Chapter 185 : Chapter 185

Chapter 185. Sowing Discord Successfully

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Ancient Royal Clan was made up of several different great clans, and among them, the top ten were the finest of the Ancient Royal Clan.

Even ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍so, they all followed the Dragon King’s lead.

First, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Dragon King had many descendants, so his influence within the Ancient Royal Clan was immense, and everyone had no choice but to be wary of him.

Second, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Dragon Clan truly possessed formidable cultivation. Combined with the Dragon Clan’s inborn gifts and their astonishing ability to command the wind and rain, they were indeed capable of overawing the other clans.

Thus, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍when the leaders of the other clans hurried into the tent and saw the Dragon King in such towering fury, every last one of them fell silent.

All ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the clan leaders stood together, each with their head lowered, their eyes darting about, not daring to whisper a single word to one another for fear that a single moment of displeasure from the Dragon King would send them flying out with a blast of Internal Energy...

The leader of the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan, however, was different. When he saw the Dragon King in this state, his anger only grew stronger.

Seizing the opportunity, he raised his voice and said, “Dragon King, as the foremost leader among the heads of our ten great clans, now that our Ancient Royal Clan has been so belittled and slandered by a human, should you not set an example?

Now that all our clansmen have gathered here, I believe we should use this chance to discuss the matter and come up with a response as soon as possible.

My fellow leaders, all of us cultivated through untold hardship to reach where we stand today. I believe every one of you remembers that path clearly.

And now, a mere human madman has insulted our Ancient Royal Clan, seized our clan’s treasured inheritance, seduced one of our prodigies, and continued to vilify us. If we do not avenge this hatred, what face will the Ancient Royal Clan have left to exist within the Three Realms?”

He swept his gaze over the crowd and declared, “I’ll put it plainly today. If the human race dares to humiliate us, then my Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan is willing to join hands and form the array. Even if we wound the enemy at the cost of wounding ourselves, even if we suffer backlash, I will not hesitate!”

The moment his words fell, the leader of the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan looked across the crowd and demanded resolutely, “Who else? Who else is willing to stand against the enemy with us? As the saying goes, a man lives for his pride. If a mere human dares to treat us like this, then once word of it spreads, what dignity will we still have left?

In the future, whether it is the human race or other worlds, won’t they all climb over our heads and humiliate us at will? If that happens, what meaning will the existence of our Ancient Royal Clan still have? Are we really willing to suffer such humiliation?”

The gathered leaders looked at one another and began whispering among themselves.

Seeing that none of them spoke up, the leader of the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan could not help speaking again. “My fellow leaders, do you truly want to live that kind of life? Don’t you find it stifling?

And have you all forgotten the road we took to get here? To reach our present position and establish our own royal clans, just how much hardship did we endure along the way?

Back then, we were born humble and insignificant. How many cold stares did we suffer? How much bullying did we endure? Do any of you really want to return to those days?”

Those words struck directly at the hearts of the assembled leaders.

Because they were different from the beings of other worlds. Most of the Ancient Royal Clan had once been divine beasts from the ancient era, or else ferocious beasts descended from collateral bloodlines. Their cultivation process had always been far more arduous than that of others. To raise their cultivation, they not only had to grow stronger, but also pass through the crucial stage of taking human form.

To reach their present level and become divine beasts had truly been no easy process.

No wonder the leader of the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan cared so deeply about this matter.

It was precisely because they had once suffered too many contemptuous looks. Those scars had already left real psychological wounds on the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan, so now they were unwilling to keep swallowing their anger any longer.

And it was precisely because of that impassioned speech that everyone’s long-buried memories were thoroughly stirred awake.

Every clan had once endured treatment worse than that given to humans. The path they had walked had been filled with hardship, but because they had now established their own royal clans and their lives had become far more comfortable, they had gradually forgotten those painful memories of the past.

But now that the subject had been raised again, those memories came flooding back like a tide.

At last, a white-haired elder slowly spoke. “That human... was he truly that arrogant?”

At that question, the leader of the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan did not step forward. Instead, he quietly shifted aside and said loudly without hesitation, “I was not there at the time, but we all watched Shi Ritian grow up. Besides, what reason would he have to lie to us about something like this?”

Upon hearing that, Shi Ritian scrambled and crawled to the elder’s side, then hurriedly said, “It is absolutely true. I swear on my life that every word I spoke is the truth. In fact, I cannot even fully describe the expression that human wore at the time.

“That look on his face was so full of disdain. He simply did not take our Ancient Royal Clan seriously at all. So I believe that if we want the other worlds to respect us, then we must teach the human race a lesson.”

Originally, Shi Ritian had not intended to continue after speaking to this point. But when he saw the leaders’ expressions begin to shift, his eyes turned, and another idea suddenly came to him.

“My fellow leaders, this concerns the very survival of our Ancient Royal Clan within the Ancient Immortal World, so how could a mere junior like me dare joke about it so casually?

To tell you the truth, all the injuries on my body were bestowed by that human... At the time, I simply could not bear to hear those humans insulting our Ancient Royal Clan, so I wanted to teach him a lesson. Who could have known that once he obtained the Seven-Colored Spiritual Aura of the Heaven-Devouring Python Clan, he instantly beat me into this grievously wounded state? Tell me, how could anyone possibly swallow such an insult?”

Hearing this, the several leaders of the Ancient Royal Clan exchanged looks at once, all of their expressions turning extremely unsightly.

One of the leaders frowned and said, “Is that human truly as powerful as you claim? There are so many of us. Are we really unable to defeat him? Must we truly activate the Ancient Killing Array? The cost of the Ancient Killing Array is too great. If anything goes wrong during the process...”

Though that leader did not finish his sentence, everyone present understood what he meant.

While the other leaders were still wavering, doubting, and weighing the matter, the leader of the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan suddenly let out a furious roar. “If anything goes wrong? What ‘if’ are you still talking about?”

That shout made everyone present shudder.

“If this man dares insult our Ancient Royal Clan today, then tomorrow he will dare charge straight to our gates and start killing. By then, no matter how much we regret it, it will be useless. At that point, we may not even be able to activate the array in time. So do you truly want to stand here and watch the Ancient Royal Clan be destroyed?”

That angle of the matter had not occurred to the other royal clan leaders before, but after hearing the leader of the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan voice this concern, they all felt it made perfect sense.

“In any case, I’ll put my words here today. My Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan would rather exhaust all of our foundations than let this human live. Even if I have to throw away this old life of mine, I refuse to wait until he comes to our doorstep and humiliates us in person.”

Those words caused the expressions of the gathered leaders to shift again and again. No one was willing to swallow such humiliation.