Federal Reinforcements?

The Federal Parliament Building.

The light screen displayed the Star Dou Empire's plea for help to Shrek, intercepted by the Sun Moon Federation.

"What does everyone think?" Qian Gu Fenfeng asked.

"Star Dou actually bypassed the Federation and appealed directly to Shrek Academy for help! I think we can simply ignore it for now."

"Precisely!"

"I second that!"

Qian Gu Fenfeng looked around and suddenly found it all rather dull. After removing those who opposed him in parliament, all that remained were yes-men. They really were irritating.

"Quiet."

"Now that the Holy Spirit Cult has plunged the Star Dou Continent's people into misery, isn't this an opportunity?"

"Councilor, you mean...?"

"Conquer Star Dou."

"Gasp... what a splendid idea!"

"Councilor, your wisdom is beyond our reach!"

"I'll dispatch the troops at once!"

Qian Gu Fenfeng rubbed his brow and said, "Wait."

"There's no hurry. When our Sun Moon troops set foot on Star Dou soil, it won't be to invade, but to save its people from fire and flood!"

One parliament member seemed to grasp something, as though his governing and conception vessels had suddenly been opened. "So, unless Star Dou requests aid from the Federation, we hold our position! That way, we won't give anyone grounds to criticize us!"

"Councilor, I could never learn to match your wisdom."

"Brilliant~ brilliant~ brilliant~"

An urgent transmission from the Star Luo Continent suddenly lit up.

The brief message delivered the terrible news of the Blood River Great Array ravaging the Star Luo Continent and plunging its people into misery to the Tang Sect outpost, without a single word missing.

Inside the hall, the previously fairly composed expression of Amorous Douluo Zang Xin suddenly froze.

He strode forward, his fingertips brushing over the images stored by the Messenger Soul Insect. The scenes showed surging crimson waves of blood, cities toppling, and countless people wailing-a horrifying sight.

His shoulders sank slightly. A heavy gloom now shrouded those eyes that usually held a hint of carefree amusement, and a bone-chilling helplessness welled up within him.

The Star Luo Continent had suffered a catastrophe. The Demon Empress had activated the Blood River Great Array to slaughter on a massive scale, trapping countless civilians, Soul Masters, and even many Tang Sect outposted disciples in this world-destroying calamity.

Anger and anguish churned in his chest, but the reason honed through years of overseeing Douluo Hall forcibly suppressed his impulse.

The Demon Empress's power reached the heavens, and there was no counter to the might of the Blood River Great Array. Rashly dispatching their main force to Star Luo would only feed the Tang Sect's remaining fighting strength into this catastrophe for nothing.

Zang Xin drew a deep breath. The Passionate Sword trembled softly at his side. He raised his eyes toward the Tang Sect steward waiting outside the hall, his voice heavy yet exceptionally decisive.

"Pass down my orders."

"All Tang Sect disciples stationed on the Star Luo Continent are to abandon their outposts and supplies. Do not hold your positions, and do not attempt to confront the Blood River Great Array head-on. Preserving your lives takes priority over everything else. Scatter and break out, find sea routes, and do whatever you can to retreat to the Heaven Dou Continent."

"Peripheral members unable to evacuate are to go into hiding where they are. Do not rashly engage the forces under the Demon Empress. Preserve our surviving strength."

"Send a message to Dai Tianling of the Star Luo Imperial Family. Remind him to gather the imperial family's elite, abandon some of his territory, and refrain from massing an army to clash head-on with the river of blood, lest his entire army be annihilated."

He paused, his brow filled with pain.

"Do not organize any large-scale rescues. Under that array, however many people we send will be however many we sacrifice. As for the disciples already trapped in fallen areas, we... can only endure the pain and abandon them."

As those words fell, deathly silence filled the hall.

He had clearly heard that countless lives were being slaughtered, yet he could only hold his position. The weight of that decision pressed heavily upon Zang Xin's heart.

"Tell those who return to remember this hatred, but keep themselves alive. Only while they're alive will there be a chance for revenge and rebuilding."

Zang Xin walked to the window and gazed toward the distant Star Luo Continent. Even across the vast sea, he could almost smell the blood that permeated heaven and earth. He clenched his fists, his robes snapping in the cold wind blowing through the hall.

Previously, Qian Gu Fenfeng's actions had left the Tang Sect afraid to throw a stone for fear of breaking the vase, forcing it to transfer its core members, important documents, and supplies to the Star Dou Continent. Now, with the Demon Empress running rampant in Star Dou, the Tang Sect had no choice but to transfer its core forces once more to the Heaven Dou Continent.

"Alas, the Tang Sect's future is bleak..."

Zang Xin remained silent for a long time.

"Breaking news: the Federal Guard's Shrek City detachment has uncovered extensive evidence of the Tang Sect's collusion with foreign powers. Its intentions are sinister. According to statistics, nearly fifty tons of strategic-grade rare metals and close to ten thousand strategic-grade Soul Tools, predominantly ranks eight and nine, have been shipped overseas over the past ten years."

"The Federation stated: national security concerns a state in which state power, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, the people's well-being, sustainable economic and social development, and other major national interests are relatively free from danger and internal or external threats, as well as the ability to ensure a sustained state of security."

"We will investigate this thoroughly and spare no cost to set matters right at their source. We will neither make wrongful arrests nor let anyone escape."

"We will surely restore a clear sky and a bright world to the Tang Sect!"

"Better to kill a thousand by mistake than let a single one escape!"

"We respectfully obey the Benevolent Father's orders!"

The guards and Guard Army units in every locality sprang into action at the same time.

Maps of the defenses of the Tang Sect's various branches were transmitted to their Mecha Terminals, allowing them to sweep through like a swarm of locusts. Within a ten-li radius of the Tang Sect branches, every suspicious person was secretly eliminated.

Waves of turmoil once again swept through the Federation...