Chapter 545: Head-to-Head

"What utter nonsense!" Elder Mu slammed the table and stood up, roaring as he pointed at Prince Zhong and Prince Xiang: "The Yun family has protected the Demon Emperor lineage for ten thousand years! Their contributions are as vast as mountains, known to all! Their position as the head of the twelve families is truly well-deserved! Even if they have made mistakes, it doesn't overshadow their ten thousand years of service! You know perfectly well why the Yun family's strength has declined to this point! You have no right to dictate the Yun family's future! I want to know, what exactly are your intentions, suddenly uniting to force the Yun family out of the twelve guardian families?"

Mu Feiyan, being the most senior among the twelve family heads, coupled with his booming voice and incredibly powerful profound energy, made everyone's ears ring throughout the hall. Prince Zhong, unflustered, chuckled and said, "Elder Mu, please temper your anger. How dare I harbor any ulterior motives? As a humble prince of the Illusionary Demon Royal Family, with the blood of the Ancestral Demon Emperor flowing through my veins, I naturally must prioritize the interests of the Demon Emperor lineage in all matters. Even if it means incurring the hatred of many, for the sake of our lineage, I must speak my mind."

"Such high-sounding words," said Su Xiangnan, the head of the Su family, as he stood up, gazing intently at Prince Huai and Prince Zhong. "Although my Su family also exists to protect the Demon Emperor clan for generations, I ask myself, in terms of qualifications and contributions, we are far from comparable to the Yun family! If even the Yun family is to be expelled from the guardian families, then which family is worthy of remaining? Wouldn't this dishearten countless people throughout the land who are loyal to the Demon Emperor lineage?"

"Master Su, those words are gravely mistaken!" Helian Kuang, the Helian family head, stood up and proclaimed loudly, "The Yun family's tireless efforts and great achievements are undeniable, but the mistake they committed is an egregious one that would leave even the ancestral Demon Emperors unable to rest in peace! The Yun family has countless merits, and for these, they have received countless deserved honors and rewards! So, should they not face the appropriate punishment for such a grave error? If such an egregious mistake allows them to continue as a guardian family, wouldn't that tell all of us guardian families that we can make any mistake, act with impunity? If that's the case, where are the valiant souls of the ancestral Demon Emperors? Where is the justice of the Illusionary Demon Law? This is what would truly dishearten the people of the world!"

"I, Helian Kuang, on behalf of the entire Helian clan, strongly support the words of Prince Xiang and Prince Zhong, and advocate for the removal of the Yun family from the ranks of the guardian families!"

"My Jiufang family also supports expelling the Yun family from the guardian families!"

"My Nangong family fully supports this!"

Many factions supporting the removal of the Yun family from the ranks of the guardian families eagerly voiced their agreement. Like a hurricane sweeping across the sea, their shouts surged forth. Naturally, these calls came from the eastern seats. At the same time, some individuals unaware of the true situation, guided by these pronouncements, increasingly felt that the Yun family was no longer qualified to be a guardian family and joined the chorus. The louder the shouts, the more people were naturally influenced, and in an instant, the Yun family became the target of public condemnation. The entire hall was filled with calls to strip the Yun family of their guardian status.

Only the top powers in Demon Imperial City truly understood what was happening, especially the guardian families and royal families seated in the western section. As the shouts in their ears grew louder, they all trembled with rage. Prince Huai's power was already incredibly formidable; if the Yun family were also forced out, they would have absolutely no power left to resist.

"It seems this is the general consensus," Prince Huai said with a chuckle. "It appears the Yun family is indeed no longer suitable to continue protecting the Little Demon Empress."

Yan Zijing, the head of the Yan family, suddenly stood up and said with a face full of anger, "You people with ulterior motives, don't waste your efforts! We guardian families are loyal only to the Demon Emperor lineage! Throughout this world, only the Little Demon Empress can command the guardian families and decide our fate! Whether the Yun family is qualified to continue serving as a guardian family, the Little Demon Empress will make her own clear judgment! Besides the Little Demon Empress, no one else has that right!"

The Little Demon Empress's face darkened. She was about to speak in anger when Prince Huai, however, spoke first, loudly declaring, "Master Yan is not wrong; as the ruler of the Illusionary Demon Realm, the Little Demon Empress naturally possesses the highest authority to make decisions! However, we, the Princes and the guardian families, are not only bound by loyalty but also by the duty to offer advice and counsel, especially on matters concerning the reputation and dignity of the Demon Emperor lineage! The Yun family's mistake is undoubtedly egregious, yet the Little Demon Empress has still allowed the Yun family to remain among the twelve guardian families for the past century, receiving only a minor punishment. This is already the Little Demon Empress's immense benevolence towards the Yun family, but if the Yun family is kept on, it would be far too lenient... and leniency makes it difficult to be a qualified emperor! A true emperor should dispense clear rewards and punishments, even make decisive, ruthless judgments! Otherwise..."

"Otherwise, what?" the Little Demon Empress asked, her face calm but her gaze bitingly cold. "It seems, Prince Huai, you understand how to be a good emperor far better than I do."

"This humble prince would not dare," Prince Huai said with a calm expression. "The Yun family and my princely estate have never had any grievances, and the Yun family head is even a casual acquaintance of mine. These words will only displease the Yun family, perhaps even incite their resentment, and bring no benefit to this humble prince whatsoever. Yet, I must still speak... My sincerity is purely for the sake of our Illusionary Demon Royal Family! I implore the Little Demon Empress to consider this carefully!"

"This humble prince also beseeches the Little Demon Empress to consider this carefully!" Prince Zhong added, his face displaying a righteous expression.

"Little Demon Empress, the twelve guardian families simply cannot be without the Yun family, absolutely not!" Su Xiangnan and Yan Zijing shouted in unison.

The scene immediately devolved into chaos. None of the kings from outside Demon Imperial City had anticipated that Prince Xiang's sudden pronouncement would cause such immense turmoil. At this point, some astute individuals had already begun to see the underlying implications.

At this moment, an elderly prince of the same generation as the former Demon Emperor stood up and said, "This matter is regarded so highly by the Princes and guardian families, and it has caused such a significant divergence of opinion, that a hasty decision cannot be made. Otherwise, it would surely dishearten everyone. This old servant, however, has a suggestion."

The Little Demon Empress cast a cold glance at him but remained silent. Since this elder was seated in the eastern section, he was clearly on Prince Huai's side and would certainly not say anything beneficial to her. However, with all the world's heroes present, she couldn't openly rebuke an elder over a thousand years old and could only sneer inwardly.

"Please speak, Elder. We are all ears," Prince Huai said, feigning respect.

The elderly prince sighed theatrically and said, "The Princes and guardian families are the pillars of the Illusionary Demon Realm. Besides the Little Demon Empress, the Princes and guardian families also have the most authority. Whether the Yun family should continue to hold the qualification of a guardian family may seem like it only concerns the Yun family, but in reality, it is indeed a matter of great importance. Such a significant matter cannot be decided based on personal feelings or preferences. Therefore, let the Princes and guardian families, who hold the most authority, assist the Little Demon Empress in making a joint decision. With the world's heroes gathered here at this moment, let the people of the world witness for themselves whether more support the Yun family remaining as guardian families or leaving. Whichever side has more support, we shall abide by their will. Would that not be perfectly fair?"

"Little Demon Empress, what do you think of this old servant's suggestion?"

The elderly prince's words were indeed reasonable, fair, and flawless. In such a situation, no matter how strong-willed the Little Demon Empress was, she absolutely could not voice an objection. On the other side, Prince Huai nodded in agreement. "Elder, what you said is absolutely right! If the majority of the princely estates and guardian families believe the Yun family is still qualified to remain as guardian families, then this prince has nothing more to say and will not object further. But..." Prince Huai glanced at Yun Qinghong and smiled faintly, "If even the majority of the princely estates, and the guardian families who have together protected the Demon Emperor for ten thousand years alongside the Yun family, believe the Yun family is no longer qualified to remain, then if the Yun family still insists on remaining, this prince will absolutely not accept it, nor will the entire Illusionary Demon Royal Family, and no one in the world will accept it!"

"This is indeed the fairest and most impartial method," Prince Zhong also affirmed, nodding and speaking loudly. "This prince will have no further objections to the outcome determined by this method."

"Very well then!" Prince Huai raised his arm and said seriously, "Good! Then let this prince, let everyone, clearly see if the Yun family is still qualified to remain... All Illusionary Demon Princes and guardian family heads, those who, like this prince, agree to expel the Yun family from the guardian families, please stand up!"

Whoosh!!As Prince Huai's voice fell, Helian Kuang, the Helian family head; Chiyang Bailie, the Chiyang family head; Bai Yi, the Bai family head; Nangong Zhi, the Nangong family head; Lin Guiyan, the Lin family head; Jiufang Kui, the Jiufang family head; Xiao Xifeng, the Xiao family head; and the princes from sixty princely estates all stood up in unison.

"The Yun family has long been unqualified to remain and must be expelled! I, Helian Kuang, am the first to support this!"

"What Prince Huai said is exactly what I, Chiyang Bailie, have been thinking for years!"

"If the Yun family continues to stay, my Bai family will absolutely not accept it!"

Seven guardian families and sixty princely estates—in terms of numbers, they completely overwhelmed the opposing side. With calls for the Yun family to leave the guardian families filling the air, a smirk appeared at the corner of Prince Zhong's mouth as he whispered to Prince Huai, "This way, Prince Huai won't have to worry about Yun Qinghong causing trouble, will he? Even if his Yun family isn't expelled from the guardian families today, they won't have any say at this grand ceremony."

Prince Huai's eyes narrowed, and a cold sneer suddenly appeared on his face. "What a splendid atmosphere and situation. It would be a bit of a waste to only bring down the Yun family."

Prince Zhong's eyes flickered. "Prince Huai's meaning?"

"Of course, it's to seize this opportunity to make all the unyielding fools on the opposing side truly miserable, to make them unable to hold their heads high or stand tall at this grand ceremony, and also to let the Little Demon Empress know how easy it would be for this prince to replace her, heh..."

"It seems Prince Huai already has a clear plan for what to do. Heh heh, as expected of Prince Huai. Serving under you is the wisest decision this prince has ever made," Prince Zhong laughed with satisfaction.

Undoubtedly, all those who stood up, whether from the guardian families or the major princely estates, were individuals from the eastern seats. Elder Mu sneered and roared, "Those who oppose the Yun family leaving, all of you stand up! Do you really take us for pushovers?!"

Every word from Elder Mu was like thunder. Su Xiangnan, the Su family head; Tianxia Xiong Tu, the Tianxia family head; Yan Chengkong, the Yan family head; and the heads of forty princely estates from the western seats also stood up in unison, each with a solemn and angry expression.

On one side stood seven guardian families and sixty princely estates.On the other side, besides the Yun family, were only four guardian families and forty princely estates.

The disparity was obvious at a glance.

Even more obvious was that those advocating for the Yun family's expulsion were all from the eastern seats, while those opposing their departure were all from the western seats.

With such stark and direct opposition, even a fool would now understand what was happening.

It was clear that these were, in essence, two distinct factions!

This was not merely a debate over the Yun family's fate, but fundamentally, a symbol of a sudden outburst between two camps.

Even more evident was that the faction aligned with Prince Huai was far stronger than the faction aligned with the Yun family.