Leaving aside the boys and girls who had obtained extraordinary treasures for now, the Northern Underworld ships had already stopped beside the beach.
Xi Zhao and the others had also stepped onto the beach, ready to begin exploring the Douluo Continent in earnest.
Besides Xi Zhao, Bei Ming Feng, and Qiu Ling'er, several others had come aboard the ships, all assigned to serve under Xi Zhao's command.
"Lord Xi Zhao."
An armored officer approached. He was one of the deputy commanders on this expedition, a Soul Douluo-level expert named Zhou Tan.
"How is the reconnaissance going?"
Xi Zhao looked ahead and asked without turning his head.
"I've already sent scouts to investigate. We should have news shortly."
Zhou Tan spoke respectfully. He understood that his ultimate role on this expedition was simply to lead his men in protecting children like Bei Ming Feng, as well as conduct reconnaissance.
All the fighting was Xi Zhao's job. Xi Zhao intended to face the Douluo Continent's strongest fighters and see what they were made of.
No sooner had those words been spoken than a scout clad in Battle Armor rushed over at tremendous speed. "Report! A Heaven Dou Empire fortress lies a hundred li ahead!"
"Tens of thousands of soldiers are guarding it. They seem to be preparing for battle against us!"
"Understood. You may withdraw."
Xi Zhao's gaze remained calm. He simply fastened the Snow Mastiff Summoner to his wrist, then removed the crystal and inserted it.
"Snow Mastiff Armor..."
Meanwhile, the battle on Sea God Island continued.
Ever since Sea Ghost Douluo had been killed with a single strike, the fighting on the other two fronts had also taken a grim turn.
With the Black Dragon Spear in hand, General Long Wei fought four opponents alone without giving an inch. In fact, he had already driven all four back step by step without even revealing his true form.
"What's wrong? Is that all you've got?"
Holding the Black Dragon Spear, Long Wei roared with laughter at Sea Dragon Douluo and the other three. "I told you before! I can take on three or four of your Douluo Continent's Titled Douluos with one hand!"
"Damn it!"
Sea Dragon Douluo clutched his blood-soaked arm. A moment of carelessness had allowed the enemy's Black Dragon Spear to pierce straight through it, and now blood poured from the wound.
"Sea Dragon, fall back and rest. Leave this fellow to us."
Sea Spear Douluo spoke up. He was still in decent shape and had suffered no injuries, but their prolonged failure to defeat Long Wei had left him deeply anxious.
"No, I can't leave! You'll be even less of a match for him without me!"
Sea Dragon Douluo circulated his soul power, quickly sealing the acupoints around his arm to stop the bleeding as he prepared to fight again.
"Just listen to us!"
Sea Delusion Douluo stopped him. "Sea Ghost was defeated, and we don't know whether he's alive or dead. You're badly wounded too. Go check on him. Don't let him die."
"..."
After thinking for a moment, Sea Dragon Douluo nodded, turned, and returned to Sea God Island.
"Giving up already?"
Long Wei rested his spear across his shoulder. "You humans really are fragile. It's just a little shoulder wound, and you're already out of the fight."
"Don't get cocky! Do you really think we have no way to deal with you?!"
Sea Spear Douluo's fury seemed to make his hair stand on end, his expression turning frenzied.
"Heh."
Long Wei gave a contemptuous sneer, not taking his opponent seriously in the slightest.
I've already sent their strongest, Sea Dragon, packing. What good could these few fellows possibly do?
Just then, a message entered Long Wei's mind. He paused, then nodded. "Yes, understood."
After he spoke, Long Wei's words appeared prominently on the Sky Screen.
[Northern Underworld Continent · General Long Wei: Everyone, please enjoy the spectacle-the moment your Douluo Continent's Heaven Dou Empire Navy is annihilated!]
The next moment, the Northern Underworld Sky Screen's live broadcast split into two feeds. One continued showing Sea God Island, while the other showed a mysterious figure in white armor entering the Naval Fortress.
In the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Ye had been watching the battle on Sea God Island when the image of their empire's naval border fortress suddenly appeared.
A chill instantly swept through Xue Ye's entire body, and he sprang to his feet. "This is bad! The Northern Underworld Empire's people have slipped into the Douluo Continent's mainland!"
At Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong was immediately filled with frustration when everyone saw Xi Zhao.
"I was careless! The battle on Sea God Island made me forget that the Northern Underworld Empire has far more forces than these!"
Bibi Dong immediately rose to her feet. "Judging by that armor, he must also be one of those they call the Five Elders. No, we have to stop him!"
"Chrysanthemum Douluo! Ghost Douluo!"
"At your command!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo hurriedly stepped forward.
"Assemble the soldiers immediately and head to the coast to reinforce them. We must not let them enter the interior! I'll personally visit the various sects afterward and have them join the fight!"
"Yes!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo accepted their orders and immediately led the Soul Masters toward the coastline to stop Xi Zhao and the others.
Just then, a figure appeared in the Pope's Palace. "Teacher, what's happened?"
"Na'er?"
Seeing that it was her beloved disciple, Bibi Dong's expression softened slightly. "It's the Northern Underworld Empire again. They've already reached the Heaven Dou Empire's maritime border defenses."
"Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo have already gone to reinforce them."
At this, Hu Liena fell silent for a moment, then raised her head. "Teacher, I want to go take a look."
"No!"
Bibi Dong instinctively stood up to refuse, but then her expression grew hesitant, and she began to consider it.
"..."
"You may, but you must promise not to provoke anyone from the Northern Underworld Empire. You know how dangerous they are."
"Yes."
Seeing that Bibi Dong had agreed, Hu Liena immediately nodded in excitement.
"Also, take Xie Yue and the others with you. Your Martial Soul Fusion Skill will help protect you all."
"Yes!"
When the Star Luo Empire's Star Luo Emperor saw the Heaven Dou Empire's seaside fortress being attacked, he was delighted at first.
But then he realized that they could not allow the people of the Northern Underworld Continent to seize it.
"If the Northern Underworld Empire takes that fortress, they'll be able to send troops here in an endless stream. That would put our Star Luo Empire at a severe disadvantage!"
After examining the situation and thinking it over, the Star Luo Emperor made a swift decision and ordered reinforcements sent, insisting that the Northern Underworld Empire's people be driven out.
He was not the only one. The leaders and elders of the other sects also recognized the problem. Once the Northern Underworld Empire established a firm foothold, their sects' destruction would only be a matter of time.
Thus, they all dispatched their subordinates to stop them-all except the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi was deeply conflicted.
News that the various sects had taken action soon reached him. If he answered their call and sent troops alongside them now, he would undoubtedly offend the Northern Underworld Empire beyond reconciliation.
That was not something he wanted to see. Yet if he stayed out of it, the Douluo Continent's other sects would certainly remember it, and then he would be finished.
"..."
"Phew..."
Finally, Ning Fengzhi let out a soft breath. "Uncle Jian, come with me to the Coastal Fortress."
Before you continue