Chapter 571: The Tianxing Knights, Part One
Of the three battlefronts on Douluo Continent, the first to fall was the coastal front under Ye Xishui's command. The reason was simple: Du Busi's sheer explosive power was overwhelming. With his second Golden Awakening and the Ring Detonation technique taught to him by Ye Wen, his attack power reached the limits of a quasi god, even rivaling a high priest.
Ye Xishui ultimately survived, narrowly escaping death. Her second martial soul, the Blood Soul Demon Puppet a tool martial soul managed to absorb the brunt of Du Busi's attack in the final moment. Although this shattered her soul weapon and left her severely injured, she managed to flee back to the Sun Moon Empire.
Meanwhile, Long Xiaoyao, facing Xiao Ding's unyielding gravitational defense, couldn't capitalize on his extreme darkness abilities. While initially evenly matched, his concern for Ye Xishui gave Xiao Ding an opportunity. Both men fought to exhaustion, eventually allowing Long Xiaoyao to escape, though badly wounded. Only upon learning that Ye Xishui was safe did the old man finally relax, before collapsing unconscious from his injuries.
With this, both battlefronts of the Heavenly Soul Empire achieved decisive victories. Lacking the support of its two peerless Douluo, the Sun Moon Empire couldn't hold onto Dou Ling Empire's territory and retreated. With Dou Ling's fall, the continent once again returned to a three nation balance of power, though the name of the Heaven Dou Empire would never reappear, as the royal family's Snow Lotus martial soul bore no connection to the Swan martial soul of the original Heaven Dou royal family.
While the Xingluo front continued to rage, the battle had reached a deadlock, thanks to Xuan Zi's energy replenishment from the ninth level soul power "bottles."
Inside the Xingluo Palace
Emperor Xu Jiawei frowned as he read through the battle reports. Though the Xingluo Empire fought the Sun Moon Empire to a standstill, any veteran soldier knew war was a money pit.
"This cannot go on," he declared. "Since the war began, Heavenly Soul has gained land and resources, while we in Xingluo are only draining our reserves. If this continues, Xingluo is bound to fall behind."
He looked to Xu Jiujiu, who had grown more composed and graceful over the years. After a moment of thought, she spoke calmly, "It may be possible to persuade Tianxing Academy to send one of its peerless Douluo to assist us. However, we cannot count on the Heavenly Soul Empire for reinforcements; they're preoccupied with annexing Dou Ling's remaining lands."
Satisfied with her prudence, the Emperor nodded. "Then I entrust this matter to you, Jiujiu. Each passing minute of this war is costing countless lives."
Xu Jiujiu nodded silently. Summoning her winged soul armor, she took off toward Tianxing Academy as a streak of silver light.
Flying over the war scarred land, her expression grew troubled. Raised in the royal family, Xu Jiujiu understood privilege, but looking at the Sun Moon Empire from the perspective of an enemy made her feel the madness of its quest for territory and power. This war swept away countless families for the gain of a few. This was history's pattern and it would not end unless something changed.
"Master was right: this continent needs a single voice."
Heavenly Soul Imperial Palace
The Heavenly Soul Emperor, lost in his euphoria over expanding his realm, was shaken when he learned that Xiao Ding had left for the Xingluo front.
"What?!" His voice nearly broke. "You're telling me that Elder Xiao Ding went to aid Xingluo? What about my Heavenly Soul Empire?"
The messenger, terrified, fell to his knees. "Your Majesty… the elder said that he is not merely the peerless Douluo of the Heavenly Soul Empire, but of all Douluo Continent. Wherever his strength is needed, he should go."
He knelt, head low. "Your Majesty, please forgive us… We could not stop him."
The Emperor's expression turned dark, though he held back his rage, silently taking a breath. He eventually dismissed the messenger with a final order: "Fine. But let the officials overseeing Dou Ling remain on high alert. I will not tolerate any errors."
The messenger hurried off, relieved to escape the tense atmosphere.
The vast hall fell silent as the Emperor weighed his options. The Sun Moon Empire still seemed distant, separated by Xingluo, so as long as he guarded the coastline and prepared for assassination attempts, his empire would remain intact. After all, Heavenly Soul was not as corrupt as Dou Ling.
His immediate priority was securing Dou Ling's territory.
The Emperor summoned an attendant, instructing him to call Du Busi to the capital, both for his protection and to prepare for any unforeseen events.
On the Xingluo front, Xiao Ding's arrival shattered the battle's equilibrium, sending Sun Moon's army retreating and reclaiming previously lost territory.
After years of preparing and hiding, and massive spending on strategic resources, the Sun Moon Empire was faced with this shocking reversal. Anger reverberated through the Sun Moon Palace as a violent tantrum rang out.
"Damn it! Why is Douluo Continent so impossible to conquer?!" Xu Tianran roared in frustration.
Below, his commanders and the two tenth level soul mentors, Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen, wore grim faces, unable to dispute the humiliating truth.
(End of Chapter)
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Chapter 572: The Tianxing Knights, Part Two
Despite his frustrations, Xu Tianran was not one to lose control for long. He was a young genius who had achieved the rank of titled Douluo despite his semi disabled state. Calming down, he looked at Kong Deming and asked in a measured tone, "Kong Lao, I've read the reports. That Shrek Douluo, Xuanzi, is barely at the initial stage of rank 99. He shouldn't even compare to the Dragon God Douluo we defeated before. How did you lose to him? There must be more to this give me a better explanation."
After all, they had defeated the semi divine Mu En, but now struggled with Xuanzi, a Douluo who had only recently broken through to rank 99.
Kong Deming knew he had to provide a clear and convincing answer or risk the Emperor's trust. After a moment of thought, he replied, "Your Majesty, while Xuanzi is indeed weaker than the late Dragon God Douluo, he possesses both space and earth elemental affinities, which greatly counter my tenth level soul tool. Although Lord Hongchen has recently achieved the rank of tenth level soul mentor and is formidable, Xuanzi's defensive capabilities were far beyond what we anticipated. Also, Shrek somehow acquired a ninth level soul power storage tool like the one we developed, giving him the ability to maintain his strength throughout the battle.
"Most concerning, however, is that after we eliminated the Dragon God Douluo, intelligence on our tenth level soul tools appears to have leaked. During the fight, Xuanzi seemed to target our formation specifically, preventing us from using our most powerful attacks."
Xu Tianran listened to Kong Deming's report and then silently drummed his fingers on his opulent throne. After a long pause, he spoke again, his tone cold. "So, you're suggesting that someone has leaked the technology of our soul power storage tools?"
Kong Deming's expression hardened as he quickly shook his head. "Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand. Our ninth level soul mentors are absolutely loyal; they would never betray such classified knowledge. I believe the most likely explanation is that Shrek enlisted the help of Tianxing Academy's master. After all, we derived the inspiration for our storage tool technology from the soul armor techniques that he developed."
"Reasonable." Xu Tianran nodded slightly, acknowledging Kong Deming's assessment.
The diffusion of the technology was indeed irreversible at this point, so he dismissed further speculation. Instead, he looked at Kong Deming with renewed focus. "Very well. This issue is closed. Now, Kong Ai Qing, do you have a solution for dealing with this Taotie Douluo? Our Sun Moon Empire may be resource rich, but we cannot continue with a war of such high consumption forever."
For generations, the unification of the Douluo Continent had been the dream of Sun Moon emperors, and Kong Deming shared this ambition. The stalemate they found themselves in had driven Kong Deming to consider many options. With confidence, he spoke up. "Your Majesty, I would like to request ten ninth level soul bombs."
Kong Deming stopped there, but Xu Tianran, perceptive as ever, immediately understood his advisor's intentions. Without hesitation, Xu Tianran ordered all others in the hall to leave, recognizing that the details of such a plan could not be openly discussed, even with trusted ministers present.
With only Xu Tianran, Kong Deming, and Juzi remaining, Juzi stayed seated, her position as Xu Tianran's political advisor having elevated her to a status second only to the emperor.
Xu Tianran then looked seriously at Kong Deming. "Kong Lao, tell me the full details. Ninth level bombs are powerful, but they alone won't be enough to kill a peerless Douluo."
Kong Deming was a loyalist who served whomever sat on the throne, even at the cost of his own life. Without hesitation, he explained, "Each ninth level bomb theoretically contains the strength of a peerless Douluo's full force attack. However, as Your Majesty is aware from our research, the bombs are not on par with Mu En's strength. After fighting Xuanzi, I'd estimate that one bomb would match a single, full force strike from him. But his defensive abilities are impressive. A single bomb would only stagger him. My plan is this: if we detonate ten ninth level bombs at a single, precise location, even Xuanzi's defense would shatter."
As he finished, Kong Deming clenched his fist, a fierce gleam in his eyes.
Xu Tianran frowned. "But soul masters at that level have incredibly keen senses. The moment they sense the bombs, they'll try to escape. Kong Lao, do you have a way to prevent that?"
Kong Deming remained calm, nodding. "Indeed, Your Majesty. I intend to equip each of the bombs with timed detonation devices to trigger them all simultaneously. I'll conceal the bombs in storage devices and only release them at the final moment. A peerless Douluo would have no time to react."
Xu Tianran's expression turned grave. "Kong Lao! But what about you? If a peerless Douluo cannot avoid it, then neither will you. We need this victory, but I cannot afford to lose a loyal warrior like you."
Kong Deming, who had long enjoyed the luxuries of life and believed unwaveringly in his ideals, placed a fist over his heart, his expression unwavering. "Your Majesty, all for the Sun Moon Empire."
After some careful thought, Xu Tianran agreed to the plan. However, he added a condition: if possible, Kong Deming should attempt to bring Xiao Ding down with him as well.
Xu Tianran was, after all, a ruler who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. For him, every sacrifice was justified if it served his Empire's future.
Kong Deming, a loyal subject to the core, took this command with pride, thinking to himself, With an emperor like this, how could the Sun Moon Empire not thrive?
Meanwhile, Juzi's gaze flickered, but she said nothing.
The next day, the war between Xingluo and the Sun Moon Empire raged on.
Xu Tianran would have summoned his two peerless Douluo, Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao, to the battle, but both had retired to recuperate from their severe injuries.
(End of Chapter)
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Chapter 573: The Tianxing Knights, Part Three
Unlike in the original storyline, Xu Tianran had no intention of betraying the two peerless Douluo from the Holy Spirit Church, Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao, to weaken their influence. Times had changed. Douluo Continent had become exceedingly powerful; under these circumstances, if Xu Tianran were to lose his strongest allies, it would be sheer madness or stupidity. He had called on these two solely to increase his chances of victory. However, unless they volunteered, Xu Tianran had no real authority over these two deities.
On the battlefield, the peerless Douluo continued to clash fiercely.
Xuanzi was well aware that governance was not his strong suit, so he decided to make his mark on the battlefield, hoping to restore Shrek's glory. Xiao Ding had joined the fight as well, but as he wasn't officially aligned with the Star Luo Empire, and having received certain inside information, he mostly focused on a supportive role. In terms of gravity control, Xiao Ding's ability in his True Martial Soul form surpassed even Xuanzi, whose beast spirit limited him slightly.
Noticing this, Xuanzi held no grudges and took advantage of his ally's stance, unbothered by their lack of coordination. His gaze turned toward Kong Deming and Hongchen, his eyes full of rage for past and present grievances. Without hesitation, he charged at them like a rampaging bull.
In sheer combat ability, Kong Deming and Hongchen were no match for Xuanzi. However, their tenth level soul tools were essential in keeping him occupied, preventing him from disrupting the battlefield at large. Utilizing their soul tools' immense power, they managed to hold Xuanzi back, all while inching closer to Xiao Ding.
But Xiao Ding, despite his intent to avoid direct involvement, was not easily intimidated. He conjured his massive Three Life Soul Suppressing Cauldron and hurled it toward them. Seizing the opportunity, Xuanzi launched a follow up attack, causing the pair a minor setback.
However, to sustain a close engagement with two vigilant peerless Douluo was too great a challenge, even for Kong Deming.
"Forget it," Kong Deming thought. "Since Tian Ding Douluo seems uninterested in direct combat, we'll focus all our efforts on eliminating Xuanzi!"
At just the right moment, Kong Deming activated his Silver Moon Divine Light Barrier, locking himself and Xuanzi within its boundaries.
Though Xuanzi was known for his brute strength, he possessed a sharp battle intuition as well. Finding himself trapped in a domain resembling a spatial enclosure, he quickly sensed the danger. He immediately began channeling his spatial powers, attempting to tear through the barrier.
In the original story, Kong Deming would have released his spatial restraint out of concern for damaging his tenth level soul tool. But this time, he was unwavering in his resolve to hold Xuanzi captive, determined not to let him escape.
As Xuanzi struggled, Kong Deming's twisted, determined gaze conveyed a single message: It's too late.
In that instant, ten ninth level soul bombs appeared between the two.
Having fought the Sun Moon Empire for so long, Xuanzi recognized the sheer terror of these devices. Each bomb was capable of immense destruction; even at rank 98, he would normally be able to escape their range. But now, with the space compressed and locked down, there was no escape.
All Xuanzi could do was pour his energy into defense, converting his gathered soul power into an impenetrable shield.
At that moment, the battlefield witnessed a second, blinding sun.
Onlookers saw only a radiant new "sun" appear in the sky, without any sound accompanying the light. Kong Deming's Silver Moon Divine Light Barrier had completely sealed off the explosion from the outside.
The combined power of the ten ninth level soul bombs was terrifying, radiating such intense heat and energy that cracks spread across the Silver Moon Divine Light Barrier almost immediately, shattering it into fragments.
Thus, one of the Sun Moon Empire's two tenth level soul mentors was no more.
Amid the aftermath, Hongchen's sharp eyes caught sight of a figure plummeting from the cloud of smoke and ash.
"It's Elder Kong!"
Hongchen's pupils shrank, and he immediately rushed over, disregarding the searing remnants of the explosion. He caught the falling figure of Kong Deming in his arms.
Though Kong Deming had planned a near suicidal strategy, his survival instinct kicked in at the last moment. He activated five energy based defensive soul tools and two physical defense tools, all of the ninth level, to withstand the blast's effects.
The initial shockwave, equivalent to ten ultimate Douluo level strikes, obliterated these defenses almost instantly. However, they absorbed enough of the initial force that the residual blast Kong Deming faced was comparable to that of a regular ninth level soul bomb.
Despite his efforts, Kong Deming was gravely wounded. His once dignified face was charred black, his beard and hair scorched to the root. For an ordinary titled Douluo, such injuries would be fatal, but the true damage lay in the destruction of his life bound tenth level soul tool. The resulting backlash had left his spirit heavily scarred.
Still, Kong Deming managed to open his bleary eyes, forcing out a single question.
"Did… did it work?"
After these words, he finally slipped into unconsciousness.
Holding the wounded elder, Hongchen's curiosity about the battle's outcome grew. He swiftly used his spiritual senses to survey the battlefield.
Across the ruined landscape, a dark figure could be seen slowly plummeting from the sky.
Although the figure was shrouded in smoke, it was undoubtedly Xuanzi.
Uncertain whether Xuanzi had survived, Hongchen stowed Kong Deming's body in a storage device designed to hold living beings, preparing to move in and finish off Xuanzi.
But before he could act, a massive, mountain like cauldron came crashing down in his path.
"Xiao Ding!" Hongchen spat through gritted teeth.
Xiao Ding cast him a calm, unperturbed glance. "Just because I'm not willing to fight to the death doesn't mean I'll let you finish off my ally so easily."
Xiao Ding himself didn't know if Xuanzi had survived the blast, but he was determined to maintain the battlefield's balance. With only one peerless Douluo left on each side, the situation was now precariously even.
Hongchen's Red Dust Golden Toad Armor could enhance ninth level soul tools, but Xiao Ding's formidable defenses left him unphased, rendering further conflict unnecessary.
After a long, tense moment, Hongchen scowled but ultimately retreated. Preserving Kong Deming's life was too vital for the Sun Moon Empire.
(End of Chapter)
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Chapter 574: The Tianxing Knights, Part Four
Hongchen could hardly believe that Xuanzi could have survived such a devastating attack unscathed. Even if he did manage to survive, he was likely severely injured. Although this battle hadn't ended in a clear victory, Hongchen felt that he hadn't truly lost.
And yet...
Before leaving, Hongchen cast a deep, lingering glance at Xiao Ding. Although this laid back opponent was troublesome, he probably wouldn't disrupt the ongoing war here.
Seeing Hongchen retreat, Xiao Ding sighed with relief. Facing off against another combatant of peerless strength had been intense, and as someone who had technically died once already, Xiao Ding had no desire to engage in unnecessary battles.
"Guess I'll go check if this Gluttonous Douluo made it out alive," Xiao Ding murmured to himself as he flew over toward Xuanzi's location.
Like Kong Deming, Xiao Ding's first impression upon seeing Xuanzi was of a scorched, blackened figure. Any trace of clothing was gone; only clothing of ninth level soul tool grade might have survived such heat. Xuanzi's hair and beard had been entirely singed off.
Though these wounds were not the most severe. Xuanzi lay unconscious, having reverted to his normal form, his body charred and scarred with fragments of earth still clinging to his skin, marked by burns. Xiao Ding, however, could sense life force within Xuanzi's body. His limbs were intact, and he wasn't in danger of regressing to an eighty ninth level Soul Douluo due to a soul bone loss.
Yet...
Xiao Ding's gaze drifted downward, noting the extensive damage to Xuanzi's lower half. The sensitive area there had fared poorly, having been turned to charred debris, flaking off in the aftermath of the explosion. Xiao Ding, as a fellow man, couldn't help but wince.
Still, he recalled that Xuanzi had no real interest in women; he simply enjoyed eating and drinking. Perhaps he wouldn't be too upset once he woke up... hopefully.
Xiao Ding pushed aside these thoughts; after all, Xuanzi had chosen to clash head on with Kong Deming and Hongchen.
At that moment, soldiers from the Star Luo Empire approached, likely having waited for the battle to die down before investigating. Though Xiao Ding didn't hold Xuanzi in high regard, he respected him as a peerless Douluo and refused to let him suffer further indignity. He threw a spare garment over Xuanzi's lower half before turning to face the newcomers.
At the forefront was Xu Tianxing, the Star Luo Empire's strongest combatant.
"Lord Tian Ding, what happened here?" Xu Tianxing asked in astonishment as he surveyed the wreckage of the battlefield.
While Xu Tianxing had largely refrained from fighting, he had adhered to his role as support, ensuring that the peerless Douluo's battle didn't interfere with the rest of the field. Feeling confident in his conduct, he briefly recounted the fight to Xu Tianxing.
Learning that the Sun Moon Empire had resorted to detonating ten ninth level soul bombs in close proximity, creating such a cataclysmic display, Xu Tianxing couldn't help but gasp in horror.
"They are utterly ruthless! Lord Tian Ding, you must be careful in the future," Xu Tianxing warned with concern.
Xiao Ding nodded calmly. "Naturally. If they're prepared to risk mutual destruction, I won't be caught off guard." Having already faced death once, Xiao Ding wouldn't take unnecessary chances.
Neither of the two showed any particular concern for Xuanzi lying prone on the ground. After all, they had good reason. Though beast spirits' physical advantages diminished after rank seventy, beast spirits did grant their wielders considerable resilience. Xiao Ding had already observed Xuanzi's condition improving gradually, though, of course, certain losses would not regenerate.
In his mind, Xuanzi felt like his entire body was on fire, every inch of him in pain. The burns he'd suffered were especially intense and searing. Despite the fact that the blast from ten ninth level soul bombs rivaled Kong Deming's strongest Silver Moon Divine Light Wave, Xuanzi had been somewhat prepared, channeling his soul power into an earthen shield that partially absorbed the initial shockwave.
Though his defenses were incinerated within moments, Xuanzi instinctively reacted, activating his Martial Soul True Body and tapping into his Gluttonous Beast bloodline to absorb as much of the force as possible.
Gazing up at the clear blue sky, Xuanzi muttered groggily, "Am I... still alive?"
Xiao Ding and Xu Tianxing approached him.
Xiao Ding wore a faint smile, a hint of humor in his eyes as he said, "Indeed, Gluttonous Douluo, you're alive. And congratulations your operation was a success. You're now officially a lovely young lady."
"...?"
Xuanzi's entire body ached too much to catch on to Xiao Ding's humor right away. But as his mind cleared, he soon realized he was missing an important... component. Panicked, he glanced down to check on his missing part.
The cruel reality dawned on him. While he might have had no interest in women, he had still been a man!
"I... I..."
Xuanzi stammered, at a loss for words, shooting a bewildered look at Xu Tianxing, who seemed equally at a loss. It appeared only Xiao Ding understood the full scope of Xuanzi's predicament.
Xiao Ding chuckled. "Gluttonous Douluo, you should hurry back and get treated. With a skilled healing soul master, there's a chance your... parts could be restored."
Xuanzi's hazy mind instantly sharpened as he felt a wave of gratitude toward Xiao Ding. He nodded in acknowledgment, finally taking the opportunity to ask how the battle had concluded.
Xu Tianxing, now understanding the situation, adopted a strange expression but dared not comment. This was, after all, a matter of dignity for a peerless Douluo. Revealing this humiliation was simply not an option, especially since Xuanzi had suffered it while protecting his empire.
Hearing that Kong Deming had sustained similarly severe injuries and lost his tenth level soul tool, Xuanzi managed a sigh of relief. Even if I look pathetic, at least my enemy suffered just as much if not more.
But as he surveyed the internal damage and his missing part, Xuanzi's spirits quickly dimmed. Though brave, Xuanzi wasn't foolhardy; he recognized that continuing to fight would likely result in his death. He said his farewells to Xu Tianxing and left to recover in Shrek.
(End of Chapter)
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Chapter 575: The Tianxing Knights, Part Five
Though the Star Luo Empire was vast and powerful, the best healers on the continent remained within Shrek. The top healing auxiliary Title Douluos were coveted by every empire on Douluo, with envious eyes watching their powers. Yet none dared reach out in greed due to Shrek's own formidable strength.
Taking advantage of the situation, Xu Tianxing subtly suggested to Xuanzi, before his departure, that Shrek send other Title Douluos as reinforcements, hinting that the Star Luo Empire would be deeply grateful.
Xuanzi remained silent, only responding that he would consider it. Shrek, after all, was no longer the uncontested top academy it had once been. With so much of its strength engaged in this brutal war, even Shrek was at risk of being stretched too thin.
Ever the former emperor, Xu Tianxing knew when not to push. He merely emphasized his request, using the plight of the continent's citizens to appeal to Xuanzi's sense of duty. Shrek had always prided itself on its role as a beacon of justice, yet Xuanzi left without further comment, feeling weighed down as he departed.
In the past, Shrek's strength had given it the right to define justice, but now it lacked the power to back its ideals. This contradiction gnawed at Shrek, forcing it into the war to maintain its reputation. With all the top powerhouses involved in this massive conflict, Shrek could not afford to sit out without tarnishing its reputation. Yet Xuanzi's injuries gave them a perfect excuse to limit their involvement and maintain their position as an elite academy.
A month passed since Xuanzi's grave injury, and neither Ye Xishui nor Long Xiaoyao from the Holy Spirit Cult had shown any sign of re engaging in battle, which left Xu Tianran deeply displeased. If the Sun Moon Empire's two remaining tenth level soul engineers were still active, Xu Tianran might have continued to confront the enemy head on. But with Kong Deming sacrificed in the attempt to kill Xuanzi, and with the remaining master engineers in recovery, the Sun Moon Empire's internal state became oddly calm.
The battlefield, however, raged on. The Sun Moon Empire's forces sought every chance to claim Douluo's territories, advancing wherever they could. Though Xiao Ding's presence at the front line offered stability, he did not fight with Mu En's indomitable forcefulness. Xuanzi's survival, despite his injuries, still meant he could not end the war by force.
In response, the Sun Moon Empire pressed forward to seize as much of the Douluo Continent as possible.
Meanwhile, the Star Luo Emperor, overwhelmed with anxiety, sent Xu Jiujiu back to Tianxing Academy multiple times to plead for aid. Yet every time, the reply was the same: Tianxing Academy was a neutral power, and Ye Wen regretted he could not interfere. The lone peerless Douluo from the Tianxing Sect was already deployed, and they could spare no further assistance.
Though the Star Luo Emperor had once resented Shrek's interference, he now saw the void left by Dragon God Douluo Mu En. Without an intervention from a peerless Douluo, the Sun Moon Empire seemed capable of devouring their lands piece by piece.
During the war, the Heavenly Soul Empire successfully annexed the fallen Dou Ling Empire, restoring the continent to a two empire balance. In response, the Star Luo Emperor sent an urgent plea to the Heavenly Soul Empire, stating that if Star Luo fell, Heavenly Soul would soon be in jeopardy as well.
After much deliberation, the Heavenly Soul Emperor agreed to send reinforcements. However, most of the troops were disaffected nobles from Dou Ling and dissenting officials and aristocrats from Heavenly Soul unhappy with imperial policies. For the Heavenly Soul Emperor, the war became an opportunity to clear out internal opposition under the banner of a noble cause, forcing those sent to serve on the frontlines despite their reluctance.
However, when the Star Luo Emperor boldly requested Dugu Bo's presence to join their main battlefield, hoping to combine the might of two peerless Douluo to strike down Jing Hongchen, the Heavenly Soul Emperor swiftly refused, stating that the Sun Moon Empire possessed the capability to conduct surprise naval assaults. He warned that leaving their defenses exposed could spell disaster.
The Star Luo Emperor accepted the refusal without further protest. But he noted the Heavenly Soul Emperor's skillful move and resolved to remain cautious once the war ended.
The Star Luo Emperor's initial desperation faded when he realized that the Sun Moon Empire's attacks were no longer as relentless. He deduced that the Sun Moon Empire's soul tools must have been heavily depleted by the war's intensity. The Sun Moon forces had even begun conserving soul tool ammunition, relying on energy beams rather than soul bombs.
Despite this shift, the Sun Moon Empire continued to press into Star Luo territory, making slow but steady gains. As they advanced, however, their progress became harder to sustain, with conquered lands frequently reclaimed by Star Luo forces. Without sufficient manpower to hold each conquest, the Sun Moon forces found their hold tenuous.
Thus, a war of attrition emerged, each side strategizing and countering in a seemingly endless deadlock that dragged on for three years.
Spring passed into autumn. Within the depths of Tianxing Academy, a dense forest of Blue Silver Trees covered the grounds, radiating life in every direction.
A lithe figure with blue hair entered the tranquil grove, followed by five other women. These six were Ye Wen's disciples.
The passage of over a decade had turned these young girls into mature women, exuding a refined elegance and charm.
Huo Yu´er knocked lightly on the door of a modest wooden house. From within, the voice of the man revered by all of Douluo echoed out.
"Come in."
Receiving permission, the six women entered in single file. Ye Wen gazed at the figures before him and sighed, stirred by how time's passage affected each one of them.
Yet every journey must end. Quietly, Ye Wen asked, "Are you all prepared?"
The six women said nothing, instead nodding resolutely. Ye Wen didn't try to hold them back; a wise mentor knew when to release his disciples so they could chart their own paths.
"Go," he said softly. "Bring a new order to this continent."
The six women bowed, then took their leave. Outside the house, they donned their radiant armor, their forms shining like six blazing comets as they soared into the sky.
(End of Chapter)
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