The news of the Spirit Hall's military campaign against the Star Luo Empire had spread across the continent like a swarm of locusts.
Heaven Dou City.
Ning Mansion.
"Is the Sect Master still in seclusion?"
An exhausted-looking Gu Rong arrived at the Ning Mansion and inquired of Sword Douluo Chen Xin.
Gu Rong was responsible for the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's intelligence work.
He was often the first to know many pieces of information.
Early this morning, the Sect's hidden agents reported that the Spirit Hall's four major Knight Legions had already breached the Star Luo Empire's third-largest city, Rong City.
Multiple points of the formidable defensive front, which the Star Luo Empire had built along the Tianhun Mountain Range, had also been breached by the Spirit Hall's massive army.
The Spirit Hall, having remained inactive for so long, struck with the force of a thunderbolt the moment they moved.
At this rate, the Star Luo Empire would inevitably fall within two years at most.
After annexing the Star Luo Empire's population and wealth, the Spirit Hall would have no rivals left on the continent.
"No." Sword Douluo shook his head with a heavy expression and sighed softly. "The Sect Master was hit too hard by Ye Tian last time. Before entering seclusion, he swore he would not emerge until he had devised a strategy to deal with the Spirit Hall."
"But the current situation does not permit the Sect Master to continue his seclusion," Gu Rong said gravely, looking up at Sword Douluo.
"We, his elder uncles, must pull the Sect Master out of the secret chamber to take charge of the overall situation."
"It seems that's the only way now," Sword Douluo agreed with a nod.
The two walked together to the secret chamber. Pushing open the door, they both froze in surprise.
"The Sect Master is in quite a refined mood!"
Seeing Ning Fengzhi leisurely sipping tea, holding a paintbrush in his right hand and executing bold and fluent strokes on high-quality Xuan paper spread over the sandalwood desk, they couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
Ning Fengzhi looked up and saw Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo. An awkward expression flashed across his face; he hadn't expected them to barge in.
When he first entered seclusion, his intention had indeed been to contemplate strategies against the Spirit Hall.
But, plagued by frustration, he had gradually strayed from that purpose.
As the leader of the world's second-largest sect, Ning Fengzhi often felt utterly exhausted, to be honest.
Now, in seclusion, suddenly detached from the hustle and bustle, this feeling made him feel incredibly carefree and elated.
Even the usual sense of fatigue had vanished.
Hence, the scene of Ning Fengzhi enjoying tea and painting.
But now, this tranquility had been shattered.
Ning Fengzhi put down his brush and stepped forward to greet them. "Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, what brings you here?"
"Has something major happened?"
If it were just ordinary matters, given their personalities, they wouldn't have come to find him.
Gu Rong and Sword Douluo exchanged a glance. "Will you tell him, or shall I?"
"You tell him," Sword Douluo replied.
"Alright." Gu Rong nodded, looked gravely at Ning Fengzhi, took a deep breath, and said, "The Spirit Hall has dispatched two hundred thousand elites to launch a surprise attack on the Star Luo Empire."
"The land north of the Tianhun Mountain Range, accounting for one-fifth of the Star Luo Empire's territory, has already been occupied by the Spirit Hall."
"What?!" Ning Fengzhi's eyes widened in disbelief. "When did this happen?"
"The Spirit Hall showed movements last month. The surprise attack happened just these past couple of days. I just received the news myself," Gu Rong said solemnly.
Ning Fengzhi put down his teacup; he was in no mood to savor tea anymore.
Anxious, he paced back and forth beside the desk before suddenly turning around.
"And Xue Qinghe's reaction?"
"As the emperor, he must understand the principle that 'when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold,' right?"
"If the Star Luo Empire falls, the Heaven Dou Empire cannot escape its doom either!"
"Xue Qinghe is busy purging factions within the Heaven Dou court," Gu Rong sighed. "He has deployed the Heaven Dou army to block all passes and fortresses. It seems he intends to ignore matters outside the Heaven Dou borders."
"For an emperor to act like this, he is unworthy of being my student!" Ning Fengzhi cursed angrily.
He truly hadn't expected Xue Qinghe to lack such foresight.
He actually didn't understand the principle of if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold (idiom).
"Please, Sect Master, make a decision soon," Gu Rong continued with another sigh. "Time is running out for us."
"Since the Spirit Hall has chosen to wage war, our sect forces are naturally also on their list for elimination."
"Now that the Clear Sky Sect has been crippled, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect has become the prime target. I estimate the Spirit Hall won't leave us alone for long."
"Indeed!" Sword Douluo agreed wholeheartedly, gazing at the wall. "I have met the current Spirit Hall Pope a few times."
"She is a very capable woman."
"Also, immensely ambitious."
Here, Sword Douluo deliberately加重了语气 (jiāzhòngle yǔqì) - emphasized / stressed his tone.
This wasn't a blind guess on his part; it was based on facts.
As the former number one beauty on the continent, Bibi Dong naturally received unparalleled attention.
Therefore, information about her wasn't exactly secret.
Almost all spirit masters knew that the Spirit Hall's Pope, Bibi Dong, possessed a twin spirit and once-in-a-millennium spirit master talent.
Under the heavens, only Tang San could rival her.
"The Heaven Dou Empire is dead set on closing its borders and isolating itself," Ning Fengzhi said, his gaze profound. "Our Seven Treasures Glazed Sect can no longer afford to waste time here with the Heaven Dou Empire."
"We must exert the full strength of our sect to help the Star Luo Empire weather this crisis!"
Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath. As the leader of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, he could not hide in seclusion and shirk his responsibilities forever.
Rest was permissible, but he absolutely could not lie down and do nothing.
Otherwise, they would truly be at others' mercy.
After Ning Fengzhi made his decision, the Ning Mansion moved with extreme speed.
Everyone, from top to bottom, began packing their belongings, preparing to depart for the Star Luo Empire.
Even Ning Rongrong got wind of the news and rushed home in a panic.
"Father, are we moving?" asked Ning Rongrong, dressed in a cyan gown, as she approached Ning Fengzhi.
"Yes. The Star Luo Empire is facing a crisis. As someone who can be considered half a leader of the spirit master world, I cannot stand by idly."
"Has the Spirit Hall launched an attack on the Star Luo Empire?" Xiao Wu, who had come with Ning Rongrong, asked, her jade-like teeth clenched.
Yesterday, she had met Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing; both their expressions had been extremely grim.
When she asked them what was wrong, they both remained silent.
Hearing Xiao Wu's question, Ning Fengzhi did not hide anything. "Correct. The Spirit Hall has dispatched their elite troops and launched a large-scale surprise attack on the Star Luo Empire."
"Judging by the Spirit Hall's intentions, they probably aim to unify the continent."
"Damnable Spirit Hall! They only bring disaster to the continent!" Xiao Wu clenched her fists, her eyes filled with hatred. Her mother had died at the hands of Bibi Dong!
"Can I go with you to the Star Luo Empire?" Xiao Wu asked, her hands tightly balled into fists, her lips pressed together to suppress the anger on her face, her teeth still clenched.
"...You may."
Ning Fengzhi nodded in agreement. Xiao Wu was, after all, a Spirit Sage, not weak in strength.
Moreover, she was Ning Rongrong's friend and trustworthy.
He greatly desired such talent.
(End of Chapter)