More than thirty Title Douluo-level soul mentors from the Sun Moon Empire had followed Xu Zihuang to the Star Luo Empire's imperial palace.
These thirty-plus Title Douluo, together with the four from the Protectorate Hand soul mentor legion, formed a force powerful enough to sweep through any one of the three original empires on the Douluo Continent.
Although the Star Luo Empire's imperial palace defenses were strict and had imperial family elders stationed there, all the ministers present felt a chill run through their bodies, filled with fear.
They all knew how powerful Xu Zihuang and the Sun Moon Empire were, yet none of them had expected that in just one short night, Xu Zihuang would directly lead the Sun Moon Empire's powerhouses and army straight into the Star Luo Empire's imperial palace hall, leaving them no room to breathe.
"Protect His Majesty!" White Tiger Duke Dai Hao reacted first. Like a fierce tiger leaping forward, he instantly positioned himself in front of Xu Jiawei.
The Star Luo Empire's imperial family elders also turned into streaks of flowing light and rushed over upon hearing the call, surrounding Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu tightly in the center.
The Star Luo Empire's national strength was indeed the strongest among the original Douluo Continent's three empires, but it lacked top-tier powerhouses. Ever since Dark Gold Douluo Elder Yang fell at Xu Zihuang's hands, the strongest among the Star Luo Empire's imperial family elders was only the Fragmented Star Douluo, who had broken through to level ninety-six in soul power in recent years.
At this moment, purple Fragmented Star light continuously flickered in the void, dyeing the entire resplendent golden hall the same color.
Xu Jiawei's identity as the Star Luo Empire's emperor often caused people to overlook his powerful strength. As a once-in-a-millennium genius of the Star Crown family, he had already touched upon the Super Douluo realm long ago. With the special abilities of the Star Crown martial soul, he even had the power to contend against a Super Douluo.
A resplendent golden Star Crown floated above Xu Jiawei's head. Dots of faint golden starlight poured down, merging into the soul power emanating from the bodies of the Star Luo Empire's imperial family elders and White Tiger Duke Dai Hao around him.
With the infusion of this faint golden starlight, the aura of Dai Hao and the others clearly rose by a large margin.
Seeing Xu Jiawei's instinctive reaction of being on high alert as if facing a great enemy, Xu Zihuang simply walked past him with an unchanged expression and calmly sat down on the throne that originally belonged to Xu Jiawei.
Ye Guyi and Wang Qiu'er followed closely behind Xu Zihuang, then stood on his left and right sides. The two women were naturally cold and indifferent when facing outsiders, and their aloof expressions unconsciously brought an even stronger sense of oppression to the Star Luo Empire's civil and military officials in the hall.
Finally, there was Ju Zi. She stopped in front of Xu Zihuang, her expression complex as she gazed at White Tiger Duke Dai Hao.
This was the target she had wanted to take revenge on for nearly twenty years. Yet now that she could truly control Dai Hao's fate with ease, she discovered that her determination for revenge was not as firm as she had imagined.
Having experienced that warmth from Xu Zihuang and having Xu Xiyan as an emotional anchor, Ju Zi's mentality had begun to change subtly. She was no longer as obsessive as before. When she stayed by Xu Xiyan's side together with Xu Zihuang, the happiness that lingered in her heart made her feel as if she had returned to her childhood.
Carefree, immersed in that plain and warm happiness.
Thinking back carefully, the one who caused her father's death was, in the end, war. White Tiger Duke Dai Hao was actually just the object of her displaced anger. Tracing back to the root, the Sun Moon Empire and its rulers, who had forcibly conscripted her father to the front lines at the time, were also the executioners.
Xu Zihuang, who saw through Ju Zi's thoughts, comfortingly took the initiative to hold one of her hands.
He naturally did not want Ju Zi to live forever in hatred, but today he had no intention of letting Dai Hao go just like that.
Xu Zihuang pulled Ju Zi over and let her sit in his embrace. With calm eyes, he softly gave the order: "Kill."
His flat voice, carrying no emotional fluctuation, caused everyone present to hold their breath.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Jing Hongchen led the Sun Moon Empire's Title Douluo-level soul mentors in a unified response. The Imperial Dragon Soul Mentor Legion, Fire Phoenix Soul Mentor Legion, Terrorclaw Soul Mentor Legion, and Demon Whale Soul Mentor Legion rose up at the same time. They deployed linked soul tools to seal the entire palace. Then they quickly constructed soul tool positions, and soul power lights of various colors instantly filled the hall.
Despair colored the faces of the Star Luo Empire's civil and military officials. At the moment of life and death, few people can truly face death with equanimity. Even if these ministers felt gratitude toward the Star Luo Empire and Xu Jiawei and wanted to die for their country, they were not alone. Even if not for themselves, they had to think of their families.
"I am willing to submit!" A minister of the Star Luo Empire could no longer bear the pressure in his heart. His knees softened and he knelt toward Xu Zihuang, who sat on the throne.
With one person taking the lead, the rest no longer had any scruples. In an instant, more than half of the entire court hurriedly knelt and bowed to Xu Zihuang.
"We are also willing to submit!"
Seeing this scene, there was no anger in Xu Jiawei's eyes, only bitterness. White Tiger Duke Dai Hao also powerlessly loosened his tightly clenched fists.
They all knew this was the expected outcome. The Star Luo Empire was already powerless to turn the tide.
Only the pale-faced Xu Jiujiu looked unwilling. She stubbornly raised her head and stared at Xu Zihuang.
From beginning to end, Xu Zihuang never looked at Xu Jiujiu once. He raised his right hand slightly and gave the order to attack to the people of the Sun Moon Empire.
Jing Hongchen, Ye Yulin, Wang Xiao, Yao Yang, and the other Title Douluo-level powerhouses surrounded Xu Jiawei, who was guarded by the Star Luo Empire's imperial family elders. The remaining four major soul mentor legions of the Sun Moon Empire began a one-sided slaughter against the Star Luo Empire's ministers who were unwilling to submit.
Screams, powerful energy fluctuations, and dazzling soul power lights mixed together. The originally magnificent and luxurious palace of the Star Luo Empire had turned into a living hell. Under the bombardment of these powerful soul tools, many people did not even leave behind corpses and were directly vaporized.
"Stop!" Xu Jiawei's expression changed drastically as he roared, but unfortunately it was all in vain. Even the Star Luo Empire's ministers who had now submitted out of fear of death were completely ignored by the Sun Moon Empire's soul mentor legions.
They had been given a chance earlier but did not cherish it. What use was regret now?
A moment later, the slaughter inside the hall finally ceased. Those Star Luo Empire ministers who had already submitted to Xu Zihuang earlier all prostrated themselves in silence, not daring to breathe loudly. Compared to their shame toward the Star Luo Empire and Xu Jiawei, what they felt more at this moment was the lingering fear of having survived a disaster.
Xu Jiawei's chest heaved violently, but in the end he could only sigh powerlessly.
"Stop creating more innocent slaughter. The Star Luo Empire… is willing to submit…"
Gazing at the hall full of devastation, Xu Jiawei bent his knees and heavily knelt on the ground, as if he had aged many years in an instant.
If he had been able to let go of that ridiculous dignity and obsession earlier and chosen to submit to the Sun Moon Empire sooner, perhaps so many people would not have been implicated. Of course, he also knew that the Sun Moon Empire's slaughter and purge of the Star Luo Empire was unavoidable.
"Your Majesty!" Dai Hao cried out in alarm, while the Star Luo Empire's imperial family elders all shook their heads with dejected expressions.
Xu Jiujiu knelt down with tears in her eyes and hugged Xu Jiawei's arm.
"Imperial Brother!"
Xu Jiawei was enduring immense humiliation; how could they have wanted to see this scene?
Xu Jiawei raised his hand to stop Xu Jiujiu and Dai Hao, silently looking at Xu Zihuang seated upon the throne.
"I could not protect my ministers, nor could I protect my country. I know I am unworthy to be a ruler. Do with me as you please, but please do not implicate any more innocent people."
"Your Majesty, I will accompany you even in hell." Dai Hao clenched his fists again, his gaze burning as he spoke in a deep voice.
Xu Zihuang paid no attention to the so-called deep loyalty between Xu Jiawei and Dai Hao. Instead, he turned his head to look at Ju Zi in his arms.
Meeting Xu Zihuang's gaze, Ju Zi pondered for a long time before a heartfelt smile appeared on her charming face.
"Zihuang, the only ones I truly care about now are you and Xiyan. I just want to accompany you and watch Xiyan grow up happily and safely into an adult."
Xu Zihuang smiled and interlocked his fingers with Ju Zi's. He had already made his decision in his heart.
Xu Jiawei and Dai Hao, along with the Star Crown family and White Tiger family behind them, would all be imprisoned near Ming Capital.
Letting Xu Jiawei and Dai Hao die would instead be fulfilling them. He wanted the two of them to personally witness the prosperity and flourishing of the Sun Moon Empire after it unified the continent, and to live the rest of their lives in the shadow of the Sun Moon Empire.
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are chapters available on Patreon."
"Douluo: Sword of Judgment and Eternal Ice 30 Advance chapters"
"From Douluo to Godhood by Defying the Heavens 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo: Far North Invincibledo 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Dalu 2:Peerless Tang Sect Dawn of Sun and Moon the novel is already finished on Patreon."
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