Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1885 Chapter 504: Leaving Seclusion, Competing for the Throne! (Part 3)
Previously on Follow the path of Dao from infancy...
"Not yet. I heard they got a full century."
"A century? With the Ancient Demon freshly emerged and our initial defenses shattered, how can we possibly endure for a whole century?"
"Precisely! Delaying a century for their selection— are we just gearing up to gather the dead?"
Clearly, numerous clan leaders showed signs of growing restlessness.
At the ongoing front lines, their kin and warriors dropped incessantly, fueling their deep unease.
"The Emperors have already deliberated on this; further debate serves no purpose. It's merely a century, my lords. We've endured for a hundred thousand years— surely we can manage this single century?!"
The Jiang Family Patriarch abruptly cut into the chatter with a sharp, icy rebuke.
Though female, her captivating gaze held an imposing aura, and when she swept it across the room, plenty of clan leaders averted their stares.
"That's right. Lacking the Emperor's presence, we Quasi-Emperors have no choice but to charge into battle ourselves. A mere century— even staking our lives, we must defend it!"
The Lin Family Patriarch uttered his words in a frosty tone, every syllable radiating a lethal intent.
Upon hearing them, several among the remaining clan leaders promptly started the clapping and raised supportive shouts.
While certain leaders harbored worries, powerful families also moved with resolve, avoiding total dependence on the Ten Thousand Clans' forces.
"My lords, this conflict decides the fate of the Northern Domain. The Ancient Demon's assault is far from a trivial clash. The Eastern Domain's fall looms near. Refrain from conserving strength or keeping backups for later rivalries. Every clan has dispatched top prodigies to vie for the True King. Even without claiming True King status, the Su Family's prodigies possess the caliber to vie for vice-True King!"
Su Zhenyuan's icy stare commanded the gathering as he scanned the assembly's features: "Thus, once the Ten Thousand Clans' forces arrive to support, should our clans endure heavy casualties, all must compensate accordingly!"
His statement cut straight to the point. As the long-time head of the Su Family, spanning tens of thousands of years, he favored the leverage of stakes over mere feelings or rallying cries!
The underlying message rang obvious: if your clans skimp on effort during this defense and let our greater clans bear the brunt of losses, then upon the Ten Thousand Clans' army's arrival, you'll be thrust to the vanguard to battle!
Regarding rebellion? That meant opposing not only the Su Family, but every Emperor as well.
This intense rivalry among the Ten Thousand Clans for the True King role explained why even Emperor Clans and the Dao Clan yearned to claim it, particularly the supreme seat of the First True King.
Amid this devastating conflict, the combined will of all Emperors granted the True King vast power, rivaled only by the Emperors themselves!
At Su Zhenyuan's declaration, the faces of various clan leaders shifted abruptly, sparks of fury and reluctance flickering in their gazes, yet they merely clenched their jaws without retort.
The Emperors-led alliance of the Ten Thousand Clans forced many prominent clans to recognize their prodigies' inability to contend for True King or even vice roles, compelling their involvement with soldiers and supplies all the same.
In the end, turning it down equated to isolation from the Ten Thousand Clans, offering zero safeguard in the war, and relegation to frontline fodder, hastening their demise.
"And the Dao Clan? They're a powerhouse in the Northern Domain too— they must step forward this time, right?"
One clan leader couldn't resist inquiring.
The Lin Family Patriarch gave a nod, "The Dao Clan's Emperor has joined my ancestor on the battlefield, and the Dao Clan is now rallying their troops."
His statement drew relieved exhales from many clan leaders.
While the Su, Lin, and similar houses stood as premier forces in the Northern Domain, the Dao Clan— second in the True Realm— functioned like a secluded aristocratic lineage there, seldom surfacing, yet matching their prestige might demand uniting the Su, Lin, and Jiang Families.
...
At the same time, the Western Regions and Southern Domain faced assaults from the Ancient Demon.
The Western Regions housed the Heavenly Emperor Clan, plus the fourth-ranked Saint Clans.
Across the Four Domains, the Western Regions held the mightiest armed strength, yet chaos reigned supreme, with clans clashing fiercely among themselves. Beyond fending off the Ancient Demon, losses from internal strife had surpassed those from demon fights over time.
Right now, in the Western Regions, the Heavenly Emperor Clan gathered the Saint Clans and other key Western families for talks, assembling a provisional coalition army against the encroaching Ancient Demon.
Moreover, the Heavenly Emperor and Saint Emperor had ventured to the frontier to clash with the invading Reincarnation Clan and Ashen Clan Emperors.
The once turbulent Western Regions had forged a temporary pact under the Heavenly Emperor Clan and Saint Clans' summons and guidance, achieving fleeting order.
And within the Southern Domain.
The Seven Ancient Immortal Dynasties received directives from the Southern Domain Venerable to wholly repel the Ancient Demon beyond their borders.
Yet, in the Southern Domain's array of Immortal Dynasties, excluding the Seven Ancient ones, the rest possessed lesser might, some defense barriers already overrun by the Ancient Demon, allowing the foes to penetrate the Southern Domain's lands.
"Is the Heavenly Palace refusing to dispatch reinforcements? Relying only on us— curse it!"
"The frontier's fallen, four Ancient Demon Quasi-Emperors uniting their efforts. Your Majesty, we stand no chance against them!"
Within the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, projections of numerous generals vented their rage in the Immortal Dynasty Palace.
The Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, beyond the famed Quasi-Emperor Yan Chu Emperor, concealed just three more Quasi-Emperors: the present National Guardian General, Shangguan Hong.
Another was the State Preceptor, Yuan Xinggang.
The last served as an aide beside Emperor Yan Chu, seeming like a typical close aide to the troops, yet truly a Quasi-Emperor.
Even in this Immortal Dynasty Palace, two Quasi-Emperors gathered, while the whole Yan Chu counted only four.
At present, Emperor Chu showed no plan to join the fray, and those four Ancient Demon Quasi-Emperors had pushed Shangguan Hong and Yuan Xinggang to their limits on the field, leaving no room to bolster the rear defenses, resulting in the borders' collapse.