The Dragon and Phoenix Emperors' attitudes were resolute, making persuasion unlikely.
Mu Qingqing quietly looked at Xin Ci. She recalled that in the original plot, Xin Ci also failed to reach an agreement with the Dragon and Phoenix Emperors, ultimately leading to a battle.
However, due to her interference in this world, Xin Ci's arrival at the Beast God Valley was advanced by a full seven years.
At this point in time, he had not yet ascended to the Great Emperor realm and likely wouldn't be able to obtain the Eternal Dao Seals.
Xin Ci remained silent, calmly meeting the gaze of the Dragon and Phoenix Emperors. His eyes showed no trace of confusion despite their taunts.
He then stated indifferently, "Senior Dragon Emperor, Senior Phoenix Emperor, in your view, humans are indeed a race primarily driven by selfish desires, cruel and merciless."
"Every person has their desires, and I am no exception. Whether it is collecting Eternal Dao Seals or preventing the resurrection of the Nether God Clan, if I were to claim it's for the salvation of the myriad beings on the Eternal Continent and to bring peace to the world, a grand, empty notion, then it would indeed be laughable."
"Because, to put it bluntly, my selfish motives stem from myself and those close to me. As for the lives of others, I cannot govern them, let alone deceive myself into becoming a savior of the Eternal Continent."
"Since I became a cultivator, I have traveled far and wide, witnessing many places. The brutal competition within royal families, the slave trade in the Mirror Dust Kingdom, and even the relentless pursuit by my own kin… I have clearly seen and experienced these dark aspects of human nature."
"Sometimes I truly feel that it's enough to protect those I care about. What do others have to do with me? Why should I concern myself with them? In this world where self-interest reigns supreme and the strong prey on the weak, cunning individuals often fare better and live longer than honest and kindhearted ones, otherwise, they simply become dead men!"
At this moment, Xin Ci spoke his true inner thoughts without reservation.
Upon hearing Xin Ci's words, Mu Qingqing and the Dragon and Phoenix Emperors felt a jolt in their hearts.
"Whether you are a scoundrel or a villain is of no consequence to this Lord! In any case, the Eternal Dao Seals will not be handed over!" the Dragon Emperor stated firmly.
Xin Ci replied calmly, "Senior Dragon Emperor, I am saying this only to indicate that no matter how strong we are, we are merely insignificant pebbles."
"And this world is not a crystal-clear body of water. There will always be silt at the bottom of the lake. No matter how much we pebbles try to change, we will only stir up a few ripples, unable to affect the water itself."
"Even if you imprison us here today, humans will send strong individuals to seize the Eternal Dao Seals. My seeking of the Eternal Dao Seals from you is not about some so-called righteousness, but rather my own selfish desire. I simply wish to protect those I care about from being enslaved by the Nether God Clan!"
Xin Ci's words made it clear that he would not relinquish the Eternal Dao Seals.
Hearing this, the Dragon Emperor's face turned ashen with anger, his demonic essence overflowing and causing the surrounding space to crack.
The Phoenix Emperor was equally enraged.
It appeared they intended to act, to eliminate Xin Ci, and forcibly reclaim the Dragon Ancestor Token.
Seeing this, Mu Qingqing activated her Star Wheel Pupils, which emanated a mysterious glow. The array and restrictions that had confined her and Xin Ci shattered instantly.
The two successfully broke free.
A flicker of surprise flashed in the eyes of the Dragon and Phoenix Emperors as they witnessed the restrictions being broken by Mu Qingqing.
They quickly regained their composure. The Dragon Emperor's right hand transformed into a golden-scaled dragon claw, lunging towards them, and he roared, "Are the atrocities committed by your human race against the demon beast race justified?"
Mu Qingqing immediately channeled her true essence. Several small spatial black holes appeared around the Dragon and Phoenix Emperors, and countless chains shot out, barely managing to restrain them.
However, the Dragon and Phoenix Emperors' power was too immense. Even with Mu Qingqing's Saintly Dao-grade sacred artifact, the Soul Locking Chain, she couldn't hold on for long.
"Senior Dragon Emperor, you only see the atrocities of humans against demon beasts, but have you ever seen how many innocent humans have perished in rampaging beast tides!"
"Those who selfishly cross the line and commit acts against humanity's principles are indeed deserving of death. From the perspective of the demon beast race, your fury directed at all of humanity is understandable and perhaps unavoidable. But Xin Ci and I are humans. From a human perspective, for the sake of the Eternal Dao Seals, we must stand against you."
Mu Qingqing faced the overwhelming might of the Dragon and Phoenix Emperors without a hint of fear in her eyes.
"This Lord does not believe that a mere two weak humans can turn the world upside down."
A powerful surge of demonic essence erupted from the Dragon and Phoenix Emperors, directly shattering Mu Qingqing's Soul Locking Chain.
Seeing the furious Dragon and Phoenix Emperors charging directly at them, Xin Ci understood that this crisis was likely beyond Mu Qingqing's ability to resolve.
Yet, he still stepped forward to shield Mu Qingqing, intending to protect the person he cared about most behind him with all his might.
However, Mu Qingqing pulled him back with the Soul Locking Chain. Facing the Dragon and Phoenix Emperors with unwavering resolve, she secretly thought, "Let's take a gamble. It's about time for that person to make a move!"
Facing two five-star Great Emperors, even Mu Qingqing could not escape.
Therefore, her only recourse was to wait for the Dragon Ancestor to intervene.
While the Dragon and Phoenix Emperors were the apparent rulers of the Beast God Valley, Mu Qingqing knew that the Dragon Ancestor, who had lived for over sixty thousand years, was the true master of the valley.
Since the Dragon Ancestor had bestowed the Dragon Ancestor Token upon Xin Ci, he would certainly not let him come to harm.
As expected, Mu Qingqing and the others suddenly felt an incredibly powerful aura.
Immediately after, the chaotic demonic essence fluctuations within the Dragon Phoenix Earth Palace vanished into nothingness, and that mysterious aura dissipated like a bubble, disappearing in an instant.
At that moment, both Mu Qingqing and the Dragon and Phoenix Emperors trembled, not daring to move carelessly.
A white phantom appeared in the Dragon Phoenix Earth Palace at some unknown time. Mu Qingqing and the others could not discern its face; the phantom was like a terrifying ghost.
Even though the phantom displayed no oppressive aura, Mu Qingqing, Xin Ci, and the Dragon and Phoenix Emperors all felt a suffocating sense of pressure from it.
Without a word, the Dragon and Phoenix Emperors quickly knelt respectfully before the phantom and said with reverence, "Dragon Ancestor, sir!"
There was no doubt that this phantom was the creator of the Beast God Valley, the Dragon Ancestor.
Although this phantom was not the Dragon Ancestor's true form, the power contained within it was enough to crush everyone present.
The Dragon Ancestor was the true progenitor of the dragon race; in his presence, dragons were less than ants.
The Dragon Ancestor's phantom slowly raised its head, and a hoarse, majestic voice echoed in the minds of Mu Qingqing and the others: "The Dragon Phoenix Earth Palace is not a place for you to fight! Cease your actions."
"But, Dragon Ancestor, sir, these two humans..."
"Silence!"
The Dragon Emperor was about to say more, but the Dragon Ancestor's roar instantly silenced him. He immediately stopped speaking, lowering his head like a child who had made a mistake, not daring to utter another word.