The Guardian Drake Lord pondered for a moment, then said, "There are many sects in this world that practice rune arts, but none have the ancient lineage and depth of your Sigil Sect. When it comes to dismantling the Wildlands Tribulation Storm Array, Rune Masters are indispensable—and when people seek Rune Masters, the first name that comes to mind is always the Sigil Sect. So, it's not easy for you to shirk this responsibility, is it?"
"Precisely!" Lord Faustin replied passionately. "I myself am willing to give my life for Dragon Abyss. But my disciples—some are only a hundred or two hundred years old, and the youngest, like these two, are just ten or twenty! I truly cannot bear to watch them go to their deaths. That is why I've come to beg the Guardian Drake Lord to spare their lives."
The Guardian Drake Lord considered, then said, "Here's what we'll do: you all stay for my son's birthday banquet. Tomorrow, the Celestial Empress, all the Dragon Lords, and even the Phoenix Divine Lord and Qilin Divine Lord will arrive. We'll raise this matter then."
Lord Faustin understood instantly.
The Guardian Drake Lord intended for him to plead his case before all the divine lords and dragon chiefs.
At that moment, with the Guardian Drake Lord speaking on their behalf in front of so many, even the Celestial Empress would find it difficult to refuse mercy.
So they remained at the Guardian Drake Lord's estate.
The Guardian Drake Lord's estate was especially lively.
Some guests who had traveled from afar arrived a day early.
For example, guests from the Phoenix Dominion.
Even the Phoenix Divine Lord arrived a day ahead of schedule.
Lily Bai calculated the best vantage point and pulled Nine Li to hide behind a cluster of purple golden flowers, secretly peering at the Phoenix Divine Lord.
Because the Guardian Drake Lord's estate had marriage alliances with both the Summers Clan and the Phoenix Clan from the Phoenix Dominion, many guests arrived—a grand procession descended on a vast cloud right in front of the main gate.
Lily Bai had chosen her position perfectly—high up, well concealed, with a clear view through the gaps in the purple golden flowers of everyone entering from the gate.
Lily Bai beckoned Nine Li over, whispering, "Nine Li! Hurry, come look! Which one do you think is the Phoenix Divine Lord? I bet it's the one at the very front!"
She yanked Nine Li beside her and pointed. "She's so beautiful! So graceful, so radiant! She's truly the pinnacle of divine maidens! Ordinary people like us could never cultivate such innate perfection!"
Normally noisy and exuberant, Nine Li was completely silent.
Lily Bai turned to tease him, "Are you stunned... or what...?"
Then she let go of the person.
The person she pulled over wasn't Nine Li at all!
It was a blue-robed man, with deep eyes and a gentle, scholarly bearing, watching her with a complicated expression.
Meanwhile, Nine Li stood dumbfounded to the side.
"Uh? Who are you?" Lily Bai asked.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking that? Who are you two?" the man replied.
He spoke gently and warmly, and his striking good looks gave off an immediate sense of likability.
Lily Bai said, "We came with Lord Faustin, the Sigil Sect Leader. We're his disciples."
"Sigil Sect... Oh, I know! You're Lily Bai."
"You've heard of me, sir?" Lily Bai asked, puzzled.
He nodded. "I've heard Ryan Lu and the others mention you."
"And you are...?"
"Adrian Drake."
"You're the Young Lord Adrian Drake?" Lily Bai's eyes lit up.
He smiled and nodded. "Did you get a good look?"
"Huh?"
"The Phoenix Divine Lord."
Lily Bai, a bit embarrassed, said, "Sorry... for being so bold in your estate."
"It's fine. If you didn't see clearly, I can take you for a closer look," Adrian Drake offered.
Lily Bai shook her head quickly. "No, no! I saw everything very clearly!"