Chapter 130: No One on the Left Path

The Heavenly Kings of the human race do not easily resort to action. When they do, it's either through a direct confrontation against an Evernight Sovereign, similar to how Zhi 极 Wang resisted Paroxysia, or take the path of Ding Xuan Wang and strike against uniquely important powerhouses.

The issue lies in the understanding that the human faction must have already uncovered the disparity within the New World and would capitalize on the two opportunities to their advantage in light of Evernight’s inability to intervene. Without constraints holding them back, the Heavenly Kings could employ any tactic or strategy without hesitation.

In the regular battlefield, a Heavenly King or Evernight Sovereign could be an overwhelming force. Thus, when the stakes are raised, the lower ranks fare better whereas the more powerful Dukes find themselves at greater risk—especially those formidable ones whose strength lies more in the arts of war rather than flight or遁遁. They very might not make it out alive.

For within the bloodline hierarchy, Dukes act as strong pillars for their kin while Great Dukes serve as backbone of the entire clan—an enormous blow in terms of power dynamics when lost. Even formidable races such as blood-born clans or魔裔 cannot afford losing Great Dukes as several of their oldest and weakest noble houses now lean solely upon them to protect fading prestige.

Hearing this topic, the highest tier强者 from the Three Factions remained silent. In fact, Ding Xuan Wang’s move had been already unanticipated—nobody foresaw how the humans had singled out the little scion from house Meth菲尔德. Frey Duke had previously not appeared on the front-lines at all. Beginning with these events would set a problematic precedent for the future.

Azure King suggested: “Might we ask the Werewolves to take one of the risks?”

Paroxysia rebuffed: “That’s out of the question. Werewolves had already been excluded in the opening of the New World, so trying to involve them now solely to take the heat would be unacceptable for Zong Feng Summit or Sorsa!”

“And if they must bear it whether they wish to not agree?” Lo Sa pondered aloud.

"This is simply not feasible! Pressing too hard might produce results we all regret."

"You mean one of us should carry this loss then?" Lo Sa retorted coldly.

Needless to express, the demonic clans once more kept mum without response.

Moments after, Azure King calmly said: “Forcing the werewolves is tricky. They should still have the Wolf Sovereign under Mountain Ascension very much close to圣山 status—and do remember the ‘风暴之刃’ still remains for its nurturing inside those peaks. As for the ancestors' lineage, apart from the known elder Sorsa, another wolf ancestor remains hidden in their midst."

"Do you mean... that old man still lives? Impossible."

"The latest reports claim he's not only very alive but faring even better."

Understanding what Azure intended, it’s clear—although lacking a圣mountain Grand至尊 of themselves, the Werewolves remained among the Four Great Clans not to be taken lightly, let alone pushed when cornered, threatening all with backlash if provoked.

To recall, leaving werewolves out at this New World’s dawn took years of secret machinations and behind-the-scenes bargaining already—not only excluding them but now asking they absorb the damage is ethically unviable.

Thus, these two spots can only fall upon the remaining Three Sires for sharing anew!

Paroxysia declared plainly: "At great price already have we sacrificed one Duke alongside thirty Thousand elite fighters; I will shoulder nothing further."

Expected but still inconvenient—distributing these weights would largely shift focus against Eternal Flame’s domain next. And it might not merely cost just one公爵 this time over.

The ever-flame representing Eternal焰 remained unresponsive as still as the flame itself.

Smirking wryly, the Azure King proposed further: "Might you remember? In fact our bloodclan yet possesses one trump card already. As the price offered for decisive aid in need, therefore we shall assume no risk."

Lo Sa responded cynically: “Are your implying the Spiderclan takes two burdens wholly then?”

To swallow both entirely wasn’t feasible for魔裔, leaving Eternal Flame to finally murmur: “I will shoulder this sacrifice; I but require ten Holy Trees in compensation.”

Eternal焰's resolution implied recovery compensating for loss totaling a third—a third to cover Duke-value compensation, while two-thirds remain as acceptable burdens for others present. Satisfactorily received from all quarters, neither梅丹佐 nor Mdaz agreed with objection; accordingly closing thus their council of rulers.

Before departing altogether,梅丹佐 quipped: “Haven't your魔裔 faced those impendent little humans lately? Can't say you have any tricks to teach them manners then?”

Bordering nearest the imperial reach lay Meth菲尔德 while Central Dominion faced most bluntly by the spider race—they, therefore, were thrice as worst stricken by ZiNing Song’s campaigns compared to the relatively unscratchedbloodclans who merely sustained minor skirmish losses amounting to a limited bite but scarcely a wound at all.

Stung by the Unlightened Sovereign’s remarks both魔裔’s and LoSa’s countenances dimmed grimly at once. Paroxysia shot back: "Well soon they shall arrive at your domain where it had befitting if your subordinates could do their job with some decency at last.”

Laughing hard, Mdaz boastfully quipped, “Unlike the others, the blood-born are uniquely exceptional!”

His laugh was cut sharply halfway through—while Paroxysia & Lo Sa continued theirs boisterously. Ever焰, normally reserved from vocal comments, allowed this time flickers of its flame to mockingly form a face in mirthful contempt.

In the exact breath prior, those gathered Sovereigns received a fresh battle update transmitted hastily from the Central Dominion—their war chamber lit ablaze.

Suddenly manifest without herald in the Dominion Heartlands, Lord Song ZiNing stormed and shattered three strong bloodkeep castles in single sweep besides crippling swift relief troops' attempts twice. With in a twinkling, bloodkin losses crossed fifty-Thousand battle-hardened regiments now surpassing魔裔 blood losses in totality.

The blow rang sharper than thunder.

Mdaz’s poise shattered now, exclaiming furiously: “Hadn't he but recently slain Frey?! How could he already appear upon this very theater unless sailing every inch through aerial dreadnoughts?”

Paroxysia calmly deduced: “It was most assured the airships carried his legions entirely!”

Mdaz narrowed his eyes shrewdly, murmuring, “That is one costly move though—expensive!”

“Even costlier than our losses indeed.”

Still brooding silently, Mdaz snorted quietly—unusual in temperament yet refrained further outburst and silently left beside Azure King. Observing their parting images while conversing quietly in tandem were Paroxysia & Ever焰 glinting with silent communications.

Observing nearby Lo Sa mused dryly: "Certainly contrary to his character this is!”

Paroxysia replied cautiously “Perhaps they hold deeper aces.”

“Such as… that one ‘Prince’ figure?”

Ever焰 subtly flared, affirming through its flickers.

After glancing momentarily toward the魔裔 overlords, Lo Sa remarked ambiguously: “Your魔媛 too was a prodigy rarely seen for her generation—and yet, if being outshined entirely by someone mysterious—wouldn't it inevitably leave a lingering impact?"

"Whatever mystery that Prince holds—who was indeed awaken into unknown, hidden deep even now by night's queen herself. Whoever 'She' truly is, she represents an origin perhaps older than us all—while魔媛 as new rising generation simply aren't comparable,” replied with a sneering snort.

"I hope they do see things that way... particularly魔媛 herself."

“You focus on your own罗勒 for now, alright?"

"The half-born hybrid罗勒 leans far more in his lineage blood toward the Spider King rather than the Queen; his achievements are fated already in this current existence. Our search continues for our True Incarne圣子 anew!”

For Spider Race, the bloodline supremacy flows matriarchally where Lo Sa as High Commander represented the male king’s pinnacle already; any advancement required royal blood from Imperial Dragon Queen lineage altogether.

“Wishing then, sooner discovery of your holy scion arrives!”

“Waiting a further century? No concern at all… if indeed the scion had arrived, only if another had not tried destroy it right under our own noses.”

Amidst such under-currents, discord quietly festered throughout the Council Hall. As this exchange unfolded, clerks feverishly took record without showing signs that any such tensions surprised them at all.

Now within New World, at Central Dominions—residing hidden at first-glance innocuous valley were dozens of airships lined and parked. Imperial foot soldiers encamped around the vessels while technicians worked frantically—refurbishing equipment, replacing worn components while scribes diligently compiling reports on data logs.

With more losses in crafts coming to frequent occurrence, the engineering pool grew ever sharper—pinpointing which materials withstood the native energies longer—what parts tended faster toward disrepair. The Dominion war complex entirely now focused production cycles toward such expeditionary enhancements, quickly translating new findings into next-gen components and technologies en mass supply routes.

From his vantage at summit’s crag above this entire operation, ZiNing Song flung his handful of mystically attuned counting sticks down at his own whims. A brief reading led only shaking his head and resetting the array once more.

Arriving beside him came JunDu Zhao and taking an adjacent seat by observation, gazed towards a distant sky while asking, “Any sign revealed yet this tossing again?"

"It merely hones one’s skill—you asked same question hundred times now, irritating!” Shooting glances sideways with annoyed retorted, adding after noticing his friend: “Oh right, are you injured still?”

"You grow accustomed indeed. But look yourself, aren’t your wounds likewise seeping?”

ZiNing cast fleeting glance towards his bleeding thigh with realization murmuring low: “Just a small scratch—I forgot."

JunDu snorted dismissively, “Cease bluff here in front of me. Truth you just lack solution."

“And you imply that you have one?”

“Certainly I have! Wait for sufficient loss of blood and it might heal by itself.”

With a defeated exhale, Qiaye (Song ZiNing) finally pocketed the sticks stating, “Tell then… for listening am prepared as long as you must.”

JunDu then pointed the sticks and inquired directly, “Do you truth plan tread this path fully?"

"I can guess what it is you’d warn. Yes—should my path turn away, could yet someone step forth beside roadways waiting? Still... divinations of heavenly pattern demand certain cost borne upon seekers; the Lin’s former general paid for this dearly through ultimate cost paid in personal ambition—his example remains stark and ever-present. To tread this path then must mean abandoning Heavenly King’s throne potentially—surely I already weighed the consequence?"

"Humankind requires this art. A great need exists both for the nation and humanity alike. So must a pathfinder walk regardless. Surely the General once faced exactly this juncture, and made the same difficult choosing. So today I take up that torch."

JunDu leisurely stretched himself saying in surprise, “I hadn't taken you as someone truly carrying patriotism at heart?”

ZiNing offered with quiet mirthlessness, "You and I—we walk positions where love one’s nation now and self same breaths entwine as one. For us there can be no division there ever more."

After pondering with reluctance JunDu offered a further concern, “But rumor had it...The Empire has nurtured secretly its vast ‘Starborn Prophecy’ scheme—through generations kept hidden, comprehended only among uppermost handful living. The fate for any prophetic sages entangled within its workings seldom met good ends; I advise reconsider carefully."

“I shall.”

---Translated under the directive of preserving fantastical nuance and stylistic elegance—transcribed with care in service of immersive narrative coherence.