Inside the Imperial Study of the palace, sandalwood incense curled in the air, yet it could not mask the tension permeating the atmosphere.
Xu Jiawei's expression was as dark as water. He held an intelligence report just delivered by a secret agent, his fingertips pressing down slightly with force.
Beside him, Yan Shaozhe's brow was also tightly furrowed, his expression carrying a hint of impatience and gravity.
Furthermore, the envoys from the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Dou Ling Empire were also present. Both had solemn expressions, their eyes filled with shock and anger.
Xu Jiawei slowly passed the intelligence report down, his voice carrying a trace of exhaustion: "Everyone, see for yourselves. What is the Sun Moon Empire trying to do?"
The Heavenly Soul Empire Envoy was the first to take the report. After a quick scan, his face instantly turned ashen.
He slammed the report onto the table and shouted angrily, "The Sun Moon Empire has stationed a million troops at the border?! Has Xu Tianran truly gone mad?!"
"This is a blatant provocation!" The Dou Ling Empire Envoy also stood up, his tone equally furious.
"The tournament is currently being held; it should be a time of peace. Yet the Sun Moon Empire has the audacity to station a million troops at the Star Luo border. Are they trying to start a war?"
"Do they really think our Three Great Empires are afraid of their Sun Moon Empire?"
The words of the two fell like a rapid-fire barrage, and the atmosphere in the Imperial Study instantly became even more strained.
Listening to them, Xu Jiawei sighed softly, a flash of helplessness and wariness crossing his eyes.
How could he not be angry?
But as the Star Luo Empire was the nation directly facing the Sun Moon Empire at the border, once war truly broke out, it would be their people and territory that would bear the brunt of the flames of war.
The Heavenly Soul and Dou Ling Empires were far from the border where the troops were stationed, so they could naturally clamor with impassioned rhetoric at this moment.
But the true pressure was entirely on his shoulders.
"Everyone, please calm down," Xu Jiawei spoke slowly.
"Xu Tianran and Xu Tianhao are siblings from the same mother, and they are the favored geniuses of the Sun Moon Empire's younger generation."
"Now that the tournament has begun, Xu Tianran's deployment of troops at the border is nothing more than an act of protectiveness."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Yan Shaozhe as he continued, "Furthermore, since the Sun Moon Empire dares to do this, it means they have made complete preparations."
"I feel that if we rashly move against Xu Tianhao and the others, we might fall right into their trap, giving Xu Tianran a reason to launch his armies."
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe's brow shot up.
He naturally heard the cowardice in Xu Jiawei's words and felt somewhat dissatisfied.
As the number one academy on the continent, Shrek Academy had always taken the maintenance of continental peace as its responsibility.
With the Sun Moon Empire being so arrogant now, he naturally did not want to back down.
"Your Majesty," Yan Shaozhe's tone was firm, "at a time like this, we cannot show weakness."
He walked to the table, pointed at the grouping list, and continued, "In today's grouping, the Mingluo Sect is in the same group as the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. We can completely use the tournament as a pretext to take action directly on the field."
"As long as we cripple them within the rules, even if the Sun Moon Empire has a million-strong army backing them, they will have nothing to say!"
Xu Jiawei grumbled inwardly: You, Yan Shaozhe, certainly talk as if it's easy when you have nothing at stake.
The Sun Moon Empire's million troops are at the Star Luo border, not at the gates of Shrek Academy.
If a fight really breaks out, Shrek Academy naturally has a way out, but my Star Luo Empire would have to face the Sun Moon Empire's million-strong army head-on.
However, he was also aware of Yan Shaozhe's status and influence, so he did not say it directly.
Xu Jiawei could only soften his tone and say tactfully, "Dean Yan, the Sun Moon Empire's wild ambitions have long been known to all."
"If we truly cripple Xu Tianhao on the field, what if Xu Tianran uses it as an opportunity to cause trouble and orders his army to attack the Star Luo border? What should we do then?"
Yan Shaozhe smiled confidently and patted his chest. "Your Majesty, rest assured. Shrek Academy will handle this matter."
He paused, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. "Furthermore, the elite Spirit Masters of the entire continent are gathered here now, and the younger generation of the Three Great Empires is also all present."
"If the Sun Moon Empire truly dares to move its troops, we can use this opportunity to summon all the Spirit Masters of the continent and curb the Sun Moon Empire's ambitions in one fell swoop!"
Hearing this, Xu Jiawei finally let out a slow sigh of relief.
With Shrek Academy presiding and the strength of all the continent's Spirit Masters as a backdrop, the concerns in his heart indeed lessened by more than half.
But even so, the worry in his heart still did not dissipate.
After all, a million troops stationed at the border was no small matter.
Once a conflict truly erupted and the flames of war spread, it would ultimately be the common people who suffered.
At the end of the day, as the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire, the first thing he had to consider was his own people and territory.
Xu Jiawei took a deep breath and spoke again, his tone exceptionally solemn: "I have invited everyone here today precisely to discuss this matter."
"Once the Sun Moon Empire's army moves, it involves far more than just my Star Luo Empire; it involves the safety of the entire continent."
"I hope everyone can work together with my Star Luo Empire to discuss countermeasures, just in case."
As soon as these words were spoken, it was the turn of the envoys from the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Dou Ling Empire to look troubled.
The two of them groaned inwardly.
They were naturally willing to help the Star Luo Empire condemn the Sun Moon Empire with a few words.
But if they truly had to send troops to help or provide substantial support, that would be difficult.
Although the Three Great Empires nominally belonged to the original Douluo Continent camp, there had been constant friction between them in recent years; they were no longer a monolithic block.
The Heavenly Soul and Dou Ling Empires had split mid-way, and their foundations were not as robust as the Star Luo Empire's.
Now that they had to divert power to support Star Luo, they were naturally reluctant in their hearts.
The atmosphere in the Imperial Study instantly became somewhat subtle. The air seemed to freeze, and even the scent of the sandalwood incense became pungent.
Yan Shaozhe keenly perceived this. He knew he could not let the atmosphere remain at a stalemate.
Once the Three Great Empires developed a rift, it would play right into the Sun Moon Empire's hands.
He quickly took a step forward to smooth things over, saying sincerely, "Your Majesty, esteemed lords, there is no need to be troubled."
"The Three Great Empires are united as one; everyone understands the principle that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold."
"The Sun Moon Empire's ambitions are already clear for all to see. If we do not curb them today, they will surely become a great disaster in the future."
He paused and continued, "The tournament is still ongoing, and everything is still within controllable limits."
"We will first resolve Xu Tianhao and the others through direct means on the field. As for the border matters, Shrek Academy will step forward to negotiate with the Sun Moon Empire."
"At the same time, we will contact other Sects and forces on the continent to jointly face the threat of the Sun Moon Empire."
"Rest assured, as long as my Shrek Academy still stands, we will never let the Sun Moon Empire have its way!"
Yan Shaozhe's words were firm and powerful, carrying an unquestionable confidence.
As the number one power on the continent, Shrek Academy's influence spread across the entire Douluo Continent.
With his promise, the concerns in the hearts of the Heavenly Soul and Dou Ling Empire Envoys eased slightly.
Xu Jiawei looked at Yan Shaozhe and nodded slowly.
Things had come to this point; they could only take it one step at a time.
He looked out the window. Faint cheers and shouts came from the direction of the tournament grounds, forming a sharp contrast with the gravity inside the Imperial Study.
From the moment Xu Tianran moved his troops, this Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Soul Duel Tournament was no longer just a simple gathering for Spirit Master competition.
It was more like a giant stage.
Hidden behind the stage was the secret maneuvering between the Three Great Empires and the Sun Moon Empire.
It was also a key turning point for the future direction of the entire Douluo Continent.