Douluo Unrivaled: The Beginning Materializes the Black Abyss and White Flowers

Chapter 426 Prelude to the War
Soldiers further away were hit head-on by the invisible shockwave, their bodies torn apart and thrown around like rag dolls, their internal organs shuddering and turning into bloody foam inside their bodies.

Many more were riddled with holes by the following high-speed flying metal fragments and gravel, or buried alive by collapsing mountains and fortresses.

One second the military camp was orderly and the defense line was solid, and the next it was transformed into a ruin burning with hellfire and filled with death and despair.

Limbs and broken weapons were scattered on the scorched earth, and the cries and screams of the survivors sounded so faint and desperate amidst the rumbling explosions.

The air was filled with a strong smell of blood, burnt smell, and ozone, a smell unique to those whose soul energy had been overloaded, making people nauseous.

Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger, a pillar of the empire known for his bravery and resilience, rushed out of the command tent the instant the first explosion rang out.

When he saw the scene of destruction that resembled divine punishment, the pupils of this nine-ring titled Douluo suddenly contracted, and for the first time, his face revealed undisguised horror and rage.

"Enemy attack—Highest alert! Soul-guided protective array activated at maximum power!!"

He roared at the top of his lungs, but his voice was almost drowned out by the continuous explosions.

However, faced with the absolute power of the level nine fixed-position soul-guided cannon shell, the hastily activated partial soul-guided protective shield shattered instantly, like a soap bubble in the sunlight.

He could only watch helplessly as the ironclad defenses he had built and his loyal subordinates, whom he regarded as brothers, were reduced to ashes in the raging tide of destruction.

"Save lives! Quickly save lives! Prioritize aiding the wounded for everyone who can still move. Abandon the front lines and retreat in an orderly manner to the second line of defense!"

With bloodshot eyes, Dai Hao suppressed the excruciating pain and raging anger in his heart, attempting to restore order amidst the chaos.

His tall figure stood firm amidst the firelight and smoke, continuously releasing powerful soul energy to resist the splash damage and dragging the buried soldiers out of the ruins.

But individual strength seems so insignificant in the face of such power of heaven and earth.

This sudden and devastating attack not only completely destroyed the Mingdou Mountain range's defenses, but the terrifying energy it released also triggered a violent earthquake that affected an area of ​​hundreds of miles, as if the entire continent was trembling.

It also announced to the entire Douluo Continent in the bloodiest way that a total war had begun.

After completing the first round of strategic strikes, Orange issued another order.

The massive Soul Master legion, like an efficient war machine, began to advance, quickly occupying and clearing the remaining resistance in the Mingdou Mountains and establishing a forward base.

They encountered almost no decent resistance; the backbone of the Northwest Army Group had been completely broken in the previous round of artillery fire.

However, the orange's instructions did not stop.

She did not devote all her resources to a direct attack on the Star Luo Empire.

Under her command, the massive mecha legion, the main airship fleet, and the antimatter legion began to quietly turn around, bypassing the heavily fortified western border of the Star Luo Empire, and headed towards the North Sea.

Their next target is to launch a direct attack across the sea on the Star Luo Empire's ally—the Heavenly Soul Empire.

This move of splitting forces and launching a cross-sea attack will undoubtedly completely disrupt the original defense plans of the three kingdoms of Douluo.

As for Ju Zi, the commander-in-chief of the three armies, he himself remained in the Mingdou Mountains, which had just been baptized by blood and fire.

She was very clear about her position.

Although she holds the title of Commander-in-Chief, the core and most powerful forces—the Antimatter Legion and most of the army enhanced by the technology of the Annihilation Lord—are not truly loyal to her, but to Xingxiao and Huanlong, who are hiding behind the scenes.

She was more like a puppet pushed to the forefront, a symbol conveying instructions.

Faced with overwhelming power, the Sun Moon Empire no longer needed the ingenious schemes that had made it famous.

She chose to stay, not to command the overall situation, but for a long-buried obsession—revenge.

The reason she was willing to infiltrate the Sun Moon Empire under Lu Jingming's arrangement, get close to Xu Tianran, climb the ranks in the army, and eventually sit in this position was that her initial motivation was to seek revenge against the enemy who caused the destruction of her family—Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger.

Now, war has broken out before his eyes in the most devastating way, his army has suffered heavy losses, and his defenses have crumbled.

But that's far from enough.

Orange wanted to witness the once arrogant duke's demise and personally settle this long-standing feud.

She lingered in the Mingdou Mountains, a place filled with the smoke of gunpowder and the aura of death, like the most patient hunter, waiting for the moment to deliver the final blow to her prey.

News of the outbreak of war spread like a bloody plague to every corner of the Douluo Continent at lightning speed.

When detailed battle reports of the Mingdou Mountains being reduced to scorched earth by level-nine fixed-position soul-guided shells and the Northwest Army Group being nearly annihilated were urgently sent to the Star Luo Empire's palace, a heavy gloom hung over the heart of the entire empire.

Inside the luxurious yet oppressive palace, Emperor Xu Jiawei of Xingluo sat facing his sister, Princess Xu Jiujiu.

The battle report, stained with invisible blood, was spread out on the table between the two men; every word on it was shocking.

Xu Jiawei let out a long sigh, his handsome face filled with exhaustion and a hint of barely perceptible relief: "It's starting."

The original Douluo Three Kingdoms had long been prepared for this inevitable war, having carried out military buildup and alliances for many years.

But neither he, nor anyone else, anticipated that the Sun Moon Empire's opening would be so violent and so reckless, directly using strategic weapons to wipe out the entire Mingdou Mountain range defense line.

This was no longer an ordinary conquest, but a crushing defeat with a destructive intent.

He rubbed his furrowed brow, a resolute glint in his eyes:
"Pass down the order to send 'those people'... all the generals and nobles who might oppose our next decision, especially those who are too closely connected with the White Tiger lineage, to the front lines to provide support."

This order was utterly ruthless.

Xu Jiawei knew very well that the Star Crown Sect had made its final choice—to stand on the side of Haiyuan City, which was destined to lead a new era, and to stand behind Lu Jingming.

So what he needs to do now is to clear the obstacles for Lu Jingming to smoothly take over a "clean" Star Luo Empire in the future.

The Star Luo Empire was originally founded by the White Tiger Dai family.

Even though the Star Crown lineage had taken over the imperial power for many years, the Dai family's influence in the military, nobility, and even among the common people remained deeply rooted, like another pillar of the empire.

If the power of the Star Luo Empire is to be handed over to Lu Jingming intact and without major internal turmoil, the White Tiger lineage and its affiliated forces are the biggest obstacle that must be eliminated.

This seemingly voluntary transfer order to support the front lines was actually a political purge, a way to eliminate internal problems and eliminate external threats.

"Brother, there is no need to worry too much."

Xu Jiujiu's voice was gentle yet firm. She stood up and walked to Xu Jiawei's side, gently placing her hand on his shoulder to soothe his emotions. Her face showed no fear of war, but rather an anticipation of new life.

"A new era will surely come. This war was certainly brutal, but only by breaking this old and corrupt cage can the hundreds of millions of people of the Star Luo Empire have a better life in the future."

As she spoke, her other hand unconsciously and lovingly stroked her still flat stomach.

There, a new life is quietly being conceived—the offspring of her and Lu Jingming.

The existence of this child is the greatest guarantee for the future of the Star Crown lineage.

The connection with Lu Jingming has long transcended a simple political alliance.

What he showed them was a cosmic landscape far more vast and magnificent than the Douluo Continent—endless stars, diverse civilizations, and even the existence of parallel worlds.

All of this shattered their old worldview, making them realize how narrow-minded it was to cling to the imperial power of an empire.

"If it doesn't break, it won't stand."

He spoke softly for a long time, his gaze fixed on the palace window, as if he could already see the rebirth after the baptism of war.

"The name of the Star Luo Empire may become history after this war, but our people will usher in a truly powerful protection and go to a wider world."

Xu Jiawei nodded; his sister's words dispelled the last trace of hesitation in his heart.

Becoming a founder of a new era is undoubtedly a wiser choice than being the last emperor of an old empire destined for destruction.

The collapse of the empire is inevitable. What they need to do is ensure that on these ruins, they can build a glorious future that belongs to Haiyuan City and to their Star Crown lineage.

News of the war struck like a thunderbolt, shaking the capital of the Heavenly Soul Empire.

Princess Vina's pretty face turned deathly pale the moment she received the urgent military intelligence from the front lines.

The instantaneous evaporation of the Mingdou Mountain defense line and the heavy losses suffered by the Northwest Army Group all demonstrate the ferocity of the Sun Moon Empire's advance this time, far exceeding any previous conflict.

"We can't sit still and wait for death."

Vina forced herself to remain calm and immediately contacted the national protection sect—the Body Sect—through special channels.

"Hahaha, good, so those guys from the Sun Moon Empire who rely on external resources have finally decided to get serious?"

The rough and bold voice of the Sect Master of the Body Sect, Poison Undying, came through the communication soul tool, and there was no fear in his tone.

"Vina, don't worry. I understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.' If Xingluo is finished, Tianhun will be next."

He waved his hand, his voice resounding throughout the surrounding area:

"All titled Douluo elders and elite inner disciples of the Body Sect, assemble immediately and follow me to the front lines to meet the Soul Guidance Legion of the Sun Moon Empire."

At the same time, Vina also acted quickly.

She was not unprepared. With Fei Xiao's help, the Heavenly Soul Empire secretly formed and trained a special Soul Master army—the Qingqiu Army.

This army is well-equipped and its training methods are quite different from the traditional ones, with a greater emphasis on mobility and coordinated operations.

Vina personally donned her armor and led the Qingqiu Army, considered their trump card, to join forces with the experts of the Body Sect, preparing to rush to the aid of the precarious Star Luo Empire's front lines.

They knew that facing the fierce military might of the Sun Moon Empire, the Star Luo Empire alone would find it extremely difficult to withstand it.

Once the Star Luo Empire falls completely, the Heavenly Soul Empire will lose its most important strategic barrier, becoming vulnerable and helpless, like eggs left unbroken when the nest is overturned.

The same sense of crisis also loomed over the Douling Empire.

Despite the distance, the Douling royal family reacted swiftly, assembling a massive army and continuously transporting supplies and provisions towards the Mingdou Mountains, intending to form an alliance with Xingluo and Tianhun to jointly resist the Sun Moon Empire.

The rudiments of the Three Kingdoms alliance rapidly took shape under immense external pressure.

They mobilized their troops and deployed their best soldiers, attempting to use their combined strength to keep the iron hooves of the Sun and Moon Empire outside their borders.

However, all their strategic planning and troop deployments are based on their understanding of the "past" Sun Moon Empire.

Unbeknownst to them, the Sun Moon Empire, with the support of the two Extinction Lords, had already undergone a complete transformation.

The otherworldly knowledge and technology it acquired led to a qualitative leap in its military strength, far surpassing the former Sun Moon Empire, which still needed to rely on strategy and gradual advancement.

Just as the three-nation allied forces were focusing their attention on the ravaged border of the Star Luo Empire, preparing for a decisive battle against the Soul Master Legion under Orange's command, which occupied the Mingdou Mountains, a deadly surprise attack was quietly coming from an unexpected direction.

According to the plan that Orange had already formulated, the huge mixed fleet that split off and consisted of a large number of new mechs, airships, antimatter legions and doomsday beasts did not participate in the direct suppression of Xingluo.

Using their superior mobility and stealth technology, they bypassed all possible routes that could be detected, and are now traversing the vast ocean like sharp blades hidden in a storm, heading straight for the relatively weak coastline of the Heavenly Soul Empire.

The ambitions of the Sun and Moon Empire have never been limited to just the Star Luo Empire.

Their goal was to use overwhelming force to tear apart the defenses of the three-nation alliance and establish dominance over the continent.

The true, devastating blow has only just begun to reveal its ferocious nature.

Meanwhile, Xingxiao and Huanlong, in another dimension, coldly watched this war, which they themselves had escalated, as if observing an interesting experiment.

The Sun Moon Empire's seemingly secretive troop movements were enough to deceive the three great empires, whose technology was backward and whose intelligence systems were still at the traditional level. However, in front of Haiyuan City, they were like fish swimming in a clear pond, their every move crystal clear.

Within the Starry Sea, a vast flow of information surges ceaselessly.

Hatsune Miku's emerald green twin tails moved without wind. Her consciousness was connected to the entire Douluo Planet. Mountains, rivers, plants, and even the slightest fluctuations in energy were transformed into the most primitive data and flowed into her core.

Not to mention the World Tree and its network of ley lines, which were planted by Lu Jingming himself and whose roots have quietly spread to every corner of the planet.

For Lu Jingming, the entire planet held almost no secrets.

The course, size, and even approximate combat strength of the fleets that the Sun Moon Empire had divided its forces to cross the sea were presented to him in the most intuitive way.

However, Haiyuan City, which knew everything, was unusually calm at this moment.

(End of this chapter)