Beyond the Heavenly Screen, during the era of The Unrivaled Tang Clan.
Vina sat inside the Body Sect of the Heaven Dou Empire. After hearing what had been said on the Heavenly Screen, she froze.
She knew the Heaven Dou Empire was no match for the Sun Moon Empire.
But why could Dou Ling, which she had always looked down on, restore its empire when hers could not?
Meanwhile, the palace of the Heaven Dou Empire erupted.
"What gives Dou Ling the right?" An old general slammed the table and rose. "Our Heaven Dou Empire had a far stronger foundation than Dou Ling back then! Why did they get to restore their empire?"
"Exactly!" another official said angrily. "We're the rightful heirs of Heaven Dou. What gives them the right?"
The council chamber dissolved into an uproar. Some cursed Dou Ling, some cursed the Sun Moon Empire, and others started dredging up the Dou Ling Empire's past.
The emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire listened, his head aching. Just then, a middle-aged general stepped forward and said gravely, "Your Majesty. If we can't defeat the Sun Moon Empire, then we should leave first."
"Leave? Where would we go?"
"Across the sea," the general said, enunciating every word. "Find the Dou Ling Continent. If Dou Ling can restore its empire there, so can we. We're stronger than they are, and our claim is more legitimate. Once we arrive, we'll build another empire."
The emperor looked at the general, then swept his gaze over everyone in the hall.
After a long pause, he slowly nodded. "Pass down the order. Ready the fleet and prepare for a long voyage. The flame of the Heaven Dou Empire must not die here."
"We'll claim the Dou Ling Continent before they do. No—from now on, it'll