Fighting Soul Clan Demoness

Chapter 744 The Fall of the Spirit Clan
inside the room.

The rain pattered against the window outside, and gusts of wind blew, carrying water droplets mixed with cold air into the room, making it damp and chilly.

Xun'er's expression darkened slightly as she listened quietly to Ling Ying's story, a hint of annoyance gradually flashing in her eyes.

She interrupted Ling Ying and suddenly asked, "So, the elders haven't changed their minds after all?"

"Exactly."

Ling Ying smiled wryly: "Although the news of Young Master Xiao Yan becoming the champion of the Pill Gathering has spread to the clan, the reaction has not been as obvious as expected. Apart from many conservative elders changing from opposition to neutrality, the result has not changed at all."

Because of the Breakthrough Pill, and because Ling Ying and Xun'er had known each other for a long time, there was no way she could hide anything. She told Xun'er everything about the clan elders' meeting in detail.

"Oppose changing to neutrality? That's ridiculous."

Xun'er's face showed a rare coldness as she said sarcastically, "Even if 99% of the elders in their clan council change to neutral, as long as even one person chooses to oppose, the result will not change at all. They even dare to manipulate the votes in the meeting. This clan council is truly very powerful."

Ling Ying broke out in a cold sweat and said in a low voice, "Miss, although this vote did not change the outcome, the number of neutral elders now exceeds the number of those who opposed it. Don't you think so?"

Xun'er interrupted with a cold laugh: "Whether the number of neutral people is large or small, it's just giving the Xiao Clan face at most. No, it's not even for the Xiao Clan's face, but for the ancient clan's own face. They themselves know that they can't bring themselves to do it."

"As for the vote? Anyone with eyes can see that this so-called vote is nothing more than a formality, and the result was already decided from the beginning."

Hearing these outrageous words, Ling Ying felt her hands and feet turn cold. She dared not utter a word of rebuttal and could only bite the bullet to smooth things over: "Miss, you should know that the Xiao Clan has been destroyed for many years. It is already extremely difficult for the clan to accept his identity."

"Over the years, our ancient clan has protected the Xiao clan's bloodline from extinction, which is more than enough. Why do you have to ask for more?"

Upon hearing this, Xun'er smiled instead of getting angry, and actually suppressed her previous temper, asking casually, "Do you think the reason I said so much is because I wanted to force a spot for Brother Xiao Yan?"

Ling Ying's eyes flickered: "This..."

Xun'er picked up her teacup and took a sip: "Elder Ling, there's no need to worry. There are only the two of us here, so let's just speak the truth."

Seeing this, Ling Ying no longer hesitated. She took a deep breath and gritted her teeth, saying, "Forgive this old servant for speaking frankly, but judging from Miss's current actions, I'm afraid that is indeed the case."

“Indeed, Young Master Xiao Yan is indeed a descendant of the Xiao Clan, and he should rightfully have a place in the Heavenly Tomb. However, now that the Xiao Clan has been destroyed, according to the rules, the Xiao Clan's place should have been cancelled long ago. As the head of the eight clans and the location of the Heavenly Tomb, our Ancient Clan should naturally have the right to these two places. This is a matter of course!”

Listening quietly to Ling Ying's story, Xun'er's expression remained unchanged, but a deep disappointment flashed in her eyes.

Only after the other party remained silent did she sigh softly and slowly speak: "Is this your true thought?"

Ling Ying forced a smile and said, "It's not just this old servant; I'm afraid the entire ancient clan shares this view."

"So, in your opinion, a mere spot in the Heavenly Tomb is more important than Xiao Yan, or even the reputation of my Ancient Clan?"

".?"

"Leaving aside the matter of reputation, let me ask you, what is Xiao Yan's strength like?"

"This"

Ling Ying was somewhat apprehensive. After deliberating for a long time, he gave what he considered a tactful reply: "Although he is a promising talent, he is probably still lacking in experience among the eight clans."

"A remarkable prodigy?"

Xun'er seemed to have heard a huge joke, "Do you know who the Medicine Clan sent on the list of those sent by the Heavenly Tomb?"

Ling Ying was taken aback, then said with a hint of certainty, "As far as this old servant knows, it should be Yao Xingji of the Yao Clan, who is known as 'Human Medicine Master'."

"How does Yao Xingji compare to Xiao Yan?"

"."

Ling Ying fell silent, clearly recalling the rumors from the Pill Gathering.

As a descendant of the Yao Clan and possessing the cultivation of a Dou Zun, Yao Xingji was unable to withstand three moves from Xiao Yan, a nine-star Dou Zong, and was even completely overwhelmed.

It is an indisputable fact that one of them is stronger or weaker.

Xun'er's expression was icy cold: "In terms of combat strength, Xiao Yan far surpasses Yao Xing, and in terms of alchemy, Xiao Yan crushes him into dust!"

"Such a person, whose minimum guarantee is stronger than the prodigy of the Medicine Clan, yet not a single person in my Ancient Clan has any confidence in him. Don't you find that laughable? Is this what you call the confidence of a great clan?"

"."

Upon hearing this, Ling Ying trembled and mechanically lowered her head.

He knew that Xun'er's angry words were not directed at him, nor did he have the right to say them.

The other party was actually trying to communicate with the majority of the ancient clan members who shared the same thoughts. "Sigh."

Suddenly, an old, deep voice broke the silence in the room.

Looking in the direction of the sound, one could see an elderly man with white hair and beard standing silently at the door, his face expressionless.

"Mr. Lin."

Xun'er nodded slightly, her angry expression vanishing instantly, as if nothing had ever happened.

Elder Lin cupped his hands in greeting, then turned to look at Ling Ying beside him, and sighed with some complicated feelings: "The reason why Miss is so angry is not because of a simple spot."

Ling Ying was suddenly stunned.

Elder Lin looked grave and sighed, “Whether we went along with it to do that Xiao clan prodigy a favor, or we took the initiative to negotiate to get the spot back, we could have ensured the reputation of our ancient clan. But the clan chose to forcibly seize it.”

“It’s not without precedent for acting arbitrarily and unilaterally; the Soul Clan is a prime example. But if my Ancient Clan were to do the same, how would it be any different from betraying us?”

Looking at Ling Ying, who seemed to have lost her soul, Elder Lin sighed slowly, "On one side is the Xiao Clan's prodigy with a ninth-grade alchemist as his mentor, and on the other side is the clan's reputation and prestige. Yet, my ancient clan has abandoned both for the petty gain of a mere spot in the Heavenly Tomb. How laughable!"

"No need to say it."

Xun'er waved her hand, stood up from her seat, and said softly, "Elder Ling, I respect you as an elder, so I said some impulsive things for a moment. Please don't take it too seriously."

Ling Ying shuddered violently, then immediately came to her senses and knelt down, saying, "Miss, rest assured, this old servant will not divulge a single word of what happened today. If I disobey, may I be struck down by heaven and earth!"

"We'll spare you from divine punishment."

Xun'er chuckled and shook her head, saying casually, "Given Elder Ling's position, he must have had dealings with many non-clan elders in the clan, right?"

Ling Ying was stunned for a moment, and finally understood Xun'er's intention at this moment, and her heart trembled immediately.

Although Ling Ying's cultivation level was not high, he had a strong voice and status among the lower-level stewards because he had served Xun'er. He was naturally clear about Xun'er's purpose.

He gazed at the elegant young woman laughing softly before him, and for some reason, her image vaguely overlapped with that of the girl in the black dress from his memory.

Ling Ying murmured in disbelief, "Miss, you..."

"Those who learn from her will live."

Xun'er smiled calmly: "Things have come to this point, and it is indeed time for our ancient clan to change."

Having said that, without waiting for his reply, the girl's figure had already gracefully passed by, leaving as Elder Lin bowed in greeting.

Watching Xun'er's retreating figure, Ling Ying's heart clenched violently, her breathing became heavy, and she spoke in a trembling voice:
"Old slave, you obey!"

The Soul Realm, a void.

On the lifeless, dimly lit dead star, a slender figure now appeared.

He sat quietly against the stone wall, casually sipping the clear wine in the gourd. Time passed by, but his movements remained unchanged.

In the void there is no day or night, and time seems to lose its reference point.

After an unknown amount of time, seemingly feeling somewhat drunk, the scholar put away his wine gourd and suddenly chuckled softly, "Success?"

The voice vanished into the void; though there was no medium for its transmission, it could be heard in any corner of the void.

After a while, a clear, youthful voice seemed to transcend time and space, quietly ringing out: "To be personally honored by the Emperor, there is no reason for us to fail."

As the clear laughter rang out, the entire void seemed to be subjected to some indescribable pressure, instantly becoming distorted and swollen, as if it would be torn apart at any moment.

"Kaka!"

The space, unable to bear the strain, exploded with a deafening roar. In an instant, a dark shadow vanished from the void, quietly revealing its true form from the endless darkness.

It was a page from a book.

Its design is ancient and simple, as if it were torn from an ancient book. The edges have the fibrous texture of parchment, and it is soaked with endless blood and ferocity. As soon as it appears, it dyes the entire void a pungent crimson.

In the center of the page, a blood-stained handwriting in crimson ink was quietly shimmering with an eerie light.

'spirit'

(End of this chapter)