Alliance on the Verge of Breaking, Undercurrents Surge

The Qiu Family and Five Poisons Valley coalition forces retreated in disarray like a receding tide, finally vanishing beyond the horizon outside Heavenly Phoenix City. The earthshaking sounds of battle and roaring soul skills, which had lasted nearly an entire day, abruptly ceased, replaced by the heavy gasps of survivors and uncontrollable sobbing amid the ruins and atop the city walls.

Had they won?

On the surface, yes. The alliance between the Li Family and the Dongyue Family had successfully repelled their powerful enemies and preserved Heavenly Phoenix City.

Yet at this moment, not a trace of joy could be seen on the faces of the upper echelons gathered in the Li Family's recently repaired yet still scarred council hall. There was only unshakable solemnity and deep concern.

The atmosphere in the hall was oppressive enough for a pin to be heard dropping. Seated at the head was Li Yuanhui, his face weary but his gaze still sharp. To his left sat the somewhat pale Li Yunming and the Li Family elders. To his right were the core members of the Dongyue Family reinforcements, led by the three Limit Douluo: Dongyue Qingxuan, Su Qingyin, and Dongyue Qing.

"This time, had the Dongyue Clan not come to our aid with all its strength, my Li Family might not have escaped this calamity," Li Yuanhui said first. His voice was hoarse as he solemnly cupped his hands toward Dongyue Qingxuan and the others opposite him. "The Li Family will never forget this kindness."

Dongyue Qingxuan waved a hand, his expression grave. "Patriarch Yuanhui, you flatter us. When the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold. This was the Dongyue Clan's duty. Repelling them now is only temporary. The true crisis has likely only just begun."

The weight in his words infected everyone present.

Li Yunming slowly opened his half-closed eyes. He had been silently circulating his power to suppress the residual poison and spiritual turmoil within him. "Patriarch Qingxuan is right." His voice was steady, though it carried a faint weakness that was difficult to detect. "Qiu Qiansha was severely wounded by me, Qiu Qianchi lost an arm and suffered grave injuries, and those two old poisoners from Five Poisons Valley did not get off lightly either. At the level of Rank 99 alone, they are no longer a cause for concern. But..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as he spoke each word distinctly. "Above those two factions still hang two true 'blades'—Qiu Qianchen, and Xie Miaojiang of Five Poisons Valley."

God Rank! Those two words were like an enormous weight, pressing down until everyone struggled to breathe.

Dongyue Qing took over, her tone filled with uncertainty and concern. "There was indeed an agreement among the continent's God Rank powerhouses that they could not casually interfere in secular wars, much less directly attack non-God Rank forces. But that covenant is ancient history from seven or eight hundred years ago! Qiu Qianchen of the Qiu Family only entered the Divine Official rank within the past three hundred years. He may not take that old agreement seriously."

Dark clouds also shadowed Su Qingyin's gentle face. She lightly stroked the Life-Scent Grass Martial Soul in her hand, her voice full of worry. "The undercurrents across the continent are surging. Who knows how many eyes are watching, how many God Rank beings are waiting in the shadows? What they are waiting for is someone bold enough to be the first to break the covenant and tear open this breach! We cannot, and dare not, place the hopes for the survival of our two families on the slim chance that Qiu Qianchen will 'follow the rules.'"

"Elder Qingyin is right!" Dongyue Qingcang, the Dongyue Clan Patriarch, said in a deep voice, his expression grave. "I have already used a secret method to urgently report the situation here to our ancestor. Our ancestor is aware of it and has said he will monitor matters closely, ready to act at any time to protect our two families."

This news slightly lifted the spirits of the Li Family members, but Dongyue Qingcang's next words made their hearts sink again.

"However," Dongyue Qingcang said with a bitter smile, "our ancestor also made it clear that he cannot support this alone. If Qiu Qianchen and Xie Miaojiang cast aside all dignity and join forces to attack, he can only restrain one of them."

One God Rank expert against two God Rank experts—one of whom might even be a stronger Rank 105 Divine Official—was practically a doomed battle!

The hall fell silent again, and the very air seemed to freeze.

"Could it be... that there truly is no other way?" one of the Li Family elders muttered unwillingly, his face full of resentment.

"It is not as though there is no hope at all." Dongyue Qingxuan spoke again, drawing everyone's attention. "After receiving the message, our ancestor did not merely remain in Heavenly Heart City and wait. He has personally set out to visit the Thunderstorm Sword Sect and the Astral Sect."

"The Thunderstorm Sword Sect? The Astral Sect?" A gleam flashed through Li Yuanhui's eyes.

"Precisely." Dongyue Qingxuan nodded. "You should all know that the covenant restraining God Rank experts eight hundred years ago was originally initiated and witnessed by several highly respected God Rank beings of that era. The ancestors of the Thunderstorm Sword Sect and the Astral Sect were two of those initiators! Their two sects are the staunchest defenders of that covenant!"

He explained in detail, "The other eastern forces with God Rank experts overseeing them are in complicated situations. Some of their ancestors never participated in forming the covenant. Some participated only under duress and may not truly have agreed with it. Others have had their ancestors pass away, while their newly ascended God Rank experts hold ambiguous attitudes toward the old agreement. Only the Thunderstorm Sword Sect and the Astral Sect still have their ancestors alive. Moreover, as initiators of the covenant, their stance is of critical importance!"

A look of understanding flashed in Li Yunming's eyes. "Elder Qingxuan means that if Qiu Qianchen and Xie Miaojiang dare to risk universal condemnation by being the first to break the covenant and act, then the ancestors of the Thunderstorm Sword Sect and the Astral Sect, as the covenant's creators and defenders, will have sufficient reason and standing to intervene?"

"Exactly!" Dongyue Qingxuan affirmed. "Our ancestor has gone there this time to clarify the attitudes of those two sects and secure their support. As long as they state that they will not stand by and watch, then once Qiu Qianchen and Xie Miaojiang act, they will certainly act as well. But before that happens, those two sects will definitely not move. In other words, if they truly attack, we will still have to face them first and hold out until reinforcements arrive."

This was undoubtedly a sliver of hope! Placing their hopes on intervention from outside forces was passive, but in the face of such an absolute disparity in strength, it was the best strategy they could currently think of.

"Still, we cannot place all our hopes on outsiders." Li Yunming spoke again. He looked at Su Qingyin and gave a slight nod. "Our most urgent task is to restore our strength as quickly as possible. Elder Qingyin, I am afraid we must trouble you."

Su Qingyin smiled gently. "Elder Yunming, rest assured. The residual poison in your body is troublesome, but my Life-Scent Grass Martial Soul specifically counters all manner of sinister toxins. As for the spiritual turmoil, I also have a few methods to nurture and soothe it. Combined with your own purifying power, it should yield twice the result with half the effort."

She then looked toward Li Yuanhui and the other injured elders. "All injured members of your family should come as well. I will do my utmost to treat everyone."

Li Yuanhui and the others hurriedly expressed their thanks.

"And the city's defenses!" Li Yuanhui looked toward the family steward responsible for the matter. "Organize people immediately. Spare no cost in repairing and reinforcing the Nine Heavens Phoenix Flame Formation and all defensive fortifications! Activate every defensive Soul Tool and formation disk in our stores!"

"Yes, Patriarch!"

"A storm is coming..." Dongyue Qingxuan gazed at the still somewhat dim sky beyond the hall and let out a long sigh.

"Wind or rain, we must face it." Li Yunming's gaze was firm. "Make the most of this precious time."