71: Chapter 71 Alliance Negotiation, Rule Formulation

Morning light just spilled over the eaves of the hall; seven figures already stood before the entrance.

Elder Xu straightened the dark patterns on his cuffs and stepped across the threshold.

The Elder of the Zhao Clan followed behind, gripping a roll of spirit-patterned paper so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Deacon Lin entered with his head bowed, cradling three Jade Slips in his arms.

The envoy from the Sun Clan arrived last, his boot soles caked with fresh mud from outside the mountains; he took his seat with slow, deliberate steps.

The great hall had been empty for three days; today, it reopened.

The main seat remained vacant; no official seal was placed on the desk, nor was there an incense burner.

Yet that high platform hung like an unsheathed blade, pressing down on everyone, making them afraid to look around.

Footsteps ceased.

Chen Wuwang walked out from the side corridor, his black robes unchanged. His left Mechanical Prosthetic Eye glowed with a faint blue light, and the old scar on his right cheek was hidden in the shadows.

He did not head toward the high platform but instead circled to the last seat, pulled out a wooden chair, and sat down with a soft sound.

"They have arrived," he said. His voice was not loud, yet it pinned everyone's gaze to him. "The three-day agreement; no one is late."

Elder Xu's throat moved: "Family Head... are you not sitting up there?"

"Today is not about listening to anyone call me 'Family Head'," Chen Wuwang pulled out a spirit-patterned paper booklet and pushed it to the center of the table. "It is to set the rules—three points: shared defense, shared resource management, and shared decision-making. Anyone who wants to discuss anything else can leave now."

No one moved.

The Elder of the Zhao Clan coughed twice: "The logic is sound, but how do we share the burden? What do we share in management? Who has the final say?"

"You are afraid of being swallowed up," Chen Wuwang pointed at him. "He is afraid of putting in more effort and getting less profit." He looked at Deacon Lin, "And you are afraid that your own mines will be poached while you are on patrol duty."

The group fell silent.

The Sun Clan envoy sneered: "Easily said. When a real fight breaks out, who charges to the front? Whose people die? Whose land veins are damaged?"

"That is why we cannot rely on empty words," Chen Wuwang tapped the table three times with his fingertips.

A faint light rose from the base of the table, and seven copies of the "Preliminary Concept Proposal" appeared out of thin air, landing steadily in front of each clan representative.

"First point: shared defense," he flipped to the first page. "Each clan must contribute no less than thirty percent of their combat strength to guard the key passages of the four borders. If a neighboring clan does not send troops to rescue during an attack, they will not enjoy the protection of the Alliance for three years, and twenty percent of their resource quota will be automatically deducted."

Deacon Lin frowned: "What about the small clans? We have fewer people and weaker combat strength; must we also contribute proportionally?"

"It is not based on headcount," Chen Wuwang swept his gaze over them. "It is based on 'dynamic weighting'."

He paused, then continued: "We will evaluate every quarter—scoring based on territory size, combat output, and resource supply to comprehensively calculate voting rights and obligation ratios. Strong clans have higher weight and greater voice, but also heavier responsibilities; weak clans have lower weight and lighter burdens, but once they make a contribution, their weighting will be adjusted upward immediately next time."

The Elder of the Zhao Clan narrowed his eyes: "You are making us watch each other?"

"Correct," Chen Wuwang looked him straight in the eye. "If you cannot keep watch, do not enter this door."

The hall was silent for a moment.

"Second point: shared resource management," he turned the page. "All mines, Medicinal Fields, and spirit wells must have their exploration data registered in the Alliance database. Of the mining yields, thirty percent belongs to the clan itself, thirty percent goes to the Alliance reserve pool, and forty percent is distributed according to weighting to fill deficits."

"I object!" The Sun Clan envoy stood up abruptly. "Why should we hand over thirty percent? We don't have much cold iron ore in the Northern Plains to begin with!"

"If you don't hand it over, neither will anyone else," Chen Wuwang remained unmoved. "Then who will help you block the Yao Race? Who will fix your Formation? When your mines are exhausted and the enemy is at your doorstep, you won't even have the money to buy Talismans."

The Sun Clan envoy's lips trembled, and he said nothing more.

"And the third point," Chen Wuwang raised his hand to suppress the restlessness. "Shared decision-making."

He took out a bronze bell and placed it on the table: "Any resolution requires the consent of more than half the clans to be executed. But if more than half explicitly oppose it, it is automatically frozen and enters a reconsideration period—we call it 'Veto Warning'."

"Meaning..." Elder Xu asked slowly, "No one can dominate alone?"

"Not exactly," Chen Wuwang's lips curled slightly. "It means no one can play dumb. If you want to take advantage, everyone will call a halt. If you want to shirk responsibility, the rules will remember what you have done."

The Elder of the Zhao Clan stared at the document and suddenly laughed: "That is a ruthless move. On the surface, you make everyone equal, but in reality, you force us to not dare to slack off or be greedy."

"I do not need you to trust me," Chen Wuwang put away his smile. "But I need you to know—in this Alliance, those who cheat will not last long, and those who contribute will not suffer."

Deacon Lin lowered his head to turn the page, his finger stopping at the last line: "Can this constitution... really be implemented?"

"It can," Chen Wuwang looked at him. "Because every point is carved into the Talisman contract. Whoever violates the agreement will have their name revealed on the spot and broadcast across the entire territory. Three breaches of trust, and you are expelled from the Alliance, never to be hired again."

The air froze for a moment.

Then, Elder Xu took a deep breath and placed his hand on the document: "My Xu Family... signs."

"The Zhao Clan seconds this!"

"The Lin Family agrees!"

"The Sun Clan... agrees."

Seven rays of spiritual light lit up in turn, injecting into the central Jade Slip monument. A moment later, a clear chime resounded through the great hall—the "East Wasteland Alliance Basic Constitution" officially took effect.

Chen Wuwang did not smile, nor did he applaud. He simply closed the booklet and said indifferently: "The rules are set; next—it is time to select personnel."

As his voice fell, the atmosphere changed abruptly.

The faces that were originally harmonious suddenly tightened.

Elder Xu looked up: "How shall the position of Alliance Leader... be determined?"

"I am not running," Chen Wuwang said directly. "I only nominate myself as a Strategic Advisor, attending the council meetings without final decision-making power."

The entire hall was shocked.

The Elder of the Zhao Clan's pupils constricted: "You... do not want the power of leadership?"

"I want the result," Chen Wuwang spread his hands. "Not the title. The Alliance Leader you elect is the only one I can trust."

This sounded humble, but in reality, it was even more ruthless—if you do not trust him, you must bear the responsibility yourself.

After a brief silence, Elder Xu said in a deep voice: "Since that is the case... let us nominate candidates."

"I nominate Elder Xu," Chen Wuwang was the first to speak. "Among the Seven Clans last night, he was the first to send a Jade Slip. One who dares to reach out first may not be the strongest, but is the least afraid to stand up."

Elder Xu was stunned.

"I also second this," Deacon Lin nodded. "The Xu Family is located in the center and has no background in major sects, making them the most suitable for coordinating all parties."

The Sun Clan envoy snorted: "Then what about you? Who gets the Military Department?"

"The Elder of the Zhao Clan," Chen Wuwang looked at him. "You have rich experience in leading troops, and you have guarded the West Ridge defense line for twenty years without it being broken; this area is yours to take."

The Elder of the Zhao Clan's expression changed, but he did not refuse.

"The Resource Department," Chen Wuwang continued. "Deacon Lin is skilled in coordination, and your cultivation of mutated spirit plants has already yielded results; I am at ease leaving this to you."

Deacon Lin gripped the Jade Slip and nodded gently.

"Head of the Diplomatic Mission," Chen Wuwang's gaze turned to the Sun Clan envoy. "The Northern Plains border three races; you have spent years maneuvering between major powers, you are well-informed, and your temper is tough enough—you are suitable for speaking to the outside world."

The Sun Clan envoy was stunned, then his mouth twitched: "You know me quite well."

"Finally," Chen Wuwang looked around the venue. "The Minister of Supervision shall be jointly nominated by all clans from a neutral party. It is temporarily vacant, reserved for a later by-election."

The seven looked at each other; some breathed a sigh of relief, others had complex expressions.

Elder Xu stood up and walked to the main seat, a bronze seal appearing in his hand, engraved with the four characters "East Wasteland Joint Defense".

"From this day forward," his voice was steady. "This seal is the authority of the Alliance Leader. The council meeting will be held on the first of every month; major resolutions must be voted on the spot, and violators will be held accountable according to the constitution."

The Elder of the Zhao Clan received the military command token, Deacon Lin registered the resource ledger, and the Sun Clan envoy began drafting the first list of contacts.

Everything was settled.

There was no more dispute in the great hall, nor were there cheers. There was only the rustling sound of pen tips sliding across Jade Slips, the flickering light of Talisman transmissions, and the occasional low-voiced confirmation.

Chen Wuwang sat in the side seat, playing with an unactivated communication Talisman in his hand.

The sunlight shone in at an angle, landing on half of his face.

He did not look at anyone, nor did he speak again.

He only gently rubbed the Talisman with his fingertips, as if waiting for something.

Or perhaps, preparing for something.

The wind rose outside the hall, sweeping away a fallen leaf.

Inside the hall, the eight people remained in their original positions; the system had been established, but the action had not yet begun.

A true beginning had just pressed the start button.