Chapter 314. Asura God, is this your final destination? (Part 2)
"That depends on the cooperation between our two countries," Cao Cao said.
"How do we cooperate?" Dai Tianfeng asked.
"First, our soldiers will disguise themselves as merchants, pretending to be refugees, and gradually deploy to the front lines to build up our strength."
"On the other hand, the Star Luo Empire already has grudges against these kingdoms and duchies. They are constantly on guard against your potential annexation. Your Majesty Dai Tianfeng, you can hold a military exercise on the border to intimidate these forces and attract their attention, making them focus their energy on your side. This will leave their rear vulnerable. When the time is right, we can launch a surprise attack and instantly seize these kingdoms and duchies, severing one of the Spirit Hall's arms."
"Excellent plan," Dai Tianfeng said with delight.
Yu Xiaogang, standing to the side, raised a different concern: "What about the Spirit Hall? Such a large-scale personnel reshuffle—they couldn't possibly have gone unnoticed. As far as I know, the Spirit Hall has an intelligence organization called the Shadow Angels, which has been gathering intelligence across the continent."
Cao Cao laughed, "First, we don't need to worry about our Heaven Dou Empire's army. I'm confident I can move that army there undetected. As for Dai Tianfeng, we don't need strategic deception. As for the Spirit Hall—"
"Although the Spirit Hall has strong intelligence gathering capabilities, the true decision-maker is only one person: the Pope of the Spirit Hall. As long as we deceive Bibi Dong, this military operation can proceed smoothly," Cao Cao said.
"But how do we deceive Bibi Dong?" Yu Xiaogang asked with confusion.
Cao Cao said, "That depends on you, Yu Xiaogang."
"Me?" Yu Xiaogang pointed to himself, looking resistant. "How can I bewitch Bibi Dong?"
"You know Bibi Dong. Whether she loves you or hates you, your presence can influence her decisions," Cao Cao said. "We only need you to go to the Spirit Hall, appear in their field of vision, and interfere with Bibi Dong's decisions. Once the plan is in place, it will be too late for the Spirit Hall to react."
"I..." Yu Xiaogang wanted to refuse. He was unsure of Bibi Dong's current attitude towards him. If it were before, when Bibi Dong still held onto their past affection, going for the alliance and for Douluo Continent would be worthwhile.
But now, going to Bibi Dong could very well cost him his life.
At this moment, Xue Qinghe comforted him, "Grand Preceptor, I can grant you official status from the Heaven Dou Empire and send you to the Spirit Hall."
"I believe that as long as the Spirit Hall has no intention of waging war against the Heaven Dou Empire, you will be safe. Trust me, the Heaven Dou Empire's million-strong army will be your support."
Hearing Xue Qinghe's words, Yu Xiaogang nodded gratefully. Thinking of Tang San, himself, the Clear Sky Sect, and the long-cherished wish of the heroes of the Spirit Hall—to destroy the Spirit Hall—Yu Xiaogang made a firm decision.
"Alright, I will go to the Spirit Hall to find Bibi Dong. I only hope she still remembers our past relationship."
In the following period, just as Cao Cao planned, supplies were transported before the troops moved. Large quantities of supplies were transported in advance to the borders between the Heaven Dou Empire and other countries. The army dispersed into smaller groups, disguised as merchant caravans, and converged on the front lines.
Meanwhile, Dai Tianfeng made a surprising move: leading an army of 400,000 to conduct a large-scale military exercise between the Star Luo Empire and these former vassal states.
This immediately alerted the independent kingdoms and principalities of Xingluo.
Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang, as an envoy of the Heaven Dou Empire, was sent to the Spirit Hall.
Cao Cao's plan was progressing smoothly.
Late at night, the plan for the anti-Spirit Hall alliance was laid out on Bibi Dong's desk. Looking at it, she was somewhat annoyed!
"That Cao Mengde actually wants Yu Xiaogang to disgust me!" Bibi Dong said angrily.
To have Yu Xiaogang deceive her? She only felt disgust for Yu Xiaogang; did she have to pretend to love him like she once did, to be deceived by him?
"Your Holiness," Meng Lingxuan said, "Cao Mengde said that you don't need to act as infatuated with Yu Xiaogang as before. There are many ways to express love, but there are also many ways to express hatred."
Hearing this, Bibi Dong calmed down.
Yu Xiaogang entered the Spirit Hall carrying the alliance's wishes.
Yu Xiaogang stood elegantly in the center of the Spirit Hall's papal palace, looking at the woman seated on the papal throne.
Several years had passed, and she had risen to this position, sitting at the pinnacle of power on the continent—a position he himself dared not even dream of.
Yu Xiaogang was filled with resentment. Bibi Dong had once loved him to the point of madness. If she still loved him as before, he could at least benefit from her becoming Pope of the Spirit Hall.
"Bibi Dong, you woman who clings to power!"
His current state of mind was similar to that of a certain ex-husband in Hong Kong.
However, thinking of his mission, Yu Xiaogang suppressed his resentment towards Bibi Dong and said, "I represent the Heaven Dou Empire to the Spirit Hall, here for peace between our two sides."
Bibi Dong looked at Yu Xiaogang with disgust, her gaze like a thorn in his heart.
"The Heaven Dou Empire, is there no one else? They sent a piece of trash like you," Bibi Dong said sarcastically.
This time, Yu Xiaogang couldn't sit still any longer. He said, "Bibi Dong, I am, after all, the Heaven Dou Imperial Preceptor, representing the Heaven Dou Empire to the Spirit Hall. You are humiliating me, and humiliating the Heaven Dou Empire as well."
The next moment, a powerful surge of soul power pressed down on Yu Xiaogang, forcing him to his knees. He looked at Bibi Dong in disbelief, only to hear her say, "Yu Xiaogang, in the Spirit Hall, you must address me as Your Holiness the Pope."
Bibi Dong continued, "I am humiliating the Heaven Dou Empire, so what can you do about it?"
"You..." Yu Xiaogang was speechless for a moment.
Although Yu Xiaogang suffered a setback with Bibi Dong, he still diligently fulfilled his mission of disrupting her emotions. He discovered that Bibi Dong's mood became much more volatile when she saw him, and Yu Xiaogang realized just how much Bibi Dong disliked him. However, Cao Cao's strategy proceeded smoothly as a result.
One early morning, the Heaven Dou Empire launched a surprise attack on these independent kingdoms and duchies.
Within the city of Sith, a portion of the Heaven Dou army, having infiltrated Sith, collaborated with the outside forces to capture the city.
With the fall of Sith, the Duchy of Sith quickly fell, and the Heaven Dou Empire gained control of it.
The fall of the Duchy of Sith severed the Spirit Hall's communication channels with other countries, and the other duchies and kingdoms, caught completely off guard by Cao Cao's surprise attack, were thus betrayed.
Their stockpiled armies were all facing the Star Luo Empire. Dai Tianfeng, supporting the Heaven Dou Empire's attack from the south, led the Star Luo army from military exercises to direct assaults on the armies and fortresses of these kingdoms and duchies, keeping their forces bogged down on the Star Luo Empire's side.
Over the next few days, in Cao Cao's blitzkrieg, kingdoms and duchies fell one after another. Meanwhile, the Republic of Asdeka, located deep within the Star Luo Empire's territory, faced only the Star Luo Empire's attacks and, under Jia Ping's leadership, repelled the Star Luo army.
When the war ended and the Spirit Hall realized what was happening, those who had once sided with the Spirit Hall had already been annihilated by the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, with most falling into the Heaven Dou Empire's occupied territories. When Yu Xiaogang of the Spirit Hall received the battle report from the Heaven Dou Empire, he was almost overjoyed. However, his happiness was short-lived; the Guardian Knights arrived.
"Lord Yu Xiaogang, our Pope summons you."
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's initial excitement vanished instantly. He suddenly remembered he was on the Spirit Hall's territory.
Had Bibi Dong discovered something? Would she kill him in a fit of rage?
Yu Xiaogang grew increasingly uneasy. He looked around and realized a despairing truth: the million-strong army Xue Qinghe spoke of was merely a distant dream; he was right in the heart of the Spirit Hall.
He was merely a level 34 Soul Master with a "Fat Pig" Martial Soul. In the Spirit Hall, people like him were plentiful. Escape was practically a pipe dream. If Bibi Dong wanted to kill him, a single order was all it took.
Ultimately, with no other choice, Yu Xiaogang could only grit his teeth and follow the Guardian Knights.
(End of Chapter)