: Chapter Three Hundred and Fifty-Eight:
Decision
Trantor: 549690339 I
The mystical arts, Soul Jades, resources,bined with the existing warriors of the Tang n, Xiao Zheng couldn’t imagine how powerful the Tang n would be after ten years when the next generation of warriors grows up. But by that time, would the Mi Family still be able to resist the military might of the Tang n?
Originally, he nned to wait a little longer, but Ji Fu’s words before his departure made up his mind.
Aboard the Dragon War Chariot, Ji Fu, on the verge of leaving, sighed and said to him, “Old Xiao, get closer to the Tang n.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s a storming in Xiling.”
As members of the centuries-old families, they naturally knew that the most direct disy of integrity was the sharing of information. Ji Fu truly regarded himself as a friend to reveal such a big secret, because he knew how awkward the Xiao Family’s position was in Xiling.
in fact, as a member of the Xiao Family, Xiao Zheng only hoped that the Tang and Mi ns would stalemate as long as possible. Only in this way could the Xiao family rally more small ns and form another power that could stand on equal footing.
For centuries, the noble families newly settled in Xiling have no longer chosen to settle in South City or North City. Instead, they chose East City or West City, which of course was their choice, but many of them were orchestrated by the Xiao Family. Also, the influence of the Xiao Family had been shining like the midday sun for being the influential representative of the families in Xiling and gaining lots of benefits for these smaller ns.
Originally, the Xiao Family was supposed to grow gradually and be stronger, but who could have imagined that the Tang and Mi factions, who had been at a stalemate for a thousand years, suddenly dered a victor during this mysterious time. At the time, although Xiao Zheng’s face didn’t change, his heart had already sunk into an abyss.
Until now, he hadn’t recovered, but he knew he had to spread the news to the n as soon as possible, or it would be disastrous.
“Soul Jade is connected to the Minor Spiritual Realm, where the menacing force left behind a thousand years ago is there, along with a huge amount of mystical arts, a sea of Soul Jades and a mountain of rare metals!” Xiao Zheng exined to Xiao Jinlin in the most serious tone without any bias, “Within ten years, maybe twenty at most, the Tang n’s strength willpletely overpower the Mi n. If we choose to align with them by then, we would only be cannon
fodder.”
“So, I think our Xiao n should establish a rtionship with the Tang n as soon as possible to achieve the greatest benefits.”
Xiao Zheng had pain and unwillingness in his eyes. As a major n, there was no doubt that this choice was a humiliation, but he knew it was a choice that had to be made.
All foresight served to make decisions. If one foresees the future but turns a blind eye to it, they will eventually be consumed by the future.
The elder sitting in the main hall let out a deep sigh after hearing Xiao Zheng’s words, “Utterly foolish.”
“What?” Xiao Zheng raised his eyebrows and asked defiantly.
“If the Tang n doesn’t actively seek an alliance with the Xiao n within a month, then the Xiao n must align with the Mi n. Before the Tang n bes powerful, we must obliterate them.” There was determination in Xiao jinlin’s eyes, with amanding aura of a king that could influence the hearts of the people: “No! Matter! The! Cost!”
With the final six determined words, one could sense how bloody the battles would be in Longzhou due to the elder’s decision. To what extent would the Tang Family, backed by a sea of resources,pete with the two families – no one could predict. The Mi n backed by the Xiao Family would be like a tiger with wings, invincible in a head-on battle led by Xiao Jinlin and sudden attacks by celestial bird guards. Even if the Tang n acquired mystical arts, they wouldn’t be able to escape the impending doom.
But the Tang n was indeed the strongest n in Xiling, and how bloody this war would be was beyond anyone’s prediction. But it’s certain that after this war, there would be no more powerful ns in Xiling, and it would take at least fifty to sixty years to recover.
“You old fool! Have you gone mad?!” Xiao Zheng could hardly believe his own ears, he truly suspected that this old man hadpletely lost his mind, “Now is the perfect time for the Xiao n and the Tang n to establish diplomatic rtions. Tang Peng, the son of the Tang n’s leader, has expressed his affections for Ji Rou on multiple asions, willingly and unwillingly. Isn t this a divine opportunity for the Xiao n? Yet, you want the Xiao n to walk on a bloody path. Have you really lost your mind?!”
It was a rule within the Xiao n that their descendants mustn’t marry the children of the Tang and Mi ns. But young people always have the impulse to break such taboos. The more they cannot acquire something, the more they want it. The scions of the Tang and Mi ns had always been hell-bent on winning the heart of a Miss Xiao. But unlike other ns, the Xiao n’s education of females was in no way inferior to that of males. So, for a thousand years, none of the scions of the Tang and Mi ns had ever had their wishes granted.
However, building rtions through marriage was amon strategy among noble families, especially when the groom-to-be was the current leader’s son. In the eyes of this old man, what was this golden opportunity?
Xiao Zheng’s eyes had never been filled with such rage before. Previously, he merely disliked Xiao Jinlin, but now, he began to question Xiao Jinlin’s qualifications as the leader of the Xiao n, “Informing you about this matter was a huge mistake. I am going to summon the Elders Council and let them know about this. Let’s see if they will also support your foolishness!” Xiao Jinlinughed. This was the first time heughed since Xiao Zheng entered the main hall, “Do you know why I insist that you practice martial arts?” “Because you, this old fool, don’t understand anything besides martial arts. Your world is filled with violence!” Xiao Zheng replied with a disgusted expression on his face, “In your eyes, nothing else matters, only martial arts can make the Xiao n powerful. That’s why you force all the members of the Xiao n to practice martial arts, even the women!”
“That’s exactly why the Xiao n has be the thirdrgest n in Xiling and has created an insurmountable gap with all other ns.” Xiao Jinlin didn’t think his jeers were a bad thing, nor did he feel belittled by Xiao Zheng s disdain, he calmly stated, “That’s exactly why the Xiao n, even today, has the power to choose. I can choose to help the Mi n, or I can choose to help the Tang n. No matter which side I choose to help, it would be a decisive battle, and that would be the power to choose obtained by the whole n practicing martial arts.”
“Heh, this power in the hands of an old fool like you is nothing but a double- edged sword! Instead of using negotiation and interest exchange to achieve the goal, you insist on achieving it through battle. Are you not going to stop until you exhaust all the resources of the Xiao n?” Xiao Zheng said resentfully, “Despite knowing that the Tang n will surely overpower the Mi n, you insist on going against the grain. Not understanding the principle that if the mountain won’te to me, then I will go to it, how could you still be the n leader?!”
In the past, because the powers of the Tang and Mi ns were evenly matched, even their growth was on par, so the Xiao n, as a third party, held great significance to both of these ns, making it an object that the two ns were eager to win over. But now that the Tang n is confident about surpassing the Mi n within a certain time limit, they will no longer be as keen to win the Xiao n over. This is a very simple supply and demand rtionship.
The Tang n had always initiated courtship towards the Xiao n, but the Xiao n continuously avoided them and maintained neutrality. Now is the perfect time to ept the olive branch from the Tang n!