The person who spoke was named Xu Tianyuan, who was Xu Tianran's cousin in terms of seniority.
He is not only a member of the royal family, but also the leader of one of the empire's most elite Soul Engineer Corps, the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Corps, wielding considerable military power and being a staunch advocate of war within the empire.
What he said at that moment was also his true thought.
Only those high-ranking officials who have access to the empire's most core soul guidance secrets truly understand just how astonishing the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Tool Technology has become after thousands of years of accumulation!
He firmly believed that it was not an arrogance to think that the Sun Moon Kingdom alone could defeat or even destroy the original Douluo Three Kingdoms.
He has complete confidence in this.
However, on the dragon throne, Emperor Xu Tianran's expression remained as heavy as a mountain.
He also has full confidence in the current strength of the Sun Moon Empire.
As an emperor, he understood better than Xu Tianyuan just how powerful the empire's hidden trump cards were.
However, all of this is predicated on his ability to mobilize the full strength of the Sun Moon Empire!
Now, an undeniable fact is that the Worship Hall does not support him in launching a full-scale war.
This matter is far too complex, and Xu Tianran has yet to openly discuss it with his trusted military advisors.
Xu Tianran remained silent for a long time, then suddenly raised his head. All the hesitation, weighing of options, and even a trace of helplessness in his eyes were completely burned away, leaving only a determination as hot as molten lava!
His gaze was like lightning, fixed on Xu Tianyuan, who stood solemnly awaiting orders, and his voice was resolute. "Royal brother... go and prepare!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Tianyuan's resolute face, as if carved by a knife and axe, instantly erupted with an uncontrollable excitement and fervor!
He had waited for this moment for far too long!
He immediately straightened his back and replied in a loud voice, "Yes, Your Majesty!"
Having said that, he didn't linger for a moment, turned around, and strode away.
He naturally understood what Xu Tianran meant by "preparation."
That was the clarion call to mobilize the empire's war machine, the prelude to igniting the flames of war that would sweep across the continent!
On the dragon throne, Xu Tianran watched Xu Tianyuan's departing figure, his fingers gripping the armrests of the throne tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.
After losing his legs, his temperament inevitably became biased and extreme.
He needs to prove himself with greater achievements, and he needs to wash away the deep-seated wounds and humiliation with the blood of his enemies and the land he has shed!
Therefore, even without the help of the Holy Spirit Cult's top Evil Soul Master, he will spare no effort to launch this war!
In his mind, whether it was secretly colluding with the Holy Spirit Cult or ruthlessly eliminating dissidents, it was all part of his past actions.
All these things that seem outrageous and filthy to ordinary people are insignificant in the face of the eternal achievement of unifying the continent!
History is written by the victors.
As long as he ultimately succeeds, stepping on the remains of the original Three Kingdoms to build an unprecedentedly vast empire, no one will care what means he used in the past.
Later historical records will only praise his great achievements as an emperor who expanded the territory and ended the chaos of the world!
He was willing to pay any price and bear all the infamy for this goal.
In fact, the reason why Xu Tianran dared to make such a radical decision after losing the support of the Holy Spirit Cult was due to his frank conversation with Kong Deming.
He clearly remembered that Kong Deming said the Worship Hall protected the Sun Moon Imperial Family, and the Xu Family's empire, not any particular person or lineage.
Therefore, even if Xu Tianran ultimately fails in this war of unification, he believes that the Worship Hall, led by Kong Deming, will never sit idly by and watch the territory of the Sun Moon Empire be divided up and the rule of the Xu Family be overthrown.
They will definitely take action to preserve the foundation and destiny of the Sun Moon Empire at the last moment.
Therefore, Xu Tianran is currently undertaking a high-stakes gamble.
If he won the gamble, he would become an emperor who expanded the territory, achieved great feats, and was revered by future generations.
He lost the bet; all that mattered was Xu Tianran's death.
The foundation of the empire will not be shaken; the Xu Family will remain the royal family, Sun Moon will remain the Sun Moon.
He risked his throne and his life for a glorious achievement that would last for generations, while leaving the responsibility of protecting the nation's bottom line to the Worship Hall.
As for what will happen after his death? The future of the empire?
How could someone whose mind has already become extreme and twisted care about those things?
All he cared about was the supreme achievement and his obsession with proving himself.
Under Xu Tianran's orders, the Sun Moon Empire's massive and sophisticated war machine has quietly begun to operate, with various resource allocations and legion movements being carried out in secrecy.
However, at this moment, the attention of the entire continent was still firmly drawn to the towering Spirit Pagoda, and almost no one noticed the murderous aura that was quietly gathering at the border of the empire.
It must be said that Xu Tianran chose an extremely cunning, and indeed opportune, time to launch the surprise attack.
The Spirit Pagoda attracted all the attention and discussion, becoming the best strategic cover.
During this period, as more and more top forces joined the Spirit Pagoda's council system, an unprecedented construction frenzy swept across the continent.
Funded and constructed by various councilors, new branch towers of the Spirit Pagoda Tower broke ground in major empires and core cities.
Everyone could foresee that, with the irreplaceable allure of Soul Spirit, the Spirit Pagoda would soon become the undisputed number one power on the continent.
Just as everything was developing rapidly in a prosperous direction, as Kong Xuan had predicted and planned,...
His grandfather, Kong Deming, once again brought him a huge surprise amidst his busy schedule.
Having just returned to Mingdu from the Spirit Pagoda in Heavenly Spring City via the Teleportation Array, Kong Xuan hadn't even had a chance to catch his breath when he received an urgent message from his grandfather, Kong Deming, looking for him.
He dared not delay and immediately set off for the Worship Hall.
Seeing his grandson arrive, travel-worn and weary, Kong Deming's face showed a mixture of relief and indescribable excitement. He then said with a hint of teasing, "Oh my, our busy Grand Master Kong has finally found time to come back?"
Upon hearing this, Kong Xuan chuckled inwardly and quickly begged for mercy, "Grandpa, please stop teasing me. I've been running around these past few days, so busy I haven't had a moment to breathe, and I've even neglected my cultivation. What's the matter that you specifically called me back for?"
Looking at his grandson's eager and expectant eyes, Kong Deming deliberately kept him in suspense, lowering his voice mysteriously and saying, "Guess what?"
"There wasn't a single hint! How am I supposed to guess?"
Although Kong Xuan complained like that, his brain was already working at lightning speed.
The fact that his grandfather was taking this so seriously... a thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and he blurted out, "Could it be that the Three-Word Battle Armor has been completed?"
The smile on Kong Deming's face faded slightly when the topic of Battle Armor was mentioned.
He shook his head. "While there have been some breakthroughs in forging, to actually create one, I'm afraid... we'll need to dedicate ourselves to research for a few more years."
Seeing that his grandfather denied the guess, a hint of disappointment flashed in Kong Xuan's eyes.
He stopped guessing and urged, "Grandpa, stop keeping me in suspense! Just tell me what it is!"
Kong Deming took a deep breath, then smiled and said, "The fleet that went out to explore earlier has returned."
"A new continent... has been found!"