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The series of events that had unfolded over the past months had sparked various reactions from many forces, and after the incidents of the last month involving those creatures in the secret realm, and the appearance of that legendary figure, who had not been seen for countless years, only added further tension, shaking the balance between the empires.

This inevitably triggered a reaction from the three empires, which, after so long, finally began to move.

To the west of the Human Empire, the vast territory was mostly covered by the lush green expanse of the continent's largest forest.

Here, life thrived in every form.

Vines and creepers entwined through the canopies of colossal trees, forming natural suspended bridges, while sunlit clearings were dotted with flowers of a thousand colors and crystal clear streams that meandered around the rocks.

Birds with iridescent plumage and creatures unknown to most of the rest of the continent moved among the branches, filling the air with a wild yet harmonious melody of songs and calls.

In some areas, the ground was carpeted with moss and luminescent fungi, illuminating natural paths with a soft green and blue glow. Here, every leaf and frond seemed to breathe, as if the forest itself were a living, pulsing, conscious organism.

This was the land of the Elves, the Qinglan Empire.

At the heart of this infinite forest lay a grand city.

The towers and homes, built with pale materials and elegant lines, seemed to grow directly from the ancient trees, as if the hands of the Elves had never broken the life of the forest but had instead exalted it.

Every artificial structure and natural element seemed part of a single, harmonious creation.

This was the Qingsuo, the capital of the Qinglan Empire.

At the center of the city stood a colossal tree, its roots and branches stretching for hundreds of meters, and upon it was founded the imperial palace.

The building, made of white marble slightly faded with time, appeared both majestic and worn, a perfect balance between grandeur and harmony with the surrounding nature. Balconies, hanging bridges, and towers blended seamlessly with the branches and foliage, and windows opened among the bark, as if the tree itself had grown them.

Between immense roots and carved wooden walkways, a messenger ran breathlessly.

His boots bounced on the suspended platforms, while the vines and creepers seemed to sway slightly as he passed, as if watching and judging his presence.

He was a young man, around twenty years old, with long golden hair and a masculine face that had just begun to shed its childhood softness, already showing the mature lines of his age, but although refined, there was a delicacy as if of an opposing nature.

Yet what stood out most were not his delicate features, but a pair of long, pointed ears at the sides of his head, a distinctive mark of his race.

He had traveled a long way and had finally reached the imperial palace.

Reaching the grand gates of the throne hall, situated at the heart of the central canopy, he was stopped by two elven guards, both clad in silver armor with refined gold linings that nonetheless did not conceal their power.

"Halt. State your business," said one, his gaze neutral yet imposing as he blocked the young man.

"I have an urgent communication for the Queen!" the young man replied, his expression serious and urgent.

After examining him and confirming his purpose, the guards stepped aside and flung open the doors.

The messenger rushed inside, slowing slightly but still moving quickly, traversing the main corridor of the hall, that led toward a raised platform where an imposing throne of marble and gold awaited.

Kneeling, he gave a swift salute to the female figure seated on the throne before presenting the message to a nearby attendant, who took it upon themselves to deliver it to her.

She was Queen Lin Feiqing, ruler of the Elves, one of the most powerful Spriti realm cultivator out there.

Her golden hair reflected the light, and her piercing eyes studied the young man with a calm that betrayed millennia of wisdom and absolute authority.

With a hand elegant in its simplicity, she took the communication brought by her attendant.

Se stared at it for a moment, examining the imperial seal on it: a sword pointing skyward, placed at the center of a circle of interwoven lines, symbolizing the order and greatness of the Human Empire.

It was the seal that represented the ruling dynasty of the Human Empire, the dynasty of the current Human Emperor himself.

It was clear the letter came from him.

This sparked a flicker of interest in her expressionless eyes, and with a slight movement of her finger, she removed the seal, a seemingly simple task, but far from it.

With the seal removed, the scroll unfolded before her, and after a brief glance, she seemed lost in a series of thoughts.

Just as in the Elven Empire, something similar occurred to the east of the Human Empire.

There stood the Shouyuan Empire, home to beasts of every kind and species.

Unlike the Elves' land, the Beast Empire's territory was more varied, with forests, mountains, and diverse habitats scattered across the land, representing the homes of the various creatures that made up its population.

In the middle of this territory, a small mountain range stood out. Its peaks, though not as tall as those separating the empires from the frozen lands, framed a towering volcano.

A man with piercing reptilian eyes and bat like wings cut through the sky, heading toward the smoking volcano, bubbling like a living furnace.

The mountain trembled beneath him, cracks along its dark slopes glowing with molten lava, ready to erupt at any moment.

He landed atop with the grace of a predator, his gaze scanning the rivers of magma snaking around the summit.

He dropped to one knee before the volcano's mouth, not daring to move or say anything, aware that one wrong move could end his life.

At that moment, as if sensing the arrival of the person, a deep voice echoed from the volcano itself, making the entire mountain vibrate,

"Speak."

The kneeling man trembled visibly at the voice, but compelled by duty, he extended his hand forward, head bowed.

A small scroll lifted into the air on its own, drifting toward the mouth of the volcano and disappearing into the boiling magma.

Seconds passed without a sound, yet the servant remained rooted in place. After what felt like a minute, the mountain trembled again, this time more violently.

The magma roared and churned within the volcano's heart, surging upward in glowing streams of yellow orange that shot into the sky, scattering sparks and molten fragments before plummeting to the lands below.

Fire and smoke twisted into the heavens, ash blotting out the horizon, the mountain had fully awakened.

From the heart of the eruption emerged a majestic figure, its body covered in red orange scales, two enormous wings spread wide across its back, reptilian eyes burning with power.

Its roar shook the skies and made the surrounding lands quake.

He was Long Yan, current emperor of the Shouyuan Empire, and one of the continent's strongest Spirirt realm cultivator.

He remained secluded in his lair most of the time resting, emerging only rarely, sometimes to handle important matters, other times to face threats that could put the empire at risk.

This was one of those times.

He would have ignored the human emperor's summons if he hadn't read about the incidents in the human territory.

As much as it was not their problem, he knew it could affect them in the future, and knowing well the threat behind these incidents, he did not dare take it lightly.

Thus, both he and the Elven queen accepted the invitation, scheduled for the end of the month.

And so, as the three empires prepared for a historic meeting to discuss the continent's future, within the secret realm, those directly connected to this situation were busy with their own affairs, unaware of all this.

Yuan Lan, after completing her part, transformed into a beam of light and returned to Zhu Rong's dantian, while the latter waited in silence for the figure in the cocoon to awaken.

His expression was calm and far from bored as he watched the cocoon pulsate slowly but with an intensity that, though gradual, continued to grow with each pulse.

He and Yuan Lan had done all they could, and now, with their part complete, they could only step aside and let the rest take its course.

Fortunately, they had arrived in time, otherwise Liang Yuexin might have lost her life and Qiyan City would have paid the consequences.

Time passed, and finally, the cocoon began to tremble slightly.

The figure inside began to move as the pulsations of the cocoon grew stronger and brighter.

Then a sudden flash burst forth, and in the next moment, a powerful explosion shook the plain, making it tremble visibly

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