204: Submission

"This... the Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan was actually... wiped out in such a short time by that Senior from the Wending Sect?"

The Chen Family's fleet of warships hovered outside the shattered sky. Chen Zhengyang and several Chen Family Elders stood at the bow, gazing at the wreckage before them, speechless for a long time.

Chen Zhengyang's Adam's apple bobbed.

He recalled Xiao Bai's previous dismissive attitude, and the chill in his heart intensified.

"No wonder that Senior said before that there was no need for forces like ours to intervene."

"This level of strength... has already exceeded our imagination."

Just then, a slightly weak but still majestic female voice passed through layers of spatial barriers and reached Chen Zhengyang's ears: "Immortal Lord Chen, come over for a moment. This Empress has important matters to discuss."

It was the voice of the Vermilion Bird Empress.

Chen Zhengyang's expression turned solemn. After giving a few instructions to the Old Ancestors beside him, his figure flashed, and he crossed the shattered boundary wall, appearing before a relatively intact section of palace ruins.

The Vermilion Bird Empress stood there, her face pale and her aura fluctuating unevenly, clearly not yet recovered from her injuries. The Grand Priest stood silently by her side.

"Your Majesty."

Chen Zhengyang cupped his hands in greeting. His gaze swept over the old scar on the Empress's face, a complex look flashing through his eyes before vanishing.

The Empress nodded slightly. Without much small talk, she cut straight to the chase, her voice low: "Immortal Lord Chen, after this catastrophe, my clan's... foundation is entirely lost. But there is one thing that can be called a blessing in disguise."

"Our clan's six sleeping Old Ancestors... have not perished."

Chen Zhengyang's pupils constricted: "All six Old Ancestors are still here? Then... doesn't that mean there's still a chance for a comeback?"

"A comeback?"

The corner of the Empress's mouth curled into an extremely bitter arc. "Easier said than done... Not even one-tenth of the clan's elite remains, the ancestral lands have been turned to ash, and our resources have been plundered clean."

"The Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan... fell under this Empress's hand. I... have failed Revered Master's high expectations and failed the ancestors of past generations."

Her gaze inadvertently met Chen Zhengyang's.

Deep within those eyes, besides pain, there was actually a very faint... regret, as if it spanned across eternal ages.

Chen Zhengyang's breath hitched. He subconsciously avoided her gaze, and his voice lowered slightly.

"Your Dao injury has affected your foundation; I'm afraid..."

He paused, as if remembering a very distant past, his tone carrying regret and complexity. "It's all... it's all this old man's fault... I was too young and impetuous back then..."

The atmosphere between the two instantly became subtle and silent.

A long-buried secret involving the entanglements of their youth seemed to have a corner quietly peeled back by the scar on the Empress's face and Chen Zhengyang's cryptic words.

The Empress quickly reined in her emotions and returned to the main topic, her tone turning cold: "Now the six Old Ancestors' whereabouts are unknown, a large number of clansmen have fallen, and the ancestral land was flattened by the Senior from the Wending Sect... This is all because of Scarlet Nightmare!"

Chen Zhengyang also suppressed his thoughts, his brow furrowed: "Since the six Old Ancestors haven't perished, then the four powerful Origin auras we sensed that day were...?"

"They were Envoys sent by the Domain Lord."

Killing intent flickered in the Empress's eyes. "Four Half-step Golden Immortals! My clan's Old Ancestors were ambushed by these four and fell into their trap, controlled by their secret techniques."

"That day, this Empress exhausted the final trump card left by Revered Master to fortunately lead a portion of the clansmen to break through the encirclement."

"So that's how it is!"

Chen Zhengyang sucked in a breath of cold air. "Since Scarlet Nightmare has already defected to the Domain Lord, then the plan for our two families to secretly unite and resist the Domain Lord has likely been leaked long ago!"

"When the Domain Lord returns and descends next time, I'm afraid it will be the end for both our clans!"

He looked at the Empress, his eyes filled with unprecedented gravity: "To seek a glimmer of life under such an existence, or even... to emerge victorious, it is absolutely impossible relying on us alone! We must... seek external help!"

Almost at the same instant, a name surfaced in both their minds, and they both blurted out simultaneously:

"Wending Sect!"

Chen Zhengyang and the Vermilion Bird Empress looked at each other, both seeing determination in the other's eyes.

Now, this Wending Sect that had appeared out of nowhere and displayed crushing strength was their only hope to resist the Domain Lord and save their clans!

No matter what the price, they had to find a way to form an alliance with them!

...Chen Family.

The great hall was filled with an array of spiritual fruits and immortal brews, their fragrance overflowing.

Xiao Bai had returned to his small wolf form, lying lazily on a jade throne covered in soft cloud silk. Before him sat a mountain-like pile of rare spiritual fruits emitting an enticing luster.

It used its paws to pull fruits into its mouth while squinting its eyes, enjoying the Chen Family's highest-standard hospitality.

Shi Tian, Xiao Bufan, Su Muhuang, Yang Hao, Zhao Shanhe, and the others sat below, their expressions much more relaxed.

Yan Que was also to the side, maintaining a respectful posture.

At this moment, an announcement came from outside the hall.

Chen Zhengyang and the Vermilion Bird Empress walked into the hall side by side.

Although the Empress's face was still pale, she had changed into a solemn and magnificent phoenix-patterned imperial robe, her hair piled high. The scar on her face was not intentionally hidden; instead, it added a touch of majesty and fortitude from having endured trials.

She stepped forward and gave a deep bow to Xiao Bai on the jade throne, her voice clear and respectful: "The current Empress of the Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan pays respects to Senior Xiao Bai of the Wending Sect! Thank you, Senior, for taking action to eliminate the traitor and help my clan clean house."

Xiao Bai lifted its eyelids, glanced at her, and lazily wagged the tip of its tail: "Oh, your attitude isn't bad. This Deity flattened your home base; don't you hate me?"

"Senior is wise!"

"Senior helped my clan slay the traitor and be reborn through fire."

"This Junior is grateful beyond words; how could I possibly harbor resentment toward Senior?"

The Empress's expression was calm, and her gaze was open.

"Tsk tsk," Xiao Bai grinned. "Not bad. You little girl are quite sensible and know how to talk. This Deity likes it!"

It picked up another spiritual fruit and crunched on it.

Seeing the harmonious atmosphere, Chen Zhengyang took a step forward and cupped his hands: "Senior Xiao Bai, this Junior and the Empress have a matter to discuss. It is of great importance, and we hope Senior will consider it carefully."

"Speak. This Deity is listening."

Xiao Bai was nonchalant.

Chen Zhengyang and the Empress exchanged a look. Taking a deep breath, he said solemnly: "Senior, your intervention this time was thunderous, executing the traitor and... and killing the four Envoys sent by the Godly Radiance Domain Lord in one fell swoop."

"This matter has likely completely enraged the War God Hall!"

"They will never let this go and will surely seek frantic revenge! At that time, I'm afraid..."

"War God Hall? Godly Radiance Domain Lord?"

Xiao Bai let out a yawn and scratched its ear with a small paw, its face full of disdain. "What kind of dog-fart things are those? This Deity has never heard of them! As for those four Domain Lord Envoys who hide their heads and show their tails... oh, I remember now."

"There were indeed four blind fools who dared to threaten this Deity and my Wending Sect!"

"This Deity crushed them casually; it was no different from swatting a few flies."

"Before my Wending Sect, what War God Hall, what Domain Lord? They're just a bunch of clowns! Are they even worthy of my sect's careful consideration? What a joke."

Xiao Bai muttered in its heart.

How unfathomably deep was this Deity's Revered Master?

Even this Deity, a dignified Heavenly Beast from the Upper Realm, has to lie down obediently before him.

These so-called top forces of the Lower Heaven are probably not even worth being called ants in Revered Master's eyes. What is there to fear?

Chen Zhengyang and the Empress were shaken to their cores by Xiao Bai's domineering words.

They looked at each other again, both seeing the resolve in each other's eyes.

Chen Zhengyang was the first to bow, his voice resolute: "In that case, I, Chen Zhengyang, representing the entire Chen Immortal Clan, am willing to surrender and pledge allegiance to the Wending Sect!"

"From now on, we shall honor the Wending Sect as our superior and follow only the Sect Master's lead!"

"We hope Senior will grant permission!"

The Vermilion Bird Empress also bowed almost simultaneously: "I, the Vermilion Bird Empress, representing the surviving clansmen of the Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan, am willing to surrender and pledge allegiance to the Wending Sect!"

"From now on, we shall serve you faithfully, even unto death!"

"We hope Senior will grant permission!"