NOVEL ONLINE FREE CHAPTER 252
Chapter 252: A Looming Threat
As soon as He Qing finished speaking, everyone present was taken aback. Even Heluo, his granddaughter, looked puzzled. No one truly grasped the meaning behind his cryptic statement.
Old Man He Qing sighed, his eyes filled with a weary wisdom. "The reason I arrived in Archean City so quickly is because I didn't set off from the Eternal Clan's territory. I was already in the vicinity."
He raised a hand, pointing towards the west. "My original mission was to deal with the Blood Flesh Mother Tree."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
"But there's a major problem with that mission."
He Qing turned his gaze towards Roda. "Coincidentally, young Roda is here too, so I'll let you all in on what's happening with your neighbor."
He Qing proceeded to explain, his voice grave.
He began by revealing the collaboration between the Blood Flesh Mother Tree, the Giant Clan, and the Insect Clan—a revelation that shocked Lu Ming and the others.
"In short," He Qing concluded, his tone somber, "although our department concluded that the Blood Flesh Mother Tree would inevitably trigger a divine war, the Giant Clan and the Insect Clan, having already tasted its benefits, are ignoring our warnings."
The Blood Flesh Mother Tree's ability to mass-produce Heavenly Stairs qualifications had proven too tempting. Both the Giant Clan and the Insect Clan had reaped immense rewards from their alliance with the monstrous entity.
They saw the Mother Tree as a treasure, and anyone who threatened it would have to face their combined might.
Both clans boasted Divine Realm experts and had forged a formidable offensive and defensive pact. Even the Eternal Clan couldn't afford to underestimate their combined strength.
"During the negotiations," Old Man He Qing recalled with a wry smile, "I warned them that the Blood Flesh Mother Tree would lead to a divine war. They retorted that if the Eternal Clan interfered, we would be the ones provoking a divine war. It was a circular argument."
"And now," he continued, his voice heavy, "the Undead Clan has also clashed with these two clans, and a fierce three-way war is raging beyond the Dusky Black Grasslands. I've reported to my superiors, but it seems even our Divine Realm experts can't mediate this conflict."
"So, as for the matter of the Blood Flesh Mother Tree, the Eternal Clan will no longer intervene..."
The Blood Flesh Mother Tree was undoubtedly the biggest beneficiary in Nanxiang. It had reaped rewards by manipulating the two major clans and now enjoyed the protection of two Divine Realm experts. The Eternal Clan couldn't intervene even if they wanted to.
"The Sky Monitoring Bureau's purpose is to maintain order in the Black Mist Zone," He Qing explained, his voice heavy with frustration. "We cannot actively create a greater disaster just to eliminate a potential calamity."
So, the current situation was this: "You, the Undead Clan, the Insect Clan, the Giant Clan, and the Blood Flesh Mother Tree, can fight as you please. Even if you fight until you're all mindless fools, the Eternal Clan won't interfere."
The Sky Monitoring Bureau would turn a blind eye to the divine-level calamity of the Blood Flesh Mother Tree.
"But we've set a boundary," He Qing continued. "The war between the three clans must remain within the Hundred Thousand Mountains. We strictly forbid the Blood Flesh Mother Tree from crossing into the Eternal Clan's territory."
"The Eternal Clan's lands are far beyond the mountains. As long as the Blood Flesh Mother Tree doesn't appear there, everyone can coexist peacefully. As for Archean City and the Hundred Thousand Mountains, they fall outside the scope of this agreement."
Archean City was insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and the Hundred Thousand Mountains were unclaimed territory. The Eternal Clan had no intention of protecting these two places, viewing them as mere buffer zones.
"And now," He Qing's voice grew grave, "the war between the three clans is intensifying. It's only a matter of time before it spills over into this region."
He looked at Lu Ming and Roda, his gaze solemn. "So, let's go to the Eternal Clan. Distance yourselves from this conflict and stay out of it."
A heavy silence descended upon the room. The implications of He Qing's words hung in the air, each person grappling with the weight of the impending crisis.
Roda and Lu Ming were particularly conflicted. For Roda, Archean City was more than just a place; it was his home, his responsibility. And Lu Ming, despite his detachment from the Land God Association, had found a sense of peace and purpose within the city's walls. It was a sanctuary where he could cultivate his powers and prepare for the trials ahead. The prospect of abandoning this haven filled him with unease.
Another upheaval, Lu Ming thought grimly. Just when he thought he could finally focus on his training...
"Tomorrow, I'll leave with my men. You should think carefully tonight about the pros and cons of leaving with me. If you choose to go with me, we will leave together tomorrow."
"If you choose not to, you can stay here for a while, but you'll have to handle everything on your own." Once the war reached their doorstep, it would be a major conflict. Origin Realm experts were already involved, and even Ancient Realm experts had made appearances.
Even if they weren't directly targeted, traveling alone through the Hundred Thousand Mountains to the Eternal Clan's territory would be perilous, with Ancient Realm exotic beasts lurking in its depths.
Seeing Lu Ming's hesitation, He Qing shook his head.
"Take care of yourselves."
With that, he vanished without a trace.
That night, Lu Ming, deep in meditation, was roused by a knock on the door.
"Please come in."
Roda entered the room.
"Brother Lu."
"What's the matter?"
"I've decided not to leave with Grandpa He Qing."
A faint smile touched Lu Ming's lips. He wasn't surprised by Roda's resolve.
"King Lin's inheritance hasn't been fully absorbed yet," Roda explained. "And besides," he continued, a determined glint in his eyes, "I know a safe route from the Hundred Thousand Mountains to the Eternal Clan's territory."
"Although it's a bit slower and slightly more unpredictable in terms of danger, it's still usable."
Roda paused, then continued, "What I mean is, if you don't want to leave and want to stay in Archean City for a while, you don't have to worry about an exit route."
Lu Ming nodded. "I understand. Thank you."
Roda grinned. "What's there to thank between friends?"
Less than two minutes after Roda left, another knock echoed at Lu Ming's door.
"Please come in."
Huo Sheng, Zhang Chengcheng, Wei Lan, and Fala entered, their faces etched with concern. A warm smile spread across Lu Ming's face at the sight of his trusted companions.
Before Lu Ming could speak, Huo Sheng took a seat before him.
"So..."
The unspoken question hung in the air.
Lu Ming didn't need prompting. "I'm not leaving," he said, his voice firm.
"I've decided to stay in Archean City for now. When the time comes, I'll find my own way to the Eternal Clan's territory."
Traveling with He Qing and the others offered safety, but also the scrutiny of countless experts. Lu Ming, with the system's secrets hidden within him, preferred to avoid such attention.
Better to face the dangers head-on, he thought, and forge my own path.
Flame Heart had recognized his uniqueness and actively helped him conceal it. This meant He Qing remained unaware, but there was no guarantee that the Divine Realm experts of the Eternal Clan wouldn't notice something amiss.
The Deep Disguise ability, while powerful, wasn't foolproof. This simple fact was enough to justify Lu Ming's decision to stay.
"I see..." Huo Sheng sighed, his gaze meeting Lu Ming's.
He stood up and bowed deeply.
"Thank you."
Lu Ming nodded, a sense of warmth filling him as he accepted Huo Sheng's gratitude.
End of Chapter 252