Parting on Bad Terms
Huang Yue made no other move, but after glancing around, he spoke under Yi Huang's questioning gaze, "Has the Langya Pavilion and the Soul Hall become increasingly hostile towards each other over the years?"
Although it was a question, Huang Yue's expression was full of certainty. Yi Huang did not refute it either; this matter was not a secret in Central Plains.
Back then, Langya Pavilion wiped out seven Earthly Fiend Branch Hall of the Soul Hall in one fell swoop. Even though the other side did not launch a major counterattack at the time, they have been making many small moves over the years.
Attacking the younger generation of the Langya Pavilion, such as Xiao Wu Ye Shenghan, as was the case before, had become commonplace. However, as these talented younger generations grew to the level of the older generation over the years, such incidents gradually decreased.
But that was just the Soul Hall shifting its focus. Many disciples below the Dou Zun would be attacked by the Hall of Souls Protector when they went out. Although the attackers often lost everything, they still did it with great enthusiasm, as if it was just to annoy them.
The ambush of Xian'er Yi Huang's personal disciple, organized by the ten Venerable Elders of the Soul Hall and the Nine Heavens Venerable of the Soul Hall two months ago, pushed the conflict between the two sides to its peak.
If it weren't for the desperate protection of several Langya Guards and the formidable power of her Woeful Poison Body, which allowed Xian'er to hold out until reinforcements arrived, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Even so, in that attack, three members of the Langya Guard were killed on the spot, and the other two were seriously injured and rendered disabled. This was the greatest loss the Langya Guard had ever suffered since its establishment.
Xian'er's Woeful Poison Body suddenly erupted afterward. If Xiao Wu hadn't intervened in time to stabilize the seal, her death would likely have been inevitable.
In retaliation, Langya Pavilion launched another attack on several of the Soul Hall's Earthly Fiend Branch Hall. However, as if anticipated, many of the Soul Hall branch halls had relocated, leaving the Langya Guard empty-handed.
After that, Langya Pavilion and Soul Hall once again began fighting fiercely. This might also be the reason why the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan came. Thinking of this, Yi Huang felt a little amused.
"What, is the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan also interested in the affairs of Central Plains?" Yi Huang said casually with a playful expression.
Normally, the Magical Beast Families stay within their own small territory in the Beast Region and rarely interfere in the affairs of Central Plains, but...
For many years, the Void Ancient Dragon Tribe has remained hidden from the world, never appearing in public. It seems the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan can no longer bear the loneliness and wants to vie for the position of the so-called leader of the Three Great Magical Beast Families.
Sensing the sarcasm in Yi Huang's tone, Huang Yue snorted coldly, but instead of provoking conflict, he confidently stated, "Our Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan can help you resolve the Soul Hall's troubles. What does Deputy Pavilion Master Yi think?"
"Oh, how to resolve this? What are the conditions?" Yi Huang asked curiously. Others were unaware of the difference in strength between them. That was simply because they didn't even have a Dou Sheng. In the eyes of ants, lions and elephants were equally insurmountable.
But she doesn't know that yet?
The so-called Three Great Families of the Monster Beast World are far inferior to the Ancient Races. They might have had some potential at their peak, but now...
The strongest member of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan was only Huang Tian, a Five-Star Dou Sheng, roughly equivalent to the Soul Hall Master, not to mention that the latter had the backing of the Soul Clan. Yi Huang couldn't fathom where their inexplicable confidence came from to act as peacemakers.
It's easy to say. If it were that simple, Xiao Han would have already razed the Soul Hall back then, and there wouldn't be so much trouble today.
To be honest, the Pill Tower could have driven the Soul Hall out of the Central Plains back then, so why let them grow to this size?
The conflict at the Langya Pavilion has remained within the control of both sides.
The Soul Hall attempted to use this to attract the attention of the Langya Pavilion, thinking it could deceive everyone and prevent the Langya Pavilion from interfering with its good deeds elsewhere, thus avoiding forcing the former to take a desperate gamble.
Langya Pavilion, on the other hand, turned the tables and hoped to use this opportunity to buy time until Xiao Han's cultivation was successfully restored, thus providing Langya Pavilion with a final layer of protection.
Of course, only a few high-ranking members of the Langya Pavilion knew about these matters; ordinary Elder were not qualified to participate in the planning, and the outside world knew nothing about it.
The Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan may have been influenced by this information, believing that Langya Pavilion might not be able to withstand the Soul Hall's offensive. They saw this as a good opportunity to provide timely assistance (take advantage of the situation) and intervene in Central Plains, which is why they acted like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken.
As expected, upon hearing Yi Huang's words, Huang Yue's expression was righteous and stern, "Our Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan is willing to act as a mediator to help Langya Pavilion and Soul Hall negotiate peace."
"As for the conditions..."
"As long as Langya Pavilion does us, the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, any favors and support us on certain occasions, that's enough."
"Of course, our Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan can also send a talented junior to the Langya Pavilion to enhance its prestige. What do you say?"
Huang Yue spoke as if he were giving Langya Pavilion a huge advantage.
Yi Huang's lips twitched; this was the first time she had ever seen someone so righteously taking advantage of someone's misfortune.
Huang Yue's words sound nice, but in reality, he just wants to tie Langya Pavilion to the war chariot of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan!
Their calculations are quite shrewd. Given Langya Pavilion's current influence and status in Central Plains, if they were to show even the slightest support for the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, the latter's actions in Central Plains would become much easier. And if they were to actually send a descendant of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan into the Langya Pavilion, it would leave the latter with no way to defend themselves.
Correspondingly, Langya Pavilion will bear many risks for no reason. For example, the natural enemy of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan — the Void Ancient Dragon.
If Langya Pavilion were truly desperate, that would be one thing, but given the current situation, she must have been out of her mind to agree to such an absurd condition.
"Well..." Yi Huang was about to politely refuse, Huang Yue added fuel to the fire once again.
"If the Deputy Pavilion Master agrees, you and your parents can be included in the genealogy of my Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan. What do you say?"
In Huang Yue's view, his offer was already very generous. As an elder of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, Huang Yue valued the bloodline of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan exceptionally.
In his original view, members of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan who married outsiders were traitors and should have their names removed from the family tree.
Not to mention offspring born from crossbreeding with outsiders, he was only able to offer such a condition because of Yi Huang's current achievements.
This was not a humiliation, but rather something that Huang Yue had become accustomed to in his original mindset. He himself was such a person, and by putting himself in others' shoes, he found his own conditions very tempting.
Yi Huang's expression immediately changed. She had originally wanted to be tactful, but now they were really taking advantage of her. She coldly said, "No need. I, Yi Huang, am not worthy of your Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan's attention. As for the cooperation, our Langya Pavilion will consider it carefully."
Huang Yue's face was extremely ugly. He could easily hear the rejection in Yi Huang's words. He thought to himself, "This mixed-blood is so ungrateful. I've said it before, the clan leader doesn't need to give any face to a mere descendant of a traitor. Humph!"
However, after the initial shock at the Langya Pavilion, Huang Yue became much wiser and at least didn't voice her true feelings.
He said in his extremely aged voice, "I hope that Deputy Pavilion Master will consider this carefully and not ruin the century-old foundation of the Langya Pavilion."
"Our Langya Pavilion will take care of that. However, the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan should also be careful, lest they become the dinner table of some Magical Beast."
"You..." Huang Yue was immediately furious. Although he was stubborn, he wasn't completely brainless. He could naturally tell that Yi Huang was mocking the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan for being eaten by the Void Ancient Dragon.
Just as he was about to erupt, he remembered his predicament and could only snort coldly before bidding farewell to the Heavenly Demon Phoenix and his entourage.