bdsm-fiction 697. Clan Instructions
697. Clan Instructions
Inside a spatial tunnel in the eastern region of Zhongzhou.
The light was somewhat dim. Xiao Yan skillfully controlled the spaceship while cautiously sensing the subtle spatial fluctuations around him. Long-term combat had ingrained his vigilance towards the outside world into his very bones, and even in the spatial passage, he was no exception.
The elderly man Yan Chao, sitting a little further away opposite, sensed the distance the spaceship had traveled: "We're almost there. We really have to thank our young friend Xiao Yan for this journey. Without you, the three of us would probably have met with misfortune."
Over the past few days, Yan Chao had grown increasingly fond of Xiao Yan, a young man known for his meticulousness and flawless approach to tasks. This kind of drive and determination was something he had never seen in any of the other young people in the Yan Clan.
"Elder Yan Chao, we still cannot let our guard down here. The Soul Palace has been making much bigger moves these days."
What Xiao Yan said was also the reason why they chose the space tunnel. For the Soul Clan and the Soul Palace, it seemed that only by wiping out all the members of the Flame Clan could everything be considered over.
"Isn't there anyone who can stop the Soul Palace?" Yan Jun, one of the four, couldn't help but ask Xiao Yan and Yan Chao.
The question is simple and direct, yet it touches on the core of the current situation.
Xiao Yan remained silent, offering no reply. He had only witnessed such clashes between the continent's top powers once before, at the Pill Tower, and to be honest, he wasn't entirely clear on the details. The true thoughts and long-term plans of those behemoths at the top of the pyramid were not something he, at his current level of eight-star Dou Zun, could easily fathom.
As a veteran of the Yan clan, Yan Chao personally witnessed the annihilation of the colossal Yan clan, and naturally had more authority to speak on such matters.
Yan Chao placed his right hand on Yan Jun's head, pondering for a moment, as if trying to figure out how to explain the truth of this cruel world to Yan Jun.
"In essence, it all boils down to two words—checks and balances."
He paused for a moment: "There are quite a few top-tier forces on this continent, some strong and some weak, and their goals and ambitions are also somewhat different. The continent maintains a superficial peace by relying on the intricate checks and balances among these forces to maintain a delicate equilibrium. The reason it hasn't been broken is because no one can afford the consequences of a full-scale war, which would mean utter chaos and destruction."
Yan Chao made a gesture in the air, as if trying to draw an invisible net of various forces.
"Such a balance is ultimately fragile. It can be easily broken as soon as an ambitious person appears. Take the Soul Clan, for example. They are the strongest among the top forces on the entire continent. They can break this balance unexpectedly."
Yan Jun listened intently, trying to digest the knowledge and logic: "If our Yan Clan asks the Ancient Clan or the Thunder Clan for help, would they just stand by and watch the Soul Clan commit such evil deeds? Doesn't maintaining balance require everyone's joint efforts?"
"Join forces? Kid, you're too naive."
"This balance has never been based on any bullshit axioms or justice. It is maintained on the premise that all parties involved agree to the rules and that no party has the absolute power to break all the rules. If the Soul Clan only attacks our race, then they will indeed face great pressure from all sides, and even if they manage to gain an advantage in the end, it will all come to nothing."
Yan Jun seemed to understand, nodding but still looking confused: "Then why is it like this now?"
"Too fast."
"The speed of the Soul Clan is unimaginable, giving us no time to react at all. Not only did our Flame Clan fail to react and were utterly defeated, but other forces and families were even less able to react. Although a month has passed, I think most of the forces are still mostly in the negotiation stage."
"If we really intend to wait for our so-called allies, and wait for a long series of wrangling and hesitation to end, our people will probably be history by now."
Yan Jun's face turned deathly pale, his remaining innocence shattered by the harsh reality: "Then our clan's sacrifice was in vain?"
Upon hearing this, Yan Chao took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging emotions in his heart. His rough but warm hand pressed down on Yan Jun's head again, this time with even more force.
"Xiao Jun, of course our clan will not sacrifice in vain. A great change is coming to Zhongzhou. The sudden move by the Soul Clan will surely shake the entire continent."
"But! You must remember!" Yan Chao stared into Yan Jun's young eyes and said, word by word, "Whether we want revenge or our clan wants to rise again, we absolutely cannot rely on outsiders. We can only rely on our own people."
"This world is cruel. No one will truly pity the weak who have no connection with them. Only by possessing power can you possess everything."
"Especially you, your sister, and those young members of the tribe who may be scattered and lost! You are the future!"
"Only when we possess the power to shake the very foundations of the world can we truly reclaim everything that belongs to the Yan Clan!"
"Do you understand, Jun'er?"
These earnest and heartfelt words of admonition shook Yan Jun to his core. Looking into the light in Yan Chao's eyes and feeling the heavy responsibility emanating from the large hand resting on his head, his previously bewildered gaze began to settle after the immense shock. Though still somewhat immature, it began to reveal an indescribable determination.
He nodded vigorously, as if trying to etch this deep-seated hatred into his heart: "Elder, I understand!"
Xiao Yan listened silently to the teachings, deeply resonating with them. He had come all the way from the Northwest Region, and the key to his success was his own strength. He understood the principle that without strength, one has no voice—a truth he had grasped perfectly back in Wutan City.
Reflecting on the way the Yan Dynasty educated its descendants, Xiao Yan thought of his wife, Little Fairy Doctor, and the child he had yet to meet. At this moment, an uncontrollable longing for his family welled up in Xiao Yan's heart, bringing a warm, stirring feeling.
However, Xiao Yan could only let his emotions run wild, because he really couldn't go back yet; matters needed to be prioritized. Huo Zhi's fate was uncertain, and he couldn't possibly go back without a clear outcome.
Xiao Yan has his own set of rules for doing things. The Soul Clan's Soul Palace is indeed terrifying, but it's impossible for it to frighten Xiao Yan into not moving forward.
"Xian'er, wait for me a little longer, it won't be long!"