Chapter 276 : 276: My clan never gives up hope!
Chapter 276 : 276: My clan never gives up hope!
"Commoner thanks His Majesty for bestowing upon me the name Azure Cloud Blackwood 'The Iron Bone Warriors Clan,' and for granting me the land of Tranquil County!"
"Commoner boldly asks His Majesty, you said that within the vast borders of the empire, I, Blackwood, could choose a place to settle and be granted the title of Duke. Is this true?!"
The courtiers frowned in disapproval.
National advisor Lance scolded angrily, "How audacious! The Emperor's word is golden, of course it's true, and you can certainly choose your own place in the north!"
"Very well."
Edward's eyes sparkled with determination, "Then I, Blackwood, choose Cloudview County!"
"Ridiculous!" Lance exclaimed angrily, "His Majesty has already promised Cloudview County to the Druids. Why do you repeatedly insist on Cloudview County? Do you want His Majesty to break his promise and seize Cloudview County?"
"Ha ha ha!"
Edward laughed loudly, having thought before arriving that the grand hall was filled with significant figures. He had heard that these people were all of noble birth and wielded great power, but now he saw them as nothing but trash, useless!
"National advisor speaks well! Indeed, it was rash of a commoner!"
He narrowed his eyes, glaring at the courtiers, vowing to remember their indifference. His voice turned icy, "Then, commoner asks, what if I, Blackwood, take back Cloudview County?!"
At this, the entire court looked at each other, speechless, but their amused expressions said it all.
Take back Cloudview County? That would indeed be a feat, but wouldn't it still be land of the Emerald Empire?
From the jade steps, the ancient god spoke solemnly, "Edward, I have been patient with you today. Speak your mind, but test my patience no further."
"Very well."
Edward took a deep breath, "I demand that above the empire's Competent Force, no Psychic shall enter Cloudview County without my, Blackwood's, permission. Azure Cloud shall never pay taxes, and we shall not bow in the grand hall!"
The grand hall erupted in shock!
"How dare you!" Lance roared, yet his gaze remained cool.
How arrogant? To treat the entire Emerald Empire's Cloudview County as if it were a sacred offering!
But the entire court knew that Edward's words, though arrogant, were merely a desperate struggle. Cloudview County, a lone city, a small clan, what could it use to withstand the Druids' great army?
From the jade steps, the ancient god fell into a long silence, anger rising, and finally, he sighed deeply, "I consent."
"Then I, Blackwood, am prepared to die in battle!"
Edward smiled, bowing to the court, "Commoner wishes all the lords rise in ranks, and may the ancient god reign as high as the heavens!"
"And may I, Blackwood, triumph!"
He turned and strode forward, the courtiers watching his retreating figure!
He was returning to Cloudview County!
This time, he brought no great army from the Emerald Empire, only seeing a group who disregarded Cloudview County and Blackwood. But at least he secured a future for Blackwood, a future not to consort with these incompetents!
At the doorway, Owen was sweating profusely, watching Edward, this man not yet a hundred years old.
It was hard to imagine how Edward dared to stand so proudly before the court.
"General Owen, how long from the imperial capital back to Cloudview County?" Edward asked calmly, not even glancing back at the heavenly palace.
"Half a month."
Owen frowned, "Edward, you're going back to Cloudview County? Half a month is too late."
But his advice was futile, as he saw Edward's eyes shining brightly.
"You're wrong!"
Edward's smile widened, "Everyone in the entire Emerald Empire is wrong, there's still time!"
"What?"
Owen was stunned, unsure where this young man's confidence came from.
Edward laughed wildly, as if mocking the entire Emerald Empire.
"My clan never gives up hope!"
"Once, all of Cloudview County was against us, Blackwood, yet we still stood on the land of Cloudview County. When the Druids invaded, they entered Glory City, yet we still survived in despair!"
"General Owen, take me back, I want to celebrate with my people."
Owen hesitated, then, biting his lip, he still led Edward away.
At least he hoped that in the desperate situation of Cloudview County, there could indeed be a celebration, a celebration that the entire Emerald Empire should have fought for thirty years ago.
...
In the heavenly palace, everyone watched as Owen led Edward away. They no longer cared about Edward's earlier arrogance. Instead, they all turned to look up at the jade steps, dismissing Edward's arrival from their minds. It was merely the ravings of a man facing death.
Lance was the first to kneel before the ancient god, his voice loud, as if conceding twelve border counties and leaving Blackwood to fight alone in Cloudview County was something to be praised.
"His Majesty the ancient god is kind and patient, even with a reckless fool like Edward. This is indeed a blessing for our empire and for the world!"
"May His Majesty the ancient god live as long as the heavens!"
The ministers echoed in unison.
Their voices seemed to spread throughout the entire empire.
The heavenly palace was so splendid, and beneath it, the people in the imperial capital lived in peace and prosperity, amidst song and dance.
It was truly a scene of peace and well-being.
But was there a place in the Emerald Empire that yearned to be as sunny and bright as the imperial capital?
At that moment, heavy snow was falling in Cloudview County, and the skies over the border town were stained red, with red snow dancing wildly!
Countless Druid troops surged like a tide but paused momentarily due to strange phenomena in the heavens and earth.
"Old tree?"
Spikes blocked the Druids' vanguard, and stone beasts and mystical trees rose from the ground to enter the battlefield and charge at the Druids. Nathan, slightly stunned, looked up at the sky at the red-robed old man embracing the heavens, "You've transformed?!"
"That's... a demon! No, not just any demon, a mystical tree turned demon!" Explore more stories with m,v l'e-m|p| y r
Below the red clouds, Mike, who was leading the priests in attacking Nathan, changed his expression!
He had also led his tribe in fierce battles against the demon races, which occupied half of the Endless Forest. Aside from their endless numbers, what was truly terrifying was their powerful individuals.
Although it was extremely difficult for them to break through, they possessed innate bloodline powers. Each demon king was a unique entity, and some noble beasts breaking through levels were not like humans; they could even reach the peak of demon king directly.
Especially the mystical plants, they were more like wonders. It was incredibly difficult for plants to awaken their intelligence, and that moment also meant they were favored by the heavens and earth.
Transforming from a mystical plant... to put it bluntly, just by their value, they had already surpassed the Azure Dragon.
"Blackwood's divine tree has transformed and come to the rescue, which also means..."
For some reason, a chill ran through Mike's heart.
He looked at the stone beasts and tree demons overwhelmed by Druids' magic on the ground and coldly said to the six High Priests and many priests, "Kill them as quickly as possible!"