Chapter 2604: Chapter 2604
How could Zhou Qiang resist joining such a large-scale battle?
He had long prepared a million-strong army, waiting for the moment Ling Xiao engaged the alien invaders to launch a surprise attack on the Jin Clan—kicking them while they were down. However, the commanders he had appointed were nothing but mediocre yes-men he’d kept around for years. The moment the order to attack was given, they all retreated to the rear, content to watch from a safe distance.
The soldiers, too, were demoralized and had no desire to turn on the Jin Clan. There had always been an unspoken agreement between the two armies: when the aliens attacked, they would stand together against the common enemy, never betraying each other. Fighting their own kind left the troops deeply resentful.
Compounded by the incompetence and cowardice of their so-called leaders, morale plummeted.
Meanwhile, inside the Jin Clan’s territory, the warriors were tense but fired up, ready to fight to the death to protect their newly established home. Ling Xiao, anticipating Zhou Qiang’s treachery, had already prepared defenses and swiftly led a group of elite fighters back to reinforce their stronghold.
The contrast between the two sides was stark. The Zhou army made a half-hearted show of attacking before quickly retreating. A million soldiers loomed outside the Jin Clan’s borders—yet not a single one advanced.
Some of the original commanders, still respected by the troops, even ordered defensive measures in case the aliens broke through, ready to aid the Jin Clan if needed. The officers Zhou Qiang had sent found their authority ignored. With the veteran commanders back in charge and the soldiers loyal to them, the newcomers were powerless.
Any attempt to remove the old commanders would spark a mutiny—trapping Zhou Qiang’s lackeys in a hostile army with no way out.
Then came the sight of Ling Xiao’s forces, victorious against overwhelming odds, chasing down the alien horde in a united front. The Zhou soldiers watched in silence as the invaders were crushed, their indifference toward the Jin Clan now tinged with shame.
The original commanders gathered, seeking negotiations with Ling Xiao.
Though it was framed as negotiations, Ling Xiao was essentially persuading them to surrender.
"You all know exactly what kind of man Zhou Qiang is," he said, his voice steady but firm. "I promise no one will be forced to join the Jin Clan. Once Zhou Qiang is overthrown, those who wish to leave may do so freely. But right now, resisting the alien invaders is our top priority. We can’t afford to fight among ourselves anymore."
Given their history of prior unification, the ranks of both sides were already a mix of Zhou and Jin clansmen, making it nearly impossible to tell them apart. The commanders understood all too well—if they insisted on fighting now, it would be brother against brother.
In the end, they reached an agreement: the million-strong army would assist the Jin Clan in eradicating the alien threat, then encamp nearby until Zhou Qiang was deposed and the Zhou Clan had a strong new leader. Only then would they return. They also agreed that if any Jin soldiers wished to rejoin their own clan later, they would not be stopped.
With the deal struck, the massive army abruptly turned its weapons against the alien invaders instead, leaving the commanders sent by Zhou Qigh stranded.
Those abandoned officers fled in haste, rushing back to report to Zhou Qiang that the entire army had mutinied.
Furious, Zhou Qiang immediately issued a mobilization order, calling on every member of the clan to take up arms and march against the Jin Clan.
But far from rallying support, his decree only sparked the first wave of defections. Jin clansmen still within the Zhou territories began deserting en masse. Soon, warriors and civilians alike were fleeing toward Jin territory.
Even among the Zhou clansmen, resentment simmered. Many were disgusted that Zhou Qiang would ignore the alien threat and instead seize the moment to attack the Jin. Groups of warriors gathered—not to join the campaign, but to charge into battle on their own, hunting down the scattered alien soldiers.
Some opportunistic major factions directly fled to the Jin Clan with their resources and entire families, forcing Zhou Qiang to impose martial law and seal off the Zhou Clan’s territory.
Yet even under lockdown, certain powerful groups could still bribe their way past the guards with resources. The Zhou Clan had become a cesspool of corruption, effectively controlled by these self-serving factions. They cared only for profit, indifferent to the clan’s survival. If the Jin Clan attacked, they would simply surrender, playing both sides for their own gain.
Meanwhile, Zhou Qiang forcibly conscripted any martial artists who couldn’t escape, assembling a massive army of two million. But before he could launch his offensive, Ye Liuyun and his forces arrived, joining Meng Qingyin’s troops to eradicate the remaining alien invaders completely.
Ling Xiao promptly informed Ye Liuyun about Zhou Qiang’s movements. Ye Liuyun then gathered the elders, military commanders, and other influential figures from Ling Xiao’s side to discuss their next steps.
"By now, many from the Jin and Zhou Clans have already integrated. Forcing them apart again would only create greater chaos. Instead, we should seize this moment to unify them completely. Overthrowing Zhou Qiang’s rule will be far easier if we stand together. If the two sides remain divided, the aliens will exploit the rift and profit from our disarray."
Ye Liuyun’s proposal won widespread approval. However, Ling Xiao, still clinging to the idea of restoring the Jin Clan, visibly resisted the suggestion.
Patiently, Ye Liuyun reasoned with him, "The old conflicts between the two clans were really just disputes among the elders and powerful factions. Look at the common people and martial artists—haven’t they blended together effortlessly? Now that the clan leaders and elders have mostly fallen, there’s hardly any real barrier left. Forcing a separation now would only burden the ordinary folk."
"For the people and warriors, all they want is stability. If you insist on your own vision, you’d be going against the will of the majority. Ask yourself—what are you really fighting against? If Zhou Qiang is gone, who would your enemy be? Or are you determined to create a new adversary and plunge the people back into conflict?"
Even Zhou Ning, one of the strongest warriors of the Zhou Clan, has agreed to unification. Take a good look at those who’ve come to join you—do they truly wish to pledge allegiance to the Jin Clan, or are they simply seeking a safe haven to survive?"
Ye Liuyun’s words struck a chord in Ling Xiao, planting seeds of doubt in his mind.
At that moment, Zhou Ning stepped forward to speak.
These were his own thoughts, not words forced upon him by Ye Liuyun. In truth, Ye Liuyun rarely ever controlled him.
Zhou Ning said, "I, too, once believed the Zhou Clan should lead all others. But now I see that unity—regardless of which tribe takes charge—depends on whether its leader is capable and accountable to the common people and martial practitioners alike.
"Right now, both our clans grow weaker by the day. If we hope to stand against the foreign invaders, we must unite. As for past grievances... it’s time to let them go."
