Moonjade City, the imperial capital of the Moonflow Empire.
The imperial palace had been converted into a war command center, with the spacious hall filled with the empire's various generals, high-ranking officials, and a multitude of powerful Spirit Masters and Soul Engineers.
Kong Sili, the current emperor of the Moonflow Empire, sat at the head, his face so grim it seemed water might drip from it; even during the fierce power struggles with his brothers for the throne, his usually resolute demeanor now showed a hint of despondency in his eyes when faced with the current situation.
Since Xu Yunxiao's ascension, under his leadership, the Sun Moon Empire had undergone rapid development over the past few decades, and its current strength far exceeded Kong Sili's expectations; in just three short years, it had conquered most of the Moonflow Empire's territory and was now on the verge of besieging the imperial capital.
The seven defensive fortresses surrounding Moonjade City were now encircled by the Sun Moon Empire's grand army, with the nation's demise imminent.
Surveying the people in the hall, Kong Sili saw their faces were equally grim, their eyes filled with confusion and despair.
"Great General, can Moonjade City still hold?" Kong Sili asked in a hoarse voice, looking at the white-haired elder standing at the forefront of the crowd below.
At these words, the atmosphere in the council hall seemed to congeal, becoming incredibly heavy.
As the Moonflow Empire's top military figure, who had commanded the Moonflow Empire's army in years of conflict with the Sun Moon Empire, Zeng Yanlin understood the terror of the Sun Moon Empire better than anyone else.
Now facing a perilous situation of being surrounded on all sides, he opened his mouth several times in response to Kong Sili's question, but still couldn't utter a single word that suggested any chance of victory.
Seeing this, Kong Sili's last glimmer of hope shattered. He closed his eyes in pain, and ten breaths later, he abruptly opened them, now bloodshot and crimson. Drawing the Emperor's Sword from his waist, which symbolized imperial authority, he said in a deep voice, "This is all My fault, leading to the nation's imminent collapse today. How can I face My ancestors?"
"My lords, when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. I hope you will all join Me, united in heart and effort, to defend our nation to the death."
"We vow to live and die with Your Majesty!"
"We vow to live and die with Your Majesty!"
"We vow to live and die with Your Majesty!"
Immediately, the officials in the hall bowed deeply, their shouts filled with resolute determination.
"Rumble!!!"
The next second, an earth-shattering sound came from afar, reverberating in everyone's hearts.
"The Sun Moon Empire… has begun its attack…"
At this time, on the northwest defense line, a hundred li outside Moonjade City, the capital of the Moonflow Empire.
A brilliant white orb of light continuously shone from the location of a massive military fortress in the distance.
This orb of light was semi-circular and slowly expanded outwards.
The light was extremely dazzling, giving people a sense of the sun descending upon the mortal world; most people could not endure it, and would instinctively look away after a single glance.
For instance, the soldiers guarding Moonjade City's northwest defense line were also within the expanding range of the light orb.
Despair filled the eyes of these soldiers. Before they could react, they were annihilated within the light orb.
The next instant, the earth trembled slightly, and then, the steel defenses that the Moonflow Empire had painstakingly constructed with vast resources shattered and dissolved within this orb of light, as a rumbling sound like muffled thunder rolled in, continuous and unending.
Even Moonjade City, a hundred li away, and the other five defense lines even further, began to tremble violently.
The rumbling sound continuously emanated from the ground beneath their feet; although it lacked the terrifying, world-altering force of the initial blast, it was incredibly dense.
After half a year of preparations, the Sun Moon Empire could no longer hold back. Under Xu Yunxiao's command, it launched an assault on this final city of the Moonflow Empire.
The War of Unification had officially begun!
Sun Moon Empire military camp.
A massive tent stood in the center of the camp; unlike the other tents, this large tent, made entirely of cured oxhide, was dark red, as if stained with fresh blood.
Although it was daytime, autumn had already arrived, and the sky remained overcast and dim.
Yet, around this large tent, lights blazed brightly.
In the center of the large tent, Xu Yunxiao sat proudly, with two rows of the Sun Moon Empire's top generals seated below him.
One figure, in particular, stood out among the crowd.
It was a slender figure, clad in crimson armor that perfectly accentuated her graceful curves, with a rose-red cape draped behind her. The armor's chest bore a red phoenix emblem, its wings spread wide as if soaring.
Her exquisite face was exceptionally captivating, and against the backdrop of the magnificent armor and cape, she exuded both heroic spirit and noble elegance.
The generals inside gazed at her with no ill intent in their eyes, only profound respect, for she was Xu Tianyang's mother, the current Crown Princess of the Sun Moon Empire, and the future Empress of the Sun Moon Empire, Mu Mengyu.
However, here, she held only one identity: the leader of the Fire Phoenix Soul Guidance Group.
Just then, a fiery red figure suddenly appeared in the tent. The newcomer was an old woman, around fifty years old, with her long hair coiled high, and sharp glints in her rare red eyes.
She was the vice-leader of the Fire Phoenix Soul Guidance Group, and her strength was second only to Mu Mengyu within the Fire Phoenix Soul Guidance Group.
A Level 79 Spirit Saint, just a step away from becoming a Spirit Douluo.
"Qinghui, what is the situation?" Xu Yunxiao asked with a serious expression and solemn tone upon seeing the newcomer.
Qinghui replied with a grave expression and deep voice, "Reporting to Your Highness, among the seven fortresses surrounding Moonjade City, the northwest, northeast, and eastern ones have now been breached by our army. Moonjade City is exposed before our eyes, and the grand army can advance unimpeded at any time to strike directly at the imperial capital."
"Good!"
"Hahaha, we won, our Sun Moon Empire won!"
"Your Highness, victory is at hand, give the order!"
"Your Highness, give the order!"
"Your Highness!"
"Pass on My military order: the grand army shall advance and besiege Moonjade City. My lords, victory in this war is at hand. We are about to accomplish the monumental feat of unifying the continent; your names shall be etched in history. Let us swiftly bring an end to all this."
Upon hearing of the breached fortresses, even Xu Yunxiao, despite his composure, couldn't help but excitedly clench his fist, and the crowd erupted in excited laughter.
Then, facing the excited expressions of the crowd, he spoke with impassioned eloquence.
"We obey!" The crowd stood up in unison, shouting excitedly, then quickly dispersed to mobilize their troops and advance the army... Moonjade City.
At this moment, the towering, hundred-meter-high city walls were covered with spirit tools of various grades. The Moonflow Empire's last grand army filled the city walls, each soldier gripping their weapon tightly, their faces tense as they gazed towards the horizon.
"Thump thump thump!"
A terrifying sound came, like an earth dragon overturning.
In the hazy sky, a long black serpent quickly appeared on the distant horizon, slowly advancing towards Moonjade City.
The sky above the serpent was filled with thousands of figures, deep purple, dark gold, fiery red, and other colors, mixed together yet distinctly separate.
They were the Sun Moon Empire's Five Great Protector Soul Guidance Groups, along with various elite Soul Guidance Groups.
"Roar!"
An impassioned dragon's roar exploded in the sky, as a awe-inspiring purple giant dragon, the Purple Emperor Sky Destroying Dragon, materialized. The dragon was over a hundred meters long, and Xu Yunxiao stood proudly on its head, his majestic voice, amplified by his cultivation, enveloped the heavens and earth like brilliant radiance.
"Citizens of the Moonflow Empire, continental strife has long endured. I, by the mandate of heaven, unify the continent. All who surrender shall, from today, be My people, the people of My Sun Moon Empire."
"I am the Crown Prince of the Sun Moon Empire, and I shall naturally protect My people of the Sun Moon Empire."
Looking at the majestic Xu Yunxiao, the countless menacing spirit tools surrounding them, and the vast army lurking on all sides, the soldiers on the city wall were filled with fear. Instantly, their morale plummeted to its lowest point, devoid of any will to fight.
Many of the high-ranking officials and powerful individuals lowered their heads, making it impossible to tell what they were thinking.
Kong Sili stood on the city wall, not daring to look back at their expressions. He gazed in shock at Xu Yunxiao, who stood atop the Purple Emperor Sky Destroying Dragon, and whispered in disbelief, "Level ninety, the realm of a Titled Douluo..."