The Skyrite Mountains. Bloodbath Gorge. The Palace of the Four Divine Beasts.
When Linley entered alongside the Second Elder into the palace, he saw that quite a few people had already arrived. Linley swept them with his gaze. “Including me, a total of forty two Elders!” But of course, as time passed, more Elders entered, one by one.
“Linley.” Elder Garvey had a good personal relationship with Linley, and so he walked over. “The clan leaders are finally willing to lower their heads.”
Linley was stunned. “Garvey. Are you saying…?”
Garvey let out a low sigh. “Last month, our Four Divine Beasts clan suffered yet another severe setback. The clan leaders primarily aren’t able to endure it any longer either. Thus, they organized this Conclave. Or perhaps the clan leaders are also irresolute and so they wish the Elders to come discuss it. If the Elders agree, then…”
Linley understood as well.
Once the Conclave concluded, most likely the Four Divine Beasts clan would choose to turtle up within the Skyrite Mountains, no longer leaving. Although by doing so, the Four Divine Beasts clan would be able to preserve its strength, the reputation of the clan, built up over countless years, would suffer a huge blow.
To the many clansmen, the honor of the clan was more important than life itself. This was a hard choice for the four clan leaders to make.
“We suffered a severe setback last month? What happened?” Linley hurriedly asked.
“You never pay attention to anything!” Garvey shook his head. “A month ago, our Four Divine Beasts clan lost another three Elders. One of the Elders belonged to our Azure Dragon clan. Factoring in the last event twenty years ago…our Azure Dragon clan has only fifteen Elders who truly possess the power of Seven Star Fiends.
Linley’s heart couldn’t help but clench in worry.
“Rumble…” The main door to the palace slowly slid closed.
Linley couldn’t help but feel startled. Garvey said in a low voice, “The Elders are all here. Soon, the four clan leaders will arrive.” Linley took a careful look about. In the hall, there were a total of fifty three Elders, including the Grand Elder.
From a side room, four figures walked out in a line, sitting down together at the front of the palace. It was Gislason and the other clan leaders.
The entire hall immediately fell silent for a time.
Gislason and the other three clan leaders swept everyone with their gaze, then looked at each other. In the end, it was Gislason who spoke. His deep, rumbling voice echoed in the hall. “Everyone, today, we have invited all of you over. I trust that all of you have already guessed what the purpose of this meeting is!”
As soon as these words came out, everyone felt misery in their hearts, and even Linley felt a surge of grief.
They no longer had the strength to save the situation!
“Ever since our four ancestors died, our Four Divine Beasts clan has suffered one heavy setback after another. Fortunately, thanks to the assistance of the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture, we were able to find out footing here in the Skyrite Mountains. Otherwise, our Four Divine Beasts clan would most likely have been turned into ash and disappeared like smoke, more than ten thousand years ago.
The palace was completely silent.
“Over the past ten thousand years, the Elders of our Four Divine Beasts clan have all fought fearlessly against the enemy for the sake of the glory of the clan. Ten thousand years ago, our Four Divine Beasts clan had a total of over two hundred Elders! But today, we only have fifty three remaining! It has only been ten thousand short years, but we’ve lost nearly two hundred Elders! Two hundred!!!” A moist light flashed in Gislason’s eyes.
The Elders below, thinking back to the other Elders who had perished over these years, all felt grief in their hearts.
Linley, as well, thought of the various members of his own Squad Thirteen who had died, as well as the forlorn image of Elder Arhaus, who had lost his most powerful clone.
For the sake of the clan, far too many Elders had sacrificed their most powerful divine clones. They had previously been Seven Star Fiends, lofty and mighty individuals. But after having lost their most powerful divine clones, they were now perhaps just ordinary Highgods.
“All these years, the other three clan leaders and I have been pondering…how long will we hold out for?” Gislason’s voice was hoarse. “Especially in the past few centuries. The eight great clans seem to have gone insane. They want to kill our Elders at all cost, even if they have to die with us. According to this current rate, in another few years, our Four Divine Beasts clan will most likely not have many Elders left.”
The Vermillion Bird Matriarch spoke out as well. “Right. One month ago in particular, we lost another three Elders! We four clan leaders have discussed this carefully…if this continues, we will only be able to endure for a few more centuries at most.”
The White Tiger Patriarch spoke out in a cold voice. “Since even if we continue to hold out, the only result will be that everyone will die, what’s the point?”
The Black Tortoise Patriarch rumbled, “This is why we wish to make sure that at least some of our elites will survive. After all, it isn’t so easy for someone to become a Seven Star Fiend and an Elder.”
Gislason said in a strong, forceful voice, “And so, we four clan leaders are united in agreement that we are to no longer fight against the eight great clans…all of the members of the clan are to enter the Skyrite Mountains. We will build up our strength!”
The Elders below were all stunned.
They had thought that the clan leaders would let them discuss this matter and vote on it, but who would have thought that this came as a simple declaration?
“Patriarch!”
“Matriarch!”
Instantly, quite a few Elders grew frantic.
“Patriarch!” A rushed voice rang out, and a youth with silver hair and a callous-looking face raised his head towards the four clan leaders. He frantically said, “Are we supposed to just surrender, just like that? Just admit defeat?”
Linley glanced at this silver-haired, callous-looking youth. It was the ‘Genius Elder’ of the Azure Dragon clan, Elder Blue.
“You can consider it as us admitting defeat!” Gislason no longer had the imposing, majestic aura that he previously always had.
“Blue.” The Vermillion Bird Matriarch looked down at him. “Even if we continue to fight, how much longer will the forces of our Four Divine Beasts clan be able to hold out for? Can it be that you want the remaining, final fifty three Elders of the clan to also be lost?”
Blue’s gaze was unyielding.
“Four clan leaders!” Blue raised his head slightly. “I, Blue, have submitted and surrendered to others, but that was because I was too weak. Ever since I became a Seven Star Fiend, I have never surrendered to anyone. The eight great clans are worthless! When our Four Divine Beasts clan was in the height of our power, they didn’t dare to oppose us in the slightest. But now? Hmph. Have me, Blue, surrender to them? Never!”
“Blue!” Gislason felt heartsick.
In their hearts, they not only hated the eight great clans, they also looked down on them. For them to surrender…they naturally didn’t wish to, given their pride. But Gislason and the other three were acting in the best interests of the clan.
“Patriarch, I understand that this is a hard decision for you. But I am just a single person. I am willing to go out and do battle…and to die on the field of war! After I die, the Infernal Realm will no longer have the Seven Star Fiend Blue, only the ordinary Highgod Blue. By that time, even if I want to do battle, I wouldn’t have the ability to.” Blue laughed softly as he spoke.
Linley, hearing this, couldn’t help but tremble.
At this moment, a black-haired Elder stood out and said in a somber voice, “Patriarch, for our clan to flourish again, what we need is a supreme expert like Beirut or Dunnington. I know that I have no more hopes for improving…I hope that you will let me go die in battle, Patriarch! Even if we lose, I refuse to let those eight great clans get off lightly.”
“Patriarch, in my life, I’ve given many things a try, but lowering my head? Never! Not even in death!” Yet another Elder stood up.
“Matriarch…”
Linley watched this scene quietly. Although to ordinary people, these Elders might appear to be too rigid and inflexible, Linley understood…these Elders had lived for countless hundreds of millions of years.
They weren’t afraid to sacrifice themselves, but they cared deeply about certain beliefs and values which they held.
Fifty three Elders. Amongst them, there were more than twenty who were willing to sacrifice their most powerful divine clones, just for the sake of making the enemies suffer. The other Elders were silent, but Linley knew that so long as the clan leaders gave the order, they wouldn’t hesitate in the slightest.
“Linley!” Suddenly, a voice rang out.
Linley was stunned.
The Grand Elder was looking at him, her eyes filled with panic. “Linley, you are on very close terms with the Lord Prefect. Can’t you just…discard your pride and go beg the Lord Prefect for him to help us? Given the Lord Prefect’s power, he is more than strong enough to force the eight great clans away. Linley, go beg him…for the sake of the clan, go beg him, just this once!”
Quite a few Elders immediately looked towards Linley.
Just now, these Elders had been in a state of despair, and many of them had been willing to throw away their most powerful divine clones in an attempt at vengeance. Even if their clan was submitting, they would make the eight great clans suffer. But hearing the words of the Grand Elder…
It seemed as though they had one last straw to clutch at for survival!
“I…” Linley didn’t know how to respond.
“Little Sis.” Gislason, seated at the front of the hall, let out a deep shout. “