Is it to hold onto the current achievements and securely place second, or to strive further to attempt to seize first place? For Hai Tang, this is undoubtedly a difficult choice, as she knows her decision will influence the home world's development for the next fifty years.

But no matter how difficult, a decision must be made.

With only a moment's pause, she opened her mouth, "Let's go for the fourth Spirit Orb!"

They already have three orbs in hand, and currently, only six Spirit Orbs have appeared in the Black Abyss, which means they still have three chances!

With some luck, they might be able to snatch one.

Most importantly, the East Camp has never had such a good opportunity in many years. Missing this chance means who knows how long they will have to wait for another attempt at first place.

Though Hai Tang is a woman, she is dedicated to the prosperity of the home world.

Hearing her words, everyone in the East Camp agreed. They were clearly inclined to push a bit more, thinking along similar lines as Hai Tang. Of course, Lu Ye's earlier performance was also impressively strong.

Being able to instantly kill a Constellation Mid-Stage, even if the opponent was careless, indicates that Lu Ye's strength could rival a Constellation Late Stage. The gap at the Late Stage level is roughly equalized with the other two camps, so even though their overall strength may still not match others, the gap is not as wide anymore.

It's worth a try, even if it doesn't work out, there is nothing to lose!

While the East Camp made their decision, a figure rapidly flew through the Black Abyss. It was Ye Chaoqun from the Western Region. However, he did not fly towards his own camp but rather towards the Southern Region Camp, leaving one to wonder what his intentions were.

Shortly after, he halted his movement as a stream of light approached, which was the nine from the Southern Region.

From afar, the people of the Southern Region saw Ye Chaoqun's figure and, observing the spirit force fluctuations around him, how could they not recognize him?

If it were during the Spirit Orb contest, the Southern Region would undoubtedly attack first and deal with Ye Chaoqun before anything else.

But currently, with no new Spirit Orbs being born, the Southern Region had no intention of killing, and with Ye Chaoqun's current manner, it was clear he wasn't there for a fight.

After a brief consideration, a Constellation Late Stage from the Southern region instructed his people to stay put, while he himself flew out alone to meet him.

A moment later, he stopped a few miles from Ye Chaoqun, and slightly cupping his fist, he said, "Duan Xiuchen!"

Ye Chaoqun returned the gesture and introduced himself in turn.

Duan Xiuchen looked at Ye Chaoqun with great significance, "Brother Ye, what brings you here?"

Ye Chaoqun got straight to the point, "An alliance!"

Duan Xiuchen exclaimed in surprise, with a slightly exaggerated expression, "And who might the enemy be?"

"Naturally, it's the East Camp!"

Duan Xiuchen appeared puzzled, "Brother Ye, you want to form an alliance with me to deal with the East Camp. Did I hear you right?"

Ye Chaoqun knew exactly what he was thinking. If it weren't for the recent battle, had the Southern Region suddenly approached him for an alliance, he wouldn't have taken it seriously either.

Such a weak East Camp, why would it require two of the camps to join forces? Either camp could crush it alone.

But in truth, only after experiencing the recent battle could one realize that the seemingly fragile East Camp was anything but simple. Among those nine, there was a hidden fierce tiger!

"That's correct!" Ye Chaoqun nodded.

Duan Xiuchen let out a hearty laugh, "Impossible, impossible! My Southern Region and the East Camp have an extremely solid alliance. The East Camp are my Southern Region's dear friends and brothers. How could we betray them at a few words from you Westerners? If such a thing spread, wouldn't they accuse my Southern Region of being untrustworthy, behaving treacherously!"

Besides, prior collaborations between the Southern Region and the East Camp had been quite pleasant, with each party securing a Spirit Orb, leaving the Western Camp sighing helplessly.

Therefore, Duan Xiuchen believed the alliance with the East Camp could still continue.

On the contrary, this Ye Chaoqun's abrupt visit seemed suspicious. Though he arrived alone and seemingly sincere, who knows what schemes he might harbor, possibly trying to sabotage their alliance with the East Camp.

With such considerations, how could Duan Xiuchen easily agree to Ye Chaoqun's proposal?

In every Martial Arts Meet, the three troops of the Dwarf Race not only have to fight bravely in the Black Abyss but also rely on wisdom, and the alliance strategies are an extreme test of the leader's intellect.

Ye Chaoqun sighed, "The East Camp already has three orbs in their possession!"

Duan Xiuchen said, "I was just about to ask what your Western Region is up to. How did you let the East Camp snatch the orbs?"

Previously, the Western Camp disengaged from their confrontation and headed to where a new orb was born. The Southern Region thought that orb was bound to fall into the Western Region's hands. However, the unexpected outcome was that the orb did not head towards the Western Camp, but instead steadfastly moved towards the East Camp.

And now it is evidently placed there.

Ye Chaoqun didn't answer, but instead said, "Fellow Daoist Duan, what do you think of the strength of my Western Region's six men?"

He didn't say nine people, only six, obviously referring to the lineup when they separated from the Southern Region at the end.

Duan Xiuchen solemnly said, "Very strong, if your six men continued to pester, my Southern Region could only trade life for life and send everyone back to camp."

At that time, the Spirit Orb was closer to the Southern Region Camp, so trading life for life was favorable to the Southern Region. In fact, Duan Xiuchen had already planned to do this, but when the sixth Spirit Orb suddenly appeared and the six from the Western Region withdrew, the plan was not implemented.

Ye Chaoqun said, "But my six were utterly devastated by the Eastern Region. If I hadn't seen the bad situation and run fast, I'm afraid I'd have to be reborn again."

Duan Xiuchen was shocked: "True or false?"

"Absolutely true!"

"Impossible!" Duan Xiuchen was full of disbelief. He was well aware of the level of those six from the Western Region, one Late Stage, two Mid-Stage, three Early Stage. Although fewer in number, it was still no problem for them to handle the Eastern Region. How could they be so miserably defeated?

Moreover, could the Eastern Region have such capabilities? It's absurd!

This Ye Chaoqun must be talking nonsense!

Ye Chaoqun knew that Duan Xiuchen was still doubting him and said calmly, "That Spirit Orb is now in the Eastern Camp. Do you think if my Western Region still had the power to fight, we would give it up so easily?"

This was indeed an unavoidable question. If Ye Chaoqun was just using words to beguile him and sow discord, it was likely. But if it required sacrificing a Spirit Orb to achieve this, no Dwarf Race would be willing to do it.

Duan Xiuchen was in doubt: "Were they really utterly devastated by the Eastern Region?"

Ye Chaoqun was somewhat annoyed: "Such a humiliating thing, how many times do you want me to say it, Fellow Daoist?"

Duan Xiuchen finally confirmed that the other party wasn't deceiving him, but...he really couldn't imagine how the Eastern Region did it.

Spirit light flashed: "Did they hide their cultivation?"

Ye Chaoqun shook his head: "Their cultivation is indeed as it appears, one Mid-Stage, eight Early Stage."

"Then did they set up a Formation in advance, using the power of the Formation?"

"In a direct clash, they didn't use any External Force!"

Duan Xiuchen was furious: "I am sincerely speaking with Fellow Daoist, and Fellow Daoist should not deceive me!"

Ye Chaoqun sighed again: "There was external assistance in the Eastern Region, not of the Dwarf Race. Though only at the Constellation Early Stage cultivation, they had the strength of the Constellation Late Stage. A Mid-Stage of my Western Region was slashed by him with a single blade. Thus, Fellow Daoist should understand why my Western Region was utterly defeated."

"Constellation Early Stage cultivation, Late Stage strength...a blade-wielding guy?" Duan Xiuchen tried to recall, and immediately thought of Lu Ye's appearance. He remembered that it was this person who had talked to him before, forming an alliance between the two regions. At the time, he felt this person wasn't from the Dwarf Race, and it now seemed he was right.

He said angrily, "The Eastern Region is so shameless to invite external assistance!"

If they were Dwarf Race, it would be impossible to find someone with Early Stage cultivation and Late Stage strength due to the constraints of their cultivation system, but with a Foreign Clan, especially the human race, it was understandable since that side often produces remarkable individuals.

Ye Chaoqun said, "The Eastern Region has been declining for years, with few Constellation members. It's not rare for them to occasionally invite one or two external aids. Let's not mention this; the key is to reassess the Eastern Region's strength and the threat they pose."

Previously, when leaving the Eastern Region, Ye Chaoqun had thought about hiding the situation there, letting the uninformed Southern Region clash with the Eastern Region, and then the Western Region could benefit from it.

But after careful consideration, he found this approach unreliable, especially when the Southern Region and Eastern Region had already cooperated once. If things went awry and the two sides teamed up against the Western Region again, the Western Region would be in a worse predicament.

So after much thought, he felt that it was best to ally with the Southern Region.

This prompted him to specifically seek out the Southern Region and reveal everything.

Duan Xiuchen laughed heartily: "My Southern Region allies are so powerful, and with previous cooperation, why shouldn't I ally with them again instead of bargaining with your Western Region?"

Ye Chaoqun reiterated, "Because the Eastern Region already has three orbs!"

Duan Xiuchen's laughter stopped, his expression grave: "Continue!"

Ye Chaoqun knew that he was already considering it and pressed the advantage: "In this Martial Arts Meet, on the surface, the Eastern Region has the weakest strength, and much weaker than our two regions. But now they have three orbs. In contrast, our two regions have two orbs for the Southern Region, and the Western Region has only one. If this continues, the Eastern Region, regardless, will at least rank second. By then, which of our two regions gets first, and who falls last? There's a chance we'll be at each other's throats, possibly letting the Eastern Region profit as a bystander. If they indeed seize first place, then where would the Southern and Western Regions' face be? Furthermore, when we return from the Black Abyss, how do we explain ourselves to the Sun Blaze Master Uncles? Saying our powerful lineup couldn't beat an Eastern Region team led by a Mid-Stage? Some things are easier said than heard."

"Fellow Daoist Ye means..."

Ye Chaoqun said, "All along, it's been our two regions competing for first and second, and the Eastern Region has been the third for so many years. Let them continue to maintain that! Such a good tradition can't be lost."

Duan Xiuchen raised an eyebrow: "But the Eastern Region already has three orbs in hand!"

Ye Chaoqun said calmly, "It's not that they can't be snatched back..."