Chapter 112 The Demon Emperor.
Bibi Dong slowly nodded, a trace of color finally returning to her face: "Not bad. Crisis, crisis, but there is also opportunity in danger. Nana, you have grown."
She stood up, looking down: "Issue the following orders: First, effective immediately, the Spirit Hall issues the highest-level alert, designating the far north as an 'extinction-level restricted area,' strictly prohibiting any spirit master from approaching the core area of the far north within a thousand miles for any reason."
"Second, launch the 'Guardian Project,' issuing a proposal in the name of the Spirit Hall to the entire continent's spirit master community to establish a 'human-spirit beast border intelligence sharing and emergency response mechanism,' inviting the two great empires and all spirit master sects to participate."
"Third, increase investment in the protection and cultivation of the spirit beast forests under the Spirit Hall's jurisdiction. Fourth, strengthen monitoring of the Star Dou Great Forest, guarding against other ferocious beasts having similar opportunities or unusual movements."
Orders were quickly issued, the entire Spirit Hall operating at high speed like a sophisticated machine.
Heaven Dou Empire, Imperial Palace.
Emperor Xue Ye slumped on his throne, his face ashen, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
Below, the assembled officials were completely silent, the atmosphere oppressive and suffocating.
"The far north... the Ice Emperor..." Emperor Xueye murmured, his voice hoarse, "Just outside our northern border... a ferocious beast comparable to a level 98 peak Douluo, or perhaps even stronger... has obtained a divine inheritance..."
The Prime Minister trembled as he said, "Your Majesty, urgent reports have come from the northern border garrison. The extreme cold of the far north is leaking out abnormally, causing temperatures to plummet by tens of degrees along the border. Some areas have already seen frostbite and casualties... and low-level soul beasts on the ice plains are showing signs of a large-scale panicked southward migration..."
"Defend? How can we defend?" a veteran military officer asked dejectedly.
"The absolute zero domain has a radius of three hundred miles! If the Ice Emperor wanted to, a single thought could freeze a thousand miles! Our army, before such an existence, is no different from ants!"
Emperor Xueye suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot. "What's the Spirit Hall's reaction?"
"The Spirit Hall just issued a highest alert, designating the far north as an extinction-level forbidden zone, and proposed some 'Guardian Plan,' inviting us and Xingluo to participate in joint border defense..." the intelligence minister quickly reported.
"Joint defense? Hmph!" Emperor Xueye sneered, "They probably want to take this opportunity to extend their reach into our border troops!"
But he immediately slumped, knowing that this might be the only seemingly feasible solution.
The Heaven Dou Empire alone was simply powerless to deal with the threat from the far north.
"Agree to their terms," Emperor Xueye waved his hand weakly. "But the negotiation conditions must be firmly set. We can concede some control, but the core control of the army's command, garrison locations, and resource allocation must remain with us."
"Furthermore, immediately dispatch a top-level delegation with substantial gifts to Tianxing Academy to request an audience with Senior Meng Hongchen! Their attitude must be extremely humble! Plead with her, considering we are both within the Tiandou territory and protect the common people, to offer assistance if necessary…"
"And," he said, as if grasping at a last straw, "send people to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, to any place where hidden powerhouses might exist! Seek all possible help! The Empire… is at a critical juncture of life and death!" In the Star Luo Empire, Dai Tianfeng was equally overwhelmed. Although Star Luo did not directly border the far north, the north also possessed vast, cold regions and soul beast forests. No one knew how far the Ice Emperor's power would extend.
What alarmed Dai Tianfeng even more was that the Ice Emperor's appearance had completely shattered the balance of high-end combat power on the continent.
The Spirit Hall was already unfathomable, and now with the addition of Meng Hongchen within the Heaven Dou territory, plus the terrifying ferocious beasts of the far north… the Star Luo Empire's high-end forces seemed so weak.
"Strengthen border defenses, especially the northern frontier bordering Heaven Dou! Closely monitor all the Spirit Hall's movements! Activate the Royal Treasury, spare no expense in cultivating and recruiting all usable talent!" Dai Tianfeng could only issue such orders, his heart filled with a sense of powerlessness. Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo sat facing each other, silent for a long time.
"Fengzhi, this continent... is really going to be in chaos," Bone Douluo sighed.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin clenched his fists, his eyes filled with solemnity, yet also burning with a hint of fighting spirit: "Absolute Zero Domain... Ice Soul Scorpion Dharma Form... I really want to see if my Seven Kill Sword is sharper, or her Extreme Cold Domain is stronger!"
Ning Fengzhi smiled bitterly: "Uncle Sword, now is not the time for sparring. The Ice Emperor's inclusion on the list means that Soul Beasts have officially stepped into the limelight, and with a powerful posture that everyone has to take seriously."
"The hunter-gatherer relationship between humans and Soul Beasts that has lasted for tens of thousands of years is probably about to undergo a fundamental change."
He looked to the north, worried: "The Heaven Dou Empire will bear the brunt of the pressure. We have close ties with the Heaven Dou royal family, so we probably can't stay out of it either."
"Moreover... the Spirit Hall will never let this opportunity pass. The situation on the continent will become even more complicated."
"Then what should we do?" Bone Douluo asked.
Ning Fengzhi pondered for a long time: "First, strengthen the sect's defenses, especially against extreme cold and mental attacks. Second, utilize our commercial network and intelligence system to closely monitor all movements in the Far North, the Spirit Hall, and the two great empires."
"Third, attempt to establish more covert communication channels with some intelligent spirit beast clans that are close to humans. Fourth..."
He paused, a decisive glint in his eyes: "Launch the 'Seed Project,' selecting a group of the most core and promising disciples and resources, and secretly transferring them to several absolutely safe, secluded places. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's lineage cannot be broken."
The entire Douluo Continent was in turmoil and turbulent due to the Ice Emperor's inclusion on the list.
All forces were reassessing and adjusting their strategies and positioning.
Meanwhile, in the Far North, that eternal world of ice and snow, under the Ice Emperor's absolute zero domain, it seemed to have transformed into an awakened, world-destroying ancient behemoth, quietly lying dormant, coldly watching the noisy and chaotic human world in the south.
The Ice Emperor's declaration, like the biting winds of the far north, swept through the hearts of every powerful being:
"Those who spy, die."
This was not merely a declaration for the far north, but a chilling footnote to the entire continent's overall situation.
The era of soul beasts seemed to have quietly begun to unfold, casting a heavy shadow.
The chill of the far north had not yet dissipated from the hearts of the various forces on the continent, and the emerald light that froze time and space still lingered with a bone-chilling cold in the consciousness of countless powerful beings.
However, the heavens shifted once more.
This time, it did not begin from any known location on the continent, but from—the ocean!
(End of Chapter)