Chapter 278

Seven Days Later—

For cultivators, seven days passed in the blink of an eye. However, as the deadline approached, the atmosphere in the Southern Region grew increasingly tense, like the calm before a storm.

—

In the Void—

The leaders of the ancient imperial clans gathered.

“That Heavenly Fox Clan is truly insufferable, especially Yao Ye!” Golden Roc Clan Leader Jin Yuan growled. “Still so obstinate and clueless! With the grand era approaching, how can a mere Heavenly Fox Clan hope to remain independent?”

“If they don’t join us, they’ll eventually be crushed by the tides of the grand era!”

Jin Yuan was brimming with anger. While the other ancient imperial clans had united, the Heavenly Fox Clan remained aloof, despite being the weakest among them. They had been given ample opportunities and time to decide, yet Yao Ye continued to stall.

“If this were the True Dragon Clan, it might make sense,” Jin Yuan fumed. “But for the weakest of us to put on such airs is absurd!”

“Enough waiting!” White Tiger Clan Leader Bai Ye said coldly. “They won’t change their minds. The only way to make them understand their position is to teach them a lesson, especially Yao Ye.”

If not for Huang Tian urging restraint, Bai Ye would have acted long ago. The patience of the ancient imperial clans had worn thin.

They had given the Heavenly Fox Clan every chance to comply, but enough was enough. If soft measures failed, hard measures would follow.

Bai Ye sneered. “Let’s see if they can still hold out after we descend upon them. Even Yao Ye will have no choice but to submit.”

The Heavenly Fox Clan had already fractured, with one faction aligning with the ancient imperial clans. This division alone was enough to force Yao Ye’s hand.

“Proceed,” Huang Tian ordered.

He, too, was done waiting. If Yao Ye had truly intended to comply, he wouldn’t have dragged things out for so long. Huang Tian also felt insulted by the Heavenly Fox Clan’s stalling, as though they were treating the ancient imperial clans like fools.

With his command, the other ancient imperial clans immediately agreed. Their forces moved with great momentum, their auras overwhelming as they approached.

—

The ancient imperial clans made no effort to hide their movements. Their overwhelming auras swept across the Southern Region, their intentions as clear as day.

Golden Rocs soared into the sky, radiating golden light that resembled a boundless ocean, blanketing the heavens with oppressive might.

White Tigers roared, releasing an aura of metallic sharpness that chilled all who felt it. The Immortal Phoenix and the Qilin Clan followed, each exuding their own powerful presence.

These ancient imperial clans didn’t bother concealing themselves. Their grand display seemed to announce their strength to the world. It was both a declaration and a warning: the ancient imperial clans had not fallen.

“It’s finally happening!” someone exclaimed.

“Their direction is unmistakable—they’re heading for the Heavenly Fox Clan. The ancient imperial clans have finally decided to act!”

“They couldn’t hold back any longer, it seems.”

“I wonder if the Heavenly Fox Clan regrets their decisions now. The Primordial Holy Land once extended goodwill toward them—do you think the two might ally now?”

The air buzzed with speculation and tension as the ancient imperial clans marched forward, their intent as loud as thunder.

“It’s unlikely,” someone speculated. “If they had truly allied, the news would’ve spread by now. What exactly is the Heavenly Fox Clan thinking? Refusing both the ancient imperial clans and the Primordial Holy Land—do they really intend to stand alone?”

“In this current climate, trying to stand alone is nearly impossible,” another remarked. “They are not the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect. They lack the power, the land, and the influence to do so.”

The ancient imperial clans’ grand display of power and dominance shocked and awed countless beings. Their overwhelming aura and bold declaration captivated the attention of many.

The tensions between the ancient imperial clans and the Heavenly Fox Clan had simmered for years, with frequent rumors of imminent conflict.

Many had eagerly awaited the resolution, and now it seemed the long-anticipated confrontation was about to begin. The prospect filled onlookers with excitement and anticipation.

Yet, some couldn’t help but wonder why the Heavenly Fox Clan clung so stubbornly to their own path. Why hadn’t they joined the ancient imperial clans? Given the circumstances, the ancient imperial clans’ strategy of uniting was clearly the most practical move.

And even if they didn’t want to join the ancient imperial clans, they could have aligned with the Primordial Holy Land. After all, the Primordial Holy Land had extended goodwill toward them.

But the Heavenly Fox Clan had chosen neither, leaving many puzzled.

—

At Banished Immortal Peak—

News of the ancient imperial clans’ actions quickly reached Jiang Chen. Upon hearing the report, he smirked. “The ancient imperial clans are quite determined this time. It seems they’ve already struck a deal with the Ye Clan.”

Dongfang Mingyue nodded. “Their actions are clearly intended as a show of force, both to us and the Heavenly Fox Clan.”

The ancient imperial clans were making a grand statement, their movements brazen and impossible to ignore. It was as if they were announcing to the Heavenly Fox Clan—and the entire world—that their resolve was unshakable.

“This is as much a warning to us as it is to the Heavenly Fox Clan,” the Holy Master said. “Without external support, the ancient imperial clans likely wouldn’t dare provoke us or risk an outright war.”

Mu Jianxue furrowed her brow and spoke softly. “If the ancient imperial clans are acting so boldly, they must be confident. As Jiang Chen suggested, they’ve probably allied with the Ye Clan. Otherwise, they wouldn’t risk antagonizing us.”

Through countless battles, the Primordial Holy Land had cemented its reputation, its authority reaching far and wide. This, coupled with their history of decisive actions, instilled fear in their enemies.

The ancient imperial clans knew that provoking the Primordial Holy Land could lead to mutual destruction, an outcome neither side desired with the grand era approaching.

The looming threat of the human alliance only heightened their caution.

Under normal circumstances, the ancient imperial clans wouldn’t act recklessly. Their newfound audacity could only mean one thing: they believed an alliance with the human factions had tipped the scales in their favor.

Their strategy was clear—to pressure the Primordial Holy Land and, if necessary, engage in direct confrontation. With their combined forces, they hoped to suppress the Primordial Holy Land and force them to pay a steep price.

“But even if they’ve allied, so what?” Jiang Chen said with a calm smile. “The Ye Clan might be willing to act, but the rest of the human alliance won’t. At best, they’ll posture to intimidate us. But when the real fighting starts, they’ll flee faster than anyone else.”

He knew the human alliance’s immortal factions all too well. They were opportunistic to the core—quick to seize advantages but quicker still to avoid danger.

“Calling them fair-weather friends would be too kind,” Jiang Chen added. “At least fair-weather friends offer some help. Those factions are utterly useless. All they care about is profit, unwilling to risk any loss.”

Aligning with such factions would only exhaust one’s resources. Jiang Chen had no interest in such alliances, knowing they would create more problems than they solved.

Besides, the Primordial Holy Land Alliance was already formidable. They didn’t need additional forces, especially unreliable ones.

—

Elsewhere—

Yao Ye summoned the Heavenly Fox Clan’s upper echelons.