Yan Feng, Wang Xian'er, and Huang Jinxu exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting the almost relieved, calm smiles on their pale faces.
The fall of Ten Thousand Stars City was expected. The severe damage inflicted on the four most elite Soul Engineer Corps of Sun Moon was considered a completion of their final mission, which they had staked their Life on.
I have no regrets about dying now; on the contrary, I feel a sense of righteous indignation.
However, just as the three were about to make their move...
A beam of silvery-white light fell from the sky without warning, precisely enveloping the three of them.
This caused the three of them to pause, involuntarily looking up at the sky.
Who goes there?!
Xu Tianyuan, Liao Mengkai, and other powerful figures at the Sun Moon were shaken to their core, instantly feeling as if they were facing a formidable enemy!
Their first thought was that enemy reinforcements had arrived, and they immediately prepared for battle, making the atmosphere on the ruins tense once again.
However, as the light dimmed, a figure seemed to appear out of thin air, causing the tense atmosphere to suddenly freeze.
The newcomer wore a bright yellow robe, had white hair and beard, and eyes as deep as an ancient well.
He stood with his hands behind his back in mid-air, emanating no imposing aura, yet all the powerful figures of the Sun Moon Empire, from Xu Tianyuan to the most ordinary taxi driver, unconsciously lowered their heads slightly.
"Lord of the Palace!"
The uniform titles came from the mouths of these generals and soldiers who had just experienced a bloody battle.
The person who could be addressed with such respect by the top Soul Master and Soul Engineer of the Sun Moon Empire was none other than Kong Deming, the master of the Sun Moon Worship Hall.
Kong Deming's gaze was like the water of an ancient well, calmly reflecting this world reshaped by blood and fire.
In the ruins of Ten Thousand Stars City, the enemy's three Douluo lay wounded and awaiting death, while their own soldiers wore expressions of weariness, grief, and confusion...
Everything fell into his deep eyes, ultimately turning into a barely audible sigh.
Unlike ordinary soldiers, Xu Tianyuan and his comrades, being high-ranking officials of the empire, naturally knew that the Worship Hall would not support this war.
For this reason, they were also unclear about why Kong Deming had come to the battlefield in person.
Just as everyone was filled with doubt, Kong Deming spoke up.
The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly drowned out all the other noises in the ruins.
"That's enough." He paused, then turned his gaze to the three weakened individuals Yan Feng and the others. "I will spare their lives."
As soon as he uttered those words, all around fell silent.
The soldiers of Sun Moon almost thought they had misheard. The Lord of the Worship Hall was actually going to save the enemy's life?
The Saber God Douluo Liao Mengkai, was the first to lose his composure. The pent-up anger from the devastating casualties and his instinctive bewilderment at the Palace Master's decision caused him to blurt out, "Palace Master..."
However, his words came to an abrupt end.
Kong Deming didn't even turn his head; he merely raised his eyelids slightly, and a calm gaze fell upon Liao Mengkai. This instantly silenced the Saber God Douluo, known for his arrogance and fierceness, as if a bucket of ice water had extinguished his impulsive anger.
In the Sun Moon Empire, almost all Level 9 Soul Engineer have received instruction from Kong Deming, so they naturally have to show him the respect due to a disciple.
Liao Mengkai's face flushed red, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, but he ultimately lowered his head under that gaze, swallowing back all the resentful questions that followed.
Kong Deming's words also surprised Yan Feng and the other two, as they had no prior connection whatsoever.
Then Kong Deming continued, "After capturing Ten Thousand Stars City, the army will not be allowed to advance eastward..."
Upon hearing this, even Xu Tianyuan, a member of the royal family, finally couldn't hold back any longer.
"Palace Master!" He stepped forward, his voice urgent, "With the fall of Ten Thousand Stars City, the Star Luo Empire Gate is wide open, and there will be no more defensible defenses!"
"This is the perfect opportunity for our Sun Moon Army to advance unimpeded and seize power in one fell swoop!"
"You have the blood of the Sun Moon Imperial Family flowing in your veins. Even if... even if you don't approve of this war, how could you do this at such a crucial moment that determines the fate of the empire..."
He abruptly stopped speaking, but anyone could hear the implication of "hindrance" and "dragging down the overall situation."
The surroundings were deathly silent. Xu Tianyuan's words were relatively polite, but they also revealed his dissatisfaction with Kong Deming.
However, Kong Deming remained calm, showing neither joy nor anger.
"Commander Xu."
"The Empire's Four Great Ferocious Beast Soul Engineer Corps suffered heavy casualties in this battle. Tell me..."
He slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on Xu Tianyuan's face. "Even if the Star Luo Empire Barrier has been opened, this half-crippled army is now demoralized, riddled with wounded, and its soul-guided equipment is severely damaged... Does it really have the strength to continue advancing eastward?"
"Or do you want to continue using the last blood of our soldiers to determine the final outcome of this war?"
Kong Deming's cold question made Xu Tianyuan and the others lower their heads; this was an undeniable fact.
This battle truly shattered their "invincible" mentality and capabilities!
But the frustration and confusion in Xu Tianyuan's heart did not dissipate. He raised his head, his eyes filled with suppressed anger and pain. "Then why did you do this, Palace Master? Was it out of pity for them?"
He pointed to the three men, Yan Feng and his companions, who were barely breathing, and his voice rose with emotion. "If the lives of my Sun Moon warriors are insignificant to you, then what do these fallen comrades' bloodstains mean?!"
Upon hearing this, countless soldiers around him turned their gazes to Kong Deming, their eyes filled with weariness, pain, and the same question; they too were waiting for an answer.
Kong Deming's expression remained unchanged. He slowly said, " Ju Zi concentrated her superior forces to attack one point. From a tactical point of view, she succeeded. Ten Thousand Stars City has been captured."
He changed the subject. "But do you know what has become of the remaining Sun Moon Guards who were originally stationed at Luo River City, Iron Wall Pass, and Eagle Sorrow Gorge, in order to gather these four major Soul Engineer Corps here, under the counterattack of the Three Kingdoms Allied Forces?"
His gaze swept over Xu Tianyuan, and then over every general. "You ask me if I care about the lives of the Sun Moon soldiers?"
"I just came from Luo River City. If I hadn't arrived in time... the garrison at those three fortresses would probably not just have suffered heavy casualties, but have been completely wiped out."
Kong Deming's words struck the hearts of every exhausted soldier, word by word.
The anger and resentment surging in Xu Tianyuan's eyes were gradually replaced by more complex emotions.
He took a deep breath, his tone softening, but still persistent. "Lord, you haven't answered... what is the purpose of all this?"
Meeting his gaze, Kong Deming said calmly, "This war that has swept across the continent has lasted for a full year."
"A year of war, a year of bloodshed, a year of wasted national strength, a year of growing hatred."
"While the original three kingdoms suffered heavy losses, our Sun Moon Empire is equally exhausted, and the people's hearts are unsettled."
He looked at Xu Tianyuan, and then at all the generals.
Ultimately, his words echoed clearly across the battlefield.
"So, it's time."
"This war should end."
"It's time for peace talks."