Tian Hun Empire, Modeng City.
Under the Sun Moon Empire's invasion, this city—situated just inland from the coastal cities—had long since been occupied by the Sun Moon Empire's army.
Because Modeng City was located in a strategic position, guarding the main supply lines to the coastal cities behind it, and was inherently easy to defend but difficult to attack, Silver Moon Douluo Kong Deming had taken personal command here.
Not far below the city, the Tian Hun Empire's army was stationed, supervised by Star Sword Douluo Ye Xuanji.
The two armies had clashed countless times, but a victor remained elusive, resulting in a constant stalemate. Kong Deming had even begun to think that the war from now on would turn into a battle of attrition, primarily a contest of national strength.
However,
A piece of news today completely shattered Kong Deming's assumptions.
"What!?"
Kong Deming's pupils shrank abruptly. Thinking of something, he immediately retrieved a letter from his storage soul tool.
Comparing the two, he blurted out, "The news is actually true?!"
Clearly, just like Ye Yulin, Kong Deming had also received the letter that Chen Junting had Ning Tian deliver. And similarly, Kong Deming shared Ye Yulin's perspective, believing that the army should not withdraw lightly at that time, lest they suffer heavy losses.
Yet the truth was that the Sun Moon Imperial Palace had indeed been razed, and Emperor Xu Tianran had utterly perished, not even leaving behind an intact corpse.
Holding the letter, Kong Deming remained silent.
If he had to name the emotion, sadness wasn't very prominent. What truly overwhelmed him was relief.
Relief that they had only launched a surprise attack on the Imperial Palace and hadn't annihilated Ming Du.
With Ming Du intact, the court officials had suffered minimal casualties, and the Sun Moon royal bloodline—both direct and distantly related—still survived. That, in itself, was a silver lining. Although Ming De Hall and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy would inevitably be looted, at least the people were still alive.
As long as the people survived, the empire had a future.
Furthermore, there were still massive armies stationed on both the Star Luo and Tian Hun battlefields. Although the prolonged war had caused significant losses, defending the nation's borders was still roughly achievable. It was just a pity...
Kong Deming stood atop the city walls, gazing into the distance.
The territory of the Tian Hun Empire was mouth-watering!
Marching north to unify the continent was the ambition of many Sun Moon emperors. Perhaps, even until his dying breath, he wouldn't live to see the Sun Moon Empire completely conquer the original three Douluo Empires and unify the two continents.
Shaking off his wandering thoughts, Kong Deming reined in his focus.
At this very moment, he had made a resolute decision!
No matter what, he had to cultivate talent with all his might.
He needed to nurture a soul engineer capable of shouldering his burdens; a soul engineer who could bear the weight of the Sun Moon Empire's future.
At this thought, a sudden sense of "I've grown old" welled up in Kong Deming's heart, accompanied by a wave of internal conflict.
That question was: who was qualified to inherit his mantle?
In the past, the one he had valued the most was Xuan Ziwen. However, Xuan Ziwen was only suited for research, not for defending the nation. Moreover, ever since Xuan Ziwen had joined the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, that thought had to be completely extinguished.
Next in line would be Jing Hongchen and Ye Yulin.
But those two had too many distractions on their minds, making further breakthroughs difficult. Besides, they were also getting on in years; it would be hard for them to last many more.
"I still need to look at the younger generation."
Kong Deming sighed, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "Perhaps... the Hongchen siblings are more suitable after all. Furthermore..."
As he murmured, a plan had already formed in his mind.
In terms of raw talent, the Hongchen siblings were absolutely top-tier within the Sun Moon Empire, and they held the highest hope of reaching his level. Coupled with the fact that the Hongchen family were imperial in-laws, second only to the royal family, as long as Meng Hongchen's child could smoothly ascend the throne, they would secure the Hongchen family's undying support. With this, the empire's future would be stabilized.
As for whether Meng Hongchen had actually conceived Xu Tianran's child... this matter was completely irrelevant in Kong Deming's eyes.
What he needed to ensure was not whether this specific lineage of Xu Tianran was orthodox, but rather that the Xu royal family and the Sun Moon Empire itself would endure.
Therefore, regardless of whether Meng Hongchen was actually pregnant or not, she must give birth to a child carrying the blood of the Xu royal family. Likewise, she was destined to be the Empress Dowager of the Sun Moon court in the future, the biological mother of the next emperor.
"Hongchen, if it truly comes to that, I'll have to wrong your granddaughter." He voiced a faint apology, yet his tone revealed a trace of absolute resoluteness. With that said, Kong Deming turned to descend the city walls to arrange the withdrawal of his troops. He had to ensure they wouldn't be dealt a crushing blow by the Tian Hun Army if they retreated in a panic.
Not long after, a series of military orders were dispatched from Modeng City.
The forces that had retreated to the coastal cities were to board the returning warships and vessels first, heading back to the Sun Moon Empire to defend Dongyang City. Meanwhile, Kong Deming would lead the inland forces to hold off the Tian Hun Army, ensuring the safe evacuation of the coastal troops.
If he departed first, the rearguard would undoubtedly face a devastating blow. Because within the current Sun Moon Army, aside from himself, there was absolutely no one—or group—capable of withstanding the attack of a Limit Douluo.
Once the rearguard forces successfully retreated back to Dongyang City in the Sun Moon Empire, the legions that had evacuated first would take over the defense, rotating in to block the pursuers. This would also give the exhausted rearguard troops a moment to catch their breath.
Meanwhile, at the Tian Hun camp.
A scout hurriedly rushed into the commander's tent to report.
"Marshal, there are unusual movements in the Sun Moon Army!"
The commotion of the Sun Moon Army's retreat was impossible to conceal, so it naturally couldn't escape the eyes and ears of the Tian Hun forces. From the moment the Sun Moon Army began their movements, their actions had been fully monitored, providing intelligence that wasn't far off from reality.
"Excellent! They're finally making a move!"
Marshal Li's voice revealed a hint of excitement. He immediately issued an order, "Assemble everyone for a war council!"
Not long after, the generals of the Tian Hun Empire and the powerhouses who had joined the war all gathered. Then, they learned from Marshal Li that the Sun Moon Army was about to retreat.
Instantly, the crowd grew exhilarated.
"They couldn't have retreated at a better time!"
"The opportunity has finally come!"
Clearly, the Tian Hun Army had long been waiting for this moment.
Because over ten days ago, they had received the message Chen Junting had sent back—the Sun Moon Imperial Palace had been destroyed, and Xu Tianran was dead. However, due to the situation on the Star Luo Empire's frontlines, Chen Junting had also stated in his letter that they would keep a lid on the battle developments for now.
Thus, for the past few days, the Tian Hun Army had been lying in wait for the Sun Moon Army's next move. As long as they dared to retreat, they would attack!
And now, the wait was over.
Marshal Li drew his longsword with a "Shing—," slashed down fiercely, cleaving off a corner of the commander's desk, and roared, "Gentlemen! The annihilation of the Sun Moon Empire hinges on this battle! They shall end up like this desk!"
"The annihilation of the Sun Moon Empire hinges on this battle!" × N
Accompanied by a chorus of furious roars, Marshal Li began deploying his troops. He intended to reclaim their lost territory, cross the ocean, and push all the way into the Sun Moon Empire's lands to wash away the Tian Hun Empire's humiliation!
...
Just as the Tian Hun and Sun Moon armies began their respective maneuvers, Dongyang City, located on the coast of the Sun Moon Empire, also received the message sent back from the army on the Tian Hun battlefield.
They were ordered to construct defensive fortifications and prepare to receive the returning Sun Moon Army, bracing themselves for a defensive siege at any moment.
For a time, a tense atmosphere of impending doom enveloped Dongyang City.
Any merchant or commoner who could flee was currently escaping into the empire's inland. They were terrified that in a few days, the entire city of Dongyang would be placed under martial law, becoming a one-way gate where entry was allowed but exit was forbidden.
After all, once a war broke out, no one cared about your status. Anyone remaining in the city might be conscripted for the battlefield; at the very least, they would be forced onto the city walls to aid in the defense.
However, regarding the mad exodus of Dongyang City's population—which gradually transformed the once prosperous city into a desolate shell—the City Lord of Dongyang turned a blind eye, allowing the situation to run its course.
Naturally, his inaction incurred the dissatisfaction of many.
Sure enough, the commander of the Soul Engineer Legion stationed to the northeast outside Dongyang City—who was responsible for serving as a critical transit hub during the war—came knocking on his door right now, demanding a reasonable explanation.
"Where is the City Lord of Dongyang!?"
Outside the City Lord's mansion, the Soul Engineer Legion Commander ignored the attempts of the mansion guards to stop him, shoving them to the ground as he barged in.
At this time, the City Lord of Dongyang, who was handling city affairs in his study, also heard the commotion. He couldn't help but let out a faint sigh before walking directly into the front courtyard of his mansion.
Stepping into the courtyard, he immediately spotted the Soul Engineer Legion Commander. The latter's furious expression made it glaringly obvious he was here to interrogate him.
"What the hell is going through your head!?"
The Soul Engineer Legion Commander lunged forward, violently grabbing the City Lord by his collar as he demanded harshly, "So many people are fleeing, why aren't you doing anything!?"
Hearing this, the City Lord of Dongyang merely displayed a calm expression.
He didn't immediately respond to the Soul Engineer Legion Commander. Instead, he shifted his gaze to the trembling subordinates and servants in the courtyard, saying, "All of you, leave. I need to have a proper chat with Commander Jiang. Also, no matter what kind of argument breaks out, or what you hear, no one is allowed to approach."
"Yes, my Lord." × N
The subordinates and servants all kept their heads down and hastily retreated.
Very soon, only the two of them remained in the front courtyard.
Seeing this, the Soul Engineer Legion Commander tightened his grip even further. "Alright, all the irrelevant people are gone, it's just the two of us now! You'd better give me a reasonable explanation!"
Unexpectedly, the City Lord's response took him completely by surprise.
The City Lord of Dongyang stared unblinkingly into the Soul Engineer Legion Commander's eyes with a gaze as unmoving as an ancient well, and spoke in an equally tranquil and detached tone, "An explanation? Is one necessary?"
This calm rhetorical question inexplicably made the Soul Engineer Legion Commander feel a sense of unease. However, the City Lord's next words caused the Commander to feel a surge of embarrassed anger.
"War is inherently a filthy game that brings misfortune to innocent civilians. What? They've been dragged into this against their will, yet they aren't allowed to decide whether they stay or go?"
"You...!!!"
The Soul Engineer Legion Commander felt a wave of fury upon hearing this! To dare call war a filthy game—this guy had some nerve!
But he swallowed those words back down his throat. He merely glared indignantly at the City Lord of Dongyang before...
"Hmph—!"
He let out a cold snort and violently threw off the City Lord's collar.
"Best of luck to yourself, you bastard."
Arguing about this matter was already pointless.
And truth be told, the City Lord's explanation had actually convinced him on a logical level. If possible, it was indeed best not to involve civilians. But facing an empire in crisis, in the Soul Engineer Legion Commander's eyes, these civilians should also be willing to sacrifice their lives.
The two perspectives were fundamentally in conflict.
Therefore, the Soul Engineer Legion Commander decided not to get involved any further. As for what would happen to the City Lord of Dongyang in the future... well, as he said, best of luck.
With that, the Soul Engineer Legion Commander turned to leave, intending to redeploy his legion's assignments. But just as he turned around and hadn't taken more than a few steps, "Wait."
The City Lord of Dongyang suddenly called out to stop him.
Almost subconsciously, the Soul Engineer Legion Commander turned around. But the sight that met his eyes was an unfamiliar figure.
Instantly, the Soul Engineer Legion Commander's pupils shrank to pinpricks.
He had no idea who this person was, let alone how they had appeared behind him.
So fast, so utterly silent!
This person was incredibly strong!
Before he could even formulate the thought to resist...
"Buzz—"
With a soft hum, the Soul Engineer Legion Commander's vision went black. He instantly lost his original consciousness and plunged into darkness.
At this moment, the City Lord of Dongyang's eyes also lost their previous glint of life, becoming dull and lifeless, stripped of his own consciousness as well.
As for the man standing in front of the City Lord, the one who had struck the Soul Engineer Legion Commander—it was undoubtedly Chen Junting, who had returned here.
The person who had chosen to do nothing in the face of the mass exodus of Dongyang City's civilians was naturally Chen Junting in disguise as the City Lord.
Following Chen Junting's strike on the Commander, several figures appeared around him one after another. Dugu Xin glanced at the unconscious Soul Engineer Legion Commander, then shifted his gaze away.
"What's the next step?"
"For the most part, nothing."
Chen Junting gently tapped the Soul Engineer Legion Commander's forehead, converting his consciousness into that of a puppet as he spoke.
"However, we do need him to take charge of defending one section of the city walls. Also, evacuate all the civilians out of the city."
Dugu Xin was taken aback, his brow furrowing slightly.
"All of them?"
"All of them!"
Chen Junting's tone left no room for doubt. "It would be best to let the army handle this. As for an excuse, I've already come up with one for them: 'Clearing space for the incoming troops that are about to arrive at Dongyang City.'"
Then, he looked at Dugu Xin.
"And also. Xin, put an end to those thoughts of yours."
As soon as he said this, Dugu Xin paused for a moment. His subsequent tone was quite helpless as he replied, "I'm just worried about alerting the enemy prematurely."
"But that's still better than you bearing an infamy for the ages." Before he could protest further, Chen Junting shut him down. "Slaughtering a city's army is an entirely different matter from slaughtering a city's civilians and its army."
Hearing this, the ruthlessness and murderous intent in Dugu Xin's heart gradually receded, and he silently nodded.
"Alright, I understand."
"As long as you do."
Discerning the sincerity in Dugu Xin's words, Chen Junting couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, then added, "You'll go with this Soul Engineer Legion Commander in a bit, and then infiltrate them."
"Just in case?"
"Yes, just in case."
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