Launching the General Offensive

Overseas, Sea God Island.

As the first light of dawn broke, the sea twenty miles outside Sea God Island showed no signs of life. Hundreds of Martial Soul Hall warships lay prone among the waves like giant beasts, the dark gold runes covering their hulls gleaming with a cold, biting light in the dim morning.

On the central flagship, the words "Martial Soul Hall" were inscribed in characters a hundred feet tall. The Six-Winged Angel statue carved into the prow stared with torch-like eyes, overlooking the shadow-shrouded Sea God Island in the distance.

Tens of thousands of soldiers stood in formation across the various warships, their golden badges rattling in the morning breeze, their very breathing carrying the rhythm of iron and blood.

Inside the main warship, a group of Titled Douluo gathered around a massive sand table to discuss strategy, the board simulating the standoff between the two sides.

Murong Fuhai held a thin rod, tracing lines across the sand table as he analyzed the situation.

"The defensive barrier of Sea God Island is three times stronger than anticipated, but after months of bombardment and the efforts of everyone here, we have torn open a gap. The follow-up supplies arrived in full a few days ago; with our gunpowder reserves now sufficient, a single full-scale volley should be enough to shatter the barrier."

Because the Martial Soul Hall army had arrived with such overwhelming momentum, and Haimala was at a critical stage of seclusion, the Seven Sacred Pillar Guardians had relied on the power of the sacred pillars to activate a defensive barrier covering a ten-mile radius around Sea God Island, which had proven difficult to breach.

They had also dispatched troops to confront Martial Soul Hall. While the enemy possessed strong naval combat capabilities, the Martial Soul Hall army utilized Red Barbarian Cannon to maintain long-range fire suppression, inflicting heavy losses on the opposition.

However, due to the maritime climate and the reinforcement of the protective barrier, many soldiers in the Martial Soul Hall army were struggling to adapt. Over the past six months of skirmishes, aided by the support of numerous sea spirit beasts, the Martial Soul Hall side had lost nearly ten thousand soldiers to the war and their own physical decline.

Murong Fuhai paused, then voiced the core issue.

"Although our army currently holds the upper hand, our soldiers are not accustomed to naval warfare. Furthermore, the climate of this sea region has caused a significant decline in our troops' combat effectiveness. To make matters worse, Sea God Island has deployed numerous Phantom Sound Dolphin, which continuously disrupt our army with sonic interference, causing many soldiers to fall into intermittent comas or foam at the mouth."

Though the Phantom Sound Dolphin were individually weak, their numbers were vast; a single pod contained tens of thousands, and their collective sonic attacks, while having little effect on spirit masters, caused severe disruption to ordinary soldiers.

"Therefore, I propose that we launch a total offensive in two days. Once the barrier is broken, the entire army will charge to initiate the final decisive battle!"

Among those present, only Murong Fuhai possessed the highest level of military expertise, for which he had been appointed Marshal. Thus, he provided the most intuitive insight into the war from a strategic perspective.

Hearing Murong Fuhai's words, Qian Pocheng, who led the group, nodded, then spoke with a grave expression:

"Marshal Murong is right. This battle has dragged on for too long. If we continue like this, these tens of thousands of soldiers will eventually have their combat power drained by the interference."

As he spoke, Qian Pocheng looked toward the direction of Sea God Island.

"Besides, we do not have much time left."

With that, Qian Pocheng reached out to grab the Martial Soul Hall's battle flag from the sand table, moved it forward, and placed it right before Sea God Island, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

"Then we attack. The entire army will rest for two days. In two days, we begin the final battle!!!"

"We obey your command!!" the group responded in unison, cupping their hands in salute.

Sea God Island.

On Sea God Island, Bo Saixi looked into the distance with the Seven Sacred Pillar Guardians standing behind her. Sea Horse Douluo spoke up:

"Saintess, I fear the barrier will not hold."

"Hmph, I don't know where Martial Soul Hall found that kind of weapon. Our troops are bombarded from a thousand meters away before they can even get close; even the warships cannot withstand it." Sea Dragon Douluo also let out a cold snort.

"The protective barrier is consuming too much energy now. If the enemy launches one more attack, it will surely shatter."

"Indeed, Saintess, when will the High Priest emerge from his seclusion!"

The other guardians also voiced their concerns one after another.

Bo Saixi looked toward the outside of the island with a grave expression and shook her head.

"The Teacher is currently at a critical stage of breaking through his cultivation realm; we can only drag this out. Pass the order: gather all remaining troops and the Spirit Master Legion. Once Martial Soul Hall launches their total offensive, we must hold them back at all costs!"

"Understood." The Seven Sacred Pillar Guardians bowed in response before turning to leave.

Bo Saixi sighed, her figure flickering as she flew toward Sea God Hall.

Inside Sea God Hall, Haimala sat cross-legged before the statue of the Sea God. Countless Sea God's Light swirled around him, his aura magnificent and vast.

Bo Saixi watched from outside the hall and sighed, "Teacher, time is running out for Sea God Island."

Two days later.

As the first rays of sunlight pierced the clouds, the sea suddenly boiled. Thousands of sea spirit beasts leaped from the deep, led by a massive Demon Soul Great White Shark.

Behind them were dozens of warships, upon which stood six or seven thousand soldiers clad in crystal-blue armor, each wielding a trident or a long spear.

On the main flagship, Bo Saixi and the Seven Sacred Pillar Guardians stood together.

Woo~

The melodious sound of a horn echoed, and war drums began to beat with a thump-thump-thump that shook the heart. Murong Fuhai stood at the prow, drew the sharp sword at his waist, and issued the command:

"All forces, attack!!!"

Accompanied by the thunderous sound of war drums, dozens of warships surged toward Sea God Island. All soldiers stood ready, the Black Flame Army in the front ranks standing in perfect formation, their gazes like torches.

Qian Pocheng and the other Titled Douluo also waited within the warships, ready to strike.

The warships moved at high speed, reaching the barrier of Sea God Island in no time. Seeing this, Murong Fuhai waved his hand.

"All Red Barbarian Cannon, fire a full volley! Shatter this turtle shell for me!!"

"Yes!"

The adjutant at his side hurriedly raised a crimson flag. Since they were at sea, the signalmen relied on flags and war drums to relay orders.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Three drumbeats rang out. Upon receiving the signal, each warship struck their own drums three times in response to the flagship and to relay the order to the rest of the fleet.

Soon, every warship had received the command. Hundreds of Red Barbarian Cannon stood ready. Since the war began, Martial Soul Hall had continued to manufacture Red Barbarian Cannon, and over the past six months, more than a hundred additional units had been delivered, along with three or four thousand cannonballs.

Upon receiving the order, the gunners on each warship braced the Red Barbarian Cannon and aimed their muzzles at the barrier of Sea God Island.

Murong Fuhai waved his hand, "Fire!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM—

A rapid sequence of drumbeats echoed. This time, the response from the various warships was not to strike their drums, but to ignite the fuses of the Red Barbarian Cannon.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM...

In an instant, hundreds of Red Barbarian Cannon spewed forth cannonballs, all of which slammed into the barrier of Sea God Island and erupted in a series of explosions.

Although the soldiers of Sea God Island were not seeing this weapon for the first time, they could not help but feel a sense of dread.