Deep within the Ghost Nest, the embers of battle had yet to fade.
Dragon banners bearing the character "Xia," embroidered in gold upon black, snapped in the wind. The two sides faced one another from afar, sizing each other up with wariness hidden beneath the surface.
After Jiang Shinian finished his diplomatic pleasantries, the tension eased somewhat.
On the gilded tower ship opposite them, Xia Wushang had clearly made a swift assessment of the four-party alliance's strength. A practiced imperial smile appeared on his face, and his voice carried through the mist. "So it is the Yun Clan Eldest Young Master of the Eastern Region, the Azure Lotus Dao Adept, and the Supreme Dao Heir. What a privilege to witness the brilliance of outstanding talents from both regions here today."
His gaze swept over the Ghost Lord nearby, who was struggling to reconstitute his form, before he turned to the matter at hand. "The Netherworld is treacherous and unpredictable, its spaces tangled and overlapping. That little misunderstanding earlier is hardly worth mentioning. Since our aims align, let us first finish off this vile creature. We can speak afterward. What say you, fellow Daoists?"
Jiang Shinian looked toward Yun Qing and Li Qingming, and both nodded slightly.
"You are quite right, Your Highness."
With the tension temporarily eased, the parties began forming their own battle formations to slay the Ghost Lord.
On the Yun Clan's side, the Twelve Young Masters quietly studied Great Xia's contingent.
Xia Wushang led from the front. The Flood Dragon Carriage transformed into a golden torrent and crashed fearlessly into the enormous claw, unleashing a blazing radiance like a sun shattering. The Imperial Dragon Aura, supremely yang and unyielding, ground fiercely against the Netherworld ghostly energy. Thunderous hissing rang out as they annihilated one another.
At some