Chapter 385 - 27: Zhong Ming: You Are Already Dead

Chapter 385: Chapter 27: Zhong Ming: You Are Already Dead

The presence of Gang Qi gave Zhong Ming the will to save the Celestial Cloud Kingdom, but he also understood that he couldn’t do it alone.

Fortunately, he wasn’t the only one who wanted to save the kingdom.

Turning to look at Ji Hao, Zhong Ming said bluntly, "You don’t want to see the Celestial Cloud Kingdom fall either, do you?"

"..." Ji Hao opened his mouth to speak, but in the end, he didn’t refute the statement.

The Silver Moon Royal Mansion truly didn’t want the Celestial Cloud Kingdom to fall—or at least, they didn’t want the Quanrong Barbarian Race to occupy the region.

This line of thinking wasn’t born of benevolence or kindness. Rather, the very existence of the Celestial Cloud Kingdom was inextricably linked to the interests, and even the survival, of the Silver Moon Royal Mansion.

As a Prince Mansion stationed on the frontier, the Silver Moon Royal Mansion had many business dealings with the Celestial Cloud Kingdom. Moreover, the Celestial Cloud Kingdom served as a barrier and buffer zone between the Frost Moon Immortal Dynasty and the Barbarian Race of the Northern Wilderness.

If the Celestial Cloud Kingdom were conquered, the Silver Moon Royal Mansion would become the front line against the Barbarian Race.

At that point, the pressure on them would be astronomical.

Not to mention, if the Quanrong Barbarian Race occupied the Celestial Cloud Kingdom, they would gain vast resources, and their power would surge dramatically.

Meanwhile, the Silver Moon Royal Mansion would have to guard against the impact of the second Great Calamity.

Beset by internal troubles and external threats, the Silver Moon Royal Mansion could very well be destroyed in the Great Calamity.

It was precisely because he sensed this crisis that the Silver Moon King had decisively given up his position as Military Commander of the Celestial Patrol, using it as a bargaining chip to gain the Celestial Sea King’s full support.

But clearly, he hadn’t expected the Quanrong Barbarian Race to perform another sacrificial ritual in such a short time, much less that an entire ancient remnant clan would also become Fallen and pledge allegiance to an Evil God.

Yet, the more dangerous the situation became, the more resolute the Silver Moon King was in his decision to fight.

If they fought now, they would still have the Celestial Sea King’s aid. But if they negotiated for peace this time, the next time the Quanrong Barbarian Race attacked, the Celestial Sea King and the Celestial Patrol might not have the capacity to concern themselves with this place again.

Therefore, the Silver Moon Royal Mansion’s resolve to fight was the firmest. In contrast, the Celestial Sea King’s faction, stationed in the Sea Territory, could afford to sit by and ignore the Celestial Cloud Kingdom’s fate. This was also why so many people had come to persuade Shen Wanshang.

At this moment, Ji Hao also turned his gaze to Shen Wanshang.

If not for Zhong Ming, Shen Wanshang’s answer would have been ambiguous, and she wouldn’t have made a decision lightly. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to help, but that the current allied forces of the Quanrong Barbarian Ghosts were simply too strong.

Furthermore, the Celestial Sea King’s domain was not without its own hidden dangers. If too many of their people died in battle here, they might not be able to defend their own territory should the Sea Race invade.

When the Great Calamity descended, the prevailing attitude was "every man for himself."

But now, she had seen Zhong Ming’s attitude, and this caused her to change her tune.

"Of course, we will not back down. Those who are not of our race are bound to have different allegiances. We will go all out against the Quanrong Barbarian Race."

"However, this is only my own opinion. I don’t know what my father will decide, but I will do everything in my power to persuade him."

After giving the remaining nobles of the Celestial Cloud Kingdom this reassurance, Shen Wanshang, having received a message, led Zhong Ming and the others toward the center of the military camp.

Su Lin’Yin, the surviving princess of the Celestial Cloud Kingdom, also followed along.

Just as they reached the center of the camp, an arrogant voice boomed from the centermost tent: "You want us to agree to a ceasefire? Fine! But only on the condition that your armies withdraw from the Celestial Cloud Kingdom, and you must also compensate us for our previous losses..."

"Impossible! And get one thing straight: we of the Frost Moon Immortal Dynasty are not afraid of you. We simply don’t wish to waste too much of our strength on you. If we were to go all out, we could easily crush your Quanrong Tribe completely..."

"Heh. Anyone can make empty boasts. With the protection of a Divine Spirit, you can’t do a thing..."

The fierce argument made Zhong Ming raise an eyebrow, but he said nothing, instead following Shen Wanshang, Ji Hao, and the others into the large command tent.

From the outside, the tent didn’t look particularly large.

But upon entering, Zhong Ming discovered that a spatial expansion Magic Technique had been used, allowing it to hold over a hundred people.

And indeed, nearly a hundred people were gathered inside the tent.

With a single glance, Zhong Ming could tell that the people here were divided into several factions.

First, seated opposite everyone else, was a group from the Quanrong Barbarian Race. They had iron-gray skin and savage features, looking like demons.

They were led by a chieftain and a priest. Though few in number, their arrogance was boundless.

Opposite them were the forces of the Frost Moon Immortal Dynasty and the remnants of the Celestial Cloud Kingdom.

The composition of this group was rather complex.

In the seat of honor sat the Silver Moon King, who bore a slight resemblance to Ji Hao. Though he looked like a scholar-general, his killing intent was the most potent of all.

To his side was the Celestial Sea King, Shen Jiuyuan. The aura around him was also fierce. Whatever his true thoughts, he currently gave off the feeling that he was ready to strike at the slightest disagreement.

Both of these powerful Princes emanated an intense air of ruthlessness.

However, the attitude of the other human factions was different.

Prince Qinglin, who had arrived with Zhong Ming’s group, along with the three great families from Immortal Martial City, all looked somewhat reluctant.

Clearly, they had no desire to fight to the death for the Celestial Cloud Kingdom.

Even among the remnants of the Celestial Cloud Kingdom, whose homes and families had been destroyed, some were filled with hatred, while others were filled with terror.

’Have the Barbarian Ghosts scared them out of their wits?’

As Zhong Ming glanced around, lost in his own musings, the people in the tent also looked over at his group.

Among them, the human factions noticed that Zhong Ming’s group was closely associated with high-level figures like the Celestial Sea King and the Silver Moon King, so they only gave them a brief glance before looking away.