"But some time ago, for some reason, the Ancient Dragon Dynasty actually joined the war to help the Feather Race. We had no power to resist at all, Elder Shi Yong was injured, and we were retreating step by step. In just a few days, I’m afraid we won’t be able to hold Sacred Stone Mountain anymore."

"This serious?" Rock Solid’s brows furrowed.

"Yes, that’s why the Patriarch sent me to the Cloud Sea Sacred Ground in the north to ask for help," Shi Min nodded in reply.

"The Patriarch sent you alone?" Rock Solid asked suspiciously.

"If something happened along the way, like just now, never mind asking for help, you might not even survive."

"There’s no other way. Our Stone Race has suffered heavy losses. The rest of the people must stay to guard Sacred Stone Mountain," Shi Min said painfully.

"And it’s not just the Cloud Sea Sacred Ground. We have to ask all the imperial lineages in the Overlord Region for help."

"But we don’t even know them well," Rock Solid asked. "Why would they help us?"

"The Patriarch’s meaning is that as long as our race is not exterminated, and our people can gain freedom, aside from these two conditions, anything they ask for we can agree to," Shi Min replied.

"At this point, we can only try. There’s no choice."

"Could it be that Heaven really wants to destroy our Stone Race?" Rock Solid sighed.

One Feather Race was already hard to deal with, and now the Ancient Dragon Dynasty has come.

This is an imperial lineage, and one with two Grand Emperors.

Everyone could not help but feel a wave of despair.

"Junior Sister Yuyan, don’t frown like that, it makes my heart ache," said one disciple of the Mortal Immortal Sacred Ground who had come along with Shi Yuyan.

A young man walked forward, patted Shi Yuyan on the shoulder, and smiled: "Heaven never closes all paths. There will always be a way."

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Lu Ze," Shi Yuyan nodded.

She then turned to the others and said: "Right, let me introduce you. These are my senior brothers and sisters from the Mortal Immortal Sacred Ground. They’ve all come this time to help my Stone Race. This is Senior Brother Lu Ze, his grandfather is a Grand Elder of our Mortal Immortal Sacred Ground. These two are Senior Brothers Chang Yin and Wang Yang. And these two, Senior Sisters Tan Qingqing and Sun Yi, are very close friends of mine."

As Shi Yuyan introduced them, everyone exchanged greetings.

Rock Solid, not to be outdone, said: "Let me introduce as well. These two are my junior schoolmates from Heavenly Dao Academy. Xu Zimo and Grand Wisdom, both very strong individuals. They’ve also come this time to help our Stone Race."

"So you’re elite disciples of Heavenly Dao Academy," Lu Ze smiled. "I’ve long heard of your great reputation, and it’s an honor to meet you today."

"Mortal Immortal Sacred Ground is no less, we’ve admired you for a long time as well," Xu Zimo replied.

As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face.

The Mortal Immortal Sacred Ground is perhaps the most unique of the imperial lineages.

Though its history is not long, and it has only one Grand Emperor, its status is lofty.

Because the last generation’s Heaven’s Will was borne by the Mortal Emperor.

Unlike many declining imperial lineages, Mortal Immortal Sacred Ground is still vibrant and flourishing.

The war generals left behind by the Grand Emperor are in their prime, having just been baptized by the Heaven's Will.

So even though Mortal Immortal Sacred Ground has only one Grand Emperor, no one dares to underestimate them.

...

"You’ve been away for a long time, the Patriarch and our brothers in the race all miss you," Shi Min said on the side.

"You should return to the sect first. I still have to go to the Cloud Sea Sacred Ground for help."

Rock Solid sighed lightly and nodded.

"Let’s all go to Sacred Stone Mountain together," Shi Yuyan suggested.

The group walked out of the Feather Stone Forest, gazing at the horizon in the distance.

A mountain like thick ink appeared before their eyes.

The mountain was about a thousand meter high, not towering, but extremely steep.

The whole mountain looked as if it was made of piled-up boulders, not a single solid whole.

"Everyone be careful. As Shi Min just said, the area around Sacred Stone Mountain is now full of Feather Race people," Rock Solid reminded.

...

When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, they found a large number of Feather Race troops patrolling.

"Who goes there?" The Feather Race soldiers instantly spotted the group.

"Quick, go call Lord Chengkong, someone is trying to break into Sacred Stone Mountain."

The Feather Race soldiers surrounded the group, all watching warily.

The leader was a man with eight strands of beard.

"Who are you? What business do you have at Sacred Stone Mountain?" the man asked.

"In this vast world, we go wherever we want, why should we report to you?" Shi Yuyan said calmly.

"This is now a critical moment in the war between our Feather Race and the Stone Race. No one is allowed in here."

The man replied: "If you insist on forcing your way in, then we’ll have to offend you, and treat you as accomplices of the Stone Race."

"Wang Yang, take care of him," Lu Ze snorted coldly, giving orders to another young man from the Mortal Immortal Sacred Ground.

The youth called Wang Yang stepped forward.

He wore a loose blue robe, from whose cuffs two short blades flew out.

Holding a blade in each hand, he smiled slightly.

His figure turned into countless afterimages, darting through the void.

"Not good, get out of the way!" the bearded man immediately sensed danger and shouted.

But it was too late.

A storm of blade shadows erupted, accompanied by screams. They had no time to dodge before they were hacked to pieces.

Blood flowed all over the ground, and Wang Yang licked his tongue, seemingly enjoying the atmosphere.

"Who dares kill my Feather Race people?" At that moment, a voice like thunder boomed from afar.

A man in black robes, with a pair of pure black wings on his back, stepped through the air toward them.

His aura was overwhelming.

The wind from his wings tore the void, dark energy swirling around him.

"Looks like a big shot has arrived," Wang Yang chuckled.

The black-robed man frowned slightly at the sight of their attire and asked: "I am Yu Chengkong. Are you from the Mortal Immortal Sacred Ground?"

"So what?" Lu Ze asked.

"Our Feather Race has had no dealings or grudges with the Mortal Immortal Sacred Ground. I don’t understand why you would interfere in our war with the Stone Race?" Yu Chengkong asked.

"We are not interfering, just trying to go to Sacred Stone Mountain, but they stopped us," Lu Ze said lightly.

Although he was here to help Shi Yuyan, he only represented himself.

He could not drag the Mortal Immortal Sacred Ground into this.

So when he spoke, he was careful with his words.

"No matter what, the fact remains you killed my Feather Race people. You’ll have to come with me," Yu Chengkong said.

"And if we refuse?" Wang Yang asked.

"That’s not up to you," Yu Chengkong snorted coldly.

"Just you?" Wang Yang was equally defiant.

The blade intent in his hands erupted with astonishing force, slashing straight toward Yu Chengkong.