After Tang Hao had been blasted to smithereens, Nether Duke Zhu Tianming had taken no part in the events that followed. In a frantic hurry, he had left Spirit City and returned to the Star Luo Empire.
"Your Majesty! I was deeply shaken by what I learned while investigating Spirit Hall. When they executed Tang Hao, they brought out a cannon capable of obliterating even a Titled Douluo's body. Its power was enough to pose a mortal threat to me!"
"What? My dear brother-in-law, is every word you've said true?" Emperor Dai Tianfeng of the Star Luo Empire asked in astonishment.
He could hardly believe it. His brother-in-law was an 80th-rank Soul Douluo, yet in this world there was actually a weapon capable of making even a Soul Douluo feel that his life was in danger!
Moreover, this was only part of what Spirit Hall had displayed for them. Its hidden, unknown weapons of mass destruction might be even more powerful. It was entirely possible they possessed a weapon capable of killing a Titled Douluo!
Dai Tianfeng drew a deep breath, staggered backward, and collapsed onto his dragon throne, murmuring:
"What are we to do? What are we to do?"
Star Crown Duke Xu Wei stepped forward and asked:
"Your Majesty, do you wish to fight or surrender?"
Dai Tianfeng shot Xu Wei a look and replied coldly:
"Of course we can't surrender to Spirit Hall! What kind of question is that?!"
Xu Wei continued, "Since Your Majesty is unwilling to surrender, then may I ask Nether Duke: in your opinion, can the strength of our Star Luo Empire stand against Spirit Hall?"
Nether Duke Zhu Tianming weighed it over before answering seriously:
"Spirit Hall commands eighty percent of the Soul Masters in the world, and it also possesses divine weapons. Even our well-trained Star Luo army would be no match for it. What's more, from what I observed, Spirit Hall has at least eight Titled Douluo-level experts!"
"Our Star Luo Empire has only the White Tiger Sect's ancestor, a 92nd-rank Titled Douluo. Your Majesty and the Empress can also use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill to just barely contend with a 92nd-rank Titled Douluo. By that reckoning, our empire has at most two high-ranking Titled Douluo-level fighters. We simply cannot compare with Spirit Hall!"
"Therefore, if Spirit Hall insists on attacking our Star Luo Empire, our chances of victory are less than two in ten!"
Dai Tianfeng had already realized what Xu Wei was getting at. But if he wanted to preserve the empire, he had no choice but to ally with the Heaven Dou Empire.
The Star Luo Empire and Heaven Dou Empire had formed alliances several times throughout history, all to oppose Spirit Hall. However, whenever it became clear that Spirit Hall had no intention of invading, the powerful Star Luo Empire would often tear up the treaty at once and attack the Heaven Dou Empire. As a result, its reputation was rather poor.
"Ah... Minister Xu, do you think the Heaven Dou Empire will agree to an alliance with us?"
Xu Wei replied with certainty:
"Without a doubt. And not just the Heaven Dou Empire—any power that doesn't want to be swallowed up by Spirit Hall will choose to form an alliance. Spirit Hall is stronger now than in any previous era. Anyone with sense will do everything they can to win over the forces unwilling to submit to it!"
Just as Xu Wei had predicted, three days later, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen and Vice Clan Leader Yu Luomian arrived together to pay a visit to the Star Luo Imperial Family and discuss an alliance.
Dai Tianfeng personally hosted a banquet in their honor. At the feast, the proud old dragon Yu Yuanzhen humbled himself for the first time and asked to form an alliance with the Star Luo Empire.
"Your Majesty, I'm sure you've heard of Spirit Hall's strength. Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan knows it is no match for Spirit Hall, so we've come to the Star Luo Empire to seek an alliance."
Dai Tianfeng replied magnanimously:
"Many hands make light work. Spirit Hall has repeatedly oppressed the people of our Star Luo Empire, and I, too, am deeply angered by this. Now that we have the support of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, I dare to cross swords with Spirit Hall!"
Yu Luomian nodded and continued:
"Your Majesty, our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan isn't the only one seeking an alliance with you. Crown Prince Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire has also conveyed his desire to form an alliance with you. He asked us to come and learn your thoughts."
Dai Tianfeng glanced at the Star Crown Duke on his left. Understanding the signal, the duke spoke up:
"May I ask whether this is Emperor Xue Ye's wish, or merely the Crown Prince's desire to ally with us?"
Yu Luomian answered promptly:
"This is the shared wish of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. The Crown Prince also told us to put past grievances behind us. Resisting Spirit Hall's invasion is the top priority! The Heaven Dou Empire will hold no grudge over the past frictions between our two nations!"
Tsk, tsk, the art of language. "Frictions between our two nations"? The Star Luo Empire had swallowed who knew how much of the Heaven Dou Empire's territory and killed who knew how many of its soldiers. But with a single golden word from the Crown Prince, history had been defined as nothing more than friction.
Dai Tianfeng burst into hearty laughter and cried out three times:
"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! To show our sincerity, I'm willing to travel to the Heaven Dou Empire myself and forge an alliance with Emperor Xue Ye!"
"Your Majesty is wise!" all the dukes at the table, along with the two members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, cried out in unison.
Half a month later, Dai Tianfeng and the Empress arrived in Heaven Dou City under the protection of the Star Luo Empire's royal guards.
Emperor Xue Ye extended the old rival, with whom he had sparred for decades, the highest honors.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan also came to Heaven Dou City to seek an alliance, along with the Fire Leopard Sect, White Tiger Sect, and Wind Sword Sect of the Lower Four Sects, as well as Blazing Fire Academy and Godwind Academy.
Blazing Fire Academy, Godwind Academy, and the Wind and Fire Elemental Clans behind them had been extremely hesitant. But when they looked at their vast estates, they couldn't bear the thought of losing them if they joined Spirit Hall. After weighing both sides, they decided to join the alliance and oppose Spirit Hall!
Though the Clear Sky Sect had closed its gates, it had merely hidden itself somewhere very, very far from Spirit Hall. After hearing that the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire had formed an alliance against Spirit Hall, it too secretly sent representatives to attend the meeting.
And so, all the forces on Douluo Continent that were unwilling to surrender to Spirit Hall banded together, privately pledging that if one side faced trouble, the others would come to its aid.
The sect representatives swore a blood oath, and the Douluo Continent Solidarity Alliance was officially established.
To bide their time and avoid provoking Spirit Hall, the alliance meeting was held in secret and never publicly announced. After forming the alliance, everyone returned home to raise their armies. Once they had built up their strength, they would strike straight at the heart of the enemy!
However, nothing could be hidden without leaving a trace. Though the meeting had been conducted with great care, Spirit Hall's spies still discovered it and reported everything to Pope Qian Xunqian.
Qian Xunqian wasn't concerned. The two empires had feared Spirit Hall for more than a day or two. They might fight until their heads bled on ordinary days, but whenever Spirit Hall was involved, they always joined forces against the "outsider." There was nothing unusual about that.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the other sects all wanted independence and freedom from control, so naturally they would come into conflict with Spirit Hall.
In fact, these forces had long been united in their opposition to Spirit Hall, if only tacitly.
This meeting had merely sorted out and tallied the forces that defied Spirit Hall. It had also reduced the friction between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, cutting down on a little of their internal strife.