Hao Tian Sect.
Da Ming's face was full of horror:"What did you say? How could he lose? How could he possibly lose?!!"
"He's a God King!"
Even as Da Ming still held onto a shred of hope, trying to read some joke or mischief from the expressions of these Hao Tian Sect disciples—as if they were teasing him or pulling a prank—he would have accepted it.
But the elders and disciples kneeling below the stage were all filled with despair. Not a single one spoke.
Da Ming collapsed powerlessly into his chair.
They had shaped that divine consciousness into a demigod, yet it still couldn't defeat that Xu Cheng guy.In just three short years—how far had he grown?!!
Do they really still have any hope of winning?
"Seal off this information... Never mind, let things be. That brat's still not a god. The sky hasn't fallen yet. Once the Abyss Plane arrives in a month, we'll reassess everything then."
With a wave of his hand, Da Ming dismissed his subordinates and stared blankly into the sky.
Meanwhile...
News of the tournament began spreading across the entire continent as the participating teams gradually returned.
While all factions were stunned by Xu Cheng's monstrous talent, they also started preparing, in panic, to surrender.
The tournament was truly a reflection of the continent—that wasn't a lie.
The younger generation of the Sun Moon Empire had shocked everyone. Whether it was Xiao Hongchen, who might have advanced to a Tenth Level Soul Engineer, or the unfathomable Sun Moon Emperor himself—they all symbolized a strength that surpassed imagination.
Of course, not everyone chose to surrender.
Some factions decided to fight to the death.
They began building defenses and quietly awaited the coming war.
But things didn't go as planned. Before the Heavenly Soul Empire—bordering the Star Luo Empire—could fully prepare, war arrived silently.
Mingdou Mountain Range.
Once the border between the Sun Moon and Star Luo Empires, it had now become somewhat desolate. The old military fortress had been vacated, leaving only some empty buildings.
"Permission to proceed!"
With a sharp whistle, a figure standing at a sentry post gave instructions to the sky, where several massive airships loomed overhead like dark clouds.
Watching the steel behemoths pass overhead, the sentinel sighed,"Looks like war is about to begin. His Majesty has always held back the army to avoid conflict, but now that these beasts are fully unleashed, maybe those old geezers on the continent will finally realize whose world this is."
"This is already the third fleet to pass through today..."
"Judging by the markings, that's the Fire Phoenix Legion—His Majesty's personal guard. Among the four great Beast Soul Engineer Corps, they are undoubtedly number one. Word has it, these airships are packed with mechas, all-terrain artillery, and the most elite soul engineers from the imperial capital!" whispered another soldier excitedly.
"The most elite troops?"
Someone asked curiously.
"Hey, you've been stuck out here too long. I've got connections in Mingdu. I'm getting transferred back next year!"He grinned, excited."The Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Corps—its lowest-ranking members are all Soul Kings! Fifth-level Soul Engineers! That's enough to be company commanders for us!"
"That strong?!!"The surrounding crowd gasped.
"And that's not all. Those mechas supposedly boost a user's power by a whole level. For example, in the mecha battalion, hundreds of Seventh-Level Soul Engineers can fight at the level of Eighth-Level ones! Think about it—hundreds of Eighth-Level Engineers, and that's just one battalion!"
"This isn't just elite... This is terrifying. Truly the trump card of the Sun Moon Empire."
On one of the airships...
Juzi, dressed in military uniform, looked down from above. Her beautiful eyes glanced at the ground before turning to the map in her hand.
Beside her, a sharp-looking woman with short hair reported respectfully,"Marshal, we've crossed the Mingdou Mountains and entered Star Luo Empire territory. Three hundred kilometers ahead is the Heavenly Soul Empire border. Scouts report that the City of Maple Leaf, built jointly by the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Body Sect, is where they've concentrated most of their remaining soul tools and elite soul masters."
"Hao Tian Sect and Shrek Academy didn't join?"Juzi raised an eyebrow.
"According to satellite surveillance, both groups are huddled within their own territories. Even though Hao Tian Sect lies within the Heavenly Soul Empire, they've shown no intention of aiding."
"Ha, looks like they're scared."Juzi smirked.
"Inform the 1st and 7th Legions, and the Fearclaw Soul Engineer Regiment.When they're within 20 km of Maple Leaf City, deploy all-terrain soul cannons and the mecha battalion. Launch a full-force assault.Capture the city in half a day. Wipe out all resisting soul masters. Do not harm a single civilian.Then push north and link up with the main force."
"As for the 2nd and 4th Corps, and the Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Regiment, bypass Maple Leaf City and continue northward.Their mission: destroy the Hao Tian Sect within three days. Leave no survivors. Spoils may be distributed freely. Then immediately head east to regroup."
"The rest will advance with me northeast—toward Shrek Academy."
"Full speed ahead!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The short-haired woman, eyes burning with excitement, saluted and ran off to give the orders.
Juzi kept staring at the map.Shrek Academy was the toughest bone to chew.That's why she saved it for last. When the time came, she'd summon reinforcements—not just people, but dragons.After all, the Silver Dragon King was still in Star Dou Forest.
As for the numbered legions, they were second only to the beast engineer corps. Their troops may not have been strong individually, but they were vast—each corps had over ten thousand soldiers.
They were the foundation of the Sun Moon Empire's defensive power.And with Star Luo's fall, these basic corps had received heavy reinforcements.
These weren't just cannon fodder.
While commanded by the beast engineer corps, they were protected by them as well.The elite did the heavy assault, while these legions handled logistics, post-battle occupation, supply lines—even soul tool maintenance.
More like military engineers than frontline soldiers...
Meanwhile, at Maple Leaf City...
"Damn it, when will these fortifications ever be done? Building walls counts as defenses?"One soul engineer grumbled.
"Quit whining. The Sun Moon Empire had peace for thousands of years. Even when things got tense, they withdrew after reaching Star Luo's capital. And it's not like you're the one doing the labor. We're just supervising, as noble soul engineers. Can't handle that?"
"True enough."
He sipped his tea and looked out the window at the peasants digging trenches in the dirt.
Dozens of towering black metal fortresses stood in the distance.Their imposing presence offered false reassurance.
"Crack!"
A soul master with a whip lashed a civilian carrying metal.
"Move faster! No slacking! Wipe your sweat again, and I'll kill you!"
The two soul engineers lounging inside laughed.
"Don't be so rough. We're all working for the Empire. Every brick they carry helps build our great wall of defense.Once the Sun Moon Empire retreats again, we can go back to living in peace."
"Yes, sir!"The soul master bowed obsequiously.
"Off you go, then."One engineer waved him away like a servant.
He turned and went back to bullying the peasants.
The structure of the old empire had changed.
Like in Shrek Academy, the status of soul engineers had skyrocketed, while the ancient profession of soul masters was brutally suppressed.
At the top, things hadn't changed much.But at the bottom—
There was now a clear hierarchy: Soul Engineer > Soul Master > Civilian.
Yes, even at the same rank, a soul engineer held more prestige.This was perhaps a cultural remnant of the Sun Moon Empire, especially given how widespread image crystals had become.
Now, these once-humble soul engineers had begun to feel invincible.They forgot who had elevated their status in the first place...
"I can already inscribe the core formation of a Level 4 soul cannon. Soon, you'll be calling me a Level 4 Soul Engineer," said an older man with a proud smile.
"Really?! Level 4?!!"
"Not many in the Heavenly Soul Empire have reached Level 5. If you make it to Level 4, you might even get noticed by the Emperor!"
"Hahaha, you flatter me," the old man chuckled, clearly pleased.
"By the way, you deployed the Level 5 energy shields we were issued, right?"
"Of course. I can't make them, but with the bottles and the manuals, installation's easy enough. Elder Xuan, do you think these shields will hold if the Sun Moon attacks?"
"Well..."Elder Xuan raised an eyebrow."We also have Invincible Shields. They can block any attack for five seconds. Should be enough to retreat if we're overwhelmed."
"Yes, sir!"The younger engineer beamed.
"I'd like to see them try—"
But before he could finish—
He froze, staring at the sky.Elder Xuan followed his gaze.
"Something's flying over..."
"It's big. And round..."
Elder Xuan fumbled for his soul tool binoculars.
Several massive airships filled his vision.
"Not good! It's the Sun Moon military! Everyone, into the fortifications!"Elder Xuan dashed for the central bunker—protected by four Level 6 Invincible Shields and Level 5 soul formations.
Alarms blared.
The younger engineer ran into a black fortress and began checking the defenses.
But then—
BOOM!!!
A massive blast engulfed Elder Xuan's bunker.The earth trembled.Black smoke filled the sky.
The young man, relieved to have made it into a "safe" bunker, looked out—
Only to see the entire central fortress flattened.
"The Invincible Shields...?"
"I activated them! I felt the soul tools go off! They triggered!"
"Don't tell me—"
He shakily lifted his binoculars again.
He saw a black mecha squadron fly from the airships.One mecha lifted its arm. A complex mechanical system revealed a missile.
It launched—leaving a trail of flame behind.
Before he could react—
BOOM!!!
A terrifying explosion rang out.
As his consciousness faded, he finally realized:
"That fortress we thought indestructible... was blown apart by just one missile? From one mecha?!!"
"Report: Enemy forward fortifications cleared. Civilians injured but no deaths."
In the air, a soldier in black mecha reported.
"We're a righteous army, not a charity. If there are wounded civilians... treat them," the captain muttered.
Was this a joke?The old Sun Moon military would never...
But the order came directly from Xu Cheng.And no one dared to disobey.
His reputation in the army was unprecedented.
"Yes, sir!"
The soldier, still a bit green from the Royal Academy, seemed excited.
He looked at the ruins of what was once the fortress.
The captain sneered.
"Trash like that dares to insult the Sun Moon Legion?"
"The commander's order is to keep moving. Leave the cleanup to the 1st Legion.As the vanguard, we're blasting open Maple Leaf City's walls before the main force even gets here!"
"Charge!"(End of Chapter)