Within the territory of the Phoenix Clan stood a colossal world tree.
Its massive trunk pierced the heavens, as though connecting earth and sky. Countless palaces were built upon its enormous branches, resembling leaves growing naturally from the ancient tree itself.
At the highest point rested a magnificent grand hall.
"Clan Leader, you've returned."
As a towering figure emerged from the void, a kindly-looking old man hurried forward respectfully.
He was the Second Elder of the Phoenix Clan.
"Second Elder, summon all the other elders. I have something important to announce."
Ao Zhengxiong spoke in a deep, commanding voice.
"Yes, Clan Leader."
The Second Elder immediately complied.
Soon afterward, more than twenty figures gathered inside the great hall.
Every one of them radiated overwhelming power.
All were Saint Realm cultivators, with the vast majority having reached the middle or late stages of the realm.
These elders were the backbone of the Phoenix Clan—their strongest fighting force.
"Clan Leader, what is this important announcement?"
"Has that matter already been settled?"
The Third Elder was the first to ask.
He was among the few who knew that Ao Zhengxiong had been cooperating with the Holy Lord of Yun Tian.
He had strongly opposed the alliance at first, but Ao Zhengxiong had insisted.
"It's finished."
"The Holy Lord prepared everything perfectly."
"The experts from the four major factions were wiped out. Not a single one survived."
"The Shangguan Family of the Human Race, the Serpent Clan, and the Heavenly Demon Sect all suffered heavy losses."
"The Heavenly Demon Sect alone lost two Saint Realm cultivators."
"In total..."
"Ten Saint Realm experts died in this battle."
Ao Zhengxiong made no attempt to hide the truth.
The hall instantly erupted in shock.
Ten Saint Realm experts!
Most of them had even been late-stage Saints.
Such a force alone rivaled the peak combat strength of an entire major faction.
In this relatively peaceful era, the death of even a single Saint Realm cultivator was enough to shake the entire Tianxuan Realm.
Now...
Ten had fallen at once.
The news was nothing short of earth-shattering.
"Clan Leader..."
"What exactly happened?"
"Why did those three factions lose so many Saint Realm experts?"
Several elders who had been unaware of the plan asked in confusion.
Ao Zhengxiong calmly explained,
"Not long ago, the Holy Lord of Yun Tian contacted me and requested my assistance."
An elder immediately asked,
"You agreed?"
"Of course."
Ao Zhengxiong nodded without hesitation.
"She offered me terms I simply couldn't refuse."
"She wanted me to eliminate the Saint Realm experts of the Serpent Clan."
"The responsibility for dealing with the Serpent Clan afterward would belong to our Phoenix Clan."
"And..."
"She also revealed a secret concerning the Dragon Clan."
The moment he mentioned the Dragon Clan, hatred flashed through his eyes.
"Clan Leader, this seems dangerous."
"If we kill the Serpent Clan's Saints and word gets out, the Phoenix Clan will become the target of countless enemies."
"The Dragon Clan has always been watching us."
"If they learn about this..."
"They'll surely make their move."
One elder spoke with obvious concern.
He couldn't understand why their normally prudent leader had chosen to help the human race kill members of one of the ancient imperial races.
If news spread...
The other demon races would certainly be dissatisfied.
More importantly, it would hand the Dragon Clan the perfect excuse to attack.
Ao Zhengxiong merely sneered.
"You don't need to worry."
"The Dragon Clan doesn't dare move against us."
"And besides..."
"The Holy Lord also gave me an opportunity."
"If I had refused her..."
"Tell me—which side do you think the Serpent Clan would have joined?"
He didn't wait for anyone to answer.
"Don't tell me the human race wouldn't dare attack the ancient imperial clans."
"The actions of Yun Tian Holy Land seven thousand years ago already proved otherwise."
"They're all madmen."
"They've never feared the demon race."
"There is nothing they wouldn't dare do."
Several elders remained silent.
Some of them always hesitated before making decisions, believing the united demon race alone was enough to deter humanity.
History had already proven them wrong.
Thousands of years ago, Yun Tian Holy Land had completely ignored the demon race's prestige and swept through them without mercy.
The facts were clear.
They had never feared the demons.
Even when countless demon clans had loudly proclaimed they would unite against Yun Tian Holy Land...
Very few had actually dared to act.
Most had only barked loudly.
None possessed the courage to follow through.
"If I had refused..."
"The Serpent Clan would simply have been carved up by the various human factions."
"But if I agreed..."
"The Serpent Clan's territory would be divided by us."
His expression grew colder.
"Besides..."
"The Serpent Clan should have paid the price for their betrayal long ago."
His decision had two objectives.
The first was to test the Dragon Clan's current strength.
The second...
Was revenge.
He had endured in silence for many years because he lacked an opportunity.
Now that Yun Tian Holy Land had delivered one to him...
There was no way he would let it slip away.
"Clan Leader..."
"What if the Dragon Clan really decides to intervene?"
Another elder asked.
Ao Zhengxiong looked around the hall.
"Why are all of you still so afraid of the Dragon Clan?"
"If they were still as powerful as they once were..."
"Why have they remained hidden for the last ten thousand years?"
"Even when Dragon Clan experts occasionally appear..."
"Have any of them displayed the same arrogance they once did?"
His words caused many elders to pause.
Indeed.
The Dragon Clan had always been infamous for its domineering nature.
If nothing had happened to them...
Why had they hidden themselves away for ten thousand years?
And why had every appearance since then been so unusually low-key?
The more they thought about it...
The stranger it seemed.
"Clan Leader..."
"If only the Phoenix Clan acts, won't that still be too risky?"
One elder voiced another concern.
Ao Zhengxiong laughed.
"Foolish."
"For such a massive undertaking, why would only our Phoenix Clan take action?"
"If we're eating meat..."
"We should let the others have some soup."
"If multiple ancient imperial clans participate..."
"Then even if the Dragon Clan still possesses some strength, they won't dare attack us lightly."
"Besides..."
"We'll have every justification for our actions."
"Unless the Dragon Clan can single-handedly suppress several ancient imperial races at once..."
"They'll be powerless to stop us."
He smiled coldly.
"Do you really believe today's Dragon Clan still possesses that level of strength?"
"If this were the Dragon Clan at the height of its glory..."
"Perhaps."
"But now?"
"Not even close."
Ao Zhengxiong had planned everything from the very beginning.
He never intended for the Phoenix Clan to swallow the Serpent Clan alone.
After all, the Serpent Clan had once been one of the ancient imperial races.
Its foundation was immense.
Even if the Phoenix Clan succeeded alone, the cost would be enormous.
That wasn't what he wanted.
In this world where the strong devoured the weak, a weakened clan only invited others to consume it.
Ao Zhengxiong had no intention of becoming someone else's prey after defeating the Serpent Clan.
His strategy had always been simple.
Join forces with the other ancient imperial clans.
Share the spoils.
Once the full situation was laid out before them...
He was confident none of those ancient imperial clans would refuse.
-----------------------
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