Watching the emperor of the largest of the three former Douluo Continent nations bow respectfully to him, Xuanzi showed no hint of surprise. His expression remained calm as he said to Xu Jiawei:
"I already know the situation."
Hearing this, Xu Jiawei raised his head anxiously. "Then… what is the Academy's stance?"
Xuanzi reassured him. "Your Majesty need not panic. As the protector of the three former nations of Douluo Continent, the Academy will naturally help the Star Luo Empire reclaim its lost territory."
Hearing this, Xu Jiawei released a breath of relief. He hurriedly gestured to Xuanzi and Da Ming.
"Please, sirs—this way…"
He personally led them to the imperial hall. After arriving, he invited both to take the seats of honor before returning to his own.
Once seated, Xu Jiawei felt confidence returning to him.
Xuanzi looked at him and said, "Your Majesty, please tell us the Star Luo Empire's strategic arrangements going forward so that we may coordinate accordingly."
Xu Jiawei nodded and revealed in full the empire's upcoming troop deployments. After listening, Xuanzi gave a slight nod.
"The Academy's Soul Tool Department will provide support. Dean Yan Shaozhe of the Martial Soul Department will also accompany the forces."
Xu Jiawei's expression brightened at this. But soon, a look of hesitation clouded his face. After struggling for a moment, he said:
"Elder Xuan! I have an unreasonable request…"
Seeing his difficulty, Xuanzi replied, "Your Majesty, please speak."
"I wish… for Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department to provide the Star Luo Empire with advanced soul tool technology. Of course, the Academy will not be asked to give without receiving! The mineral resources within Star Luo territory—you may claim full extraction rights."
He finally spoke the request—and the price he was offering.
The Star Luo Empire, second only to the Sun Moon Empire in size, possessed numerous valuable mineral deposits. Their worth was immense. Truthfully, Shrek Academy's soul tool technology was nowhere near equal in value—but Xu Jiawei had no choice.
Star Luo's soul tool technology barely reached the seventh rank, and by Sun Moon standards, even their "seventh-level" tools should be classified as sixth-level.
This technological gap meant the Star Luo army could not offer effective resistance against Sun Moon's forces, relying entirely on high-end Title Douluo combat power to maintain a tenuous balance.
If this situation continued, the ultimate result would mirror the fall of Yuming Pass—there would be no way to hold the border against the Sun Moon Empire.
Hearing that the emperor was willing to offer the entire nation's mining rights, the ministers in the hall were bitter and unwilling.
Xuanzi, however, was secretly delighted—but he quickly composed himself and said:
"Your Majesty overestimates us. The Academy would never sit idly by while the Star Luo Empire faces disaster! Once I return, I will have Lin'er immediately prepare the soul tool technologies you need. As for the mineral rights… we can discuss that later."
Although Xuanzi hid it quickly, Xu Jiawei still caught the flicker of joy on his face. He sighed helplessly.
With the empire so far behind in soul tool technology, Star Luo had no leverage to negotiate with Shrek Academy at all.
Not long after Xuanzi and Da Ming returned to Shrek Academy, an envoy from the Heavenly Soul Empire arrived seeking Da Ming's help. After Xue Yu was killed by Jiang Qingtong, the entire Heavenly Soul Empire had fallen into chaos.
Xue Yu had been the empire's only truly powerful Super Douluo. Now that he was dead, only a single, elderly level-97 Super Douluo remained—over two hundred years old, with little time left.
Although many old sects had allied themselves with the empire, their strength was limited. Title Douluo they had, but not a single Super Douluo.
Thus, the Heavenly Soul envoy had come to request that Da Ming grant them another portion of the Sea God's divine protection—so that they might once again possess Ultimate Douluo-level power.
Watching the envoy plead, Da Ming frowned.
"On this continent, the power of an Ultimate Douluo is second only to the gods themselves. Your prince should have used this power to hold the Sun Moon Empire at Yuming Pass. But because of his arrogance, the frontline collapsed. And now you dare ask for another blessing?"
The envoy fell to his knees, weeping.
"Lord Tianqing! Please take pity on us… With the prince gone, the Heavenly Soul Empire truly has no one left who can fight!"
Da Ming stared at the envoy kowtowing before him. He sighed softly. A thousand years ago, during the Heaven Dou Empire era, the empire was filled with talent. How had it declined to such a state?
But sentiment was sentiment. Reality remained: the Heavenly Soul Empire could not be allowed to fall. They were needed to guard the long northern border, preventing the Sun Moon Empire from launching an invasion from the north.
Da Ming took out the recovered portion of the Sea God's blessing.
"Take it. And remember: only someone at the Super Douluo level can absorb this power. Otherwise, the best outcome is severe injury. The worst is death."
The envoy accepted it with overwhelming gratitude and kowtowed repeatedly before leaving.
Da Ming was not worried about it falling into the wrong hands. This was divine power—only Tang San had the authority to determine its bearer. Da Ming was merely the messenger.
However, shortly after sending the Heavenly Soul envoy away, the envoy of the Dou Ling Empire arrived at Shrek Academy in a panic—with bad news.
A Sun Moon Empire soul engineer unit had infiltrated Dou Ling territory and attacked Lingdou City.
At the time, the royal family was holding its annual grand gathering. If not for Tianyang Douluo's presence, the entire royal household might have been wiped out.
"Were they captured?" Xuanzi asked, frowning.
The envoy shook his head. "No. Their movements were extremely fast. After the first strike failed, they refused to engage and immediately escaped. All of them were soul engineers. According to Tianyang Douluo's judgment, they may be members of the Sun Moon Empire's Beast King-class Soul Engineer Regiment."
"But isn't the Beast King Regiment stationed at Yuming Pass? How could they suddenly bypass both the Heavenly Soul and Star Luo Empires and appear in the Dou Ling Empire?" Elder Song asked, frowning deeply.
Xuanzi remained calm. "The Sun Moon Empire has five Beast King-class regiments. Only two were at Yuming Pass."
"They went that deep into Dou Ling territory with no reinforcements? Their courage borders on insanity!" Elder Song said in disbelief. "Whose strategy is this? If they slip up even once, the three nations could surround and annihilate them!"
Even the strongest soul engineers numbered only a few hundred—how could they withstand the combined might of armies numbering in the millions?
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