High Martial Arts: Invincible Starts from Basic Archery Chapter 799 - 620: Unable to Accept_2

When he pulled out his phone and glanced at the caller ID, shock washed over him.

"It's the Thunder Emperor!"

"Could that be him?"

The others nearby reacted with their own bursts of surprise.

"Why's he ringing now? Has he figured out the whole story already?" Elder Yan wondered aloud.

A spark of malicious delight bubbled inside him.

After all, those two troublemakers weren't tied to their own clans.

Even if the Thunder Emperor was phoning to demand justice, it wouldn't drag them into the mess.

Still, they plastered looks of concern across their faces.

Su Ming found himself growing tense despite himself.

This was the Thunder Emperor, after all—one of Yan Country's mightiest figures.

On top of that, guilt gnawed at his own conscience.

Yet, as the old proverb warns, if disaster looms, it will strike; if not, no harm comes. He'd weathered countless tempests over his many years.

With a steadying breath, he hit the accept button.

"Elder Su."

The Thunder Emperor's voice came through clearly.

"You must realize why I'm reaching out, don't you?"

Su Ming chuckled lightly and replied, "Apologies, Thunder Emperor, but I'm afraid I'm in the dark."

"Allow me to jog your memory, Elder Su. Surely you'd recognize Gong Bo and Yu Jianqiao?"

"Those two? Absolutely, I've heard all about them—infamous fugitives on the run. How could anyone forget? I caught the report this morning about your capture; splendid work! The world’s better off without scum like them lingering around!" Su Ming spat out with fierce disdain.

As though he had zero connection to the pair.

The companions around him averted their gazes, acting oblivious to every word.

A standard tactic; they'd pull the same feint in his shoes.

But the Thunder Emperor wasn't some gullible pushover.

True enough, his next words carried a sharp edge of irritation.

"Elder Su, this evasion serves no purpose. I'm calling to prevent any rift between us that could let the Fierce Beasts exploit the chaos. Let's get straight to it. Regarding your moves against the Awakeners this time, I'll let it slide entirely. I only ask that it doesn't repeat."

The Thunder Emperor declared firmly.

He'd climbed to his position through personal grit, yes, but the Elder Council's support had been crucial too.

During the brutal clash against the Three-headed Beast Emperor, both he and the Council had played pivotal roles.

Besides, any feud with the War Emperor would surely pull in the Ice Emperor as well.

He had no desire to let tensions boil over unless forced.

"You're pulling my leg, Thunder Emperor."

Su Ming's voice eased up as he added, "We've never aimed at you personally. With the Fierce Beasts pushing so hard, unity against them makes perfect sense."

In the end, Gong Bo and Yu Jianqiao were now in the Awakened Association's custody.

Acceptance was their only path forward.

"That's reassuring to hear, Elder Su. Oh, and I should warn you—and the other elders likely with you, correct?"

Su Ming scanned the room and admitted plainly, "Indeed, they are here."

"I've heard about your beef with Chen Fan. Whether those two were acting on your command to pursue him or not, he thinks they were. I know the young man well enough; this won't blow over easily."

"Hmph, so what of it?"

Su Ming's temper flared right away. "That punk thinks he can upend the world?"

"Precisely, that whelp murdered my grandson; I'll see his blood spilled in return!" Xu Hu chimed in heatedly.

The remaining trio stayed quiet.

They yearned for Chen Fan's demise too—the bad blood ran deep—but desire and capability were worlds apart.

"Talk is cheap."

The Thunder Emperor cut in sharply: "Chen Fan's power level now is one even I couldn't guarantee beating."

Those words left Su Ming and Xu Hu dumbfounded, like deflated birds silenced mid-crow.

"H-He’s really that formidable?" Zhao Chunyuan stammered out.

"Incredibly so. And the real horror is how fast his abilities are surging."

The Thunder Emperor's eyes narrowed instinctively. "Last time I crossed paths with him, I felt sure I could take him down. But yesterday, he was a complete enigma to me. Mind you, just three days separated those encounters. Heaven knows if our next one will find him eclipsing even me."

He meant every syllable.

To Su Ming and company, though, it rang like deliberate intimidation.

Daily power leaps? Absurd.

At the Celestial Human Realm, progress could crawl for decades.

"I get that you doubt it, but my advice stands: patch things up with him soon. It'll help you and Yan Country alike."

"Patch things up? How on earth?"

Zhao Chunyuan blurted first.

His question drew sour stares from Su Ming and Xu Hu.

"I was merely curious. If genuine peace could be forged, wouldn't that benefit everyone?" Zhao Chunyuan defended.

Back when Chen Fan was a nobody, he'd deemed any challenger to the Elder Council's might worthy of execution.

Now, with Chen Fan matching their collective force, doubt crept in.

"Old Zhao has a point. Our clash started over the Song Family, and with them wiped out, why cling to the hate?" Elder Yan jumped in swiftly.

"I'm with them on this."

Elder Qin added his voice then.

"You traitors!"

Xu Hu seethed on the verge of eruption.

These were the same folks who'd once backed him in craving Chen Fan's end.

Now they pushed for truce?

Did that make his grandson's death meaningless?

"What sort of truce are we discussing?"

The Thunder Emperor interjected, "That's for you two to sort, but I'm offering to bridge the gap—ask Chen Fan's terms and pass them along. Agree, and we can bury this hatchet."

"Then kindly inquire for us," Zhao Chunyuan urged quickly.

"And you, Elder Su—what say you?" the Thunder Emperor pressed.

Su Ming bristled inwardly.

Yet the odds stacked against them now.

Without summoning their clan forebears or the Ice Emperor, Chen Fan remained untouchable.

The Thunder Emperor had just admitted the boy's might rivaled his own. Only a united front from multiple ancestors could ensure his demise.

But rallying those elders en masse? Unthinkable.

They stirred only for existential threats; the clans existed to honor them, not summon at whim.

After weighing it all, he relented: "Very well, please check for us, Thunder Emperor, though his demands better not be excessive. We're doing this for the bigger picture, not out of fear."

"Agreed."

The Thunder Emperor wrapped up and ended the call.

Deep down, he knew true harmony was a long shot.

Even if Chen Fan entertained it, his price would likely gut the Elder Council.

Still, a sliver of optimism lingered. If at all possible, he aimed to avert all-out war that ensnared everyone.

"Zhao, what the hell was that?"

Post-call, Xu Hu unleashed on Zhao Chunyuan. "You backing down now?"

"Xu, what nonsense? Backing down from what?"

"If you're not terrified, why push for making nice with that kid?"

"I only suggested the Thunder Emperor probe. No guarantee it'll even work."

"Mark my words, whatever he wants, I refuse! He took my grandson's life—I'll have his in payback!" Xu Hu roared passionately.

The Zhao, Qin, and Yan clans had escaped unscathed.

The Su clan might've lost a pair, but mere foot soldiers—expendable.

Xu Lian, however, was prime blood of the Xu line, their brightest hope.

A deal would render his passing pointless.

He'd never swallow that!!!