Villain : After Slacking Off, The Protagonist Collapse-Chapter 232

Chapter 232

Although the ancient imperial clans had little contact with the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan, they knew a little about their situation. They were low-profile, non-participatory, and believed in living independently, which had always been their way of life.

Because of this, the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan had remained so obscure that few knew of them, and they had almost no enemies.

Like invisible beings, they were seldom acknowledged by other forces. However, with the great era approaching, the ancient imperial clans needed strength and supreme weapons more than ever to ensure their survival.

In some sense, all the ancient imperial clans truly desired was the emperor weapon held by the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan. However, supreme weapons are sentient and would only serve the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan, so forcefully taking them was impossible.

“In that case, why don’t we apply pressure to them? If they persist, we might as well wipe them out!” Jin Yuan, ever impatient, suggested. His old tendencies remained, and whenever things didn’t go his way, he would act by force.

“No!” Huang Tian immediately rejected this proposal. “Given the current situation, we must preserve our strength. Moreover, if we act now, we’ll be giving the Human Race an opportunity!”

“We are trying to draw them to our side, but so is the Human Race! If you push the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan too hard, you might drive them straight into the arms of the Human Race!”

In the past, Huang Tian might have agreed to such a proposal. After all, using strength to suppress other forces had always been the best approach. But things were different now.

If they acted rashly, they could push the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan into a corner, possibly driving them to ally with the Human Race. That would be a tremendous loss for the ancient imperial clans, as they could not afford to go to war with the Human Race.

It wasn’t even a question of whether they could win. Even if they could, they would suffer severe losses, and there would be no benefit. Huang Tian simply couldn’t agree to such a plan.

“Coerce and entice!” he suggested after some thought. “Make them clearly understand the consequences. Let them know that joining us is their only chance for survival!”

This plan was much gentler than Jin Yuan’s suggestion of threatening to use force, giving the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan a chance to weigh the pros and cons.

To Huang Tian’s credit, his plan worked rather well. Within a few days, the Qilin Clan had already joined the alliance. The Qilin Clan’s decision to join placed the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan in an extremely awkward position, as they were now the only ancient imperial clan left that hadn’t joined.

Naturally, this led to a different situation, with rumors and whispers swirling around them.

With the intentional spread of rumors by Huang Tian about the dangers of the future great era, it became widely believed that if the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan did not join, they would be doomed.

This, in turn, caused internal strife within the clan, leading to deepening divisions.

Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard, the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan leader, Yao Ye, frowned deeply, sighing from time to time, clearly torn with indecision.

“Father!” A gentle voice sounded as a stunning woman, with a hint of worry on her face, walked in.

The woman was tall, with straight legs, and fair skin. She wore a black dress that captivated anyone who looked at her, making it impossible to turn away.

Her long white hair fell straight down, emitting a faint glow, making her appear as if she were glowing herself, exuding an aura of purity. Her brows were as beautiful as a painting, and her eyes sparkled like stars.

Her crimson pupils were like rubies, enchanting and stirring the soul. Her presence alone could make one’s blood boil with excitement, especially with the unique charm she naturally exuded.

Just one glance was enough to leave one in awe, filled with energy and vigor.

“You’re here, Mingyue!” Yao Ye, upon seeing his daughter, managed a rare smile.

This incomparably beautiful and elegant woman standing before him was none other than his daughter, Yao Mingyue, the Saintess of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan. Due to the clan’s low profile, few knew of her existence.

If Jiang Chen were present, he would undoubtedly be shocked. In the original account, Yao Mingyue was hailed as the most beautiful woman in the Nine Heavens Realm in a million years.

Her figure, appearance, temperament, personality, talent, and background were all flawless, making her the ideal Dao companion. However, since few people knew of her, her fame remained largely unknown.

“Father, are you still troubled by the matters concerning the ancient imperial clans?” Yao Mingyue, sharp and perceptive, immediately understood what was troubling her father after seeing his furrowed brow. It was undoubtedly related to the pressure from the ancient imperial clans.

“Yes!” Yao Ye rubbed his temples, frustration and helplessness clear in his voice. “These ancient imperial clans are doing everything in their power to make us join them.”

“Now, they’re spreading rumors, affecting the mindset of our clan members. Several elders have already shifted their stance and are considering joining them!”

“But those fools don’t understand that even if we join, we won’t escape disaster! They speak sweetly, saying that joining them means becoming part of a unified whole!”

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“But they don’t realize that, as a weaker race, we would be ranked last among the ancient imperial clans. If there are any benefits to be gained, we would receive the least. And if something goes wrong, we’ll undoubtedly be the first to be sacrificed!”

“If we join them, we’ll become cannon fodder! If the alliance faces any issues, our clan will suffer the most losses, perhaps even to the point of annihilation!”

“Rather than becoming expendable and facing extinction, we might as well continue to stand alone. If the great era arrives and we can’t resist, it will simply be fate, and no matter what we do, we won’t be able to change it!”

Yao Ye’s refusal to join wasn’t simply out of a desire to follow the clan’s rules. He understood that the so-called unity they boasted about was a facade.

If something happened, the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan would be the first to bear the brunt. And when it came to sharing the spoils, they would undoubtedly get the smallest portion.

In essence, they would do the most work but receive the least in return. Additionally, they would have no autonomy. Once the other clans issued orders, the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan would have no power to resist.

After all, they would be part of a unified whole, and if the other clans banded together, they could easily manipulate the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan as they saw fit.

Yao Ye knew this all too well, which is why he was so unwilling to agree. He understood that joining them would bring nothing but harm. Instead of surrendering their autonomy, it was better to follow the course of destiny. Whether they would survive or perish would depend on the great era.

“Father, the great era is upon us, and it’s impossible for us to remain untouched!”

“Right now, they may only be trying to coerce us, but once their patience runs out, things will take a different turn!” Yao Mingyue’s eyes flickered as she spoke softly.

Given the current circumstances, it was impossible for them to continue living as they had in the past.

“If we don’t want to join them, why don’t we align ourselves with a different, stronger force?” she suggested.

Upon hearing this, Yao Ye’s eyes flashed as he asked in a low voice, “Are you suggesting we ally with the Primordial Holy Land?”

“Yes.” Yao Mingyue nodded.