1084 - I Became a Villainess and Was Pestered by Beautiful Girls
At the banquet, filled with fine wine, delicacies, singers, and dancers, no one was in the mood to indulge in these pleasures. The White Haired Witch spoke about the dire situation outside, detailing the various disasters brought by the Blood Sovereign Hall and the sacrifices made by the alliances of the Nine Provinces, non-human races, and the myriad realms of the void to resist it. These were things unknown to the bloodline elites residing within the Void Realm. Though they also engaged in internal struggles, they had never faced such extreme devastation nor had to go to such lengths to protect their homeland. "The situation outside is dire," Senior Xue said gravely. "The power of annihilation has fallen into unknown hands. The sovereign of the Blood Sovereign Hall might have already awakened, and a true threat looms over the myriad realms of the void. I don't know how much time we have left, but the final battle could begin at any moment." The people at the banquet fell into prolonged silence. "To be blunt," the patriarch of the Wind Clan spoke, "there's another question... Who are you exactly? From your description, it seems you're of high status within the Nine Provinces Alliance, but not in this form?" "That's right," Senior Xue smiled faintly. "I have another identity known as Tang Xin. To be precise, that is my true self." She briefly summarized her background. Listening to such an incredible self-introduction left not only the other patriarchs but also Xin'er and Tian'er in disbelief. A person with two identities, unrecognizable to even the closest people? A power of supreme level? Different "character images"? And a "mission"? Isn't this just a fabricated tale to deceive everyone? "This is the truth," Senior Xue replied. "If I wanted to deceive you, I wouldn't need to concoct such a complicated story." "The world is vast, and there's nothing too strange..." As hard as it was to believe, the facts presented left no room for doubt. "This might be the most unusual bearer of an ancestral bloodline in history," the patriarch of the Kong Clan sighed, "and possibly the most influential one…" "Yet, those with ancestral bloodlines in history have always been associated with 'destruction' and 'annihilation,'" the patriarch of the Zhan Clan frowned. "This one, the situation..." "I am aware of my predicament," the White Haired Witch interrupted. "I even know my fate. I am linked with destruction and annihilation, but I've always fought against such a destiny." Speaking evenly, without emphasis or deceit, she narrated as if it were an ordinary matter, yet a sincerity emanated from her words. "I don't wish to destroy this place or ruin a good life," Senior Xue inhaled deeply. "I don't know if this struggle will succeed, but I will persist until the very last moment." That was all that needed to be said regarding the outside situation and her own information. All the clan leaders and the heads of the major powers now knew what needed to be known. The time had come to make a decision: to confront her or put aside past grievances and unite against the enemy. The heavy discussion paused, and the banquet finally began to resemble what it should be. The singers and dancers hiding in the corners came forth to perform, easing the atmosphere. "Sister Xue," Tian'er approached, earnestly speaking at the White Haired Witch's arm, "no matter your experiences or bloodline, I will stay by your side, even if it means opposing the world!" "I will too." Xin'er nodded firmly. "Ahem, I'm too old for you to be saying such sappy things to me... I'm not blushing; it's just the wine!" The White Haired Witch patted their heads. It's because of friends like these, wherever she went, that the senior sister of Xuanling Sect had not repeated past mistakes. Or rather, it was because she didn't want to repeat those mistakes that she made such friends. Perhaps due to worries about her future destiny, she found herself more sentimental than usual at this moment… The clan leaders' discussions didn't take long. "Let's put it to a vote," the patriarch of the Gu Clan organized. "I hope everyone gives it serious thought before casting their vote." The most crucial moment had arrived. Senior Xue watched calmly, her expression unchanging. Fragrant smoke drifted from the incense burner, swirling among the elderly, the young, the beautiful women, and the maidens, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. "Those wishing to ally with Senior Xue and the Xue Clan, please raise your hand." As soon as these words fell, the banquet hall grew so silent that even the sound of the wind could be heard clearly. Tian'er and Xin'er looked on nervously, seeing that no strong individual raised their hand. Was it still not possible…? Must bearing the ancestral bloodline inevitably lead to destruction and ruin? Is that just? Must one truly be bound by so-called "fate"? Wouldn't such a world be better off… "I'll start," the patriarch of the Gu Clan spoke up. "The Gu Clan is willing to ally with the Xue Clan and offer a portion of our bloodline power." This statement was like a stone dropped into water, instantly creating ripples. "The Wang Clan is also willing to ally and offer our bloodline power.""The Feng Clan agrees as well.""The Kong Clan follows suit."… In an instant, five non-warlike clans among the Nine Clans had all cast favorable votes! This left even the White Haired Witch somewhat surprised. "Do we still need to vote?" the patriarch of the Shou Clan quipped, "there are already five favorable votes…" "It still matters," the patriarch of the Gu Clan replied. "A vote represents a major stance. You can go against it if you wish; perhaps you'll find you were right after all." "I don't think it's necessary," the patriarch of the An Clan said helplessly. "Who would have thought that we'd choose to cooperate with an ancestral bloodline?" "Times have changed," the patriarch of the Ba Clan shook their head. "The threat in the void is the priority now. Frankly, I feel that Senior Xue is very different from other recorded ancestral bloodlines." "Then," the patriarch of the Zhan Clan said, "aside from the annihilated Tian Clan, everyone's chosen to attempt cooperation?" The top experts who could sway the Void Realm's fate nodded one after another. The White Haired Witch, sitting at the forefront, finally let out a sigh of relief. In the worst-case scenario she'd imagined, she might have had to incite a major conflict within the Void Realm to achieve "unified opinions" and prepare for the great battle. But that did not happen. She suddenly understood the emotions of those observers during the ancient battle between righteousness and evil at the end. Instead of choosing a path leading to mutual destruction, everyone opted to place their hope in the future… “This world has not yet soured to the point of utter despair…”