Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

A dark red afterimage slashed straight at Hattie's neck.

It's Lilith!

The demon girl appeared behind Hattie at some point, her once somewhat bewildered eyes now filled only with an instinctive thirst for battle and destruction.

Too fast! So fast that even the smile on Lilim's face hadn't had time to change, so fast that the elite winged guards beside Hattie had just sensed the killing intent, but their bodies couldn't keep up with the reaction.

At this critical moment, the only figure in the arena moved.

Lin Yi did not get up, but pointed out three times in succession with his right index finger.

hum!hum!hum!
Three shields of light instantly unfolded between Hattie's neck and the scythe.

"clang--!!!"

A deafening clang of metal clashing rang out.

Lilith's determined strike landed squarely on the triple shield.

The first shield rippled violently, shattering in a mere hundredth of a second, but it successfully reduced the terrifying kinetic energy on the scythe by 30%.

Then the two layers made a "crack" sound as they were overwhelmed, and spiderweb-like cracks spread across their surfaces. But they managed to withstand the remaining 70% of the force, keeping the scythe less than an inch away from Hattie's fair skin.

Hattie could even clearly "see" her own horrified pupils reflected on the blade of the scythe.

The pure white wings on its back spread out uncontrollably, each feather bristling due to extreme fear and stress response!
My forehead was instantly soaked with a fine layer of cold sweat, my heart was pounding wildly in my chest, and a current of electricity shot from my tailbone straight to the top of my head.

She had no doubt that without these three layers of shields, she would already be decapitated by now.

All of this, from Lilith's sudden attack to Lin Yi's intervention and the scythe being blocked, happened in the blink of an eye.

Only then did Lilith abruptly stand up and shout sharply, "Lilith! Stop!"

"Clang—!"

Only then did the demon and winged warriors inside the tent fully realize what had happened.

The sound of weapons being drawn rang out one after another like popping beans, instantly breaking the brief silence!
The winged warriors were both shocked and enraged. They instantly formed a battle formation, their gleaming weapons and concentrated holy light all pointing towards the demons. Their eyes burned with fury. A lord's humiliation meant the death of his subjects. Princess Hatti had been nearly killed; this was a hatred that would never be forgotten.

Although the demon warriors were somewhat bewildered, not knowing why Lilith had suddenly launched an attack, they instinctively unleashed a ferocious aura in the face of the winged race's swords. Dark red demonic energy surged across their bodies, their fangs bared, and they let out low roars, glaring back defiantly.

Both sides were menacing, their killing intent clashing within the tents like a tangible force, swords drawn and ready to strike at any moment.

The slightest spark, even a misunderstanding in the eyes, could instantly escalate into a bloody melee.

If a full-scale conflict were to erupt between the elite forces of the Demon Race and the Feather Race on this resource planet whose ownership has just been confirmed, it would not be merely a problem for this planet. It would immediately become the direct trigger for a new round of war between the two dominant forces in the void! The consequences would be unimaginable!

Lilim flashed and instantly appeared beside the still somewhat bewildered Lilith, extending her right hand and giving her a sharp flick on the forehead without any hesitation.

"boom!"

The sound wasn't loud, but Lilith cried out "Ouch!" and clutched her forehead. The fervor in her eyes quickly faded, replaced by grievance and confusion. She looked at Lilim as if asking, "Sister, why did you hit me? Wasn't that winged bird-man just mocking you in a really annoying way? Wouldn't it have been better if I had helped you cut her down?"

Lilim looked at her younger sister and felt a headache coming on.

Lilith's talent is unparalleled among demons, especially in combat, where her strength has already approached that of the older generation of powerhouses at a young age.

The price she paid was that, aside from matters related to combat, her mind hardly developed; she acted solely on instinct and her likes and dislikes, and was completely unable to comprehend complex politics and diplomacy.

"Guards!" Lilim rubbed her throbbing temples. "Take Lilith away and let her go to the other side of the planet to find some Crystal Horned Beastmen to 'play' with! Without my order, she is not allowed to approach the main camp area again!"

A demon commander quickly stepped forward and carefully coaxed the still reluctant Lilith out of the tent.

The tense atmosphere finally eased a bit, but the winged warriors' eyes remained cold as they stared intently at the demons.

Hattie took several deep breaths before she could barely calm her racing heart.

She reached out and straightened her clothes and wings, which were slightly disheveled from the stress reaction. Her movements still maintained the elegance unique to the Feather Clan, but her slightly trembling fingertips and still somewhat pale face revealed that her heart was far from calm.

The reason she dared to exchange sarcastic remarks with Lilim was because she knew that Lilim, as the demon race's representative in charge of foreign affairs, was essentially an extremely rational being.

Lilim knows how to weigh the pros and cons and abides by the rules and unspoken rules of the Void Passage. Her behavior pattern is closer to "lawful evil," with the interests of the demon race as the highest principle. She will not easily overturn the table because of verbal gains or losses.

Rather than calling her a traditional demon, she's more like a politician in demon's clothing.

But Lilith is different. She is the epitome of "chaotic evil," acting without any logic or pattern, driven entirely by whims and instincts, with no concept of "consequences" or "the bigger picture" in her mind.

For Lilith, if she doesn't like you or thinks you've upset her sister, the best solution is to just chop you down with a knife—simple, direct, efficient, and quick.

With such a being, any diplomatic maneuvering or witty remarks are like casting pearls before swine, and may even have the opposite effect.

The near-decapitation scene just now is bloody proof.

"Hmph." Hattie forced herself to remain calm, her voice trembling slightly, but the sarcasm remained undiminished. "Lilim, your demon race's 'hospitality' is truly unique. It seems you can't gain the upper hand with words alone, so you're planning to kill me outright? Is this the demon race's reputation?"

Normally, Lilim would have already retorted.

But this time, she just pursed her lips and, unusually, didn't refute.

After all, Lilith's slash was truly terrifying, almost triggering another war between the two races. Allowing Hattie to gain some verbal advantage could be seen as a form of appeasement and concession.

"I didn't discipline you properly, and you were frightened." Lilim said calmly, which was a tacit admission of her mistake.

Seeing that Lilim had unusually chosen to back down and not respond, Hattie made a few sarcastic remarks, but seeing that the other party still maintained an attitude of "say whatever you want, I will not budge", she felt a little bored, as if she had punched cotton.

She knew very well that continuing to dwell on this matter was pointless and would only make her appear petty.

The most important thing right now is what Lin Yi is going to talk about next, which is the key to the actual interests and future structure of the Feather Clan.

Seeing that the atmosphere had finally calmed down from a tense standoff, Lin Yi coughed lightly to draw everyone's attention.

"Gentlemen, let's cut to the chase." Lin Yi got straight to the point, his gaze sweeping over Lilim and Hattie. "I'm here today hoping that the Feather Clan and the Demon Clan can join forces to create some 'trouble' for Serphilia of Arcane Eternal Star and the arcane faction she represents."

Upon hearing this, Lilim and Hattie's eyes narrowed simultaneously.

Dealing with Serphia? This is no small matter.

Arcane Eternal is, after all, one of the dominant forces in the void, and its strength and foundation are unfathomable.

As the leader of the Arcane faction and one of the top figures in the core of power on Arcane Eternal Star, taking action against her would be tantamount to directly challenging the authority of the entire Arcane Eternal Star. This move would have far-reaching consequences and would inevitably lead to unpredictable backlashes. They had no choice but to be cautious.

Lin Yi, sensing their concerns, continued, "You don't need to worry about the internal workings of Arcane Eternal Star. News has come from the Elemental faction that they will do everything in their power to suppress and restrict the Arcane faction internally. As for the Soul faction..." A meaningful smile played on Lin Yi's lips, "They're happy to see the Elemental and Arcane factions fighting like dogs. One less rival to share the spoils, why not?" "Arcane Eternal Star is no longer a monolithic entity. Without the common external threat of the Spellbreakers, internal factional infighting has intensified. If it weren't for the even more terrifying time bomb of the 'Abyss' deep within the void restraining the major powers, Arcane Eternal Star would probably have already descended into chaos. Our operation this time is merely adding fuel to this fire."

Lilim and Hattie exchanged another glance, and this time, they both saw a clear indication of interest in each other's eyes.

What they were concerned about was never Serphia herself or the power displayed by her arcane faction.

If we only consider the strength of the faction itself, without taking into account its backers, both the Demon Race and the Feather Race have enough confidence and strength to crush the Arcane faction.

What they truly feared was the collective will of the entire Arcane Eternal Star that Serphilia represented, especially that supreme being whose power was unfathomable! That was the sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of all the Void forces.

But now, if the elemental factions within Arcane Eternity are willing to help, and the other major faction chooses to sit back and watch the fight, then Serphilia and her arcane faction are essentially "isolated" to a large extent.

To be fair, the high-ranking members of the Demon and Feather races have long been dissatisfied with the increasingly arrogant and disdainful behavior of the spellcasters on Arcane Eternal Star in recent years.

These guys, relying on the existence of the Supreme Being and the formidable reputation of Arcane Eternal Star, have become increasingly unscrupulous in their actions in the void. They often disregard the rules of other races, and even in the traditional spheres of influence or important strongholds of the Demon Race and the Feather Race, they frequently cause trouble, displaying an arrogant attitude of "I am a citizen of Arcane Eternal Star, what can you do to me?"

There had long been a lot of resentment between the two groups.

Now there is such an opportunity, which can both legitimately teach Serphilia and her most unruly arcane faction members a lesson, weaken their strength, and vent pent-up resentment, and at the same time largely avoid the risk of a direct conflict with the entire Arcane Eternal Star. Whether for racial dignity, strategic considerations, or simply for the sake of profit, this is undoubtedly an extremely tempting option.

"Interesting." Lilim licked her red lips, a glint in her eyes. "Tell me, how exactly do we plan to cooperate?"

Hattie nodded slightly, indicating that she was willing to hear more.

Seeing that the initial agreement had been reached, Lin Yi took out a crystal ball and gently activated it.

The next moment, a slightly ethereal figure with a lazy air appeared beside the table; it was none other than Prince Feng.

The significance of the appearance of the Wind Prince's virtual image is self-evident.

This is not only a clear statement and endorsement of the elemental faction's intention to cooperate, but also implies a deeper layer of careful political consideration.

As one of the giants of the elemental faction, King Linfeng clearly intended to take this opportunity to establish a preliminary connection and cooperation between his son, who was regarded as an important successor of the faction, and the most powerful and promising representatives of the younger generation of the demon race and the winged race, as well as Lin Yi, the abyss physician with a special identity.

This is laying the groundwork for a broader network of connections for the Wind Prince and even the entire elemental faction's future.

Everyone present knew this without saying a word.

Therefore, they did not pay attention to the Wind Prince's somewhat indifferent greeting, which was just a simple nod, after all, his personality was well-known in the high-level circles of the Void.

Everyone's attention quickly turned to the cooperation itself.

The ensuing discussions were highly efficient, and the four parties quickly set the tone.

The Demon Race and the Winged Race will temporarily set aside their disputes and form an informal "joint action alliance".

Leveraging the vast intelligence networks, military power, and influence of both races in the Void, they will join forces to strike and wipe out all of Serphilia's Arcane faction's important assets and targets outside of Arcane Eternity.

This includes, but is not limited to, destroying or seizing its resource extraction sites in remote star systems, plundering or intercepting its important trade and transportation fleets, assassinating or capturing its core members sent to various locations to carry out missions, and imposing comprehensive diplomatic isolation and economic sanctions on it.

The objective of the operation was to weaken the Arcane faction's external reach and resource supply lines to the greatest extent possible, thereby putting pressure on the faction.

The Wind Prince and the elemental factions behind him are in control, launching operations within Arcane Eternity.

Using its influence in parliament, it suppresses and marginalizes the Austrian Fa faction through various overt and covert channels, including the allocation of key resources, the assignment of daily tasks, and the approval of academic research funding.

The goal is to continuously shrink the Arcane faction's political space and resource acquisition share within Arcane Eternity, weaken its voice and influence, and make it unable to effectively cope with external attacks while being preoccupied with internal struggles.

Lin Yi and Su Xiao were responsible for providing intelligence support and, when appropriate, for making some key interventions in their "personal capacity".

This strategy of attacking from both inside and outside will be enough to keep Serphia and her arcane faction busy and exhausted for a long time to come, resulting in a significant loss of strength.

After the discussion, Lin Yi was generous and took out the prepared reward.

Su Xiao took out thirty Phoenix Yang Tree fruits and a sealed jade jar containing two catties of black maple tea leaves specially made by Su Xiao.

When the aroma of the Phoenix Tree fruit and the special power contained in the Black Maple Tree tea leaves spread, even the well-informed Lilim, Hattie, and Prince Wind couldn't help but feel a sense of shock and excitement.

Prince Feng picked up a Phoenix Yang Fruit and couldn't help but mutter, "Use this... as a regular cultivation resource?"

He even began to seriously consider the feasibility of venturing into the Paradise of Reincarnation, but the thought of the absurd mortality rate immediately dispelled the idea, and he could only look at Lin Yi with the eyes of someone looking at an unparalleled tycoon.

Hedy carefully put away her share and said softly, "Such a generous gift, the Feather Clan will certainly not disappoint you."

Lilim simply put away the fruit and tea leaves, and said with a coquettish smile, "Don't worry, I'll definitely make that old woman Serphilia look terrible!"

With the business settled and payment made, the atmosphere finally became harmonious.

Hattie took out a contract shimmering with starlight and handed it to Lin Yi: "This is a contract for the transfer of permanent equity and mining rights for the special resource star OSH-11428, notarized by the Void Tree."

The moment Lin Yi received the contract, a notification from the Paradise of Reincarnation sounded in his mind precisely on time:

[Note: Special mission completed.]

[Mission Requirement: Complete negotiations with the current controlling party or the most promising party regarding "equity and future mining rights on the resource planet." (Completed)]

[Task Reward: Authority Level +1, OSH-11428 Special Resource Star (1% Equity) (Available only at Tier 9 and above) has been issued.]

At this moment, Lilim also came over and stuffed something into Lin Yi's hand.

It was a palm-sized, jagged-edged broken blade, cold to the touch, and covered with cracks.

“Here, this is what my grandfather asked me to pass on. Please give it to Su Xiao,” Lilim said. “I heard that this is one of the fragments of the weapon of their predecessor, Marvin Waltz, the Destroyer of Laws. It was destroyed in the great battle back then, and our demon race accidentally obtained a piece. It’s useless to us, so please help us return it to its rightful owner.”

Lin Yi took the broken blade, and the moment his fingertips touched it, he did indeed sense a trace of Marvin Waltz's aura.

The residual energy on it is somewhat similar to Su Xiao's Azure Steel Shadow energy, but it is purer. This is Marvin Waltz's mark, and it is definitely genuine.

"Okay, I will definitely deliver it." Lin Yi put away the broken blade.

This resource star mission was not only successfully completed, but also incidentally promoted the alliance against Serferia, making it a very fruitful endeavor.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Lin Yi stopped lingering and directly activated the return permission for the Paradise of Reincarnation, his figure slowly disappearing from the tent.

The virtual projections of Lilim, Hattie, and the Wind Prince remain. The three exchange glances, each seeing the solemnity and excitement in the other's eyes.

A coordinated effort to eliminate powerful factions within a Void Overlord-level power is about to begin. (End of Chapter)