213: bet

The Star Sea Chess Game, pieces falling silently.

Wei Yun’s lips were bitten until they bled.

He could feel the gazes from all directions, like tangible sharp needles, pricking his back.

There were those watching the show, those mocking, those gloating, and also the undisguised murderous intent from the Southern Border generals.

Accept, or not accept?

He knew he didn't really have a choice.

If he didn't accept today, he, Wei Yun, the Wei family behind him, and the entire Central Starlight Legion, would become the laughingstock of the entire Alliance.

“Good…”

A dry word squeezed out of his throat.

“I… accept!”

Saying this sentence seemed to drain all the strength from his body.

Su Jin’s lips curved into a smile upon hearing this.

He nodded, as if merely discussing a trivial matter.

“Very good.”

With that, he no longer spared Wei Yun a glance, turning and walking back to his seat.

Xiang Tian whistled triumphantly, making a throat-slitting gesture towards Wei Yun, his face full of provocation.

The Central Army Group generals next to Wei Yun had ashen faces, but couldn't utter a single word.

In the main seat, General Qin Wu’s eyes flashed with approval.

This young man was very good, very clever.

He didn't simply rely on his and Lin Yuan's influence, but keenly grasped the flaw in the opponent's logic, setting up an overt scheme that the opponent couldn't refuse.

He both defended his own dignity and put the opponent in a difficult position, while also securing an immense benefit for the Southern Border.

This was no longer mere bravery, but the demeanor of a true commander who truly understood human nature.

“Since both parties have agreed, this matter will be filed by the General Command, and will be held in the Tianyan Battle Realm three days later.”

General Qin Wu’s voice rang out again, concluding this storm.

“Now, let the meeting continue.”

The farce of the awards ceremony ended, and what followed was the core purpose of this trip.

The highest strategic meeting to determine the direction of the entire Molten Heart battlefield.

The atmosphere in the Star Dome Council Hall shifted from the previous tension to a more somber and serious one.

The light of the living star map on the dome subtly changed.

Above the dome, the simulated starry sky slowly rotated, its light shifting.

A colossal three-dimensional star field map, replacing the original stars, appeared before everyone.

That was a vast battlefield composed of countless light points.

Among them, the blue light points representing the Blue Star Alliance and the red light points representing the Dark Star Empire were intricately intertwined, spread throughout the entire Molten Heart domain.

Everyone’s gaze was drawn to this scene.

The Southern Border area, which was previously a large expanse of dazzling red.

Now it had been replaced by blue, with only scattered red dots along the border, symbolizing the remaining forces of the Dark Star Empire.

“The great victory in the Southern Border is of significant importance.”

“Next…”

Three hours later, the strategic meeting concluded, and representatives from various legions successively relayed the resolutions of the meeting.

At the same time, Su Jin’s astonishing gamble with the Central Starlight Legion spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the Red Moon Land.

Countless eyes were awaiting this “friendly match.”

People wanted to know just how far this dark horse, which had stirred up the entire Southern Border, could go.

And how would the Central Starlight Legion defend their honor as the Alliance’s ace?

…

The Tianyan Battle Realm of the Molten Heart.

It was rumored that the Alliance had constructed a vast subspace, capable of accommodating battles of legendary peak strength, using the remains of a fallen ancient divine beast, the “Tianyan Mirage Dragon,” as its core.

Today, outside the Tianyan Battle Realm, on “New Moon Plaza,” a square specially designed for legion-level teleportation, it was already packed with people.

Almost every officer and noble of status in the Red Moon Land had come.

The confrontation in the Star Dome Council Hall three days ago had already spread to every corner.

No one wanted to miss this grand gamble that affected the prestige of two Army Groups.

On both sides of the plaza, temporarily erected viewing platforms were clearly demarcated.

The generals of the Southern Border War Zone occupied the best positions on the east side.

Lin Yuan sat calmly, with Su Jin on his left.

And Xiang Tian, sitting on his right, stood like an iron tower.

The massive war hammer, Mountain Suppressor, rested by his leg, and he was idly picking his ear with his pinky finger.

The VIP seats on the other side were occupied by important figures from the Central Army Group.

Wei Yun had changed into a brand-new general’s uniform, holding his head high, with an arrogant expression.

He was completely different from his dejected appearance three days prior.

His confidence stemmed from the burly, stern-faced middle-aged general beside him.

That general, merely by standing there, exuded a profound and imposing aura.

He wore a specialized general’s armor, signifying a Legendary 17th Tier, with the general’s stars on his epaulets shining brightly.

This was none other than the Commander of the Central Starlight Legion, Wei Yun’s father—General Wei Feng.

“General Wei Feng actually came in person!” someone exclaimed softly from the viewing platform.

“Wasn’t he supervising the battle on the front lines? Did he specifically rush back for his son’s matter?”

“Now there’s a good show to watch. A Legendary 17th Tier expert personally overseeing, it’s clear he’s here to help his son regain face.”

Amidst the discussions.

General Wei Feng’s gaze swept across the crowd, landing on Lin Yuan.

There wasn't much emotion in that gaze, yet it made the air feel several degrees heavier.

Xiang Tian “Pah!” and cursed softly, “An old fox with a little fox, neither of them are any good.”

Lin Yuan picked up his teacup, gently blew away the foam on the surface, not even lifting his eyelids.

And at this moment, the teleportation array in the center of the plaza finally stirred.

Buzz—

A long, drawn-out hum sounded, and the huge circular magic array erupted with dazzling white light, the space violently fluctuating like water.

A powerful, violent aura of lightning, preceding any figures, leaked from the other end of the space.

On the plaza, everyone's skin felt a slight tingling sensation, and their hairs stood on end.

The light receded.

A cavalry legion of ten thousand strong appeared on the magic array.

The noisy discussions on the plaza ceased abruptly at this moment.

Dead silence.

A suffocating dead silence.

What kind of army was that?

Ten thousand knights, all mounted on extraordinarily magnificent warhorses.

The warhorses were covered in dark green scales, with two horns on their heads.

Above their four hooves, faint strands of electricity coiled and pulsed.

Storm Dragon Horse!

The knights wore uniform dark golden full body armor, with a vivid thunder dragon inverse scale pattern on their breastplates.

They tightly gripped glowing dragon lances.

The entire legion was like a silent sculpture cast from steel and lightning.

Within that silence, however, lay the power of a volcano about to erupt.

What was even more chilling was the unified and pure energy fluctuation emanating from them.

“Golden Tier…”

A logistics major general responsible for military equipment statistics dropped his data tablet with a “clatter” onto the ground.

“Everyone… everyone is Golden Tier!”