Chapter 276

In the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan—

“Father! Joining the Primordial Holy Land may be our best option!” Yao Mingyue said firmly, her gaze fixed on Yao Ye.

“Who else in history has ever accomplished such feats? A mere Saint King’s tribulation has frightened every faction into spectating from a distance, too afraid to interfere!” she continued.

“Who could have done this in the past? And at less than thirty years old, Jiang Chen has already reached the Saint King Realm.”

“Such talent is unfathomable. Backed by the Primordial Holy Land and protected by an Emperor Weapon, Jiang Chen’s demise is practically impossible!”

“As long as Jiang Chen lives, no one in this world will be his match. This era belongs to Jiang Chen! If we join him now, once he proves his Dao, the Heavenly Fox Clan will also benefit from his protection!”

Watching Jiang Chen’s tribulation had solidified Yao Mingyue’s belief. Unintentionally, she had become one of Jiang Chen’s most ardent admirers, speaking of him as if he were already an emperor.

Her urgency to convince Yao Ye to lead the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan to align with Jiang Chen was evident.

Yao Ye’s expression was complicated. While he acknowledged Jiang Chen’s extraordinary talent, Yao Mingyue’s enthusiasm was overwhelming.

“Ahem.” Yao Ye coughed softly, and Yao Mingyue, realizing her excitement, blushed slightly in embarrassment.

“I understand your point,” Yao Ye said. “Joining the Primordial Holy Land could indeed be a wise choice. But since they haven’t approached us, it would be inappropriate for us to seek them out first.”

“Why not take the initiative?” Yao Mingyue argued, her beautiful eyes flashing with determination. “Given our current situation, we don’t have the luxury of waiting!”

“Should we really wait until the ancient imperial clans make a move before making a decision? The Primordial Holy Land doesn’t necessarily need us. Why risk being left without options?”

“The Primordial Holy Land’s failure to approach us places us in an unequal position. Seeking them out ourselves would lower our standing—how would that be different from joining the ancient imperial clans?” Yao Ye countered.

His hesitation wasn’t from ignorance but from a desire to negotiate better terms for the Heavenly Fox Clan. However, given the current circumstances, his approach was proving inadequate and dangerous for the clan.

“There’s a huge difference!” Yao Mingyue exclaimed. “In terms of potential alone, the ancient imperial clans are far inferior to the Primordial Holy Land.”

“Take the Holy Son’s followers, for example—each one is comparable to Huang Qingtian. When they grow stronger in the future, they’ll become a terrifying force!”

Yao Mingyue sighed, recognizing her father’s earlier reluctance stemmed from a desire for neutrality, much like the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect. However, the Heavenly Fox Clan lacked the strength to achieve such independence.

Unlike the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect, whose territory spanned the entire Western Desert and whose neutrality was protected by their sheer power, the Heavenly Fox Clan had no such leverage.

“Your reasoning is sound,” Yao Ye said after a long pause. “I’ll reach out to the Primordial Holy Land.”

A bright smile blossomed on Yao Mingyue’s face, radiant and full of hope. “I believe they’ll agree!”

—

In the void—

Beams of light flickered as the rulers of the ancient imperial clans gathered. Huang Tian, Jin Yuan, Bai Ye, and others assembled, with only Yao Ye absent. Together, they represented the strongest forces of the Southern Region.

“The Heavenly Fox Clan must make a decision,” Jin Yuan said coldly, his expression dark with killing intent. “We’ve given them enough time.”

“Their hesitation is unacceptable,” he continued. “We can’t afford to wait any longer.”

“I agree,” another voice chimed in.

The Kirin Clan leader spoke calmly, “We cannot allow the Heavenly Fox Clan to continue acting recklessly. The changes in the heavens and earth are something we can all sense.”

“The grand era is upon us and will arrive soon. When that time comes, the challenges we face will be severe, especially with the changes occurring in the forbidden zones.”

“It won’t be long before the forbidden zones awaken.”

“The dangers of the forbidden zones need no elaboration; all of you understand them well. To survive the coming era, the power of the Heavenly Fox Clan is indispensable!”

“Moreover, the human race is watching us closely. If the ancient imperial clans fail to unify, it will only spell disaster in the future. We must eliminate this potential threat before the grand era fully descends!”

The heavens were in constant turmoil, reminding them that a new era was dawning—a time fraught with peril and opportunity. Without sufficient strength, survival in such a treacherous age would be nearly impossible.

Unlike previous eras, where each force of the Nine Heavens Realm acted independently, this time they sensed something different.

The peculiar activities within the forbidden zones had heightened their vigilance. It was almost certain that the forbidden zones would play a role in the coming era.

The powers hidden in the forbidden zones were no mystery to them. Even the mere presence of the aura left behind by the True Dragon Emperor was enough to make them tense. If the True Dragon Emperor were to truly emerge, even their combined might would struggle to survive.

“I agree!” one leader said. “The Heavenly Fox Clan must make a decision!”

“Not just any decision,” Bai Ye said coldly. “They have only one choice. If Yao Ye refuses to cooperate, we’ll support another strong member of the Heavenly Fox Clan.”

“As long as we retain control of their Emperor Weapon, nothing else matters.”

For them, gaining control over the entire Heavenly Fox Clan would be ideal, as it would greatly enhance their strength. However, if that proved impossible, they would replace Yao Ye with someone more compliant.

Whether the Heavenly Fox Clan retained its combat power was secondary. What truly mattered was controlling the Emperor Weapon, as its strategic value in the coming era was immeasurable.

The Emperor Weapons were crucial to their plans. Each one represented not just power but deterrence. The Primordial Holy Land’s unmatched status, after all, was largely due to the number of Emperor Weapons in their possession.

Hearing the opinions of the gathered leaders, Huang Tian’s eyes deepened in thought. After a long pause, he spoke, “Give the Heavenly Fox Clan seven more days. If they maintain their current stance, we’ll march on them with our full forces and compel them to choose.”

“As for the Primordial Holy Land, there’s no need to concern ourselves with them,” he continued. “While they do possess more Emperor Weapons than us, our numbers are not far behind. I doubt they’d risk a full confrontation with us over the Heavenly Fox Clan.”

However, Huang Tian hesitated. While the Primordial Holy Land’s strength was intimidating, their unpredictable nature made them dangerous.

In truth, they were a group of madmen who couldn’t be judged by conventional logic. It was entirely possible they would tear apart alliances just to make a point.

“To mitigate any risk, we’ll coordinate with the Ye Clan,” Huang Tian concluded.

His decision to collaborate with the human alliance was met with no opposition. At this moment, racial divisions were meaningless. To them, there was only one true enemy—the Primordial Holy Land.

—

In the Southern Region—

The situation remained tense, with undercurrents of turmoil swirling beneath the surface like the calm before a storm. The beings of the Southern Region could sense the shifting tides, and it felt as though the storm was imminent.

The world’s attention turned toward these brewing events. The coming conflict promised to reshape the Nine Heavens Realm.

—

At Banished Immortal Peak—

The Holy Master of the Primordial Holy Land approached Jiang Chen, her gaze steady. “The Heavenly Fox Clan has reached out to us,” she said.