(Second update)
Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City.
The rising sun climbed in the east, and morning light fell upon the city walls, the streets, and the densely packed buildings.
The city, silent through the night, awakened. As soon as the gates opened in the morning, the guards leaned against the gate walls, yawning and rubbing their bleary eyes. Clearly, they had not fully woken up.
"Hey, wake up! Look over there, something's happening!"
Prompted by his companion, the guard hastily shuddered, as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, instantly snapping him awake.
In the past, being a city guard had been a cushy job: leisurely work, full benefits, and plenty of extra profit. Life had been sweet.
But over the past half year, the situation on Douluo Continent had changed abruptly. First, the Sky-Blasting Gang had risen from obscurity and, with thunderous force, driven Spirit Hall's influence out of the Heaven Dou Empire. They then seized Spirit Hall's abandoned territory and swiftly became a top-tier force on par with Spirit Hall.
Next, the banners atop the Star Luo Empire's cities had changed hands. In just half a year, it had lost one-third of its territory. The Spirit Hall Empire had taken advantage of the opportunity to rise, creating the current tripartite balance among the three nations.
Having learned from the Star Luo Empire's lesson, the Heaven Dou Empire was now conducting a thorough internal investigation into Spirit Hall's hidden pawns. Its defenses were airtight, unwilling to overlook even the slightest disturbance.
This put every city on high alert, especially Heaven Dou City, the all-important capital. It was guarded with particular care. None of the guards dared relax in the slightest, each of them keeping their spirits high as they warily watched beyond the