After receiving the answer he wanted from Star Luo Emperor Dai Feng, Xu Mingxi finally fulfilled his wish and left Star Luo City, heading to the Star Crown Sect.
The entire Star Luo Empire was under the jurisdiction of the Star Crown Sect, but they didn't have enough people to fully control it, so they had to rely on the strength of the main armies.
The Star Crown Sect only needed to ensure its own power remained strong in order to stand firm. At least for the next few hundred years, they didn't need to worry about being overtaken by others.
As for what would happen after those few hundred years, if Xu Mingxi failed to become a god, he would eliminate all titled Douluo who could threaten the Star Crown Sect before his death.
Xu Mingxi and Dai Feng had already determined the division of power throughout the Star Luo Empire in just a few words during their prior discussions.
The entire empire was nominally under the Star Crown Sect, and the previous tax and tribute systems remained unchanged, but the main armies retained a high degree of autonomy.
The northern region was dominated by the White Tiger Duke's Dai family, along with the Zhu family and other forces, while the southern region belonged to various sects and noble families.
Although the Star Crown Sect did not fear these other powers, they did not want open conflict with them, or else the Spirit Empire and Sea God Island would take advantage.
The Star Luo Empire was merely a stepping stone for them to gather faith. The Star Crown Sect planned to mimic the former model of the Spirit Hall and establish Star God Temples in every major city.
Each temple enshrined a statue of the Star God, and disciples of the Star Crown Sect would serve as temple masters, awakening martial spirits for civilians for free, thereby gathering faith.
Xu Mingxi didn't know if this method would work. At this stage, all he could do was pray, hoping the black crystal ball given by the Sun and Moon God would provide a starting point.
Even if it failed, he could still take the opportunity to grow the strength of the Star Crown Sect and use the empire's resources to support their soul masters in cultivation.
After Xu Mingxi returned to the sect, he immediately discussed with the titled Douluo and planned a coronation ceremony to be held nine days later—before the sect master and others left to monitor Tang San.
There was much to prepare: the ceremony itself, invitations to the major forces, and most importantly, the establishment of Star God Temples across the land and the selection of temple masters—all of which required decisions from the titled Douluo.
Seven days later, news spread across the Star Luo Empire that Emperor Dai Feng had abdicated the throne to Star Douluo, citing his missteps in the Battle of Tianxing City which caused great losses to the army.
Once the news was out, many of the major powers that already knew didn't react, and the smaller, opportunistic forces didn't move either.
Instead, it was the civilian soul masters and the lowest classes—those most vulnerable—who began to worry about whether their stable lives would drastically change or even be endangered.
The next day, the Star Crown Sect, where the new Tiandou Emperor Xu Mingxi resided, announced that Star God Temples would be established in every city to awaken martial spirits for all people free of charge.
The civilians and soul masters immediately calmed down and felt grateful for Xu Mingxi's kindness, spontaneously worshipping the Star God.
Since the war began, branches of the Spirit Hall had been uprooted across the land, and no one had been awakening martial spirits for civilians.
On the Douluo Continent, martial spirits determined everything. Without being awakened, civilians had no chance of changing their fates—a source of despair.
Now that a new savior had arrived, civilians would surely worship the Star God Temple. Even if their children and grandchildren couldn't become soul masters, there was still hope.
Someday, the spirits of their descendants might mutate.
The nobles and soul experts remained silent, while the common people were full of gratitude. There was no resistance to the Star Crown Sect ascending to power, and preparations for the coronation were underway in full swing.
The sect master stood atop Star Luo Mountain, watching the disciples below move treasures from the sect treasury, box by box, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
Xu Mingxi's coronation couldn't be modest—the sect's power had to be fully displayed to subdue the major powers and prevent any dissent.
As a result, half the Star Crown Sect's thousand-year treasury would be spent on the coronation.
"Sect Master, don't be disheartened. As long as our plan succeeds, these things will return sooner or later," Xu Mingguang comforted him as the two busied themselves with coronation preparations, as if moving toward a brighter future.
However, there was still a hint of worry in their brows. If the plan succeeded and Xu Mingxi became a god, everything would unfold as they hoped.
But if it failed, the Star Crown Sect would be exposed, standing at the forefront of the Star Luo Empire and facing pressure from the Spirit Empire.
This was a gamble for everyone in the Star Crown Sect. If they succeeded, they would stand atop the continent for ten thousand years. If they failed, they would be severely wounded and retreat back to Star Luo Mountain, isolating themselves from the world.
In the busy Star Luo Empire, no one noticed that far out at sea near the Heaven Dou Empire, several large soul-guided ships were sailing.
A man in dark purple soul armor stood at the bow, gazing into the distance, his eyes shining with intense light.
On the deck were several captured sea soul masters, seriously wounded and seemingly tortured.
Just as the man was about to kill them, two elderly men came out of the cabin and stopped him.
An old man in golden robes stepped forward and bowed to Xu Zilong, then cautiously expressed his thoughts.
"Your Majesty, please spare them. The customs and traditions of the Douluo Continent are entirely different from ours. We might need them to guide us once we land."
Xu Yang bowed deeply, practically to the floor. He was genuinely afraid of the Sun and Moon Emperor before him—afraid of his strength and recklessness.
He didn't even dare to say that the number of titled Douluo in the Douluo Continent far exceeded theirs and that they stood no chance. It would be better to retreat now.
Xu Zilong's face turned cold and he wanted to lash out, but he held back. There were only three titled Douluo in their group, and losing even one would be a huge loss.
Moreover, he understood Xu Yang's concern. Even he was somewhat intimidated by the soul masters of the Douluo Continent.
Though the captured sea soul masters were weak and unaware of the true strength of the titled Douluo on the battlefield, they had heard rumors.
With Star Luo and Heaven Dou combined, battles involving thirty to forty titled soul masters on two fronts were far beyond what the Sun and Moon Empire could match.