abcnovels
Chapter 362 - Three Hundred and Fifty-Eight:
Chapter 362 - Three Hundred and Fifty-Eight:
Chapter 362: Chapter Three Hundred and Fifty-Eight:
Decision
Translator: 549690339 I
The mystical arts, Soul Jades, resources, combined with the existing warriors of the Tang Clan, Xiao Zheng couldn’t imagine how powerful the Tang Clan would be after ten years when the next generation of warriors grows up. But by that time, would the Mi Family still be able to resist the military might of the Tang Clan?
Originally, he planned to wait a little longer, but Ji Fu’s words before his departure made up his mind.
Aboard the Dragon War Chariot, Ji Fu, on the verge of leaving, sighed and said to him, “Old Xiao, get closer to the Tang Clan.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s a storm coming in Xiling.”
As members of the centuries-old families, they naturally knew that the most direct display of integrity was the sharing of information. Ji Fu truly regarded himself as a friend to reveal such a big secret, because he knew how awkward the Xiao Family’s position was in Xiling.
in fact, as a member of the Xiao Family, Xiao Zheng only hoped that the Tang and Mi clans would stalemate as long as possible. Only in this way could the Xiao family rally more small clans and form another power that could stand on equal footing.
For centuries, the noble families newly settled in Xiling have no longer chosen to settle in South City or North City. Instead, they chose East City or West City, which of course was their choice, but many of them were orchestrated by the Xiao Family. Also, the influence of the Xiao Family had been shining like the midday sun for being the influential representative of the families in Xiling and gaining lots of benefits for these smaller clans.
Originally, the Xiao Family was supposed to grow gradually and become stronger, but who could have imagined that the Tang and Mi factions, who had been at a stalemate for a thousand years, suddenly declared a victor during this mysterious time. At the time, although Xiao Zheng’s face didn’t change, his heart had already sunk into an abyss.
Until now, he hadn’t recovered, but he knew he had to spread the news to the clan as soon as possible, or it would be disastrous.
“Soul Jade is connected to the Minor Spiritual Realm, where the menacing force left behind a thousand years ago is there, along with a huge amount of mystical arts, a sea of Soul Jades and a mountain of rare metals!” Xiao Zheng explained to Xiao Jinlin in the most serious tone without any bias, “Within ten years, maybe twenty at most, the Tang Clan’s strength will completely overpower the Mi Clan. If we choose to align with them by then, we would only be cannon
fodder.”
“So, I think our Xiao Clan should establish a relationship with the Tang Clan as soon as possible to achieve the greatest benefits.”
Xiao Zheng had pain and unwillingness in his eyes. As a major clan, there was no doubt that this choice was a humiliation, but he knew it was a choice that had to be made.
All foresight served to make decisions. If one foresees the future but turns a blind eye to it, they will eventually be consumed by the future.
The elder sitting in the main hall let out a deep sigh after hearing Xiao Zheng’s words, “Utterly foolish.”
“What?” Xiao Zheng raised his eyebrows and asked defiantly.
“If the Tang Clan doesn’t actively seek an alliance with the Xiao Clan within a month, then the Xiao Clan must align with the Mi Clan. Before the Tang Clan becomes powerful, we must obliterate them.” There was determination in Xiao jinlin’s eyes, with a commanding aura of a king that could influence the hearts of the people: “No! Matter! The! Cost!”
With the final six determined words, one could sense how bloody the battles would be in Longzhou due to the elder’s decision. To what extent would the Tang Family, backed by a sea of resources, compete with the two families – no one could predict. The Mi Clan backed by the Xiao Family would be like a tiger with wings, invincible in a head-on battle led by Xiao Jinlin and sudden attacks by celestial bird guards. Even if the Tang Clan acquired mystical arts, they wouldn’t be able to escape the impending doom.
But the Tang Clan was indeed the strongest clan in Xiling, and how bloody this war would be was beyond anyone’s prediction. But it’s certain that after this war, there would be no more powerful clans in Xiling, and it would take at least fifty to sixty years to recover.
“You old fool! Have you gone mad?!” Xiao Zheng could hardly believe his own ears, he truly suspected that this old man had completely lost his mind, “Now is the perfect time for the Xiao Clan and the Tang Clan to establish diplomatic relations. Tang Peng, the son of the Tang Clan’s leader, has expressed his affections for Ji Rou on multiple occasions, willingly and unwillingly. Isn t this a divine opportunity for the Xiao Clan? Yet, you want the Xiao Clan to walk on a bloody path. Have you really lost your mind?!”
It was a rule within the Xiao Clan that their descendants mustn’t marry the children of the Tang and Mi Clans. But young people always have the impulse to break such taboos. The more they cannot acquire something, the more they want it. The scions of the Tang and Mi Clans had always been hell-bent on winning the heart of a Miss Xiao. But unlike other clans, the Xiao Clan’s education of females was in no way inferior to that of males. So, for a thousand years, none of the scions of the Tang and Mi Clans had ever had their wishes granted.
However, building relations through marriage was a common strategy among noble families, especially when the groom-to-be was the current leader’s son. In the eyes of this old man, what was this golden opportunity?
Xiao Zheng’s eyes had never been filled with such rage before. Previously, he merely disliked Xiao Jinlin, but now, he began to question Xiao Jinlin’s qualifications as the leader of the Xiao Clan, “Informing you about this matter was a huge mistake. I am going to summon the Elders Council and let them know about this. Let’s see if they will also support your foolishness!” Xiao Jinlin laughed. This was the first time he laughed since Xiao Zheng entered the main hall, “Do you know why I insist that you practice martial arts?” “Because you, this old fool, don’t understand anything besides martial arts. Your world is filled with violence!” Xiao Zheng replied with a disgusted expression on his face, “In your eyes, nothing else matters, only martial arts can make the Xiao Clan powerful. That’s why you force all the members of the Xiao Clan to practice martial arts, even the women!”
“That’s exactly why the Xiao Clan has become the third largest clan in Xiling and has created an insurmountable gap with all other clans.” Xiao Jinlin didn’t think his jeers were a bad thing, nor did he feel belittled by Xiao Zheng s disdain, he calmly stated, “That’s exactly why the Xiao Clan, even today, has the power to choose. I can choose to help the Mi Clan, or I can choose to help the Tang Clan. No matter which side I choose to help, it would be a decisive battle, and that would be the power to choose obtained by the whole clan practicing martial arts.”
“Heh, this power in the hands of an old fool like you is nothing but a double- edged sword! Instead of using negotiation and interest exchange to achieve the goal, you insist on achieving it through battle. Are you not going to stop until you exhaust all the resources of the Xiao Clan?” Xiao Zheng said resentfully, “Despite knowing that the Tang Clan will surely overpower the Mi Clan, you insist on going against the grain. Not understanding the principle that if the mountain won’t come to me, then I will go to it, how could you still be the clan leader?!”
In the past, because the powers of the Tang and Mi Clans were evenly matched, even their growth was on par, so the Xiao Clan, as a third party, held great significance to both of these clans, making it an object that the two clans were eager to win over. But now that the Tang Clan is confident about surpassing the Mi Clan within a certain time limit, they will no longer be as keen to win the Xiao Clan over. This is a very simple supply and demand relationship.
The Tang Clan had always initiated courtship towards the Xiao Clan, but the Xiao Clan continuously avoided them and maintained neutrality. Now is the perfect time to accept the olive branch from the Tang Clan!