The Star Crown Clan Swears Allegiance! Discussing the Country's Name-Sun-Moon Empire? No, That Won't Do!

After leaving Linhai City, the three of them were in completely different moods.

Qian Renxue sat in the carriage, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Her mind kept replaying Xu Zhao's domineering, peerless figure.

Golden Crocodile Douluo, meanwhile, wore a grave expression.

Xu Yu's unfathomable strength, along with the Great Sun Prince Mansion's terrifying resources,

filled him with deep apprehension.

But Zhao Lai was in the worst state of all.

His face was as pale as paper, and he looked like he'd lost his soul.

"What did you say?!"

Dai Tianfeng snatched the memorial from his hand and hurled it viciously into Zhao Lai's face.

"Cede half our territory?

Everything south of Star Luo City, with the city as the boundary, is to belong to the Great Sun Prince Mansion?!"

"And they want to found a country there?!"

Dai Tianfeng trembled with rage, his chest heaving. Behind him, the phantom of his White Tiger Martial Soul flickered in and out, its savage gaze seeming ready to devour its prey.

"Bastard!

This is outrageous!"

"What does Xu Zhao take me for?

What does he take the Star Luo Empire for?

A soft target?!"

"My Crown Prince is still in his hands, and he's captured my duke as well. Now he wants me to cede half my realm in exchange?

This is going too far!

Does he think there's no one in the Star Luo Empire who can stand up to him?!"

Zhao Lai knelt on the floor, his forehead pressed against the cold tiles. He shivered, not daring to make a sound.

Dai Tianfeng paced back and forth across the hall, fury nearly blazing from his eyes.

As an emperor renowned for his iron rule, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

If it had been any other power—even the Heaven Dou Empire—making such a demand,

he would have personally led a million troops to crush them long ago!

But...

Whenever he thought of the Great Sun Prince Mansion's despair-inducing forces, it was as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him.

His fury instantly turned into deep helplessness.

"A million troops... Heh..."

Dai Tianfeng gave a bitter laugh and sank into his throne.

The Star Luo Empire's armies were indeed formidable.

If the two armies met on the battlefield, even the Great Sun Prince Mansion would be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

But wars in the Soul Master World had never been decided by numbers alone.

In terms of quality, the Great Sun Prince Mansion could send out a single Titled Douluo with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, and that fighter could take an enemy general's head amid ten thousand troops as easily as walking through an empty field!

And that was without even considering the "seven or eight Titled Douluos" and the "Steel Fleet" Xu Zhao had mentioned so casually.

If he truly drove them to anger, several Titled Douluos could join forces to raid Star Luo City and launch a "decapitation strike" against him, the emperor...

Dai Tianfeng felt a chill crawl up his neck.

He didn't want to surrender territory; it was the legacy of his ancestors. But even more, he didn't want to die, and he didn't want the Star Luo Imperial Family to end in his hands!

"No... I can't just sit here and wait for death."

A flicker of inner conflict crossed Dai Tianfeng's eyes. He suddenly raised his head.

"Prepare the carriage!

I'm going to see Golden Crocodile Douluo!"

"Second Worship!"

As soon as Dai Tianfeng entered, he cupped his hands toward Golden Crocodile Douluo.

"The Great Sun Prince Mansion has revealed its rapacious ambitions and wants to swallow up half the Star Luo Empire!

This is not only a disaster for our empire, but a threat to the balance of the entire continent!"

"If they succeed, where will the Spirit Hall and the Two Great Empires find a place on this continent in the future?"

"I beg you, Second Worship, for old times' sake, to represent the Spirit Hall and mediate on our behalf!

As long as I can preserve our territory, I'm willing to pay some other price!"

Dai Tianfeng spoke with earnest sincerity, placing all his hopes in the Spirit Hall.

In his view, the Spirit Hall would never stand by and watch a superpower like the Great Sun Prince Mansion rise. It was bound to intervene and keep them in check.

However,

in response to Dai Tianfeng's request, Golden Crocodile Douluo merely set down his teacup and slowly shook his head.

"Your Majesty, in this matter... I'm powerless to help."

"What?"

Dai Tianfeng froze.

"Second Worship, you're a Level 98 Super Douluo, and the Spirit Hall is the sacred ground of Soul Masters across the land. Surely you can't—"

"Your Majesty."

Golden Crocodile Douluo cut him off, a knowing glint passing through his aged eyes.

"Do you know what level of strength the master of the Great Sun Prince Mansion, Great Sun King Xu Yu, possesses?"

Dai Tianfeng shook his head blankly.

Golden Crocodile Douluo sighed, his tone grave.

"Though I've never truly fought him, based on the aura alone...

his strength is definitely no weaker than mine. In fact...

he may even surpass me by a hair!"

Boom!

Dai Tianfeng was struck as if by lightning, frozen in place.

Stronger than Golden Crocodile Douluo?

Didn't that mean... a Level 99 Peerless Douluo?!

"Moreover, the Great Sun Prince Mansion's resources are unfathomable, and the number of its Titled Douluos is unknown."

Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at Dai Tianfeng's ashen face and said calmly,

"Do you really think the Spirit Hall would risk a fight to the death against a power with a Peerless Douluo and several Titled Douluos for the sake of the Star Luo Empire?"

Dai Tianfeng opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

That was right.

Why would the Spirit Hall risk its life for the Star Luo Empire?

If anything, the Spirit Hall would be delighted to see the Star Luo Empire weakened so it could reap the benefits.

"Your Majesty, take an old man's advice."

Golden Crocodile Douluo rose and walked over to Dai Tianfeng. He patted him on the shoulder and spoke earnestly.

"Though the Great Sun Prince Mansion made a lion's share of the demands and asked for half your territory,

at least... they haven't said they intend to wipe out the Star Luo Empire altogether, have they?"

"As long as the green hills remain, there'll be no shortage of firewood."

"If Your Majesty insists on refusing and angers that Heir Prince Xu..."

Golden Crocodile Douluo leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice with a chilling edge.

"Then I'm afraid they won't stop at taking your land."

"For the sake of your people, your empire, and your own head..."

"Your Majesty should think carefully about this demand."

With that, Golden Crocodile Douluo paid Dai Tianfeng no further attention. He turned and went into the inner room, dismissing his guest.

Dai Tianfeng stood frozen in place, his whole body cold.

He understood what Golden Crocodile Douluo had left unsaid.

The Spirit Hall wouldn't interfere.

If he dared to refuse, the Great Sun Prince Mansion's Titled Douluos would descend upon the imperial palace and take his life!

Dai Tianfeng felt bitter, knowing he had no choice.

Star Luo Calendar, 2641, early summer.

This day was destined to be recorded in the history books of the Star Luo Empire, and to remain a source of pain in the hearts of all its people.

Amid the suffocating atmosphere of the imperial palace's great hall,

Star Luo Emperor Dai Tianfeng, his hands trembling, pressed the imperial jade seal onto the document ceding territory, titled the Coastal Treaty.

"Clack!"

The sharp sound seemed to shatter centuries of pride belonging to the Star Luo Empire.

"Your Majesty..."

Below him, some of the civil and military officials covered their faces and wept, while others beat their chests in grief. Yet not one dared speak in protest.

They all knew this humiliating seal would preserve the Star Luo Imperial Family and save the lives of the Crown Prince and the duke.

It would also avert a catastrophic disaster that might have destroyed their country.