Chapter 548: Condition

"The Yu Clan?" Li Pin glanced at Xiang Tianxing. "What kind of family is this?"

Xiang Tianxing quickly shared the information he had gathered. "The Yu Clan's main base is in the Ten Luminous Star Cluster. Although it is not located in the political center of the Yuan Yang Star Domain, its influence is vast. It is said to have already built a city in the Astral World Ocean."

"An influential family at the interstellar level," muttered Li Pin.

He had read extensively in the Divine Treasury Hall and had gained a good understanding of the universe.

The universe was occupied by various races, with humanity being one of them.

On the map of human territories, the divisions were Star Abyss, Star Clusters, and Star System. The remaining units, like Spiral Arms, Star Rings, and Nebula were not marked on the map.

Star Abysses referred to the trenches within the Astral World Ocean that divided the Astral Worlds. These natural barriers were incredibly difficult to cross, even for Astral Gods.

The remaining Star Clusters were divided based on the dense clusters of stars in the material world.

For example, the Yuan Yang Star Domain and the nearby Qian Tian Star Domain were separated by nearly 100 million light-years of a dark zone. This area had almost no matter. Energy and spatial fluctuations were extremely weak, making it nearly impossible for ships to cross. Furthermore, it was difficult to construct Astral Gates, so travel could only be done within the Astral Worlds.

If the Star Abysses blocked communication across Astral Worlds, Star Clusters blocked communication in the Material World.

Apart from Astral Gods, who could travel between Star Clusters through the Astral Worlds, civilizations and factions in the Material World had almost no ability to engage in inter-domain communication.

Alternatively, the cost of communication across Star Clusters far outweighed the nurturing of Astral Gods. Therefore, an influential family at the interstellar level essentially represented the pinnacle of family influence in the Material World.

"So, they've come forward on behalf of the Ashen Council?" Li Pin asked.

Xiang Tianxeng replied, "The Ashen Council has enlisted the Yu Clan to mediate, seemingly hoping to use their influence to resolve conflicts with us peacefully."

The Si Clan was also an influential family at the interstellar level. However, it was located in the Starwheel Sea, which was a bit smaller in scale than the Ten Radiant Star Cluster. Therefore, their influence was slightly weaker.

Despite that, the two families were of about the same caliber.

Li Pin smiled. "This Yu Clan has at least eight to ten Astral Gods, doesn't it? It seems I guessed correctly. A great clan like the Ashen Council must have connections and cards up their sleeves.

"The Yu Clan is their network and confidence. A family with eight to ten Astral Gods sending down an Astral God avatar to handle something is perfectly normal."

Thinking this, he immediately said, "Treat the Yu Clan's envoy well. I will come right away."

"Yes."

Xiang Tianxing naturally understood the gravity of the situation.

This was an influential family with multiple Divine Beings and Tier Six Legends, not to mention one or two Astral Gods. He naturally didn't dare to be the slightest bit negligent toward such a massive entity.

***

On the other side, Yu Yu quickly felt a shift in Xiang Tianxing's attitude.

Remembering that this acting chairman had contacted Li Pin earlier, she immediately understood and smiled. "He knows what's good for him."

She was currently using some secret methods to maintain contact with her young lady, Yu Hanyan. She told her, "It seems that Sacred Li understands the weight of the Yu Clan, so this will be easy. The Ashen Council will hand over Hong Feng to Li Pin for disposal and compensate for the necessary losses, ensuring Sacred Li's reputation is preserved. This matter will be resolved."

Yu Hanyan's voice echoed. "Let's proceed as Aunt Yu suggested. Moreover, Li Pin wants to support a Gaian to compete to become the Astral God Yin Luo's successor, but he should understand how difficult it would be to succeed alone. Such an untimely move might even provoke suppression from the other heirs. Therefore, if the Gaians don't want to be wiped out, their best option is to ally with me.

"My aptitude is only a hair's breadth away from those peerless geniuses across the universe. With my family's great influence on top of my own efforts, I have a chance to become an Astral God. Not to mention, the huge opportunity of the Astral God Yin Luo lies before me. Once I become an Astral God, I can designate the entire Candle Light Star Ring as Gaian Civilization's territory."

"I will make Li Pin understand the pros and cons of this," Yu Yu said.

Yu Hanyan's tone was cold. "The competition for the Great Dao allows no retreat. In the future, only one person will become Astral God Yin Luo's successor. All others will serve as sacrifices to that person's ascension to the throne of glory. Only my allies will rise to prominence and enjoy wealth and honor, while those who oppose me will be eradicated without mercy. We'll leave the choice in his hands."

Yu Yu didn't feel that there was anything wrong with Yu Hanyan's actions. As Yu Hanyan had said, the competition for Astral God Yin Luo's succession was always a do-or-die situation. There was never a third option available.

In such a situation, everyone should strive with all their might to ascend to the successor position, resorting to any means necessary in the process.

In the previous struggles for an opportunity like this, the winner didn't usually emerge from among those who had flaunted their abilities in the beginning.

That wasn't because these people had bad talent. Rather, they had been quietly eliminated by their rivals using various methods.

No one could predict who would triumph in the end. The successor could be anyone, and they would have to wait till the end to see who would have the last laugh.

***

Not long after their exchange, Yu Yu sensed something.

A figure was rushing into the atmosphere of this planet.

From the person's anxious demeanor, Yu Yu suddenly connected the dots, and her sense of urgency dissipated.

Sitting in her seat, she calmly sipped her tea, waiting for Li Pin to come to her.

Li Pin didn't disappoint her.

After entering the planet's atmosphere, he landed at the Gaia Alliance headquarters at the fastest speed with almost no pauses.

And with large strides, Li Pin walked toward the living room where Yu Yu was.

As the door was pushed open, Yu Yu lifted her eyelids. As expected, it was Li Pin with a beaming smile.

An individual's disposition was important in negotiations. Just like now, since Yu Yu knew that Li Pin was full of fear and even dread towards their Yu Clan, she naturally had to show the might of their clan.

Back when Yu Yu first arrived, she had put on a polite front. But now, when Li Pin stepped into the room, she didn't even bother to stand up. She continued to sip on her tea, seemingly unaware that Li Pin had arrived.

Fortunately, Li Pin wasn't the type to fuss over minor details.

He looked at Yu Yu.

A Tier Five Legend? A little lacking.

He had thought they would send an Astral God's avatar. But upon reflection, it made sense.

The Yin Luo Star Cluster was a safe zone, and the Yu Clan probably didn't dare to send down an Astral God avatar, as that would seem to be provoking the Homo Sapien Alliance. This was something that even noble clans with Solar Flare Astral Gods backing them up wouldn't dare to take such risks.

The nature of the two could not be compared at all.

Li Pin thought,

This Tier Five Legend is probably a pre-battle envoy? Has she come to deliver the final ultimatum?

Of course, this ultimatum would soon be turned into a battle decree by Li Pin.

As these thoughts went through Li Pin's mind, his enthusiasm wasn't affected in the least. He smiled and stepped forward, extending his hand and saying, "Yu Clan's envoy? Hello, hello."

Seeing Li Pin, the Divine Being, take the initiative to greet her, Yu Yu politely raised her head, stood up, and gently shook Li Pin's hand. "I have come this time on behalf of our young lady."

"I understand, the Yu Clan wants to speak up for the Ashen Council, right?" Li Pin said, "I am quite straightforward, so let's not beat around the bush. It's inconvenient inside the Yin Luo Galaxy, right? You can decide on the location. Where should we head to?"

Yu Yu was confused. "The Yin Luo Galaxy is inconvenient? Where are we going?"

But soon, she figured it out.

Is he saying we should go somewhere to negotiate?

She immediately waved her hand and said, "There's no rush; there's one more thing I need to mention. Our young lady intends to invite you to become one of her guardians, Sacred Li. May I know how you feel about this?"

Li Pin glanced at Yu Yu with some surprise. "Guardian?"

Li Pin couldn't understand what was going on.

We are about to fight to the death, and you still have the nerve to ask me to be your Guardian?

Hold on! An Astral God wouldn't die even if their avatar was defeated..... Then this request about being her Guardian...?

Since it was hard to understand, he decided to give up on trying.

After some thought, Li Pin decided to proceed at his own pace. "The matter of becoming her Guardian can wait. First... you must at least show me your sincerity, right?"

"Sincerity? What sincerity do you want?" Yu Yu paused for a moment, then realized something. "You're referring to Hong Feng? I'll have someone bring him over immediately so you can deal with him personally."

"Hong Feng?"

That was a nobody. He didn't care about him at all.

Li Pin waved his hand and said, "The sincerity I seek is simple... One of the Yu Clan's Astral Gods must send down an avatar. I can even accept a combat-specialized avatar. Then... we will have a fight. The location can be outside the Yin Luo Galaxy. If you win, everything is negotiable. If you lose..."

He paused.

The

Yu Clan

clearly had more than just one Astral God. So...

“You can have as many of your Yu Clan’s Astral Gods send avatars as you want. Let them all come at once.”

Yu Yu was momentarily stunned. She had no idea what he was trying to do.

But a sudden flash of insight struck her, and she instantly understood Li Pin’s intention.

He wanted to test how much weight the young lady held in the Yu Clan and whether she had gained the favor of the Astral God patriarch. He likely also wanted to test the extent of the importance that was placed on the young lady.

If the patriarch truly sent a combat-specialized avatar for her, it would undoubtedly show that he would spare no pains or effort to support the young lady.

Clever! Li Pin’s move was truly brilliant. His question had struck right at the heart of the matter.

Yu Yu replied, "When the time comes, the Yu Clan's patriarch will naturally appear. You don't have to worry about that, Lord Li Pi—"

"No!" interrupted Li Pin. "If the Yu Clan's Astral God won't be sending an avatar... I think there's nothing more for us to discuss."

He bluntly said, "I think it would just be a waste of time."

Yu Yu felt a bit troubled after hearing this and said, "Sacred Li... our young lady is very sincere—"

"I can't see it," Li Pin cut in. "I gave the Ashen Council a stellar year. That same goes to you as well."

He extended a finger and said, "Remember, you have one stellar year... and now there's less than a stellar year left. When the time comes, if the Yu Clan's Astral God doesn't send down an avatar, then it's on you guys."

𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

His tone allowed no room for debate. "The Ashen Council, and you guys... I will take on all of you together.