Chapter 2337: Reluctance
Ye Futian’s words seemed to have a deterrent effect on both sides.
Of course, this was made possible by his own tyrannical combat effectiveness. Ye Futian’s attack seemed to have threatened the Battle Matrix of the Rocks. This battle matrix may have been broken up had he continued with the attacks, resulting in the death of these cultivators from the Lost Clan, which would directly threaten the stability of the Lost Clan.
If he stepped back now and choose not to participate, then the cultivators from the Lost Clan would continue their own attack. It was possible that the eight cultivators from Divine Prefecture would be slaughtered. In short, there would be casualties on both sides.
Therefore, at this moment, Ye Futian seemed to be playing a key role in deterring both sides.
He had the ability to advocate a truce. The Lost Clan had to agree, and so did the cultivators from Divine Prefecture. Or else, he would stop running the interference.
However, the eight cultivators from the Ancient God Clan did not express any gratitude for Ye Futian’s suggestion. On the contrary, their eyes were icy when Hua Junlai asked, “Emperor Ye, did you forget the reason why you were in the Battle Matrix of the Rocks?”
Ye Futian was invited by him to break up the formation. Now, what was this that he was doing?
He seemed to have forgotten which side he belonged to. If Ye Futian still remembered the reason he was here, then he should break up the formation with them, not uttering another word.
But obviously, Ye Futian didn’t come here to break up the Battle Matrix of the Rocks. And now, the cultivators from Divine Prefecture were unsure of what Ye Futian had in mind, or what was it that he wanted?
They thought that for cultivators who had reached this level, everything that they chose to do must have sufficient reasons so that they could convince themselves of their own purpose.
But from Ye Futian, they had not seen any evidence of this yet.
“You were invited to join us to break the Battle Matrix of the Rocks, which you have clearly forgotten. Do you have any sense of propriety?” another cultivator from the Ancient God Clan asked, sounding displeased with strong resentment.
“If you gentlemen wish to continue, I will have no choice but to withdraw.” Ye Futian didn’t respond to the man who spoke, but his response, in turn, caused the cultivators from the Ancient God Clan to look quite uncertain.
Their attacks were strong enough to shake the Battle Matrix of the Rocks in its ultimate configuration, which was the rocks forged by flesh and blood. However, when the cultivators of the Lost Clan were burning themselves up, even powerful existence like them could sense the great danger that was afoot.
If Ye Futian withdrew, it was still the strongest blow dealt by the eight cultivators from Divine Prefecture to the cultivators from the Lost Clan. No one dared to predict what the outcome would be. They themselves would be in the same predicament where their chance of survival would be unknown.
This was a tremendous gamble—wagering their own lives. With their status and positions today, were they willing to die here like this?
Clearly, it was not a risk that they would take on easily or willingly. Their goal was to provoke Ye Futian into taking action, but no one expected that Ye Futian not only failed to obey but was using it as an opportunity to blackmail them into giving up, knowing very well that his inaction would spell disastrous consequences for all those who chose to continue in the battle.
All eyes were focused on Ye Futian. After a while, Hua Junlai, with eyes so frosty, glanced at Ye Futian and addressed the Lost Clan, “In this case, will the cultivators from the Lost Clan agree to stop fighting at this point?”
Hua Junlai’s words suddenly relaxed the suffocating coercion that had permeated this space. Now that he had posed the question, it was obvious that he intended to give it up and not gamble with their own lives. With their status and positions, there was no need to fight to the death with the Lost Clan.
The cultivators from the Lost Clan were willing to protect their caves’ holy land with their lives, but their opponents did not have the same resolve, unwilling to risk their lives or inconvenience themselves in the slightest. That aura served as a warning of any potential threats.
“Yes,” the old man from the Lost Clan said. Unless it was the last resort, why would he order the nine cultivators from the Lost Clan to fight to the death, all at the same time?
Once this final blow was delivered, there would be no retreat. The nine cultivators from the Lost clan would die, but their opponents would also pay an equally tragic price. They were forced by the situation; if the Lost Clan did not demonstrate the ruthless measures they were willing to take, there would be other battles to fight in the future.
His voice fell, and the divine light began to flow backward, gradually dissipating. Suddenly, the figures of the nine cultivators from the Lost Clan started to solidify, gradually became clear. However, they seemed to have expanded quite a lot of their own life force as they appeared a little tired. Clearly, they had been weakened quite considerably.
Both sides pulled back at the same time. This battle seemed to have ended there.
As the two sides pulled away from each other, they fell into a short silence without exchanging words. However, solemnity and oppression could still be felt in the aura of the Great Path that lingered in the space.
“This exchange is considered a draw; there is no winner or loser.” The old man from the Lost Clan spoke up, but no one responded. The entire space was still frightfully suppressed.
At this moment, Hua Junlai turned around, and his cold gaze fell on Ye Futian. His white robe fluttered in the wind, and there were wisps of chill engraved on his face.
“Don’t you want to explain?” Hua Junlai asked coldly. If Ye Futian had not deliberately done this, they might have been victorious. Their attack was so close to breaking the Battle Matrix of the Rocks. Obviously, Ye Futian could deliver the final coup de grâce but deliberately withheld, even using it to threaten them.
He didn’t fault the cultivators from the Lost Clan; it was a gamble and battle between the two sides. However, in his opinion, Ye Futian had betrayed them.
“Perhaps Emperor Ye will be able to cultivate in the caves of the Lost Clan in the near future.” Another sarcastic remark was heard from another cultivator of the Ancient God Clan. They were already a little irritated when Ye Futian was participating in the battle.
Not to mention everything that had happened afterward.
“I don’t want to see anyone get hurt. The continuation of that fight will not benefit either the Lost Clan or any of you. It was just a friendly exchange; no need to pay such a dear price for something so trivial.” Ye Futian looked at Hua Junlai as he responded.
“Really? Has Emperor Ye never heard of ‘do what you agreed to do’?” Obviously, Hua Junlai refused to accept Ye Futian’s explanation. If Ye Futian was reluctant to make a move against the Lost Clan, he didn’t have to agree to participate in the first place. However, since he did, he should have done all that he could to help them succeed.
Not only did Ye Futian fail to do that, but he even refused to make a move and threatened them with his inaction.
If he had picked someone else instead of choosing Ye Futian, would the outcome be any different? Could they have broken the Battle Matrix of the Rocks by now?
“What do you want?” Ye Futian frowned. Wisps of Great Path coercion spread out from Hua Junlai’s body and directly suppressed upon him. It seemed that Hua Junlai wanted to challenge him.
And Hua Junlai was not alone; other cultivators from Divine Prefecture were also staring him down, and some even took a few steps toward him. The same elusive aura fell on him as well, as if they, too, wanted to take action against him. Clearly, these cultivators were unhappy with him!