Chapter 184 : Chapter 184

Chapter 184. Desperately Sowing Discord

So ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍now Shi Ritian understood very clearly that whether he was facing pressure from Yuntian or pursuing his own plans, he had to persuade these leaders of the Ancient Royal Clan immediately.

At ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this moment, he was kneeling inside the Dragon King’s tent, tears streaming down his face.

“Dragon ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍King, please see clearly. Every word I spoke that day in the great hall was true. That human not only insulted this junior, he insulted the entire Ancient Royal Clan as well.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍said that our Ancient Royal Clan was nothing but a bunch of worthless fools with empty reputations. He said that the True Dragon Clan was nothing more than a bunch of flying loaches, creatures dredged from the mud, merely good at disguising themselves, with no real ability at all. He even said that the True Dragon Clan was destined to decline sooner or later, because he was the real True Dragon. Tell me, how could I possibly endure words like that?

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍also said that the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan was nothing more than a bunch of watchdogs that knew how to bite people. All of the great leaders here have cultivated for countless years to reach their present heights, yet now a mere human dares to point fingers at us. What kind of disgrace is this?”

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Dragon King sat in the seat of honor, his expression grave and unreadable.

The rest hardly mattered, but that one line—Chu Feng claiming that he was the real True Dragon—had completely enraged the Dragon King.

Was that not a direct challenge to his position?

Shi Ritian steeled himself and continued to add fuel to the fire. “He even said... he even said...”

“What did he say?” The Dragon King suddenly slammed a hand against the armrest of his seat and let out a furious roar.

At once, thunder rumbled outside, the sound so immense that it made people’s hearts tremble.

At the same time, the tent flap was thrown open, and the leader of the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan strode in with killing intent surging around him, a faint orange radiance circling his body.

He had just happened to hear the words “watchdog” from outside, and now murderous intent blazed in his eyes. The light around him seemed capable of burning everything to ashes...

Shi Ritian was secretly delighted, but his expression only grew more miserable. “This junior does not dare say it...”

“Speak! If a mere human can say it aloud, why can’t we hear it? Are we really supposed to let him do as he pleases?” the Nine Netherworld Mastiff leader roared.

With a thud, Shi Ritian kowtowed, his voice trembling. “He said... he said that the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan was not even worthy to carry his shoes, that they were exactly the same as the watchdogs in their Imperial Palace. He said that if Senior dared to go looking for him, he could slap you into minced meat with a single palm and feed you to the palace dogs as meat cakes.”

Boom!

Arrogant beyond measure. Truly arrogant beyond measure.

Killing intent exploded from the Nine Netherworld Mastiff leader, and the entire tent began to tremble.

“Good, good, good! What an ignorant thing courting death! A mere human dares to be this arrogant, dares to provoke us like this. It seems that if we do not act this time, it truly will not do. We must teach him a proper lesson.”

The Nine Netherworld Mastiff leader turned to the Dragon King and cupped his fists. “Dragon King, I do not think this matter can be delayed any longer. I believe Shi Ritian is right. This is beyond endurance.

Our Ancient Royal Clan has reached where it is today step by step. No one knows the hardships we have endured. But even so, we cannot allow a human to insult us.

He dared to say to your face that he is the real True Dragon. Tell me, what kind of offense is that? Is he not openly trampling on you and grinding your dignity beneath his feet?

If this human is not eliminated, disaster will surely follow. To remove this danger, we must activate the Ancient Killing Array and reduce that wretch to ashes.”

The Dragon King frowned. “The Ancient Killing Array is no trivial matter. It requires the joint effort of no fewer than eight clans. Leaving aside whether those other eight clans would even be willing to join us in dealing with a mere human—

Once the Ancient Killing Array is activated, the cost will be enormous. If anything goes wrong, the power within the array may backlash against us. Can you truly bear that kind of danger?”

So that was where the Dragon King’s hesitation lay.

The Ancient Royal Clan had already reached such a scale, and the Dragon King felt that living out the rest of his days here in peace would be enough.

He did not wish to provoke unnecessary calamities.

But the Nine Netherworld Mastiff leader was unwilling to accept that. He immediately slapped his thigh, and a streak of light burst out.

“No matter how great the cost, he must die. That human has already stopped taking any of us seriously. If we continue letting him run wild, what will become of our Ancient Royal Clan?”

The Nine Netherworld Mastiff leader cut him off and sneered, “And didn’t Shi Ritian already say it? That human’s strength is truly extraordinary. If we allow him to keep living, he will absolutely become an enormous threat to our Ancient Royal Clan.

If that human is allowed to leave alive, where will the Ancient Royal Clan’s honor remain? How will we stand in the Ancient Immortal World in the future? Since we will be treated like fools either way, I may as well fight for us once myself.

Besides, that human, Chu Feng, carries the Nine Netherworld Emperor Flame. That is the inheritance of the Nine Netherworld Great Emperor. If he is allowed to grow, all of us will one day die by his hand!

So rather than wait for that day, we should use this opportunity to join forces and strangle him in the cradle, so that no future trouble remains.”

The Nine Netherworld Mastiff leader’s voice rang out with the force of metal striking stone, like exploding firecrackers, and it was precisely that tone that instantly stirred everyone’s anger and impulsiveness.

The Dragon King remained silent.

Though he agreed with much of what was being said, he was still worried about paying too high a price to wound the enemy.

Shi Ritian knelt at the side. His eyes shifted, and he added more fuel to the flames. “Dragon King, if you still cannot make up your mind, then this junior has one more matter to report.”

The Dragon King stroked his beard and glanced over. “Speak.”

“Clan Leader Cailin... has already completely defected to that human. So I believe that if a few of us are willing to join forces, then the Heaven-Devouring Python Clan will naturally follow with us.

The Seven-Colored Spiritual Aura in Cailin’s body has already been taken by that human, Chu Feng. If the Heaven-Devouring Python Clan still refuses to join forces with us, would that not mean they are swallowing this humiliation in silence? At that point, not only would they be unable to raise their heads in the entire Ancient Immortal World, they would not even be able to raise their heads within the Ancient Royal Clan.”

The Dragon King’s gaze sharpened. “What do you mean?”

A look of grief appeared on Shi Ritian’s face. “This junior saw it with his own eyes. Clan Leader Cailin obeyed that human’s every word. The Seven-Colored Dawn Light on her body has completely vanished as well. She is already Chu Feng’s woman in every sense, and she even spoke on behalf of that human, saying that the Ancient Royal Clan was rotten and backward, and far less enlightened than the Human Race...”

Shi Ritian’s words were half true and half false, but because of that, they sounded all the more convincing and real.

“How outrageous! That human truly has the nerve! He actually dares to humiliate one of our Ancient Royal Clan? It seems that if we do not teach him a lesson, it truly will not do.”

The Dragon King slammed the table and shot to his feet. Dragon Might surged through the air, and the entire tent exploded with a thunderous blast. Wild winds howled in every direction, throwing everyone present into disarray.

Everyone except Shi Ritian.

Shi Ritian was still bowing low to the ground, his face pressed against the earth so that no one could see his expression or his mood.

Nor could anyone see the curve of his lips, or the smile in his eyes.

The leaders in several nearby tents all rushed over when they heard the commotion. Seeing the Dragon King in such a fury, they exchanged startled glances, and several of the great clans still had no idea what had happened.