The war between the Sun Moon Empire and the Star Luo Empire began as scheduled.
The Star Luo Empire, as the strongest nation on the original Douluo Continent, offered effective resistance against the Sun Moon Empire's invasion, causing the Sun Moon Empire's army to take twice as long to advance compared to their campaign against the Tianhun Empire.
However, that was the extent of their resistance. In just ten months, the Sun Moon Empire occupied ninety-nine percent of the Star Luo Empire's territory. The remaining one percent was the Star Luo Empire's imperial capital, Star Luo City.
The Sun Moon Empire's army had never moved on Star Luo City until today, when the five great Soul Engineer legions of the Sun Moon Empire surrounded it. Only then did Star Luo City finally get a sense of impending war.
At this moment, the Sun Moon Empire's army outside the city breathed a sigh of relief. Inside the city, the Star Luo Empire's nobles, led by the imperial family, and the defending soldiers also breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone knew that after this battle, the Douluo Continent, which had been divided for tens of thousands of years, would usher in true unification. And they, whether meritorious officials or sacrifices, all had a bright future. That was good.
Yes, at this very moment inside Star Luo City, no one believed they could defend Star Luo City, nor did they intend to. The entire continent had already been brought under the Sun Moon Empire's banner. Even if they defended an insignificant Star Luo City, what good would it do? Did they expect Shrek Academy to turn the tide again? Did they expect a god to appear and repel the Sun Moon army?
Haha, stop dreaming.
The truth of the matter that Xu Tianxuan, the current emperor of the Sun Moon Empire, was once the senior disciple of Shrek Academy's Inner Courtyard had already been confirmed half a year ago. The Sun Moon Empire and Shrek Academy had long been in cahoots. They weren't even pretending anymore. Among the Sun Moon army currently besieging Star Luo City, there were quite a few Shrek Academy students. Huo Yuhao, one of the commanders of the Sun Moon army, was the most typical example. This commoner was even from their Star Luo Empire!
As for hoping for a god to appear, that was even more ridiculous. Who didn't know that the Sea God was one of the Original Shrek Seven Devils? Expecting him to act against Shrek Academy for their sake was nothing short of a fool's dream. And as for the Dai family ancestor who also became a god, haha, the current emperor of the Star Luo Empire isn't surnamed Dai, and this generation's Duke White Tiger died on the battlefield three months ago. The other members of the Dai family and the Zhu family had long since disappeared. So, this was a dead end.
The nobles of Star Luo City had only held out until now because they wanted to wait until the last moment, the moment their hearts truly died, the moment they could surrender without any psychological burden.
At this time, in the main camp of the Sun Moon army outside Star Luo City, several high-ranking officers of the imperial army were conducting their final mobilization. On the temporarily erected high platform, Marshal Xu Qianxuan stood at the very front, with Ju Zi, Huo Yuhao, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and other high-ranking officers of the Sun Moon Empire's army behind him.
Why was Huo Yuhao here?
There were two reasons: first, Shrek Academy needed to show its stance, and the best way to show its stance was naturally to send disciples to join the Sun Moon Empire's army. Thus, Huo Yuhao, the junior brother of the Tian Yuan Pavilion Master, became one of the most suitable candidates. Second, it was Huo Yuhao's own request. He carried a great vendetta, which was something everyone in the Tian Yuan Pavilion knew well. He wanted to join the Sun Moon Empire's army to get his revenge on Duke White Tiger, Dai Hao. Combining these, Huo Yuhao naturally became the most suitable candidate.
On the surface, the leaders of the Sun Moon Empire's army all stood on the high platform, but this was not actually the case, because Zhu Ziyang had been hiding in the shadows and had not appeared.
Why was he here? It was entirely because he believed that the Sea God, Tang San, would never allow the continent to unify without intervention, unless he could truly abandon the rich power of faith on the Douluo Continent, but clearly, he couldn't do that.
Therefore, Zhu Ziyang was waiting for his appearance. Not only was Zhu Ziyang waiting, but Jiang Nannan, Ma Xiaotao, and Qian Lingyi were also waiting, except the three women were waiting in Mingdu, while he was waiting in Star Luo City.
Regardless of interests or personal feelings, the Sea God, who had no good feelings for Zhu Ziyang and his group, would inevitably launch one last strike against them. The Sun Moon army's proximity to Star Luo City was undoubtedly the best timing.
Not only could he severely punish Zhu Ziyang and the others, letting them know what proper order was, but he could also once again display his Sea God's majesty and grandeur before the living beings of the Douluo Continent, solidifying the Sea God's faith on the Douluo Continent. It was a win-win situation, and Zhu Ziyang didn't believe the Sea God could refuse such a temptation.
Sure enough, just as Xu Qianxuan on the high platform shouted the slogan, "Where the sun and moon shine, the rivers and mountains unite," an anomaly appeared in the sky. A brilliant blue halo shone down from the sky, and vast, surging divine radiance spread wantonly, drawing the worship of countless marine creatures.
Such an anomaly in the sky naturally caught everyone's attention. The high-ranking Sun Moon officials on the platform, the Sun Moon soldiers below the platform, and Emperor Emperor Xu Jiawei of Star Luo, Princess Princess Xu Jiujiu, and numerous ministers and nobles who hurriedly ascended the city wall in Star Luo City. Seeing this wondrous scene overflowing with divine light, an unbidden hope arose in their hearts. Perhaps, the Sea God would truly save them?
"Finally here!" In the clouds not far away, Zhu Ziyang watched this scene, an unsurprised expression on his face. With a thought, he appeared in the Sun Moon army's camp.
The divine light continued to pour down, and a handsome man with blue hair appeared. Behind him, seven-colored divine light flickered, and an ineffable divinity made people Can't help it feel like worshiping.
Seeing this unfamiliar man, the faces of the Sun Moon Empire's people turned grim, with Huo Yuhao's face being the most grim. He immediately identified the man; he was exactly like the person who appeared in Qiankun Questioning Valley—the Sea God, Tang San! Among the Shrek disciples in the Sun Moon army, the young girl named Tang Wutong showed joy, stepping forward excitedly, wanting to shout something.
"Immediately withdraw your troops and return all the territory of the Star Luo Empire. The Sun Moon Empire will be renamed the Heaven Dou Empire. Otherwise, hmph!" The Sea God, Tang San, said in an indifferent voice, his face apathetic as if looking at ants. However, everyone below could feel the endless killing intent contained in his words, as if the next moment he could transform into a Shura and slaughter all hundred thousand soldiers of the Sun Moon Empire.
His words greatly invigorated the Star Luo Empire's side, but infuriated the Sun Moon Empire's side. All the high-ranking officials widened their eyes, glaring at him. Even if they had realized that the man in the sky might be a legendary god, they remained fearless.
"Otherwise what?" Xu Qianxuan said through gritted teeth, his anger having reached an unparalleled level.
In these past few years, he had led the Sun Moon army to sweeping victories. He was on the verge of accomplishing a feat no one had achieved in tens of thousands of years, allowing the glory of the sun and moon to shine upon every person on the continent. Yet, suddenly, an unruly god appeared, threatening him to retreat. Let alone a general with blazing military prestige, even an ordinary Titled Douluo powerhouse would feel immense anger and humiliation!
"Hmph!" The Sea God, Tang San, hadn't expected a mere mortal to dare defy him. He immediately sneered and said chillingly, "As expected of the commoners of the Sun Moon Empire, ungrateful wretches! Retreat immediately, or I wouldn't mind letting the Sun Moon Empire get a new batch of people! This is a divine decree!"
The Sea God, Tang San's dislike for the Sun Moon Empire was not without reason, because he couldn't harvest faith from the citizens of the Sun Moon Empire. After all, the vast majority of the Sun Moon Empire's citizens were believers of the sun and moon, and the very few who didn't believe in the sun and moon were also believers of a god of destruction. There was simply no place for his Sea God faith. It would truly be strange if the Sea God liked the Sun Moon Empire.
Facing such a blatant threat from the Sea God, Xu Qianxuan's expression changed completely. He truly hadn't expected that a dignified god could so casually utter such inhumane words. This, this... he no longer knew how to express his feelings and thoughts at this moment.
"Does the Sea God not know? The God Realm cannot interfere with any affairs of the lower realms. What kind of punishment does a transgressor receive? Oh, right, it seems to be the stripping of their God Position, the eradication of their divinity, and being cast into reincarnation, right?" Zhu Ziyang finally appeared. If he didn't appear now, Xu Qianxuan might truly not be able to hold on. He spoke directly, his face full of mockery, "Tsk tsk tsk, I wonder if the Sea God can bear such a punishment?"
"It's you!" The Sea God, Tang San, saw Zhu Ziyang, and his eyes immediately filled with killing intent, he said coldly.
Zhu Ziyang's appearance didn't seem to cause much emotion for either side, because apart from Huo Yuhao, no one knew that Zhu Ziyang was also a god at this time. So, in their eyes, even if Zhu Ziyang was the Master of the Tian Yuan Pavilion and possessed the strength of a Limit Douluo, it would be useless against a god.
On the city wall, Princess Xu Jiujiu looked at Zhu Ziyang with a very complex expression. Early in the war, she had personally gone to Shrek Academy to seek help. She still clearly remembered what Zhu Ziyang had told her: "The continent has been divided for too long; it needs a unified nation. The Star Luo Empire doesn't have the strength for that!"
Zhu Ziyang was unaware of the thoughts of the crowd below, but he knew very well what to do. Thus, after becoming a god, he displayed the power of a god for the first time.
The God of Death's suit appeared on his body, the divine Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe was held in his hand, and behind him, ten spirit rings—seven red and three gold—flickered, signifying his divine strength.
"The current God of Death, Zhu Ziyang, requests the Sea God to confess his crime!"