Chapter 178: Developing in the Gap

Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing said that even without those two Strange Fires, the Flame Clan's Eight Wastes Annihilation Flame could be used as a substitute.

"No!"

However, upon Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing's request, Huo Ling Xianzi didn't even think about it and directly refused.

Not to mention that the Eight Wastes Annihilation Flame is the Flame Clan's inherited Strange Fire; its importance goes without saying.

Moreover, this Strange Fire had already been refined by the Flame Clan's first genius, Huo Xuan, several years ago.

Recently, Huo Xuan even broke through to the Two-star Dou Sheng realm and has been slated to become the next chief of the Flame Clan.

Therefore, it's impossible to have the Flame Clan offer the Eight Wastes Annihilation Flame as a condition.

Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing curled the corner of his mouth into a light smile and said calmly, "Since you can't produce it, I, Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing, won't force the matter."

"However, after the Medicine Clan's demise, the Soul Clan likely obtained the Strange Fire from them; it probably hasn't been refined yet, and they should be willing to trade it for the assistance of two Eight-star Dou Sheng experts."

Huo Ling Xianzi heard this, her brows knit tightly, a flash of urgency in her eyes. She stepped forward a few paces and warned: "Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing, the Soul Clan's ambitions are obvious; they act without scruples. Cooperating with them is like seeking skin from a tiger—outcomes unpredictable. Hear me: the Soul Clan has hidden its strength in recent years, successively annihilating the Spirit Stone Medicine Three Clans with cruel methods; our remaining three clans have also suffered greatly. If you ally with them, you'll surely invite endless trouble."

Huo Ling Xianzi tried to let Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing see the true nature of the Soul Clan.

However, Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing wore a mocking expression: "As Huo Ling Xianzi said, if the Soul Clan is truly that strong, I would be even less inclined to risk joining you..."

Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing continued: "If the Soul Clan is that strong, wouldn't helping them be even more secure?"

This is normal thinking; the Soul Clan is relatively stronger, so joining the stronger side is fine! Huo Ling Xianzi wanted to rebut: "Although the Soul Clan is strong, it's still a bit inferior compared to our Three Clan Alliance..."

"Huo Ling Xianzi, you probably don't even believe that yourself, do you?"

Huo Ling Xianzi felt anxious inside; she could see that Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing genuinely intended to cooperate with the Soul Clan.

She felt a bit panicked, thinking that even if she couldn't get the two to help, she couldn't let them aid the Soul Clan either! "The Soul Clan may be strong, but its methods are sinister and vicious; aligning with them is tantamount to placing oneself in the eye of the storm, always vulnerable to disaster."

She gritted her teeth, made up her mind, and fixed her gaze on Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing: "I am willing, on behalf of the three clans, to pledge a solemn promise—ten Nine-grade Treasure Pills and eighty Eight-grade Medicinal Pills—as remuneration for your assistance this time."

These conditions had been agreed upon before they came, intending to use these resources to ask the Grand Void Ancient Dragon to aid the three clans in resisting the Soul Clan.

However, Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing had just said only two would act, so she tentatively tried to lower the price.

Now Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing wants to cooperate with the Soul Clan, which the three clans cannot accept.

What a joke; they currently struggle against the Soul Clan.

If the Soul Clan adds two more Eight-star Dou Sheng, wouldn't they be doomed to extermination? Huo Ling Xianzi dared not probe further and hastily offered her bottom line.

At the same time, her heart was also bitter; she had originally wanted to exchange these chips for the full aid of the Grand Void Ancient Dragon clan...

Never mind; as long as the two join them in opposing the Soul Clan, then giving these resources is fine—after all, split among the three clans it's still acceptable...

Huo Ling Xianzi consoled herself in this way.

However, Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing's following words made her wonder if she had misheard.

Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing actually refused! He said they didn't lack these things; if you could only offer these, there'd be nothing to discuss—I'll go talk to the Soul Clan.

Seeing Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing so greedy, Huo Ling Xianzi felt somewhat resentful.

She still wanted to say something, but Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing raised his hand to cut her off.

"Alright, instead of wasting words here with me, you'd better go back and discuss with them what it would take to move me, okay?" Huo Ling Xianzi's heart was a mix of feelings—both helplessness at Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing's seemingly fence‑sitting behavior and anxiety over the urgent situation.

But right now, she indeed had been caught in a bind.

Thus, she could only temporarily suppress her dissatisfaction and decide to return to consult with the clan chief and elders on countermeasures.

And let Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing give them some time.

Regarding that, Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing naturally smiled and said there was no problem.

"However, I also need to remind you all." Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing shifted his tone, adding a hint of threat: "Time waits for no one. The Soul Clan is also actively vying for our support, and if their terms are more favorable..."

Having said that, Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing deliberately paused, giving Huo Ling Xianzi a meaningful look.

He believed this sentence was enough to make Huo Ling Xianzi feel urgency and pressure.

Huo Ling Xianzi naturally caught the subtext in Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing's words, she clenched her teeth inwardly, and her dissatisfaction with his scheming grew.

But she also knew this wasn't the time to quibble; she must hurry back to consult with the clan chief.

Thus, she nodded and said, "I will give you a reply as soon as possible."

Having said that, Huo Ling Xianzi turned and left.

Watching Huo Ling Xianzi's retreating figure, Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing laughed.

Whether the Soul Clan or the Three Clan Alliance, both yearn for the aid of the Grand Void Ancient Dragon clan. And he is precisely the pivotal piece in this struggle.

Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing's calculations are meticulous; he delights in seeing the Soul Clan and the Three Clan Alliance fiercely compete for their support, for this situation undoubtedly makes his chips heavier, enabling him to reap the greatest benefit.

In Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing's view, morality and the like often appear pale and powerless before profit.

Anyway, Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing has decided: whichever side offers more, he will help that side.

If the Three Clan Alliance offers more, when aiding them he can exert a little extra effort.

If the Soul Clan offers more, when aiding them he'll just loaf around, looking for chances to stir up trouble.

Thus, the balance of power between the two sides can be maintained.

Under the current circumstances, maintaining equilibrium between the two forces is most advantageous for him and the Grand Void Ancient Dragon clan.

By letting the Soul Clan and the Three Clan Alliance stand opposed, he not only gains more time and space to boost his own strength, but also ensures he remains in the dominant position at the negotiating table.

Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing fully understands that if he wholeheartedly helps one side destroy the other, once the outcome is decided, he and the Grand Void Ancient Dragon clan will likely lose their utility and certainly face the risk of being purged.

Therefore, expecting Character: Character: Character: Jiang Xing to go all‑out to help one side annihilate the other is impossible!

After returning, Huo Ling Xianzi recounted the negotiation details in full.

Upon learning that the Grand Void Ancient Dragon clan actually possessed two Eight-star Dou Sheng, all the elders were shocked.

Moreover, with the unseen Grand Void Ancient Dragon experts, such a strength level is probably not inferior to the Thunder Clan and Flame Clan! If they could join the alliance, defeating the Soul Clan would no longer be difficult...

The elders thought as such.

(End of Chapter)