"One thousand mid-grade essence stones is no small amount for a common disciple for sure." Zing Ghe thought and was impressed that the Ma clan was serious about bribing Yang Zhai. These many essence stones were nothing in front of Zing Ghe, but what surprised him was that they were being given to an ordinary disciple, who would be happy even with just 100 low-grade essence stones.
Not only that, but the Kroy city's emblem was no joke, even Zing Ghe was surprised. It was like: the Ma and the Bai clans were ready to lose a huge amount of benefits with just this emblem that even 1000 mid-grade essence stones could not compare to. And at that, they were willing to even give up their nomination spot. Kroy City was no ordinary city. Even the Ma clan and Bai clan joining together were like ants in front of Kroy City.
"Let's do it like this, Yang Zhai, if you accept their offer, we will do everything in our power to assassinate you, even if it costs us the annihilation of the whole clan, remember this. If you accept our offer, we will increase the limit of the essence stones to 1100 mid-grade essence stones. This way, you will be safe as well and can gain many rewards." Third elder Zihao De directly placed the honor of the whole clan on the line. This shocked everyone.
Everyone was flabbergasted by Zihao De's words.
This time, even Zing Ghe could not help himself but display a confused expression on his face.
He knew that the Bai clan would have surely tried to kill Yang Zhai if he had accepted the Ma clan's offer. But saying this in front of everyone was like he was trying to say that 'even if the Bai clan had to go to war, they would not rest until Yang Zhai was eliminated', especially when the Ma clan had announced that they would protect Yang Zhai if he accepted the Ma clan's offer. And to prove that, there could only be a war, and that too for a normal disciple.
Secret assassination's fine, but declaring it in front of everyone was like the Bai clan was challenging the Ma clan. To protect their name, the Ma clan would not have any option left but to protect Yang Zhai at all costs, even if that means starting a war with the Bai clan; otherwise, the Ma would be proven weaker than the Bai clan. After all, losing a challenged battle was like losing all the reputation and respect built over decades. Their trade would also be affected because of this, and many could even leave the Ma clan and join the Bai clan: after all, who joins the loser? History was created by the victors, not the losers.
When Ma Wan Liu heard Zihao De, his eyes narrowed.
"Now, it's a battle of the names and honour." Ma Wan Liu understood what was happening now. Zihao De's sentence might seem ordinary to the audience —after all, traitors had to die— but it had already started to decide the future of the clans.
Many intellectual people in the audience became quiet and looked at the Ma clan. Others were in heated conversations.
Zing Ghe also looked at the Ma clan and waited with a serious expression.
"What will you do now, Ma Wan Liu? You still have the choice to back down, don't say anything, once you start speaking, the future will have terrible consequences." Zing Ghe muttered.
"Yang Zhai, in the name of the Ma clan —if you accept our offer— we will protect you at all costs even if we have to use all our resources, we will still protect you. Decide wisely before rejecting us. I will make you my personal disciple for extra protection." Second elder Jun Nie stood up and spoke for the Ma clan.
This time, Jun Haru became quiet. Now, everything had gone above him and was not in his hands anymore.
"So, it has started." Zing Ghe murmured.
It was to be expected. Now, the Ma clan had also placed their name on the line. If they had backed down, they would have only lost their face. Everyone would have said that the Ma clan got scared from the Bai clan and the Ma clan would have been affected slightly in their resources and trade aspects.
But, now they had directly challenged the Bai clan's authority, putting their resources at stake, including the cultivators. Now, the battle had taken a step that even Yang Zhai had not thought of.
"Nobody knows the value of the inheritance better than me, so I am not surprised as to what extent they are willing to go for it. What surprises me is, what did they truly find out that is causing them to even put their names on the line. The inheritance is of a very high level and its value can't be truly determined by low-level cultivators, even though estimation is an option after a thorough investigation of the gate and the inheritance place. Could it be that…"
"No, that can't be true, it's not possible for any item to exit the inheritance place, or is there something that I missed? At any rate, I don't have much time, I need to stop them before they go too far." Yang Zhai started to doubt that there might be something that is driving these two clans to such an extent as to even place their names on the line. Yang Zhai wanted them to increase their bets even more, but somehow, this was getting out of Yang Zhai's expectations, and he did not like to contend with dangerous and unknown without any preparations unless really necessary.
After all, nobody would agree to start a war for unknown elements unless it was the last choice or if someone was cornered.
For the two clans, the unknown elements here were Yang Zhai and the inheritance, and for Yang Zhai, the unknown element here was the two clans' determination. If these two clans were willing to go to such an extent, then that would mean that they are either in desperate need of the inheritance or have seen the true value of the inheritance, meaning, something must have exited the inheritance ground.
No matter what, if these two clans moved any further, then it would attract too much attention from others than it had already done and Yang Zhai was not fond of the things he could not control or were new to the game, especially when it was almost near the climax. If new unknown elements were added that were completely out of his expectations, then his plans might get thwarted right at the crucial moment.
And of course, there was no way that the others would not get attracted to the rewards of the competition which were forcing the two clans to even put their names on the line, and openly oppose each other, the rewards must be something very important.
Even though the benefits he could obtain would increase if the two clans added more rewards to their conditions, he did not care. To him, the benefits he could obtain from the two clans' conflict right now were nothing compared to the inheritance.
In his eyes, the real value lay in the inheritance. So, even though he had wanted them to continue at first, but when both of the clans placed their names on the line, Yang Zhai changed his plans, and thus,
"Respected elders of the two clans, if you don't mind my impudence, I would like to say something." Yang Zhai interrupted the two clans from going any further.
"Everyone looked at Yang Zhai; even the elders of the two clans were drawn to him."
"What is it, Yang Zhai? Speak, we don't have much time." Zihao De said unhappily. He was not satisfied with Yang Zhai's performance. Yang Zhai kept quiet the whole time and did not reject the Ma clan's offer.
"Second elder Jun, it's like this, I am the disciple of the Bai clan, and it's my duty to fight with all my strength, which I am unable to go against."
When Yang Zhai said this, a smile appeared on Zihao De's face, which was the exact opposite of the Ma clan elders, whose faces had bitter expressions.
"However, second Elder Jun, I am still respectful to you for considering so highly of me and that's why I have an offer for you."
When Zihao De and Tai Qi heard this, their eyes narrowed.
"What are you up to, Yang Zhai?" Tai Qi muttered.
"What is it, Yang Zhai?" Jun Nie was confused and asked.
"Even though I am unable to accept your offer, I can show you all of my trump cards before the fight begins, which can help Brother Haru prepare against me beforehand. I will also give him one minute to prepare everything he can, against my trump cards." Yang Zhai spoke, shocking everyone here.
"Did you hear that, he is willing to show his trump cards beforehand and is even allowing Jun Haru to prepare beforehand against his trump cards."
"Which means that the elders of the Ma clans will be allowed to provide whatever help they can against Yang Zhai's trump cards before the battle begins."
"Isn't it the same as giving the Ma clan an easy win?"
"Yeah, a cultivator's biggest help in a battle is the mysteriousness and the way they use their methods. Especially in a battle of the same strength on both sides, what matters more is experience and cultivator's methods."
"Isn't he scared of losing this battle?"
"Whatever, the Bai clan would surely be angry at him."
The audience was in a clamor, this was the first time they had seen such a scene unfold before them.
"I am surprised that Yang Zhai would take such a measure, it's very impressive." Even Zing Ghe was flabbergasted by what Yang Zhai said just now.
If Yang Zhai had accepted even one of the two clans' offers, then he could have at least had the protection of one of the two clans, but now, after what he did, he was angering both clans.
!*****!*****!