NOVEL WEB Chapter 135: It's Hard for Me to Make a Decision When You're Like This
Under the intense oppression of the Demon Beast Hong Yuan, Flame Tiger Yan Dao and Winter Roaring Lion Winter Sword gathered their subordinates to clean up the aftermath and withdrew from White Fire Black Ice Island.
They returned to their clans to provide evidence to Hong Yuan to gain ownership of the island.
Seeing this, Golden Tiger Shark Jin Qiang immediately took his followers and left, not daring to appear before Hong Yuan.
On the ravaged island, only Hong Yuan and the Tao Soldiers of the Black Dragon Palace remained.
Under the arrangements of the Wisdom Tao Demon Cultivator Gui Qu, everyone found places to set up camp, looking every bit like a well-trained military regiment.
This guy really has something, Hong Yuan marveled.
Watching Gui Qu commanding with vigor from the high platform, Hong Yuan couldn't help but be impressed by the prowess of Wisdom Tao.
Thus, Hong Yuan's desire to acquire the Demon Skills of Gui Qu's cultivation grew even stronger.
He did not crave to cultivate them himself; he just wanted to understand more. Who knows if it might be useful to his main body?
However, moments later, Hong Yuan suppressed the urge to cozy up to Gui Qu.
The most important matter at hand was to deal with the tasks assigned by the Black Dragon Demon Saint; all else had to wait!
I have the guiding principles, but how should I implement the specific steps? The conflict between these two clans is deeper than I had imagined, he pondered.
Hong Yuan planted his long spear into the ground and sat alone on a stone seat, deep in thought.
After being driven away by Hong Yuan, Winter Roaring Lion Winter Sword hurried back to his own island, his expression heavy. The Demon Cultivators accompanying him were also silent and somber. Although not quite the scene of defeated soldiers, it was very close.
Moreover, years of continuous battles had shattered countless families and left many displaced. But for the sake of territory, to wash away blood feuds, both sides had slowly lost their reason, creating an atmosphere of a fight to the death.
When Winter Sword led the Demon Cultivators back to their own territory, the young Demon Beasts expressed gratitude for their efforts and asked about the adult Demon Beasts' condition. They had a bloodthirsty look, not caring if their own clansmen died, so long as they could defeat the Red Flame Tigers.
The reaction of the young Demon Beasts caused Winter Sword great discomfort. Why has it become like this? When I was young, everyone could get along harmoniously, he wondered. At that moment, the heavy burden once again weighed on his heart, and he felt overwhelmed by strong feelings of reproach.
In his youth, he had even traveled with Yan Dao through the Morning Star Sea Area, overcoming challenges at various Demon Sects. But now, they were engaged in armed conflict, compelled to fight to the death.
"Brother Sword, tell me about the battle," a Winter Roaring Lion resembling a small white cat ran up to Winter Sword, craning its neck to ask.
Winter Sword closed his eyes in pain, echoes of yesterday's laughter with his comrades ringing in his mind. Since ancient times, a merciful heart can't lead an army, yet he simply couldn't treat his fellow clansmen as mere numbers.
"There's nothing good to say," Winter Sword replied solemnly. With a wave of his hand, he sent the little Winter Roaring Lion back to the ice and snow caves.
Winter Sword strode forward quickly, heading to the Ice and Snow Palace where Clan Leader Winter Roaring resided.
「On the other side.」
Yan Dao was experiencing almost the same thing. He, too, was weary and pained by the long-lasting, seemingly endless battles. Like Winter Sword, Yan Dao didn't want to discuss the battle with the younger generation.
At that moment, Yan Dao entered a lava vent and met with Flame Tiger Clan Leader Yan Chong. In the hot, bubbling lava, a massive Flame Tiger was resting quietly. Yan Chong had been lying there ever since his fight with the Winter Roaring Lion Clan Leader, Winter Roaring, over a year ago. Of course, he was in a bad state, and so was Winter Roaring.
"Yan Dao, what's happened?" Clan Leader Yan Chong asked, his golden pupils wide open.
"Clan Leader, Xuan Guangqiao has come," Yan Dao replied.
"Oh?!" Clan Leader Yan Chong showed great interest. He stood up straight, rivulets of molten lava rolling down his body.
It's also time to settle things with the Winter Roaring Lion Clan, Clan Leader Yan Chong thought.
If Yan Dao could detect a major issue emerging within their faction, one that could potentially lead to the extinction of their clan, how could he, as the Clan Leader, fail to notice?
The war was too brutal and intense. Even he, as the Clan Leader, could not go against the will of his people and was swept along by the tide. The same was true for the Winter Roaring Lion Clan Leader, Winter Roaring. It was impossible for them, as Clan Leaders, to disregard the clan's sentiment and retreat from the enemy.
Yes, retreat.
Both the Flame Tiger Clan Leader and the Winter Roaring Lion Clan Leader were inclined towards peace, but they lacked the right opportunity. They did not trust each other's promises! This was partly why they, despite being Clan Leaders, had attended the 'Transformation Party' hosted by the much younger Demon Beast Hong Yuan.
"Xuan Guangqiao wants us to provide evidence. Only then can he determine to whom White Fire Mountain Island belongs," Yan Dao said, explaining the situation to Clan Leader Yan Chong.
Yan Chong nodded slightly. A flash of red light passed, and he transformed into his human Taoist form—a rugged general clad in red armor.
"Evidence... You go find Fire Rain. Remember, the faster, the better," Clan Leader Yan Chong instructed Yan Dao.
Upon receiving the order, Yan Dao immediately headed out to find Fire Feather.
Watching Yan Dao's retreating figure, Clan Leader Yan Chong's gaze was deep and profound.
When Yan Dao and his clansmen arrived at White Fire Black Ice Mountain Island with a large collection of evidence, they saw Winter Sword and the other dejected Demon Cultivators standing to one side.
An ancient palace had suddenly appeared on the flat ground of White Fire Black Ice Mountain Island. Tao Soldiers of the Black Dragon Palace stood guard on either side, while Taoist Gui Qu held a pen and paper, taking notes.
Meanwhile, Hong Yuan sat on the main seat, casually leaning against the back of the chair. He had one leg crossed over the other, his left hand resting on his raised knee, and his right elbow propped on the wide armrest, his palm cradling his cheek. His white hair hung loose, and his eyes were half-closed. Although his demeanor was relaxed and lazy, it conveyed a dangerous, sinister aura.
Power truly cultivates a demonic aura! For such a frightening presence to emerge from a third-order Demon Cultivator... Yan Dao secretly admired.
"Yan Dao, where is your evidence?" Taoist Gui Qu asked sharply.
Hong Yuan simply watched quietly, like a well-bred young master. Indeed, the Demon Beast Hong Yuan looked every bit the noble young master, unlike the blacksmith appearance of his human form.
"Esteemed Taoist, this is our evidence," Yan Dao bowed, gesturing to his companions.
Fire Rain and the other Demon Cultivators hurriedly handed the evidence to the nearby Black Dragon Palace Tao Soldiers. Several Tao Soldiers then presented the various pieces of evidence to Hong Yuan one by one.
Although Hong Yuan appeared to be examining them closely, his mind was elsewhere, planning how to accomplish the task given to him by the Black Dragon Demon Saint.
Hong Yuan had already decided how to reject Yan Dao and how to escalate the matter to complete his mission.
Handling the dispute over this island is a small matter. I need to create a common enemy for them.
If I were to punish both sides equally and demand they live harmoniously, not only would it fail to resolve the issue, but I'd also get dragged into it and be despised by both.
Yan Dao, I'm sorry. Although your evidence is more substantial than that of the Winter Roaring Lions...
Thinking this, Hong Yuan gave the Turtle Prime Minister a subtle look, prompting him to lay the groundwork.
Taoist Gui Qu understood immediately and declared, "The evidence you hold is not at all sufficient! It's hardly any better than what the Winter Roaring Lions presented."
The faces of Fire Rain and the other Demon Cultivators turned deathly pale. Yan Dao's neck stiffened as he looked at Hong Yuan, both fearful and hopeful, terrified that Hong Yuan would award the island to the Winter Roaring Lion Clan.
"Given this, it's difficult for me to make a decision. To be fair, I'll still need to investigate in person," Hong Yuan said.
Yan Dao, Fire Rain, and the other Flame Tiger Demon Cultivators silently exhaled in relief, as did Winter Sword and the Winter Roaring Lion Demon Cultivators.
The two parties exchanged glances, the tense atmosphere flaring up once again.