Meanwhile, in a secret realm beneath the sea.

Senior Jin Chao raised one hand, collecting the spell before looking toward Golden Cloud Fairy, who was sitting cross-legged in the center of the Formation.

By now, she was enveloped in gold and white flames while water-attributed Spiritual Energy continuously surged into the flames from around the Formation, suppressing the Fire Poison in her body.

"Wait a few more days, and the Fire Poison in your body will be temporarily suppressed. Once we get the Nine Palaces Cold Moon Ring, I shall hasten to refine it. We should be able to keep your Fire Poison at bay before its next outbreak," Senior Jin Chao said, looking at his daughter with pity.

Golden Cloud Fairy nodded, though her brows were tangled with an indescribable emotion.

"Alas, since you have feelings for Yuan Ming, why did you advise me against it just now? He is only committed, not yet married. To give up so easily, do you really wish it?" Senior Jin Chao sighed.

"Father, you misunderstand. I just feel... coercing him like this, even if successful, wouldn't make me happy. Besides, we've only met a few times, and if not for your fame, he probably wouldn't even remember my name," Golden Cloud Fairy shook her head, her expression forlorn.

Senior Jin Chao looked at his fiercely independent daughter and sighed once again.

Initially, she did not want to always be sheltered under Jin Chao's wings, so she went to Fusang Island. Starting as an ordinary disciple, she became Alliance Leader Wan's Direct Disciple through her own capabilities before revealing her identity as Jin Chao's daughter to him.

But at the stage of the Nascent Soul, such things were no longer a secret. In their eyes, as long as Golden Cloud Fairy did not reach the Returning Void, she would be overshadowed by Jin Chao's brilliance.

"Father, you are right, I will not give up. One day, I will become the sole Sun in everyone's eyes, not just in his. I will show them that I am not just anyone's daughter; I am myself, someone they must acknowledge and even look up to! Then, I will ask Yuan Ming face to face whether I, alone, without East Sea or Jin Chao's glory, am worth his attention and if he will regret saying 'no' today," Golden Cloud Fairy's eyes filled with determination.

Hearing this, Senior Jin Chao was touched, feeling deeply moved in his heart.

His daughter had truly grown up.

...

The next day, all Nascent Soul cultivators stationed across the East Sea Alliance were secretly recalled to Purple Nan Island to participate in a critical strategy meeting.

When the Nascent Souls arrived in the great hall, they saw Alliance Leader Wan and Yuan Ming already seated at the head. Unlike Yuan Ming's calm demeanor, Alliance Leader Wan's face was brimming with a smile that he hadn't shown since the battles that had left him severely injured.

The gathered Nascent Souls became curious, wondering what news could have made him so joyful, while Hou Chou, amidst the crowd, glanced at Yuan Ming with a premonition of unease in his heart.

"My fellows, please take your seats quickly, as I have an announcement to make," Alliance Leader Wan scanned the room, urging them.

Yuan Ming was also scrutinizing the Nascent Souls who entered the great hall, noticing that there were many more Nascent Soul cultivators present this time than before.

Before the meeting, Alliance Leader Wan had given him a detailed list of East Sea Alliance Nascent Soul cultivators. Now, observing these individuals, he could match them with the names on the list.

Most of these Nascent Souls originated from the First-level Islands, with only three having the same background as Loose Cultivator Yuan Ming, who were also at the Early Stage of Nascent Soul.

Among the rest, those from Water Ape Island were in the majority, including Clan Leader Hou Chou, two additional Early Stage Nascent Souls, and the former Grand Marshal Hou Shang, who had not yet acquired a physical body.

Subsequently, Nascent Soul cultivators from Fusang, Jin Ao, Kongling, and Di Hua Islands, not counting Alliance Leader Wan and Gu Xuanyang, totaled eight, with only two at the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul.

Finally, the Merfolk Nascent Souls included Queen Ming Kong, who also only had her Nascent Soul remaining, and another Early Stage Nascent Soul cultivator named Luo Duo. Currently representing Queen Ming Kong, he was responsible for the interests of the Merfolk within the East Sea Alliance. At this moment, he caught Yuan Ming's eye and nodded amiably; he likely knew of Yuan Ming's true capability and identity as the Nether Moon God Envoy from Queen Ming Kong.

Inclusive of these nineteen Nascent Souls, the three individuals on Yuzhu Island, along with the yet-to-arrive Golden Transformation Master, this constituted the visible supreme combat power of the current East Sea Alliance.

This number significantly outstripped the Wu Yue Sect's army, but the actual combat strength was evenly matched, with the Wu Yue Sect possibly having a slight advantage.

Soon, everyone was seated. Without waiting for Alliance Leader Wan to speak, Hou Chou took the lead and asked,

"Alliance Leader Wan, you called for this urgent strategy meeting, so you must have devised a brilliant strategy to defeat our enemy, right?" He addressed Alliance Leader Wan, but his gaze remained fixed on Yuan Ming.

Compared to yesterday, his attitude towards Yuan Ming seemed much more cautious, perhaps understanding Yuan Ming's real strength similarly to how he heard it from Hou Shang.

"Indeed, after Divine Envoy Yuan's field observation yesterday, he indeed found a method to break the Red Blood Sand Formation. Now, let him explain it to everyone." Wan Tianren was not annoyed and nodded towards Yuan Ming.

"Divine Envoy Yuan?" In the great hall, Loose Cultivator Nascent Soul Cultivator Fang Gu voiced his confusion.

"Indeed, as everyone might already know, Fellow Daoist Gu and others were saved by the Nether Moon God on Three Immortals Island, and since then, we have placed our faith under the banner of the Nether Moon God. This Fellow Daoist Yuan Ming is a Divine Envoy personally appointed by the Nether Moon God. In terms of identity and status, he is second to none, not even inferior to the White Bone Venerable of the Wu Yue Sect." Wan Tianren continued, satisfying the curiosity about Yuan Ming's identity.

As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately sparked discussions among the other Nascent Souls; however, the Nascent Souls from the Water Ape Clan and the Merfolk seemed to already know of Yuan Ming's identity, it appeared they indeed inquired about it from Hou Shang and Queen Ming Kong.

The discussions soon subsided. After all, the upper echelons of the East Sea Alliance had recognized Yuan Ming's identity, and though other Nascent Souls had their doubts, it was not appropriate to show them in such a setting.

Seeing this, Yuan Ming stood up, without any small talk, he detailed the method to break the Formation and also distributed the Array Eye maps, which Wan Tianren had prepared in advance, among the crowd.

"The method is good; Divine Envoy Yuan indeed has some skills, but how can Alliance Leader Wan guarantee that the method provided by Divine Envoy Yuan is not a scheme by the Wu Yue Sect to annihilate us all?" Hou Chou glanced over the map a few times and slapped a Jade Scroll onto the table with a "snap."

His words immediately made several other Nascent Soul cultivators alert.

"Indeed, the information about the Array Eyes is only from Divine Envoy Yuan's side; we cannot disprove it. If we act rashly and it turns out to be a trap, our entire East Sea Alliance could be doomed," said Fang Gu, his tone heavy with worry. This copy was generated from content at *.

"This Divine Envoy Yuan just arrived yesterday and already found a fault in the Wu Yue Sect's great Formation. I really don't believe this," Hou Chou's trusted subordinate Hou Mo shook his head.

"Given the unfavorable situation in the battle, we must be even more cautious and not put the entire East Sea Alliance at risk based on one person's word," the surviving Nascent Soul cultivator from Kongling Island, Chen Yunqian, coughed twice as he spoke.

Wan Tianren quietly listened to their debating until the voices gradually subsided, then he spoke.

"Senior Jin Chao will also be participating in this campaign," he said indifferently.

Instantly, that announcement astounded the group like a stone creating ripples in water.

"Senior Jin Chao, he also approved this plan? Then I think this matter indeed has great potential," Fang Gu altered his previous worried tone and immediately nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, with Senior Jin Chao assisting us, the Wu Yue Sect is no more than chickens and dogs, really not worth mentioning," Luo Duo echoed.

Hou Chou's expression darkened momentarily, but when he raised his head again, his expression had returned to calm.

"Since Senior Jin Chao has agreed to the plan, we have nothing else to say. Let's just carry it out, but there are four Array Eyes that need to be sabotaged, and how exactly we shall divide this task still needs to be discussed," he spoke slowly.

"That point has already been arranged by me, Hou Clan Chief need not worry. The task of sabotaging three Array Eyes will be taken up by me, Senior Jin Chao, and another Returning Void senior. The rest will be left to you all to disrupt together," Yuan Ming looked around at the crowd.

"Another Returning Void senior? I wonder who he is…" Hou Chou was taken aback and posed the question on the minds of most Nascent Souls present.

"This senior doesn't care about fame or revealing his identity. It's better if the Hou Clan Chief does not inquire too much," Yuan Ming gave Hou Chou a meaningful look.

Hou Chou frowned, displeased, suspecting that Yuan Ming was using the name of a Returning Void senior to intimidate him. Yet, he dared not truly challenge him, hesitated for a moment, then found another excuse to challenge.

"Since two Returning Void seniors are taking action, I am reassured about the two Array Eyes, but Divine Envoy Yuan is merely at the Early Stage of Nascent Soul, and he is also solely responsible for one Array Eye. Isn't that overconfidence? I'm not questioning your strength, but this matter decides the fate of our East Sea Alliance, and we cannot afford any mistakes," Hou Chou began, claiming the moral high ground.

"If Hou Clan Chief speaks in such a manner, perhaps we should step outside and have a duel now to settle your restless heart," Yuan Ming sneered.

"Everyone sees that I'm entirely considering the East Sea Alliance's interest, yet Divine Envoy Yuan here is being passive-aggressive, disregarding the interests of the East Sea Alliance. Since it has come to this and Divine Envoy Yuan insists on testing my abilities, let us take this to the sea for a battle, and I, Hou Chou, will keep up to the end!" Hou Chou, furious, slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

"Masking personal motives as public interests, Hou Clan Chief has cultivated quite a face. If I accidentally injure you later, don't blame me for not holding back," Yuan Ming stood up and turned to walk out of the hall.

But just then, Hou Mo stood up and grabbed Hou Chou, speaking:

"Clan Chief, quench your anger, Divine Envoy Yuan, also cool your fire. With a great battle imminent, injuries to either of you aren't favorable for our East Sea Alliance. I think it's better like this, with Alliance Leader Wan and Fellow Daoist Gu overseeing, we Nascent Souls together are more than enough to break one Array Eye. Clan Chief can accompany our Ancestor Ape alongside Divine Envoy Yuan and compete in terms of killing Wu Yue Sect followers—this won't harm our relations, yet it discerns the stronger party and provides mutual support. What do you think, Divine Envoy Yuan?"