"Dongfeng, we'll call this plan to wipe out the Sea God Family and the other parasites the Calm the Waves Plan."
"Fenfeng, don't worry. Your older brother will hold down the Spirit Pagoda, leaving you free of worries at your back."
August 23, 2057, Federation Calendar
Qiangu Dongfeng, master of the Spirit Pagoda, announced the establishment of local security agencies centered on the Spirit Pagoda.
August 24, 2057, Federation Calendar
The commanders of the Federation's six great legions gathered at the Federal Parliament. The Calm the Waves Plan officially began.
Mingdu, the top floor of the Federal Parliament, an evening banquet in Galaxy Hall.
Night weighed upon the firmament, drifting clouds veiled the moon, and the lights of the Federation's main city stretched like a sea, only making the deathly silence within the hall feel all the cooler.
There was no fighting today, no parliamentary deliberation. The Federation's highest powers had gathered under one roof.
The commanding generals of all six legions-Central, Southern, Western, Northern, Northwestern, and Sea God-were present, with Limit Douluos and four-star generals seated along both sides. Golden armor gathered dust, Battle Armor restrained its might, and countless great figures who commanded the continent's vast military forces gathered in one hall.
Everyone knew-the mountain rain was coming.
Qian Gu Fenfeng raised a hand, signaling the attendants to pour the wine. Fine wine filled jade cups, its amber gleam flowing across the table before every legion commander.
"You have guarded our territories and preserved ten thousand years of peace in Douluo, holding back ferocious beasts in the north, securing the deserts in the west, patrolling the eastern seas, and defending the abyssal frontier. The Federation's century of stability owes everything to your iron and blood."
His voice was gentle and steady, without the slightest hint of slaughter, yet it pressed the entire hall into solemn silence.
The legion commanders wore differing expressions, but solemn gravity lay hidden in all their eyes.
They had long held military power, their regional commands carrying immense influence. These forces had grown too large for the Federation to control, a hidden danger everyone had long tacitly acknowledged.
Qian Gu Fenfeng said, "Today, we will discuss neither military affairs nor politics, neither gains nor losses. We will speak only of our bonds as comrades."
"Only-the world has enjoyed peace for so long, and the ferocious beasts have gradually drawn back. The Federation no longer needs great armies holding separate dominions. You have spent half your lives in the saddle, your campaign robes stained with blood. Your toil has been great, and your achievements immense."
He raised his cup, his tone soft, yet every word landed like a heavy bronze cauldron:
"With this fine wine, I toast your half-lifetimes of battle. May you lay down your armor and retire in honor, enjoying this prosperous age in peace. Let authority return to the central government, and weapons return to the armories."
As his words fell, the whole hall went silent.
Releasing military power over a cup of wine.
There were no edicts of dismissal, no bloody reckoning, no armored soldiers surrounding the hall.
A cup of warm wine, a promise of an honored retirement-favor in place of punishment, courtesy to reclaim authority.
In an instant, every legion commander understood.
This was no banquet for reminiscing. It was a banquet to strip the regional lords of their power.
The Federation's central government was using the peace of this prosperous age to gently dismantle the independent military authority of the great families, regional commands, and legions.
Yu Guanzhi's fingertips paused slightly, while Divine Brush Douluo remained wholly restrained and silently lowered his gaze; Yue Zhengen's brows drew together slightly-the Holy Angel clan had commanded armies for generations, and today had finally encountered a move to reclaim its power; Vast Sea Douluo, who guarded the seas, held his cup quietly-the authority over ten thousand miles of ocean was to fall under central control in a single day.
"This may be... inappropriate," Chen Xinjie said after a moment's thought.
Yu Guanzhi nodded silently, looking straight at Qian Gu Fenfeng.
Boom!
Suddenly, the oppressive might of a Quasi-God swept across the hall. Qian Gu Fenfeng erupted into action, swinging out the Coiling Dragon Staff and smashing it toward Chen Xinjie's head.
At the same time, Dong Zi'an and Yue Zhengen released their Martial Souls, watching Yu Guanzhi and Northern Legion commander Guo Zhenfeng like tigers eyeing their prey.
Yu Guanzhi's expression turned ugly, his hands clenching tightly beneath his sleeves.
Elsewhere.
Qian Gu Fenfeng and Chen Xinjie had already risen into the air.
Chen Xinjie's four-word Battle Armor, Vast Sea Universe, appeared around his body. The Sea God Helmet radiated an oppressive might belonging to a god alone, but a closer look revealed cracks running across it. Clearly, blocking Qian Gu Fenfeng's blow just now had come at an enormous cost.
"You... you've already earned yourself death!" Chen Xinjie's face was pale.
"Hmph, more words are useless! Today, you old wretch, you won't leave Mingdu alive!"
With a deep shout, a vast expanse of seawater thundered up from the ground, transforming into an enormous azure dragon spanning sea and sky. Its draconic eyes were majestic, its seawater body condensed as solid as refined steel. Bearing the boundless Soul Power that had suppressed the seas through the ages, it plunged savagely toward Qian Gu Fenfeng to devour him.
The sea's surface caved in, and the air currents exploded. Drawing on the Sea God Helmet, Chen Xinjie sealed off all the seas extending ten thousand miles beyond the surrounding area.
"The overlord of the Douluo Continent's seas? An empty reputation."
Qian Gu Fenfeng's voice was indifferent, carrying the cold detachment of one looking down upon ants. An unyielding force flowed around him. There was no earth-shaking display of power, yet in an instant, the waters of the entire ocean grew scorching hot and began to steam.
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