Published: March 12, 2025
As soon as Caihuaduolier spoke, he felt a hint of regret. He knew that matters within the clan couldn't be decided by him alone. So, when he heard Zhao Hai say that, he chose not to continue the conversation.
At this moment, Yage and the other four walked out of the room. To Zhao Hai's surprise, Yage had a smile on his face as he warmly said, “Sir, Yage is here to congratulate you. I never expected you would ascend; it's truly enviable.”
Upon hearing Yage's words, Laihuadoril was taken aback. He turned to glance at Zhao Hai, thinking that the matter of ascending was something only the two of them knew about. But now it seemed that wasn’t the case.
Zhao Hai smiled gently at Laihuadoril to reassure him, then turned his attention back to Yage and said with a smile, “Whether I can ascend is still uncertain. Clan Leader Yage, your congratulations might be a bit premature.”
Yage replied with a grin, “Not at all, it’s not premature. How could the God Realm accommodate you, Sir? When you ascend, please make sure to inform me so that we can witness the event. If I can see the ascension scene, then my life wouldn’t be in vain.”
Zhao Hai smiled slightly and said, “If I plan to ascend, I will definitely inform the clan leader. You can rest assured.”
Laihuadoril, upon hearing the exchange between Zhao Hai and Yage, couldn't help but feel a spark of insight. He turned to glance thoughtfully at Xiao Bingya and the others standing behind Yage and Yelduo. He now understood that Yage had called them into the room to ask about Zhao Hai, and they must have informed Yage about Zhao Hai's potential ascension, which was why Yage's attitude had changed so drastically.
However, Yage's words indicated that Xiao Bingya and the others only told him about Zhao Hai's ascension and didn’t mention that Zhao Hai could take people with him. Laihuadoril pondered whether this was because they didn't know or if they did know but chose not to say.
If they didn't know, then there was nothing strange about it. But if they knew and were still silent, it could only mean one thing: Xiao Bingya and the others had already aligned themselves with Zhao Hai.
As Laihuadoril contemplated these matters, he took another sip of wine. After putting down his glass, he suddenly realized that Xiao Bingya and the others must have become Zhao Hai's people.
At that moment, Laihuadoril understood a pivotal truth: Zhao Hai had merely shared a drink with him, yet it had fostered a sense of closeness. He even found himself feeling discontent towards Yage and Yelduo, feeling that they leaned towards Zhao Hai. And considering that Xiao Bingya and the others had followed Zhao Hai for so long, with Zhao Hai's capabilities, how could he not manage them? Moreover, with the prospect of ascension as bait, they had no choice but to submit to Zhao Hai.
Having figured this out, Laihuadoril cast another glance at Zhao Hai, who was laughing and joking with Yage. He realized that Zhao Hai was truly formidable; it seemed every step he took was deliberate. Even if one understood his motives, it appeared impossible to thwart him since everything he did was beneficial and harmless to others. He had drawn everyone who knew his affairs into his sphere of interest. As long as he benefited, everyone would share in it; conversely, if he didn't, it would be disadvantageous for everyone. Thus, all who recognized his intentions would not obstruct him but rather assist him.
If this was how his allies felt, what would it be like to be his enemy? Thinking of the nine great elders of the divine race sent shivers down Laihuadoril's spine. As the clan leader of the Dwarven Divine Race, he was certainly familiar with the Elder Supremes of the divine race. Yet when he saw the nine great elders, he was genuinely startled. If it weren't for Dingxing and the others using those ultimate weapons, he would not have believed that those people were the nine great elders of the divine race. They had been tortured by Zhao Hai to the point of being unrecognizable.