The Windmist Divine General was a bewitching woman clad in silver armor, while the Gluttonous Cloud Divine General was a burly man in black armor. The two were indeed siblings, ranked fifteenth and twenty-ninth respectively among the Thirty-Six Divine Generals.
It must be known.
The Thirty-Six Divine Generals were handpicked by the Northriver Divine Emperor from the vast multitudes of Imperial-level experts across the worlds he ruled. Each was extraordinarily powerful. Even newly ascended Imperial-level figures like the Five Clan Leaders were unqualified to join their ranks.
“Invite the Skeletal Dragon Divine General?” The Gluttonous Cloud and Windmist Divine Generals exchanged glances. Neither was particularly familiar with him.
The Skeletal Dragon Divine General.
Ranked second among the Thirty-Six Divine Generals, he was far too prestigious to serve as the Northriver Divine Emperor’s personal guard. Though the Emperor was constantly attended by nine Divine Generals, they were usually those of lower rank. The top five, however, were bound to him only through special agreements—free to act as they pleased, summoned only when battle demanded.
“Go. Seek out the Skeletal Dragon Divine General. He shall lead you to the Starlight World,” commanded the Northriver Divine Emperor.
He would tolerate no mistakes.
This must be swift and decisive!
“As you command!”
The Gluttonous Cloud and Windmist Divine Generals, along with the Five Clan Leaders, bowed in unison.
—
Aboard a grand vessel, the two Divine Generals and the Five Clan Leaders departed the Northriver World, traversing the void until they arrived at the Skeletal World.
*Huff.*
Though the Skeletal World was under the Northriver Divine Emperor’s rule, the Skeletal Dragon Divine General’s overwhelming strength granted him near-total autonomy. Only on rare occasions, when the Emperor’s prestige demanded it, was he ever summoned.
Within a towering palace of bleached bone.
The Skeletal Dragon Divine General was a strikingly handsome youth clad in skeletal armor, voraciously devouring an enormous pile of bones before him—*crunch, crunch*—effortlessly grinding them to dust.
Surrounding him stood elite warriors of the Skeletal Clan, ever vigilant.
Just as the Gluttonous Cloud Divine General and his entourage arrived.
The Skeletal Dragon Divine General finished the last bone in his massive basin and rose to his feet. “Perfect timing. Let us depart for the Starlight World.”
The vessel soared away from the Skeletal World.
“Little Sister Windmist, you grow more radiant with each meeting,” the Skeletal Dragon Divine General teased. “How about becoming my wife? My clan sorely lacks a matriarch.”
“Second Brother, must you jest every time we meet?” Windmist sighed.
“Alas, my affections go unrequited,” he lamented, turning to the Gluttonous Cloud Divine General. “Brother Gluttonous Cloud, persuade your sister for me.”
“I dare not,” the latter rumbled. “You know well—she commands me, not the other way around.”
“Useless!” the Skeletal Dragon Divine General snorted. “You shame me.”
Both Divine Generals could only sigh.
Truthfully, they were not particularly close to him. But the Skeletal Dragon Divine General had an eccentric habit—whenever he encountered a female Divine General, he would propose marriage. Yet those who attained such ranks were extraordinary women, not easily swayed.
—
Amidst laughter and banter, their vessel soon breached the Starlight World, heading straight for its capital.
Within the Starlight City.
The Starlight Clan was in jubilant celebration. Though they knew their victory was temporary—their foes backed by the mighty Northriver Divine Emperor—they had endured too long in despair. This hard-won triumph, with its many captives, was a rare moment of joy. Even the clan’s elites, alongside the Starlight Sovereign, reveled with Dongbo Xueying.
Wine flowed freely, voices raised in merriment.
“They won’t attack recklessly—not unless they abandon their prisoners.”
“Hmph! If they seek our deaths, their own shall perish first.”
“With Flying Snow Divine Emperor aiding us, victory won’t come easily for them.”
Dongbo Xueying listened silently, his heart heavy. Upon arrival, these elders and generals had spoken only of mutual destruction, resigned to their fate. Now, though hope flickered, fear still gnawed at them.
The Northriver Divine Emperor’s dread name was etched deep into every native’s soul.
*The Starlight Sovereign once aided me. Now, I shall see this through to the end,* Dongbo Xueying resolved.
To him.
The Deathblame Clan and native tribes held no terror. The most formidable among them were barred from the Heartvoid Continent by the laws left behind by *Meta*. Those who could enter were mere newly ascended Imperials—against his Illusory Void Dao’s killing techniques, they would succumb in an instant!
“Trouble.” The Starlight Sovereign’s face abruptly darkened.
“What is it?” The celebrants turned to him, Dongbo Xueying included.
The Sovereign’s expression was grim. As master of the Starlight World, he had sensed the skeletal vessel’s arrival the moment it breached their realm.
With a wave, he conjured an image in the air—a ship bearing eight figures. At its prow stood three: the Skeletal Dragon Divine General in his bone armor, flanked by Windmist and Gluttonous Cloud. Behind them loomed the Five Clan Leaders.
Only eight. No lesser warriors. They knew well—against soul-based attacks, the weak were but chaff.
“This—”
The Starlight Sovereign, his nine elders, and all present elites paled. Even his wife and daughter trembled.
“Windmist Divine General, Gluttonous Cloud Divine General… and the *Skeletal Dragon Divine General*! To think they’d send him against our world.” The Sovereign’s body shook. Outside, without his clan’s power augmenting him, the Skeletal Dragon could crush him effortlessly. Even with it, he might barely match Windmist, the weakest of the three.
How could they fight?
“Prepare for battle!!!” the Sovereign growled through clenched teeth. Regardless, they would resist.
“Ruthless. The Northriver Divine Emperor is utterly ruthless!”
“He cares nothing for his prisoners’ lives now.”
“Sending the Skeletal Dragon against us…”
The elders and generals seethed with desperation.
*Whoosh—*
They flashed to the city gates, hovering midair beneath the starlight, gazing into the distance. Dongbo Xueying stood beside the Sovereign, observing calmly. Armed with intelligence from the Bloodflame Clan, he recognized the famed Thirty-Six Divine Generals. He was curious.
His Illusory Void Dao’s killing moves had only been tested against the Deathblame Clan’s island lords. How would they fare against natives? Though natives were wiser than the Deathblame, their mental cultivation paled beside true cultivators—only their bloodline’s peculiarities granted slight resistance.
“They’re here.”
“The Skeletal Dragon Divine General…”
“Fight to the last. If we fall, enact the escape plan.” The Sovereign and elders exchanged silent messages, eyes burning with resolve.
This was their homeland. They would never yield—not until the final breath.
*Whoosh—*
The skeletal vessel pierced the void, halting just beyond the capital. Its oppressive aura sent tremors through the Starlight Clan’s hearts. They had known the Northriver Divine Emperor’s terror, but never imagined three of his legendary generals would descend so swiftly after their fleeting victory.
“Well, well. The Starlight Clan has spine,” the bone-armored youth mused, scanning the defenders. “Which of you is the Flying Snow Divine Emperor?”
Dongbo Xueying stepped forward, smiling faintly.
“I am.”
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