Chapter 67: Storms Across Empires
Longxing City was forcibly incorporated into the Tiandou Empire.
This incident instantly shocked the high-ranking officials of both empires.
The Xingluo Empire, as expected, was furious.
From the royal family to the imperial army, the rage was palpable.
It was said that the moment the news arrived,
the Emperor of Xingluo flew into a frenzy and directly beheaded the eunuch who had delivered the message.
"Tiandou Empire… What an audacious Tiandou Empire!"
The Xingluo Emperor roared, slamming his palm on the council table.
His powerful aura as a Titled Douluo spread throughout the court, silencing all ministers.
He hurled a golden plate to the floor and growled,
"Notify the border troops. Encircle and annihilate them immediately.
That squad of one hundred must be exterminated!"
A cautious official stepped forward with a suggestion,
"Your Majesty, this squad wiped out thousands of Longxing City's troops.
They must consist entirely of soul masters.
If we only send regular border troops, the loss might be unbearable."
The court nodded in agreement.
The Emperor's eyes narrowed, then he bellowed another command,
"Dispatch Duanmu Luo, the Chief Priest, with two hundred Xingluo Imperial Guards.
Find them. Kill them all."
The Xingluo Imperial Guards—
An elite force painstakingly cultivated by the royal family, numbering just over five hundred.
Yet each one was at least a Soul King, making them the pinnacle of Xingluo's might.
And Duanmu Luo?
A level 94 Titled Douluo, a true powerhouse.
This was no longer a pursuit. It was a royal decree of annihilation.
The Emperor continued coldly,
"Pass the order to all provincial officials—
Whoever kills any member of the squad shall be promoted three levels and rewarded double pay.
If you can't defeat them, don't engage recklessly.
Just report their location."
That very day,
swift horses galloped out of Xingluo City in waves.
The last group to depart was the elite vanguard of soul masters—
Two hundred warriors, brimming with power.
Their leader stood tall and imposing, radiating dignity and force.
"A mere Tiandou squad? We'll crush them like ants."
The boast echoed through Xingluo City, stirring cheers.
The people could already envision a tower of heads as proof of their revenge.
The storm also swept into the Netherworld Zhu Clan.
Though the Zhu Clan had once held a prestigious position in the empire,
the recent internal chaos had tarnished their standing.
Still, no one dared to dismiss them.
They remained royal blood.
But their internal affairs were mired in strife.
Zhu Jiunian, the former clan head, had passed with no male heirs.
Only his sisters remained: Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing.
Both held legitimate claims to leadership.
The clan was split.
Though Zhu Zhuyun, with Davis by her side, seemed the stronger contender,
a quiet undercurrent of support persisted for Zhu Zhuqing.
This unresolved power struggle left the leadership of the Zhu Clan in limbo.
In a secluded boudoir,
Zhu Zhuqing stood alone, draped in black.
Her curvaceous figure contrasted sharply with her cold, steely eyes.
In her hand, she held a portrait.
The figure depicted was like a blade—tall, commanding, hair flowing wildly in the wind.
He stood atop a carriage, looking down at the world with unmatched pride.
Qin Chuan—the man who shattered Longxing City.
"Are you sure he's the leader of that squad?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, voice low.
"Yes, Miss," a subordinate confirmed. "We retrieved this from Longxing City. It's accurate."
"I see. Leave me."
As the door closed, Zhu Zhuqing stared at the portrait once more.
"The commotion he caused… it's too loud."
Thinking about the looming confrontation—
Xingluo Imperial Guards.
Duanmu Luo Gongfeng.
Just those words made her chest tighten with worry.
If Qin Chuan and his men were caught by such a force,
the outcome would be catastrophic.
After a long, silent pause, she clenched her teeth and stood.
Outside, a maid quickly approached.
"Young Miss?"
Zhu Zhuqing replied calmly,
"Tell Deacon Liu to gather trusted masters.
We're heading out to greet the Second Prince."
Deacon Liu—
A Level 68 Agility-type Soul Emperor.
One of the last gifts her late uncle left behind to support her.
He had always been her shadow protector,
the only reason Zhu Zhuyun hadn't already secured the clan leadership.
"Understood."
The maid left.
Zhu Zhuqing remained in the courtyard, gazing at the sky.
"I believed in you once… and I won that gamble."
"This time, I'll wager everything again… on you."
…
When the news of Longxing City's annexation reached Tiandou City,
the citizens were invigorated.
For the first time in weeks, a wave of hope rippled through the masses,
lifting them from the shadows of recent calamities.
But within the court?
A heavy silence.
"This was far too reckless, Your Majesty," an old official said bitterly.
"This move will provoke the Xingluo Empire further.
Even if we successfully return the prince, the damage is already done."
"Order Marshal Ge Long to withdraw from Longxing immediately!"
"Your Majesty, we cannot afford war with Xingluo!"
One by one, the aging ministers tried to persuade her—
as if they could rewrite the past with cowardice.
Qian Renxue, cloaked in royal gold, finally slammed the desk.
"Enough!"
Her voice cut through the air like a sword.
"Since when does the Empire abandon its own territory?"
"You want me to hand it over and face the late emperor in shame?!"
"B-But Your Majesty…"
"I SAID ENOUGH!"
Her aura burst out, chilling the court to the bone.
"If Xingluo wants war—then let them have it!"
No one dared speak again.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed outside the court.
A young eunuch stumbled in and dropped to his knees.
"R-Reporting to Your Majesty—"
"What is it?" Qian Renxue asked coldly.
The eunuch gulped and trembled.
"Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect…
He requests an audience."
Her eyes narrowed.
Since his return from the Spirit Hall, Ning Fengzhi hadn't once set foot in Tiandou.
Even during Tiandou's darkest days, he offered no support.
The memory left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"What does he want?"
The eunuch bowed lower and replied carefully,
"Sect Master Ning says… he knows who killed Prince Xuexing and the Fourth Prince."
At that moment,
Qian Renxue's gaze turned ice-cold.