A Threat from Across the Sea

"Who's going with us this time?"

At that, Qian Xunji said, "This is going to be a large-scale operation. Seven Worshippers from the Spirit Hall, His Holiness the Pope, and five elders—thirteen Titled Douluo in all—will be taking part. We'll also have fifty thousand regular troops and three thousand Spirit Masters in the legion."

Murong Huai was a little surprised. Fifty thousand troops and thirteen Titled Douluo made for an enormous force. Even the two great empires couldn't afford to underestimate it.

"Senior Brother, why are we attacking Sea God Island?"

"Hmm... I don't know the exact reason, but it seems to have something to do with a peak powerhouse on Sea God Island." Qian Xunji shook his head.

"A peak powerhouse... Could it be the current High Priest of Sea God Island?" Murong Huai mused.

The Spirit Hall was sending out more than fifty thousand troops, but even so, there was no guarantee they could take Sea God Island. An army of that size could destroy any force on the continent, but at sea, Sea God Island had the natural advantage.

Everyone there was a Sea Soul Master, and they also had a great many Soul Beasts guarding the island. On the open sea, they were practically invincible.

The Spirit Hall's soldiers were fierce, but their strength would be greatly diminished in a naval battle. Sea God Island's Sea Soul Masters could use the power of the sea to fight several opponents at once. It was their home battlefield.

If the Spirit Hall suffered heavy casualties in this attack, would the first few among the current Seven Worshippers be killed or gravely wounded? After all, among the next generation of Seven Worshippers, only the older Golden Crocodile was currently ranked fourth. Aside from Qian Daoliu, who was the Pope, the other five were still elders.

If that really happened and the current Worshippers suffered heavy losses, he couldn't just stand by. His family was among them. If their lives were threatened... then whoever was responsible would die.

At the thought, a vicious glint flashed in Murong Huai's eyes. Still, he asked one more question.

"Senior Brother, do we really have to attack Sea God Island?"

Qian Xunji was taken aback. Remembering his grandfather's stern words, he nodded gravely.

"We have to. There's no changing it..."

Murong Huai said nothing, but his eyes had grown colder.

Spirit City, Pope Palace.

After returning to Spirit City, Murong Huai went alone to the Pope Palace. When Qian Daoliu saw him enter, he sensed his presence and said with a smile,

"Haha, Huai'er, you're back. How did it go?"

Murong Huai replied,

"Teacher, I absorbed the Spirit Ring of a six-thousand-year-old Mystic Bell Sword-Armor Dragon and gained a defensive Soul Skill. It works quite well."

After absorbing his Second Soul Ring, Murong Huai's restrictions had lifted, and his Soul Power was no longer suppressed. After a month of cultivation, along with the boost from two high-quality Spirit Rings, his Soul Power Level had now reached level twenty-five. Under the subtle influence of the Heavenly Scourge Power, his Soul Power had also become exceptionally pure.

"Good. Very good." Qian Daoliu nodded in satisfaction, walked down the steps, and patted Murong Huai on the shoulder.

"Teacher, Senior Brother told me that the Spirit Hall is about to attack Sea God Island..."

Qian Daoliu sighed and turned to walk over to the window.

"Alas, we have no other choice. Huai'er, you don't understand. It's not that the Spirit Hall has to attack Sea God Island. The main reason is one person."

"Who? The High Priest of Sea God Island?"

"That's right. The High Priest of Sea God Island." Though Qian Daoliu was surprised that Murong Huai had guessed it, he continued, "The current High Priest of Sea God Island is named Haimala. She's a Level 98 Peak Douluo, and her Martial Soul is the Sea God Trident. It's said that her Martial Soul was transformed from the Sea God's own weapon, making it immensely powerful.

"She was once on very good terms with my father, the Grand Worship. Unfortunately, they fell out for some reason. Haimala's talent was even greater than my father's, but despite her formidable talent and strength, she was narrow-minded and vicious. She had long dreamed of ruling the continent through force.

"She firmly believed that the Sea God had once stood alongside the Angel God, and she couldn't accept that the Sea God's descendants lived far overseas while the Angel God's descendants could use the name of the Spirit Hall to command respect across the continent.

"But with my father around, she was no match for him on land. My father also led the Spirit Hall in repelling her attacks time and again.

"Her ambition is immense, and her temperament is fanatical. She'll brazenly start a war, heedless of anyone's objections. She also abandoned Sea God Island's old customs and established a large standing army of considerable size.

"Moreover, in just a few years, she'll be able to break through to the realm of a Level 99 Limit Douluo. At that point, she'll be the only Limit Douluo on the continent, unmatched by anyone. Given her temperament, she'll surely lead Sea God Island's army to invade the Douluo Continent again.

"With her strength greatly increased, no one will be able to stand against her. It would be a disaster for the entire Douluo Continent. That's why the Spirit Hall has to strike first and kill her before she reaches the Limit Douluo realm.

"So, while it may look like we're attacking Sea God Island, our real goal is to kill its High Priest, Haimala, and eliminate this terrible threat."

"Then why aren't the two great empires taking action?" Murong Huai asked.

According to Qian Daoliu, Haimala had built a standing army on Sea God Island. If she intended to attack the Douluo Continent, could the two great empires really sit by and do nothing?

Hearing Murong Huai's question, Qian Daoliu shook his head. "Hmph. The two great empires care about nothing but their own interests. The Star Luo Empire has always wanted to start a war and swallow up the Heaven Dou Empire. Though the former is somewhat stronger than the latter, they aren't far apart in strength. If they went to war, the land would be swept by bloodshed, and countless commoners would be driven from their homes.

"If the Spirit Hall weren't there to keep them in check, who knows how many more people would have died by now? The Star Luo Empire needs time to build up its strength. It won't truly take action.

"As for the Heaven Dou Empire, each generation is worse than the last. Its nobles and powerful clans are everywhere, oppressing commoners and lining their pockets through corruption. Most of the imperial family's children are useless, and the emperor has no great ambitions. He only wants to hold on to his own little patch of land, so he won't waste the empire's strength."

"What? Aren't they afraid of losing the people's support across the continent?"

"Alas, at most, they'll put on a show. The last few times, they only sent a few tens of thousands of troops to be stationed along the coast as a token gesture. Even the marshals of the two empires had no idea what the real objective was. If war breaks out, the Spirit Hall will still bear the brunt of it. This time will be no different." As he spoke, Qian Daoliu couldn't help feeling disgusted with the two great empires.

Listening to Qian Daoliu, Murong Huai considered the matter. If the two great empires couldn't be relied on, then the only option was to strengthen the Spirit Hall. He said,

"Teacher, since this battle can't be avoided, I should do my part for the Spirit Hall as its Holy Son. Could you assign me some blacksmiths, craftsmen... and a few other people?"

Qian Daoliu was taken aback. After a moment's thought, he decided not to dampen Murong Huai's enthusiasm and nodded.

"Very well. Take the Pope Token to the Engineering Department and choose some people. No more than twenty; they have plenty of other tasks to complete. As for the rest, ask your mother to arrange them for you."

"Good. Thank you, Teacher." Murong Huai was delighted, but a cold glint soon appeared in his eyes. He would forge a powerful weapon for the Spirit Hall—one capable of turning the tide of a war.