Throwing Their Weight Around

Throwing Their Weight Around

In the living room, the graceful beauty looked toward Long Jiuyyao and said softly, "My lord, may I ask what brings you to the Nine-Tails Clan? Why does it concern my clan's survival?"

Long Jiuyyao didn't answer right away. "I'm still young, so 'my lord' doesn't suit me. Why not just call me Jiuyyao? I'll call you Xin Yi."

"This..."

Seeing the graceful beauty hesitate, Long Jiuyyao said, "Xin Yi, I know that your Nine-tailed Clan was once one of the Demon Domain Hegemon Clans in ancient times. But to repel the invasion of the Yi Mo, nearly your entire clan fell. Only the clanspeople you have today remain."

"My Dragon Clan is willing to form an alliance with your Nine-tailed Clan. At the very least, once we're allied, no power in the Demon Domain will dare trouble you again. What do you think, Xin Yi?"

At his words, Xin Yi was astonished. More than anything, she was confused and delighted, as were all the Nine-Tails Clan members present.

"Jiuyyao, can you make that decision? And what can the Nine-Tails Clan possibly do for the Dragon Clan now? What does the Dragon Clan stand to gain from an alliance?" Xin Yi asked three questions in a row.

Long Jiuyyao smiled. "To be honest, Xin Yi, it was a complete coincidence that I was able to leave the Dragon Domain this time. But I sincerely want to form an alliance with your Nine-tailed Clan."

"The answer is simple. I may not be able to decide whether the alliance can go ahead, but I can make sure you're able to live without fear. You may not be able to do anything for the Dragon Clan now, but what about in the future? Who can say?"

Xin Yi was clever, and she immediately understood what Long Jiuyyao meant. "Jiuyyao, are you saying you can help my clan return to its former glory?"

Long Jiuyyao didn't hide anything. He nodded. "The answer is right within your clan!"

"Within our clan? Jiuyyao, are you saying the problem lies in the Ancestral Spirit Hall? But how do you know our clan's secrets?" Xin Yi exclaimed.

"The problem does lie in your Ancestral Spirit Hall, but I don't have a solution yet. That's why I proposed an alliance—to have my Dragon Clan protect you. Just wait twenty years, and I'll be able to resolve the problem completely," Long Jiuyyao said thoughtfully.

Xin Yi was somewhat skeptical. Over the past thousand years, not a single clansperson who had entered the Ancestral Spirit Hall had survived. What could he possibly rely on?

"Jiuyyao, it's not that I don't trust you, but the Ancestral Spirit Hall is simply too strange. For thousands of years, countless clanspeople have entered and never returned. I'm afraid you..." Xin Yi trailed off.

"Xin Yi, I understand your concern. Then let's make a wager. In twenty years, I'll resolve the problem with your Ancestral Spirit Hall once and for all. In return, your Nine-tailed Clan only needs to support my Dragon Clan when we need you," Long Jiuyyao said confidently.

"Xin Yi, I'll stay with your clan for a few days. After that, you'll see that I'm sincere," Long Jiuyyao said with a smile.

At that, she summoned a young woman and had her lead Long Jiuyyao off to rest.

After Long Jiuyyao left, several high-ranking members of the clan came over to Xin Yi and asked, "Patriarch, do you really believe he can resolve the problem that has plagued our clan for so many years?"

"It's not that I believe him; I believe in the Dragon Clan behind him. Even after the last ancient war, the Dragon Clan remains the foremost of the Four Hegemons of the Demon Domain. Its foundations are unimaginably deep."

Xin Yi fell silent, her expression somber. "Even if he ultimately fails to resolve the calamity threatening our clan, relying on the Dragon Clan means we won't have to worry about our clanswomen being captured and reduced to playthings—enslaved as they please."

"For us, there are only benefits and no drawbacks."

Over the next few days, Long Jiuyyao really did stay in Nine-Tails Village. Though it lay in the chaotic Beast War Domain, the place was exceptionally peaceful. Its atmosphere was entirely different from the disorder and strife beyond its borders.

Long Jiuyyao gradually relaxed in the peaceful surroundings. Another three days slipped by.

Long Jiuyyao sat in a tree atop a towering ancient tree in the village, leaning against its thick trunk with his eyes half closed. He let the warm sunlight filter through the leaves and scatter across his body in bright patches.

"Hm?"

Long Jiuyyao's eyes suddenly opened. Somewhat puzzled, he looked toward the commotion that had abruptly stirred in Nine-Tails Village. He saw a group of young women gathering in the secluded part of the village where he was staying.

"Lord Jiuyyao, could you let us stay here for a while? We promise we won't disturb you."

A timid voice came from the tree beside him. A tiny, adorable figure pressed her hands together toward him, looking utterly charming.

Long Jiuyyao looked closely. It was a little girl who resembled Xin Yi. He realized she was probably Xin Yi's daughter, Xin Qing.

Long Jiuyyao smiled kindly. "Are you Xin Qing?"

"Huh? My lord, you know who I am?" Xin Qing's little face filled with surprise.

Long Jiuyyao nodded. "Little Xin Qing, what's going on with you all?"

He smiled at the girls. Over the past few days, he had grown quite familiar with these young women from the Nine-Tails Clan.

"Thunder Abyss Mountain has come to collect its tribute." At that, Xin Qing sighed and gave a bitter smile.

Long Jiuyyao paused slightly before understanding. Although this area lay at the boundary between Hundred Beasts Ridge and Thunder Abyss Mountain, the Nine-Tails Clan naturally had to pay tribute to both powers if they wanted to live here in peace.

"Then why are you hiding?"

"Because the girls of our Nine-Tails Clan are beautiful, they tend to attract trouble. If any of the people collecting the tribute take a fancy to them, it'll cause us a great deal of trouble," said a beautiful young woman beside Xin Qing.

In other places, being beautiful might bring plenty of advantages. But here, it was dangerous. One careless mistake could even bring disaster upon the entire clan.

Long Jiuyyao fell silent. The Nine-Tails Clan was exceptional, but the women had no way to protect that gift.

Long Jiuyyao stroked Xin Qing's hair. "Come on, little one. I'll take you all to deal with this trouble."

Rumble!

The earth shook, and clouds of dust billowed. A large force charged over from the distance, finally approaching Nine-Tails Village as Xin Yi and the others watched in anger. Among the troops, a Mountain Character Flag fluttered in the air.

"It's Mountain General Meng Shan of Thunder Abyss Mountain."

The newcomer was gaunt, with dark yellow skin. On closer inspection, however, it became clear that his skin was covered in tiny yellow-brown scales, giving him a rather strange appearance.

As the troops arrived, the barrier surrounding Nine-Tails Village rippled. Xin Yi led several of the clan's powerful members out to meet them.

"Heh, Chief Xin, it's time to pay your tribute. I'm sure I don't need to tell you how much," Meng Shan said with a lazy grin.

"So it's Mountain General Meng..." Xin Yi nodded, then waved her hand. A Universe Bag flew toward Meng Shan. "There's ten million Xuan Yuan Pills inside."

Meng Shan snatched the Universe Bag and barely glanced at it before tossing it to one of his subordinates. He smiled. "Chief Xin is certainly accommodating."

"Our Nine-Tails Clan still needs Thunder Abyss Mountain's protection. Naturally, we should pay the tribute," Xin Yi said, lowering her head slightly.

"Is that really what Chief Xin thinks?" Meng Shan asked with an amused smile.

Xin Yi's expression stiffened slightly, but she nodded.

Just as Xin Yi nodded, an ill-timed voice rang out. "Thunder Abyss Mountain isn't worthy of that anymore. The Nine-Tails Clan is now an ally of my Dragon Clan."

"Hm? What did you say?" Meng Shan spotted Long Jiuyyao behind Xin Yi at once.

"Are you hard of hearing? I said they're now allies of my Dragon Clan." Long Jiuyyao looked at Mountain General Meng Shan with disdain.

"The Dragon Clan? Hahahaha! You're just a little brat. You think you can speak for the Dragon Clan?" Meng Shan's eyes were full of contempt.

"Smack!"

Long Jiuyyao wasn't angered by his words. Under everyone's astonished gazes, he walked right up to Meng Shan and slapped him across the face. "Who do you think you are to question me?"

Meng Shan was stunned. A little brat had actually slapped him. His fury erupted like a volcano. "You little punk, you're asking for death!"

Meng Shan's eyes turned bloodshot, and his fury was plain to see. The Yuan Power of someone at the Death Profound Realm Great Accomplishment surged out like a raging sea.

Long Jiuyyao merely gave a wicked smile. He clenched his hand, and a black light gathered in his palm, transforming into a dark Dragon Clan Totem. An absolutely pure dragon aura spread from the totem.

The instant the Dragon Clan Totem appeared, the surging fluctuations of Meng Shan's Yuan Power vanished. Everyone present was stunned, but Meng Shan was the most terrified of all.

"Do you believe me now?" Long Jiuyyao slapped him again.

Meng Shan's eyes were bloodshot, and his hands trembled uncontrollably. He was clearly filled with extreme fury.

Long Jiuyyao was feeling incredibly pleased, too. Throwing his weight around felt so good he couldn't get enough of it. After doing it once, he wanted to do it a second and a third time.

"You're furious, aren't you? Too bad my backing is stronger than yours. That's what gives me the right to do whatever I want." Long Jiuyyao laughed domineeringly, teasing him.

"I'm not angry. Not angry at all," Meng Shan said, forcing down his fury as he played along.

"No, no, you must be furious. Don't hold back—let it out," Long Jiuyyao taunted.

"Crack, crack!" Meng Shan clenched his hands until they cracked, but he still didn't dare explode.

"In that case, why don't you get lost? Do you want to stay here forever?" Long Jiuyyao's smile vanished, and he roared viciously.

"Yes, yes! I'll leave right away. Let's go." Meng Shan bowed repeatedly as he backed away.

"Stop. Leave the tribute behind," Long Jiuyyao said coolly.

Meng Shan stopped. In the end, he left behind the ten million Xuan Yuan Pills and departed at once. The flag bearing the character "Mountain" disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Several hours after Meng Shan left...

A streak of blood-red light swept in from the edge of the sky, accompanied by an incredibly powerful aura. The oppressive sensation made the faces of countless powerful figures in the region change.

Long Jiuyyao looked up at the crimson glow from his perch in the towering ancient tree and murmured, "You're finally here!"

The Crimson Bloodlight grew increasingly intense. Then the crowd saw a dense mass of figures flying over from the distance. It was a blood-red army, with two figures flying at its head. They were clearly the two commanders of Blood Dragon Hall.

At the very center of the blood-red army were four Crimson Giant Pythons, coiled together as they carried an enormous Crimson Throne. A figure lounged on the throne, and the oppressive aura that blanketed heaven and earth emanated from him.

One of the three Great Demon Commanders of the Beast War Domain—the Sky Dragon Demon Marshal!

The blood-red army finally stopped in midair above the area. A multitude of fierce gazes turned downward, fixed on the mountain peak occupied by Nine-Tails Village.