While the other factions were fighting each other to the death day after day, the mastermind behind the entire situation, Xiao Yan, was living quite leisurely. In fact, not only him—everyone from the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan assigned to this operation was also enjoying a relaxed routine, their biggest daily event being the occasional gossip session while snacking.
They hadn't gotten involved in the chaotic power struggle, nor had any side tried to pull them in. Though they did have some minor conflicts and motives to silence a few of the recently eliminated factions, no one suspected them at all. After all, with a squad whose strongest member was only an eighth-grade Sovereign, who would believe they were capable of wiping out a team guarded by a ninth-grade Sovereign?
Qin Wan'er and the others were more than happy with this peaceful detachment. While observing the bloody power plays from the sidelines, they also doubled down on their cultivation, hoping to raise their strength further before the Dragon God Ruins officially opened.
Xiao Yan was no exception. By now, he had completely shed his previous state of destitution. After all, it was he who had personally taken down the Golden Roc Clan, Myriad Beast Mountain, and the ambushed Golden Tiger Clan. Naturally, the storage artifacts those groups carried had fallen into his possession. Inside those rings and pouches, he had found a sizable stash of divine artifacts and arcane technique scrolls. Most importantly, he now had nearly one hundred million drops of Sovereign Spiritual Liquid at his disposal.
Upon returning, Xiao Yan immediately secluded himself within the Heavenly Tomb to cultivate, intent on breaking through while he still had time and resources. Meanwhile, the battlefield that was Sun-Moon Town continued to spiral into deeper chaos. Casualties increased by the day, and even factions that had just arrived in town were being drawn into the conflict.
To track the unfolding warfare, Qin Wan'er had someone acquire a large map of Sun-Moon Town and hung it on the wall. Whenever there was downtime, she and her companions would gather to analyze the latest developments.
"Sigh... it's a complete mess now. Two days ago, a crack unit from the Cold Phoenix Clan was wiped out. Today, a squad leader from the Blue Wolf Clan was assassinated. Looks like the Kunpeng Clan's counterattacks are escalating."
"They have no choice but to strike hard. If they show even a hint of weakness, they'll be ripped to shreds by the other factions."
"The Thunder Raven Clan's reinforcements arrived today. Looks like the Kunpeng Clan now has another ninth-grade Sovereign on their side."
"But the Fire Lion Clan's forces can't be underestimated either. What a shock it was to learn that the Cold Rhinoceros Clan—who've been at each other's throats with the Fire Lion Clan ever since entering town—turned out to be spies planted by the Fire Lion Clan inside the Kunpeng ranks. If not for the Dragon Sparrow Clan's timely intervention, they might've actually pulled it off."
"Yeah..."
Having just emerged from seclusion, Xiao Yan listened to the group's analytical chatter with an amused expression. 'Everything's unfolding just as I planned. All that effort I put into stirring up trouble wasn't for nothing.'
Thanks to his earlier warnings, the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan's people had conserved their strength, while the other factions were bleeding each other dry. If they kept at it for just a bit longer, then once the ruins opened, he could take what he wanted without much resistance.
Just as both sides were preparing for a final showdown, a massive pillar of light suddenly shot into the sky from the distant Sunset Mountain Range, abruptly halting the battle. No one needed to announce it—everyone instinctively knew: this was the sign that the Dragon God Ruins had begun to open.
Within the beam of light, countless dragon-shaped phantoms coiled and soared skyward, finally merging in the heavens to form the silhouette of a colossal figure—the one left behind by the so-called Dragon Emperor. However, for reasons he couldn't fully explain, Xiao Yan felt a deep, instinctual loathing when he gazed upon that figure.
It was as if he harbored a bone-deep repulsion toward the Dragon Emperor.
"So that's the Dragon Emperor... A Heavenly Sovereign, huh? No wonder that oppressive aura still lingers after death." Qin Wan'er stared at the glowing silhouette, her voice laced with awe.
"Looks like all the factions have stopped fighting. This mess might finally be ending," someone in the group said.
"It's not the end. It's just the beginning," Xiao Yan murmured with a faint sigh.
He had gone to such lengths to set up the current situation—sowing discord, fanning flames, and nearly achieving mutual destruction among the factions—only for this damned ruin to open prematurely. Sure, they had inflicted casualties on one another, but no one had truly suffered a decisive loss. With everyone still intact, seizing an easy advantage was no longer a realistic option.
"What do we do now?" Qin Wan'er turned toward Xiao Yan, her eyes filled with trust. Over the past few days, their group had quietly shifted its dynamic. Xiao Yan, whose every prediction had come true, had naturally become the one they all looked to for guidance.
"What else can we do? Let's go check it out." Xiao Yan sighed again. "The Kunpeng Clan still holds the key. They're keeping quiet for now just to avoid giving others an opportunity to profit. But once everyone's inside that ruin, the fighting will resume. We'll assess the situation and try to fish in troubled waters when the moment is right."
"And if there's no such opportunity?" someone else in the group asked.
"Then we retreat," Xiao Yan said with absolute conviction. "From my experience, any so-called Dragon Emperor inheritance will attract a massive crowd. The competition will be the fiercest there. But a ruin like this is bound to hold more than just one treasure. If we can't get the big one, we'll settle for second best."
"Understood."
While they were talking, streams of light were already rising from Sun-Moon Town—various factions racing toward the glowing beam in the distance. Xiao Yan and the rest exchanged glances before taking off as well. However, following Xiao Yan's suggestion, they neither rushed to the front nor lingered at the back, instead embedding themselves firmly in the middle of the crowd.
That position was the safest. It attracted no attention, avoided sudden danger from being first in, and ensured they weren't too late to grab any lingering opportunities.
Raising his head, Xiao Yan gazed at the densely packed figures soaring ahead. His eyes gleamed with burning determination. 'The legacy of a Heavenly Sovereign...'
He was just as eager as anyone. A chance to acquire the inheritance of a true Heavenly Sovereign was simply too tempting to ignore. Having finally encountered such a golden opportunity, he had no intention of walking away empty-handed. That was simply not his style.
(End of Chapter)
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