241: Chapter 239 Seeking Help from a Tiger

The Second Prince's temporary manor was located in Zhenbei City, a key town on the Northern Border.

The style here was completely different from other cities in the Zifu Immortal Dynasty; the walls were taller and thicker, the city defense Formations were more numerous and powerful, and most pedestrians on the street were Cultivators, with few Mortals to be seen.

The wind was strong, blowing from the north, carrying the dust of the wilderness and a faint, lingering scent of blood.

The Second Prince stood on the terrace at the highest point of the manor, looking at the gray horizon to the north.

His face was gloomier than before, his eyes deeply sunken, his cheekbones protruding, and his lips purple.

News of the Third Prince's defeat and death had already reached him; he felt neither joy nor fear.

The Third Prince's downfall was within his expectations; the Crown Prince's next target would be him.

But he was not afraid; he had cards in his hand.

He turned and walked back into the room, dismissed all his attendants, and closed the door.

No lamps were lit in the room, only a few Nether Lamps in the corners emitted an eerie blue light.

The Second Prince sat down in the center chair and took out a pitch-black token from his sleeve, which was engraved with a twisted rune.

He injected spiritual energy into the token, the rune lit up, and the air in the room began to distort.

Three blurry phantoms emerged from the darkness, suspended in mid-air.

Their outlines were very vague, their faces indistinguishable, and one could only vaguely make out their general shapes—one tall and mighty, one slender as a snake, and one short and stout as a ball.

They had no physical bodies, appearing as if condensed from black mist, but the oppressive pressure present was real enough to make one breathless.

"Your Highness the Second Prince, summoning us late at night, what is your business?" The tall and mighty phantom spoke, its voice deep and thick.

The Second Prince leaned back in his chair, hands crossed over his abdomen, looking at the three phantoms.

"The Third Prince has been defeated. The Crown Prince will deal with me next."

The slender snake-like phantom let out a sharp laugh.

"Afraid? When you first sought our cooperation, you didn't look like this."

The Second Prince ignored its mockery.

"I am not afraid; I am reminding you that it is time to contribute."

The short and stout ball-like phantom said in a muffled voice, "We have always been contributing. Without our troops, you would have been crushed by the Crown Prince long ago."

The Second Prince nodded.

"I know. But it's not enough. The Crown Prince has a large number of retainers, with over a dozen at the Nascent Soul Stage. Those at the Golden Core Stage you sent are not enough."

The three phantoms were silent for a moment.

The tall and mighty phantom spoke. "What do you want?" The Second Prince sat up straight, his gaze fixed on that phantom. "Soul Transformation Stage. At least three at the Soul Transformation Stage."

The room fell silent.

The three phantoms did not speak, but the oppressive pressure in the air grew stronger.

The light of the Nether Lamps flickered uncertainly, as if suppressed by something.

The Second Prince did not back down; he just sat there in his chair, looking at the three phantoms, waiting for their answer.

After a long time, the slender snake-like phantom spoke. "Three at the Soul Transformation Stage, we have them. But what can you give?"

The corners of the Second Prince's mouth curled up slightly.

"After the matter is successful, you can take your pick of the Zifu Immortal Dynasty's Spirit Stone mines, Spiritual Veins, and Spirit Medicine gardens. As for resources, I will give as much as you want."

The short and stout ball-like phantom let out a low chuckle.

"Your Highness the Second Prince is indeed straightforward." The tall and mighty phantom spoke, "We can give you the Soul Transformation Stage experts. But we have one more condition."

"Speak."

"After the matter is successful, we must have priority in choosing the resources of the Zifu Immortal Dynasty. If you agree, we will send our troops."

The Second Prince's brow furrowed for a moment, but it soon relaxed.

"Very well. But there is one prerequisite—the throne must be mine."

He used the imperial 'I' for the first time, his tone brook no dissent.

The three phantoms glanced at each other and then nodded simultaneously.

"Agreed. We have no interest in the throne. We only want resources."

The Second Prince nodded.

"Then it's settled. When can your Soul Transformation Stage experts arrive?"

"Within three days," the tall and mighty phantom said. "Three at the Soul Transformation Stage, five hundred at the Nascent Soul Stage, three thousand at the Golden Core Stage, and tens of thousands at the Foundation Establishment stage will arrive one after another. Be ready to receive them."

The Second Prince's eyes lit up.

"So many?"

The slender snake-like phantom laughed.

"To deal with the Crown Prince, we naturally need to send more manpower. We also don't want you to lose."

The Second Prince didn't think too much; he knew these Yao Race beings had a huge appetite, but he didn't care.

As long as he could sit in that seat, any price paid would be worth it.

He nodded, "Good. I will wait for you."

The three phantoms gradually dissipated, and silence returned to the room.

The Second Prince leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.

Three at the Soul Transformation Stage, five hundred at the Nascent Soul Stage, and three thousand at the Golden Core Stage.

This force was enough to crush the Crown Prince.

He had already begun to imagine himself sitting on the Dragon Throne.

The corners of the Second Prince's mouth curled up slightly, but he quickly pulled them back.

He knew that cooperating with these Yao Race beings was like dealing with tigers; they had a huge appetite and were ruthless.

After the matter was successful, would they turn and bite him? He didn't know. But he didn't care.

Where in the world are there good things without risk? Seizing the throne is a gamble, and cooperating with the Yao Race is also a gamble.

Since it's all a gamble, why not make it a big one?

He stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open.

The night wind poured in, blowing his robes. The sky to the north grew even darker, as if something was surging in the darkness.

He watched for a long time and then smiled.

That smile was very cold, like ice shards in winter.

Meanwhile, on a wasteland outside Zhenbei City, the three phantoms reconsolidated.

This time they had physical forms, stepping out from the black mist, their feet on the ground leaving deep footprints.

The tall and mighty phantom transformed into a giant man three zhang tall, covered in pitch-black scales, with a pair of curved horns on his head.

The slender snake-like phantom transformed into a woman with an enchanting face, her body twisting like a water snake, and a long tail trailing behind her.

The short and stout ball-like phantom transformed into a stout fat man, covered in thick carapace, with short, thick limbs, looking like a standing pangolin.

The giant man snorted. "This kid has quite an appetite. Three at the Soul Transformation Stage, he actually dared to ask." The woman covered her mouth and giggled. "A big appetite is good. Only with a big appetite will he fight desperately. The harder he fights, the more effort we save."

The stout fat man said in a muffled voice, "Do you think we'll really leave him a place after he takes the throne?"

The giant man shook his head. "Give him what? We are the Extraterrestrial Yao Race, not those local little monsters. Our goal isn't a few mineral veins; it's the entire world."

The woman's smile became even more brilliant as she stuck out a forked tongue and licked her lips.

"The Origin of the Xuanhuang Continent is enough for our world to evolve. By devouring this world, we won't have to wander around anymore."

The stout fat man nodded.

"Then we proceed according to plan. First, help him seize the throne, and as soon as he sits on it, we will launch a full-scale invasion. At that time, his army and our army will act together to uproot the Zifu Immortal Dynasty."

The giant man grinned, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth.

"No, not just the Zifu Immortal Dynasty. It's the entire Xuanhuang Continent. Tiannan Region, Tianbei Region, East Xuan Region, and Ximing Continent—not a single one will be spared."

The woman looked up at the night sky.

There were no stars in the sky, only thick layers of clouds.

"We've waited so long, and finally, this day has come."

The three Great Yao looked at each other and laughed simultaneously. The laughter echoed across the wasteland, startling a flock of birds resting in the distance.

They laughed for a long time, until their voices grew hoarse, before stopping.

"Let's go," the giant man said. "Go prepare. In three days, the army sets out."

The woman's tail flicked, and her body turned into a streak of black light, disappearing into the horizon. The stout fat man also turned into a streak of black light, following closely behind. The giant man was the last to leave; he looked back in the direction of Zhenbei City, a cruel smile playing on his lips. Then his body turned into a streak of black light and disappeared into the night sky.

Silence returned to the wasteland, with only the sound of the wind blowing through the withered grass.

No one knew that a storm was coming.