Controlling Huo Gua

The following day, on an unnamed mountain peak in the buffer zone between the two armies in the Mingdou Mountain Range.

Years of war have ravaged the entire mountain range, leaving it in ruins and littered with rubble and broken walls.

The same is true of this nameless mountain peak; it's a vast, barren expanse where not even a blade of grass can grow.

However, today this place welcomed a man and a woman.

The young man, dressed in a gray, close-fitting outfit, had a solemn expression, but his eyes held a complex emotion that was hard to describe.

The beautiful young woman was dressed in fiery red armor, but a rare gentle smile appeared on her face, completely out of character for her current status.

The two were Huo Gua and Ju Zi.

At this moment, only the two of them were on the entire nameless mountain peak, while the area below was surrounded by a large army, preventing anyone from getting close.

Ju Zi said softly, "Yu Hao, it's been a long time since we've had a chat like this, just the two of us. The last time it was just the two of us was probably three years ago. I really miss it."

Upon hearing this, Huo Gua paused slightly, even looking a little embarrassed.

The main issue is that their last meeting was an accident. Most importantly, he was drugged, yet it seemed like nothing happened. To this day, he still doesn't understand why Ju Zi would drug him.

After regaining consciousness, he asked Elder Yi, Ice Empress, and Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, but the three of them refused to tell him, only saying that there was no danger.

However, now is not the time to ask that.

Huo Gua quickly regained his serious expression and said, "Marshal, you didn't call me here today to talk about these trivial matters, did you?"

Ju Zi smiled and said, "I think it's better if you call me Senior Ju Zi, Marshal, hehe."

Huo Gua: "..." This woman is up to something again. Every time she laughs like that, it's never a good thing. Last time, she knocked him unconscious without him even noticing.

He could see through many people, but he couldn't understand what this senior Ju Zi, was thinking.

In terms of strategy, even a hundred of us wouldn't be a match for Ju Zi.

Therefore, when facing this senior, Huo Gua felt the best approach was to be direct. "Since you want to see me, let's get straight to the point. You've already won this battle, at least in the Mingdou Battlefield, so it's not something extremely important. I don't think you'd come to see me at a time like this."

Upon hearing this, Ju Zi brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her tone as gentle and calm as ever. "Alright then, let's get down to business. I want you to kill Xu Tianran."

Boom--

Instantly, Huo Gua's brain went blank, and even his scalp tingled. He stared blankly at Ju Zi, whose face was as calm as still water, and couldn't say a word for a long time.

At the same time, questions kept arising in his mind: Why did Ju Zi want to kill Xu Tianran?

That's her husband, the father of her children.

Was it for power, or something else?

Or perhaps she used Xu Tianran as bait to set an ambush for herself?

But there's no need for that. If she wanted to kill me, she would have done it last time. Why wait until now?

For a moment, Huo Gua was somewhat bewildered.

Before Huo Gua could respond, Ju Zi continued, "Xu Tianran has already set off from Mingdu today and will arrive here in four days. These few days are the best time for you to assassinate him. I will give you his route map."

"Oh, right, his strongest bodyguard and reliance right now is Kong Deming. Kong Deming is close to being a Level Ten Soul Master. You know better than I how powerful Soul Engineer. Moreover, he has the prototype of a Level 10 Soul Tool. If he completes this Soul Tool and becomes Level Ten Soul Master, you probably can't kill him now."

"So, this is your only chance to kill him and Xu Tianran."

"Also, Xu Tianran is Titled Douluo, so he'll likely have Rank 9 Defensive Soul Tool. You'd better kill him in one strike and not give him any extra time to react..."

As Ju Zi patiently explained to him how to kill Xu Tianran, Huo Gua suddenly felt a bead of cold sweat involuntarily slide down his back.

After Ju Zi finished speaking, Huo Gua asked in a hoarse voice after a long pause, "Why did you kill Xu Tianran? He was still your husband, no matter what."

Upon hearing this, Ju Zi gave a cold laugh, "He's not my husband."

Huo Gua: "...???"

Ju Zi had no intention of telling Huo Gua about Xu Yunhan. Instead, she said, "I believe you understand the principle of 'when the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away.' Once I conquer the Star Luo Empire, Xu Tianran's next target will be me. How could someone like him tolerate the existence of an Empress War God?"

Huo Gua thought for a moment. The reason was simple but reasonable. However, he still asked in return, "Why should I help you? Killing Xu Tianran now will only increase the hatred of the Sun Moon Army towards the Star Luo Empire. If I kill Xu Tianran and you use the reason of avenging the Sun Moon Emperor, it will only hasten the destruction of the Star Luo Empire."

Upon hearing Ju Zi, Ju Zi's face showed a hint of satisfaction. She thought to herself, "My man has matured quite a bit now; he can even put himself in other people's shoes."

Immediately, Ju Zi replied, "No, as long as Xu Tianran dies, I, as the Empress, will be the most influential person in the Sun Moon Empire. Moreover, at that time, I will have to return to Mingdu to assist my son in ascending the throne. Conversely, this will give your Star Luo Empire a chance to breathe. Because for the Sun Moon Empire, stabilizing its rear is far more important than destroying Star Luo Empire."

In fact, having already taken control of most of the Mingdou Mountain Range, Ju Zi's desire to kill White Tiger Duke and avenge his parents was practically imminent.

But Ju Zi gave up for the time being because she wanted to create an opportunity to kill Xu Tianran.

Compared to killing Dai Hao, Ju Zi understood that killing Xu Tianran was the most urgent task.

Once Xu Tianran is dead, the entire Sun Moon Empire will be in her hands. Without any worries, killing Dai Hao and destroying the White Tiger Duke's Mansion will be a piece of cake.

Ju Zi harbors deep hatred for Dai Hao, but she always knows when to do what and how to maximize her benefits and ensure her invincibility.

Upon hearing Ju Zi's explanation, Huo Gua naturally wasn't foolish enough to believe it immediately. "So, I killed Xu Tianran, and after you take control of the Sun Moon Empire, you'll then destroy the Star Luo Empire? What difference will the outcome be?"

In response to Huo Gua's question, Ju Zi smiled and said, "Of course there's a difference. You killed Xu Tianran, but I have to go back to Mingdu for at least a few years to help my son and stabilize the Sun Moon Empire. That's giving your Star Luo Empire time."

"If you can't kill Xu Tianran, then once he arrives in Ming Dou, it will be the beginning of your Star Luo Empire's destruction."

"You can take a gamble and see if you can stop me from attacking Star Luo Empire again in a few years. Of course, the premise is that you can kill Xu Tianran now; otherwise, you don't even have the right to gamble. Once I order the defeat of the Star Luo Army in the Mingdou Mountain Range, then guess how long it will take me to reach Star Luo City?"

Listening to Ju Zi casually explain the current situation and its pros and cons to him, Huo Gua couldn't help but sigh helplessly.

In truth, how could he not understand what Ju Zi was saying?

The Star Luo Empire is simply no match for the Sun Moon Empire; this is a clear disparity in national strength, and it's not just a matter of a fraction of a second.

In the end, Huo Gua had no choice but to steel his resolve and coldly say, "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you too? Without the Emperor and Empress War God, even the mighty Sun Moon Empire will be thrown into chaos, won't it? That way, the Star Luo Empire will truly be saved."

However, upon hearing Huo Gua's words, Ju Zi smiled gently, tilted her head slightly, and reached out her right hand to touch Huo Gua's face.

Huo Gua trembled instantly, but inexplicably did not dodge.

Ju Zi calmly replied, "You won't. You've always been a soft-hearted person. I believe you won't kill me."

Huo Gua his mouth slightly, about to say something, but Ju Zi didn't give him a chance to speak, and continued softly, "Moreover, if I die after Xu Tianran dies, in such a desperate situation, do you know what the million-strong army of the Sun Moon Empire would do? They would directly abandon the stability of Mingdu and even the entire rear of the empire, and slaughter Star Luo Empire at all costs."

"Remember, it's annihilation, not attack. That's why, with my Sun Moon Empire, can the Douluo Continent truly achieve stability and peace."

Hearing Ju Zi speak the cruelest words in the gentlest tone, Huo Gua silent.

And the most ironic thing is that she and the Sun Moon Empire started the war, yet she became a peace envoy?

Ironically, Huo Gua had no way to refute this, because what Ju Zi said was the truth, or rather, reality.

The empire's strength has determined the current situation; falling behind means being vulnerable to attack, unless, of course, it can become a god.

Thinking of this, Huo Gua suddenly said, "Don't forget that Shrek has Deity; he would never allow you to slaughter civilians."

Ju Zi smiled calmly, "Of course I won't slaughter civilians, provided I'm still alive. If I were dead, I naturally wouldn't be able to control the Sun Moon Army. Unless, you let your Deity slaughter a million, no, a few hundred thousand of the Sun Moon Army would be enough, but would He do that? To be honest, I think He would prefer a unified Douluo."

Huo Gua speechless. Yes, he had long understood Zhou Huan's thoughts.

Otherwise, the people he brought wouldn't just be from the Tang Sect.

Moreover, although none of the Pavilion Elder of Shrek Sea God Pavilion had expressed their opinions, he knew that Pavilion Elder were on Zhou Huan's side and would no longer interfere in the war between the empires.

Of course, they wouldn't object to Huo Yuhao's involvement, remaining neutral, but that already speaks volumes.

Then, Ju Zi continued, "So, Yu Hao, in order to buy the Star Luo Empire a few more years, go and kill Xu Tianran."

As she spoke, Ju Zi gently slipped a drawing into Huo Gua's clothes.

At this moment, only two words appeared in Huo Gua's mind: control.

Yes, it's all about control. In terms of wits, he's never been a match for Ju Zi.

He couldn't refuse Ju Zi's obvious plan to use him as a weapon.