Chapter 1983 — Heaven’s Will

Following the Holy Dragon Emperor’s firm refusal to comply, General Wang was left with no choice but to contact the Celestial Emperor for further instructions. The situation had grown too delicate, and any misstep could ignite a conflict that would affect not just the Celestial Emperor but the entire Nine Heavens.

The Heaven’s Mandate certainly possessed the manpower to annihilate the Holy Dragon Clan if they so wished, but doing so would be no different than striking down a foreign diplomat protected by immunity, and they’d have to answer to the other Royal Dragon Clans.

While the Celestial Emperor stood as the single most powerful and authoritative figure in the Nine Heavens, his reach was not absolute. There existed powers beyond even his command. Most notably, the Ten Royal Dragon Clans. As dragons, they stood at the very pinnacle of the beast world, alongside the Phoenix bloodline and a handful of other ancient bloodlines. And as royals among dragons, they possessed the ability to command all lesser dragons beneath them.

If the Ten Royal Dragon Clans were ever to clash against the Celestial Emperor, it wouldn’t be a battle against ten clans alone—it would mean facing the united might of nearly all the dragons in existence, along with countless powerful beings loyal to their cause. Even for the Celestial Emperor, such a conflict would be a calamity of unimaginable scale.

Even if the Ten Royal Dragon Clans were not allies of each other and often clashed among themselves, they would never allow an outsider, especially a human, to trample upon one of their own bloodlines. In other words, internal strife was acceptable, even natural, but any external aggression was seen as an unforgivable affront to the dragon race itself.

"What should we do, Your Majesty? The Holy Dragon Emperor refuses to cooperate and declared war if we tried to stop the teleportation device." General Wang explained the situation to the Celestial Emperor.

"..."

After a brief moment of silence, the Celestial Emperor spoke, "Let me speak with the Dragon Emperor."

General Wang turned his gaze to the Dragon Emperor and spoke, "His Majesty, the Celestial Emperor, wishes to speak with you!"

He tossed the medallion to the Holy Dragon Emperor.

"This is the Holy Dragon Emperor speaking."

"Holy Dragon Emperor, let’s not make things difficult."

"I don’t want to, but if you want me to deactivate the teleportation device, I will have to."

"Is it because you’re trying to protect someone?"

"...That is none of your business."

"No, it is my business," the Celestial Emperor said coldly. "The one you’re so eager to protect… if left unchecked, he will become the very catalyst for the Nine Heavens’ collapse, and as the Celestial Emperor, it is my duty to protect this world."

The Holy Dragon Emperor smiled at the Celestial Emperor’s words and calmly responded, "You have your duties just as I have my own. I’m sorry, Celestial Emperor, but you will not change my mind."

"..."

After a moment of silence, the Celestial Emperor released a faint sigh before speaking again, "I always thought you were one of the wiser Dragon Emperors, but it appears I have been mistaken this entire time. I really don’t want to do this, but you’ve forced my hands."

"The other Royal Dragon Clans will be upset for a while, but they won’t do anything hasty while I have the Royal Phoenix Clans on my side."

In the next moment, an invisible ripple spread across the skies above Dragon Spiral Mountain, distorting space itself. It exuded a profound and unfathomable pressure—one so deep and divine that it felt as though Heaven itself were trying to make an appearance.

Then, the word ’execute’ blazed into existence across the heavens, etched in radiant light, vast and commanding, as if carved directly into the fabric of the sky itself, and it hung there like a divine decree.

Seeing this, General Wang smiled and declared loudly, "Heaven has spoken! Follow the Celestial Emperor’s command and destroy the teleportation device! Execute anyone who dares to try and stop us!"

He pointed his sword toward the Dragon Spiral Mountain and roared, "Execute Heaven’s will!"

"RAAAAAH!"

Behind him, the army erupted with a deafening war cry that shook the very heavens. With weapons drawn and killing intent surging, they descended upon Dragon Spiral Mountain like a merciless storm.

In response, the Holy Dragon Emperor unleashed a thunderous roar, his voice reverberating through every corner of Dragon Spiral Mountain like a divine command.

"Teach these intruders the price of defiling our sacred land! Slay all who dare to stain our home with their presence!"

"For Dragon Goddess Yeyou!"

Thousands of dragon roars erupted at once, shaking the heavens and the sea below. In a breathtaking surge, every member of the Holy Dragon Clan—young dragons, elders, even the humble servants—took to the skies with unwavering resolve.

"W-What should I do?!" Xi Meili cried out, her voice trembling with panic as the skies erupted into chaos around her. The sudden descent into all-out war left her completely overwhelmed and frozen in place.

"This is not your fight. Find a safe place to hide until Yuan returns."

The Holy Dragon Emperor’s voice suddenly resounded in her head through voice transmission.

"B-But…"

Xi Meili hesitated following this instruction. How could she run and hide while everyone else fought? Moreover, they were fighting for Yuan.

"No! There’s no way I can cower in a corner while everyone else fights for him!"

Xi Meili wore all of the treasures Yuan had recently given her and joined the battle shortly later.

As for the Dragon Emperor, he also entered the battle after sending his message to Xi Meili, clashing with General Wang.

Although the Holy Dragon Clan vastly outnumbered the soldiers of Heaven’s Mandate, sheer numbers meant little in the face of overwhelming cultivation. Every member of Heaven’s Mandate was at least a Bronze Immortal, and with that power, they effortlessly suppressed the Holy Dragon Clan, pushing them back with ease despite being outnumbered.

Yet, even while being overwhelmed, the Holy Dragon Clan showed no signs of yielding and continued their relentless retaliation until their last breath.