Chapter 335: Peace Treaty
Hearing the emperorâs words, the faces of all the Feng Clanâs cultivators present turned grim that very moment.
At the same time, the complete opposite was happening on the Huo Clanâs side.
To someone who didnât know the emperor personally, his words would have sounded fair and unbiased, but reality was far from that.
Something which the Imperial envoy was clearly aware of.
âSo the emperor has decided to stand with practicality...â the envoy thought to himself.
He wasnât surprised by those actions but was just disappointed.
In this entire ordeal, the Feng Clanâs only fault was their refusal of the engagement, which they had no choice but to agree to in the first place because of the hierarchy.
And now, given the fact that the Feng Clan was beyond repair, it was obvious to the envoy that the emperor was thinking from a long-term perspective, not wanting to worsen the Imperial Familyâs ties with the Huo Clan.
The only reason he bothered to personally act tonight to stop the Feng Clanâs extermination was that it would have made him lose face if something like that were to happen within his territory.
Taking a deep breath, the envoy exclaimed, "The representatives of the two clans, step forward. Just as the emperor has directed, a peace treaty is going to be signed between the two parties."
As he said that, he turned towards Feng Xing.
Since the Feng Clan had lost almost all of its Core Building Stage cultivators, and her father also had no more than a few days at best to live, she was likely to become the next Patriarch.
"Come forward." The envoy gestured.
Feng Xing nodded and, entrusting Feng Junâs wounded figure to Feng Lei, started walking towards the envoy.
However, at that very moment, an exclamation rang from the other side.
"I refuse! The Huo Clan doesnât acknowledge her as the next patriarch, so we wonât be discussing any terms with her, no matter what!
Huo Tianyang exclaimed with firmness evident in his gaze.
"Y-You..." The envoy wanted to say something, but knowing that in the current situation it wasnât the Feng Clan but the Huo Clan that held the power, he swallowed those words and instead asked.
"So, what does Patriarch Huo have in his mind? Feng Xing is the strongest one in the entire Feng Clan thanks to your clanâs ruthless actions. Who else should be the representative right now if not her?"
As if already expecting that question, a victorious grin appeared on Huo Tianyangâs face as he pointed towards one of the several remaining cultivators of the Feng Clan.
"That guy with foxlike eyes. He seems rather pleasing to my eyes."
"M-Me?" The man couldnât help but widen his eyes, with surprise evident on his face as a trace of anticipation began welling up in his heart.
"Yes, you. So hurry up before I change my decision." As Huo Tianyang said those words, he turned towards the Imperial envoy and asked, "Since heâs the second strongest after that woman, itâs only right for me to choose him. Donât you think so as well, Imperial envoy?"
"Yes...weâll do that then." The envoy agreed, knowing that there was no point in arguing with him at that moment.
Not wanting to further delay the situation, he gestured towards the individual who was limping toward him to come faster.
"You. Whatâs your name?" the envoy asked, with annoyance evident on his face at how slowly he was limping over.
"Itâs F-Feng Haoran." Feng Haoran answered while dragging his injured leg.
"Alright." The Imperial envoy nodded and continued as his eyes focused in the direction of the Feng Clanâs members, "From now on, I declare that Feng Haoran will become the next Patriarch of the Feng Clan, and his name will henceforth be used for all official purposes, including the treaty weâll be signing right now."
As he stated those words, the envoy met eyes with Feng Jun, who could only nod subtly with a bitter expression on his face.
The fact that the members of his clan were not going to be exterminated after losing was already more than he could have asked for.
However, not everyone was satisfied with the decision that had been made.
"What nonsense?! Being the strongest, itâs obvious that my sister should be the one to become the Patriarch! Youâre just an envoy! Just because Huo Tianyang wants to change the patriarch, youâre going to do it? What right do you have to meddle in our clanâs internal matters?"
Seeing his younger sister, whom he was so proud of, being so easily stripped of her deserved position, Feng Lei lost his temper and roared out in anger.
That sentiment, although not said out loud, was shared by many other remaining clan members as well.
"Hmph!" Huo Tianyang snorted from his position and stated, "You want me to trust a woman who couldnât even stick to her engagement promise? How laughable!"
"You-!" Feng Lei was about to argue further, but was cut off by the Imperial envoy the next second.
"A weakling like you has no say in this matter, so keep that mouth of yours shut. If not for my respect towards Feng Jun, your head would already be on the ground, you brat."
The envoy scolded in frustration, sensing that Feng Jun directed a few clan members to calm Feng Lei down.
Meanwhile, Feng Haoran finally made his way towards the envoy, pausing just a few feet away from him and soon after, Huo Tianyang also arrived, standing opposite him.
Feeling his suffocating presence, Feng Haoran didnât dare to look up and meet Huo Tianyangâs eyes. Instead, he kept his head low, waiting for the envoyâs next set of instructions.
Seeing that the two parties had arrived, the envoy who had been standing in the middle of the two of them nodded and, using his spiritual energy, called upon an intact piece of table from the nearby rubble.
With the table lying between Huo Tianyang and Feng Haoran, the envoy took out a piece of paper from inside his storage ring the next instant and, slapping it on the tableâs surface, declared, "Weâll start discussing the peace terms then!"