Chapter 432: Zhongli Wu in Shock
For Holy Spirit Cult, once war erupted, its evil soul masters would gain countless opportunities to rapidly increase their strength. Naturally, Zhongli Wu eagerly anticipated the coming conflict.
Xu Tianran pondered, "Master Zhongli, while our Sun Moon Empire far surpasses the Three Empires and Shrek Academy in soul tool technology, war is no trivial matter. I must ensure the empire is fully prepared not only rooting out potential traitors who might leak information but also continuing to pour massive resources into soul tool development.
After all, once the Sun Moon Empire launches its attack, those hidden sects will inevitably rise up against us. We will need even greater power to suppress them.
Moreover, we should further spread propaganda about the wickedness of Shrek Academy and the Three Empires, fueling national hatred against them.
Especially now that my father has been assassinated this will stir up immense public sympathy within the empire."
In reality, Xu Tianran's father, as a staunch war advocate, had heavily promoted the development of military grade soul tools, ensuring that every soul engineer benefitted greatly from their production and sale.
As sales and production increased, the empire's tax revenue skyrocketed, giving the Sun Moon Empire abundant funds.
Thus, he had even lowered taxes for ordinary citizens, knowing that the empire's true wealth came from soul engineers.
By reducing taxes, he won the support of the people, ensuring that his rule was widely beloved.
"Also, Master Zhongli, I received troubling news this morning."
Zhongli Wu frowned. "What news?"
"Do you remember Dragon God Douluo Mu En?"
"He has announced his return.
Due to Xuan Zi exposing all his past crimes, Shrek Academy's reputation had plummeted across the continent.
However, Mu En's reappearance has caused Shrek's reputation within the Three Empires to soar once more.
Many will rally behind Shrek Academy because of this." Xu Tianran sighed bitterly.
"Dragon God Douluo Mu En?!" Zhongli Wu's eyes widened in disbelief.
"He's still alive?! Impossible! Wasn't he supposed to have died along with Du Busi?
It's been years I haven't heard a single whisper about Mu En.
And now, out of nowhere, he's suddenly reappeared?
Is Shrek Academy playing some trick?"
Originally, Holy Spirit Cult had its own intelligence network in the Three Empires.
However, after Xuan Zi's purges, nearly all evil soul masters in the Three Empires had been exterminated, leaving their spy network completely crippled.
Right now, the Holy Spirit Cult was completely blind when it came to Shrek Academy's activities.
After all, rebuilding an intelligence network wasn't easy.
Plus, with Shrek Academy relentlessly hunting down evil soul masters, only Title Douluo level agents could possibly re establish a network, and that would take time.
But because his mother's Death God Tower soul tool required large amounts of resentful spirits, and with both the Mingdu Soul Engineer Tournament and the Continental Elite Tournament happening simultaneously, he had been too busy to assign agents to intelligence work.
"I wish it were just a Shrek Academy trick." Xu Tianran sighed.
"But according to our spies, Mu En has genuinely returned.
Even without making a public appearance, he still briefly displayed the power of an Ultimate Douluo."
Xu Tianran's expression darkened. "Master Zhongli, when the Sun Moon Empire finally wages war against the Three Empires, I will need Senior Ye Xishui and Senior Long Xiaoyao to enter the battlefield and eliminate Mu En."
He didn't mention Kong Deming, because once he ascended the throne, Kong Deming would be responsible for protecting him.
Xu Tianran needed Kong Deming to remain within the empire not risk himself on the battlefield.
After all, while he dreamed of becoming a legendary emperor who unified the continent, he also wanted to stay alive.
Zhongli Wu furrowed his brows. "That will be difficult, but I will do my best."
However, he was uncertain.
Based on what he knew about Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao, neither of them would truly try to kill Mu En.
Especially his mother.
Even though she had spoken of her hatred for Mu En all his life, Zhongli Wu knew it was just words.
If Mu En stood before her, she would never actually kill him.
Thus, having both Long Bo and Ye Xishui fight Mu En was unnecessary.
Either of them alone could stall Mu En, keeping him out of the war.
At the center of the Western Mountains, deep within a vast valley…
Song Lao's expression was dark with frustration.
She had been leading Shrek Academy's team through this valley for some time, yet no matter how they moved, they couldn't find a way out.
It was as if they were trapped inside a giant maze an endless cycle with no exit in sight.
A careless person might not have noticed the pattern, but she was sharp.
After wandering for a while, she immediately realized something was wrong.
But how could such a maze exist?
How could something even trap a Level 97 Super Douluo like herself?
This was far beyond ordinary logic.
She had chosen the Western route because the other directions around Mingdu were heavily patrolled by Soul Engineer battalions.
With so many students in her group, if they were ambushed, Shrek Academy would suffer devastating losses.
Shrek could not afford to lose more students.
Most of Shrek's top powerhouses had once been students if they kept losing talented young elites, the academy's future would be bleak.
Besides, this batch of students was exceptionally gifted they were future powerhouses.
Some even had highly influential backgrounds, making it unacceptable for them to die here.
Turning to look behind her, she saw fatigue written all over the students' faces.
She immediately spoke, "We've been going in circles. Something is wrong with this place.
It's already late let's rest for now.
Tomorrow, we'll find a way out.
I promise, I will get you back to Shrek Academy."
The students looked shocked, but they nodded and began setting up camp.
Song Lao sat cross legged on the ground, still unable to understand why this valley was so strange.
Even an Ultimate Douluo shouldn't be able to trap them like this.
"This is trouble."
"Who knows how long it'll take to get back to Shrek Academy…"
She sighed deeply.
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