were afraid that the humans would become the next sura. Once this human kingdom were constructed and the humans began devouring the sura's resources, they would surely grow into the second coming of the sura...

No, they would be even stronger than that. At least the eight sura empires had been decentralized, but now there would only be one human kingdom.

The mighty warriors who had slain a dragon were poised to become a dragon themselves—and one mightier than the one that had been slain.

These alien races had been making moves behind the scenes in order to disrupt Renhuang's construction. As a result, it had taken Team Zenith over a month to set up the preliminaries for their new kingdom.

The meeting was held at what had been the capital of the monarch of stars. Originally, this meeting should have taken place in Renhuang, but this proposal had been met with stark refusal from quite a number of the allied races, who were gradually starting to distance themselves from the humans.

As the human representative, Sun Mengmeng was the first to speak. Her declaration of intent to form a new kingdom, however, was met with surprising dissent.

"I've never heard of a kingdom comprising multiple races!"

"Renhuang's already too large. In order to prevent it from growing unwieldy, I think there should be stipulations against its growth."

"We are absolutely against the creation of a multiracial kingdom!"

Hong Yu glanced at these alien races as though she were looking at a bunch of country bumpkins. "What's wrong with such a kingdom? There are countless successful examples of such kingdoms all throughout the Milky Way."

"I don't know what this Milky Way you're referring to is—we're in the second realm, not everywhere else."

"It's very difficult to broker agreement in kingdoms of multiple races. Each race should have their own kingdom; these kingdoms may then work together in an alliance."

Sun Mengmeng pointed at the map displayed prominently in the room. "Regardless of anything else that we agree on, Renhuang is claiming this territory as its own."

According to the original treatise prepared at the start of the alliance, the sura territory would be claimed by whoever drove back the sura on that plot of land. However, several of the alien races banded together to claim a stretch of land right in the middle of the proposed Renhuang kingdom, forcing it to be split up.

Li Feng said sternly, "You guys don't have to be part of our kingdom, but don't prevent us from starting one!"

"That's not our intention at all. After all, the land was claimed by multiple races working in tandem, and it's natural that there might be conflict over any one piece."

Sun Mengmeng smirked. "Conflict? No, I don't think you understand. We're the ones who took over all this land, not any of you! And even if you did, we claim it by right of force and conquest. If any of you want to challenge our claim, so be it."

Sun Mengmeng's words immediately threw the meeting into a hubbub as the representatives of Renhuang clashed against those of the alien races.

Of course, none of the alien races dared to fight the members of Team Zenith in direct combat; they favored a war of words instead.

Just then, a low voice resounded from outside the hall. "I hear that some object to the founding of the new Renhuang kingdom."

A man appeared in the center of the meeting room out of thin air, his aura so forceful that it felt as though a mountain were pressing down on the representatives' heads. Everyone bowed down, though not by choice. Black cracks splintered the space all around him. "Who dares claim the spoils of Renhuang? Is it you?"

"N-n-no, I, I didn't have such an intention! It was all a misunderstanding..."

Upon hearing the commanding voice, Sun Mengmeng and the others let out relieved smiles, whereas the dissenting races began to sweat.

"Listen up: if you're going to speak, it had better be a valuable contribution to the discussion. Otherwise, the lives of your clan are forfeit. I claim this land by conquest." Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NʘvᴇlFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

The man's palm pressed down on the large map, his fingers smoldering and leaving a scorch mark where Renhuang stood. "We of Renhuang aren't negotiating with you about the construction of a new kingdom—we're just informing you of that fact. Anyone who dares contest this land will be met with immediate reprisal."

The alien races quaked as they countered, "H-how could you?! This land includes our original territory—you're just like the sura!"

"Are you unwilling to accept these terms, then?"

The man turned and glanced at the two speakers, who evaporated away like steam or fog. No trace of them remained.

This demonstration shocked the entire room. None of the alien races dared to speak. They shut their mouths and lowered their heads.

Team Zenith had been far too lenient with them, so much so that they had forgotten just how Renhuang had managed to survive and eke out a place for itself and how it had defeated the sura.

The man standing in front of them killed sura monarchs as if they were nothing more than domesticated animals.

No one believed that an existence at this level of strength would deign to participate in their mortal affairs, but here he was.

"Does anyone else have an opinion?" Zhang Lie asked again. This time, all the alien representatives shook their heads as though they had been shocked.

"No, no, of course not!"

"We were only providing suggestions and recommendations, but the choice is yours, of course!"

"Indeed, please take all the land you want!"

Zhang Lie nodded. "Very well. Remember your words if you want your clan to continue living. To be honest, I don't mind culling more alien races from the second realm, so as to have more space for the rest of us..."