The Last Hope

At the edge of the Arctic Icefield, on the border between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Dou Ling Empire, lay a metal ore vein.

After Ju Zi led the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Corps to successfully breach the northern region of the Heaven Dou Empire, she arrived here to mine rare metals.

Once she had seized the resources here, she planned to immediately march north against the Dou Ling Empire, then sweep southward and take the entire Dou Ling Empire in one stroke.

Suddenly, the temperature plummeted. Wild winds howled, carrying sheets of snow.

"Report! The temperature has changed abnormally. The heat-source Soul Tool system has malfunctioned, and all operations cannot proceed." A staff member urgently repaired the control system as he reported to Ju Zi.

Ju Zi frowned. "It seems the soul beasts of the Far North have intervened. They appear to be warning us that this is their territory."

"Perfect. It has been far too long since this old woman last stretched her muscles."

At her side, the Fire Phoenix Douluo—Luan Feng—held the Fire Phoenix Sword, looking ready for battle at any moment.

"Emperor's Palm, Great Chill Without Snow!"

A stunning woman in white flickered indistinctly within the blizzard. Her seemingly weightless palm silently landed on the Fire Phoenix Douluo's back.

In an instant, the suddenly appearing Snow Empress froze the Fire Phoenix Douluo into an ice statue. Her paltry flames could not shake the Snow Empress's Ultimate Ice in the slightest.

"Humans, the Far North is not a place you should be. Leave at once."

The Snow Empress's cold voice rang clearly in everyone's ears as an invisible pressure instantly blanketed the entire area.

Such terrifying pressure! Even Grandma Luan Feng was no match for her. Could she be the ruler of the Far North?

The air itself seemed to grow much thinner, making it hard to breathe. Only then did Ju Zi realize how terrifying the Snow Empress's strength was, and her face filled with horror.

Ju Zi forced herself to say, "We previously believed this metal vein was ownerless and did not know this was your territory. Thank you for sparing our lives. We will leave immediately."

Back at camp, the Fire Phoenix Douluo was still trembling uncontrollably. "Is this the strength of an Ultimate Douluo?"

She had just experienced the Snow Empress's power firsthand at close range. That was unmistakably the pressure of a Rank 99 Ultimate Douluo—the pinnacle of this world.

Ju Zi's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth in shock. "The ruler of the Far North's soul beasts has actually reached the realm of an Ultimate Douluo?!"

Luan Feng let out a long breath. "Fortunately, as long as we do not violate their territory, they will not take the initiative to attack us."

After calming her lingering fear, Ju Zi immediately ordered the army to prepare for battle. They would attack the Dou Ling Empire at once the next day.

She dispatched the Evil Lord Soul Engineer Legion and the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Corps to infiltrate the Dou Ling Empire's imperial palace, successfully delivering a devastating blow that nearly wiped out the entire imperial family.

With the imperial family gone and no central command remaining, the Dou Ling Empire became a scattered rabble. It was swiftly breached and occupied by the Sun Moon Empire's main forces, completely becoming Sun Moon Empire territory.

At the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, Xu Sanshi was heartbroken upon hearing the news. After all, no one would feel good about seeing their own country invaded by a foreign nation.

Fortunately, his parents had already severed ties with the Dou Ling Empire's imperial family and gone far away, so they were not attacked by the Sun Moon Empire. This offered Xu Sanshi's wounded heart a small measure of comfort.

Why had Ju Zi taken the Heaven Dou Empire and the Dou Ling Empire so easily in just a few short days this time, while the original story's progress had been so slow?

The answer became obvious with a little thought: it was because of the Ultimate Individual Soldier—Huo Yuhao.

The primary reason was naturally that the original Huo Yuhao had destroyed the Sun Moon Empire's main arsenal in Ming Capital, greatly delaying the Sun Moon Empire's launch of war.

Second was the great adventure trial in Heaven-and-Earth Love Inquiry Valley, where Huo Yuhao rescued the White Tiger Duke and dealt with the Ultimate Douluo—Ye Xishui—in the Bright Dipper Mountains, ruining the Sun Moon Empire's plans to invade the Star Luo Empire.

Furthermore, the original Huo Yuhao had mass-sold the Zhuge Divine Ballista Cannons he developed to the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire, strengthening both nations' ability to resist foreign enemies.

Finally, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong had joined forces to help Xu Sanshi deal with the Evil Lord Soul Engineer Legion and the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Corps, obstructing the Sun Moon Empire's invasion of the Dou Ling Empire.

In short, even though the original Huo Yuhao repeatedly sabotaged Ju Zi's plans and delayed the Sun Moon Empire's invasion, he could not change the final outcome of the Sun Moon Empire unifying the Douluo Continent.

Star Luo Empire, Star Luo City.

The hostages from the water prison had only just returned to their respective countries when they received the terrible news of enemy invasion. Senior figures among the remnants who had fled from the Heaven Dou Empire and the Dou Ling Empire had gathered in the vast hall of the Star Luo imperial palace.

Xu Jiujiu held Vina's hands and comforted her. "Where there's life, there's hope. Even if we have only our last breath left, we must fight the Sun Moon Empire to the death. As long as we defeat the Sun Moon Empire, you will be able to reclaim your homeland."

Vina nodded slightly. "Yes, you're right. Unity is strength. But I don't think our strength alone is enough. The Sun Moon Empire has the Holy Spirit Cult's support. If only we could obtain aid from Shrek Academy."

The Heaven Dou Empire and the Dou Ling Empire had not only suffered attacks from the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Engineer Corps, but also blows from the Holy Spirit Cult. Even though both nations had their own Titled Douluo, they could not withstand the deeply rooted Holy Spirit Cult.

Having suffered at the Holy Spirit Cult's hands, Du Busi snorted coldly. "If that person from Shrek Academy takes action, we may not necessarily be unable to fight the Holy Spirit Cult. Our chances of defeating the Sun Moon Empire would surely increase greatly."

The powerful expert Du Busi referred to was naturally obvious. He was Mu En, the Ultimate Douluo who stood alongside Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao at the pinnacle of the Douluo Continent's combat power. Shrek Academy could be said to be their last remaining hope.

Xu Jiujiu nodded at once. "Fine. I'll personally pay Shrek Academy a visit."

Afterward, Vina, Du Busi, and the Dou Ling Empire's senior officials accompanied Xu Jiujiu to Shrek Academy.

Following Mu En's wishes, Xuan Zi received Du Busi and the others at Poseidon Pavilion, where Mu En nodded and agreed to their request.

Thus, Shrek Academy became their ally, and they began discussing plans to join forces against the Sun Moon Empire and the Holy Spirit Cult.

"The Sun Moon Empire is separated from our Star Luo Empire by only one mountain range. If they want to attack us, they will certainly strike through the Bright Dipper Mountains."

Xu Jiujiu continued her analysis. "Our White Tiger Duke is currently stationed at the western frontier in the Bright Dipper Mountains. The Sun Moon Empire must have been eyeing that place for a long time."

Resting her chin on her hand, Vina said, "Then we should conduct reconnaissance and offensive operations in the Bright Dipper Mountains to disrupt the Sun Moon Empire's deployments there."

Qian Duoduo suddenly reminded them, "Don't forget that the Sun Moon Empire excels most at Soul Tools. For reconnaissance, all they need are detection Soul Tools."

Xu Jiujiu's entire body shook. She exclaimed in shock, "You mean the Sun Moon Empire has long since grasped every movement of our White Tiger Duke?!"

Vina frowned slightly. "If we do not act quickly, your White Tiger Duke may very well fall into the enemy's trap."

Mu En finally spoke. "Time waits for no one. In that case, let us head to the Bright Dipper Mountains together now."

Everyone nodded in unison and set off together for the Bright Dipper Mountains.