Victory in War!

Moonflower Empire Imperial Capital, Moon Yao City.

The imperial palace had now become a war command center. The spacious hall was filled with the Empire's leading generals, high-ranking officials, and powerful Soul Masters and Soul Engineers.

Kong Sili, the reigning emperor of the Moonflower Empire, sat at the head of the hall. His expression was so grim it seemed water might drip from it. Always resolute, even during the open and covert struggles with his brothers for the throne, he now faced this situation with a trace of despair in his eyes.

Ever since Xu Yunxiao had ascended the throne, the Sun Moon Empire had undergone rapid development under his leadership over the past several decades. Its current strength had surpassed Kong Sili's expectations. In just three years, it had conquered most of the Moonflower Empire's territory and was now about to reach the gates of the Imperial Capital.

The seven defensive fortresses around Moon Yao City had already been surrounded by the Sun Moon Empire's army. The fall of the nation was imminent.

Sweeping his gaze over the people in the hall, Kong Sili found that every one of them wore an equally awful expression, their eyes filled with confusion and despair.

"Grand General, can Moon Yao City still be defended?" Kong Sili asked hoarsely, looking at the white-haired elder standing at the head of the assembly below.

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the council hall seemed to freeze, becoming incomparably heavy.

As the foremost figure in the Moonflower Empire's military and the commander who had led its armies against the Sun Moon Empire for many years, Zeng Yanlin understood the Sun Moon Empire's terror better than anyone else.

Now, trapped in a desperate situation with enemies on all sides, he faced Kong Sili's question. His mouth opened several times, yet he could not utter a single word that offered even the slightest chance of victory.

Seeing this, the last trace of hope in Kong Sili's heart was shattered. He closed his eyes in pain. Ten breaths later, he suddenly opened them. His eyes were bloodshot and crimson as he drew the Son of Heaven Sword at his waist, the symbol of imperial authority. In a deep voice, he said, "This is all my fault, allowing the nation to face the danger of collapse today. How can I still face our ancestors?"

"My ministers, when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. I hope you will join me in standing united and defending our nation to the death."

"We shall live and die with Your Majesty!"

"We shall live and die with Your Majesty!"

"We shall live and die with Your Majesty!"

At once, the ministers in the hall bowed sharply, their roars filled with determination.

Rumble!!!

The next second, an earth-shaking sound came from afar, reverberating in everyone's hearts.

"The Sun Moon Empire... has begun its attack..."

At that moment, at the northwestern front line a hundred li from Moon Yao City, the Moonflower Empire's capital.

A White Incandescent sphere of light continued to shine at the location of a massive military fortress in the distance.

The sphere was semicircular and slowly spread outward.

The light was dazzling beyond measure, giving people the impression that the sun itself had descended upon the world. Most people could not bear to look at it and would instinctively turn away after only a glance.

For instance, the soldiers guarding Moon Yao City's northwestern front line were also within the sphere's expanding range.

Their eyes were filled with despair. Before they could react, they were obliterated, body and soul, within the sphere of light.

The next instant, the earth gave a slight tremor. Then, the steel defensive line that the Moonflower Empire had painstakingly built at the cost of vast resources shattered and melted within that sphere. A rolling boom like muffled thunder followed, unending.

Even Moon Yao City, a hundred li away, along with the other five defensive lines farther away, began to shake violently.

The rumbling continued to spread across the land beneath their feet. Though it lacked the world-changing terror of the initial blast, it was incomparably dense.

After more than half a year of preparation, the Sun Moon Empire could finally no longer hold itself back. Under Xu Yunxiao's command, it launched an operation against the Moonflower Empire's final city.

The war of unification had begun in full!

Sun Moon Empire military camp.

A massive tent stood at the center of the camp. Unlike the other tents, this great tent, made entirely of cured cowhide, was dark red, as though it had been dyed in blood.

Though it was daytime, autumn had already arrived. The sky remained overcast, and the light was dim.

Yet the area around this tent was brightly illuminated.

At the center of the tent, Xu Yunxiao sat proudly in the middle of the command tent. Two rows of the Sun Moon Empire's foremost generals sat below him.

One figure stood out even among the crowd.

It was a slender figure. Her red armor perfectly outlined the graceful curves of her delicate body, while a rose-red cape draped behind her. A red phoenix was emblazoned upon the breastplate, its wings spread as if soaring into the sky.

Her exquisitely beautiful face was especially captivating. Set off by her magnificent armor and cape, she possessed both heroic bearing and noble elegance.

The generals inside the tent held no improper thoughts as they looked at her. There was only profound respect in their eyes, for she was Xu Tianyang's mother—the current Crown Princess of the Sun Moon Empire and its future Empress, Mu Mengyu.

However, here she had only one identity: commander of the Fire Phoenix Soul Tool Regiment.

Just then, a fiery-red figure suddenly appeared within the tent. The newcomer was an elderly woman around fifty years old, her long hair coiled high atop her head. A sharp glint flickered within her rare red eyes.

She was Qinghui, the deputy commander of the Fire Phoenix Soul Tool Regiment. Her strength was surpassed only by Mu Mengyu's within the regiment.

A rank seventy-nine Soul Saint, just one step away from becoming a Soul Douluo.

"Qinghui, how is the situation?" Seeing her arrive, Xu Yunxiao's expression turned solemn as he asked in a grave tone.

Qinghui replied sternly, "Reporting to Your Highness, of the seven fortresses surrounding Moon Yao City, the northwestern, northeastern, and eastern fortresses have now been breached by our army. Moon Yao City lies exposed before us. Our forces may advance straight in at any time and strike directly at the Imperial Capital."

"Good!"

"Hahaha, we've won! Our Sun Moon Empire has won!"

"Your Highness, victory is right before us. Give the order!"

"Your Highness, give the order!"

"Your Highness!"

"Transmit my command. The army will march out and surround Moon Yao City. Everyone, victory in this war is right before us. We are about to accomplish the eternal feat of unifying the continent. All your names will be recorded in history. Let us end this as soon as possible."

Upon hearing that the fortresses had been breached, even Xu Yunxiao could not help clenching his fist in excitement. The others also burst into exhilarated laughter.

Then, facing their excited expressions, he spoke with impassioned conviction.

"We obey!" Everyone rose to their feet in perfect unison and shouted excitedly. They then quickly departed, mobilizing troops and setting the army in motion.

Moon Yao City.

At that moment, Soul Tools of every grade filled the towering hundred-meter-high walls surrounding the city. The Moonflower Empire's remaining army packed the ramparts, each soldier gripping his weapon tightly as they stared nervously toward the horizon.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A terrifying sound rang out, as if an earth dragon were turning over.

Beneath the gray sky, a black serpent rapidly appeared upon the distant horizon, slowly advancing toward Moon Yao City.

Thousands of figures filled the sky above the serpent—deep purple, dark gold, fiery red, and countless other colors, mingled together while remaining distinctly separated.

They were the Sun Moon Empire's five Guardian Hand Soul Tool Regiments, along with various elite Soul Tool Regiments.

Roar!

An impassioned dragon's roar exploded through the sky. A Purple Giant Dragon of astonishing majesty appeared in the air. The dragon was over a hundred meters long, and Xu Yunxiao stood proudly atop its Dragon Head. His imposing voice, empowered by his cultivation, spread across heaven and earth like radiant brilliance.

"Subjects of the Moonflower Empire, conflict has plagued the continent for far too long. By Heaven's mandate, I shall unite the continent. Any who surrender shall, from this day forward, become my subjects—subjects of the Sun Moon Empire."

"I am the Sun Moon Empire Crown Prince. It is my duty to protect the subjects of the Sun Moon Empire."

Looking at the imposing Xu Yunxiao, the countless ferocious Soul Tools around him, and the vast army eyeing them like tigers, the soldiers on the walls were filled with fear. Their morale instantly plunged to its lowest point, and not a trace of fighting spirit remained in their hearts.

Many of the high-ranking ministers and powerful figures lowered their heads, making it impossible to tell what they were thinking.

Kong Sili stood atop the city wall, not daring to turn around and look at their expressions. He stared in shock at Xu Yunxiao standing atop the Purple Blazing Heaven Dragon's head and murmured in disbelief, "Rank ninety... the realm of a Titled Douluo..."