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...Heaven Dou City, Palace Square.
Banners fluttered and armor gleamed! The Heaven Dou Empire's most elite Royal Knights, Spirit Master Legion, and the newly formed spirit tool unit were arranged in neat phalanxes, their murderous aura piercing the heavens.
Crown Prince Xue Beng, dressed in military uniform, stood atop a high platform. On behalf of his gravely ill father, Emperor Xue Ye, he read the declaration of war against the Spirit Empire.
"...The Spirit Empire has usurped Heaven Dou's territory, acted perversely, destroyed our thousand-year traditions, and ruined the Foundation of our Spirit Masters! Their so-called new policies are actually strategies to weaken the people, intended to domesticate the masses and enact the tyranny of a despot! Today, I, the Heaven Dou Empire, in alliance with the Star Luo Empire, follow Heaven's will to punish the rebellious, vowing to reclaim our ancestral lands and restore clarity to the continent!"
The declaration used fierce language, painting the Spirit Empire as an unpardonable aggressor and enforcer of tyranny, while the allied forces of the Two Great Empires were a righteous army, making the reclamation of lost territory only natural.
Righteousness and legitimacy were firmly grasped in their hands.
On the square, tens of thousands of soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the fields!
Countless representatives of Spirit Master families and commoners watched, their passions stirred as they shared a common hatred for the enemy.
The fanatical atmosphere of war permeated all of Heaven Dou City... Inside the Seven Treasure Clan liaison office.
Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Shui Binger, Huo Wu, and the others had already packed their bags.
With the clouds of war looming, it was meaningless for them to stay here; instead, they might become targets.
"Are we really going to let them leave just like that?"
Inside the palace, a minister spoke to the bedridden Xue Ye and Yu Xiaogang, who was presiding over the situation.
"Ning Rongrong is the Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, and the others are closely related to the core of the Spirit Empire. If we can detain them, it would be of great benefit to both morale and future potential negotiations!"
Yu Xiaogang's Face was pale, but upon hearing this, he slowly shook his head, his gaze sweeping over Xu Hong, who was resting with his eyes closed nearby, appearing as if none of this concerned him.
"Do not mention this matter again," Yu Xiaogang's voice carried weariness and helplessness.
A military general was dissatisfied, his aura faintly locking onto the direction where Ning Rongrong and the others were.
However, in the next moment, a spirit power pressure as vast as an abyss and as heavy as a mountain acted like an invisible barrier, instantly enveloping the entire Seven Treasure Clan and easily crushing those ill-intentioned auras.
Xu Hong slowly opened his eyes. His cloudy gaze swept over the minister who made the suggestion and that general, his voice flat but carrying an unquestionable power: "I am here as a guest and a witness. If anyone wishes to break the rules, do not blame me for not giving the Heaven Dou Empire Face."
His cultivation as a rank ninety-nine super Douluo was fully revealed. That majestic pressure made all the Spirit Masters present feel their breathing hitch, giving rise to awe in their hearts. The voices proposing detention vanished instantly; no one dared to question him again.
During this year, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family had tried their best to win over Xu Hong, offering great rewards in hopes that he would stand with the Two Great Empires, or at least counterbalance Xuan Ming at a critical moment.
But Xu Hong's attitude was always clear: he only exchanged technology and would not intervene in disputes. He would not help the Spirit Empire, nor would he help the Heaven Dou Empire.
Regarding Tang San secretly learning and drawing from his spirit tool knowledge, he was well aware but did not point it out.
This was originally a transaction where each took what they needed. Tang San obtained the technical framework from him, and he gained much inspiration from Tang San's ingenious Tang Sect Hidden Weapons to perfect his own spirit tool system, so they owed each other nothing.
Before their departure, Tang San, as a representative of the Heaven Dou Empire, came to see off Ning Rongrong's group, especially State Preceptor Xu.
"State Preceptor Xu, thank you for your guidance this past year." Tang San bowed, his tone sincere but also carrying a hint of complexity.
Xu Hong waved his hand, his expression indifferent: "It was just taking what we each needed; it doesn't count as guidance."
He looked at Tang San, a flicker of hard-to-detect pity passing through his cloudy eyes. "Kid, for the sake of this year's exchange, I'll say one more thing. You cannot win this war. And... what state it will ultimately reach will likely exceed all of your imaginations."
He paused, lowering his voice slightly: "Take my advice and leave this place of trouble. The Spirit Empire's victory is destined. Some powers cannot be resisted by technology and determination alone."
Tang San was silent for a moment, then looked up, his eyes filled with rock-solid determination: "Thank you for your kindness, State Preceptor. But I, Tang San... have reasons why I must stay."
Family vendettas, national hatred, his teacher's expectations, and his innate rejection of the Spirit Empire's 'order of power' all made it impossible for him to retreat.
Seeing the resolve in his eyes, Xu Hong knew further persuasion was useless. He just sighed softly and said no more.
Tang San's gaze then turned to Xiao Wu, his eyes complex and difficult to read.
He had made excuses for Xiao Wu in his heart countless times, telling himself that her staying by Xuan Ming's side was only out of necessity or friendship.
But over the past year, Xiao Wu's defense of Xuan Ming, the light that unconsciously flowed from her eyes when Ning Rongrong and the others occasionally mentioned him, and her frank and firm responses after his several probes had made him completely understand that Xiao Wu's heart had long been tied to Xuan Ming, with no room for change.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness in his heart, and walked up to Xiao Wu. A thousand words ultimately turned into a single phrase: "Xiao Wu... take care."
Xiao Wu looked at the companion she had grown up with, her eyes full of reluctance and worry: "Little San, are you really not leaving? This war... is too dangerous."
Tang San shook his head, his smile a bit bitter yet still firm: "I have reasons why I must stay. Just as you... have someone you must return to."
Xiao Wu knew Tang San's stubbornness; once he decided on something, he would surely do it. With reddened eyes, she nodded forcefully: "You must take care too... you must stay alive."
Without further words, the former companions, due to different choices and stances, were ultimately destined for different paths, perhaps even facing each other on the battlefield.
Xu Hong delayed no longer. Powerful spirit power enveloped Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, and the others, turning into a stream of light that soared into the sky, galloping toward Spirit City. He left behind the war-clouded Heaven Dou City and a storm destined to be tragic.
Tang San stood where he was, staring for a long time in the direction they disappeared, until Yu Xiaogang's voice sounded behind him, pulling him back from his complex thoughts to reality.
"Little San, get ready." Yu Xiaogang's voice carried a resolve like burning one's bridges. "The war is about to begin."
Tang San clenched his fists, the last trace of hesitation in his eyes vanishing, leaving only the fortitude and coldness belonging to King Lan Hao.
"Yes, Teacher."
...A month later, the Spirit Empire's borders, northern and southern lines.
The fires of war had already spread like a prairie fire.
The allied forces of the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire did not assemble their main forces to seek a decisive battle as in a conventional war, but instead adopted an extremely decentralized offensive strategy.
Dozens of armies, like spreading streams, simultaneously broke into the Spirit Empire's territory from multiple directions along the long border line.
The strength of the forces varied, and the offensives rose and fell one after another.
This was clearly a tactic meticulously planned by Yu Xiaogang and others, aimed at using the vast front to dilute the Spirit Empire's irresistible top-tier combat power, especially the threat of that 'Blood-colored Giant' that could destroy a city in one blow.
Dispersing at least avoided the fate of being wiped out in one go; as long as one army broke through, it could cause massive destruction.
However, facing the aggressive approach of the Two Great Empires, the Spirit Empire's reaction appeared unusually slow and weak.
The Spirit Master Legions stationed at the border, having engaged for less than half a month, actually suffered successive defeats, losing cities and territory.
The speed of the retreat far exceeded common sense. Many key passes collapsed almost upon contact, as if the Spirit Empire's Spirit Masters had suddenly lost their former toughness.
Reports of defeat flew toward Spirit City like snowflakes.
Inside the Supreme Pontiff Palace, the atmosphere was heavy.
Bibi Dong looked at the reports in her hand, each marking a lost city. There was no surprise in her purple-gold eyes, only a cold realization and suppressed rage.
In just half a month, multiple major fortresses along the Spirit Empire's long border had fallen, and the defensive line had been torn open in several places by the allied forces of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires! The imperial army was retreating steadily, suffering heavy losses!
The scenes described in the reports were shocking: low morale, chaotic command, Spirit Master Legions shrinking back in the Face of battle, and even organized desertions! This formed a sharp contrast with the high morale and death-defying charges of the Two Great Empires' allied forces.
"On the northern and southern lines, of the thirteen major passes, nine were lost within seven days." Bibi Dong's voice was calm, yet it carried a bone-chilling coldness. "The speed of the collapse makes it seem as if the Spirit Masters of my Spirit Empire were made of paper and clay."
She looked up, her gaze sweeping over the several military ministers and Spirit Master Legion commanders standing with bowed heads in the hall, a cold arc curling at the corner of her mouth.
"Everyone, who can tell this Pontiff when my Empire's Spirit Master Legions became so vulnerable?"
A general braced himself and stepped forward, his voice filled with fear: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! The enemy... the enemy's offensive is fierce, and they have split their forces into many routes. Our defensive line is too long, making it difficult to coordinate the front and rear..."
"Excuses!" Bibi Dong slammed the armrest, the aura of the Asura Demon Sword faintly emanating, causing the temperature in the hall to plummet. "The defensive line is too long? The enemy split their forces? Is this not something we anticipated long ago?! Why couldn't our Spirit Master Legions even put up the most basic resistance? Where are their spirit tools? Where is their training?!"