Qian Ye vanished into the distance, leaving a group of dukes and divine generals in a mix of unease and righteous indignation. One man, brimming with fury, exclaimed, “The Empire has nurtured him, and Marshal Lin treated him as if he were his own son. This scoundrel, instead of serving the nation with his life, spouts such arrogance—his heart is truly deserving of death!”
Another added coldly, “Simply by falling into disgrace and joining the Blood Race, he has already earned a death sentence a thousand times over! Even though he bears the guilt of his crimes, he still refuses to repay the nation with his life. Truly, he is ungrateful and treacherous!”
Duke Wei, unable to bear the sight, spoke slowly, “You might as well say these things to his face. Now that Qian Ye is gone, no matter how much you speak, he will not hear.”
The sarcasm was evident, and the two men blushed with shame and anger. One of them, unable to contain his fury, shouted, “What does the Duke mean? Is he trying to defend the Blood Race?”
Duke Wei sighed, “I am merely pondering why the Empire has come to this state.”
King Ding Xuan cleared his throat and said, “Duke Wei need not worry. The Empire’s fortune is like a rainbow, ascending ever higher. There are some major matters you do not know, and it is natural for you to be concerned.”
King Zhi Ji waved his hand, and the divine generals dispersed, leaving the two Kings to speak in private.
“Why must you be so harsh, Shun Xuan?”
King Ding Xuan replied solemnly, “Since I have entered the Inner World, I have long prepared to die for the Empire, as you well know.”
King Zhi Ji nodded, “I have never doubted your loyalty to the Empire.”
“If we were to play the game normally, it would be best to ally with Qian Ye. However, we are not at that stage yet. The ones leading the charge for the King are still the indigenous savages. When Qian Ye comes to reason, he is reasoning with these savages. Our side, the dukes and divine generals, are the pillars of the Empire. Are you suggesting that the Empire’s pillars and these savage tribes are on the same level, that they should perish together? There is no such logic in the world!”
King Zhi Ji remained silent.
Whether it be the Eternal Night or the Empire, to claim equality is an empty promise. It is clear which is more important: the Empire’s pillars or the Artuva Clan. Yet, from another perspective, the Artuva Clan, born strong and with immeasurable potential, are now beginning to rely on Qian Ye. Anything involving Qian Ye complicates matters.
King Ding Xuan did not expect to persuade King Zhi Ji so easily and continued, “Even ants seek to survive. If there is a chance, I will fight for it. You have a newborn son, ensuring the continuation of your lineage. But my clan’s descendants are mediocre, and they cannot maintain such a vast inheritance. The Inner World appeared suddenly, and I did not have time to prepare. If given a few more years, I could disperse most of my inheritance, leaving just enough for my descendants to live on. But if I fall now, my line may end.”
King Zhi Ji spoke calmly, “Do not take Qian Ye’s final words to heart. Observing his recent actions, he seems quite benevolent. Mass slaughter is not something he would do. Even if he did, the Empire has others besides us. King Qingyang would not stand idly by.”
King Ding Xuan sighed, “I am not afraid of external factors; I fear my unworthy descendants will bring about their own demise.”
King Zhi Ji fell silent.
If King Ding Xuan had a few more years, he could arrange everything, and disperse the unsustainable inheritance, ensuring peace. But now, without any arrangement, when he falls, his descendants, clinging to past glories and unwilling to relinquish the benefits of the inheritance, will only invite disaster. Furthermore, King Ding Xuan’s descendants often act arrogantly. While he lives, people dare not express their anger, but once he dies, retribution will surely come.
King Ding Xuan continued, “I have thought about this for a long time. Originally, there was only a slight chance, but with the death and injury of Mesfield’s lord and the Dark King at Qian Ye’s hands, the power of the Eternal Night Council has greatly diminished, increasing our opportunities. If Qian Ye engages in another battle with the Eternal Night Council, severely wounding one of the Great Dukes, our forces can resist the weakened Eternal Night, making it a stalemate.”
Seeing King Zhi Ji deep in thought, King Ding Xuan added, “The Empire needs time. If we can keep the Eternal Night Council here, the greater cause will be achieved. In such a situation, even we must enter the fray. Sacrificing a few natives or even a Blood Race is nothing.”
Finally, King Ding Xuan asked, “Could it be that because of your newborn son, you want to give Qian Ye a chance?”
King Zhi Ji showed a hint of displeasure, “The bigger picture is important, but righteousness cannot be disregarded! Qian Ye has contributed greatly to the Empire. If we still doubt his motives, perhaps we should question the motives of these people first.”
King Ding Xuan stroked his beard, “What if I have a way to ensure Qian Ye and the Eternal Night never stop fighting?”
“What way?”
“Yesterday, Duke Qi, who just entered the Inner World, brought in the latest intelligence. Among it, there is a piece of information that might interest you. Take a look.”
King Ding Xuan handed over a piece of paper.
King Zhi Ji took it and saw a drawing. Several important figures of the Eternal Night Council were depicted walking out of the council gates, with a vast, endless army stretching for miles in the distance. These figures, drawn with striking detail, were all high-ranking demonic nobles and spider-magi. The lead figure was the famous spider-mage, the Nightmare Weaver Bradley, dressed in military attire, with a long saber at his waist.
King Zhi Ji’s gaze naturally fell on the long saber, feeling a sense of familiarity, yet unable to recall where he had seen it before.
This drawing must have been made by a high-ranking informant within the Eternal Night, possibly even a key figure secretly allied with the Empire.
As King Zhi Ji pondered, King Ding Xuan took out a small box containing a pool of dark race blood. He dipped a brush in the blood, and with a burst of origin power, the blood mostly evaporated, leaving a thread of pure dark origin power. King Ding Xuan then drew a small decoration on the hilt of the long saber.
King Zhi Ji’s eyebrows rose, “Dream Shock!”
“Indeed, that very sword.” King Ding Xuan smiled, putting down the brush.
King Zhi Ji immediately realized the mistake; the spider-mage was not actually carrying Dream Shock. Otherwise, King Ding Xuan would not have needed to add this detail. He quickly understood the venomous plan.
Dream Shock, the treasure of the Council, was used by Nighteye during the Battle of Black Sun Valley. After the Twilight Campaign, Nighteye disappeared with Dream Shock.
“What do you plan to do?”
“Nothing. I will simply send someone to deliver this drawing to Qian Ye. What he does with it is up to him.” King Ding Xuan sounded nonchalant.
King Zhi Ji looked at the drawing, “Is this real or fake?”
“Except for the addition I made, everything else is real. Qian Ye can ask any dark race marquis, and they will confirm that the Nightmare Weaver recently acquired a divine blade. As for its origin, no one knows, and Bradley has never mentioned it.”
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