While Dannington was facing his attackers alone, the projection clone of the Sovereign of Destruction descended upon the Qingya Plane.
High above the South Sea in the Qingya Plane, Hope abruptly opened her eyes and looked at the gray energy gathering in the void.
"Utrade, what brings you to my Qingya Plane?"
With a casual wave of her hand, Hope spread a blue curtain of water over Divine Beast Island, concealing every trace of its aura.
The gray energy gathered into Utrade's form. He first glanced at the curtain of water above the South Sea in confusion, then looked away, paying it no mind.
"Hope, I need the Four Divine Beasts Clan's High Gods. The clan cannot be destroyed yet."
This time, Utrade made no excuses. He stated his true intentions outright.
"Oh? You want me to spare the Four Divine Beasts Clan? As a Sovereign, I won't lower myself to attack them. As for my Emissary, Ninisha is a Paragon, and she already has a grudge against the Four Divine Beasts."
Hope gave a soft laugh. Blue-white light shimmered in her dark, starry eyes.
"Give me this blueprint, and I'll spare the Four Divine Beasts Clan for ten trillion years. What do you say?"
Utrade fell silent for a while, then moved his right hand. A blueprint covered in peculiar patterns appeared.
"Hm? What's this?"
Hope paused, took the blueprint, and examined it carefully. Then she gave Utrade a meaningful look.
"It's a magic array blueprint from my research years ago. You might find it interesting."
Utrade spoke without expression, as though he had tossed away something utterly ordinary.
"You're giving this to me? Aren't you afraid I'll figure out the Four Divine Beasts' ultimate move, too?"
Hope raised an eyebrow. The blueprint closely resembled the magic array used in Reding and the others' earlier battle, so she was eager to have it.
Though the blueprint had already been used and discarded, some of what it contained—especially the underlying ideas—could still prove useful. Hope was surprised that the Sovereign of Destruction would offer it in a trade. Even if he no longer needed it, he shouldn't have been handing it over to her.
"Do you think I could develop my ultimate move with the Four Divine Beasts' bloodline alone?"
Utrade scoffed, neither confirming nor denying Hope's words.
He had spent countless years on his research. His ultimate move relied not only on fusing the Four Divine Beasts' bloodlines, but also incorporated the principles behind his own former ultimate move and Wukun's Essence Blood. He was absolutely certain that only he could perfect it.
Hope wasn't a divine beast, nor did she have Wukun Essence Blood. In Utrade's view, even if she had the Essence Blood of the Four Divine Beasts, she couldn't do anything with it.
"I'll take the blueprint. I'll have Ninisha and Bayer leave and stay out of the Skyrite Mountains for ten trillion years."
Hope put away the magic array blueprint and nodded.
Utrade said nothing more. Once Hope agreed, he vanished into the void.
Above the Skyrite Mountains, Dannington staggered back, battered, with Ninisha and Bayer close on either side.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, immense pressure filled the void. The three Paragons who had been fighting stopped and looked up at the sky.
Blue light gathered into two figures, and Hope and Palhouse stepped out.
"Greetings, Sovereign! x2"
Ninisha and Bayer put away their Sovereign Artifacts and bowed.
"Dannington greets the Sovereign of Water!"
Dannington's heart tightened. He, too, bowed slightly.
"Ninisha, Bayer, that's enough. After discussing it with the Sovereign of Destruction, I've agreed to seal off the Skyrite Mountains for ten trillion years."
Hope gave a slight nod, then glanced at Bayer and Ninisha as she spoke softly.
"I understand, Sovereign."
Ninisha nodded, with no objection to Hope's decision. Though she had no good relationship with the Four Divine Beasts Clan, she wouldn't go against Hope's wishes over such a minor matter.
"Yes, Sovereign!"
Bayer nodded. He hadn't been especially interested in this matter anyway, and had only come to help Ninisha because Hope had ordered him to.
Hearing Hope's words, Dannington let out a quiet breath of relief. He wouldn't have to keep fighting. He was confident he could protect himself, but facing both Ninisha and Bayer at once put him at too much of a disadvantage.
"Dannington, I'll leave the rest to you."
Hope glanced at Dannington, then vanished with Palhouse in a blur.
Bayer and Ninisha exchanged a few words with Dannington before turning into streaks of light and disappearing in an instant, as though they had never been there.
"Whew! That was a rough day."
Dannington sighed, then dropped like a shooting star, landing between the Four Divine Beasts Clan and the Eight Great Clans.
Seeing Dannington return alone, Bolin and the others darkened their expressions, but none dared say a word. They waited quietly for his instructions.
"From today onward, you're not to enter the Skyrite Mountains for ten trillion years. That is the Sovereigns' order!"
Dannington's expression was cold. Terrifying pressure bore down on the leaders of the Eight Great Clans.
Bolin and the other seven shuddered, then bowed their heads in unison and agreed. They signaled their armies to withdraw slowly.
"Mr. Dannington, thank you for your help. The Four Divine Beasts Clan will always remember your kindness."
Seeing the Eight Great Clans gradually retreat, Gaislesen stepped forward and spoke carefully.
Times had changed. Gaislesen was no longer a Sovereign's child. He had to be careful when dealing with someone like Dannington, especially since Dannington had helped them.
Gus, Tiya, and the others also expressed their gratitude. Gaislesen even invited Dannington to sit for a while in the Azure Dragon Hall.
But Dannington showed the Four Divine Beasts Clan no warmth either.
"Don't thank me. I came on the Sovereign of Destruction's orders. Thank him instead. Besides, no one will be looking out for you after ten trillion years."
Dannington gave Gaislesen a brief, indifferent glance, then ignored the clan members and shot skyward in a streak of light.
"Big brother, Dannington—"
"Enough, Gus!"
Before the White Tiger Clan Chief could finish, Gaislesen cut him off sharply.
"From now on, everyone in the clan will address him as Lord Dannington!"
Under Gaislesen's stern gaze, Gus opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing more.
Though they had reached this point, Gus, the White Tiger Clan Chief, still hadn't fully shaken off his old habits. He had even let slip, almost instinctively, a disrespectful remark about Dannington that only a son of the White Tiger Sovereign would have dared to make.
But Gaislesen, as the eldest brother, was clear-headed. Things were different now. Someone as powerful as Dannington, who had done them a favor, deserved the utmost respect.
"Big brother, what should we do next? Ten trillion years isn't that long."
Tiya interrupted Gaislesen and Gus, speaking with concern.
"Starting today, all our clansmen are to give up every luxury and focus on training. We must prepare for the battle ten trillion years from now."
After a long silence, Gaislesen spoke solemnly, then added,
"Gaia, you'll be in charge of keeping watch. Any clansman who wastes resources or slacks off must be punished. We must also identify and train those with talent."
"Before the final battle, we need to increase the number of Seven-Star Fiends as much as possible. The elders must also be urged to produce several more Asuras within ten trillion years. The few of us must devote ourselves to trying to reach Paragon."
After speaking, Gaislesen looked seriously at the others, his expression resolute.
They all knew how difficult it would be, but they had no choice. Ten trillion years hung over the Four Divine Beasts Clan like the Sword of Damocles. The six of them had to shoulder the burden.
"Don't worry, big brother. By the time ten trillion years have passed, one of us will have become a Paragon. Then we'll wipe out the Eight Great Clans and settle the score with Ninisha!"
As if to encourage the others, Gus, the White Tiger Clan Chief, pounded his chest several times.