Hearing this, Yan Zhen was speechless for a moment.
The little princesses of the Phoenix God Clan were notoriously arrogant. Getting them to bow their heads and admit fault was far harder than simply beating them in a fight.
It was a good thing this world didn’t have Twitter or Instagram—otherwise, those girls would be stirring up drama every single day.
Of course, things were already chaotic enough as it was.
The Phoenix God Clan’s people had abducted the Dragon God Clan’s little princess, leading her astray into a forbidden area where she devoured a Nirvana Fruit. That was a genuine loss for the Phoenix God Clan. If they just stayed quiet about it, they could brush off any accountability from the Myriad Dragon King.
But instead of recognizing the gravity of their mistake, they had the audacity to show up demanding compensation. Relying on the Phoenix Goddess’s dominance in the Supreme Realm, they thought they could scheme against the Dragon God Clan and recoup their losses. Unfortunately, they had miscalculated badly.
Now, they were stubbornly clinging to the peace treaty, threatening the Dragon God Clan to release their captives without offering any apology. If that provoked the Myriad Dragon King into a rage and he executed all the hostages, the Phoenix God Clan’s losses would be catastrophic.
Even if they allied with the Snake God Clan and somehow defeated the Dragon God Clan afterward, those losses couldn’t be undone. And if it turned into mutual destruction? That would be even worse.
It was such straightforward logic, yet they couldn’t grasp it. One could only say those little princesses were truly hopeless.
Still, hopeless or not, the Phoenix God Clan’s strength couldn’t be underestimated.
The Dragon God Clan had no fear of the Phoenix God Clan alone, but if the Phoenix God Clan teamed up with the Snake God Clan, the Dragon God Clan would find itself at a severe disadvantage.
The clan leaders of both the Phoenix God Clan and the Snake God Clan were Eight-Star Mystic Saints. Together, they couldn’t defeat the Nine Star Great Saint Myriad Dragon King, but they could certainly hold him at bay for a while.
What would truly decide the outcome was the clash between their divine artifacts.
Every major God Clan possessed inherited divine artifacts. Two clans’ artifacts combined would undoubtedly overpower one clan’s alone.
That was precisely what concerned the Jade Dragon Consort.
Yan Zhen said solemnly, “Dragon Consort, there’s no need to worry. Next, we’ll pay a visit to the Snake God Clan. If all goes smoothly, they won’t heed the Phoenix God Clan’s call.”
Although the peace treaty bound them—if one clan ignited conflict, the other two had to join forces to stop it—if the Snake God Clan only went through the motions without committing fully, the Phoenix God Clan would be out of luck.
The Jade Dragon Consort was quite surprised. “What are you going to the Snake God Clan for? Do you have a confidante there as well?”
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek awkwardly. Long Ying jumped in to answer, “Sister Cai Lian is from the Snake God Clan, Mother Consort.”
The Jade Dragon Consort had heard Long Ying mention Cai Lian before and knew she was one of Yan Zhen’s wives from his previous life. Realization dawned on her. “So it’s her… Come to think of it, this consort heard she came along too. She’s in your Grotto-Heaven Artifact, right? Could she come out for a meeting?”
Yan Zhen smiled. “Cai Lian is in secluded cultivation at the moment, but I think she’d be delighted to meet you, Dragon Consort.”
In his previous life, Cai Lian and the Jade Dragon Consort had gotten along quite well—they’d always had plenty to talk about.
After escorting the Jade Dragon Consort to the living room, Yan Zhen took Long Ying and slipped into the Fire Refining Starry Sky. Cai Lian and Jiu Youyue were still in seclusion, leaving only Yan Yan sprawled on a couch atop the altar, watching a Reflecting Light Mirror.
It was a collection of Yan Zhen’s battle highlights from the Inner Academy, curated by Cai Lian. Yan Yan watched intently, cheering, “Go, Father Emperor! Beat that jerk flat!” She was so absorbed that she didn’t even notice Yan Zhen and Long Ying appear on the altar.
Seeing his daughter all alone there, entertaining herself with videos, Yan Zhen suddenly felt a pang of guilt. He hurried over. “Yan’er, what are you up to?”
At the sound of her father’s voice, Yan Yan snapped out of it. Spotting the real Yan Zhen, her eyes lit up. She tossed aside the mirror’s projection of her father and leaped off the beauty couch, straight into his arms.
“Father Emperor!”
Yan Zhen scooped up his eldest daughter and sat down, rubbing her little belly. “Are you hungry, Yan’er?”
“Not at all! I just drank a bottle of milk.” Yan Yan’s voice brimmed with energy. “Father Emperor, was the Dragon God Clan’s banquet delicious?”
“Of course it was!” Long Ying chimed in eagerly. “At yesterday’s feast, Yan Zhen Zhen ate a ton.”
Yan Yan eyed the mature Big Sis Long Ying and blinked for a long moment before reacting. “Ah, it’s Sister Long Ying. You’ve gotten bigger again.”
Long Ying pouted at the title. “Dummy Yan Yan, I’m not your sister—I’m your auntie! I’ve already become Yan Zhen Zhen’s bride. Call me wrong again, and I’ll get mad.”
Yan Yan scratched her head. “Okay, Long Ying Auntie~”
Long Ying huffed lightly, a smug little smile creeping onto her face. She clearly wanted to show off, but with no one else around, she had to settle for preening in front of the child.
Amused, Yan Zhen patted his daughter’s head. “The Dragon Consort wants to meet you all. You don’t have to stay cooped up here anymore.”
Yan Yan was even more restless than Long Ying. While the Fire Refining Starry Sky offered adventures, it got boring after a while. Thrilled at the prospect of leaving, she exclaimed, “I’ll go find Mother Concubine!”
Yan Zhen set his daughter down gently. “I’ll handle that. You stay here with Long Ying Auntie, Yan’er.”
With that, his figure vanished.
Ever since refining the Fire Refining Starry Sky, he could teleport freely within it. A mere thought brought him to the planet housing the Great Crimson Heaven Flame.
The Sovereign Lady, clad in a colorful skirt, was cultivating with the aid of the Great Crimson Heaven Flame. Back when she had awakened her bloodline and broken through to Mystic Ancestor, she had used this flame, so it didn’t reject her at all.
Yan Zhen guessed she was consolidating her foundation, preparing to skyrocket straight to the Supreme Realm during the upcoming Bloodline Awakening Ritual at the Snake God Clan.
It must have been his own rapid cultivation progress that made her feel the pressure.
The instant Yan Zhen arrived, Cai Lian sensed him. She opened her eyes, and the snake pattern on her forehead faded away.
“Something wrong?”
“The Dragon Consort wants to see you.”
“Aunt Ling?” A flicker of nostalgia crossed Cai Lian’s eyes. “Then let’s meet. Now that we’re at the Dragon God Clan, it’s only right to pay her a visit.”
Yan Zhen nodded, then summoned Jiu Youyue back as well. The group left the Fire Refining Starry Sky together and reappeared in the living room.
The Jade Dragon Consort was chatting with the Three Beautiful Masters when she sensed their arrival. She turned, only to feel a strange twinge at the sight of Yan Zhen emerging with two striking young women and a little girl.
“So this is the Sister Cai Lian that Little Cherry mentioned? With such beauty, she’d be top-tier even among the Snake God Clan.”
“Aunt… Dragon Consort, you flatter me,” Cai Lian said modestly. “You and Long Ying are lovely as well.”
“And this child is your daughter with Yan Zhen?”
“Yes, her name is Yan’er. Yan’er, come greet your aunt-grandma.”
Yan Yan was perfectly well-behaved, stepping forward. “Hello, Aunt-Grandma.”
The Jade Dragon Consort’s heart melted instantly. “What a good girl. You’re so adorable—just like your mother consort.”
After teasing Yan Yan a bit, she turned to Jiu Youyue, noting the aura on this woman that resembled the Evil Consort’s. Curious, she asked, “And who might this be?”
Yan Zhen smiled. “Her name is Jiu Youyue. She’s another of my wives from my previous life.”
The demoness said politely, “Jiu Youyue greets the Dragon Consort.”
The Jade Dragon Consort studied her closely before finally blurting out, “You’re from the Evil God Clan?”
Jiu Youyue blinked, glancing toward the Evil Consort, who spoke coolly. “This wicked girl is This Palace’s secondary body.”
Secondary body?! The Jade Dragon Consort jolted in shock, dimly piecing it together.
