“Brother Xiao Yan, the disappearance of the Stone Clan has surely caused a significant impact on the Ancient Clan, so I might need to go back and check…” On a verdant peak, Xiao Yan gazed towards the northwestern sky, and in his ears, he could hear once again Xuner’s light and ethereal voice. It was with a slight sense of melancholy, as he naturally understood that Xuner’s disappearance for two years following him had surely caused a significant upheaval within the Ancient Clan. Now, with her freedom, it was only right and just for her to return, not to mention the matter of the Stone Clan.
“Xuner, I promised you that I would come to the Ancient Clan to propose. Wait for me.” Xiao Yan gently closed his hand as if trying to grasp at the departing figure. After a moment, he quickly stifled his emotions, his eyes gradually narrowing. Along the way, he had thoroughly understood the current situation between the Heavenly Mansion Alliance and the Hall of Souls. The intensity of their conflict far exceeded his expectations; they were now in a state where neither side could afford to hold back. The Hall of Souls had destroyed many of the Alliance’s cities, while the cities had also taken down some branches of the Hall of Souls. Apart from the high-ranking members still stubbornly holding out, the battle could be described as a fight to the death, with both sides blinded by their rage.
Of course, Xiao Yan had no objections to this, as the enmity between him and the Hall of Souls was already irreconcilable. This confrontation had always been inevitable, and though he anticipated it, he did not expect it to come so swiftly and fiercely.
“When two tigers fight, one or both will inevitably be wounded. The Hall of Souls has suffered a significant loss, and given their nature, they will not swallow this defeat easily. However, the Alliance not only has my ancestor, Xuanchen, but also the secretive protection of the Pill Tower’s elder. Even if the Hall of Souls’ Master is domineering, he would not dare to attack recklessly. But after the Hall of Souls, there is still the Soul Clan, who will not allow the Hall of Souls to be destroyed by the Heavenly Mansion Alliance.”
Xiao Yan’s eyes flickered, though he had not been around for a while, piecing together the information he gathered, it wasn’t difficult to deduce what was happening.
“The time to truly confront the Hall of Souls has come. You annihilated my Xiao Clan, nearly severing our bloodline. Now, it is time for blood repayment…”
Xiao Yan’s fists slowly clenched, and flames flickered in his eyes. A chill and icy aura silently emanated, and then his figure moved, disappearing in a strange manner…
As the headquarters of the Heavenly Mansion Alliance, the Meteoric Pavilion not only expanded several times its original size but also housed countless powerful figures, making its defenses impenetrable. Even a Dou Sage would find it challenging to infiltrate without being detected.
With the rapid growth of the Heavenly Mansion Alliance, the opposition voices that initially arose due to the alliance have completely disappeared. In fact, the various factions, influenced by the alliance’s regulations, are gradually merging. Many disciples, in their conversations, now refer to themselves as members of the Heavenly Mansion rather than their respective sects. Over time, these forces are being assimilated into one, the Heavenly Mansion!
The leaders of these factions see this clearly but have chosen to silently accept it. Now, the Alliance and the Hall of Souls are locked in a battle to the death. If the Alliance were to dissolve, the factions would surely become targets of the Hall of Souls’ retribution, leading to a grim outcome. Only by sticking together can they resist the Hall of Souls, or else, they will all face certain death.
Within the Starry Realm, a monumental change had occurred in the past two years. Peaks rose from the ground, each towering with magnificent structures. Powerful auras permeated the air, indicating that this area was the heart of the Heavenly Mansion Alliance, teeming with an overwhelmingly large number of strong cultivators.
At the center of the Starry Realm stood an exceptionally majestic hall, surrounded by clouds, giving it a grand and imposing presence. Around the hall, soul perception scans weaved like a net, ensuring even the slightest intrusion would be detected.
“In the past month, the Alliance and the Hall of Souls clashed forty-three times, three of which were of considerable scale. Although we managed to destroy one branch, we also suffered substantial losses,” Wind Ancestor reported to Pill Elder, seated at the head of the table, with a somber atmosphere filling the hall.
Pill Elder slowly nodded. Though his aura had grown stronger over the past two years, his face had aged, indicating the toll managing the Alliance had taken on him.
“These skirmishes are not of great concern, but we have received intelligence suggesting that the Hall of Souls may be growing impatient with this stalemate,” Wind Ancestor added, thoughtfully.
“Oh?” The many high-ranking officials of the Alliance turned their attention to Wind Ancestor.
“According to our intelligence, the Soul Clan will dispatch a true powerhouse to aid the Hall of Souls in eliminating the Heavenly Mansion Alliance.”
“Hmph, with Ancestor Xuanchen and the Pill Tower’s elder, the Hall of Souls dares to make such arrogant claims,” a low scoff echoed through the hall. The Alliance had shown formidable strength in recent years, even the Hall of Souls had suffered. Some people even deemed the Alliance as the new overlord of Central State, fostering a sense of arrogance among some.
“Confidence is good, but too much can lead to self-destruction,” Pill Elder calmly admonished, glancing at the speakers.
“Do we know who the Soul Clan is sending?”
Wind Ancestor licked his lips and looked at Pill Elder before nodding and saying, “Qianmu Huo…”
Upon hearing this, he noticed confusion among many present, so he added, “A six-star Dou Sage, rumored to have participated in the ambush against Xiao Xuan.”
The last sentence was like a bomb, causing a commotion. Many faces expressed shock. The Soul Clan was sending such a powerful old monster, clearly determined to obliterate the Heavenly Mansion Alliance.
“Qianmu Huo…”
In the stunned hall, a hoarse voice broke the silence. All eyes turned to a corner, where a gaunt figure, saved by Xiao Yan from the Illusory Demon Flame, sat motionless, his face as stiff as a zombie—Xuanchen.
Xuanchen merely spoke the name and fell silent, but those with keen senses could detect the faint signs of space collapsing around him, indicating the enormity of his emotional turmoil.
“Why would the Soul Clan send such a monster? Are they not afraid of the Ancient Clan and the other three clans’ dissatisfaction?” Firecloud Ancestor, frowning, pointed out the overwhelming pressure he felt from a six-star Dou Sage, even though he was now a two-star Dou Sage.
“Currently, these ancient races are wary of each other, fearing a repeat of the Spirit Clan and Stone Clan incident. Who has the luxury to meddle with the Soul Clan? Their move is also a test. Otherwise, they would send more than just Qianmu Huo…”
Pill Tower’s Great Elder shook his head, his expression grave. “If this old monster truly attacks, we may have to ask the Ancestor to intervene. But that would mean the Hall of Souls’ Master and the Soul Devil Elder would split their forces, keeping Ancestor Xuanchen occupied. Without our strongest forces, the remaining one could lead an attack on the Alliance, plunging us into a fierce battle.”
His analysis left the hall in silence. Despite the Alliance’s rapid growth, the number of peak powerhouses was barely enough to match the Hall of Souls. Now, the precarious balance was about to be shattered.
“Then, let me, Little Doctor Fairy, and Qing Lin work together to try and stall the Hall of Souls’ Master,” Pill Elder proposed, lost in thought.
But Pill Tower’s Great Elder shook his head, doubting whether they could stall a five-star Dou Sage. Even if they managed, the number of Dou Sages required would be stretched thin, leaving the Alliance vulnerable to a decisive strike.
“If Ms. Ziyan were here, things would be easier,” one person sighed. Ziyan was a powerful ally, but the Void Dragons were still dealing with the aftermath, and the Dragon Kings, though less endangered, were still concerns. She had to stay at the Eastern Dragon Island until the threat was neutralized.
Silence settled once more, and the realization dawned that a storm had been gradually building over the Alliance, and failure would mean the dissolution of their efforts.
“Regarding the Hall of Souls’ Master…,” Pill Tower’s Great Elder hesitated, steeling himself before standing up. But before he could finish, a clear, resonant laughter interrupted.
“Let me handle it.”
In the corner of the hall, Xuanchen’s eyes snapped open, a look of relief spreading across his stern face.
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