At the heart of the Harmony Divine Palace, where the ice plains, snowy peaks, and cold sea converged, there lay the Divine Spring.

This Divine Spring was flanked by the Snow, Ice, and Sea Diva Ruins, arranged in a circle like stalwart guardians, facing the pinkish-white lands of the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm, their duty to protect the life-giving waters.

In the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm, this spring symbolized both life and legacy, the very lifeline of the Harmony Divine Palace.

It was a spring of pure white water, appearing as a lake with a fountain at its center, ever bursting forth with fresh waters, trickling into rivulets that flowed from the Harmony Divine Palace into the rivers and seas of the realm.

This spring was like a celestial dream, noble and sacred, pure and tender, as if embodying the soul of the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm itself, with faint strains of music wafting in the air.

And there, beside this fantastical spring, in a cool pavilion, three beauties of breathtaking grace descended from the heavens, their long dresses fluttering, their beauty ethereal.

One was as inclusive as the ocean, charming and seductive, her dark green hair waving enticingly. Another resembled the cold blue ice, aloof and lofty, her blue hair shimmering crystal clear. The last had white hair and soft pink eyes, pure and gentle, her gaze deep, her presence serene and graceful.

These supreme beauties, each unique in appearance and aura, shared a look of common concern.

They gathered in the pavilion, exchanging glances.

The Sea Lineage Diva, Wan Ji, sat on a cold stone bench, while the Ice Lineage Diva stood rigidly to the side, and the Snow Lineage Diva leaned against a stone pillar, her face veiled as if by a layer of snow.

The Snow Lineage Diva, Si Ji, asked the Sea Lineage Diva, “Not making the top ten means losing our place in the Heavenly Deity Alliance?”

“Yes,” Wan Ji replied, her pretty face clouded with anger.

“Is it the top ten of the Samsara Galaxy or the Heavenly Deity Stellar River?” the Ice Lineage Diva, Yu Ji, asked in a cold voice.

“Even if it's the Heavenly Deity Stellar River, that's impossible; remember, we ranked 21st last time.” Wan Ji shook her head.

Sighing deeply, the Snow Lineage Diva Si Ji added, “Rankings need numbers, but they only give us eight spots to compete, how can we possibly score well?”

“Wan Ji!” the Ice Lineage Diva cried out, turning to the Sea Lineage Diva, “Who made this decision? On what grounds is it valid?”

Grinding her teeth, Wan Ji muttered, “It’s written there, decided by all members of the Heavenly Deity Alliance.”

“We’re members too, how come we didn’t know about this?” Yu Ji pressed.

“Clearly, they’ve conspired against us… How could they notify us in advance…” Wan Ji sighed.

“Shameless!” Yu Ji clenched her fists, her eyes blazing with a sword-like fierceness. “The seats of the Heavenly Deity Alliance are distributed based on contributions of the sects. Our founders made immense sacrifices for the Heavenly Deity Stellar River. When the Heavenly Deity Alliance was established, it was explicitly stated that the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm is a permanent member! How dare these descendants erase the achievements of our founders and alter the ancestral teachings on their own?”

"It was inevitable, given the current political climate of the Heavenly Deity Stellar River. We at the Harmony Divine Palace scarcely engage in their affairs, have no ties with other celestial sects, and even hold some conflicts with them. They began to isolate us long ago..."

Such isolation mattered little; the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm needed no such alliances.

Yet, being stripped of their seat at the Heavenly Deity Alliance was unexpected, for these seats were foundational to the stature of the Heavenly Deity Stellar River.

"If we lose this seat, we no longer count among the meritorious of the Heavenly Deity Stellar River. Our disciples, once revered and protected, will find themselves in much greater peril when they venture out..." Wan Ji said, her expression grim.

"Peril indeed, but think bigger. I suspect they're paving the way to conquer the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm! With the Southern Divine Dragon Realm now dominant, it's clear they intend to replace us with them. Given our feud, they would relish flaunting their power over us," the Ice Lineage Diva interjected coldly.

"Flaunting power is one thing, but they aim to swallow the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm whole, to make us their vassals, their concubines, their slaves," the Snow Lineage Diva, who had been silent, added grimly.

"In sum, once deprived of our membership in the Heavenly Deity Alliance, we will face the most ruthless cruelty." Wan Ji gazed toward the Divine Spring. "Not only will the Divine Spring be tainted, but all our lands, all our people will lose their dignity and purity. Everything we are will be reduced to disgrace..."

They understood the ruthless rules of survival in the Heavenly Deity Stellar River all too well.

Once they were dethroned, those men who relished speaking daily of the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm would certainly long to breach its taboos, taking pleasure in humiliating these high-minded celestial maidens as a form of amusement and gossip.

Such incidents were all too familiar to them; even their own departures from the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm invited such disrespectful challenges, let alone the other disciples.

The fate of many disciples of the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm who disappeared in the outside world was all too clear to anyone.

"Once we lose our seat in the Heavenly Deity Alliance, the number of our girls facing disaster will surely increase tenfold, a hundredfold!"

"It must be the Southern Divine Dragon Realm behind this!"

They knew both the instigator and the consequences.

But the real problem was, bound by the ancestral laws set by the founders of the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm, it was nearly impossible for the three of them to mend relations with other members of the Heavenly Deity Alliance to block this decision.

None were skilled at such negotiations.

And with everyone else already forming cliques, trying to mend fences now would be like locking the barn after the horse had bolted—unless they were willing to break taboos and use their bodies as bargaining chips, nobody would be interested in helping them, a world closed off and proud, living by its own rules.

"We have only one option—to break into the top ten," the Ice Lineage Diva said through clenched teeth.

"But that's the most unlikely of all..." Wan Ji shook her head.

"Do you have so little faith in your daughters?" The Ice Lineage Diva looked at her sharply.

"It's not a matter of confidence. Were the contest fair, with dozens of slots like other sects, what would there be to fear? But with only eight spots and the other sects conspiring against us, my daughters must be far stronger than the rest, facing a battleground skewed against them. Think about it. Even in your youths, could you manage that?" Wan Ji questioned with a stir of agitation.

She knew the trials her daughters faced all too well and feared not a fair fight but the shadow of bias.

"It's our fault. We three failed to foresee this, to foster relations that could have shielded our children from becoming targets," Wan Ji admitted, her voice trembling with regret.

From the founding days of the Harmony Divine Palace, their mission had been to preserve the matrilineal legacy, a lifeline not easily intertwined with the dealings of others.

"Blame serves no purpose now," the white-haired and pink-eyed Si Ji spoke with depth, dismissing self-reproach.

"Si Ji, if you have a thought, let's hear it," Wan Ji urged, looking up to her.

The Snow Lineage Diva, lips pursed, then shaking her head, replied, "Our founders chose this solitary path for us, to live apart from the world in an idyllic haven. We must rely on ourselves. In a world driven by desire and conflict, no one pities isolated maidens; they only seek to conquer."

"How do we rely on ourselves, though?" That was the question lingering in the air.

Wan Ji and the Ice Lineage Diva exchanged a glance, picking up on the implications in the Snow Lineage Diva's words. In that moment, doubt had no place; they simply bowed their heads in resignation.

"Regardless, the Grand Assembly of Myriad Sects approaches," the Ice Lineage Diva shifted focus, looking towards the Snow Lineage Diva, "How is Feng Yao doing?"

"Her progress is startling; she might just accomplish something great," the Snow Lineage Diva replied, her eyes softening as she mentioned Feng Yao, clearly moved by her pupil's talents.

"But before she sets out, remember to give her the Moon Seed. News of her Boundless Immortal potential has already spread, stirring all the sects. This assembly, she'll be the center of attention, and I suspect their plan to push us out of the Heavenly Deity Alliance is just to draw her out and eliminate the thorn in their side," the Ice Lineage Diva asserted.

"Are we still letting Feng Yao compete?" Wan Ji asked, dismayed.

"Of course, she must!" the Ice Lineage Diva insisted confidently.

Her strategy was clear; as the little sweetheart of a Boundless Immortal, who would dare harm her? This was her cunning plan. Despite the distasteful machinations around them, she alone had never been truly afraid, comforted by the presence of a powerful old sage like Yun Xiao.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"What do you think, Si Ji?" Wan Ji turned to the Snow Lineage Diva, who looked strangely at the Ice Lineage Diva, puzzled by her confidence.

"Feng Yao told me she's determined to fight; I can't dissuade her," she finally said.

"Very well... but consider it carefully on the way!" Wan Ji advised, protective of Feng Yao above all.

The meeting was winding down. "Let's get ready to depart," the Ice Lineage Diva declared.

"Hold on," Wan Ji paused, then addressed both, "As a consolation, the Heavenly Deity Alliance gave us an extra slot for this year's Grand Assembly of Myriad Sects. We can send nine disciples to compete..."

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