Deliberation

Holy Dragon Douluo En Ci followed the man to the West Mountain Range outside Ming City, where the War God Temple was stationed.

Along the way, an elderly man caught his attention.

The old man, like him, was a Limit Douluo.

He also seemed to be about the same age as En Ci, yet En Ci sensed a rising aura about him that he himself lacked.

The old man was advancing from the Demigod level toward the Quasi-God realm.

The old man sensed En Ci's aura as well and greeted him politely. "Yuanen Zhentian. I currently serve at the War God Temple."

"Holy Dragon Douluo En Ci."

Yuanen Zhentian nodded. "The temple master is waiting for you up ahead."

Soon, En Ci met another young man. Though he fell short of Yun Ming, his Quasi-God aura was genuine.

En Ci hurried forward and bowed. "En Ci, Holy Dragon Douluo of the Star Luo Empire, pays his respects to the War God Temple Master."

To his surprise, the young man shook his head with a smile. "I'm not the War God Temple Master."

"I'm Guan Yue, vice temple master of the War God Temple. The temple master is waiting inside."

With that, Guan Yue gestured for him to enter.

En Ci was already growing numb with fear.

So far, the War God Temple had displayed strength on par with Shrek Academy.

If even its vice temple master was a Quasi-God, then what of the temple master?

As if sensing En Ci's hesitation, Guan Yue smiled. "You needn't be nervous, Holy Dragon. Our Federation has no plans to start a war."

"The temple master simply wants to meet you."

Hearing that, En Ci felt reassured. If the Douluo Federation were determined to destroy the Star Luo Empire, there'd be no need for such underhanded tactics.

Besides, as the saying went, envoys were not to be harmed between nations. Even if war were to break out, it would have to wait until the Star Luo Empire's delegation had returned home.

Having thought it through, En Ci regained the bearing of a Limit Douluo and entered the reception room.

The room was small, with just two chairs and a table in the middle.

A freshly brewed pot of tea and two cups sat on the table.

While En Ci waited, puzzled, Xie An appeared soundlessly beside the table.

He took the seat of honor at once.

En Ci was truly afraid now.

Whether it was the old man at the War God Temple earlier, its vice temple master at the entrance, or even the Skycrosser Douluo Yun Ming he'd fought at Shrek Academy, they could all be sensed.

The old man named Yuanen Zhentian might break through, but that was only a possibility. At the same Demigod level, the outcome was still uncertain.

As for Yun Ming, whom he'd fought earlier—or Guan Yue, who called himself the War God Temple's vice temple master—though the gap was like a chasm, En Ci could still sense it.

But the man before him was different.

From the moment he appeared to the moment he sat down, En Ci wouldn't have known he was there at all if he hadn't seen him with his own eyes. Even his Demigod-level senses hadn't detected him.

Perhaps his Martial Soul specializes in concealment, En Ci thought, clinging to a sliver of hope, though he knew that was probably not the case.

"Sit. Let me introduce myself. I'm Xie An, the new War God Temple Master."

As Xie An poured the tea, he continued, "You came at just the right time. The Tang Sect just sent me some tea leaves from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."

"Give it a try."

Xie An pushed a cup toward En Ci.

After all, En Ci had become a Limit Douluo; he'd seen his share of grand occasions.

He quickly composed himself, took a seat, and accepted the tea Xie An offered.

The tea's aroma wafted up. It wasn't bitter, and after he swallowed, a sweet aftertaste lingered in his mouth.

"Excellent tea." En Ci set down his cup and praised it sincerely. Xie An promptly refilled it.

"May I ask why the temple master summoned me?"

Xie An smiled. "Before I answer, I'd like to ask you a question, Holy Dragon."

"Please, just call me En Ci."

Xie An continued, "En Ci, how do you think the Star Luo Empire compares in strength to the Douluo Federation?"

Holy Dragon Douluo En Ci was caught off guard. The War God Temple Master had asked so bluntly.

"Like stars compared to the bright moon, or a lame horse compared to a qilin."

Xie An nodded. "That's no exaggeration. If the Douluo Federation were determined to destroy the Star Luo Empire, I could do it easily with a few War Gods and a fleet."

"The reason we haven't unified the continent is that we're all human. Many of us even came from the Douluo Federation. We don't want to turn against our own kind."

"Second, we hope that Soul Masters developing under different systems might discover another path."

"Third, and most importantly, humanity faces powerful external enemies. This is no time for infighting."

En Ci understood the first two points, but the third left him confused.

"May I ask who these enemies are?"

Though En Ci was a Limit Douluo, he lived in the Star Luo Empire and had no clear understanding of the Abyss Plane.

Xie An merely smiled at him without answering.

En Ci soon realized the problem. "I swear upon my Light Sacred Dragon Martial Soul that, unless the War God Temple Master gives permission, I will not disclose what we discuss from this point on."

"Nor will I do anything with this information to harm the Douluo Federation. If I break this oath, may I be struck down by heaven."

As if he feared his oath wasn't convincing enough, En Ci added another sentence.

A mysterious aura settled over him.

"There's no need to hide it. If you were one of us in the Douluo Federation, you'd have the right to know."

Xie An handed En Ci a report on the Abyss Plane.

After reading it, En Ci's expression turned complicated.

"What do you want me to do, Temple Master?"

"I'm sure you know that voices calling for the unification of the Star Luo Empire have already arisen in the Douluo Federation."

En Ci said nothing, only nodded.

"I want you to prepare the Star Luo Imperial Family to face the Abyss Plane when you return."

"Above all, I hope you'll be on the front lines yourself."

"In return, I'll ensure that the Star Luo Empire won't be attacked for as long as I remain War God Temple Master."

En Ci was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Xie An refilled their cups, then brewed another pot of tea.

"Now that we've finished discussing business, I think we should talk about something more personal."

"En Ci, I hear you're in charge of Monster Academy in Star Luo, where you're trying to compete with Shrek?"

En Ci nodded.

"I'd like to borrow two people from you."

"Dai Yun'er and Long Yue."

En Ci's expression changed. He tried to leap up, but an invisible force of Soul Power mixed with spiritual power pressed him back into his chair.

Now En Ci understood: the War God Temple Master before him had gone farther than any other human Limit Douluo.

"Don't be so hasty. Don't worry, I won't hurt either of them."

"I'm a Limit Douluo. I wouldn't stoop to that."

"I just want to borrow them for a few years and have them come here as exchange students. I'll provide them with all the resources they need."

"Besides, I hear Long Yue has the rare Mountain Dragon King Martial Soul, which requires exceptionally strong spiritual power to advance."

"I specifically asked the Tang Sect for a Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew."

He took out a medicinal herb with a jade-green stalk, three leaves, and dewdrops glistening on them.

"Well? How's that for sincerity?"

En Ci stared at it. It was the very herb he'd been longing to find for Long Yue.

Long Yue was already twelve, but his Mountain Dragon King Martial Soul made him look older.

After a moment's thought, En Ci finally said, "I can't promise anything about Dai Yun'er, but I'll have Long Yue come here."

Xie An showed no surprise, only smiled. "Good. It's a deal."

Holding the herb, En Ci left the room in a daze.

"..."

"Council Chairman, the discussion is over. The Star Luo Empire has agreed."

"What if they don't keep their promise?"

"Then remove me from office. I'll conquer the Star Luo Empire myself."