After the birthday banquet, gifted and monstrous immortals from various factions exchanged flying talismans before dispersing one by one.
Left behind in the Sun-Moon Star Tower were almost entirely the elites of the Southern Divine Dragon Realm.
A group of Samsara Galaxy disciples from the Dragon Devil Clan gathered around the Young Dragon Lord. Each stood tall and strong, like dragons and phoenixes among men, their eyes sharp and their presence imposing.
The strength of the Southern Divine Dragon Realm's new generation was plain to see. They were the finest in the Heavenly Deity Stellar River.
Even more intimidating, these individuals weren't the only fighters from the Dragon Devil Clan. Other Dragon Princes, with equally formidable forces, were present, though none as conspicuous as the Young Dragon Lord.
With no outsiders around, these young Immortals of the Dragon Devil Clan no longer hid their fierce beliefs and commanding presence.
They were born for battle, their ancestral spirits filled with an unyielding resolve to fight to the end. Their rise from a small tribe to their current strength was no accident.
Today's birthday feast for the Young Dragon Lord was grand because he was backed by the formidable Southern Divine Dragon Realm.
This rampaging dragon, swiftly rising in the Heavenly Deity Stellar River, seemed unstoppable.
So, all the guests had no choice but to accept them.
"Young Dragon Lord!"
The Dragon Devil Clan members stared fiercely at the ten-foot-tall golden dragon-horned giant.
"Apart from the Harmony Divine Palace and two other members of the Heavenly Deity Alliances, everyone else accepted the invitation..." the Young Dragon Lord mused, a playful glint in his eyes and a slight smile at his lips.
"We know. It’s the Ancestral Land and the Nine Yin Soul Sea!"
"Let the Ancestral Land be; they've always been an eternal sect in the Heavenly Deity Stellar River. Even now, even if we and the Elysian Immortal Palace can challenge their status, they still have cause for pride."
"The Nine Yin Soul Sea really is courting death!"
"Besides crushing those bitch women, we have to at least drag the Nine Yin Soul Sea out of the top ten so they bow to us too!"
"Apparently, the Ancestral Land has a Fifth Baptism Realm genius participating. So, they're acting all cocky."
"You guys are mistaken." The Young Dragon Lord shook his head, a leisurely smile playing on his lips.
"How so?" the others asked, puzzled.
"In the Heavenly Deity Stellar River, where heroes clash for supremacy, if we aim to be its ultimate masters, we must form alliances and employ a divide-and-conquer strategy. ɽ
"The key lies in dismantling our enemies one by one, absorbing them as we go, rallying forces against each adversary, completely eliminating one before moving to the next.
They assembled, each towering over eight feet, their divine might vast and formidable, resembling a legion of giants.
"Shen Nanyin!" As the Young Dragon Lord was about to move forward, he suddenly halted, glancing at a graceful nine-foot figure in the corner.
"Young Dragon Lord." Shen Nanyin replied respectfully. Though her husband she bowed her head and approached him cautiously.
To be honest, she was more nervous in front of the Young Dragon Lord than with her father-in-law, the Golden Dragon Emperor. He wouldn't harm her, but the Young Dragon Lord was known for his fierce strikes.
"Where's our child?" the Young Dragon Lord asked, his cold gaze fixed on her.
Shen Nanyin pointed towards the side hall and whispered, "I've just fed him. He's asleep."
Upon hearing this, the Young Dragon Lord responded harshly, "Then change into your battle armor immediately. Or do you plan to bring that softness to the battlefield?"
Shen Nanyin quivered, clutching her chest and collar, her voice barely above a whisper, "Young Dragon Lord, can’t I stay behind? The Dragon Devil Clan is brimming with talent. It seems I’m not really needed. And our child is still young. Even with maids and nannies, I’m still uneasy..."
Before she could finish, the Young Dragon Lord's patience snapped. He seized her by the neck, lifting her effortlessly before slapping her cheeks twice. Grabbing her golden hair, he snarled, "Shen Nanyin, you're speaking too much. Do you really think that you’ve earned some merit just by giving me a son?"
Another strike left her scalp burning. Tears welled in Shen Nanyin’s eyes as she nodded shakily. "I-I understand! I won’t dare again."
With a heavy thud, he threw her to the ground.
The scene caused several Dragon Devil Clan geniuses to halt and glance back.
"Get lost! Or I'll gouge your eyes out," the Young Dragon Lord warned, his glare icy.
The young men fled in terror, hearts pounding. As members of the Dragon Devil Clan, they knew that staring at the principal wife was tantamount to inviting death.
In the Southern Divine Dragon Realm, the status of women was low. Most could be freely given or toyed with, but respectable wives from good families were private possessions, forbidden to be ogled.
Shen Nanyin was one such woman. Her father held a high position too, but since she was a woman, she had to endure the Young Dragon Lord’s beatings. Her father wouldn't intervene.
This had twisted her psyche somewhat.
After being beaten, Shen Nanyin hurriedly changed into a set of platinum-colored celestial armor. The armor accentuated her figure, especially the breastplate and battle skirt, which were full and rounded. Her long legs alone surpassed those of ordinary humans.
"Do you know why I insisted you go to battle?" The Young Dragon Lord's temper had cooled. "Do you, Shen Nanyin?"
Leaning against him like a tamed fawn, she spoke softly, "Please, Young Dragon Lord, tell me."
He held her chin, suddenly smiling. "The Southern Divine Dragon Realm has a bad reputation. They always say we bully women and that no women have ever fought in the Grand Assembly of Myriad Sects. By sending you into battle, I’m silencing them and showing these petty fools the true beauty of our Southern Divine Dragon Realm. They’ll see that we honor women after all."