Chapter 308: King Meets King
As if linked by telepathy, Ye Lingling saw Ning Rongrong's expression and understood her thoughts.
She sneered inwardly. You only cultivated so quickly because you took the immortal herb that Dugu Feng gave you early.
I took two. So what if I'm a little older? I'll only cultivate faster and faster than you!
They said nothing, seeming to converse with their eyes.
A woman's intuition was frightening. With mere glances, they had already exchanged countless messages.
"Good. Rongrong can give me a seventy percent boost, and Lingling can save me no matter how grievously I'm injured.
With you two, there's nowhere in this world we can't go. When we all reach Titled Douluo, the world will be ours!"
Dugu Feng held one in each arm, thoroughly pleased.
The two leaned in his embrace, their eyes meeting for a moment before turning away.
In spite of themselves, they were drawn to the future Dugu Feng painted.
The army marched on. Outside the carriage was a world of iron and blood, clashing arms, and forests of banners.
Inside Dugu Feng's carriage was a different scene. Thanks to the shock-absorption soul tools, the jolting was minimized.
But within, heaven and earth were overturned, and there were sights of another sort.
To achieve what Dugu Feng called left-hand healing and right-hand amplification—a coordinated unity—
The three began a series of experiments.
At first, Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling were very reluctant, but after Dugu Feng produced the "family discipline," progress became smooth.
The degree of integration in their experiments rose, and their coordination grew increasingly adept.
In Dugu Feng's view, this was truly cultivation.
He was helping Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling cultivate.
In the blink of an eye, nearly a month had passed, and all three had advanced in soul power.
Dugu Feng reached level sixty-nine; Ye Lingling, sixty-seven; Ning Rongrong, sixty-six.
"I never lie to you."
Dugu Feng spoke coolly.
Even Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling put aside their doubts about this absurd month. Could it be real?
Whether real or not, there was no time to ponder.
The army had arrived at Tongshui City.
Tongshui City stood on the north bank of the Tongshui River, built along the water, serving as the foremost front against the Star Luo Empire.
The Tongshui was the boundary river between the two nations and one of the continent's great central rivers, flowing from east to west toward the Western Sea, dividing the two empires in two.
The terrain here was flat, the river expansive, and the surroundings a boundless tropical rainforest.
At the narrowest points near the ten-plus-li-long stretch of the cities, there were several places where the river was less than ten meters wide, allowing soldiers and soul masters on both sides to cross at any time.
The fighting was exceptionally brutal.
Small-scale clashes broke out frequently.
Dugu Feng gathered his Shura power in his eyes and looked up at the sky.
He felt it was dark red.
It was pure killing intent and the stench of blood condensed.
The forces massed on both banks together exceeded six million.
All within this long, narrow belt on the north and south shores.
Dugu Feng took a deep breath. It seemed this war would not end quickly.
He turned his gaze south across the Tongshui.
The Star Luo Empire was indeed powerful. He sensed that their number of soul masters was no fewer than Heaven Dou's, and their heavy legions were likewise numerous.
Their stores of grain and equipment formed mountains.
He had always known that, as the empire with stronger governance, Star Luo could mobilize greater war power.
Though Qian Renxue had enacted many reforms since her ascension, time had been short, and Heaven Dou's overall strength still did not match Star Luo's.
So how did Qian Renxue plan to defeat the Star Luo Empire?
For now, he could only rely on the Emerald Dragon-Serpent.
One Emerald Dragon-Serpent he had in Death Canyon; the other coiled on his wrist.
Dugu Feng released the latter, sending it to scout all around.
He himself followed Qian Renxue's arrangements and rested for the moment.
An elite army that had marched so far needed at least half a month to recover before acting.
One day, as Dugu Feng cultivated, Dugu Bo came to see him with Dugu Yan.
They had been lodged nearby. As a Titled Douluo-level guest official, Dugu Bo had been placed close at hand by Qian Renxue.
"Grandnephew, I brought Yanyan to apologize for her impulsiveness last time. Yanyan."
Dugu Bo spoke warmly, scolding Dugu Yan beside him.
"I'm sorry, Cousin. I was immature before. Please forgive me, Cousin!" Dugu Yan lowered her head, humbly.
Dugu Feng was a bit surprised. Stubborn Dugu Yan, apologizing?
Whatever her plans, he would give her no advantage for now.
"Second Grandfather, there's no need to be so polite. She's my older cousin. How could I blame her?" Dugu Feng said magnanimously.
Dugu Bo brightened. "Feng'er, did the Patriarch say what we should do next?
These two days, Emperor Qinghe has taken me to scout the terrain multiple times, but he has not planned to have me act yet!"
Dugu Feng shook his head. "It's not time for a decisive battle. Let's follow Big Brother Xue's plan. This war will not be won quickly."
He had not yet discerned Qian Renxue's intentions and was in no hurry.
Dugu Bo assented, setting his mind at ease.
Most importantly, Dugu Feng's manner was calm.
He was not as difficult to get along with as Dugu Bo had imagined.
Soon, Dugu Bo left reassured, and Dugu Yan went to find Ye Lingling.
Dugu Feng did not intervene.
A few more days passed, and Dugu Feng sensed two dan beads approaching.
Zhu Zhuyun.
He immediately understood that the Star Luo Emperor had arrived.
According to the reports of the past few days, after Qian Renxue personally led the campaign, the Star Luo Emperor refused to be outdone.
He, too, had taken the field in person. It would be king meeting king.
And Zhu Zhuyun, a powerhouse of the Zhu clan, had come as well.
It was time to pay Zhu Zhuyun a visit. At the very least, he had to reclaim that extra dan bead within her.
(END CHAPTER)
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