24: Chapter 24 Alliance of Three Clans - Lingbao as Contract

Southern Primordial World, the Immortal Volcano.

Chirp—

A phoenix's cry pierced the sky as a Nine-Colored Phoenix flew out from the volcano, landing atop the Parasol Divine Tree and transforming into a woman of peerless beauty.

Worry creased her brow as she sighed softly, "That person has finally made a move. The true catastrophe has arrived."

"I only hope my Phoenix Clan can survive this storm... Sigh..."

East Sea Dragon Court.

"Your Majesty... shall we... still deploy our troops?" the Earth Dragon Emperor asked with a trembling voice, his gaze filled with apprehension.

Ancestral Dragon remained silent for a long time, gazing at the blood rain on the horizon; the pride in his heart had long since vanished.

Seeing him silent, the many powerhouses of the Dragon Clan were all chilled to the bone with fear.

After a long while, Ancestral Dragon finally uttered three words, his voice hoarse and heavy:

"Prepare for war."

These words seemed to exhaust his life's strength. Having spoken, his expression grew dim, a bitter smile played on his lips, and his back looked as lonely as a falling autumn leaf.

He had thought his current cultivation would be enough to face Jiang Chen head-on. However, when the world-destroying phenomenon emanated from the direction of the Sea of Blood, he finally understood—Jiang Chen's power was far beyond his conjecture.

Ancestral Dragon's heart was filled with regret. One wrong step leads to eternal remorse. Had he known this earlier, he would never have been so arrogant as to take the initiative to provoke that taboo-like existence.

Every Dragon Clan powerhouse present turned pale. At this moment, they fully grasped the true meaning of the words "prepare for war" from Ancestral Dragon's mouth—it wasn't for an expedition, but for self-preservation!

They were preparing to face the Undead Clan's devastating counterattack!

"Send word to the Phoenix Clan and the Kirin Clan, saying this Emperor has important matters to discuss," Ancestral Dragon's voice was low, yet it echoed through the hall like thunder.

"As you command!"

Ten thousand years later, the Dragon Clan did not march upon the Sea of Blood as previously stated; instead, they fell into a state of silence. Not only that, the Dragon Clan actually withdrew all forces stationed in the Endless Starry Sky, the South Sea, the West Sea, the North Sea, and the Eastern Primordial World.

Such actions shocked countless beings of the Primordial World, but upon closer reflection, it was only logical.

After all, the Undead Clan, which usually ignored worldly affairs, had finally awakened due to the Dragon Clan's provocation. This group of beings, whom all living things kept at a distance, was about to step into the conflicts of the Primordial World.

The emergence of the Undead Clan meant that the true catastrophe had descended.

Inside the Ancestral Dragon Hall of the East Sea Dragon Court.

Ancestral Dragon's face was ashen as he sat upon the imperial throne. The Four Great Dragon Emperors stood below the dais with bowed heads, trembling and not daring to speak.

An urgent report from the front lines had just arrived: the Dragon Clan army originally ordered to withdraw from the West Sea had been suddenly attacked on their return journey. Hundreds of billions of Dragon Clan members were completely wiped out, with not a single survivor.

Hundreds of billions of kin, connected by blood, had turned to dust in an instant!

Ancestral Dragon was enraged and felt even more chilled. He knew that only the Undead Clan possessed such means!

"Damn it!" With a roar of fury, he slammed his palm down. The armrest of the imperial throne shattered instantly, and a terrifying pressure swept out. The entire Ancestral Dragon Hall shook violently as if it were about to collapse.

The Four Great Dragon Emperors immediately knelt, silent as cicadas in winter.

After a moment, Ancestral Dragon restrained his aura, and his expression gradually calmed.

"The army clearly bypassed the Sea of Blood region; why were they still discovered?" His eyes flickered with doubt. He had specifically ordered the West Sea army to change their route to avoid all possible detection.

Yet the result was still total annihilation.

"Could it be... there is a traitor within my Dragon Clan?"

Ancestral Dragon narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the Four Great Dragon Emperors below like a blade. Only he and the four Dragon Emperors knew the withdrawal route from the West Sea. Aside from the five of them, there was absolutely no sixth person who could have known the details.

Feeling that bone-chilling scrutiny, the bodies of the Four Great Dragon Emperors trembled.

"Your Majesty! This subordinate has absolutely not leaked a shred of intelligence. I am willing to swear upon my Primordial Spirit!" the Heavenly Dragon Emperor hurriedly knelt, making a Primordial Spirit oath on the spot.

The Earth Dragon Emperor, Black Dragon Emperor, and Yellow Dragon Emperor followed suit, one after another swearing by their Primordial Spirits.

A Primordial Spirit oath was the most poisonous curse in the Primordial World. Once violated, the Primordial Spirit would instantly crumble, and both form and spirit would be extinguished.

Seeing that the four remained unharmed after their oaths, Ancestral Dragon confirmed in his heart—they had not lied.

"I was too suspicious. The Four Great Dragon Emperors were all personally promoted by me; their loyalty is beyond doubt," he sighed inwardly.

He then asked, "Have the Phoenix Clan and the Kirin Clan replied?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Phoenix Clan and the Kirin Clan are willing to form an alliance with our Dragon Clan, but... they have set conditions," the Black Dragon Emperor spoke hesitantly.

"Speak!" Ancestral Dragon's tone was icy.

The Black Dragon Emperor took a deep breath. "They demand fifty Innate Spirit Treasures."

"Fifty Innate Spirit Treasures!!!" the Heavenly Dragon Emperor and the other two almost lost their voices.

"Preposterous! Your Majesty, this is blatant highway robbery!" the Heavenly Dragon Emperor said indignantly.

"Our Dragon Clan has fought for ten thousand years to accumulate just over two hundred Innate Spirit Treasures, and they dare to open their mouths and ask for half!"

Each of the Four Great Dragon Emperors was incensed. The Undead Clan was about to emerge, and the Dragon Clan wanted to unite the three clans to resist the great enemy, yet the Phoenix and Kirin Clans chose this moment to kick them while they were down.

Ancestral Dragon's face was as dark as ink, and killing intent surged around him as if he might unleash a bloodbath at any moment.

After a long while, he slowly uttered two words: "Give them."

"What?! Your Majesty, you absolutely must not!" the Heavenly Dragon Emperor cried out. "Once fifty Innate Spirit Treasures are delivered, the strength of the Phoenix and Kirin Clans will skyrocket. They will surely become a major threat to our Dragon Clan in the future!"

The other three Dragon Emperors also looked completely unwilling.

Ancestral Dragon sighed softly and said, "There is no choice now. Previously, I underestimated the enemy and the power of Jiang Chen and the Undead Clan."

"But as long as the three clans join forces to resist the powerful enemy, one day, I will make the Phoenix and Kirin Clans return everything with interest!"

A flash of world-dominating confidence crossed his eyes. He had never truly feared the Phoenix or Kirin Clans. The only ones who commanded his awe were Jiang Chen and the Undead Race that had revived from the Sea of Blood.

Once the Undead Clan is wiped out, there will be no existence left in this world that can compete with my Dragon Clan!

"No matter how powerful you, Jiang Chen, may be, you cannot go against the grand trend. I shall lead all spirits of the Primordial World to flatten your Undead lineage!"

"In this era, my Dragon Clan shall rule the world, invincible and unstoppable!"

In the far west, deep within the Sea of Blood.

Inside the True Ancestor Hall, the Four Great Corpse Kings and the Thirty-Six Corpse Marquises gathered together, drinking heartily with laughter that shook the heavens.

"Hahaha—this battle annihilated the West Sea Dragon army, while our race remained unscathed. It can be called a complete victory! Everyone, drink to your heart's content and celebrate this unprecedented achievement!" a Corpse Marquis held high a bronze wine vessel, his face flushed with a red glow and his voice booming like a bell.

Hanba, Ying Gou, Hou Qing, and the others responded in turn, tilting their heads back to drink deeply before laughing loudly. The entire hall was filled with unrestrained wildness.

"That Ancestral Dragon must still be confused right now as to why we could accurately intercept his Dragon army's route, hahaha—" Ying Gou's lips curled up, his face full of pride.

"This great victory not only slaughtered countless enemies but also gained a hundred billion elite dragon corpses, all of which now belong to our race! Such miraculous merit is truly thanks to those two people hidden in the shadows. When our race marches upon the Primordial World, we must recall them and reward them heavily with the rank of Corpse Marquis!" a Corpse Marquis said in a deep voice.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Within the Undead Clan, the hierarchy was strict, divided into five ranks: Corpse Soldier, Corpse General, Corpse Lord, Corpse Marquis, and Corpse King.

And above the Corpse Kings, only one person could occupy the supreme position—the True Ancestor.