Douluo Dalu: Immortal Dragon Clan

No one expected that a competition that was supposed to be a contest for emerging Soul Masters would actually unleash a bombshell that could overturn the entire continent.

Jin Tianming's words, declaring war on the entire continent on behalf of the Sun Moon Empire, resounded like thunder in the arena, sending chills down everyone's spines.

On what grounds does he represent the sun and moon to declare war on the three kingdoms of Douluo Continent?

"Lord Jing Hongchen!" The academy's team leaders could no longer contain their anger and stood up, glaring at the leader of the Sun and Moon Team. "Your students are taking war far too lightly!"

We have finally achieved peace on the mainland. How can we allow a mere young upstart to stir up trouble again with a single casual remark?
Jing Hongchen, this round, chubby man, slowly stood up, took a step, and instantly appeared next to Jin Tianming.

He patted Jin Tianming on the shoulder, a half-smile playing on his lips. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire arena.

"I apologize, it seems you all didn't understand what Jin Tianming meant. Let me repeat it for him."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the angry faces in the room, and spoke each word with resounding force:

"Everything Jin Tianming just said is the will of the Sun Moon Empire's high command. Our Sun Moon Empire is about to declare war on the original three kingdoms of Douluo Continent—our goal is to unify the entire continent!"

"Damn it!" Shattered Star Douluo was so angry that his hair and beard stood on end, his eyes fixed on Jing Hongchen as if he wanted to spit fire. "The continent has finally ushered in a good life, and your Sun Moon Empire, do you want to let this land be plunged into chaos and suffering?"

"Ah--"

Jin Tianming chuckled, his laughter filled with undisguised sarcasm.

He raised his hand and pointed outside the arena, to the land that once belonged to the Three Kingdoms, his tone icy and chilling:

"A good life? On the land of the former Three Kingdoms, all I see are two words—cannibalism!"

"Ordinary people who want to awaken their martial spirit either become cannon fodder soldiers or slaves and servants of nobles! Is this what you call a good life?"

His words caused an uproar in the room.

Everyone was silent.

They had to admit that what Jin Tianming said was true.

Since the destruction of the Spirit Hall, the class division in the original Three Kingdoms has become more and more serious, and the awakening of spirits has long become the exclusive privilege of the powerful and wealthy.

In contrast, the Sun Moon Empire, despite having its own class system, never deprived commoners of the right to awaken their martial souls. It even established special academies to teach them how to use soul tools.

In comparison, the unification pursued by the Sun and Moon Empire seems to have more significance than the idyllic life of the original Three Kingdoms.

"Nonsense!" A titled Douluo from the Star Luo Empire shouted angrily, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "Soul tools are nothing but unorthodox methods, and are nothing but stumbling blocks to the cultivation of soul masters! Since you dare to utter such arrogant words today, then we will not let you live!"

Apart from Wang Xian'er, who remained indifferent, the other titled Douluo from the original Three Kingdoms all experienced a surge in their soul power and surrounded Jin Tianming and Jing Hongchen with murderous intent.

How could the dignity of the Star Luo Empire's royal family and the illusion of peace between the original three kingdoms be allowed to be trampled upon by these two?

However, just as this group of Title Douluos were about to make their move—

"Om-"

A strange spatial fluctuation suddenly spread out, and an extremely terrifying sense of oppression, as if the sky were collapsing, instantly enveloped the entire arena.

Those titled Douluos who were just moments ago so aggressively suddenly found themselves gripped by an invisible hand, their soul power instantly freezing, unable to move even a single finger.

"I'd like to see who dares to touch my successor, Kong Deming."

An aged yet powerful voice slowly echoed from the void.

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw an old man in a simple robe walking slowly out of the air.

His hair and beard were all white, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. Standing in mid-air, his gaze swept over the frozen Title Douluos below, over the pale-faced people from the original Three Kingdoms, his tone carrying an undeniable authority:
"I, Kong Deming, am the first leader of the Sun Moon Empire."

"Let's leave it at that today—"

"The Sun and Moon Empire declares war on the former Three Kingdoms!"

"I hope you guys aren't too weak."

As soon as he finished speaking, Kong Deming nodded slightly to Jing Hongchen and Jin Tianming.

The two understood each other, and in a flash, they followed Kong Deming into the depths of the void. As for the Sun and Moon Team members who remained on the field, they had already been silently taken away by several level-nine soul masters hidden in the shadows.

Do you really think Kong Deming came alone? He brought several level-nine soul masters with him to keep watch, just in case those reclusive Limit Douluos tried to stop him.

However, Kong Deming felt a little regretful.

He had thought that Shrek Academy would send out those two Limit Douluos, at which point he would be able to unleash his treasured level 10 soul tool and show off his power.

But who could have imagined that the two Limit Douluos of Shrek Academy had already been instantly killed by those two mysterious adults.

That prevented him from even having a chance to show off.

In the Shrek team's rest room, Xu Jiu watched the disappearing figures of Kong Deming and the other two for a long time, trembling with anger, his fists clenched tightly.

She turned her head sharply, wanting to ask the Shrek Academy team for their opinion, hoping that the continent's number one academy would step in and uphold justice.

But the moment she turned around, she was struck dumb, frozen in place.

The sky is falling.

The Shrek team members have vanished without a trace!
They left without leaving a single word or making a sound, and quietly withdrew.

Is this still the Shrek Academy she knew, the one that took it upon itself to protect the continent?
"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

Just as Xu Jiujiu was feeling utterly terrified, a guard stumbled and crawled into the arena, his face filled with horror and his voice trembling:

"It's bad! Something bad is going to happen!"

After a long while, suppressing the shock in her heart, she asked in a trembling voice, "What happened?"

"His Majesty...His Majesty..." The guard swallowed hard, his face ashen. "His Majesty has been assassinated!"

"what?!"

After a long while, all I felt was a loud bang in my ears, and my mind went blank.

She no longer cared about the Soul Master Competition or the Sun Moon Empire's declaration of war. Supported by her guards, she stumbled and ran wildly toward the palace.

The Star Luo Empire is in chaos today.

Total chaos.

Everything was spiraling out of control, spiraling wildly downwards.

In another corner of the arena, the Golden Body Douluo looked at the chaos before him and couldn't help but turn to look at Poison Undying beside him, asking in a low voice, "Sect Master, what should we do next?"

Poison Immortal slowly stood up, his youthful face expressionless. He glanced at the chaotic imperial city in the distance, then at the lingering oppressive aura in the void, and slowly uttered a sentence:

"Dig a tunnel and hide."

"Huh?" The Golden Body Douluo was completely dumbfounded.

Poison Undying ignored his shock and continued, "However... I think it would be more practical to surrender when the Sun Moon Empire's army invades."

He looked up at the sky shrouded in dark clouds, his tone tinged with a mixture of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing regret, sadness, and a sense of relief).
"Perhaps... this era is really about to change."

"This is the era of soul tools!"

And so, this year's Soul Master Tournament, which should have been the focus of everyone's attention, came to an end in an extremely absurd way.

The champion is the Sun and Moon team.

But across the entire continent, not a single person was willing to acknowledge this championship.

Because behind this championship lies a war that could burn down the entire continent.

...(End of chapter)