Inside the Earth Dragon Clan's Main City, the Rocksunder City Patriarch Klavius Rocksunder returned to a palace.
"That foolish child is still not learning from his mistakes, is he?"
"No. He seems to want to see this to the end, drunk on his ambitions."
Patriarch Klavius Rocksunder replied as he turned to look at a crimson-robed man. He was accompanied by two women seated in the seats beside him, but they only seemed to be filled with disappointment.
"Then it seems like we must force the Fire Phoenix Clan back using ourselves. Are you two up for it?"
The crimson-robed man turned to look at the two women, causing them to nod their heads determinedly.
=======
The fourth day of the war and the sixth day since Davis entered seclusion.
"Retreat! We're suffering heavy losses!"
The Starlight Jade Wolf King commanded, his expression looking exhausted, but his eyes still radiated immense confidence. Regardless, they were forced to abandon a major city, retreating further into the inner zone.
And since they lost this city and the terrain advantage, it became possible to be attacked from all sides as other cities in the outer zone would also easily fall with no troops to guard them and only formation.
Fortunately, they had enough time to evacuate their people. Some chose to leave, disappointed in their decision, but a few also chose to stay, indicating their undying loyalty to the clan, wealth, or their families present here.
Nevertheless, as a sign of good faith, the coalition didn't attack the people who wanted to leave the Starlight Jade Wolf Clan.
After all, they had a righteous cause and couldn't possibly attack innocents.
A few hours later, the elders of the Starlight Jade Wolf Clan could see their clan crumbling day after day. They clenched their fists, wanting to stop this from happening.
"There's no need to wait any longer!"
"Yes! Let's show them that they can't invade the inner region without our Immortal Emperors fighting back!"
"Indeed! What are we waiting for!?"
They roared. The Grand Elders also shared the same emotion.
If they delayed any longer, then their territories would all be robbed from them. But if they attacked them, then their Immortal Emperors would also appear, meaning that it would be the true end for the Starlight Jade Wolf Clan.
They couldn't help but feel like they were stuck between a rock and a hard place, unable to do anything while just sitting here waiting for news like useless people.
"Any word from the Patriarch?" Third Ancestor Riyard asked.
Even the three Ancestors were in the Starlight Jade Wolf King's main palace, waiting to move out at a moment's notice.
"No. The last words we heard from him were to maintain the status quo."
"Status quo?"
The Third Ancestor blinked. Was this really the time to be worried about diplomatic situations?
Their clan was already in deep shit, having no way out even if they abandoned the Emperor of Death, not after causing hundreds of divisions to die from the Divergent Hunt Coalition. At this point, they were practically wanted criminals hunted by both righteous paths and assassins alike.
Even if they all surrendered, he doubted that the coalition would let them go scot-free.
At the very least, he could see half of the clan's elders and disciples kept on execution row, including himself, the other two Ancestors, and even the Starlight Jade Wolf King.
"Damn it… didn't I say this path was fraught with extinction?"
Ancestor Riyard clenched his teeth. Being unable to do anything really made him incensed, especially as there was not even a single word from that dubious Emperor of Death!
Was he still not out of seclusion!? If he failed to appear, then it would really mean the end of them!
But at this moment, a messenger ran into the hall, hurriedly kneeling.
"Elders! I have received word that the Divergent Hunt Coalition's forces are pulling back!"
"What!?"
"How… does that happen…?"
Everyone became confused, wondering what had happened, when another messenger came running in and knelt, his expression fueled with excitement.
"Reporting to the elders! Our Starlight Jade Wolf Clan has successfully captured the immortal inheritors of the Fire Phoenix Clan!"
"What in the heavens…?"
The Ancestors reeled back in immense confusion. Captured the Fire Phoenix Clan's immortal inheritors? How does that happen in these times where the powers use their entire force to guard their immortal inheritors to the best of their ability?
=========
"What? They're really pulling back?"
The Starlight Jade Wolf King blinked at the enemy forces retreating as he kept a huge blade against the neck of Great Ancestor Zenflame, who also blinked at this scene.
Renfa Jadelight and Davion Jadelight were also confused.
It made sense for the Fire Phoenix Clan to retreat, considering that they had their immortal inheritors captured and put on a show of public execution, but why were the other powers retreating?
"You… you're not playing games, are you?"
Davion Jadelight turned to look at Great Ancestor Zenflame as he suspected deceit as other areas might be attacked, causing the latter to turn to look at them.
"There is no falsehood in my words. If the Fire Phoenix Clan continues to invade, you can lop off our heads."
"I still don't understand why you three decided to deliver yourselves or have faith in your reviving nature in order to do something conniving, but I will not hesitate to lop off your heads if it means protecting my people."
The Starlight Jade Wolf King glared at them.
He couldn't understand their sacrificial move, but if it weren't for the fact that they had left the Fire Phoenix Clan in disappointment over the farce that happened in the banquet, which almost everyone knew and caused the Fire Phoenix Clan to become the laughing stock of the Phoenix Alliance, he would've never believed their words.
Even now, he was a bit hesitant in using them, especially since he had not captured them through their own efforts, but they delivered themselves in a harmless manner, stating to them that they could be used as hostages to push back the coalition, which was practically unthinkable unless they had some kind of insidious agenda behind it generally.
If it weren't for the Earth Dragon Clan's Patriarch, who vouched for them, he would have been forced to think twice about their intentions and deliver them to his Ancestors, who would really put them on execution row for the sake of the clan.
"That's fine. If it means that it can save the Fire Phoenix Clan even a bit from an Anarchic Divergent's wrath, I will do it again."
Great Ancestor Zenflame replied, causing the Starlight Jade Wolf King to raise his brows.
"You trust in the enemy who will try to ruin your Fire Phoenix Clan if he survives this onslaught?"
"It's not trust." Great Ancestor Zenflame wryly smiled, "It's called pleading with sincerity, which seemed to work on him as far as I have seen. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to fake his death in order to know the true intentions of the Fire Phoenix Clan. That foolish child of my clan failed to recognize that he was given multiple chances."
His brows twitched, seemingly wanting to rage but possessed a lamenting expression on his face because he knew even if Killian Zenflame knew that he was given multiple chances, he would do the same thing again.
"Pleading?" Davion Jadelight narrowed his brows, "You are still an immortal inheritor representing your Fire Phoenix Clan from the true immortal world. Do you know what would happen if they were to learn of this? You would not survive either way."
To Davion Jadelight's words, Great Ancestor Zenflame couldn't help but chuckle.
He was still under the blade's mercy, kneeling on the execution platform. However, he seemed to be unafraid.
"An Anarchic Divergent is, at the very least, a dying star. It would unleash a radiance beyond your imagination before it dies, and I have never seen or even heard of an Anarchic Divergent's Tribulation that's capable of causing all the people underneath it to faint. Even our Immortal Emperors who were paying attention weren't able to resist. You all don't understand just what he is capable of."
He shook his head, turning to look at the Starlight Jade Wolf King.
"I thought you feared and knew his potential and chose to take his side, but it seems like it wasn't the case."
The Starlight Jade Wolf King possessed a dumbfounded expression on his face along with the others. However, he quickly came out of his reverie, removing the huge sword from Great Ancestor Zenflame's head and resting it on his shoulder.
"Of course! He's my brother! Do you think force is going to change my mind!? I would rather die!"
He waved his hand. Great Ancestor Zenflame simply smiled and didn't say anything.
But the next moment, they all heard the news that made them finally understand why the Divergent Hunt Coalition retreated!
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