Complete Martial Arts Attributes : Chapter 3149: One Stick, One Carrot! Battle Merit Statistics! In Order to...

Wang Teng never expected that the Holy Light Universe would decide to send them into that Holy Light Secret Realm so quickly.

Before this, they had been unhurried, seemingly waiting for them to recover their condition.

And now they wouldn't wait anymore?

"Could it be because of the wealth-qi I absorbed earlier?"

Wang Teng suddenly thought of something, a strange feeling rising in his heart.

So, was this all his fault?

Why did it feel like he had lifted a stone only to drop it on his own foot?

Originally, Wang Teng had intended to properly handle matters on the outside and explain the situation to keep others from worrying.

After all, this was a span of fifty years.

Yet, if one managed to survive, a bounty of immense proportions usually awaited.

Now was the hour to redeem those spoils.

Wang Teng's eyes kindled with a sudden brilliance, his chest tight with a nascent, restless fervor.

His merits from this campaign surely amounted to a staggering sum!

But exactly how grand would the tally be?

Could they truly account for every single deed?

Might something have slipped through the cracks?

Anxiety tugged at the edges of his mind.

He had achieved so much that he himself had lost count, and he could not fathom how the Universe of Light went about cataloging it all.

"A pity, truly! Some deeds simply cannot be spoken aloud."

The recollection struck him, bringing a quiet wave of regret.

Though he had long steeled himself for this reality, the arrival of the moment itself still left a bitter taste.

After all, if those hidden triumphs were factored in, the reward would be astronomical.

Perhaps just a single one of those acts would eclipse the lifetime achievements of a Universe Master, or even a World Master.

This was no hyperbole.

Wang Teng held absolute conviction in his own actions; they were monumental strokes that had altered the very trajectory of the war.

They could not be compared to the mere slaughter of Dark Apparitions by ordinary warriors.

True God Chihuang swept his gaze across the gathering faces, a faint trace of amusement touching his eyes.

This was precisely the reaction they had aimed to provoke!

The preceding lockdown had cast too heavy a shadow upon their spirits.

Delivering this momentous tidings now served as the perfect antidote to soothe their fraying nerves.

It was, in its own way, the classic play of the carrot and the stick.

Yet, when True God Chihuang’s eyes drifted past Wang Teng, a sudden knot of complex emotion tightened in his chest.

This fellow...

On the other side, True God Yaofeng caught the announcement and likewise cast a surreptitious glance toward the youth, his heart sinking imperceptibly.

He could plot and scheme against Wang Teng in other matters, but this particular realization was an unalterable reality he could not touch.

Wang Teng's battlefield merits were undeniable, witnessed by all!

Furthermore, the auditing of these achievements was not dictated by True Gods like themselves, but determined by the highest echelons of power.

Even knowing this, an intense wave of displeasure rankled within him.

One did not need a prophet to know that Wang Teng’s rewards would be staggering.

And what of himself?

A magnificent entity of True God status, yet perhaps outshone by a mere youth at the Universe Master level.

Without comparison, there would be no sting.

The mere thought of such an outcome left True God Yaofeng feeling as though claws were scratching at his heart, a profound misery washing over him.

Suffocating!

It was utterly suffocating!

From the dawn of the final battle until now, nothing had gone his way; the entire ordeal had been a grueling path strewn with thorns.

"True God Chihuang, has the tally of our merits already been finalized?"

At long last, an Immortal-level entity could no longer suppress the burning question.

"The calculation is complete."

True God Chihuang gave a slight nod, seemingly reading the anxious thoughts of the crowd as he spoke:

"Furthermore, your achievements have been co-audited by the intelligent lifeforms of every major faction, ensuring absolute fairness and impartiality!"

A collective sigh of relief rippled through the gathering at these words, though their expressions soon turned to astonishment.

Co-audited by the intelligent lifeforms of all the varying factions!

Such an arrangement was an extreme rarity.

In past conflicts against the Dark Apparitions, the final accounting was typically left to the battlefield commanders and the supreme military intelligence.

There had never been a need to convene the core intelligences of every distinct faction!

After all, gathering the intelligent lifeforms of different powers was no simple endeavor.

Such existences were treated as sacred secrets by their respective factions, usually concealed in the deepest shadows.

This was because an intelligent lifeform held far too much sensitive data regarding its master faction.

If they interacted too closely with rival intelligences, a single data breach would mean absolute ruin.

Yet this time, the various powers had actually been willing to dispatch their precious intelligences to conduct a joint audit.

Had the sun truly risen from the west?

A marvelous anomaly indeed!

A sharp gleam flashed in Wang Teng's eyes, and a sudden sense of ease settled over him.

Fairness and impartiality were wonderful things!

He had always harbored a fondness for absolute justice!

With so many independent intelligences working in tandem, even a True God would find it impossible to meddle or play favorites.

Moreover, the calculations of artificial minds would be meticulously comprehensive.

Mortals were prone to error, but intelligent lifeforms rarely faltered.

"I wonder how exactly those intelligences managed to record it all?"

Wang Teng stroked his chin, his thoughts churning with clandestine curiosity.

Could it be that from the moment the final battle commenced, those digital minds had already blanketed the entire theater of war with invisible surveillance?

Engaged in the heat of combat, he had failed to notice any such scrutiny.

Yet, considering the uncanny capabilities of the Machine Race, he conceded that it was highly probable.

"Yuan Gunji, do you have any inkling as to how those intelligences kept score?"

Wang Teng suddenly inquired within the quiet chambers of his mind.

"I do not."

Yuan Gunji was equally bewildered, offering an immediate reply:

"However, if my suspicions hold true, this monumental task must have been orchestrated by the highest tier of advanced intelligent lifeforms."

"You don't need to tell me—of course it's those high-level intelligent beings," Wang Teng rolled his eyes.

"..." Roundy muttered irritably, "Didn't you ask me? Of course I'll say whatever comes to mind."

"I thought you'd come up with something constructive. Who knew it'd be this?" Wang Teng shook his head inwardly.

"That's because my permissions are insufficient," Roundy also rolled his eyes.

"Can you two stop bickering already? Do you have anything important to say or not?"

A cold voice suddenly cut through their pointless banter.

It was Ice Dithis!

She had been listening in on the meeting as well, and naturally paid extra attention when war merits were mentioned.

But instead of discussing achievements, these two fools were arguing over intelligent life.

What kind of twisted logic was that?

If she could, she’d kick both of them—one each—and send them off to quiet corners.

Wang Teng: "..."

Roundy: "..."

This was definitely the real Ice Dithis.

Wang Teng felt utterly speechless.

This woman was truly flipping the script—daring to speak to him like this, her master? That was going too far.

If he weren’t such a forgiving person, he’d surely teach her a lesson.

Absolutely not because he was scared!

That had nothing to do with fear.

Really!

Just a mere divine-level frozen ice dragon’s soul fragment—sealed at that—what was there to fear?

"This battle involves higher levels, so we must mobilize advanced intelligent beings from various factions."

"It's for balance!"

"And for fairness!"

Ice Dithis explained calmly.

"Balance," Wang Teng pondered the word, and a flicker of understanding dawned in his mind.

Fairness might be secondary—balance was the true priority.

How many fair and just things existed in this world?

He didn’t want to view things through biased eyes, but reality was simply like that.

The earlier incident with True God Yaofeng was the best example.

Had it not been for True God Chihuang and True God Zhulong stepping forward, how could he have preserved any sense of fairness?

Come to think of it, it was all rather absurd.

He let out a silent scoff and stopped thinking about fairness altogether.

"In this world, equilibrium is king."

The thought flashed through Wang Teng’s mind.

"Looks like you've finally figured it out," Ice Dithis said flatly.

"Thanks," Wang Teng smiled.

"No need. We're essentially one now. I wouldn’t want you to trip up in the end."

"The Machine Clan and the Zhulong Clan may have good relations with you now, but you must maintain proper boundaries. Don’t become overly dependent."

Her tone remained unchanged, devoid of personal emotion.

Wang Teng said nothing more, merely filing the words away in his heart.

Though this mother dragon was somewhat cold, overall she was quite decent—offering him much help.

He didn’t suspect her of trying to sow discord.

Not at all.

Given their relationship, that would serve no purpose for her.

Besides, he understood—she was right.

He had never relied excessively on the Machine Clan or the Zhulong Clan.

Even if he relied on anyone, it was on the Virtual Universe Corporation, the Secondary Occupation Alliance Headquarters, and the Starry Academy—the three major powers.

After all, he had significant ties with those three.

With the Machine Clan and the Zhulong Clan, it was only a matter of interests.

Sometimes, gratitude was just another form of interest.

Roundy nodded silently. In truth, he held deep respect for Ice Dithis.

No matter what, admiration outweighed fear.

Now that they were all on the same side, excessive fear wasn’t necessary.

But Ice Dithis’s abilities and experience were undeniable—she knew far more than they did, and that was worth acknowledging.

Having Ice Dithis’s help meant Wang Teng could avoid many pitfalls.

Right now, he found her words extremely reasonable—those great powers cared little for fairness, only for balance.

"So, Lord Chihuang, when will the war merits be announced?"

As Wang Teng and Ice Dithis conversed, a being of Immortal level asked the question everyone most wanted to know.

All turned toward True God Chihuang.