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**
"Sect Master, Elders, this matter has not yet reached a definitive conclusion. There is no need to jump to conclusions so soon. Although Spirit Hall has issued a challenge letter, it doesn't necessarily mean they intend to suppress our Elephant Armored Sect."
A steady yet robust voice rang out.
Huyan Zhen looked toward the source of the sound, noticing it was spoken by the third elder seated on the right side. While the other elders were heavily weighed down and ready to treat this matter as a done deal, he seemed to possess an entirely different perspective.
"Elder Shen, what are your insights?" Huyan Zhen could not help but ask.
"I wouldn't dare call them insights, but this Shen merely believes that while Spirit Hall deploying a soul master team of such scale."
"Issuing a challenge letter is indeed a bit exaggerated for a simple sparring match between the younger generations, it doesn't automatically mean they aim to suppress our Elephant Armored Sect.
"After all, although our Elephant Armored Sect is one of the Seven Great Sects and holds immense strength within the soul master world, we are not a true competitor to Spirit Hall. If Spirit Hall truly desired to bolster its own reputation by suppressing a major force in the soul master world."
"The first targets they should suppress would be the Three Upper Sects, not us. Merely trying to showcase their dominance by suppressing the prestige of our Elephant Armored Sect might work well enough on ordinary soul masters."
"But to the grand sects and great clans of the soul master world, such a dramatic display from Spirit Hall would yield nothing more than mockery."
Shen Yan slowly voiced the thoughts in his heart.
The reason he had not spoken up immediately was because his status was inferior to that of several other elders. After all, though he was one of the elders of the Elephant Armored Sect, he was not born into the Huyan Clan.
Instead, he was a foreign-surnamed soul master with the Scale Beast martial soul, who had graduated from the Elephant Armored Academy years ago and subsequently joined the Elephant Armored Sect.
Shen Yan's words prompted several people, including Huyan Zhen, to fall into deep thought.
After pondering for a moment, the First Elder, Huyan Kuang, could not resist countering: "Elder Shen, even if that is true, what if the target of Spirit Hall's journey is not just our Elephant Armored Sect alone?
"What if they plan to target all the other sects together, even including the Three Upper Sects? For Spirit Hall, such a scenario is not entirely impossible."
Shen Yan fell silent briefly before replying in a grave tone:
"If that is truly the case, then it is the absolute worst-case scenario, and it will be impossible to avoid even if we want to. Furthermore, when that time comes, our Elephant Armored Sect will likely face a critical choice.
"Ever since the Clear Sky Sect sealed off its mountain due to Spirit Hall's suppression years ago, the balance between the soul master world, the Seven Great Sects, and Spirit Hall has been subtly broken. Spirit Hall's conduct has consequently grown more and more tyrannical."
"If Spirit Hall intends to flagrantly suppress the various major factions of the soul master world at this moment, it will inevitably provoke massive conflict and opposition between the major sects and Spirit Hall."
"At that point, our Elephant Armored Sect will probably be forced to pick a side—whether to stand with Spirit Hall, or to join hands with the other sects to resist them."
Shen Yan's words caused the hearts of everyone present to sink slightly once more.
This was a heavy topic.
As sect elders, how could they not know about the issue of Spirit Hall standing supreme and unchallenged in the soul master world?
It was just that ever since the Clear Sky Sect, the leader of the Three Upper Sects, was forced to seal off its mountain and isolate itself, it had become virtually impossible for any faction in the soul master world to rival Spirit Hall.
Moreover, the forced isolation of the Clear Sky Sect also proved to a certain extent that while the collective strength of the Seven Great Sects appeared to boast safety in numbers and a vast array of experts, they were ultimately not a unified whole.
They could not be treated as a single entity. Just like what happened with the Clear Sky Sect back then, it was inappropriate for other sects to intervene, as they lacked a justified cause.
"Cough, cough."
Seeing the deep frowns on the faces of the elders and the Sect Master, Shen Yan continued, "Of course, the probability of that happening is actually not high. After all, even if Spirit Hall is immensely powerful."
"To openly suppressing the major factions of the soul master world and inciting conflict with all the grand sects would not bring any benefits to Spirit Hall itself. Fighting against the many as the few, even if they win, their strength would be severely depleted.
"If the leaders of Spirit Hall are not fools, they shouldn't do something so reckless. Therefore, I believe that the possibility of Spirit Hall using this move to suppress our Elephant Armored Sect is not high."
When analyzing Shen Yan's words closely, they actually made a great deal of sense.
Separately suppressing the Elephant Armored Sect held no real meaning for Spirit Hall and would yield little effect, while suppressing all the major sects and factions was not a wise decision either.
As it would create too many enemies and turn them into a public target. Even if they truly wanted to bolster their own prestige, this method would be far too crude and brainless.
Huyan Zhen nodded and said, "What Elder Shen said is quite reasonable. Regarding this matter, we were indeed far too sensitive before. As a result, our concern blinded us, making us less rational instead. First Elder, what do you think?"
Huyan Kuang's eyes flickered as he thought it over carefully. He also expressed his agreement with Shen Yan's words, "Sect Master, Elder Shen's words have helped clarify our thoughts. The possibility of Spirit Hall using this move to suppress us is not high."
"However, there will definitely be a show of force. Otherwise, the challenge of their trip would lose all meaning entirely. Furthermore, if it is merely a show of force, the target will absolutely not be our Elephant Armored Sect alone. They will definitely go on to challenge other sects."
"Spirit Hall's true purpose should be to use the young soul masters they have nurtured to defeat the younger generation of the major sects, thereby displaying their might. The overly grand display is likely just to publicize this matter more widely and achieve a stronger effect.
"However, if that is the case, if we lose too miserably during the challenge match, then even if Spirit Hall has no intention of suppressing us, once the news spreads, it will still damage the reputation of our Elephant Armored Sect.
"With Spirit Hall's power, the younger generation they select will boundlessly possess formidable strength. With the strength of Ah Li and the others, it will likely be difficult to win."
"When the time comes, they might not even be able to play for a draw and can only try their best to avoid losing too miserably. Only in this way can we avoid affecting the prestige of our Elephant Armored Sect in the soul master world."
After listening to Huyan Kuang's words, the remaining elders of the Elephant Armored Sect slowly nodded in agreement.
"Sect Master, looking at it this way, the soul master world will likely experience a significant impact because of Spirit Hall's actions this time."
"After all, if Spirit Hall truly challenges the major sects one by one, then the contests between their respective younger generations will showcase the future development potential of the various sects in the soul master world."
"At the same time, it will affect the current influence of the major factions. If we can perform well in this challenge, it might even be an opportunity for our Elephant Armored Sect."
"Mm, the Third Elder is right. Since that is the case, this matter is settled. We have finished our deliberations and will simply wait for the people from Spirit Hall to arrive in Colossal Elephant City. Right, Third Elder, return to Elephant Armored Academy immediately and have Ah Li and the others come back to the sect."
After pondering over the details in his heart, Huyan Zhen spoke in a deep voice.
"Yes, Sect Master," after saying that, the various elders left the discussion hall.
This discussion had actually given the elders within the Elephant Armored Sect a clear understanding of the situation and allowed them to weigh the pros and cons.
However, this was something Ling Xiao and the others did not know. Ling Xiao had never imagined that the challenge journey he proposed would cause the current Elephant Armored Sect to spend so much effort to specifically hold a meeting over it.
In fact, those soul master factions they would visit to challenge in the future would likely be waiting in strict readiness just like the Elephant Armored Sect.
**
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