Heavenly Palace: From Today On, the Ancient Void Dragon Clan Would Recognize Zi Yan as Its Empress!

Battle Through the Heavens Plane, Wutan City, Xiao Clan.

After the Vice Hall Master's domineering figure disappeared, the terrifying pressure that had hung over everyone's heads finally faded.

But the atmosphere in the hall had grown even heavier than before.

Ge Ye's face was deathly pale, as if he'd just escaped the gates of hell. He shakily got to his feet, not daring to look at Xiao Yan again, and dragged the equally shell-shocked Nalan Yanran toward the exit.

"Go—hurry!"

"We can't afford to provoke the Xiao Clan!"

This time, there were no threats or glares over their shoulders. They fled in a panic like dogs who'd lost their home.

As Nalan Yanran left, attention in the hall shifted back to the iron cage in the corner.

Xiao Yan turned around, idly playing with the smooth, warm Heavenly Palace Token in his hand. Through the bars, he looked at the Star Luo prince inside, clad in ragged clothes and covered in grime.

"Dai Mubai, right?"

Xiao Yan's voice was calm, betraying no hint of emotion. "You saw that I refused to wipe out the Misty Cloud Sect outright."

Dai Mubai huddled in the corner, still clutching the half-eaten bone in his hand.

At Xiao Yan's words, he shuddered. His heterochromatic eyes were filled with complicated emotions.

He couldn't understand why this good-for-nothing had dared to refuse.

If it were him—if he had someone that powerful backing him—he'd have gone straight back to the Star Luo Empire and hacked the brother who'd competed with him for the throne into a thousand pieces!

"Since you're staying, I won't mistreat you."

Xiao Yan casually pointed toward a doghouse by the courtyard gate. It was where the family's Big Yellow used to live. "From now on, that's your home."

"As long as you watch the gate and don't bite people, the Xiao Clan won't leave you without a bone to gnaw on."

"Of course, if you still want to put on airs like a prince—"

"I don't mind killing you."

At those words, Dai Mubai shuddered again.

He looked at the crude doghouse, then at Xiao Yan's uncompromising gaze.

Then, with great difficulty, he moved his body and, under everyone's watchful eyes, forced two sounds of utter humiliation from his throat—sounds he had no choice but to make.

"Woof, woof woof—"

Above the Sky Screen, the scene shifted.

Perhaps to give viewers on Douluo Continent a break from the oppressive atmosphere, the livestream camera abruptly pulled upward.

[ Ding! Explorer perspective switching! ]

[ Current target: Beast God Di Tian! ]

[ Location: Ancient Void Dragon Clan territory: Ancient Dragon Island! ]

[ Current status: Poop-scooper (adapted), participating in the Dragon Clan Festival (as a handyman)! ]

The scene brightened. On a gigantic island suspended in the chaotic currents of the void, decorations and lights were everywhere. Countless energy lanterns shimmered with multicolored light, illuminating the otherwise dim void as brightly as day.

Today was a rare grand festival for the Ancient Void Dragon Clan—the Dragon Emperor Festival.

At the very edge of the banquet, the Beast God Di Tian, once famed throughout the Star Dou Forest, was now dressed in a drab handyman's uniform. He carried a huge jade platter larger than himself and picked his way gingerly between a crowd of colossal figures.

"Hurry up! You black lizard, what are you dawdling for?"

A guard from the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, who had taken human form, kicked Di Tian in the rear and cursed, "The guests from the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan have empty cups. If you neglect them, I'll toss you into the void storm and grind you into meat paste!"

"Yes, yes! Please calm down, sir. I'll go right away!"

Di Tian scrambled to his feet, a fawning smile on his face. He didn't even dare wipe the footprint off his cheek.

What trace of the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King's dignity remained in him now?

The way he bowed and scraped was even more practiced than a waiter's in the human world!

But Di Tian could hardly be blamed. The sight was simply too terrifying for a beast!

As he carried the platter, Di Tian stole glances at the guests around him, his heart spasming violently.

At the table on the left sat a group of men and women in colorful robes, their auras cold and sinister.

Though they had taken human form, Di Tian could still clearly sense the terrifying bloodline suppression within them!

The Nine Serene Deep Earth Python Clan!

One of the three great clans of the Beast Realm on Battle Qi Continent. They might not compare to the Ancient Void Dragons, but any elder among them had an aura ten times stronger than Di Tian's at his full strength!

At the table on the right sat a group of arrogant people in golden robes, with wings growing from their backs.

The Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan!

A super magical beast said to possess the bloodline of the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix!

They chatted and laughed, and even the faintest ripple from their auras caused fine cracks to appear in space.

"Gulp—"

Di Tian swallowed, forcing down the urge to drop to his knees and beg for mercy. With trembling hands, he placed the jade platter on the table.

What it held was none other than the Earth Core Body Tempering Fruit he'd once yearned for while in the cesspit!

And these had been washed spotless and arranged beautifully!

"Hmm? These fruits look pretty good."

An elder of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan casually picked one up and tossed it into his mouth. It crunched, spraying juice everywhere.

The energy that spilled out in that instant made Di Tian's eyes turn red!

That was a spiritual fruit!

On Douluo Continent, one fruit would be enough to evolve a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast straight into a hundred-thousand-year one!

But here—it was just an appetizer?!

"A little bland, but it'll do."

The Heaven Demon Phoenix elder pursed his lips in disdain and casually tossed the half-eaten fruit onto the ground. It rolled to a stop right beside Di Tian's foot.

Di Tian stared at the half a spiritual fruit lying in the dust. His throat bobbed violently.

If not for the circumstances, he would've thrown himself on it and licked it clean!

Douluo Continent, Star Dou Forest.

Lake of Life.

Gu Yuena clutched her collar tightly. Her beautiful face had gone deathly pale.

"The Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, the Nine Serene Deep Earth Python Clan—"

"And those Ancient Void Dragons—"

She stared at the guests raising their cups and exchanging toasts on the Sky Screen. Even through the screen, their bloodline suppression was suffocating. Her voice trembled uncontrollably. "Are those true divine beasts?"

"That person in the golden robe—a single feather of his probably contains power more terrifying than my Dragon God Claw."

"And what they're eating—"

The Scarlet King drooled as he stared fixedly at the half-eaten fruit on the ground. "That's a divine fruit, right? It's a divine fruit, isn't it?!"

"My liege, Di Tian and the others—are serving a whole table of gods!"

Xiong Jun buried his head in the ground, his entire body shaking. "Terrifying. That world is terrifying—"

"Any random table of guests could flatten the entire Star Dou Forest ten thousand times over—"

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

The grand, gilded hall should have been filled with celebration. Instead, the atmosphere had turned tense and oppressive, like a drawn bowstring.

Zi Yan sat upon the Dragon Emperor Throne at the head of the hall. Her face, though youthful, was marked by noble bearing, and now it was covered in frost.

She stared at the three middle-aged men below, each of them radiating menace and backed by a large group of powerful followers.

They were the three Dragon Kings who had split away from the Ancient Void Dragon Clan: the North Dragon King, the South Dragon King, and the West Dragon King!

"Niece Zi Yan."

The North Dragon King wore golden armor. With a false smile, he sat there in a domineering pose, squeezing his wine cup until it creaked in his hand. "You may have the imperial bloodline, but you're still too young. Your strength has only just reached One-Star Dou Sheng."

"If you want to unify the Ancient Dragon Clan and make the three of us old men obey your orders, heh, I'm afraid you're not qualified yet."

"Exactly!"

The West Dragon King spoke in a sinister voice, his gaze greedily sweeping over Zi Yan. "Unless you hand over the Dragon Emperor Token left by the Old Dragon Emperor and divide the resources of Ancient Dragon Island equally among our three islands, I'm afraid today's Dragon Emperor Festival won't be going ahead!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In an instant, three terrifying pressures, each from someone at or above Three-Star Dou Sheng, burst forth together. Like three primordial mountains, they slammed down on Zi Yan atop the throne!

"Pfft—"

Di Tian, carrying a platter in the corner of the hall, was struck by just the aftershock of the pressure. It felt as if a star had crashed into his chest. He spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed face-first onto the floor, unable to move even a finger!

"Th-they're too strong—"

Lying on the ground, Di Tian was utterly horrified. "Every one of those three has an aura a hundred times more terrifying than Heiqing's!"

"Before them, I'm not even dust!"

"So this is what infighting in a higher-dimensional world looks like? Their clash of auras alone can shatter my dragon soul?"

Douluo Continent, Star Dou Forest.

Lake of Life.

Watching the three domineering Dragon Kings on the Sky Screen, Gu Yuena's slender body trembled violently. She nearly ground her teeth to dust.

"Those are true Dragon King-level powerhouses!"

A tremor of blood-deep terror and despair crept into Gu Yuena's voice. "They're only branch leaders of that so-called Ancient Void Dragon Clan, but the ripples of law emanating from them already surpass the Divine Realm's Five Enforcers!"

"Three-Star Dou Sheng—by that world's measure, they've already transcended the mortal realm. A lift of the hand or a step can destroy an entire world!"

"And powerhouses like them are actually staging a coup? Fighting among themselves?"

"And our Beast God Di Tian—"

Gu Yuena stared at Di Tian, collapsed in the corner of the Sky Screen and vomiting blood like a dead dog. Tears instantly blurred her eyes. "He doesn't even have the right to stand and watch."

"Just the aftershock has left him badly wounded."

"The physique our Soul Beast Clan takes pride in is as fragile as a sheet of paper before the power struggles of that world's upper ranks."

"Great Dragon God, if you could see this, would you still have us attack the Divine Realm?"

"Before this terrifying plane, perhaps the Divine Realm really is just a greenhouse."

Xiong Jun, King of Ten Thousand Monsters, and the other Ferocious Beasts had their heads buried between their legs. They didn't dare so much as breathe loudly.

Terrifying.

If a battle of that level broke out on Douluo Continent, the entire Star Dou Forest would be reduced to ashes in an instant!

The scene returned to the hall on Ancient Dragon Island.

Facing the three Dragon Kings' coup, Zi Yan gritted her teeth. Purple-gold light flashed in her eyes. Though her body trembled, she held her ground. "You traitors! Father is missing, not dead! If you dare make a move—"

"Hmph! The Old Dragon Emperor's been missing for so many years. He's probably been dead for ages!"

The North Dragon King lost patience. He abruptly rose to his feet, killing intent showing in his eyes. "Since you won't listen, don't blame your uncles for being ruthless! Move! Seize her!"

Just as the three Dragon Kings were about to strike and Zi Yan was on the brink of despair—

Rumble!!

The void above East Dragon Island suddenly exploded without warning!

In the next instant, an immeasurably powerful pressure—millions of times more terrifying than all the Dragon Kings present combined—descended like a heavenly river pouring down. Even the entire Void Lightning Pool fell silent in an instant!

"Who dares touch someone the Heavenly Palace has sworn to protect?!"

Then, an ancient yet overwhelmingly domineering voice rang across heaven and earth!

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The three Dragon Kings, who had just seemed invincible, couldn't even cry out. The moment the pressure descended, their knees shattered, and they were crushed to the ground, slamming deep dents into the hard obsidian floor!

"Th-this is—"

The North Dragon King looked horrified as he struggled to raise his head.

Through the crack in the void, an old man with white hair and beard stepped forward through the air. He wore white-and-gold robes, and chaos energy curled around him.

He hadn't used a single Dou Technique. Yet just by standing there, he caused the surrounding space to collapse and reform, as if this world couldn't contain his true form!

The Heavenly Palace's Supreme Elder, Tiancezi!

"E-Eight-Star Dou Saint?!"

The West Dragon King's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. His whole body convulsed, and the stench of urine instantly spread through the hall.

A powerhouse of this level stood at the very pinnacle of Central Plains!

Apart from the legendary Soul Clan Chief and Ancient Clan Chief, who could possibly be his match?

Why—why would a monster like him show up here?!

"Heavenly Palace?"

Zi Yan, seeing the distinctive character for "Heavenly" on the old man's robes, was overcome with joy.

Tiancezi slowly descended beside Zi Yan and nodded to her. Then he turned and looked coldly down at the three Dragon Kings kneeling on the ground. "A pack of fools courting death."

"Zi Yan is someone our Heavenly Palace's Palace Master personally named and took under her protection. You dare stage a coup against her?"

"Does the Ancient Void Dragon Clan want to be wiped out?!"

Boom!

At those words, all three Dragon Kings spat out blood mixed with bits of their organs. Their auras instantly weakened to the extreme.

"N-no! We wouldn't dare! Spare us, senior! Please spare us!"

The North Dragon King kowtowed frantically, smashing his forehead open. "We didn't know our niece Zi Yan had the Heavenly Palace backing her! If we'd known, we wouldn't have dared, even with ten thousand lives!"

"Get out!"

Tiancezi swept his sleeve.

A burst of terrifying force sent the three Dragon Kings flying out of the hall like garbage.

"If I weren't showing consideration for the Old Dragon Emperor, I'd slaughter all three of your islands today!"

"From this day on, the Ancient Void Dragon Clan will recognize Zi Yan as its Empress! Who agrees? Who objects?!"