Four months later, at the Worship Hall.
"Reporting to the Grand Worship, the Engineering Department has now built enough warships to carry fifty thousand soldiers. They're all docked at the harbor," Azure Luan reported to Qian Pocheng.
"Good. Send word: all troops are to make ready. The entire army will set out at dawn tomorrow." Having heard that everything was prepared, Qian Pocheng issued the order at once.
"Yes, Grand Worship."
After receiving the order, Azure Luan turned and left the Worship Hall. Six figures then appeared in the great hall. They were the current Offerings:
Second Worship, level ninety-seven Emperor Spear Douluo—Xinghe.
Third Offering, level ninety-seven Heavenly Dragon Douluo—Murong Chayue.
Fourth Offering, level ninety-seven Golden Crocodile Douluo—Golden Crocodile.
Fifth Elder, level ninety-six Fierce Fang Douluo—Mantian.
Sixth Offering, level ninety-six Space-Rending Douluo—Xuanguan.
Seventh Offering, level ninety-six Crimson Flame Douluo—Rongjun.
"Everyone, we'll set out at dawn tomorrow," Qian Pocheng said slowly to the people below.
"Yes, Grand Worship."
After bowing, they all left one after another. This battle would likely be extremely difficult. Qian Pocheng's meaning was clear: they would depart tomorrow, so today they should go home and spend time with their families...and so on.
After everyone had left, Qian Pocheng gazed out the window. "Haimala, it's time to settle the score between us once and for all..."
That night, at Murong Mansion.
The entire Murong family gathered for a feast. Murong Chayue, Xiao Qingmei, Murong Fuhai, Wu Xianyun, and Murong Huai were all there.
"Hahaha, come on, come on. It's been so long since our family all gathered together," Murong Chayue said with a laugh, raising his wine cup.
Seeing this, the others raised their cups too. Murong Huai lifted a glass of fruit juice. After they clinked their cups, Murong Chayue looked at Murong Huai and said with a smile:
"Huai'er, your grandfather may not have been back to the mansion for over half a year, but I often hear the Pope praise you. You're only six and a half, yet already close to the Soul Elder realm. Looking across the entire Douluo Continent, that talent makes you the greatest prodigy of all time! Hahaha."
"That's right, what a lad. When I first heard the news, I was shocked too. Given time, Huai'er will surely reach the Grand Worship's level," Murong Fuhai said with a laugh.
"Huai'er, your grandmother, grandfather, and father are setting out with the army tomorrow. This campaign will probably last about half a year. While you're at home, be sure to listen to your mother," Xiao Qingmei said kindly, patting Murong Huai's head.
"Grandmother, don't worry. I'll listen to Mother," Murong Huai said with a smile and a nod.
Since three members of the Murong family were going to war, Qian Daoliu had removed Wu Xianyun from the expedition roster. The outcome of this battle was uncertain, and he had let his personal feelings sway him; he didn't want all of Murong Huai's family to risk their lives.
Besides the seven Offerings, the expedition included Pope Qian Daoliu, the two Guardian Elders Xiongshi and Guangling, and the three senior Elders of the Elder Hall: Golden Wheel Douluo—Haiyun, Immortal Dragon Douluo—Xiao Qingmei, and Azure Luan Douluo—Azure Luan.
Murong Fuhai would serve as commander, directing the Spirit Hall army's orderly advance.
"Exactly. Mother, I've seen the Red Barbarian Cannons Huai'er invented. They're simply weapons of war. With those, forget Sea God Island—even if we went to war against both empires at once, I wouldn't fear them in the least," Murong Fuhai said with a hearty laugh.
Murong Huai had not only provided the Engineering Department with blueprints for the Red Barbarian Cannons, but also more advanced steelmaking techniques, new-style repeating crossbows, assembly-line methods...and more.
After four months, they had not only completed the original shipbuilding task a month ahead of schedule, but had also made more than a hundred and fifty Red Barbarian Cannons, several thousand cannonballs, and a hundred repeating crossbows. They were exceptionally well equipped.
"Don't be ridiculous. You're always talking nonsense," Xiao Qingmei said, glaring at Murong Fuhai when she heard him boast.
"Father, Mother, don't worry. Nothing will happen at home while I'm here," Wu Xianyun said, smoothing her sleeve.
After that, they enjoyed their reunion dinner together.
The next morning, at the river crossing outside Spirit City.
Spirit City had a superb geographical position: mountains on two sides, a vast plain on one, and a river on the other that led straight to the sea.
Hundreds of warships stood in neat rows at the riverbank. The first few ships each carried three repeating crossbows, while more than twenty ships in the middle each carried six Red Barbarian Cannons. Their supplies and provisions were plentiful, making them a formidable, well-equipped fleet.
A full twenty thousand Black Flame Army soldiers had been deployed for this campaign. Every one of them was a battle-hardened veteran, clad in black armor, holding a spear, a sharp sword at his waist, and a longbow on his back. They radiated a murderous aura and were all stationed aboard the large warships.
The remaining thirty thousand were ordinary Spirit Hall soldiers. Though they weren't particularly elite, they were still considerably stronger than the armies of the two great empires, and were spread across the other ships.
The three thousand members of the Spirit Master Legion were aboard the largest warship at the very center. They hadn't brought many Spirit Masters, since the battle would take place at sea. The low-ranked Spirit Masters were constrained by the marine environment, making them only somewhat more useful than ordinary soldiers.
Although Haimala, the High Priest of Sea God Island, had formed a Sea Spirit Master Legion, the island's rules imposed restrictions. Many Sea Spirit Masters who weren't native to the island were forbidden to live there unless they passed its trials.
As a result, the Sea Spirit Master Legion couldn't be very large. Its numbers would certainly not exceed five thousand, and might not even reach four thousand. Ordinary troops generally weren't allowed to enter Sea God Island's territory.
But to build an army, Haimala had stationed most of his forces outside the island. Their numbers probably didn't even reach ten thousand. On the sea, their strong swimming skills and the ocean's boost made them powerful enough to fight several opponents at once.
Most of Spirit Hall's soldiers were landlubbers, and their combat strength would be greatly reduced at sea. On top of that, the waters were full of elusive Sea Soul Beasts. If they were unlucky, the army's strength would be considerably diminished before it even reached Sea God Island.
On land, they might not have been able to defeat the two great empires, but they certainly wouldn't have lost to Spirit Hall.
This was one thing Murong Huai couldn't understand. Even if Sea God Island defeated Spirit Hall, it couldn't become a power like Spirit Hall; at most, it would become a powerful sect.
He didn't believe that Haimala, the High Priest of Sea God Island, hadn't thought of this. There was probably some other reason behind it...but the previous battles had indeed caused considerable devastation.
Qian Pocheng began addressing the assembled troops with a pre-battle speech. Murong Huai and Wu Xianyun had also come to see them off.
Despite the Red Barbarian Cannons, Murong Huai still wasn't entirely at ease. After thinking it over, he secretly found Qian Xunji and led him aside.
Qian Xunji didn't understand what was going on, and asked:
"Huai, what's wrong?"
"Senior Brother, I'm still a little worried..."
Hearing Murong Huai's words, Qian Xunji smiled and shook his head without arguing. After spending this time together, he understood that although Murong Huai was young, he had remarkably sound judgment and a good grasp of the bigger picture. So he asked:
"Then, Huai'er, what else do you think we should do?"
Murong Huai looked at Qian Xunji, drew in a deep breath, then slowly uttered four words:
"The Angel—Legion!!!"
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