Jing Hongchen, Kong Deming, and the others quickly soared into the sky, turning their gazes toward the direction of the imperial palace.
When they saw the palace's current state, all of them drew in a sharp breath. Their eyes then shifted downward, settling on Xu Tiannan below.
At this time, the Emperor was gravely ill. Aside from a few ministers, nearly all other members of the imperial household and extended royal branches were residing within or around the palace, accompanying the Emperor. Under the devastating bombardment of multiple Grade-9 fixed-mounted soul-guided shells, not a single one of them had survived.
Xu Tiannan had already assumed the demeanor of an emperor, issuing orders with authority.
Yan Shaozhe was just about to act when Jing Hongchen blocked his path.
"Dean Yan," he said coldly, "you'd best not move recklessly! Mingdu has suffered a sudden catastrophe—there's no guarantee this wasn't done by people from your so-called Three Kingdoms of the Douluo Continent!"
"What kind of nonsense is that?" Yan Shaozhe snapped, frowning deeply. He turned toward Xue Di at his side and shouted, "Teacher Xue, let's join forces and break through!"
But Xue Di gently shook her head. With a graceful leap, she landed beside Jiang Shengyu, looking down upon Yan Shaozhe from above.
She said nothing—but her actions spoke louder than words. She had chosen to stand on Jiang Shengyu's side.
Seeing this, Yan Shaozhe's self-control finally cracked. A vast, majestic power erupted from his body as two yellow, two purple, and five black soul rings rose beneath his feet. Behind him, the Radiant Phoenix martial soul spread its wings and released a piercing cry toward the heavens.
At the sight, Ye Xishui, standing beside Xu Tiannan, furrowed her brow slightly.
"The Radiant Phoenix…" she murmured, her gaze fixed upon Yan Shaozhe, then curved her lips into a strange, amused smile.
Yan Shaozhe and Jing Hongchen clashed fiercely. Yet, even with his ninety-sixth-level cultivation, Yan Shaozhe was completely outmatched by Jing Hongchen wielding Grade-9 soul tools.
Even Xuanzi himself, if present, would have gained no advantage against Jing Hongchen.
With a single sweeping motion of her hand, Xue Di pressed down upon Yan Shaozhe, snuffing out the Phoenix's divine flames.
Jing Hongchen seized the opportunity to restrain Yan Shaozhe with a soul tool that sealed his soul power.
Meanwhile, all others from the academies and sects of the former Three Kingdoms were also swiftly subdued by the Sun Moon Empire's forces.
Though among them were powerful Contra and even Titled Douluo-level individuals, before the team of Grade-9 soul engineers led by Kong Deming, they stood no chance of resistance.
Xiao Xiao trembled in panic at the sight. Fortunately, Jiang Nannan reacted quickly, pulling her to safety just in time to prevent her from being restrained with the others.
Poison Undying descended from the sky, his brows furrowed tightly. He dared not meet the accusing stares of those from the former Douluo Continent factions. Turning toward Jiang Shengyu, he said in a low, heavy voice, "Boy, you promised me you wouldn't harm them…"
If Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong hadn't repeatedly assured him that they would guarantee the personal safety of those from the Three Kingdoms, he would never have agreed to appear here today.
He knew, of course, that fate could not be defied—that with Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong now at the heart of the Sun Moon Empire, its rise was inevitable.
But by appearing here publicly, he had well and truly severed his ties with the people of the original Douluo Continent.
If they were ever to meet again, it would only be after the Sun Moon Empire had unified the entire continent.
Jiang Shengyu nodded. "Please rest assured, Senior. As long as they do not resist, I will not lay a hand on them. But if they rebel—then they can hardly blame us for defending ourselves. After all, the safety of our own people comes first."
Poison Undying sighed softly and nodded, turning toward Yan Shaozhe. "Dean Yan, don't resist any further. I can vouch for this boy's character."
"Body Douluo!" Yan Shaozhe roared in fury. "I thought you and Elder Mu were old comrades—that you were a senior of our soul master world! But I never expected you to abandon the light for the darkness, to side with the Sun Moon Empire! You've disgraced your ancestors of the Body Sect! When you die, how will you face them in the afterlife?"
His voice thundered with righteous anger, offering Poison Undying not even the smallest shred of respect.
Poison Undying's brows knitted together. He fell silent, choosing not to argue.
Amid the chaos, Juzi approached Jiang Qingtong, discreetly handing her a miniature recording device.
As time passed, the Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Corps had fully secured the area. Under heavy escort, Xu Tiannan descended to the arena floor.
He first turned to Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong, expressing his thanks:
"My deepest gratitude to the both of you! Thanks to your stratagems, the Sun Moon Empire has captured all of these so-called geniuses from the Three Kingdoms without shedding a drop of blood! The two of you are truly the Empire's lucky stars!"
After speaking with them, his gaze shifted back to Jiang Shengyu and his group.
"The investigation results are in!" Xu Tiannan declared. "The imperial palace was bombarded by multiple Grade-9 fixed-mounted soul-guided shells! Reports indicate that several days ago, the military's stores were infiltrated—stolen by a Super Douluo who took those very shells! It must have been you people!"
"Hmph! What slander!" Yan Shaozhe snorted coldly. Even in captivity, he refused to bow his proud head.
"Slander?"
Xu Tiannan laughed softly. "Then tell me—where is that so-called Azure Eagle Douluo of yours? I suspect it was she who infiltrated the military, stole the shells, and bombed the imperial palace! This is a grave provocation against the Sun Moon Empire!"
Yan Shaozhe's brow furrowed deeply. He knew full well Xu Tiannan was lying, but in this moment, he had no words to refute him.
Xu Tiannan continued, "One month from now, the Sun Moon Empire will declare war upon the Three Kingdoms of the former Douluo Continent—under the charge of attacking the imperial palace and murdering the Emperor!"
Jiang Shengyu watched Xu Tiannan—now fully assuming the posture of a ruler issuing imperial commands—and exchanged a glance with Kong Deming before saying, "Forgive me, Your Highness, but I have an objection."
All eyes turned toward him at once. Xu Tiannan frowned. "Marquis Tianyue, what objection could you possibly have?"
"The explosion just now—was it truly caused by them?" Jiang Shengyu asked evenly, his eyes locked on Xu Tiannan.
"Of course!" Xu Tiannan replied without hesitation. "Our investigation was thorough—how could there be any mistake?"
Jiang Shengyu chuckled. Taking the recording device from Jiang Qingtong, he turned to the remaining officials and soldiers present.
"Well then," he said calmly, "I have something a little different I'd like everyone to see."
He played the recording.
From a covert, hidden-angle perspective, the footage revealed Xu Tiannan and Xu Tianyuan's conspiracy—the placement and detonation methods of the Grade-9 fixed-mounted soul-guided shells, as well as their post-explosion plans: troop deployments, seizing control of information, and other coordinated steps.
The evidence was crystal clear.
Xu Tiannan's face twitched violently. Realizing what had happened, he turned toward Juzi and roared, "You! You wretched woman!"
Xu Tianyuan lunged at Juzi—but Kong Deming was faster.
With a single sweep of his hand, he struck Xu Tianyuan hard across the face, sending him crashing aside—unable to rise again.
"Murdering one's own father, committing treason, using Grade-9 fixed-mounted soul-guided shells to obliterate the imperial palace and kill tens of thousands…" Jiang Shengyu's voice was low but resonant as his gaze swept over the soldiers and officials.
"Tell me—does such a man deserve to be Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire?"