Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1885 Chapter 504: Leaving Seclusion, Competing for the Throne! (Part 3)

"Not yet, I heard they were given a century."

"A century? With the Ancient Demon freshly emerged and our initial defenses shattered, can we truly endure for that long?"

"Precisely, delaying a full century for their selection— are we just waiting to gather the dead?"

Numerous clan leaders showed clear signs of agitation.

At the ongoing front lines, their kin and warriors dropped constantly, fueling their worry.

"The Emperors have already decided this; further debate is pointless. It's merely a century, everyone. We've endured for a hundred thousand years— surely we can manage just one more?!"

The Jiang Family Patriarch cut into the murmurs with a sharp, icy rebuke.

Though female, her striking gaze held an imposing authority, and as it swept over them, several clan leaders averted their looks.

"That's right, absent the Emperors themselves, we Quasi-Emperors must step up personally. Only a century— even at the cost of our lives, we will defend it!"

The Lin Family Patriarch declared in a frosty tone, his every syllable dripping with lethal intent.

Upon hearing this, various clan leaders promptly started clapping and voicing support.

While certain heads harbored doubts, powerful lineages moved swiftly, not solely depending on the Ten Thousand Clans' forces.

"Everyone, this conflict decides the Northern Domain's fate. The Ancient Demon's assault isn't some trivial clash. The Eastern Domain faces total ruin soon. Forget saving strength for later rivalries. All our families have dispatched top prodigies to vie for True King. Even without claiming True King, the Su Family's gifted ones could still vie for vice-True King!"

Su Zhenyuan's icy stare commanded the gathering as he scanned the assembly: "Thus, once the Ten Thousand Clans' army arrives to help, should our families endure heavy casualties, all must compensate accordingly!"

His statement cut straight to the point. As head of the Su Family for tens of thousands of years, he favored the leverage of stakes over mere ideals or rallying cries!

The underlying message rang clear: if your families slack off in this defense to spare your forces, inflicting major harm on our greater houses, then upon the Ten Thousand Clans' army's arrival, you'll be thrust to the vanguard in battle!

Rebellion? That meant opposing not only the Su family, but every Emperor as well.

This intense contest among the Ten Thousand Clans for True King stems from why even Emperor Clans and Dao Clans crave that crown, particularly the supreme First True King seat.

Amid this dire war, the Emperors' combined decree grants the True King vast power, rivaling that of Emperors alone!

Su Zhenyuan's declaration shifted several clan leaders' faces in an instant, sparks of fury and reluctance in their gazes, yet they swallowed their words with clenched jaws.

This Emperor-led alliance of Ten Thousand Clans forced many prominent houses to recognize their prodigies couldn't match for True King or vice roles, but they still had to join, supplying both soldiers and supplies.

After all, opting out equaled exile from the Ten Thousand Clans, offering zero safeguard in the conflict and shoving them straight into cannon-fodder spots at the front, hastening their end.

"And the Dao Clan? As a powerhouse in the Northern Domain, they must surely step forward now?"

One clan leader finally voiced the question.

The Lin Family Patriarch gave a nod. "The Dao Clan's Emperor has joined my ancestor on the field, and the Dao Clan is rallying their troops at present."

His statement drew relieved exhales from many clan leaders.

While the Su, Lin, and similar houses topped the Northern Domain, the Dao Clan— second in the True Realm— served as the region's elusive aristocracy, seldom surfacing, though their standing might demand uniting the Su, Lin, and Jiang Families to rival.

...

At the same time, the Western Regions and Southern Domain faced the Ancient Demon onslaught too.

In the Western Regions, home to the Heavenly Emperor Clan and the fourth-ranked Saint Clans.

Among the Four Domains, the Western Regions held the mightiest troops, yet it remained wildly disordered, with houses locked in fierce rivalries. Beyond fending off the Ancient Demon, deaths from clan feuds had outstripped demon fights over time.

Now, the Heavenly Emperor Clan had summoned the Saint Clans and other key Western houses for talks, forging a temporary coalition army against the encroaching Ancient Demon.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Emperor and Saint Emperor headed to the frontier to clash with the invading Reincarnation Clan and Ashen Clan Emperors.

The once-turbulent Western Regions had briefly united under the Heavenly Emperor Clan and Saint Clans' summons and guidance, achieving fleeting calm.

And within the Southern Domain.

The Seven Ancient Immortal Dynasties received orders from the Southern Domain Venerable to wholly repel the Ancient Demon beyond their lands.

Yet, among the Southern Domain's myriad Immortal Dynasties, only the Seven Ancient ones wielded true might; the rest lagged far behind, some lines already cracked by the Ancient Demon, allowing invasion into Southern territory.

"Won't the Heavenly Palace dispatch reinforcements? Relying just on us— curse it!"

"The borders fell; four Ancient Demon Quasi-Emperors are coordinating. Your Majesty, we stand no chance against them!"

In the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty's palace, avatars of countless generals vented their rage.

The Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, beyond the famed Quasi-Emperor Yan Chu Emperor, concealed just three more: the present National Guardian General, Shangguan Hong.

One served as State Preceptor, Yuan Xinggang.

The last posed as a simple aide near Emperor Yan Chu, seeming like a regular close servant, yet truly a Quasi-Emperor.

This single Immortal Dynasty Palace housed two Quasi-Emperors, while the whole Yan Chu counted four.

Emperor Chu showed no plan to join the fray, and the four Ancient Demon Quasi-Emperors already overwhelmed Shangguan Hong and Yuan Xinggang in combat, leaving them unable to bolster the rear lines and causing the border collapse.