Only then did Yin-Yang and the Three Heavens reassemble their bodies and bow to Hongjun in unison.
Hongjun shook his head without a word, then turned and left.
Watching Hongjun's back disappear, Yin-Yang felt a jumble of emotions.
If Hongjun hadn't intervened, he would have been doomed today.
But because of that, he now owed Hongjun an immense karmic debt!
He took a deep breath, glanced at Qiankun, then quietly left the Eastern Region.
The Three Heavens wore a grim expression as they looked toward the Endless Sea. At last, they understood...
No matter how powerful a Supreme Expert was, they still had no chance against a Sublime Saint!
In the Southern Region of the Primordial World, the atmosphere was taut as a drawn bowstring.
Yuan Huang furrowed her brows as she stared at Long Zang. In a solemn voice, she asked, "Ancestor Dragon has unified the Eastern and Northern Regions. Will he turn his attention to our Southern Region next?"
She already knew the answer. She simply wanted to hear Long Zang's judgment for herself.
Long Zang remained calm, though a chill flashed in his eyes. "Yes—and no."
"What do you mean?" Yuan Huang pressed.
Long Zang explained, "Yes, Ancestor Dragon will certainly move against the Phoenix Clan. Not only because of our foundations, but because we have two Sublime Saints. No faction can afford to ignore such a threat. But... Ancestor Dragon won't act alone. He'll certainly draw in the Qilin Clan."
Yuan Huang's eyes narrowed, and her breathing quickened slightly. She knew full well that if she were in Ancestor Dragon's position, she would do the same.
The Dragon Clan had one Sublime Saint, the Qilin Clan had one, while the Phoenix Clan had two. They could claim all they wanted that they wouldn't compete for supremacy, but who would believe them?
With a Great Calamity looming, no one would allow a potential threat to remain.
Long Zang spoke with conviction. "If I were Ancestor Dragon, I'd join forces with First Kirin and wipe out the Phoenix Clan first."
Yuan Huang's heart sank. She knew this wasn't an empty threat. If the Phoenix Clan were crushed, then even if she and Long Zang survived, they could no longer hold the entire clan together.
She ventured, "Have there been any answers from the Ferocious Beast Clan?"
Long Zang shook his head. "Not yet."
Yuan Huang sighed softly. She had sent people to contact Shen Ni, but there had been no reply. That boded ill for the Phoenix Clan.
"Let's wait a little longer," Long Zang said gravely, a glimmer of deep thought in his eyes.
Meanwhile, at the Fierce Beast Royal Court.
Shen Ni stood with his hands behind his back, his expression dark as his thoughts raced.
The Ferocious Beast Clan had fallen from glory in the previous era. Though a dying camel was still bigger than a horse, they could barely maintain their place among the Primordial World's foremost factions.
Karma weighed heavily upon him, keeping him from advancing to the Sublime Saint realm—not because he lacked talent, but because he was burdened by past causes and consequences.
Now the Phoenix Clan had sent a request for an alliance, and he was hesitant.
Accepting meant being dragged into a bloody battle. Refusing would leave the Ferocious Beasts in an even worse position if the Phoenix Clan fell.
In the hall, a Ferocious Beast King spoke up. "Your Majesty, why not accept Yuan Huang's offer?"
Shen Ni glanced at him, signaling him to continue.
The king spoke solemnly. "The situation is perilous, and our clan has no way out. If we want to escape our karma, we must perform a great deed. The Phoenix Clan doesn't compete for supremacy; instead, it safeguards peace in the Southern Region. That benefits the Primordial World. If we fight alongside them, we may yet turn our fate around."
Shen Ni was shaken.
The words weren't without merit, but thinking of the clan's current state, he still had reservations.
The Ferocious Beast Clan numbered only a hundred billion now, while in the Primordial World, it was common for a single great battle to claim tens of billions of lives. After several such battles, the entire clan might be wiped out!
He fell silent for a long while, then murmured, "No destruction, no rebirth..."
If they could earn Merit in this Great Calamity, their karma might diminish, and the Ferocious Beasts could be reborn.
At last, he raised a hand and gave the order. "Pass down the command. Tell the Phoenix Clan... I agree to the alliance."
Elsewhere, in a hidden place.
Ancestor Dragon and First Kirin met again after a long separation.
"It's been a long time," Ancestor Dragon said, his dragon eyes as cold as blades.
First Kirin replied coolly, "You're going after the Phoenix Clan?"
Ancestor Dragon didn't beat around the bush. "That's right. You and I can settle our rivalry later. But the Phoenix Clan has two Sublime Saints. If we don't eliminate them first, they'll be the ones to benefit in the end. We should join forces and wipe them out before that happens."
First Kirin remained silent.
He agreed with Ancestor Dragon's assessment, but he was still wary. Ancestor Dragon had never been an easy opponent to deal with.
Ancestor Dragon saw through his thoughts and said solemnly, "Don't worry. I'll give you an explanation."
First Kirin's gaze flickered, but in the end, he nodded and turned to leave.
Watching him go, Ancestor Dragon's lips curled into a faint smile.
He hadn't refused, which meant he'd already agreed.
Ancestor Dragon knew that First Kirin would never tolerate the Phoenix Clan continuing to grow stronger.
As long as he made a move, the Qilin Clan would follow.
"Peace doesn't mean others will leave you alone just because you don't provoke them."
Ancestor Dragon murmured, his dragon eyes deep and inscrutable.
"Phoenix Clan, this time you'll either dominate one region—or be wiped off the face of the world!"
In the Southern Region of the Primordial World, an ancient horn blared across heaven and earth, shaking mountains and rivers and striking fear into the myriad clans.
A murderous aura filled the world. Blood-red tribulation clouds blanketed the sky, making the entire Primordial World look like a blood-soaked hell.
Long Zang lifted his eyes, his gaze piercing the endless void. "They're here."
He saw Ancestor Dragon standing high above the nine heavens, hands behind his back, his draconic might sweeping forth with the momentum of heaven and earth as he bore down on the Southern Region.
Yuan Huang furrowed her brows. She had long expected Ancestor Dragon to make a move, but she hadn't thought he would act so quickly.
Long Zang explained calmly, "The Phoenix Clan stands in the way of his bid for supremacy. He was bound to act."
Yuan Huang nodded, her gaze as cold as a blade. She knew full well that this was a moment of life or death for the Phoenix Clan.
Ancestor Dragon's intentions were simple... He didn't expect to kill Long Zang and Yuan Huang on the spot.
It was nearly impossible to destroy two Sublime Saints.
His true goal was to hold them back and let the Dragon Clan and Qilin Clan armies destroy the Phoenix Clan.
By then, even if Long Zang and Yuan Huang were still alive, the Phoenix Clan would be nothing but a name.
Long Zang's eyes flashed. "First Kirin is here too."
Sure enough, First Kirin appeared beside Ancestor Dragon.
Yuan Huang's heart sank. She wasn't afraid of the powerful fighters on the battlefield, but she was worried about her people.
If the Phoenix Clan's bloodline were wiped out, no matter how strong an individual was, they couldn't protect the clan.
Long Zang stepped into the void and faced Ancestor Dragon from afar.
"Let's fight beyond the heavens."
"As we should," Ancestor Dragon replied coolly. Their figures vanished from the Primordial World at the same time, reappearing in the boundless reaches beyond the heavens.
Yuan Huang stepped forward as well, facing First Kirin.
"Yuan Huang." First Kirin's gaze was grave, but he showed no fear.
Like Ancestor Dragon, all he needed to do was hold Yuan Huang back and leave the rest to Ancestor Qiankun.
Sure enough, Qiankun's figure emerged from among the Dragon Clan and Qilin Clan armies.
Yuan Huang's heart tightened. The Creation Cauldron in his hand shone with Divine Light. It was an Innate Supreme Treasure.
Apart from her True Phoenix Sword, the Phoenix Clan had no other treasure capable of matching it.
Just then, an eerie figure appeared.
Blood-red hair, a handsome face, and a boundless aura of killing intent.
"I'll take it from here."
Shen Ni had arrived!
Yuan Huang felt relieved. She had never imagined that the long-quiet Ferocious Beast Clan would come to their aid now.
With the Phoenix Clan and the Ferocious Beast Clan allied, they might not lose to the Dragon Clan and the Qilin Clan.
"Shen Ni!" First Kirin said coldly, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.
Yuan Huang stepped forward, blocking that killing intent. "First Kirin, I'm your opponent."
First Kirin nodded and replied coldly, "Let's fight beyond the heavens!"
The two vanished into the void as well, entering the Outer Heaven Battlefield.
Before you continue