Chapter 1573: Qin Yi's Suggestion

When the Li Li Tianwang lineage's battle line faced the assault of the Finger-Wing False King, in another direction, within a somewhat ruined city, the various forces of the Qin Li Tianwang lineage were currently stationed.

At this moment, the morale of these forces was extremely low, and the entire city was permeated with a stifling, heavy atmosphere. The fierce counterattack of the Abnormal Tide some days prior had caused the Qin Li Tianwang lineage to lose most of the battle results they had achieved during this period, and the loss of several Top Marquis also caused both the Qin Li Tianwang lineage and the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage to feel immense heartache.

In the City Lord's Mansion at the center of the city.

The high-level members of the Qin Li Tianwang lineage had all gathered here.

And at this moment, they were surrounding and watching a Spirit Mirror flashing with strange light. Within the Spirit Mirror, a chaotic and intense battlefield was reflected, which was precisely the current battle situation on the Li Li Tianwang lineage's side.

Obviously, the Qin Li Tianwang lineage was spying on the battle situation over there.

When they had previously seen the Finger-Wing False King appear, their expressions revealed thick hatred, while at the same time a hint of joy inexplicably arose, because the Qin Li Tianwang lineage had been beaten too miserably by this Finger-Wing False King during this period, so if they could let the Li Li Tianwang lineage's side also experience it, for them, this was a kind of alternative comfort.

But unfortunately, the scene they had been anticipating did not appear.

Especially when the Spirit Mirror showed Li Luo and Jiang Qing joining forces and actually blasting back the Finger-Wing False King, whom no Ninth-Rank Top Marquis had been able to resist before, within this great hall where most of the Qin Li Tianwang lineage's high-level members had gathered, the atmosphere instantly fell deathly silent.

The three King-Range powerhouses Qin Zhongyuan, Qin Qin Zhiming, and Qin Qu also had rather unpleasant expressions.

The failure of one's own side, although sorrowful, is bearable; but the success of others is what is truly hard to accept.

Their Qin Li Tianwang lineage had been routed by that Finger-Wing False King. If the Li Li Tianwang lineage also had the same result, others would think it was because the Finger-Wing False King was too strong. But now the Li Li Tianwang lineage had relied on the monstrous battle power of Li Luo and Jiang Qing to forcibly withstand the Finger-Wing False King. Wouldn't this make people think that their Qin Li Tianwang lineage was incompetent?

Both are clearly Li Tianwang lineages, so why is the gap between the two sides so vast?

"They haven't won yet. That Finger-Wing False King was merely careless earlier; its true power has yet to be revealed. Otherwise, even though Li Luo and Jiang Qing possess the Ten Thousand Phase Seed and the Primordial Seed, they may not necessarily be able to defeat it." Amidst the silence of the crowd, Qin Qu spoke first, breaking the gloomy atmosphere.

The Divine Tiger King Zhao Zong, who was also present, nodded and said: "Although the Li Li Tianwang lineage has initially stabilized the battle line, they are also suffering obvious casualties. As long as Li Luo and Jiang Qing cannot completely defeat that Finger-Wing False King, the Li Li Tianwang lineage will still fall into the continuous consumption of the Abnormal Tide."

Hearing the two King-Range powerhouses comment like this, some of the Qin Li Tianwang lineage's high-level members present felt slightly better in their hearts.

After a moment of silence, Qin Zhongyuan asked the Divine Tiger King Zhao Zong: "I wonder if the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage can dispatch more Top Marquis to come to assist?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zong hesitated somewhat and said awkwardly: "It's not that our Zhao Li Tianwang lineage is unwilling to send reinforcements, but we have also suffered rather heavy losses this time, and we truly cannot dispatch any more Top Marquis."

For their Li Tianwang lineages, Top Marquis are not cannon fodder. They are King-Range seeds that need to be cultivated through the investment of countless resources and time. Although the number of these seeds that ultimately reach the King-Range is few, their importance remains self-evident.

Previously, their Zhao Li Tianwang lineage had sent seven Top Marquis, which already showed great sincerity, but these seven Top Marquis, with the appearance of the Finger-Wing False King this time, had already lost two.

Such a loss even made Zhao Zong secretly feel heartache.

Moreover, with the current situation changing, the strength of that Finger-Wing False King has already somewhat exceeded the standard for Ninth-Rank. Therefore, the Top Marquis they had previously sent have already begun to harbor thoughts of retreat. Under such circumstances, asking the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage to send more Ninth-Rank Top Marquis is somewhat unrealistic.

Hearing the tactful refusal in Zhao Zong's words, the expressions of the three King-Range powerhouses Qin Zhongyuan, Qin Qin Zhiming, and Qin Qu also darkened slightly. They understood that this defeat had already caused the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage to not want to place any more bets.

Seeing this, Zhao Zong said no more, exchanged a few polite words, and then took his people and slinked away from this place.

And this move immediately caused dissatisfaction among the many high-level members in the great hall.

"Three Palace Masters, does our Qin Li Tianwang lineage still need to continue making enemies with the Li Li Tianwang lineage more and more because we fear them?" And just at this moment, a gentle voice suddenly rang out within the great hall.

Everyone was stunned, their gazes turned, and then they saw Qin Yi standing prettily in a corner of the great hall. Her exquisitely beautiful and elegant cheeks, under the illumination of the lamps, shimmered with luster.

"A-Yi, what do you want to say?" Qin Zhongyuan looked at Qin Yi, his voice softening a little. Qin Yi was the successor of the "Water Sacred Seed" personally chosen by the decree of Qin Li Tianwang, and during these two years, she had gradually become the pillar of the younger generation of the Qin Li Tianwang lineage. Although in terms of fame and strength she could not compare to Li Luo and Jiang Qing, she had already gained the qualification to stand on her own.

"The Zhao Li Tianwang lineage merely wishes to use our Qin Li Tianwang lineage to check and balance the Li Li Tianwang lineage. Given the current situation, they will not provide more assistance. And relying solely on the strength of our Qin Li Tianwang lineage, we fundamentally cannot deal with that Finger-Wing False King. Therefore, this junior feels that we should perhaps restrain some of our hostility toward the Li Li Tianwang lineage and prioritize resolving this Abnormal Disaster above all else?" Qin Yi's red lips parted slightly, her gentle voice echoing within the great hall.

"Restrain our hostility toward the Li Li Tianwang lineage?" Qin Qu frowned and snorted coldly: "Do you still remember that your mother Qin Qin Lian died at the hands of Li Luo and Jiang Qing?"

Qin Yi fell silent, then said slowly: "Given the situation at the time, they cannot be blamed."

"Qin Qin Lian really gave birth to a good daughter." Qin Qu mocked.

However, her words were ultimately interrupted by Qin Qin Zhiming, who said to Qin Yi: "Then what do you think we should do now?"

Under the gaze of everyone, Qin Yi did not show any fear, but said calmly: "Mobilize all our forces to rush to reinforce the Li Li Tianwang lineage's battle line, attack the Abnormal Tide from the flank, and relieve their pressure."

"From the current situation, our Qin Li Tianwang lineage no longer has the ability to eliminate this Abnormal Disaster, so to resolve the Abnormal Disaster, we can only join hands and cooperate with the Li Li Tianwang lineage."

"Sending reinforcements at this time can win more negotiating rights for our Qin Li Tianwang lineage. Otherwise, once Li Luo and Jiang Qing defeat the Finger-Wing False King and then propose cooperation, we will lose even more initiative."

"Therefore, if our Qin Li Tianwang lineage still wishes to resolve this Abnormal Disaster, choosing to reinforce the Li Li Tianwang lineage now may be the last opportunity."

Within the great hall, Qin Yi's soft and clear voice echoed. Many of the Qin Li Tianwang lineage's high-level members were somewhat shaken. They had not expected that Qin Yi actually intended to abandon the strategy of "allying with Zhao to resist Li" and shift toward "befriending Li."

"How can you be so certain that Li Luo and Jiang Qing can defeat the Finger-Wing False King?" Qin Zhongyuan said slowly.

"Do you know that if we choose to cooperate with the Li Li Tianwang lineage, how much price will we have to pay? That old fox Li Li Tianji will definitely take a vicious bite out of us."

Qin Yi's eyes lowered slightly as she said calmly: "If the Abnormal Disaster cannot be quelled, more False King Aberrations may appear in the future, and by then, we will inevitably suffer even greater losses."

Qin Zhongyuan was silent for a moment, sighed, and said: "Let's think it over some more."

Qin Yi said softly: "But we don't have much time to think it over."

Qin Qu frowned and said: "Qin Yi, say no more. These matters are not for a junior like you to decide."

"Whether Li Luo and Jiang Qing can resist the 'Finger-Wing False King' is still uncertain. Moreover, even if we truly need to cooperate with the Li Li Tianwang lineage, it would be best to wait until they suffer a major defeat first, so that we have more room for negotiation."

"Look, that 'Finger-Wing False King' has been enraged."

Hearing these words, everyone in the great hall, including Qin Yi, cast their gazes toward the Spirit Mirror. They saw that within the image, from a massive deep pit, terrifying dense smoke of malice shot up into the sky, and a skyful of black rain surged toward the depths of the giant pit.

Within the dense smoke of malice, the figure of the Finger-Wing False King re-emerged.

However, this time, the two ghastly white finger-wings on its back had undergone an obvious change, turning into...

Four bizarre finger-wings, black as ink, with black viscous liquid constantly flowing down them.

The four wings slowly flapped behind the False King. Seen from afar, it was like a four-winged demon crawling out from the abyss, sending chills down one's spine.

Looking at the Four-Finger-Wing False King whose aura was now surging, the expressions of these Qin Li Tianwang lineage's high-level members in the great hall all became extraordinarily solemn. Even though they had not been there in person, they could still feel that the Four-Finger-Wing False King in this form was clearly a notch stronger compared to when it was slaughtering on their Qin Li Tianwang lineage's side earlier.

Facing such a powerful Four-Finger-Wing False King, Li Luo and Jiang Qing may not necessarily be able to resist it either, right?

Perhaps, just as Palace Master Qin Qu said, waiting until the Li Li Tianwang lineage suffers this major defeat before discussing cooperation would be the optimal timing.

At that time, the Li Li Tianwang lineage, similarly in dire straits, would choose to compromise.

Qin Zhongyuan nodded and said: "Then let's wait a bit more..."

"We can't wait any longer!"

Qin Yi took a deep breath and suddenly spoke, interrupting Qin Zhongyuan's words. This presumptuous move immediately drew the somewhat angry gazes of Qin Zhongyuan and Qin Qu. After all, in terms of status and position, Qin Yi had not yet reached Li Luo's level within the Li Li Tianwang lineage.

"Qin Yi, you are being far too presumptuous!" Qin Qu said in a deep voice.

However, Qin Yi paid her no heed. Her usually gentle and soft cheeks now revealed a look of resolve. At her smooth brow, a pale blue water mark appeared, slowly opening and transforming into the Sacred Phase Crystal Core.

She activated the Water Sacred Seed within her body.

The Sacred Phase Crystal Core seemed like a vast ocean, filled with surging aura of water origin, but just as Qin Qu was about to rebuke, suddenly a vast, oppressive presence faintly emanated from within the Sacred Phase Crystal Core.

Qin Qu's rebuke came to an abrupt halt. Every high-ranking member of the Qin Li Tianwang lineage in the hall froze for several breaths, then suddenly dropped to their knees. Even Qin Zhongyuan hurriedly bent at the waist.

"Greetings, Old Ancestor!"

That trace of pressure, reaching deep into their bloodlines, left no one present daring to question the source of this aura.

The "Sacred Phase Crystal Core" at Qin Yi's brow shimmered with rippling mystic light. After a brief silence within, an aged voice seemed to pierce through layer upon layer of void, reaching them through it.

"What Yi says is my will."

Everyone's body trembled. Qin Zhongyuan, Qin Qu, and the others were stunned for several breaths — they had never imagined that Qin Yi could summon the Old Ancestor, who had not appeared in a hundred years, to cast a single word.

That sentence was very simple, and there was no follow-up. After delivering these words, the Old Ancestor once again fell silent.

Yet no one dared take this sentence lightly.

Thus, when the many high-ranking members looked at Qin Yi again, their gazes clearly held more respect. Even Qin Qu, that sharp-tongued one, could not help but soften his expression.

Qin Zhongyuan was silent for a moment, then finally said: "Send down orders — the Qin Li Tianwang lineage's army is to move its battle line closer to the Li Li Tianwang lineage's, launching a fierce attack from the west against the flank of the Tide of Strange, to share the burden of the Tide of Strange."

"As for Zhao Zong, pay him no heed. If he objects, let him take his people and leave."

In the hall, many high-ranking members of the Qin Li Tianwang lineage answered in unison, then immediately turned and hurried away to begin making the adjustments.

And Qin Yi sat with her eyes closed, a hint of weariness faintly visible on her exquisitely beautiful cheeks. The Sacred Phase Crystal Core at her brow slowly faded, looking as though her energy had been utterly drained.

Qin Zhongyuan, Qin Qin Zhiming, and Qin Qu — the three Palace Masters — wore slightly complicated expressions. Their gazes lingered for a moment at Qin Yi's brow, then they too turned and departed.

After everyone had left, Qin Yi finally opened her beautiful eyes. A trace of nervousness surfaced in their depths, and when she spread her small hand, her palm was already covered in cold sweat.

At the same time, she whispered softly within her heart.

"Old Ancestor, please forgive this junior's grave impropriety. All that I have done is for the Qin Li Tianwang lineage. If in the future the Old Ancestor wishes to punish me, Qin Yi is willing to bear it all alone."