Chapter 1377: Reflection and Cleansing

"Jialan, I know you are very dissatisfied with my public stance in Evereska, but I do not believe I have done anything wrong!"

Although Yilisaier was in great need of supporters, he would not blindly accommodate them; otherwise, who would truly be the ruler of Cormanthor?

It was just that his current words formed a sharp contrast to the gentle attitude he had when he first arrived.

The twelve Patriarchs of the Upper Families had originally been prepared to listen to Yilisaier's explanation, regardless of whatever reason he gave.

Even if he merely said that those words were made up on the spot and did not represent his true inclinations, these twelve Patriarchs would have chosen to believe him and continued to support him.

The key was still a matter of attitude!

They needed an explanation from Yilisaier, or rather, a softening of his stance; as for the real reason, that was not important.

Their families' interests had long been highly bound to the Yilisaier family's interests; even if Yilisaier's attitude changed, it was not something they could cut ties with in a short period of time.

In fact, in order to better preserve their strength amidst the encirclement and interception of other Upper Families, they had to appear even more intimate before completely breaking ties with the Yilisaier family!

It was just that they never expected Yilisaier's attitude to have truly changed, which was almost impossible for them to accept.

Once upon a time, Yilisier Mianwang, whom they regarded as a True King capable of leading them to complete a magnificent cause, was actually going to speak for those lower races! And he wanted to grant those races equal power with them!

This was simply intolerable!

Just as Yilisaier finished that sentence, a Patriarch suddenly stood up and, without saying a word, walked straight toward the door, but he had only taken two steps before being stopped by Yilisaier.

"Maloris, I have a very good relationship with your father, and you are someone I watched grow up; in your hundreds of years of memory, have I ever disappointed you?"

"In the past, no, but now, you have disappointed me greatly!"

Although he said this, Maloris still stopped his steps; he looked up at the face of Yilisier Mianwang, which was weary despite its majesty, and decided to listen to the other party's explanation again.

Yilisaier walked down from the throne, came between Patriarchs like Maloris and Jialan, sighed deeply, and then said in a low voice:

"From the moment the Northland Alliance was born, the Northland entered a brand-new era! But the new era did not change entirely at that moment; its changes have long been in the making!"

"It can be traced back to the collapse of Aryvandaar's rule, but you are unwilling to admit it, or rather—you are content to degenerate!"

"You must recognize clearly what it is you take pride in? Is it the bloodline that distinguishes you from other species? Or is it the power and influence that truly guarantees you are different from other species?"

"There is one more point you must recognize clearly: do you want the Cormanthor that will unify the world according to prophecy, or the Aryvandaar that has long since vanished into the river of time?"

Speaking to this point, Yilisaier paused, leaving a little time for his supporters to think carefully, and also to reflect on his own past.

Once, Coronal Osons, known as the "Prophet," designed a "Five-Race Co-Prosperity" path for the newborn Cormanthor.

It was just that he himself, having leaped from the heir of a fallen family to the co-ruler of the various forces in the newborn Cormanthor, was inevitably a bit young and arrogant, unwilling to live the rest of his life under the Prophet's planning.

Thus, there arose the idea of a Golden Elf Supremacy and Greater Elfism path that deviated from "Five-Race Co-Prosperity," and by this, he gathered a considerable number of supporters.

Now that he wanted to turn back and walk the "Five-Race Co-Prosperity" path designed by Coronal Osons, let alone these supporters disagreeing, even he himself found it hard to convince himself.

A thousand years of ruling inertia and ideological inertia could not be changed overnight, but what Yilisaier knew even more clearly was—the era had changed.

It could even be said that the era had changed long ago, but they were just unwilling to admit it!

The reception hall fell into silence; although the twelve Patriarchs had anger and dissatisfaction in their hearts, Yilisaier had already explained it this way, and they were not completely unable to listen.

While pondering, they suddenly heard Yilisaier's questioning voice: "Do you know what I felt most deeply about in Evereska?"

"I don't know; is there anything in this world that the Mianwang has not seen?" Jialan asked suspiciously.

"Heh."

Yilisaier sighed secretly and shook his head, "In Evereska, what I felt most deeply was—the human fishermen of the past are now able to stand on equal footing with us!"

"Is the Mianwang talking about Netheril?" Jialan's eyes widened; he could probably already understand Yilisaier's feelings.

"Yes, no matter how we influence humans or control humans, they are ultimately the same race and can unite as a whole at any time; but what about Cormanthor? The problem of racial antagonism has become so serious that it must be solved!"

"The Mianwang is exaggerating a bit; we are also the unified Tai'kuise Clan!"

"Milos, now you know about the 'unified Tai'kuise Clan' again!"

Yilisaier did not further mock the other party; he knew very well that the reason these supporters insisted on the Greater Elfism of Golden Elf Supremacy was not necessarily because they truly identified with this concept!

It was more because they identified with the fact that this concept had become the mainstream in Cormanthor in the past, and identified with the fact that this concept could bring them more benefits and more stable power!

If changing to another concept could bring them more benefits and more stable power, change was not impossible, especially for these beings who were already at the peak of power and had a profound understanding of power and interests.

"With the strength of your families, even if the five races are equal, it will not affect your power; on the contrary, equality eliminates strife, and a fairer and more stable environment is also conducive to our joint rule!"

Having said this much, Yilisaier returned to the throne, overlooking the twelve Golden Elf Patriarchs with different expressions below; with the assistance of the Sword of Ruling, he could see the true psychology of these Patriarchs clearly.

Soon, the twelve Patriarchs bid farewell one after another, indicating that they still needed to go back and think about it carefully.

After the twelve Patriarchs of the Upper Families left, the reception hall fell into silence again; Yilisaier did not leave and remained seated on the throne.

Before long, the Patriarchs who had left earlier returned here again, only a few were missing; Maloris, who was the first to stand up and leave earlier, was one of them!

"It's a pity that Maloris and the others gave up on the new era!"

Jialan looked at Yilisier Mianwang, whose face was somewhat blurred on the throne but whose majestic aura remained unchanged, and his heart stirred as he suddenly remembered a meaningful sentence his father had once said to him—

Never go against Yilisaier!