The war launched by the Sun Moon Empire against the Star Luo Empire proceeded as scheduled.
The Star Luo Empire lived up to its reputation as the most powerful nation on the original Douluo Continent, mounting effective resistance against the Sun Moon Empire's offensive, forcing their army to spend twice as much time advancing each step compared to the Heavenly Soul Empire.
However, that was all. The Sun Moon Empire took only ten months to occupy ninety-nine percent of the Star Luo Empire's territory, with the remaining one percent being the imperial capital, Star Luo City.
The Sun Moon Empire's army had never made a move against Star Luo City until today, when the empire's five great soul mentor legions surrounded it, finally giving Star Luo City a taste of impending war.
At this moment, the Sun Moon Empire's army outside the city breathed a sigh of relief, while inside the city, the Star Luo Empire's royal family, led by the nobles and the defending soldiers, also let out a sigh of relief. Everyone knew that after this battle, the Douluo Continent, which had been divided for tens of thousands of years, would finally achieve true unification. Whether they became heroes or sacrifices, everyone had a bright future ahead. It was pretty good.
Yes, at this moment inside Star Luo City, no one believed they could hold the city, nor did they intend to. The entire continent had already fallen under the Sun Moon Empire's control. Even if they managed to defend this insignificant Star Luo City, what use would it be? Were they counting on Shrek Academy to turn the tide once more? Or hoping for a god to descend and repel the Sun Moon army?
Heh, stop dreaming.
The fact that the current Sun Moon Empire Emperor Xu Tianxuan was once the senior sister of Shrek Academy's inner court had been confirmed half a year ago. The Sun Moon Empire and Shrek Academy had long been in collusion, and they weren't even hiding it anymore. Among the Sun Moon army currently besieging Star Luo City, there were quite a few Shrek Academy students. That army commander, Huo Yuhao, was the most typical example—this lowly commoner was even from their Star Luo Empire!
As for hoping for a god to intervene, that was even more absurd. Who didn't know that the Sea God was one of the original Shrek Seven Devils? Expecting him to turn against Shrek Academy for their sake was nothing short of delusional. And that ancestor of the Dai family who had also ascended to godhood—heh, the current Star Luo Empire Emperor no longer bore the surname Dai. The current Duke White Tiger had died on the battlefield three months ago, and the rest of the Dai family had long disappeared along with the Zhu family. So, this was a dead end.
The reason the nobles of Star Luo City had held out until now was simply to wait for that final moment, the moment their hearts truly died, so they could surrender without any psychological burden.
At this time, in the Sun Moon Empire's main camp outside Star Luo City, several high-ranking officers of the imperial army were conducting their final mobilization. On the temporarily erected platform, Marshal Xu Qianxuan stood at the front, with Ju Zi, Huo Yuhao, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and other high-ranking Sun Moon Empire military officials behind him.
Why was Huo Yuhao here?
There were two reasons. First, Shrek Academy needed to demonstrate its stance, and the best way to do so was naturally by sending disciples to join the Sun Moon Empire's army. Thus, Huo Yuhao, the junior brother of the Master of the Heavenly Essence Pavilion, became one of the most suitable candidates. Second, it was Huo Yuhao's own request. He bore a deep grudge, something everyone in the Heavenly Essence Pavilion was well aware of. He wanted to join the Sun Moon Empire's army to exact his revenge on Duke White Tiger Dai Hao. Combined, Huo Yuhao naturally became the most fitting choice.
On the surface, the leaders of the Sun Moon Empire's army stood on the platform, but in reality, that wasn't the case, because Zhu Ziyang had always remained hidden in the shadows without revealing himself.
Why was he here? Entirely because he believed that Sea God Tang San would never allow the continent's unification to proceed unchecked unless he could truly abandon the abundant power of faith on the Douluo Continent. But clearly, he couldn't do that.
So, Zhu Ziyang was waiting for his appearance. Not only Zhu Ziyang, but Jiang Nannan, Ma Xiaotao, and Qian Lingyi were waiting too, though the three women were waiting in Mingdu, while he waited in Star Luo City.
Whether out of self-interest or personal emotion, the Sea God, who held no goodwill toward Zhu Ziyang and his group, was bound to launch one final strike against them. With the Sun Moon army closing in on Star Luo City, this was undoubtedly the perfect opportunity.
Not only could it teach Zhu Ziyang and the others a harsh lesson, reminding them of hierarchy and order, but it could also display His Sea God's majesty and grandeur before the beings of the Douluo Continent once more, consolidating the Sea God faith across the land. A move that killed two birds with one stone—Zhu Ziyang didn't believe the Sea God could resist such temptation.
As expected, just as Xu Qianxuan on the platform shouted the slogan "Where the sun and moon shine, the mountains and rivers are united," a change occurred in the sky. A vast expanse of azure light halo shone down from the heavens, with surging divine radiance spreading freely, eliciting worship from countless marine creatures.
Such a phenomenon in the sky naturally drew the attention of everyone present: the Sun Moon high-ranking officials on the platform, the Sun Moon soldiers below, and the Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei, Princess Xu Jiujiu, and numerous ministers and nobles who hurriedly climbed the city walls. Seeing this divine light overflowing spectacle, an inexplicable hope arose in their hearts—perhaps the Sea God would truly save them?
"He's finally here!" From a nearby cloud, Zhu Ziyang watched the scene, his face showing no surprise. With a thought, he appeared in the Sun Moon army's camp.
The divine light continued to spill forth, and a handsome man with long blue hair emerged. Behind him flickered seven-colored divine light, an indescribable divinity that made one instinctively want to kneel in worship.
Upon seeing this unfamiliar man, the expressions of those on the Sun Moon Empire's side turned ugly, with Huo Yuhao's face looking the worst. He immediately recognized the man's identity—it was identical to the one who appeared in the Valley of Love's Tribulation, Sea God Tang San! Among the Shrek disciples in the Sun Moon army, a girl named Tang Wutong showed joy on her face, stepping forward excitedly, about to call out something.
"Withdraw your troops immediately and return all of the Star Luo Empire's territory. The Sun Moon Empire shall be renamed the Heaven Dou Empire. Otherwise, hmph!" Sea God Tang San's voice was indifferent, his face wearing an expression of regarding ants with apathy. Yet everyone below could feel the endless killing intent in his words, as if in the next moment, he could transform into the Asura and slaughter the Sun Moon Empire's hundred thousand troops entirely.
His words filled the Star Luo Empire's side with exhilaration but enraged the Sun Moon Empire's side. All the high-ranking officials glared with wide eyes, staring at him in fury. Even though they had realized the man in the sky might be a legendary god, they remained utterly fearless.
"Otherwise what?" Xu Qianxuan gritted his teeth, his heart's anger reaching an unbearable peak.
Over the years, he had led the Sun Moon army to victory after victory, on the verge of accomplishing a feat no one had achieved in tens of thousands of years—letting the glory of the sun and moon shine upon every person on the continent. Yet suddenly, a rule-breaking god appeared, threatening him to withdraw. Let alone a general with blazing military prestige, even an ordinary Titled Douluo would feel immense anger and humiliation!
"Hmph!" Sea God Tang San hadn't expected a mere mortal to dare defy him. He immediately let out a cold laugh and said chillingly, "As expected of the Sun Moon Empire's lowly commoners, ungrateful white-eyed wolves! Withdraw immediately, or I wouldn't mind replacing the lot in the Sun Moon Empire! This is a divine oracle!"
Sea God Tang San's dislike for the Sun Moon Empire wasn't without reason. He couldn't harvest faith from its citizens, as the vast majority worshiped the sun and moon, and the few who didn't worship them followed the God of Destruction. There was simply no place for his Sea God faith. It would be strange if he liked the Sun Moon Empire.
Facing such a blatant threat from the Sea God, Xu Qianxuan's expression completely changed. He truly hadn't expected that a lofty god could so casually utter words that extinguished humanity. This, this... he no longer knew how to express his feelings and thoughts at this moment.
"Doesn't Sea God know? The God Realm cannot interfere with any affairs of the lower world. Violators will face what punishment again? Oh, right, it seems it's deprivation of godhood, stripping of divinity, and being cast into reincarnation, right?" Zhu Ziyang finally appeared. If he didn't show up soon, Xu Qianxuan might truly break. He spoke directly, his face full of sarcasm. "Tsk tsk tsk, I wonder if Sea God can bear such a penalty?"
"It's you!" Sea God Tang San's eyes filled with killing intent upon seeing Zhu Ziyang, his voice cold.
Zhu Ziyang's appearance didn't cause much emotional ripple for either side, because aside from Huo Yuhao, no one knew that Zhu Ziyang was now a god himself. So in their eyes, even as the Master of the Heavenly Essence Pavilion with Ultimate Douluo strength, he was powerless against a god.
On the city walls, Xu Jiujiu looked at Zhu Ziyang with a very complicated expression. At the start of the war, she had personally gone to Shrek Academy seeking help. She still clearly remembered Zhu Ziyang's words to her: "The continent has been divided for too long and needs a unified nation. The Star Luo Empire doesn't have that strength!"
Zhu Ziyang was unaware of the thoughts of the people below, but he knew exactly what to do. Thus, after ascending to godhood, he displayed a god's power for the first time.
The Death God armor appeared on his body, the divine artifact Jing Shi Xiu Ming Scythe gripped in his hand, with seven red and three gold—ten soul rings—flashing behind him, proclaiming his god-level strength.
"The current God of Death, Zhu Ziyang, demands that the Sea God confess his sins!"
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"The novel is already finished on Patreon."
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