Lu Yuan spoke, confirming the other party's guess. After all, there was really nothing to hide.
Anyone attentive enough would be able to notice, so it was better to simply be direct. The moment his words fell, Jiang Ningxian gave a slight start before turning her head to gaze at her brother with an amused smile. She seemed to know exactly what he was feeling right now, watching on as if enjoying a good show.
Sure enough, in the very next instant, Jiang Haokong's eyes went wide. He extended a trembling hand, pointing directly at Lu Yuan.
Indeed, it was utterly beyond belief. It was simply too fast—so fast that he had barely had time to process it. One had to realize that Jiang Haokong was already ranked among the strongest chosen prides in the entire starry sky. Even after attaining the Immortal Realm, progressing further was extraordinarily difficult, regardless of how formidable one's innate talent was.
Advancing even a single step beyond the Immortal Realm was an ordeal of immense difficulty. Having made substantial headway and feeling that his arduous toil was on the verge of carrying him into the Grotto-Heaven Immortal realm, Jiang Haokong had originally believed that all his recent efforts had not been in vain. After comparing his progress with that of his predecessors, his speed was unquestionably astonishing—and that had been the foundation of his pride.
Thus, when he met Lu Yuan again, he had carried an air of confidence: *You're strong, but I'm not far behind either.*
And now? The man had actually touched the threshold of a Creation Immortal. How long had it been since he broke through to Grotto-Heaven Immortal? And he had already made such monumental progress?
Once it was confirmed, Jiang Haokong was left thoroughly speechless, simply staring at Lu Yuan. Once again, he had taken a devastating blow to his confidence.
"All right, don't forget our actual business." Beside him, Jiang Ningxian shook her head at the sight. Naturally, she understood what her brother was thinking better than anyone else, but it was hardly important now. After all, this was far from the first time such a thing had happened.
Although she had also been immensely shocked by how quickly Lu Yuan had advanced, when she thought about it carefully, it seemed almost normal. Ever since she first met him, she had lived in a constant state of astonishment. What was impossible for others, Lu Yuan could always achieve.
Reflecting on that, there was little left to be surprised about.
Beside her, Jiang Haokong snapped back to reality upon hearing his sister's reminder. Pausing briefly, he spoke: "We discovered that the forces of the Eternal Clan and the Ji clan are drawing near. It won't be long before they descend. In the meantime, they've been continually reaching out to the various races of the starry sky, seemingly trying to forge an alliance. Many star sectors have already answered the call, which could pose a serious threat to us."
In the past, the two major factions had attempted similar maneuvers, but never so conspicuously. Back then, it was nothing more than roping in a handful of star sectors. This time was different: they were leveraging the full weight of their influence, and even prominent figures from both clans had mobilized in person to forge a true coalition.
Upon receiving this intelligence, the Jiang clan had taken it with utmost gravity. Through their repeated conflicts, the Heavenly Court and the Jiang clan had found themselves completely opposed to those two major powers—if not irreconcilable enemies, then something very close to it. Why else would the other side seek to rally various factions now? The most obvious objective was to crush the Heavenly Court and the Jiang clan. If nothing else, the blood debts of the two Divine Sons had to be repaid.
This grand mobilization left the Jiang clan deeply concerned, for those descending this time represented the very foundation and core reserves of both factions. If a true crisis erupted, both sides would indeed have to confront it together. The Jiang clan alone lacked the strength to face both powerhouses at once, especially while they were continuously gathering allies.
"The suggestion from our clan is to take the initiative to ally with others as well, thereby expanding our own forces," Jiang Ningxian explained, detailing the Jiang clan's proposal. In truth, this was a very sensible approach. If an open clash were to break out, they would have nothing to fear. If the enemy had numbers, their side would have numbers too.
However, upon hearing this, Lu Yuan pondered for a moment before responding, "I don't think that is necessary."
"Anyone brought over through opportunistic courting is likely to stab us in the back the moment the tide turns against us. Such an alliance is inherently fragile. What we truly need are people capable of standing firmly alongside us."
His reasoning was straightforward. Even if they leveraged the Jiang clan's prestige to rally a crowd, it would achieve little. In the end, this universe relied on only one thing: sheer strength—at least in ordinary circumstances. Especially when dealing with major star sectors, an alliance formed without deep trust held no real meaning. It was just like the coalition the Ji clan and Eternal Clan were assembling; if they were ever pushed into a disadvantage, their so-called allies would likely betray them in a heartbeat.
Only a partnership like that between the Jiang clan and the Heavenly Court would remain unshakable. If either fell into peril, the other would spare no effort to assist.
Listening to his words, the brother and sister exchanged glances. What Lu Yuan had said made absolute sense. Previously, all they had considered was expanding their raw combat power, without thinking of the underlying consequences.
"Then what do you think we should do next?" Jiang Haokong asked, a look of perplexity in his eyes.
"Proceed as we always have." Lu Yuan offered a faint smile. "If the two great factions wish to make a move, let them. All we need to do is keep track of their actions at every moment while continuing according to our existing plans.
"I am certain that whether it is the Ji clan or the Eternal Clan, they will eventually lay their true intentions bare.
"When that time comes, that will be our cue to strike. Refusing to let the enemy lead us by the nose—that is the crux of the matter."
Why had the two factions suddenly made such a move? It was nothing more than some hidden motive. As long as they remained mindful of that, it was enough. Let thousands of troops march; I remain unmoved like a towering mountain. That was the principle.
"I understand what to do," Jiang Ningxian agreed with a nod. In her eyes, Lu Yuan had never been wrong. In hindsight, taking the initiative to court fair-weather allies was indeed redundant. True allies would never need to be bought over, and if conflict truly erupted, too many variables would be left to chance.
"Right, my father will also descend before long," Jiang Ningxian added, recalling another matter. "He won't stay for very long, but he wants to have a word with you." This was something that had been decided earlier.
Hearing this, Lu Yuan nodded. In truth, he was looking forward to it as well. What would one of the supreme powerhouses of the contemporary universe have to say? Would it concern those two Domain Lords, or something else entirely?
Chapter 424