"So much has happened in just these few months!?"
After nearly two more months passed, Chen Junting and Huo Yuhao's group had just returned to the Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect when they learned from Ning Bowen about the upheavals that had occurred in the Dou Ling Empire.
The brother succeeding the deceased elder, the Crown Prince's rebellion... event after event left Chen Junting feeling both unfamiliar and familiar.
In his heart, Chen Junting had already labeled Xue Feng.
This person was not simple!
"There's more to it than that."
Hearing Chen Junting's sigh, Ning Bowen couldn't help but shake his head. "Although such great changes occurred in the Dou Ling Empire, at least they had no external impact—it was ultimately their own family matter. But the Tian Hun Empire and Star Luo Empire are different. Originally, it had already been agreed that secretly, along with the leaders of various powers on the Douluo Continent, they would launch war against the Sun Moon Empire in a month."
"But now..."
Speaking to this point, Ning Bowen suddenly felt speechless. He directly handed the intelligence in his hands to Chen Junting, letting him see for himself.
Chen Junting took the intelligence and simply scanned it.
Conflict, conflict, and more conflict!
In just a few short months, the Tian Hun Empire and Star Luo Empire had experienced conflicts large and small, of varying scales. Some caused casualties, some caused property damage, but all were consistently suppressed by upper-level officials.
But as past conflicts between the two countries were mysteriously revealed, the suppressed conflicts and past grievances erupted all at once.
Instantly, both great empires fell into chaos.
Moreover, setting aside the Sun Moon Empire as a powerful external enemy, the relationship between Tian Hun and Star Luo could be seen from their border defenses—it had never been that good to begin with.
Now, with the gradual escalation of conflicts, the atmosphere between the two countries grew increasingly tense. Even the Tian Hun Emperor and Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei had to step forward to respond.
However, their responses were not mutual reconciliation.
Rather, they demanded that the other side give them a suitable explanation!
"This matter is absolutely problematic." After Chen Junting finished reading the intelligence, he remained silent while handing it to Ning Tian. And after Ning Tian read it, she made this judgment and said:
"The Tian Hun Emperor and Star Luo Emperor are not mediocre rulers. Now is the time to campaign against the Sun Moon—they wouldn't do something that harms themselves to benefit others."
Tap tap tap—
Ning Bowen rapped on the table, his brows slightly furrowed.
"Tian'er, the Tian Hun and Star Luo sides have also realized there's something fishy about this matter. So they entrusted the investigation of what lies behind these conflicts to Shrek Academy—a power belonging to neither of the two great empires. And the most difficult matter lies right here."
Ning Bowen's eyes gazed at Ning Tian, serious.
"According to the conclusions of the Shrek Supervisory Group's investigation, behind these conflicts large and small were the very hands of the Tian Hun and Star Luo Empires themselves. Now, Dean Yan and Elder Xuan and the others have all realized how serious the problem is and have consulted with us."
This...
At this moment, Ning Tian also realized things had gotten serious.
Once both sides truly learned the truth, then...
And precisely because of this, even after Yan Shaozhe and the others truly investigated it, they kept it hidden for fear of becoming the spark that ignites the fuse.
"Actually, Dean Yan and Elder Xuan and the others are quite clever."
At this time, Chen Junting, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, "If Tian Hun and Star Luo truly learned of this matter, then even if the Tian Hun and Star Luo Emperors didn't want it, even if the high-level officials of both empires didn't want it, the conflicts and even war between the two empires would be detonated by public opinion at the middle and lower levels of the empires. It would be unstoppable."
"But being clever is useless."
Ning Bowen waved his hand, his tone quite helpless.
"Now public opinion is growing increasingly severe. The two great empires can no longer suppress it, and even Shrek Academy can barely hold it back anymore."
And just at this moment, "Report!"
Outside, a sect disciple's voice came.
They heard him say: "Reporting to the Sect Leader, latest news from outside the sect—at the border between the Tian Hun Empire and Star Luo Empire, small military forces have come into conflict and have already begun exchanging fire."
"What!?"
Hearing this, Ning Bowen was greatly shocked! Just great—they were still thinking about how to handle the fuse in their hands, and now not only had another fuse appeared, but it had already been lit.
"This matter can no longer be delayed!"
The severity of the situation made Ning Bowen's expression serious.
He abruptly rose, "Uncle Zhang!" As his voice fell, a black shadow quietly appeared—Zhang Ming instantly arrived at his side.
"Accompany me to the Tian Hun imperial palace."
Then, he looked at Chen Junting and Ning Tian, "Little Chen, Tian'er, write a letter on my behalf to Dean Yan, asking him to make a trip to the Star Luo imperial palace. We cannot let this war start internally first."
With that, he hurriedly walked outward.
But before he could step out of the courtyard gate, Chen Junting quickly stepped forward to stop him, "Uncle Ning, what do you plan to do?"
"Of course, to persuade them face-to-face."
Ning Bowen's brows showed slight worry, "Military conflict—this has become completely serious. Now, Tian Hun and Star Luo are essentially arrows on the bowstring. One mishandling, and they will have no choice but to fire!"
"But going to persuade them like this won't work."
Chen Junting was very calm.
Of course, he also knew Uncle Ning understood this approach had little meaning. And the facts were just as Chen Junting anticipated.
"I know this. Unless the Sun Moon Empire declares war on us three original Douluo countries right now, making Tian Hun and Star Luo share a common enemy! But the Sun Moon isn't stupid—they're hoping to see Tian Hun and Star Luo fall into dispute."
"Now, it's just conflict—no, to be precise, it's already small-scale irregular warfare. But if left unchecked and allowed to continue developing, it will truly become even harder to resolve."
Ning Bowen's brows hung upside down as he quietly looked at Chen Junting.
"So even if such persuasion is useless, I must still try first. In this regard, Shrek Academy will also have corresponding tacit understanding. Because if we don't do anything, then it will truly be useless."
Speaking thus, he patted Chen Junting's shoulder.
Then, he wanted to directly walk around him. Who would have thought...
"Uncle Ning, I'm not saying we shouldn't do anything. Rather, persuasion truly won't work—we should use some more effective methods."
Chen Junting's words rang out, causing Ning Bowen to abruptly raise his head.
"You have a way!?"
"I do."
Chen Junting nodded, "But the prerequisite is that we need to get both sides to gather in one place—only then is there a possibility of resolving this conflict."
"Good!"
Seeing Chen Junting's confident attitude, Ning Bowen couldn't help but gain confidence. He nodded and said, "I will contact Shrek Academy and the Body Sect. Then our three parties will jointly issue invitations to Tian Hun and Star Luo to gather first before discussing further."
"As for the location..."
Ning Bowen's gaze turned toward the south.
"Let's choose Shrek, where both sides can feel at ease."
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