A fierce battle steeped in shame was abruptly halted by the sudden arrival of a third party, like a bucket of ice water dousing roaring flames.

Previously feeling flustered, Wan Ji's seven daughters now felt relief wash over them like a sweet spring. The 250 prodigies under Yun Xiao's command had been struggling, unsure of what to do. Upon seeing those from the Ancestral Land and Nine Yin Soul Sea, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Opposite them, the furious Dragon Devil Clan members frowned deeply, their shame and rage smoldering like wisps of smoke. Among them, the Young Dragon Lord's emotions were the most contorted. He had already thrown caution to the wind, unable to wait even a moment to avenge his humiliation.

This sickening sensation was akin to a horse bolting forward, only to have its neck jerked back by a rope.

The Young Dragon Lord's face flushed red, seething with unbearable discomfort.

"Mu Zixiao, Mu Zhilu, Meng Huan, and..." A Dragon Devil Clan youth named Long Zhaochuan listed the names of the leading figures, his eyes flushed crimson.

His gaze swept over 100 disciples of this third party. Upon spotting a particular figure, he suddenly shuddered, gritting his teeth and rasping, "Young Dragon Lord, it's Zu Wei!"

In truth, without his announcement, many eyes among the Dragon Devil Clan had already locked onto a single individual. It was a woman clad in a black and white gown, standing between Mu Zixiao and Mu Zhilu—like the moon embraced by a canopy of stars.

Her radiance wasn't born of breathtaking beauty but of noble, ancient lineage and demeanor. Her long hair was interwoven black and white—black like strands of ink, white like golden threads—that did not age her but rather gleamed brilliantly. Though she wore a semi-transparent veil, her exquisite and graceful figure clearly marked her as a noble beauty of the Heavenly Deity Stellar River.

This kind of beauty was naturally different from the voluptuous allure of the Young Dragon Consort Shen Nanyin. Hers was a refined beauty, somewhat aloof, making her hard to approach and even harder to pique one's interest. At most, she might inspire a fleeting desire to conquer, but clearly, given her heritage, status, and demeanor, no one could realize such unrealistic fantasies.

Some people, even without relying on beauty, wealth, or allure, could capture every gaze the moment they appeared, becoming the center of attention. And this young woman in the black and white gown, named Zu Wei, was just such a person. She seemed like a born judge, compelling others to lower their heads in submission.

The Young Dragon Lord, towering at ten feet tall, gazed upon this woman who barely reached his waist, whose entire frame was thinner and shorter than one of his thighs. Yet, his golden brows knitted deeply. His chest, once brimming with volcanic magma on the verge of eruption, was suddenly forced back down.

All those behind him came to a halt alongside him.

The Young Dragon Lord fixed his gaze on the girl in the black and white dress, his tone cold and dangerous.

"Zu Wei… My words represent the Southern Divine Dragon Realm. I, along with my allies, am crusading against the fiends of the Extreme Yin Star to avenge my personal humiliation. I will not rest until my goal is achieved. Your appearance now—is it to lend me a hand?"

Zu Wei was not one for smooth words; on the contrary, she seemed all sharp edges. Her cold eyes swept over the giant with golden dragon horns. She replied, "I've come to stop you from attacking the Extreme Yin Star."

The Dragon Devil Clan and their followers immediately bristled with discontent, muttering curses under their breath. The expressions of the Dragon Devil Clan members grew especially grim.

Zu Wei's statement was tantamount to a declaration of war. Even if this was merely youthful skirmishing in the Grand Assembly Arena, it was still a signal.

What was the attitude of the old factions of the Heavenly Deity Alliance—like the Ancestral Land and Elysian Immortal Palace—toward the rise of the Southern Divine Dragon Realm and the widespread resentment against the Harmony Divine Palace? The hundreds of millions of spectators in the MIllion Starlight Palace, including forces beyond the Heavenly Deity Stellar River, were eager to know.

At least, the Elysian Immortal Palace and Southern Divine Dragon Realm were clearly staunch allies; the old powerful sect and the rising new power seemed to be on brotherly terms.

So, the stance of the Ancestral Land—an even older hegemon of the Heavenly Deity Stellar River that rivaled the Elysian Immortal Palace—was indeed critical.

Before Zu Wei's declaration, the Ancestral Land had never expressed any opinion on the rise of the Southern Divine Dragon Realm. They had even voted in favor during the meeting to judge the Harmony Divine Palace, forcing the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm out of the Heavenly Deity Alliance.

None of this was a secret. Under such circumstances, Zu Wei had still come to save the Extreme Yin Star? Was this the will of her elders, or her personal whim?

Many sought to discern the true intentions of the powers behind these youths through their actions. Consequently, this large-scale conflict among the three parties suddenly drew attention comparable to Yun Xiao's grand spectacle.

The Million Starlight Palace buzzed with excitement.

For a time, the powerhouses from the Ancestral Land and Nine Yin Soul Sea also drew many gazes.

Among them, Empyrean Emperor Mu and the Great Dream Lord, seated together, were the most eye-catching.

Each had offspring following Zu Wei and were prominent figures representing the Ancestral Land and the Nine Yin Soul Sea. The two conversed happily, attracting many sidelong glances.

"Zu Wei's intuition is indeed sharp," the Great Dream Lord of the Nine Yin Soul Sea remarked softly, gazing at the girl in the black and white dress.

"Mhm," Empyrean Emperor Mu nodded. "We have the perspective of the heavens, so we can see Yun Xiao's recent actions more clearly and recognize that he's truly talented. Yet she, without this vantage point, can still make the judgment to support him against the Southern Divine Dragon Realm—it indeed requires courage."

"She represents the Ancestral Land; every word and action requires great nerve." The Great Dream Lord's gaze was cold. "However, this Yun Xiao holds the Personal Pledges of 250 prodigies. With his methods, he could become a powerful force in the Grand Assembly Arena. Truly valuable."

"Originally, I thought the disciples of the Harmony Divine Palace would soon meet utter defeat." Empyrean Emperor Mu stroked his long beard. "We could form an alliance, do them a favor. But unexpectedly, we can actually use them to suppress those little devil dragons."

"If we don't press them now and let them take first place again, public opinion in the Heavenly Deity Stellar River will gradually shift." The Great Dream Lord sneered. "By then, who can suppress this greedy dragon?"

She couldn't help it; the Nine Yin Soul Sea and Southern Divine Dragon Realm had a blood feud. Historically, they'd dealt heavy blows to the Southern Divine Dragon Realm. Among the ten members of the Heavenly Deity Alliance, the Nine Yin Soul Sea was the least capable of drawing in the Dragon Devil Clan.

"The Harmony Divine Palace still has hope." Empyrean Emperor Mu smiled faintly. "If we pull some strings inside and out, perhaps they'll give us some surprises."

"Indeed, those Three Divas are valiant at heart," the Great Dream Lord agreed. "Though they're no match for the Southern Divine Dragon Realm overall, as long as they can chip away at that evil dragon, it benefits everyone..."

After speaking, she looked toward the other Heavenly Deity Alliance sects like the Elysian Immortal Palace. Finally, her gaze fell on Gong Tianjian, the head of the Heavenly Deity Alliance's Joint Law Enforcement Division.

"That old woman," the Great Dream Lord said with contempt, "was well-served by the Dragon Devil Clan when she was young and got bewitched. If she doesn't die, the Heavenly Deity Alliance will be hijacked one by one."

Her gaze was disdainful and venomous. Such disgust was hard to fake, and everyone knew it.

But many hadn't expected that, now that the Southern Divine Dragon Realm's entry into the Heavenly Deity Alliance was a done deal, the Ancestral Land and Nine Yin Soul Sea would truly stand up and oppose the tide of history.

Zu Wei's actions were just those of a junior, but at this moment, they stirred turbulent undercurrents in the Million Starlight Palace.

Everyone continued to watch the next moves of these young people.

Clearly, the Young Dragon Lord was only growing more furious.

Nothing had gone his way today.

From Bai Ao to Yun Xiao, and now to Zu Wei, each time he failed to vent his anger, his pent-up rage only built up more explosively.

"Disciples of the Ancestral Land and the Nine Yin Soul Sea," the Young Dragon Lord roared, still suppressing his fury, "are you really sure you want to stand with these fiendish women of the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm and oppose the entire Heavenly Deity Stellar River?"

His thunderous voice, filled with rage and threat, swept over the disciples of the Ancestral Land, Nine Yin Soul Sea, and celestial sects that followed them.

His aura was overwhelming.

He didn't stop, continuing in a deep voice, "You'd better think carefully. Right now, hundreds of millions of cultivators in the Samsara Galaxy are watching. As members of the Heavenly Deity Alliance, you should uphold the righteousness of the entire stellar river. But you've chosen to act as accomplices to evil. How many will be disappointed in you, and in the elders, history, and honor behind you!"

"Young Dragon Lord!" Zu Wei fixed him with her cold gaze and suddenly smiled faintly. "Why so much grandstanding? Is it because you're afraid to fight, so you can only scare people? That can't be it, right? Aren't you from the invincible and valiant Dragon Devil Clan, known for killing on the spot when words don't agree?"

Her words were like a slap across the Young Dragon Lord's face.

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