The Spirit Realm, ravaged by the great battle, was still plagued by turbulent currents from time to time. Even with the Spirit Race working to clean up, it would take a long time to recover.
At the site of the battle, only Zhao Li and Ling Haoran stood side-by-side. Upon closer inspection, one could faintly see Ling Haoran subtly positioned a little behind.
He hadn't felt anything before, but now that they were alone, even though Zhao Li did nothing, Ling Haoran still felt some pressure. The reason was simple: their Strength was too disparate. He was afraid that if he wasn't careful, Zhao Li, who had forced back Hun Tiandi and was considered the Spirit Race's benefactor, would, in a fit of anger, finish what Hun Tiandi had started.
Being with a Consort is like being with a tiger wasn't just a saying! But he was, after all, the leader of one of the top-ranked forces on the Continent, and also an existence capable of ranking among the Top Ten on the Dou Qi Continent. He quickly adjusted himself and began to converse:
"Alas, I only knew that this girl always had pressure in her heart, but I didn't expect it to reach such a degree. This time, thanks to Senior Zhao Li, not only was my clan rescued, but the pressure in her heart was also relieved."
He was also a shrewd individual. From the previous events, it was clear that there was a connection between Zhao Li and Ling Meng and the others. Using their relationship with Zhao Li was obviously more effective than his identity as the Spirit Race leader.
Zhao Li knew his thoughts and neither confirmed nor denied, not saying much on this matter. He simply nodded slightly, then asked Ling Haoran for his opinion on Hun Tiandi personally coming to the Spirit Realm to destroy their clan:
"Brother Ling, what do you think about this matter with Hun Tiandi?"
Hearing this, Ling Haoran's expression also became solemn. Even though he didn't know why Hun Tiandi would personally come to the Spirit Realm to demand the Ancient Emperor Tuoshe Jade, which the Eight Clans had kept for a Thousand Years without discovering anything special about it, putting that aside, just the Strength Hun Tiandi displayed had shattered his long-held notion that the Spirit Race was doing well and that he was quite a figure. After this experience, he clearly understood that their self-proclaimed transcendent status on the Continent for a Thousand Years was nothing but a joke!
Ling Haoran's face changed several times, finally turning ashen, and he slowly said:
"Alas, I always knew the Soul Clan had Wolf Ambition and were plotting something, but the unwarranted pride of being an Ancient Imperial Clan made me think that no matter how much he stirred things up, it wouldn't affect us. That's why I never paid attention to him. I didn't expect the Soul Clan to be this powerful. Just Hun Tiandi alone is not someone we can contend with. If not for Senior, my Spirit Race would probably already be history."
Zhao Li had long experienced the innate pride of these fellows and wasn't surprised. Instead, seeing Ling Haoran gritting his teeth while also displaying a look of bitter helplessness, realizing The Clown Was Me All Along, he felt somewhat speechless, with a feeling of "Stupid, isn't this obvious? You just realized it?"
Of course, he didn't expect these people to do anything, and he wasn't gloating at this moment. He just gently shook his head and then sighed:
"This isn't a coincidence. With Hun Tiandi's temperament, he will eventually make a move on you. He has never been content with the status quo. Nine Star Dou Sheng won't satisfy him."
Whether it was from what he learned about Hun Tiandi in books or the few brief encounters over the years, Zhao Li had discovered that Hun Tiandi was not someone the Dou Qi Continent could confine. For whatever reason, he was bound to launch an assault on the Dou Di Realm, and the Ancient Emperor Tuoshe Jade just happened to be related to the last Dou Di on the Dou Qi Continent in Ten Thousand Years. He couldn't let this go. It could be said that the calamity of the Eight Clans was already destined.
Ling Haoran didn't refute Zhao Li's words. He was, after all, someone who had lived for over a Thousand Years. Some things were understood with a single hint, and he had even sensed it before, but he had a kind of Mysterious Confidence, thinking that Hun Tiandi wouldn't be able to affect them. In the final analysis, his Strength, his Horizon, were still somewhat lacking compared to the Peak of the Continent.
Moreover, what he cared about more was Zhao Li's implied meaning—that Hun Tiandi was going to challenge the Dou Di Realm, and that the Ancient Emperor Tuoshe Jade might truly be able to lead to Become Emperor!
Thinking of this, while enlightened, he also began to worry about the future of the Spirit Race. If the Ancient Emperor Tuoshe Jade was truly related to the secret of breaking through to Dou Di, even if Hun Tiandi retreated, it would be impossible for him to just let the Ancient Emperor Tuoshe Jade go.
Suddenly, he seemed to think of something. He glanced at Zhao Li without a trace, but then suppressed that terrifying thought, scoffing inwardly:
Impossible. If he were truly a Dou Di, the Dou Qi Continent would probably have become his backyard. Moreover, Hun Tiandi has been famous for a Thousand Years and is still plotting and planning to challenge Dou Di. How long has he been famous? How could he have quietly become a Dou Di?
Although Ling didn't think Zhao Li had reached the Dou Di Realm, he still didn't dare to be negligent. Regardless of whether Zhao Li was a Dou Di or not, he was not an existence he could contend with. Moreover, he had a Plan in mind. After a moment of contemplation, Ling Haoran took out a Jade Slip and asked:
"I wonder if Senior recognizes this jade?"
He seemed to ask casually, not waiting for Zhao Li's answer, and then immediately explained:
"This jade is part of the Ancient Emperor Tuoshe Jade. The Ancient Jade was divided into eight, and each of our Eight Clans holds one piece. It's laughable to say, but although we've kept it for several Thousand Years, we haven't discovered its use. It's just that it's named after Tuoshe Ancient Emperor, so we didn't give it away. Now, after being passed down for several Thousand Years, it's more of a symbolic meaning."
As he spoke, he held up the Ancient Emperor Tuoshe Jade, and his voice also rose slightly:
"Hun Tiandi probably knew something, which is why he personally came to my clan to seize the jade. If he truly succeeds, then I'm afraid no one on the Dou Qi Continent will be able to restrain him anymore."
Zhao Li murmured:
"Tuoshe Ancient Emperor..."
He thought of the origin of that mysterious Dou Di, then shook his head slightly and said:
"Whether Hun Tiandi discovered any secrets or not, it doesn't affect him taking the jade. Since this jade is named after Tuoshe, whether it's related to that mysterious Dou Di from Ten Thousand Years ago or not, Hun Tiandi won't let this clue go. Perhaps combining the shattered jade will yield some results, don't you think?"
Speaking of this, Zhao Li paused slightly, then spoke about what Ling Haoran was worried about:
"Without my permission, he won't have a chance to Become Emperor..."
What Zhao Li meant was that Hun Tiandi had been suppressed by him, but Ling Haoran thought that since this piece of jade from the Spirit Race was now in Zhao Li's hands, it would be impossible for Hun Tiandi to get it from him, thus cutting off Hun Tiandi's Route to gather the Ancient Jade.
He had originally intended to give the jade to Zhao Li to establish a good relationship with him, and he didn't have much reluctance. However, the jade that the Spirit Race had guarded for a Thousand Years was ultimately given to an outsider, and he felt a little sour in his heart. With a light sigh, he presented the Ancient Jade to Zhao Li and said:
"With Senior's Strength, Hun Tiandi naturally cannot take the Ancient Jade from you, but the Soul Clan is cunning, Senior should still not be careless."
His decisiveness was partly because he had been thoroughly dealt with by Hun Tiandi this time and knew that in the face of absolute Strength, nothing else mattered, and Zhao Li happened to have Strength comparable to Hun Tiandi. On the other hand, they had guarded it for several Thousand Years without knowing its secret, and he didn't think Zhao Li would know either. Moreover, even if there was some secret, perhaps he could get a share by doing this...
In short, no matter what, Ling Haoran felt it wasn't a loss, except for his own face feeling a bit embarrassed. After all, having been in charge for a Thousand Years, this One-Eighth of the Ancient Jade had become a symbol of the Eight Clans' transcendence, and now it had to be given away from his hands...
Seeing this, Zhao Li knew he had misunderstood, but he didn't explain. He reached out and put it away, smiling:
"I'll take the Ancient Jade for now. Oh, and there's one more thing I need your cooperation on..."
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