NOVEL NEXT Chapter 40: Trouble on the Horizon II
Keshab nodded and replied “I anticipated this situation. The rival clans are likely to exploit the demonic aspect of the inheritance to exert pressure on us and justify waging war against our clan. That's why I previously advised you to be prepared for war. Even if we didn't possess the inheritance, it was inevitable that a conflict would arise at some point in the future. And even if I broke through the Golden Core Formation realm within a decade, the war was bound to happen, there are many interests involved this time. I got news from an old friend a month ago. There is going to be a massive upheaval within the capital city.”
“The lifespan of the royal family ancestor is running out. He will live for at most a decade or two. Although the royal family has talents, breaking through the Nascent Soul realm is no joke. And there is internal strife between the royal family members. Even if they collected materials for the Nascent Soul realm, there will be a bloodbath before they decide whom to choose. The ancestor is unable to select a worthy heir because there are no outstanding geniuses among the candidates.”
Looking at the shocked faces of four people he cleared his throat and continued “The sects and the families are looking to devour the royal family. The ancestor also knows that but is helpless. The only way is to kill all the peak golden core formation cultivators of the kingdom but the strength of ancestor is declining and he is not capable of that anymore. After his death, the five families and three sects will surely pressure the royal family and make them puppet rulers. Even if the King of the royal family can use fortune qi and boost his strength, it will be nowhere near the Nascent Soul realm. So the influential families and sects are just waiting for the ancestor’s death. They aren’t attacking because the ancestor could use his remaining lifespan and slaughter whoever comes before him and they are not sure if there are other trump cards in the royal family.”
“Having lived for almost two millennia, there are bound to be some tricks left behind for his family’s survival. Although, if all the powers joined together and pooled resources they could probably defeat the royal family now but it would be a pyrrhic victory. It is a waste to use their trump cards if they don’t have to in a decade or two. The royal family has the army and cavalry but they are ultimately low-level forces and will provide little help as the five families have their own army. If the royal family can produce a Nascent Soul cultivator or a few peak golden core formation cultivators then they can maintain the stalemate otherwise, they are going to lose a lot of resources in the best-case scenario. They have no one to ask for help, the other kingdoms won’t help them, and even if they invite an expert, it will only help them to buy time for another decade at most.”
Hearing this the four people didn’t know what to say. They just watched Keshab with a dumbfounded expression. Pondering on this new information they realized there is going to be trouble in near future. This trouble may not reach their small city or may swept the whole city in bloodbath. They didn’t know how to react. But they understood the reason for Keshab allowing the inheritances to be put upon the Skill pavilion. Amrit finally discovered the reason why his grandfather was in a hurry and urged his father to prepare for war. Punya looked at his father and with a deep breath asked “What are our chances for survival?” Keshab looked at his son and replied “If we prepare seed for future of the clan the possibility of our clan’s bloodline surviving is naturally high. There is a possibility for our clan to survive but our foundation will be damaged. And if some miracle doesn’t happen, we may be able to survive if we pledge our alliance to the five families and three sects. Our status will be that of slaves but our clan may be able to remain intact.”
Hearing this Punya’s whole body began to sweat and he trembled. He shakily asked “Is there no other way? And what is the miracle you speak of? Does the other clans in our city know?” Keshab looked at his son and replied “Other clans may not know the whole details but they should have heard about bits and pieces. But it is only a matter of time before this information spreads. Without luck, I don’t see any other way for our survival or theirs. As for miracle I don’t know but I can hope for it. There is also a possibility of some changes occurring and the war wouldn’t reach our city. But we can only prepare and pray the war won’t happen anytime soon or happen at all.”
The joy of inheritances in the clan, his recovery and suppression of elders instantly snuffed out. Punya just felt melancholy. He didn’t want to see his clan’s bloodline end in his period of rein. Amrit was also startled. After receiving the legacy, Amrit always thought he will have a smooth path ahead of him. If something were to happen, there will be his parents and grandparents to protect him until he became strong enough. But hearing the secrets from his grandfather he realized the legacies and potential were just means to the end. Without sufficient strength what’s the point of having supreme cultivation technique and heavenly martial arts. Even a weakest golden core formation realm cultivator could easily squash him and his whole clan easily. The pride and arrogance he had developed for few days vanished in an instant. It doesn’t matter even if he had whole secrets of the universe, if he died everything will come to an end. And hearing about the possibility of destruction, Amrit could not help but feel anxious. If he had a hundred or so years he had the possibility to survive this ordeal but in a decade, he may not be able to reach the foundation building realm peak.
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