Marquis Xiaoyao was deeply conflicted.
But if he didn't bring back those two Divine Path ancestors, could the Xiahou family's stronghold really be held? Marquis Xiaoyao was arrogant to the point of madness, but even he couldn't muster any optimism right now.
"My Lord, you must make a decision," the Tian family patriarch urged, unable to hold back.
The master of the Yunlang Sect nodded as well. "My Lord, make your decision. At the very least, we need to inform the two ancestors of the situation here as soon as possible. Otherwise, they'll still be kept in the dark."
"Exactly. This is of utmost importance—we must report to the two ancestors. As for how to decide, that will be up to them. It's not something we can force," the Tian family patriarch said.
In the end, both of them still wanted to notify the two great ancestors. Clearly, in their eyes, the Xiahou family had no chance of turning the situation around. The only ones they could rely on were the two Divine Path ancestors.
Marquis Xiaoyao looked at these two powerhouses and could read their thoughts. If he kept refusing their proposal, perhaps even these two die-hard loyalists would begin to waver.
After all, the current situation was already extremely precarious. Even the most loyal among them couldn't help but harbor some doubts.
Marquis Xiaoyao pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. I'll find a way to notify the two ancestors. Perhaps they'll have a solution that satisfies everyone—it's not impossible."
"If there's a solution that works for everyone, that would be for the best," the Yunlang Sect Master agreed.
"There's no time to waste—we might as well report to the two ancestors right now. But we're completely surrounded, so we'll have to use a secret technique to reach them."
Marquis Xiaoyao smiled faintly. Secret techniques were naturally available. Communication arrays were nothing special on Myriad Abyss Island.
Of course, using an array to contact specific individuals was somewhat more difficult.
But for the Xiahou family, none of these were problems.
"Follow me, both of you."
Marquis Xiaoyao led the two men to a nearby array formation within the Xiahou family compound. This array was located in a very concealed area.
Marquis Xiaoyao activated the formation, began channeling his divine sense, and initiated contact with the Xiahou family ancestor.
The Xiahou family ancestor was slightly more powerful than the royal family ancestor, and he was the main force in the current effort to seal the Holy Ancestor.
The royal family ancestor was, in fact, his assistant.
Before long, the array began to take effect, transmitting divine sense.
At this moment, in a certain area of Myriad Abyss Island, the Xiahou family ancestor was channeling all his power, striving to perfect a sealing array.
These past days, he and the royal family ancestor had been taking turns, working to perfect this seal. Inside the seal was the Holy Ancestor, along with several Heavenly-level elders from the Holy Land.
This sealing array had been specially arranged here by the Xiahou family ancestor, specifically prepared to ambush the Holy Ancestor.
The Xiahou family ancestor, in order to target the Holy Ancestor, had secretly tracked the Holy Ancestor's movements and monitored the Holy Ancestor's whereabouts for over a hundred years before figuring out a viable approach.
He chose a path the Holy Ancestor was bound to take, set up this array, and finally succeeded in springing the trap.
However, although the trap had caught the Holy Ancestor, they couldn't kill him in one stroke. All they could do was wear him down—continuously perfecting the sealing array to keep the Holy Ancestor suppressed within it. If they could keep the Holy Ancestor locked inside the formation long enough, even someone of his caliber would be eroded by it, his strength drastically reduced.
Meanwhile, outside the array, they could replenish at any time and take turns attacking. What they spent and sacrificed was merely time.
But even so, after all this time, both ancestors found it extremely exhausting. Because this Holy Ancestor from the Eternal Holy Land was simply too powerful. The array had nearly failed to contain him several times—they had almost lost control.
Over this period, although they had barely managed to keep the Holy Ancestor suppressed within the array, they themselves were far from at ease.
The Holy Ancestor's formidable power meant he could shatter the array and break free at any moment.
That was a consequence they simply could not afford.
Once the Holy Ancestor broke free, with just the two of them, there was no way they could suppress him. In fact, the likelihood of being hunted down themselves was even greater.
After all, in a head-on confrontation, even both ancestors combined were no match for the Holy Ancestor.
If the Holy Ancestor hadn't possessed an overwhelming personal advantage in strength, he wouldn't have let his guard down and allowed the Anti-Holy Land Alliance to grow.
"Brother Xiahou, that old geezer from the Holy Land really is stubborn. We've been working him over for so long, and the old man still refuses to submit. He's truly a stone from the outhouse—foul and hard," the royal family's Divine Path ancestor sighed repeatedly.
"Hmph, a cornered beast will always thrash about. If he could be killed easily, would you be able to rest easy?" the Xiahou family ancestor coldly snorted.