Chapter 2131 — End of the Meeting

"W-Wait a second! I must've misheard you... Did you just say you're enemies with the Celestial Emperor?" the leader of the Imperial Vermilion Phoenix Clan asked aloud, snapping out of her daze.

Yuan calmly nodded, "That's exactly what I just said."

“You're essentially asking us to fight the Celestial Emperor with you! This is much more than just being your follower! Do you have any idea what you're asking of us?" Another leader exclaimed.

“I am aware, but I want to clear up one thing," said Yuan. "I am not asking you to fight the Celestial Emperor. I wanted to let you know that he and I will be fighting in the future, so you know what you're getting yourselves into. I'm not going to ask you to fight for or with me."

"Are you serious? Why would you even share this with us? What if we refuse to help you and side with the Celestial Emperor instead?" asked the leader of the Crimson Rebirth Phoenix Clan.

Yuan replied, "Because now you also know that siding with the Celestial Emperor may put you in direct conflict with me in the future. I won't force you to choose. If everyone here decides to support the Celestial Emperor, then so be it."

"And I'm not asking you to decide right this moment. I'l give you one year to choose whose side you'll stand on."

"Hahaha!" the Primordial Phoenix suddenly burst into laughter.

“What's so funny?" Yuan asked him.

“It's funny because the answer is obvious!" he said.

"Oh? Enlighten me."

“Why would we ever choose you over the Celestial Emperor? So what if you're the immortal Monarch? You're nowhere near as powerful as you once were."

"And what makes you say that?" Yuan asked calmly.

The other phoenixes listened with curiosity as the Primordial Phoenix sneered.

“I know more about you than you realize, Immortal Monarch. I know that most of your reputation was built on the Nine Divine Supremes and that most of your strength came from them. But now that they're gone, you're just another human cultivator! Sure, you might command beasts and enhance our bloodlines, but on your own, you're weak!" Hearing the Primordial Phoenix's reasoning, the other phoenixes found his logic sound and began nodding in agreement.

"He's right, Immortal Monarch. You were a nobody before you gained the Nine Divine Supremes’ support," said the leader of the Immortal Ember Phoenix Clan.

“That's why he wants us to serve him. He's desperately trying to replace the Nine Divine Supremes!" Another phoenix remarked.

“I don't need a year to decide. I will continue being by the Celestial Emperor's side," said the Primordial Phoenix.

Yuan smiled faintly and said, "You're right—my reputation spread far and wide largely because of the Nine Divine Supremes. But even if some of them are no longer here, their seats will not remain vacant forever. In fact, I have already begun looking for more comrades."

"And you're looking at one right now." Feng Yuxiang said with a prideful expression on her face.

“Wait... the way you said that... it almost sounds like some of the Nine Divine Supremes are still alive,” remarked Feng Yushan of the Heavenly Phoenix Clan.

“Is that so hard to believe? If I, the Immortal Monarch, am standing right before you, why couldn't the others still be alive?"

The room fell into silence. If even one of the Nine Divine Supremes still existed in this era, it would be enough to shift the balance of the world.

“Wait! I just remembered—there's a rumor that the Dragon Goddess Yeyou has returned!” someone suddenly exclaimed. "I dismissed it as nonsense before... but given the circumstances, it might actually be true!”

“I also heard of this rumor!" Another remarked.

"Me too!"

“Is it true? That Dragon Goddess Yeyou is still alive?!" One of them asked Yuan.

Dragon Goddess Yeyou was the strongest of the Nine Divine Supremes. If she were truly alive, she alone would be enough to handle the Celestial Emperor.

However, Yuan shrugged and said, *I don't know."

“What...2" The phoenixes looked at him with wide eyes.

He continued, *I have already said enough. Unless I am certain that you're going to be my ally, I won't reveal any more information."

“With that said, I am going to end the meeting here. And just a reminder. The first three clans to swear their loyalty to me will have their bloodlines improved—possibly upgraded—as well as other benefits. Those who do so afterward wil still have their bloodlines improved, but that's all. You have one year to decide."

Without another word, Yuan left the Undying Fiery Summit.

“What are you going to do for a whole year?" Feng Yuxiang asked him.

“I'm going to consume the Dragon Ancestor's blood essence to prepare for the Primordial Realm," he calmly replied.

“What if the Rising Phoenix Clan refuses to hand over the Ancient Seal and sides with the Celestial Emperor?"

“If they side with the Celestial Emperor and become our enemy, we can only forcefully take the Ancient Seal from them. That said, I have a good feeling they'll side with us." Meanwhile, shortly after Yuan left, the Ten Royal Phoenix Clans remained at the Undying Feiry Summit and began another meeting.

"So, what do we think about the Immortal Monarch's offer?" The leader of the Imperial Vermilion Phoenix Clan asked.

“It's a tempting offer, and I would've definitely accepted it without a heartbeat if he hadn't mentioned being the Celestial Emperor's enemy."

“Well, he did say that he won't make us fight the Celestial Emperor if we don't want to." “Then why is he even trying to gain our loyalty if not to use us against the Celestial Emperor?"

"Perhaps it's so that he won't have to deal with us alongside the Celestial Emperor?" “That actually makes sense. He's already fighting the Celestial Emperor. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn't want to fight our Ten Royal Phoenix Clans, either."

“You lot can stay here and continue wasting your time. I'm going to return to the Celestial Emperor to report to him about our situation," said the Primordial Phoenix as he began walking toward the exit.