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Chapter 1054: Chapter 996: Eruption
"For this matter, what are the Elders’ opinions?"
After the Zhang Family Clan Leader and other Elders finished reading the joint plea for help, they slowly opened the discussion.
"We must dispatch our clan members to go and repel the Devil Race, and if we can completely drive them out, that would be even better!" No sooner had the voice fallen than an Elder shouted loudly.
"That’s right!"
Another Elder stood up, speaking forcefully, "Although the heartland of Shanyuan State is under our family’s control within the vast plains, with the development by those smaller forces, and the previous integration within the Taixu Illusionary Realm, the resources output of the Thousandfold Mountains has increased significantly. This is a good opportunity to take it down, providing more resources for the development of our family."
"But this would likely make our family the main force against the Devil Race, inevitably leading to significant casualties, which could in turn be detrimental to the family’s development." Another Elder expressed opposition.
"As the Lord of Shanyuan State, if we stand by idly and let the Devil Race occupy the mountains, how would our family get on in the path of the Immortal Tao in the future? Moreover, the consequences of losing luck are even more severe!"
A tall and mighty Elder spoke with a voice like a giant bell, "Our family has been in a peaceful environment for too long, the combat capability of our people has generally declined, and a large number of our people are experiencing insufficient practice, weak Dao Heart, and other issues. If this continues, not to mention further development, our family might even decline!"
"Therefore, our family must participate in this battle! During the grand battle with the Devil Race, we need to compensate for the deficiencies of the younger generation and push them further."
Pausing, he spoke with a solemn face, "For the future of our family, even if there are numerous casualties, it must be done!"
During the great battle at the East Sea, although the Zhang Family participated, it was mostly high-level cultivators fighting against the Sea Clan, with lower-cultivation family members almost always at the backlines.
At that time, the Zhang Family wanted to secure its future. Looking back now, it’s clear how detrimental that decision has been, leading directly to a generational gap within the family.
The generation that should have carried on the family banner is still scarce in realms of Divine Transformation, Void Refinement, or breakthroughs in Integration!
And the new generation is too young to support the family in the short term.
This also means the cultivators of the Zhang Family, who should have been concentrating on cultivation to attempt advancing to Mahayana, found themselves unable to step back!
Due to the lack of Integration Cultivators to act as Elders to manage the family.
Consider, the Zhang Family is an old Integration Family, which even produced a Great Vehicle Cultivator years ago. If a Lianxu Cultivator assumes the role, it would give outsiders the impression that the Zhang Family is in decline and losing power.
When the time comes, various tests will follow one after another, and once confirmed, those Integration powers in the west will certainly not let go of the fertile plains!
With this point made, the Elders who initially wanted to oppose were rendered speechless.
Whether seen from the noble cause of the Immortal Tao or family interests, the Zhang Family has no choice but to take part in this grand battle and will become the main force against the Devil Race.
"Going to war with the Devil Race also has its benefits."
An Elder spoke to ease the atmosphere, smiling, "The Devil Race has been operating in the mountains for many years, our family will gain a large area rich in Spiritual Energy, plus those smaller forces will become vassals to our family, providing significant annual tributes."
"Most importantly, the sudden exodus of the Devil Race to wage a large-scale battle might mean that they have found some treasure on some Immortal Tao power’s territory, otherwise why would they act now after occupying the mountains for so many years?"
Although this was speculation, it gave the Zhang Family some other considerations, at least it didn’t look like a losing proposition.
"Since everyone agrees to engage in a battle with the Devil Race, let’s start mobilizing our people and head to the battlefield as soon as possible to prevent the mountain forces from being defeated by the Devil Race, which might otherwise spread the battlefield even further and cause greater losses." The Zhang Family Clan Leader made the final decision.
The reason he had been silent until the dust settled before announcing was mainly to preserve his own authority and avoid too much opposition to his decisions.
The Zhang Family, as an old Integration Family, though it has faced a generational gap in recent years, its foundation remains intact. After mobilization, immediately tens of thousands of cultivators were gathered, mostly from the realms of Lianxu and Divine Transformation, with not many Integration Cultivators.
Because the Zhang Family did not yet wish to wage a full-scale war with the Devil Race! They planned to limit the war below the level of Integration.
After all, one of the main objectives of the Zhang Family in this battle is to train this generation of family members, helping them to grow up as soon as possible.
If Integration Cultivators were to enter the field, the scale of the war would be too large, and the Zhang Family would face very severe losses, possibly even endangering their foundation.
Besides the tens of thousands of cultivators, the Zhang Family also directly provided a large amount of strategic Spiritual Objects, ready to accompany the cultivators to the battlefield.
From this, one can also discern the depth of a power’s foundation.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the various powers of the mountains, whether large or small, gathered together. Perhaps there had been conflicts and grievances before, but with the invasion of the Devil Race and the existence of life and death at stake, all had set aside their grievances, at least outwardly, united.
"We should strike first, catch the Devil Race off guard, and also fix the battlefield to prevent the Devil Race from running amok and causing huge losses to everyone." A certain Lianxu Cultivator proposed.
This theory made a lot of sense, but his intentions were not pure, as his Sect was very close to the Devil Race. Once the Devil Race attacked, his Sect would suffer heavy losses, which were inevitable now due to the lack of time.
