A few months after the disappearance of Eros Douluo, the continent gradually forgot about him.
At first, there were whispers, but as time passed, those whispers faded because a far greater storm had begun.
—
The Spirit Hall moved and it moved with terrifying decisiveness.
Without warning it launched a sudden campaign and captured two kingdoms in rapid succession leaving room for resistance,
The Balak Kingdom and the Hagen Dazs Kingdom.
The speed of the operation was so overwhelming that the Heaven Dou Empire did not even have time to react properly. By the time information reached the imperial court, the outcome had already been decided.
Both kingdoms had fallen.
Not only that—The royal families and high-ranking nobles of both kingdoms were executed without exception.
It was a clean, ruthless purge of the higher class, the news struck like thunder across the continent.
—
In Heaven Dou City, Emperor Xue Ye sat in silence after receiving the reports.
Just days ago, he had been in high spirits.
The internal turmoil within the Star Luo Empire had made him happy. Everything had seemed to be moving in his favor.
And yet—In a single move, Spirit Hall had overturned the entire situation.
His fingers tightened slightly around the armrest of his throne.
"How… did it come to this…"
He could not help but ask himself.More than the loss of two kingdoms, what truly unsettled him was the strength revealed by Spirit Hall.
To subjugate two kingdoms in such a short period of time, they had dispatched—Ten Titled Douluos.
Even one Ttled Douluo was enough to shift the balance of power and Spirit Hall had used ten of them… without hesitation.
Emperor Xue Ye closed his eyes briefly, trying to piece everything together.
The events of recent years began to surface in his mind, one after another, forming a pattern that made his heart grow heavier.
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Year XXX1.
The Continental Elite Young Soul Master Competition.
What should have been a grand and celebratory event had instead become the starting point of chaos.
In the Star Luo Empire, Duke Blood Tiger launched a sudden rebellion. The royal family was caught completely off guard and were slaughtered.
To solidify his rule, Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun were publicly executed.
The brutality of the act sent shockwaves across the continent, branding the new ruler as a tyrant in the eyes of many.
—
Then came another event. The destruction of one of the three great clans: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan by a catastrophe of a falling meteor
The battle that would be remembered for years to come where Three Ultimate Douluos clashed.
The heavens themselves seemed to tremble and when darkness came a miracle descended.
From that day onward, the name of the Angel Goddess began to spread quietly among the highest circles of power.
—
He did not know that in that very same year, a man named Yu Ming—later known as Eros Douluo—had entered the Slaughter City.
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Year XXX2:
With the Clear Sky Clan retreating into seclusion and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan meeting its destruction, the number of top-tier soul master forces outside of Spirit Hall sharply declined.
What had once been a balanced structure among the great factions of the continent now tilted noticeably, leaving a vacuum that smaller and mid-tier forces sought to fill.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan moved swiftly to take advantage of this opportunity. With their strong financial foundation and auxiliary capabilities, they expanded their influence across multiple regions, recruiting wandering soul masters and consolidating their position.
At the same time, the Lower Four Clans began to stir with ambition. The absence of two of the traditional three great clans emboldened them, and voices within these clans started to call for elevation.
Though they lacked the foundation and heritage of the former great clans, the shifting era gave them hope that status could be redefined through strength and opportunity.
After swiftly taking control of Elemental City, Spirit Hall had unexpectedly fallen silent. This silence did not bring relief; instead, it deepened the unease. To someone in Xue Ye's position, such stillness often signified preparation rather than retreat.
Adding to this pressure was the growing influence of the Angel Goddess.
Rumors had spread among nobles and commoners alike that no secret could remain hidden from her gaze. It was said that the depths of one's heart could be seen through, that even thoughts unspoken could not escape her awareness. Whether true or exaggerated, these rumors planted a subtle fear within Xue Ye.
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In the Star Luo Empire,
The oppressive rule of Emperor Blood Tiger had caused dissatisfaction among the nobles, and this unrest provided an opening.
The Second Prince, Dai Mubai, returned during this period and quickly became a focal point for resistance. With the backing of nobles loyal to the previous regime, he initiated a campaign against the current ruler.
However, instead of engaging in direct confrontation, Dai Mubai adopted guerrilla tactics. It was during this turbulent period that a newly established sect—the Tang Sect—rose to prominence.
Their hidden weapons brought a fundamental change to the battlefield. Unlike traditional soul master techniques, these weapons allowed even those with lower cultivation to pose a threat to stronger opponents.
Their precision, concealment, and lethality made them particularly suited for guerrilla warfare, and under their influence, Dai Mubai's forces gained a significant advantage.
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Year XXX3:
Emperor Xue Ye acquired several hidden weapons from the Tang Sect for testing within the Heaven Dou Empire. The results exceeded expectations. The craftsmanship was meticulous, the mechanisms were complex yet efficient, and the destructive capability of these weapons made them valuable assets in both warfare and defense.
Seeking to establish a stable relationship with this rising force, he dispatched Xue Xing to deepen ties with the Tang Sect and its leader.
The information brought back had surprised him.
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(AN:While I could have written big chapters for Star Luo Empire, there is essentially not much involvement of our protagonist except the manipulation. So some chapters will be a little summary like give the readers a 3rd eye view how the changes in the world is going.)