“Good,” Makhi said with a satisfied smile, then turned his gaze to Oceanus, Hale, and Leo.
Oceanus and Hale looked at the golden Spirit Scroll before them, their expressions shifting. The transition from independence to subjugation was not something easily accepted.
Acceptance meant not only offering substantial tributes annually but also the risk of becoming cannon fodder in wars between dynasties.
Seeing Oceanus and Hale’s hesitation, Makhi’s lips curled into a cold smile as he spoke with a chilling tone, “What is it? Are you dissatisfied with being appointed as one of the leaders?”
As Makhi spoke, an invisible pressure from his powerful aura bore down on Oceanus and Hale.
Feeling the overwhelming presence of a Spirit God realm expert, Oceanus and Hale’s hearts trembled, and their backs grew slightly damp.
Although both were veteran half-step Spirit God realm experts, they had yet to truly form a Spirit Core.
Thus, their strength was vastly inferior to that of a true Spirit God realm expert.
In the Awakened Continent, countless half-step Spirit God realm experts spent their entire lives unable to enter the Spirit God realm.
“We dare not, Grand Envoy,” Oceanus and Hale quickly replied.
Oceanus then knelt on one knee, holding up the golden Spirit Scroll with both hands. “Oceanus of the Azure Sky Sword Sect accepts the decree.”
“Hale of the Celestial Origin Dynasty accepts the decree,” Hale also knelt on one knee, holding up the golden Spirit Scroll before him.
Seeing this, Makhi smiled lightly and nodded slightly before turning his gaze to Leo.
As Makhi’s gaze shifted, everyone’s eyes in attendance fell upon Leo.
At this moment, the golden Spirit Scroll hovered quietly before Leo. His expression was calm, without any movement.
“Leo…” Violet bit her lip, looking at Leo.
“Do you have an issue, Sect Master of Seven Stars?” Makhi raised an eyebrow when he saw Leo unmoving and asked.
“I do,” Leo replied calmly, raising his head to meet Makhi’s gaze directly.
“What issue?” Makhi’s brow furrowed as he spoke with a colder tone, seeing Leo fearlessly staring back at him.
Leo looked at Makhi with a calm expression and said, “I have no interest in being a leader. As for the Galactic Dynasty taking seventy percent of Seven Stars Sect’s profits, I cannot agree!”
Shock appeared on the faces of those present, and an eerie silence fell over Seven Stars Plaza, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
However, the silence lasted only a few seconds before it erupted into an uproar.
Oceanus and Hale, who had just accepted the golden Spirit Scrolls, looked at Leo in shock.
They never expected that the Sect Master of Seven Stars Sect would refuse-dare to refuse!
After their initial shock, Magnus sneered internally, “Foolish creature, daring to refuse the Grand Envoy; you will pay dearly for this!”
“Indeed, youthful arrogance and naivety; he doesn’t understand the gap between a half-step Spirit God realm and a true Spirit God realm,” Bone Dusk thought with a cold smile.
On Pill Sovereign Island, Leo had defeated Maverick, preventing him from obtaining a Sacred Golden Elixir. Naturally, Savage God Sect harbored great animosity toward Leo.
“Hahaha, interesting indeed…” Makhi was initially taken aback by Leo’s words but then laughed as if he had heard something amusing.
However, anyone could hear the chill in Makhi’s laughter.
To Makhi, among the dozen or so dynasties near Martial Dynasty, Azure Sky Sword Sect, Celestial Origin Dynasty, and Savage God Sect were considered top forces.
As for the newly established Seven Stars Sect, due to its leader’s record of defeating three half-step Spirit God realm experts, it was also considered a top force.
Thus, Galactic Dynasty chose them as rulers of the southern region of Moonset Sea.
In Makhi’s view, this was Galactic Dynasty’s gift to them.
In the face of such a gift, the newly established Seven Stars Sect’s leader dared to reject the decree!
As his laughter subsided, Makhi’s gaze turned cold as he looked at Leo with narrowed eyes.
A presence that made the very heavens tremble spread out.
“Sect Master of Seven Stars Sect, do you know what you’re saying?” Makhi asked coldly as he stared at Leo.
Under Makhi’s invisible pressure, all those present turned pale.
No one dared to entertain thoughts of resistance; even those half-step Spirit God realm experts bowed their heads.
A Spirit God realm expert’s every move carried the might of heaven and earth, incomparable to anything below that realm.
Violet, Holden, and other members of Seven Stars Sect also wore grim expressions as they felt immense pressure.
However, this pressure vanished instantly as Leo spoke again, “I repeat, I have no interest in becoming Galactic Dynasty’s leader in the southern region of Moonset Sea!”
Leo stared at Makhi standing with his hands behind his back in mid-air as if unaffected by the aura. His calm words echoed throughout Seven Stars Plaza.
Hearing Leo’s unwavering refusal again left those present looking at him with astonishment.
Leo’s words were tantamount to challenging a Spirit God realm expert directly.
“Doesn’t he know what it means to refuse a Spirit God realm expert?”
“The Galactic Dynasty has more than one Spirit God realm expert.”
“This Seven Stars Sect is likely doomed on its founding day.”
Many in attendance whispered among themselves.
Faced with the powerful Galactic Dynasty, none dared even think of resisting-not even if they united together.
“What an ignorant fool,” Magnus sneered even more at Leo’s lack of tact.
Had Leo accepted Galactic Dynasty’s decree and become one of its leaders, dealing with him would have required patience.
But now he foolishly opposed a Spirit God realm Grand Envoy directly-practically seeking death himself.
“You have some courage for a young man,” Makhi remarked after seeing Leo still refuse under his pressure. He then changed his tone sharply. “However, those who show courage before me often die faster.”
With that said, Makhi waved his sleeve.
A massive golden throne formed high above.
Makhi sat upon it like a king.
“Whoever captures him for me shall have command over Seven Stars Sect’s territories,” Makhi said with a slight smile as he glanced over those gathered in the plaza.