This elder wasn't just anyone; he was Wang Qiongxing, one of the elders of the human race in the ancient forest world and Wang Gang's grandfather.
After retrieving the wooden plaque, Wang Qiongxing couldn't wait to immerse his spiritual consciousness into it, eager to see what message his stubborn grandson had sent him.
As Wang Qiongxing gradually read through the entire message, the hand holding the plaque trembled uncontrollably.
With a loud "snap," the plaque fell to the ground, and Wang Qiongxing followed suit, collapsing into his chair. His lips moved for a long time, but no words came out.
Given his status and experience, he usually wouldn't be so easily shaken. However, the message from his grandson was far too shocking.
As one of the elders responsible for the future of the human race in the ancient forest world, the fact that their race's strength didn't match their cultivation level had always been a source of deep concern for the elders.
But now, his grandson was telling him that the problem that had plagued the human race in the ancient forest world for countless years had finally been solved.
The solution lay in the "Strengthening Fruit," which had been causing enormous harm to the human race—a fact that Wang Qiongxing could never have imagined.
But this was not the most important revelation!
What truly shocked Wang Qiongxing was the origin of Lin Qian and the fact that the solution to the issue with the Transformation Fruit had already been found and successfully implemented.
"The balance of power in the ancient forest world will likely be completely altered by this person named Lin Qian," Wang Qiongxing thought as he picked up the wooden plaque and seated himself at the table.
He began to ponder whether Lin Qian could help them.
Wang Qiongxing knew well that nothing came for free. If they were to approach Lin Qian, they would need to show enough sincerity.
"This matter is too significant; I need to discuss it with the other three," he decided. With that, Wang Qiongxing hurried out to find the other three elders to confer with them.
This matter concerned the fate of the entire human race in the ancient forest world and the broader balance of power in the world. It required careful consideration.
In a modest room, Wang Qiongxing was the first to sit down, quietly waiting.
Though the room appeared simple, it was fortified with layers of formations, making it impregnable. For ordinary people in the ancient forest world, it was impossible to spy on what happened within.
However, if Lin Qian were here, with the help of the scholars from the Engineering Department, breaking through these formations wouldn't be difficult.
After a short wait, three figures entered the room, each taking a seat without hesitation.
Like Wang Qiongxing, these three elders were also youthful in appearance despite their white hair. Their soul-weapon robes clearly bore the craftsmanship of the Dwarf tribe.
All three of them were peak-level Awakening Realm experts, but their strength didn't match their cultivation due to the effects of the Transformation Fruit.
"Old Wang, what happened that made you call us here in such a rush?" asked the first elder who entered, his curiosity piqued. In their eyes, Wang Qiongxing had always been calm and composed, never one to act hastily.
But this time, his urgent message had conveyed a sense of impatience, urging them to come quickly.
The room they were in, known as the Clan Hall, was where all major decisions concerning the human race in the ancient forest world were made.
Even in the past, when the fate of their people was at stake, Wang Qiongxing had maintained his calm, always moving at his own pace.
His motto had always been: "The more critical the situation, the less you should panic."
But today, Wang Qiongxing was clearly unsettled.
"You'll know soon enough. He Bai, sit down quickly," Wang Qiongxing gestured to the elder, pointing out that the other two, Xu Wuwei and Fu Deqing, had already taken their seats without delay.
Hearing Wang Qiongxing's chiding, He Bai couldn't help but chuckle and run a hand over his graying crew cut. "Well, this is something new. Seeing you so worked up—Xu Wuwei, have you ever seen this before?"
"Indeed, it's unusual," agreed Xu Wuwei, his thin face showing approval.
At that moment, Fu Deqing, with his round face and eyes narrowed into slits from smiling, added, "Brother Wang, for you to be so anxious and call us to the Clan Hall, this must be no small matter, correct?"
Fu Deqing always appeared easygoing, but in reality, he was the most decisive of the four.
"Alright, I won't keep you in suspense any longer. I'll explain everything right now." As he spoke, the other three noticed that Wang Qiongxing's body was still trembling slightly.
Even now, recalling the message from his grandson, he found it difficult to calm himself.
Seeing Wang Qiongxing in such a state, the other three exchanged glances, their curiosity growing. They couldn't wait to find out what had shaken him so much.
With all eyes on him, Wang Qiongxing recounted the message from his grandson, step by step.
As he spoke, Wang Qiongxing seemed to regain his composure, returning to his usual unhurried manner as he explained everything clearly.
As Wang Qiongxing laid out the details, the three elders couldn't keep their mouths closed, utterly astonished by what they heard.
Now, they understood why Wang Qiongxing had been so out of sorts earlier.
But compared to him, they were faring no better.
"So, we really are in the underground world!" Fu Deqing rubbed his face, voicing his amazement. "And this man actually came from the surface."
Xu Wuwei chimed in, "What concerns me the most is that he has a solution to our people's strength issue. This is crucial for us."
Wang Qiongxing nodded. Despite the harmonious coexistence of the four tribes, it was an undeniable fact that the human race held the lowest status.
Their rebellion against the Black Horn Kingdom stemmed from their desire for a peaceful life, free from oppression.
The Black Horn Kingdom not only captured them for labor but also slaughtered them indiscriminately.
The four tribes had had enough and chose to stand up against the Black Horn Kingdom.
Their dream was simple: to have a land where they could live in peace without being enslaved.
For this situation, Lin Qian found it laughable. Why did the powerful always seek to enslave others instead of striving for mutual progress?
True strength wasn't about one person's power—it was when everyone was strong that real strength existed.
The four elders fell into silence, each lost in thought.
It was Fu Deqing who broke the silence, slamming his hand on the table as he stood up. "What are we hesitating for? Let's go ask for his help!"
"Oh, my! You, of all people, are willing to ask for help?" He Bai looked at Fu Deqing, astonished.
Fu Deqing chuckled. "What of it? For the sake of our people, I wouldn't even mind becoming his servant!"