Chapter 128: Parting on Bad Terms

Huang Yue made no other movements; after merely sweeping his gaze across the surroundings, he spoke under Yi Huang's puzzled stare: "The Langya Pavilion and the Soul Hall have become increasingly like fire and water over these years, haven't they?"

Although it was a question, Huang Yue's expression was full of certainty. Yi Huang did not refute it either; this matter was no secret in the Central Plains.

Back then, the Langya Pavilion wiped out seven Earth Fiend Branch Halls of the Soul Hall in one go; even though the other side did not launch a massive counterattack at the time, their petty actions over the years had not been few at all.

Attacks like the ones previously directed at younger generations of the Langya Pavilion such as Xiao Wu and Ye Shenghan were already considered commonplace. And as these talented juniors grew in strength over the years to the level of the older generation,

such incidents gradually became much fewer.

But that was only because the Soul Hall had shifted its targets; many disciples below the Dou Zun level would be attacked by Soul Hall Protectors whenever they traveled. Although the other side often returned empty-handed, they still persisted tirelessly, as if merely to disgust them.

And two months ago, the ambush organized by ten Venerable Elders of the Soul Hall plus the Nine Heavenly Venerable of the Soul Hall against Yi Huang's personal disciple—Xian'er—pushed the conflict between the two sides to its peak.

If not for Xian'er relying on the desperate protection of several Langya Guards and the formidable power of the Woeful Poison Body,

allowing her to successfully hold out until reinforcements arrived, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

Even so,

in that assassination attempt,

three Langya Guards were killed on the spot, and the remaining two were severely injured, becoming cripples. This was also the greatest loss since the establishment of the Langya Guard.

Xian'er's Woeful Poison Body erupted suddenly afterward; if not for Xiao Wu stepping in to stabilize the seal in time, her death would likely have been unavoidable.

In order to retaliate, the Langya Pavilion once again launched attacks on several Earth Fiend Branch Halls of the Soul Hall. However, as if they had anticipated it, many Soul Hall branch halls had relocated, leaving the Langya Guard to strike at empty air.

And since then, the Langya Pavilion and the Soul Hall had once again begun to fight fiercely. This might also be the reason for the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's arrival; thinking of this, Yi Huang felt like laughing.

"What, is the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan also interested in the affairs of the Central Plains?" Yi Huang said with a playful expression,

speaking casually.

Under normal circumstances,

Magic Beast families only stayed within their own small territory in the Beast Domain,

rarely interfering in the affairs of the Central Plains,

however...

For many years, the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan had lived in seclusion and did not appear in the outside world. It seems this Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan cannot endure the loneliness,

and wants to contend for that so-called position as the head of the three great Magic Beast families.

Hearing the sarcasm in Yi Huang's tone, Huang Yue snorted coldly, but he did not initiate a conflict, instead saying confidently: "Our Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan can help you resolve the trouble with the Soul Hall. I wonder what the Vice Pavilion Master thinks?"

"Oh, how will you resolve it? What are the conditions?" Yi Huang asked curiously. Others might not be clear about the gap in strength between them. That is only because they do not even have a single Dou Sheng; in the eyes of ants, lions and giant elephants are equally unreachable.

But did she not know?

The so-called three great families of the Beast World are far inferior compared to the Ancient Races. At their peak, they might have had a chance, but now...

The strongest member of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan is only the Five-Star Dou Sheng, Huang Tian, which is about the same as the Soul Hall Hall Master, not to mention that the latter has the backing of the Soul Clan. Yi Huang truly could not imagine where they got such mysterious confidence to act as peacemakers.

It is easy to say; if it were truly that simple, Xiao Han would have flattened the Soul Hall long ago, and there wouldn't be so many troublesome matters today.

Even if one were to discuss it seriously, the former Pill Tower could have driven the Soul Hall out of the Central Plains,

so why let the other side grow as large as they have today?

Currently, the scale of the conflict involving the Langya Pavilion has always been within the control of both sides.

The Soul Hall attempts to use this to attract the attention of the Langya Pavilion, thinking they are deceiving everyone to prevent the Langya Pavilion from interfering with their good deeds elsewhere, while also not pushing the former to a desperate gamble.

And the Langya Pavilion is playing along, also hoping to use this opportunity to delay time until Xiao Han's cultivation successfully recovers, providing a final insurance for the Langya Pavilion.

Of course, only a few high-level members of the Langya Pavilion are aware of these matters; ordinary Elders do not have the qualifications to participate in the planning, and the outside world knows nothing about it.

And the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan might be influenced by this information, believing that the Langya Pavilion might not be able to withstand the Soul Hall's offensive, and that this is a good opportunity to offer help in a time of need (or rather, to loot a burning house) and intervene in the Central Plains, which is why they are like a weasel paying respects to a chicken.

Sure enough, after hearing Yi Huang's words, Huang Yue's expression became righteous, "Our Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan is willing to act as an intermediary to help the Langya Pavilion and the Soul Hall negotiate peace."

"As for the conditions..."

"As long as the Langya Pavilion makes things convenient for our Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan in the future, and supports our Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan on certain occasions, that will suffice.

Of course, our Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan can also send a talented junior to enter the Langya Pavilion to bolster the Langya Pavilion's prestige. How about that?"

Huang Yue spoke as if he were giving the Langya Pavilion a great bargain.

Yi Huang's mouth twitched; it was her first time seeing someone loot a burning house with such a righteous expression.

Huang Yue's words sounded nice, but in reality, wasn't he just trying to tie the Langya Pavilion to the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's chariot!

The plan was quite loud; with the Langya Pavilion's current influence and status in the Central Plains, if they truly showed the slightest intention of supporting the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, the latter's actions in the Central Plains would become much more convenient. And if the other side really sent a Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan junior into the Langya Pavilion, it would definitely leave the latter unable to defend itself.

And correspondingly, the Langya Pavilion would bear many risks for no reason. For example, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's natural enemy—the Taixu Ancient Dragon.

If the Langya Pavilion were truly at its wit's end, that would be one thing, but in the current situation, she would have to be out of her mind to agree to such absurd conditions.

"This..." Just as Yi Huang wanted to open her mouth to politely refuse, Huang Yue added more fuel to the fire.

"If the Vice Pavilion Master agrees, you and your parents can be entered into our Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's Clan Genealogy. How about that?"

In Huang Yue's view, this condition of his was already very generous. As an old man of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, Huang Yue placed extreme importance on the bloodline of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan.

In his original concept, any member of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan who combined with an outsider was a traitor, an existence whose name should be struck from the Clan Genealogy.

Not to mention the descendants born from mixed blood with outsiders; that he could offer such a condition was entirely out of consideration for Yi Huang's current achievements.

This was not an insult, but rather something Huang Yue was accustomed to in his original mindset; he himself was such a person, and by projecting his own views onto others, he believed his condition was very tempting.

Yi Huang's expression changed instantly; she had originally wanted to be more tactful, but now they were really pushing their luck. She said coldly: "No need. I, Yi Huang, am not worthy of your Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's eyes. As for the matter of cooperation, our Langya Pavilion will consider it carefully."

Huang Yue's face was extremely ugly; how could he not hear the refusal in Yi Huang's words? He thought to himself: "This mixed-blood is actually so ungrateful. I said long ago that the Clan Leader does not need to give any face to a mere descendant of a traitor. Hmph!"

However, after the show of force at the Langya Pavilion's gate, Huang Yue had become much smarter, at least not speaking his inner thoughts aloud.

He only used his extremely aged voice to say: "I still hope the Vice Pavilion Master will consider it carefully, and not destroy the Langya Pavilion's century-old foundation."

"The Langya Pavilion will naturally take note of that. However, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan should also be careful, lest you be sent to the dinner table by certain Magic Beasts."

"You..." Huang Yue was immediately enraged. Although he was stubborn, he was not truly without a brain, and naturally, he could hear that Yi Huang was mocking the fact that the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan was treated as food by the Taixu Ancient Dragon.

Just as he was about to explode, he thought of his own situation and could only snort coldly, taking the Heavenly Demon Phoenix group with him as he took his leave.