Dongyue Reinforcements, Evenly Matched

Just as the suffocating despair, like icy water, was about to drown the minds of every Li Family member, Dongyue Qing's words—"They... are here too!"—were like a ray of dawn cutting through the darkness.

Everyone looked in the direction he indicated and saw streams of light rapidly approaching from the horizon opposite the Five Poisons Valley reinforcements. Some carried an aura as gentle as moonlight, others as heavy as mountains, and still others as sharp as steel. Though they lacked the venomous menace of Five Poisons Valley, their combined majestic presence formed another towering divine mountain, firmly holding back the terrifying pressure pouring down from the allied forces.

"It's the Dongyue Clan! Our reinforcements!" A sharp-eyed Li Family member on the city wall cried out excitedly, his voice choked with tears—the wild joy of being pulled back from the brink of hell.

The dark mass of people arrived in an instant, hovering above the Li Family camp and joining Li Yunming's group. The auras of the two people at the forefront were like two pillars supporting the heavens, instantly propping up the sky that had been on the verge of collapse.

At the center stood a man in magnificent robes embroidered with a pattern of sun and moon shining together. His features were refined, and faint phantoms of the sun and moon seemed to revolve in his eyes whenever they opened and closed. The Soul Power radiating from him was vast, harmonious, and unfathomable. He was Dongyue Qingxuan, another Grand Elder of the Dongyue Clan—a level ninety-nine Limit Douluo!

To his left stood a beautiful woman in a flowing aqua-blue gown. She looked young, but her eyes held the wisdom and gentleness accumulated over countless years. In her hand was a Lifeheart Herb emitting a hazy clear radiance. Her aura was like a boundless sea, embracing all things yet unfathomably deep. She was one of the Dongyue Clan's Grand Elders, Dongyue Qingxuan's wife, Su Qingyin—a level ninety-nine healing-type Limit Douluo.

Together with Dongyue Qing, who had already been fighting bitterly here for a long time, the three Limit Douluo represented the Dongyue Clan's greatest strength. All had arrived!

And that was not all. Behind them stood the Dongyue Clan's patriarch, Dongyue Qingcang, a Super Douluo, along with over thirty elders and core members at the Titled Douluo level, all standing solemnly. Nearly ten of them were Super Douluo! The number of Titled Douluo sent by the Dongyue Clan had exceeded thirty!

The continent had long known that the Dongyue Clan was among the foremost of the Eastern Eight Great Powers, slightly stronger than the Qiu Family. Yet no one had expected its foundations to be this profound! Including the forces that had to remain behind in Heavenly Heart City, the Dongyue Clan's total number of Titled Douluo had surpassed forty!

This sudden powerful reinforcement instantly shattered the overwhelming oppression brought by the Five Poisons Valley and Qiu Family alliance.

Qiu Miehun's previously smug expression instantly darkened. Cradling the weakly breathing Qiu Qiansha, he cried out in shock and fury, "Dongyue Qingxuan! Su Qingyin! You... are you Dongyue Family determined to fight us to the death?!"

The plump Chan Family head from Five Poisons Valley also reined in much of the greed and arrogance in his tiny eyes, replacing it with deep wariness. He shrieked, "Dongyue Patriarch, is it worth mobilizing your entire Dongyue Clan for the sake of one Li Family? Aren't you afraid your own backyard will catch fire?"

Dongyue Qingxuan calmly swept his gaze across the allied camp, lingering briefly on the severely wounded Qiu Qiansha, She Duyun, and the listless Xie Qiyan. At last, he spoke loudly. His voice was gentle, yet it carried unquestionable authority and rang clearly across the battlefield. "Patriarch Qiu, Patriarch Chan. The Li Family and the Dongyue Clan are bound by blood through marriage, and we are allies who depend on each other like lips and teeth. Today, you can join forces to destroy the Li Family. Tomorrow, your blades will surely point toward Heavenly Heart City. This is not a battle for the Li Family, but for the Dongyue Clan's legacy and the lives of our entire clan!"

He paused, and his tone turned resolute. "As for fighting to the death? From the moment your allied army set foot in Heavenly Phoenix City, there has been no room for compromise! The Dongyue Family does not seek trouble, but neither do we fear it!"

Su Qingyin also spoke softly, her voice flowing like a clear spring yet carrying the power to soothe unrest. "The Dongyue Clan and Five Poisons Valley have always been mortal enemies. We have long been locked in an endless struggle. Today, we shall stand with the Li Family, advancing and retreating together."

As Li Yunming looked at the Dongyue Clan members who had arrived just in time, a great weight lifted from his heart. He nodded slightly toward Dongyue Qingxuan and Su Qingyin. Though his face was still somewhat pale, his bearing remained undiminished. "Elder Qingxuan, Elder Qingyin, the Li Family will remember your aid."

Dongyue Qingxuan looked at Li Yunming, and sincere admiration flashed in his eyes. "Elder Yunming, you are too polite. You fought three Limits alone and still severely wounded one while injuring two others. Such strength is truly admirable. We merely fulfilled our duty as allies."

At that moment, the situation in the sky underwent a dramatic reversal.

On one side stood the alliance of Five Poisons Valley—more than thirty Titled Douluo, including several Super Douluo, with She Duyun and Xie Qiyan, two Limits, injured—and the Qiu Family—with over a dozen remaining Titled Douluo, Qiu Qiansha critically wounded and near death, while Qiu Qianchi was heavily injured and absent. Their total number of Titled Douluo exceeded forty, but their top combat strength had been severely crippled.

On the other side stood the alliance of the Li Family—around ten Titled Douluo, with Li Yunming lightly injured—and the Dongyue Clan—over thirty Titled Douluo, with Dongyue Qingxuan, Su Qingyin, and Dongyue Qing, three Limits, all in perfect condition. Their total number of Titled Douluo also exceeded forty! Moreover, at the highest level of level ninety-nine Limit Douluo, the alliance had three uninjured Limits—Dongyue Qingxuan, Su Qingyin, and Dongyue Qing—as well as Li Yunming, who was injured but still retained his combat power! The allied forces had only two Limits left in poor condition: She Duyun, whose left arm was severely wounded, and Xie Qiyan, whose soul had been injured.

Below, Li Xuansheng, who was anxiously watching the battle from among the crowd, clenched his fists tightly, his palms drenched in cold sweat. He clearly analyzed the situation before him. "Their total number of Titled Douluo may still be slightly higher, but our only advantage—and our greatest advantage—lies in our top combat strength! Grand Elder Yunming is too strong. He first crippled Qiu Qianchi, and now he has crippled Qiu Qiansha, directly lowering their upper-tier strength by an entire level. As one side wanes and the other rises, we now hold the advantage at the level ninety-nine tier!"

He looked toward the four godlike figures in the sky, and a surge of boldness and reassurance rose in his heart. Evenly matched... no, we might even hold a slight advantage!

In the heavens, the auras of nearly eighty Titled Douluo collided and crushed against one another. The resulting currents of Soul Power sent the dark clouds churning wildly, while bolts of lightning writhed through the sky as if the end of the world had arrived. Neither side acted rashly, and the atmosphere was as taut as a fully drawn bowstring.

Although the Five Poisons Valley and Qiu Family alliance still had an enormous number of people, the sight of their opponents' flourishing lineup—especially the four Limit Douluo radiating heart-pounding auras—along with the miserable state of their own top fighters, caused their morale to plummet. For a time, no one dared to start the battle.

Qiu Miehun's face was livid. He could feel that the flame of life within Qiu Qiansha's body was like a candle flickering in the wind. The strange purifying spear aura was constantly eroding his vitality. We can't delay any longer... His heart roared with unwillingness, but reason told him that today, they were destined to leave empty-handed.

She Duyun clutched his twisted arm and exchanged a glance with the ashen-faced Xie Qiyan. Both saw the desire to retreat in the other's eyes. Their injuries were far from light, and they needed to enter seclusion for treatment immediately, or their foundations might be damaged. Facing the Dongyue Clan's three uninjured Limits and the unfathomable Li Yunming, forcing the fight to continue would bring unimaginable consequences.

Dongyue Qingxuan took in their expressions and knew the time had come. He stepped forward, his voice calm yet carrying unquestionable force. "Patriarch Qiu, Fellow Daoist She Duyun, Fellow Daoist Xie Qiyan. If today's battle continues, both sides will only suffer, adding needless casualties and bringing pain to loved ones while delighting enemies. Why not stop here and withdraw separately?"

He offered them a way out, but he also made his bottom line clear—the Dongyue Clan and Li Family alliance would not yield an inch, and they possessed the strength to defend that alliance!

Qiu Miehun's chest heaved violently. In the end, all his indignation and hatred turned into a low roar squeezed from deep in his throat, filled with endless humiliation.

"Retreat! The entire army, withdraw!"

The order was given, and the Soul Masters of Five Poisons Valley and the Qiu Family began to withdraw like a receding tide. They had arrived with overwhelming momentum, but they left in barely concealed panic and disgrace.

As the allied forces vanished completely beyond the horizon, earth-shaking cheers finally erupted throughout Heavenly Phoenix City. Many clan members embraced one another and wept.

Yet the four Limit Douluo in the sky, along with high-ranking figures such as Li Yuanhui and Dongyue Ling, showed little joy on their faces.

Dongyue Qingxuan looked at Li Yunming and asked with concern, "Elder Yunming, how are your injuries?"

Li Yunming shook his head slightly. "Just some poison and soul turbulence. A period of secluded recovery will be enough. Thank you to the Dongyue Clan for giving your full support this time."

Dongyue Qingxuan's expression was grave. "Elder Yunming, there is no need for thanks. We are merely standing together through hardship. After this battle, the Qiu Family and Five Poisons Valley will never let the matter rest. The God Rank beings behind them likely... will no longer stand by and watch. We must discuss matters as soon as possible and prepare in advance."

Everyone's eyes turned toward the distant horizon once more, filled with worry. Behind this brief victory lay even fiercer undercurrents and the looming shadow of a larger divine war.