The smoke of battle had yet to clear from Heavenly Star Island when urgent alarm bells cut short the cheers of the Star Palace guards.
"Report!" A blood-soaked steward staggered into the great hall on Purple Star Peak. "The allied armies of the Outer Star Sea's three great beast tribes have broken through the Cloudbreak Archipelago's defenses! The Flood Dragon Tribe, Kunpeng Tribe, and Black Tortoise Tribe have joined forces with the remnants of the Inverse Star Alliance and are approaching the entrance to the Inner Sea!"
The Starfall Sword fell from Ling Yuling's hand with a clang, her shoulders rigid beneath her moon-white palace robes. She gazed at the demonic clouds roiling outside the hall—the stench of sea beasts and the roars of flood dragons mingled within them. Her Nascent Soul Middle Stage spiritual power fluctuated wildly with rage. "The Inverse Star Alliance has actually colluded with the sea beasts of the Outer Star Sea... Pass down my order! All Star-Magnetic Battleships are to assemble immediately and hold Starfall Gorge to the death!"
Han Li stood beside him. Sensing the sea beasts' presence, the Magnetic Essence Griffin bristled its dark-gold scales and gave a wary growl.
He tightened his grip on the Water-Magnetic Sword. Within his sea of consciousness, the Purple Forbidden Enclosure Star Chart resonated with Ling Yuling's spiritual sense imprint. "Palace Master Yuling, the Twin Saints are still holding Wan Sangu and Six Paths Extreme Sage at bay high above us. With the sea beasts attacking now, I fear they can no longer spare themselves..."
Before he finished, a streak of azure light pierced the hall's vaulted roof. The spectral forms of Ling Xiaofeng and Wen Qing staggered inside, the Primordial Magnetic Divine Light around them dim as dying candles. Cracks had even appeared in Ling Xiaofeng's