Chapter 884: Challenging the Emperor

"We will fight for the Blue Gold Tree clan, at all costs, until our last breath!" The voices of the Blue Gold Tree clan’s elders varied, but in this moment, they were all filled with unshakable resolve. Even the second and third elders, who were quite advanced in age, had their eyes brimming with tears.

The Blue Gold Tree clan had been oppressed for far too long. At this moment, Tang San’s words had completely ignited their dormant spirits. At this moment, the Blue Gold Tree clan had truly risen.

𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Sensing the unified spirit emanating from them, the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor couldn’t help but be moved. The Blue Gold Tree clan had truly found themselves a great leader! Though his decision was anything but wise, if this leader were to die here today, it would have an extraordinary impact on the entire Blue Gold Tree clan—especially with the Ancestral Tree now awakened. Great changes were likely coming for this clan.

The Adamant Nymph Emperor, in the meantime, was clenching its fists. On the way back, the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor had been advising it the whole time. After all, what the various clans had done to the Blue Gold Trees was not only dishonorable, but outright illegal. Now that things were out in the open, it was best to take a step back. After all, Adamant City was wealthy enough to offer compensation to the Blue Gold Tree clan, and that way, everyone could save face, turning a massive issue into a solvable one.

The Adamant Nymph Emperor felt as if it had swallowed a fly. He was an Emperor—how could it easily lower its head? That’s why, upon return, it had tried to intimidate Tang San. But who could have predicted that its intimidation would have no effect at all? Tang San had calmly and logically stated his case. Then, when the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor had stepped in to mediate, it had grudgingly accepted. After all, among the seven Emperors of the Solstice Empire, plant-type Emperors were the most numerous, and many had benefited from the Ancestral Tree's blessings. But what it had never expected was that this young leader of the Blue Gold Tree clan would refuse to take the easy way out and instead choose to stand his ground.

Of course, it didn’t think Tang San could defeat it, but killing this young leader would bring its own set of troubles. It would be hard to explain to the Ancestral Court, not to mention that after Tang San’s speech, the Blue Gold Tree clan would be in an uproar. The conflict between the two clans had already escalated into a full-blown crisis, and it would only be worse. Though it was an Emperor and therefore unafraid, the awakening of the Ancestral Tree made it cautious. If the Blue Gold Tree clan were to cultivate an Emperor of their own, things could get truly troublesome.

The Ancestral Court had already sensed a shift in the balance of power due to the awakening of the Ancestral Tree. The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, who represented the entire Empyrean Dominion, was clearly supporting the Blue Gold Tree clan. This would undoubtedly have a significant impact on Adamant City.

So, whether it won or lost, this battle would be bad for Adamant City. But at this point, it was already riding a tiger and couldn’t back down.

"Clan Leader Jin, I understand how you feel. But it’s better to resolve enmities than to deepen them. Both you and Its Majesty the Adamant are pillars of the Ancestral Court. Killing each other will only give outsiders a reason to laugh. I guarantee you that the Adamant Nymph clan will provide you with a proper explanation and sufficient compensation..." The Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor was still trying to mediate.

"No need. Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty Soul Capturer, but my mind is made up. The moment I saw the remains of my clan members, there was no way for me to do anything else. Others may retreat, but as the clan leader, I can only go forward."

Seeing the resolute expression on Tang San’s face, the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor frowned. Although he was an Emperor, these kinds of disputes between clans were difficult to intervene in. After all, the Adamant Nymph Emperor was clearly in the wrong. Now, Tang San wasn’t asking for compensation but issuing a direct challenge, one that could not be avoided, especially since the challenger was not an Emperor himself. According to the laws of the Ancestral Court, as long as Tang San insisted, this battle was inevitable.

"There’s no need to bother with him anymore, Soul Capturer. Since he doesn’t know his place, I’ll give him a proper lesson and show him how the world works," the Adamant Nymph Emperor said, its eyes filled with murderous intent.

It had already been stewing in anger. A month back, when it sensed the Ancestral Tree’s awakening, it went looking for an opportunity. Who would’ve thought that, instead of gaining anything, it would be sent flying by a strike from the newly awakened Ancestral Tree? That strike had been quite powerful too, a sudden burst of energy that the Ancestral Tree had accumulated for who knew how many centuries.

Naturally, it dared not make further attempts on Skytree City; it was worried about the possibility of the Ancestral Tree fully awakening. If that happened, it was bound to turn into a huge problem. So, he retreated to the Ancestral Court to heal.

But soon, it heard from the envoy sent to Skytree City that while the Ancestral Tree’s awakening seemed real, it was incomplete. It had some measure of sentience, but it wasn’t truly back. This reassured it, and it planned to return to Adamant City once its wounds had healed.

Normally, it didn’t stay in the Ancestral Court often, preferring to reside in Adamant City. The Adamant Nymph clan had always been running short on life energy, and with Adamant City neighboring Skytree City, it was rather convenient—it could simply make a trip every now and then and get some life energy from there. As for the Blue Gold Trees in its mansion? They had been captured by it personally, including some Nymph King ones.

But before it could finish healing, the Blue Gold Tree clan had come knocking on Adamant City’s door, killed its people, and rescued all their clan members.

The Adamant Nymph Emperor, of course, was in the wrong, but it didn’t see it that way. From its perspective, the Blue Gold Tree clan had interfered with its cultivation and tarnished the reputation of the Adamant Nymph clan.

But this matter couldn’t be covered up. Every main city had eyes from the Ancestral Court watching. With no other choice, it had to report the situation to the Ancestral Court itself.

The seriousness of this matter was something the Ancestral Court was fully aware of. The awakening of the Ancestral Tree, even if not complete, still meant that one of the three revered ancestors of nymphs had returned. For something like this to happen to the descendants of the Ancestral Tree, and for it to become a public issue, was no small matter. A single misstep could spark an uproar among plant-type nymphs.

Thus, after urgent consultations, the Ancestral Court had sent Soul Capturer to accompany it back. Along the way, Soul Capturer had tried to persuade it many times. If a problem could be solved with money, then was it really a problem? With Adamant City being so wealthy, a bit of compensation wouldn’t empty their coffers, so it begrudgingly agreed. But there was still resentment in its heart. Thus, upon returning, it tried to intimidate Tang San, only to find that the young leader of the Blue Gold Tree clan was not only ungrateful for the opportunity but even demanded to challenge him.

How long had he even been the leader of the Blue Gold Tree clan? He had barely awakened the Ancestral Tree and now he already dared to bring his clansmen here to cause trouble! This kind of person could not be allowed to live. If he were to become an Emperor in the future, he would become a grave threat.

With this in mind, the Adamant Nymph Emperor's heart was filled with murderous intent, and in spite of knowing there would be consequences, it had no intention of showing mercy.

The Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor frowned and said, "I know what you are thinking, but this is not appropriate. This isn’t what the Ancestral Court wants to see."

The Adamant Nymph Emperor replied coldly, "It’s not about what I want anymore. He’s the one pushing for this challenge. As an Emperor, I have my dignity to uphold. Can I just refuse his challenge? Tell me, Soul Capturer, what should I do?"

"You..." Seeing that neither side was willing to back down, the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor felt helpless. After all, the Adamant Nymph Emperor was an Emperor and represented all mineral-type nymphs. Could he really refuse the challenge in front of so many subordinates? On the other hand, Tang San, as the leader of a city and a clan, was seeking revenge for his people, which was even more understandable.

The Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor sighed and said to the Adamant Nymph Emperor, "Then I must ask you to show some mercy. After all, the Ancestral Tree has awakened. This is a great joy for all of us plant-type nymphs. Without the Ancestral Tree, we wouldn’t have anything today. So, no matter what happens, please, for the sake of the Ancestral Tree and our old friendship, show some restraint."