Dongfang Min'er's gaze returned to Mingzhitian, her expression beneath the veil of ink-like silk appearing both tense and earnest. "I know what you've come to Bolige for."
Mingzhitian smiled faintly. "Are you going to stop me?"
"Yes," Dongfang Min'er replied directly. "I've come precisely to stop you. This is a critical time for the survival of the Four Seas and Five Pavilions, the Desolate Heavens and Ten Lands, and even the entire Xiugu Realm. Do you know... that the Twenty-Three Sects and Thirty-Nine Gates have already fallen?"
Mingzhitian frowned and looked at Mingya and Chen Buqi. Chen Buqi said, "Tiantian, I'm sorry, your mother didn't have a chance to tell you yet."
Mingzhitian waved his hand dismissively. "It's fine."
He looked at Dongfang Min'er. "So? What's the connection?"
Dongfang Min'er said, "As the Pavilion Master of the Misty Pavilion, responsible for maintaining order, I wish to persuade you to temporarily set aside your hatred for Bolige and instead deal with the foreign invasion of the Undying Race."
"After all, Bolige is located in the East Sea and is the foremost of the Four Seas and Five Pavilions. Its strength cannot be underestimated. We urgently need Bolige's assistance to fight the Undying Race. Therefore, this is why I have come."
Mingzhitian chuckled. "It's as if the Xiugu Realm wouldn't function without Bolige. I'm sorry, you cannot convince me."
Ju Hong, standing beside her, became enraged. "The Pavilion Master offers good intentions, and you refuse to accept it?"
Dongfang Min'er's brow twitched slightly. "Ju Hong! Stand down!"
"But..."
Mingzhitian ignored her. "Be sensible and step aside. Bolige is doomed to perish, and I can drive out the Undying Race. Does that suffice?"
Dongfang Min'er shook her head. "You are too selfish. For the sake of personal vengeance, you would plunge the Xiugu Realm into an abyss of eternal suffering..."
Mingzhitian sneered. "Everyone is selfish, they just don't want to admit it. I am different. I am direct and fear no one. You haven't lost loved ones, you wouldn't understand."
Had she not lost loved ones herself? Dongfang Min'er took a deep breath. "The greater good must be prioritized."
Mingzhitian retorted, "To hell with the greater good! Those who stand in my way will die!"
Dongfang Min'er summoned her divine-grade magical artifact, the Dongfang Li Yue. Ju Hong, Qing Zi, and Bi Lan also summoned various magical artifacts in succession.
Mingzhitian sneered. "A mere tenth-level Divine Might Realm, what threat can you pose to me?"
Dongfang Min'er's delicate brows knitted. Ju Hong rebuked, "Silence!"
"Shut up!" Qing Zi pointed his sword at Mingzhitian.
Bi Lan said leisurely, "And what threat can you pose, being merely a Divine Luo Realm?"
Chen Buqi drew his exceptionally long sword. "Why waste words with them? If you want to fight, then fight!"
Mingya also prepared to summon his magical artifact. Seeing Mingzhitian's confident demeanor, Dongfang Min'er felt a flicker of unease.
Her pupils contracted. She tried to discern Mingzhitian's true intentions in his eyes, but saw only her own reflection staring back.
Dongfang Min'er put away her magical artifact. "Pavilion Master! Pavilion Master!..." The three women were perplexed by her words.
Ju Hong spoke first. "Pavilion Master! As long as you give the word, Ju Hong will not hesitate. I'll be the first to take down this brat."
Dongfang Min'er raised her hand slightly, slowly lifting the hand adorned with a jade bell. "Listen to my command, and do not act rashly."
"But..." They could barely suppress their urge to fight, but they had to obey their Pavilion Master's words. They reluctantly put away their magical artifacts and ceased their preparations.
Mingzhitian smiled faintly. "What? Pavilion Master Dongfang, are we not fighting?"
Dongfang Min'er looked up at him. "I advise you to take care of yourself."
Mingzhitian tilted his chin upwards. "The same to you."
These two words genuinely angered Dongfang Min'er. "Ju Hong, Qing'er, Bi Lan, let's go."
The three women huffed, "Hmph, hmph, hmph!..."