Chapter 30: The Imperial Clan Comes to Beg for Mercy—If Only You Had Known Today, Why Act as You Did in the Past?

Soon after Xiao Xuan made his declaration, the imperial clans across the Eastern Wilderness were plunged into tension and panic.

The news spread like a raging storm, throwing the imperial clans into an instant uproar. Hardline clans, such as the Zhao and Tuoba families, had long been built upon martial strength, their clan ethos fierce and bellicose. Their patriarchs were livid, faces turning ash-gray, fists clenched, and eyes flashing with desperate resolve.

"Xiao Xuan goes too far! To dare extort us like this—ten stalks of immortality herbs, ten types of immortal gold, ten imperial secret arts, one hundred thousand jin of divine source—if we were to hand all of this over, it would be no different than the destruction of our clan. Pass down my order: the entire clan is to prepare for war. We shall fight Xiao Xuan to the death!" Zhao Lie, the patriarch of the Zhao family, stood in the center of the clan council hall. His voice was low and powerful, his gaze as cold and piercing as a winter wind, making those present shiver. The elders behind him nodded in succession, their faces etched with the same grim determination.

An aged elder rose, his voice trembling yet firm: "The patriarch is wise. This act by Xiao Xuan is sheer bullying. How can our Zhao family endure such humiliation? We are willing to follow the patriarch to the battlefield and face Xiao Xuan in a final showdown!" His eyes burned with a steadfast will, as if he were ready to meet any challenge.

Within the council hall of the Tuoba family, the atmosphere was equally tense. Patriarch Tuoba Cangtian stood upon a high dais, his eyes sharp as a falcon’s, sweeping over his kinsmen. "Xiao Xuan’s insatiable greed has reached an intolerable point. Since ancient times, when has our Tuoba family ever suffered such disgrace? Today, I order the entire clan to prepare for war! At any cost, we must make Xiao Xuan realize the might of the Tuoba family!" His voice echoed through the hall, every word heavy with power and resolve.

Similar scenes played out across many veteran imperial clans.

"Xiao Xuan, do not push us too far! Our Eastern Wilderness imperial clans are not so easily intimidated!"

"Indeed, Xiao Xuan! If you want the hundred-thousand-year heritage of our clans, we shall see if your Xiao family has the life to claim it!"

"Xiao Xuan, with an appetite as large as yours, are you not afraid of choking to death?"

These veteran clans, boasting formidable strength and deep foundations, were unwilling to be slaughtered like livestock. They began moving their forces in the shadows, preparing to fight Xiao Xuan to the bitter end.

However, not all clans were so unyielding. There were weaker imperial clans in the Eastern Wilderness, such as the Sima and Lin families, whose hearts were filled with terror and unease when faced with Xiao Xuan’s iron-fisted demands. Knowing their own strength was insufficient to contend with him, they hastily dispatched envoys to the Xiao family, hoping to negotiate and ease the situation. After all, the strength of these weaker clans was only slightly above that of the Cang family. Since the Cang family had already been annihilated, they feared that resisting would lead them to the same tragic end.

...

At this moment, inside the Xiao family council hall, two envoys had arrived, representing the Sima and Lin families respectively.

The Sima envoy was a middle-aged man in ornate robes. His face was haggard, and his eyes revealed a trace of helplessness. He walked through the gates of the Xiao family with heavy steps, as if every stride bore an infinite, crushing weight.

"Great Emperor Xiao Xuan, my Sima family’s resources are limited; it is truly difficult to gather so many immortality herbs, immortal gold, and divine sources. Would it be possible to first offer five stalks of immortality herbs and five types of immortal gold, and supplement the rest with a discount? What say you?" In the reception hall, the Sima envoy bowed respectfully, his voice carrying a hint of supplication.

"Great Emperor Xiao Xuan, my Lin family has always respected your majesty, but this demand is truly too harsh. We are willing to provide a portion of the resources first, and pay the remainder in installments, or perhaps use other precious treasures as collateral. We humbly beg for the Great Emperor's understanding." The Lin envoy was a young woman with eyes full of anxiety. Standing before the Great Emperor of the Xiao family, her hands trembled slightly, yet she struggled to maintain her composure.

"Qingtian, you are the head of the Xiao family; handle this matter," Xiao Xuan said. To those who took the initiative to show weakness, Xiao Xuan did not utter another word, leaving the task to Xiao Qingtian. A few mere envoys were not qualified to catch his eye, nor were they worthy of engaging him in conversation.

"Ancestor, rest assured, Qingtian will handle this properly!" Xiao Qingtian had spent his life enduring slights and contempt from these imperial clans, swallowing his pride at every turn. Now that he finally had a chance to hold his head high, he would certainly not let it slip away.

"Hmph, usually you imperial clans look down from on high, treating my Xiao family as nothing. Now you know to come begging?" Xiao Qingtian sat in the high seat of the council hall. Before him stood a line of envoys from the weaker clans, all anxious and pleading. He looked down upon them, a faint, smug smile on his face, his tone laced with mockery.

The Sima envoy spoke cautiously, "Lord Xiao Qingtian, we are forced by circumstance. We hope you can understand our difficulties and grant our clan a path to survival." His voice trembled, his eyes full of desperate begging. His clan’s strength was barely better than the Cang family’s, and they were plagued by severe internal strife, far from a united front.

"Hmph, you imperial clans are usually so arrogant and domineering. Now you know fear? Do you think the orders of Ancestor Xiao Xuan are something you can bargain away?" Xiao Qingtian sneered, his gaze sweeping over the envoys with disdain.

The Sima envoy’s face flushed with embarrassment, yet he pressed on, "Lord Xiao Qingtian, it is not our intent to defy the Great Emperor. It is simply that our resources are limited. We beg for your leniency."

Xiao Qingtian let out a cold laugh. With his hands behind his back, he slowly paced toward the Sima envoy and said from a position of superiority, "Leniency? When have you imperial clans ever shown leniency toward my Xiao family? Today, you shall learn that those who sow evil must reap it!" His words were dripping with sarcasm, leaving the Sima envoy pale and trembling.

The young woman from the Lin family tried to speak, "Lord Xiao Qingtian, my Lin family..."

"Enough!"

Xiao Qingtian impatiently interrupted her, his gaze turning icy. "The Lin family? Hmph, you are no better. When we begged the Lin family for help in the past, when did you ever offer my Xiao family a chance?"

"Today, either deliver the resources according to the Ancestor’s demands, or wait to be annihilated!" Xiao Qingtian’s words struck the Lin envoy like a heavy hammer, extinguishing the last flicker of hope in her eyes.

The atmosphere in the hall grew stiflingly tense. The two envoys lowered their heads, daring not utter another word of dissent. They understood that the current Xiao family was no longer what it once was. Xiao Qingtian’s current arrogance stemmed entirely from the Great Emperor that now backed his clan. If not for that Great Emperor, these two envoys could have easily crushed Xiao Qingtian like a stray dog, forcing him to his knees, not daring to even breathe aloud.

But with such an existence in the Xiao family, the two great clans dared not even draw a full breath. The Great Emperors of the Lin and Sima families had long since passed away tens of thousands of years ago. Now, they possessed only a few Quasi-Emperor fossils—more than the Cang family, perhaps, but a Quasi-Emperor was no match for a true Great Emperor. They were not on the same level, and no amount of numbers could bridge that gap.

Seeing the envoys fall silent, Xiao Qingtian wore a look of satisfaction. He turned toward Xiao Xuan and said loudly, "Ancestor, are you satisfied with this response?"

Xiao Xuan nodded slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He knew that the submission of these clans was merely a delaying tactic; if he granted their request today, they would return tomorrow to ask for further reductions. Since they had chosen the path of opposing the Xiao family, they would have to pay the price.

"Hmph, the Ancestor has nodded. You know what must be done. Go and prepare the resources as required."

"If these resources are not delivered in ten days, tell your patriarchs to come and see me themselves!"

Xiao Qingtian reveled in the power he wielded, feeling more magnificent than ever. He had never imagined that he, the patriarch of a once-fallen clan, could ever flaunt such borrowed power over two great imperial clans. Today, he would teach these clans a profound lesson: the Xiao family was not to be trifled with.

Those who provoke the Xiao family shall die!