The Blood War Valley camp had never been so lively.
It had been three days. Since the final battle ended and the news spread throughout the Heaven Sacrifice Mountain Range, members of the Four Divine Beast clans had streamed here from every direction. Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise—the once-desolate camp was now packed to the brim.
Hundreds of lanterns floated above the camp. They were crafted by the Vermilion Bird branch, formed from divine power and inextinguishable flames. Their gentle glow illuminated the entire camp as brightly as day.
Dozens of bonfires blazed in the center of the camp. Flames soared into the sky as all manner of magical beast meat roasted over them. Grease dripped into the fire with sizzling crackles. Wine jars were piled into small mountains.
Children darted through the crowds, playing and chasing one another. Young clansmen sat around the bonfires, tearing into meat and drinking bowl after bowl of wine. Older clansmen gathered in twos and threes, reminiscing about the past. As they spoke, their eyes reddened, yet smiles never left their faces.
These ten thousand years had been far too bitter.
Trapped within the Heaven Sacrifice Mountain Range and unable to leave, they had suffered from scarce resources, the decline of powerful experts, and the destruction of branch after branch. So many clansmen had died in Blood War Valley; so many geniuses had fallen in obscurity before they could ever shine. In those days, even laughter had been a luxury.
But now, things were different.
The patriarchs of the Eight Great Clans had all been wiped out, and more than half of the three hundred Seven-Star Fiends were dead or wounded. The hopeless deadlock that had trapped them for ten thousand years had been broken in a single stroke.
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