At the Qibao Glazed Sect, Ning Fengzhi gathered all the sect's businesses within the Heaven Dou Empire, summoned all spirit masters, and prepared to evacuate at any moment.
"Fengzhi, are we really going to leave the Heaven Dou Empire?"
"Uncle Jian, we have to leave. Tang San will take Sea God Island. We are no match for the Spirit Hall.
The Suo and Li families have contacted me. Along with the Po Yi Clan and the Yu Yi Clan, we will leave together and start over in the Star Luo Empire."
Spirit Hall was only temporarily unable to retreat because Qian Daoliu was unconscious. When he woke up, the Heaven Dou Empire would collapse with the press of a button and wouldn't last long.
At least the Star Crown Sect was on the side of the Xingluo Empire. At the moment of life and death, there was no need to worry about being annexed. The real issue was the survival of the sect or family.
At the same time, Qian Daoliu, whom Ning Fengzhi had always feared, awoke thanks to a secret healing potion kept by Spirit Hall.
"Grandfather, you're finally awake. I was so scared."
"Xiaoxue? Grandpa is fine. How's the war?"
With Qian Renxue's help, Qian Daoliu slowly sat up. He looked at the Title Douluo standing around him, and his heart suddenly sank.
Why were there so few of them? Where were Qingluan, Xiongshi, and Guangling? Where had they gone?
"Golden Crocodile, tell me the outcome of this war."
Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at the weakened Qian Daoliu, hesitating to speak. He had no way to justify the defeat on the Star Luo battlefield—it was entirely due to the power gap.
But who appointed him as commander? The three Qingluan Douluo had been captured, and a large number of spirit masters had died. He bore the primary responsibility.
"Grand Priest, Qingluan and the others have all fallen into the hands of the Star Crown Sect."
As expected, Qian Daoliu clenched his fist, closed his eyes in pain, and tears flowed silently. How could he not be grieved when comrades who had been with him for decades or centuries were now dead or missing?
After some time, Qian Daoliu accepted this reality and opened his eyes. His golden pupils burned with fury as he stared directly at Golden Crocodile.
"Tell me—I want to know what happened. With the strength of the Star Crown Sect, how could you lose?"
Qian Daoliu had estimated the total combat strength of the Star Luo Empire and arranged his forces accordingly.
He had never imagined that Golden Crocodile's power would be unable to suppress the Star Luo camp, which didn't even have a Title Douluo at level 98.
"Grand Priest, we underestimated the strength of the Star Crown Sect. The strength of Douluo Xingchen clearly matched my own."
Golden Crocodile Douluo described what had happened on the battlefield. With each word, Qian Daoliu's expression darkened, and the murderous intent in the room grew stronger.
"The Star Crown Sect… I was wrong to underestimate them.
Golden Crocodile, go gather your forces now. Once I've recovered from my injuries, I will personally attack Mount Xingluan and rescue Qingluan Douluo and the others."
"Grand Priest, I'm afraid we need to reconsider this."
Golden Crocodile took a letter from his sleeve, hesitated, and handed it to Qian Daoliu. It had been sent by the Star Crown Sect after the war.
There was a lot of polite language and fluff in the letter, but the only meaningful information was this:
If Spirit Hall dared to send anyone to attack the Star Luo Empire, they would immediately kill Qingluan Douluo and the other two. They meant what they said.
If Spirit Hall had any objections, the Star Crown Sect welcomed Qian Daoliu to negotiate directly at Mount Xingluan and promised to treat him with utmost sincerity.
Rip—
The letter was torn in two, and angelic holy flames burned it to ashes, leaving no trace.
Qian Daoliu, nearly blinded by rage, forced himself to calm down and looked sharply at Golden Crocodile Douluo.
"Are you sure that Qingluan Douluo and the others are still alive?"
"I sensed when I retreated that they were all still alive. If the Star Crown Sect wanted to capture us, they wouldn't let them die so easily."
"Good. Then go and inform them that I will visit their home personally within a month. I want to see them alive and standing before me."
"Yes."
After resolving the matter of Qingluan and the others, Qian Daoliu turned to Qian Renxue. While he had been gone, the affairs of Spirit Hall had been managed by her.
"Xiaoxue, what is the current state of Spirit Hall?"
"Not good. Very bad. More than half of the spirit masters have fallen. Only three Title Douluo were able to retreat from the Star Luo battlefield.
Aunt Dong's act of reviving the fallen warriors on the battlefield disgusted many spirit masters. Only those from the newly established seven major sects remain loyal to her."
"Really? I never imagined that my Spirit Hall and the Qian family would one day rely on such evil powers to win. I truly feel ashamed before our ancestors.
What about Sea God Island? Did they lead the Heaven Dou Empire to attack Spirit City?"
"No, Tang San has withdrawn the Sea God Island spirit masters overseas. It seems they don't intend to confront us in the short term.
Based on speculation by Golden Crocodile Douluo and the others, something must be wrong with Tang Chen's body, and he cannot act easily."
Qian Daoliu fell silent for a long time. It was unclear whether he was reminiscing about the past with Bo Saixi or remembering his fierce battles with Tang Chen.
No one knew how long passed before he snapped out of it. He walked alone to the window and looked out over the prosperous view of Spirit City.
"Xiaoxue, go down and prepare. We will occupy the entire Heaven Dou Empire."
"Yes."
Now that the branch cities of Spirit Hall across the continent were gone, it meant that only limited resources remained.
It was impossible to sustain a large army of spirit masters with just Spirit City.
When the Star Luo Empire couldn't be conquered, they could only relieve their great pressure by occupying the Heaven Dou Empire.
Half a month later, Qian Daoliu had mostly recovered from his wounds. He donned golden armor, wielded the Angelic Sacred Sword, and personally led the war campaign.
Jin Yu, Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, and Qianjun Jiangmo Douluo each led spirit master troops and marched on the Heaven Dou Empire.
Their attack met with almost no effective resistance. The Qibao Glazed Sect, Suo Family, Li Family, and the major sects of the Heaven Dou Empire had all chosen to migrate and relocate their foundations to the Star Luo Empire.
Having lost Sea God Island and much of its strength, the Heaven Dou Empire was no match for Spirit Hall and was pushed all the way back to Heaven Dou City.
Marshal Ge Long fought bravely, but in the end, Qian Daoliu, considering him a true man, personally ended his life with the Angelic Sacred Sword.
As Heaven Dou City fell, Xue Beng chose to surrender. An empire that had lasted for thousands of years was declared completely dead—truly a tragedy.