First Stop of the Visit, Linghai City

With no other choice, Xu Mochen ordered the fleet to hold their positions. He dispatched four or five small boats carrying a group of diplomats to the port to find someone in charge and explain their intentions, trusting that the locals would understand their actions.

Under Xu Mochen's arrangement, a group of diplomats led by Gu Yuntong boarded the small boats and successfully docked at the port. As the diplomats and naval officers stepped onto the shore, many couldn't help but inhale the fresh air; after drifting at sea for ten days, they were finally able to plant their feet firmly on solid ground.

Before they could even catch their breath, a tremor vibrated through the ground nearby. Soon, several Soul Masters appeared, leading a group of soldiers clad in leather armor and armed with wooden-handled spears and semi-wooden round shields, surrounding the port.

When they saw the fleet anchored offshore and the mysterious visitors in their "bizarre attire" standing on the docks, their faces filled with shock and panic. Many soldiers were trembling so violently they nearly turned and fled.

It was too terrifying! Truly too terrifying! Were those steel behemoths anchored at sea, spewing black smoke and roaring like thunder, not monsters? They had only rushed over after receiving a distress signal from the port!

At first, when they heard the reporter shouting in terror about "giant monsters at sea, spitting black smoke, roaring to the heavens," they had found it laughable, even suspecting the report was an exaggeration. But now, seeing it with their own eyes, they realized the reality was far more shocking than the report!

Are we really expected to fight these super-monsters? The soldiers shuddered at the thought. They were merely the Linghai City garrison! Their usual duties involved maintaining city order and dealing with small-scale bandits or thugs; when had they ever seen such a display?

Would these sea monsters come ashore and swallow them all in one gulp? There was no point in fighting! This was nothing more than lighting a lantern in a latrine—courting death.

Zhao Ziheng, the leader of the garrison, felt his heart filled with fear, but his years of military training and his status as a Soul Master allowed him to suppress his trembling. He steeled himself and led a few Soul Masters forward to meet the group of strangely dressed individuals approaching them.

Zhao Ziheng and his men scrutinized the visitors. There were fifty-five people in total. Fifty appeared to be soldiers or armed personnel, though their equipment was bizarre. They wore armor and helmets, but the style was unlike anything Zhao Ziheng had ever seen—not leather, chainmail, lamellar, scale, or plate.

Their armor was composed of strange blue metal components with complex, predominantly blue patterns that seemed to glow faintly. Their helmets looked like odd, blue-domed lids, and each featured a pair of oversized "goggles" attached to the front. Their hands and feet were encased in black gloves and military boots made of clearly superior materials.

Though he couldn't identify the material, Zhao Ziheng could clearly sense that their armor was far more advanced than the plate armor worn by the Royal Guards he had seen.

Furthermore, each of them carried a large, bulging pack of strange design, with various odd gadgets hanging from their waists and chests. Each person also carried a peculiar, long "fire-stick" slung over their shoulder or a shorter one hanging across their chest. Zhao Ziheng tentatively concluded these were weapons, though he had no idea how they were used or how powerful they were.

Were they meant to be swung like broadswords or thrust like spears? Could such strangely shaped weapons actually have any combat effectiveness?

The other five individuals wore much more normal clothing: simple, well-fitted black robes with strange "fabric strips" tied across their chests. Was this some kind of local custom? Unlike the solemn, resolute expressions of the armed personnel, these five men in black robes appeared friendly and amiable.

The leader of the five, a middle-aged man with a square face and a sharp, capable demeanor, waved his hand. The armed personnel immediately formed two columns on either side without a single wasted movement or unnecessary word. The order and discipline were so strict that even Zhao Ziheng, who had seen his fair share of the world, couldn't help but marvel.

Elite! These armed men are definitely well-trained elites! Even the Heaven Dou Empire's Royal Guards likely lack such terrifying military discipline. Zhao Ziheng was secretly stunned. In all his years on the Douluo Continent, he had never heard of such an elite force! Who were they? Could they be a secret special unit trained by the Star Luo Empire to the south?

Though his heart churned like a stormy sea, Zhao Ziheng maintained a friendly expression. He addressed the middle-aged man approaching him: "Excuse me, everyone. I am Zhao Ziheng, Commander of the Linghai City Garrison, a level 74 Spirit Saint. May I ask where you have come from and what is the purpose of your visit to this small city?"

Since the other party hadn't shown any malice, he shouldn't provoke them. The most important thing now was to stall them and clarify their origins. Zhao Ziheng had already ordered his men to send an urgent 800-li express report to the Fasino Province Governor's Office. If the Governor deemed it necessary, the matter would be escalated to the Heaven Dou Empire's capital, and then it would be out of his hands.

The leader of the group, the man in the black robe, maintained a friendly smile, stepped forward, extended his right hand, and introduced himself: "Greetings, honorable Commander. I am Gu Yuntong, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sun Moon Empire. We are visitors from another continent tens of thousands of miles to your west. We apologize for the trouble our arrival has caused due to our unfamiliarity with the local routes, and we are willing to compensate for any losses we have caused."

Gu Yuntong bowed slightly, his words polite and flawless. Even Zhao Ziheng couldn't find fault with them, though Gu Yuntong's words left him utterly shocked.

"W-what? You... you come from another continent to our west? And what is this... Sun Moon Empire?" Zhao Ziheng's jaw dropped, his voice stuttering.

This news was more shocking than anything he had heard in his entire life! Zhao Ziheng was certain that even if a level 99 peerless expert appeared before him, he wouldn't be this stunned!

After all, he had heard legends of level 99 experts on the Douluo Continent, but there was no record in history of another continent existing, let alone people from that continent arriving in terrifying giant monsters to pay a visit!

According to the common worldview of the Douluo Continent, there was only one continent in the world. Where had this distant, magical kingdom suddenly sprung from? In that moment, Zhao Ziheng's entire worldview collapsed.

After a long silence, Zhao Ziheng finally snapped back to reality. Seeing Gu Yuntong's right hand still extended with a gentle smile, he realized his rudeness, quickly apologized, and shook the man's hand. "My apologies, I was just too shocked. Welcome, welcome to our Douluo Continent!"

Based on his assessment, this situation was far beyond his authority. Visitors from a mysterious kingdom on a distant continent—this was not something he could handle alone. The most important thing now was to send another report to the Fasino Province Governor's Office and the Imperial Capital to let them decide.

Fortunately, Gu Yuntong had anticipated Zhao Ziheng's reaction and didn't take offense. He politely explained that the vessels at sea were Sun Moon Empire warships—not here to invade, but to explore and spread friendship! (Believe it or not, he certainly sounded like he did.)

He assured them that the main fleet would not dock without permission, and all personnel and supplies would be transported via their small boats.

Gu Yuntong also mentioned that their fleet had been at sea for a long time and their supplies were low. He hoped to obtain food and fresh water, and they were willing to trade for them to show their sincerity.

Hearing this, Zhao Ziheng breathed a sigh of relief and waved his hand, offering to provide the food and water for free as long as they kept their word. However, Gu Yuntong insisted that the Sun Moon Empire valued integrity and would not take advantage of others. He produced a storage Soul Tool ring and presented it to Zhao Ziheng, explaining that it contained gold to pay for the supplies, with the remainder offered as a gesture of goodwill.

Zhao Ziheng tried to refuse, but eventually relented and accepted the ring. When he channeled his soul power into it, he was shocked to find about a hundred taels of gold inside! He immediately realized these people were incredibly wealthy, and his favorability toward the Sun Moon Empire soared. He promptly ordered his subordinates to handle the logistics.

Once his orders were given, Zhao Ziheng began to chat with Gu Yuntong, trying to learn more about the other continent and the Sun Moon Empire. Gu Yuntong, in turn, was curious about the Douluo Continent. The two hit it off immediately and began a lively conversation.

By the time the supplies were loaded onto the ships and the storage Soul Tool, the two men, who felt they had met too late in life, parted with "reluctance." However, Zhao Ziheng decided to set up camp nearby; no matter how friendly they seemed, he couldn't afford to stop monitoring the movements of these mysterious visitors.