Unfathomable Senior

As the dust settled and the realization of their victory dawned on the survivors, Zhang Dong descended from the sky, landing amidst a cheering crowd of his fellow cultivators. Zhang Jin, his wife, rushed towards him, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief and concern.

"Are you alright, my love?"

She asked, her voice trembling. Zhang Dong smiled at her reassuringly.

"I'm fine, Liena. The threat is over, we did it…"

He responded in a monotone voice, his demeanor reflecting his dissatisfaction with how the situation had unfolded. While the immediate threat from the Long Clan appeared to have diminished, another problem loomed over him. He was the sole individual privy to the complete truth about this place, and at this juncture, he wasn't certain how to address it all.

The overseer could have infiltrated anywhere and assumed anyone's appearance. When he gazed at Zhang Liena before him, he knew he had to be vigilant. It was possible that the puppet had targeted the wives of the Empire's leaders, and he might soon become the new Emperor. With the Azure Dragon now gone, the Golden Dragon would reign supreme and probably not face much pushback from the survivors.

“Is something wrong? Are you sure you’re not hurt?”

“No, I’m just a bit tired but what about you? What’s with those tattered robes?”

“It’s nothing, I’m sure we had a far easier time than you, my husband.”

Liena appeared fatigued and drained of spiritual energy. Along with Huo Qiang and Zhang Zhi, she had managed to siphon a substantial amount of energy away from the Goliath. Among them, Qiang appeared to be in the worst condition, his body covered in claw marks and bleeding profusely. It was evident that he had borne the brunt of the attacks while traversing the underground tunnels of the Azure Capital.

Zhang Dong couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for his wife and the others who had bravely fought by his side. They had put their lives on the line to weaken the Goliath and had played an essential role in securing victory. The same sentiment extended to his entire sect and Zhang Jin, who had led them. His angelic puppets had fortunately absorbed the worst of the attack, ensuring that most of his sect's forces remained unscathed. This intact army would be instrumental in securing a seamless transfer of power.

"Thank you, all of you, for your bravery and sacrifice."

He said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. As they gathered amidst the remnants of the fallen Azure Palace, the survivors of the battle began to take stock of their situation. The Azure Capital had been saved, but it was not without its costs. Many lives had been lost, and the city itself had suffered significant damage. Rebuilding and healing would take time, but there was a newfound sense of unity among the survivors.

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At that moment, the massive city still hovered high in the sky, its levitation system remaining intact. Only the Azure Palace had collapsed under its own weight. The Golden Palace began to ascend into the sky and positioned itself above the city. The once-active shield that had previously kept them at bay was no longer operational, granting them a clear view of the conquered citizens below.

The city was predominantly populated by Long Clan members and their closest branch families. However, there was also a segment of the population composed of servants and lower-ranking workers who were employed for cheap labor. Some of them had managed to awaken from their dreamlike state after being trapped in those strange pods, but not everyone was as fortunate. As anticipated, a significant portion of them would never return, as their fate had been sealed when they were used as energy sources to power the Goliath.

Zhang Dong and his allies faced a dilemma. With the Azure Palace's fall and the Golden Palace's ascent, they now had the power to dictate the fate of the Azure Capital. The question that loomed over them was how to handle the population below. Zhang Dong couldn't ignore the fact that many of them had been unwitting pawns in the Long Clan's schemes, trapped in a nightmare while their energy was drained to fuel the Goliath.

While Zhang Dong didn't actively participate in the process of freeing these people, he had a system through which he could witness some of the actions taking place. The scenes it displayed were grim, with some individuals sobbing uncontrollably. The pods that had contained their loved ones didn't always yield survivors. Their life forces had been consumed by the Goliath, which utilized them to power various systems, including the energy net. It became evident that a substantial portion of the population had been reduced to dust during the confrontation, leaving them with the daunting task of determining how to proceed in the aftermath.

In many cases, the victorious sect would traditionally eradicate the old superpower. Some of Zhang Dong's followers were eager to exact revenge on the defeated Long Clan members. If the situation were reversed, everyone anticipated the Long Clan descending upon the lower regions and not stopping until every United Element Sect member was killed. It now rested on Zhang Dong's shoulders to make a decision, whether to adhere to the old rules that had governed this world or to usher in change.

“Has anyone found the Emperor’s children or the grand elders?”

“We are quickly searching through the survivors, what shall we do with them, Patriarch?”

The looming threat of the Overseer weighed on him heavily, but Zhang Dong had to remain focused on guiding his people. He could see that they were still intoxicated by the taste of victory and thirsted for revenge. If he left it to the others, he feared that the entire city would be decimated in an instant. The city lacked any form of defense, and the survivors were depleted of spiritual energy, rendering them incapable of defending themselves to any significant degree.

“We will provide them aid, send down our healers and call for more support from the main sect.”

“You wish to provide support? Zhang Jin asked but his tone didn’t carry any surprise.”

“Yes, those people suffered enough for one day. We shall allow them to live under us if they so wish, they pose no threat to us anymore.”

“I see…”

Zhang Jin nodded in agreement, recognizing the wisdom in Zhang Dong's decision. It was a chance to break the cycle of violence that had plagued this world for generations. By extending a hand of mercy to the defeated Long Clan members and their families, they could potentially foster a new era of cooperation and unity. However, as an old man, he wasn’t quite sure if this move was right. All depended on their might which could dwindle with time.

As healers and relief teams from the United Element Sect descended to provide aid to the survivors below, Zhang Dong and his allies initiated a dialogue with the remaining Long Clan elders and high-ranking officials. It was a delicate negotiation, with both sides cautious and wary. Zhang Dong made it clear that they had the upper hand but offered a choice: they could either join the new order under the United Element Sect's leadership or choose to leave the Azure Capital forever and abandon their Clan name with it.

“You want us to leave and abandon our name?”

“How can we trust in your words? What guarantee do we have?”

“Guarantee? I don’t think you have realized the position you are in now.”

Zhang Jin stepped forward to speak in place of Zhang Dong, who remained at a distance. He recognized that certain matters were better handled by individuals other than Zhang Dong himself.

"The guarantee you have, dear elders, is that the world has changed."

Zhang Jin said with a calm but firm tone.

"The Azure Capital is no longer under the control of the Long Clan, and we have no interest in perpetuating the cycle of violence that has plagued this land for generations. We offer you a choice to start anew, to leave behind the old ways and the old grievances."

The Long Clan elders exchanged glances, clearly torn between the options presented to them. They were well aware of the overwhelming strength of the United Element Sect and the futility of resisting. Still, pride and a deep sense of loyalty to their clan weighed heavily on their decision-making. One of the elders, an aged man with a long, white beard, stepped forward and spoke.

"Great Elder Zhang Jin, while we acknowledge the changed circumstances, we must consider the wellbeing of our people and the preservation of our heritage. We would be willing to leave the Azure Capital and abandon our name, but only if you provide safe passage and guarantees of our safety."

Zhang Jin nodded in agreement.

"We are prepared to offer you safe passage out of the Azure Capital and our assurance that you will not be harmed by us. In fact, we would welcome the opportunity for cooperation and peaceful coexistence, should you choose to do so. We believe that together, we can rebuild this city into a place of harmony and progress."

The negotiations continued for some time, as both sides painstakingly worked through the specifics of the Long Clan's departure. It was evident on some participants' faces that leaving this place wouldn't be a straightforward matter. The initial step would involve taking control of the entire location, including the spirit vein. The depletion of spiritual energy had already begun in the lower regions, and everyone present hoped to unleash the floodgates once more.

For some, this would be the end but for others, it was only the beginning. With the negotiations underway, Zhang Dong and his allies began the process of stabilizing the situation in the Azure Capital. The city had suffered significant damage during the battle, and their first priority was to ensure the safety and well-being of the survivors.

While the healers tended to the still-trapped citizens, Zhang Jin began to scan the area. Bob utilized his own scanners to uncover the potential extent of hidden rooms within the city. The Overseer they had previously encountered had resided in this city for hundreds of years. They understood the importance of discovering all of its secrets, as these could be crucial in the final confrontation that lay ahead.

‘I guess we still have some work to do, Let’s get to it BoB!’

‘Affirmative.’