Guyun Stone Forest, beneath the waves.
Inside the grand hall of Osial's underwater palace, countless water spirits and sea monsters swam to and fro, carrying ornate trays piled with glistening fruit and delicacies.
"Jie-hahahaha! Morax, you actually came!"
A deep, gurgling laugh echoed through the palace as the towering figure of Osial loomed in the shimmering blue light.
"To walk alone into my domain—indeed, worthy of the one who rules Guili Plains!"
The one who spoke next was the current overlord of Minlin, a beast-headed god cloaked in thick, mossy fur.
Morax simply smiled, clasped his hands politely.
"The same could be said of you."
Indeed—none of the three who attended had brought their armies.
It was a meeting between rulers alone.
"Enough formalities," Osial said cheerfully, raising his crystal goblet. "Now that all are gathered—let the feast begin!"
The three exchanged looks, all smiling outwardly, though suspicion and intent flickered behind their eyes. Each drank, each plotted in silence.
Meanwhile — Minlin.
Within the dark caverns of a ruined temple, dozens of gods gathered, their auras thick with malice.
At the head of them sat a serpentine figure — scales gleaming faintly in the gloom.
If Jiang Yan had been there, he would have recognized him immediately.
The dragon who had fled from Dihua Marsh a century ago—Chi, the Plague Dragon.
Chi's injuries had long since healed, though his aura still pulsed unevenly with restrained fury. Around him were gathered more than ten water-aspected gods, their forms half-mist, half-flesh.
"Morax has entered Osial's palace, yes?" Chi's voice was hoarse, filled with venom.
"Yes, my lord," one of the Mingyun gods replied. "Our allies beneath the sea confirmed—Morax is now inside the palace."
"And that so-called 'Wood Spirit Immortal'?"
"He remains in Guili Plains, overseeing its defense."
At the mention of Jiang Yan, the speaker's eyes burned with hatred.
"Heh… cautious, that one," Chi sneered. "The moment Morax leaves, he abandons Qingce Village to return to Guili Plains. But it won't save him."
Murderous light flickered in the dragon's eyes.
"Lisha and Minlin's gods have already mobilized," one of his lieutenants said.
"The Wood Spirit will likely engage them at Guili's western border."
"Good," Chi hissed. "Once he leaves the city—once he's drawn out—we strike."
He looked toward the direction of Guili Plains, his voice a low growl that reverberated through the cavern.
"Morax. Wood Spirit. This time… you'll both watch everything you hold dear—burn to ash beneath the waves!"
At the borders of Dunyu Ruins.
The skies darkened.
Beasts roared and scattered as thick waves of divine energy swept through the mountains.
Far off in the distance, five or six gods were racing forward, their auras flaring like burning suns.
"ROAR!!!"
The ground quaked violently as a massive stone dragon rose from the cliffs.
Its scales shimmered with geo energy, and fire, ice, lightning, and water swirled around its body like a storm.
"Do you mean to declare war on Guili Plains—"
Its thunderous voice shook heaven and earth.
"—then come and die!"
The charging gods halted briefly at the sound.
"Just a servant of Morax dares to bark?" one of them spat. "Kill him!"
Their combined attacks filled the air, a storm of divine force raining down like meteors.
"Fools!"
Rex Lapis's lieutenant—Azhdaha, the Lord of the Deep Earth—roared, unleashing a torrent of elemental energy that swept through the mountains like an apocalyptic gale.
The earth trembled beneath their battle; even in Guili Plains, people could feel the ground shaking faintly.
"That direction…" Cloud Retainer's expression hardened. "That's—Dunyu Ruins!"
"So it's begun…" Guizhong murmured, face pale.
"Lisha's gods have attacked. If Lisha's joined the fray—then Minlin can't be far behind."
Before she could finish, a Thousand Rock soldier burst into the room, breathless.
"Report! Lady Guizhong! Enemy gods—Minlin origin—spotted at the western border!"
He gulped.
"Estimated count… over ten!"
"What?!" Guizhong shot to her feet, slamming her hand against the table.
Before anyone could respond, a deafening dragon's roar split the air.
The sound rolled across Guili Plains like thunder.
Everyone rushed outside.
In the skies above, before the astonished eyes of thousands, a massive wooden dragon unfurled its wings, soaring into the clouds.
Upon its head stood a lone figure clad in a deep blue-gold battle robe.
The dragon roared again, then transformed into a streak of emerald light, streaking westward toward Minlin.
At the border between Cuijue Slope and Guili Plains.
A dozen gods hovered in the sky, their energy radiating destruction.
"Wood Release—Wood Golem Technique!"
A massive explosion rocked the mountains. Dust and earth billowed upward.
When the smoke cleared, a colossal wooden titan stood guard at the border, towering over the land like a living fortress.
A wooden dragon coiled around its shoulders, eyes blazing, its roar echoing through the valley.
And standing atop the golem's head, cloak fluttering in the storm, was Jiang Yan.
His voice, calm yet filled with iron, carried across the battlefield:
"Before you lies Guili Plains."
"Beyond this line—gods are forbidden to tread."
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