Volume 3 - Chapter 406: Heaven and Earth Immortal Physique, The Power Struggles of Great Clans (Part 3)
As expected, once Su Wanxue spoke, Su Zhenyuan nodded and said:
"That's right. The war at the border has come at a great cost to both sides, but overall, the Human race has suffered more. These demon beasts are powerful, but they still have to account for our Human Emperor. They're afraid that if they push us too far, we might retaliate with everything we've got in a final desperate counterattack—so they've resorted to this scheme..."
Upon hearing their father’s words, Su Wanxue and the others fell silent.
Over the years, they’d heard rumors about the continuous border skirmishes. The others had been secluding themselves in cultivation, all striving to increase their strength, hoping they could one day make a difference on the battlefield.
"Those beasts… do they really think the Human race is weak? If they dare to come, even if I have to burn my soul, I’ll make sure they pay the price!"
A young man clenched his fists, his eyes brimming with killing intent.
Su Wanqing and the others glanced at him, understanding why this brother of theirs harbored such hatred toward demon beasts. His aunt had gone to the front lines to avenge his father after giving birth to him—and had fallen in battle.
Tens of thousands of years of war, generation after generation… blood and hatred had long since piled up beyond count.
The border battlefield was littered not only with bones, but also with the undying hatred and vengeance of countless lifetimes. The blood feud ran too deep to be washed away.
“Patriarch.”
Suddenly, Li Hao spoke. He looked toward Su Zhenyuan, gave a slight bow, and said:
“These demon beasts have wagered too much, far more than the Human side. I fear we no longer have the option to decline. And this so-called wager over a Human royal city… in my humble opinion, that’s just a façade. On the surface, it looks like they’re here to test our foundation and take some food supplies. But in truth… I suspect their real aim is to sever our roots.”
“This so-called sparring—when it truly comes to blows, they will strike with killing intent at every step. Their goal is to eliminate the Human race’s prodigies!”
His clear voice echoed through the hall, his eyes locked onto Su Zhenyuan, seeking a response.
Su Zhenyuan’s gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at the young man standing in the hall. What the boy had said… was almost entirely accurate.
As the head of the Su clan in the Northern Territory of the Human race, how could he not see through the demon beasts’ true motives?
But… the situation at the border left them with no choice.
Inside the hall, Su Wanxue and the others hadn’t even had time to question why Li Hao had the right to speak at such a meeting—his words had already shocked them.
The royal-level Immortal City was merely bait? Their real goal was to wipe out the Human prodigies?!
“You… you’re talking nonsense!”
The young man who had earlier questioned Li Hao’s identity now shouted in anger.
Su Muqing was also stunned. Yet she didn’t immediately rebuke Li Hao for speaking out of turn. His words had struck a chord in her heart, and she suddenly felt a chill.
Though she disliked Li Hao, she had to admit—what he said wasn’t without reason.
Su Wanxue’s expression shifted as well, and she looked toward Su Zhenyuan.
Su Zhenyuan stared deeply at Li Hao for a moment before finally speaking. “You're right. This is indeed the demon beasts' true face. Over these tens of thousands of years, they’ve laid their plans step by step. Now they control the battlefield, and their victory seems certain. But they still fear that our Human Emperor might emerge in desperation and lead us in a final, bloody struggle. So, they’ve devised this strategy of cornering the beast—to slowly wear us down until our future generations are wiped out and no longer able to resist.”
“This battle is just the first!”
His eyes grew sharp as he declared, “This is a game that could last ten thousand years. From now on, there may be one of these so-called spars every thousand years!”
“A royal city full of Immortal citizens is indeed important. Losing it would be a heavy blow. But in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t compare to a single peerless prodigy.”
“Because a prodigy could one day rise to become a peak Immortal King—or even have a chance to reach the level of Emperor!”
“If a young Human Emperor emerges among us, the value they bring would far surpass a single royal city. At that time, even entire royal-grade stars could be saved with ease. The demon beasts would have no choice but to retreat from the Northern Territory star region and cede vast territories!”
“That is why our race’s most precious treasure… is all of you.”
His gaze swept across the hall, landing on Su Muqing and the others.
Prodigies were the Human race’s greatest future weapon. That was why great clans spared no effort in nurturing them.
As long as even one prodigy rose to the peak, stepping into the supreme realm, they could bring unimaginable benefits to their race.
Upon hearing Su Zhenyuan’s words, everyone in the hall was shaken, falling into deep silence.
Su Wanqing looked at Li Hao, puzzled at how he had figured all this out. If Father hadn’t confirmed it, she never would have imagined that the demon beasts’ true aim in this sparring match was to kill the Human prodigies—to sever the future.
“Father, since we know the demon beasts’ intent… are we to avoid the fight—or go all in?”
The question came in a low voice from a calm-faced young man.
He was the Su family’s second son, Su Jingcheng.
With the eldest brother deceased, he now held the highest rank among the siblings. His words could be easily misunderstood—but to voice them took courage.
After all, being mistaken for a coward unwilling to fight would be shameful.
Yet only he knew that the demon beasts, by daring to initiate this challenge, were surely fully prepared. There would be deaths in this battle. He himself was unafraid—he would simply join his brother in fighting those monsters to the death, bones shattered and blood spilled.
But… what about his younger siblings?
Hearing his words, the young man who’d previously vowed to burn his soul and rush into battle turned pale, staring at him in shock and anger.
Su Wanqing, Su Wanxue, and the others, however, understood their second brother’s meaning. Their eyes turned toward their father.
Su Zhenyuan looked at his children and saw the unspoken question in their eyes. Only one gaze remained calm and clear, as if the answer had long been known.
It came from that outsider boy.
A strange light flickered in Su Zhenyuan’s heart. He thought perhaps this boy had a talent for strategy. It wasn’t surprising he could deduce the demon beasts’ motives and see the outcome clearly.
“Avoiding the battle? That’s not an option.”
Su Zhenyuan shook his head and slowly said, “After discussions among our allied clans, we’ve concluded that this battle must not be avoided. On the contrary, we must go all in—send our finest prodigies from each clan into a fight to the death with the demon beasts!”
“This is the first of many. We must win. We cannot afford to lose!”
“If we lose, then every thousand years, they will come again and again to challenge us. The consequences would be disastrous. Our race would be caught in a cycle of defeat and indecision. So even if they are fully prepared, even if you may fall… you must fight!”
His words left everyone in the hall stunned. Their blood seemed to freeze—yet also boil at the same time.
They had no choice but to fight?
There was no way out?
If it were only their own lives at stake, they would not hesitate to charge forward in fury.
But… behind them stood the Human race. A royal-level Immortal City. Perhaps even countless royal cities.
“Father, I will win. I swear it!”
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