Xuan Zi led the Shrek group through the somewhat dilapidated streets of the Qianxin City, finally arriving at the north of the city.
The peace talks took place in the north of the city, in a spacious hall that had luckily escaped direct impact from the war.
The palace buildings are simple and ancient, and the peaceful atmosphere of the past can still be seen between the flying eaves and brackets.
Upon entering the hall, the scene before them caused Xuan Zi and the others to pause slightly in surprise.
This place was nothing like the negotiation venue they had envisioned. There was no long negotiating table; the entire interior of the hall resembled a meticulously arranged large conference room, or... a classroom.
Inside the hall, rows of dark wooden chairs were neatly arranged, each with a clearly labeled name tag pasted on the back of its chair.
Sun Moon Empire, Star Luo Empire, Heavenly Soul Empire, Dou Ling Empire, Spirit Pagoda, Body Sect, Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect...
Not only the four countries participating in the peace talks, but also the names of other influential forces on the mainland were prominently listed.
Xuan Zi's powerful Divine Power swept silently across the area and instantly located the Shrek Academy's nameplate, positioned on the far right of the first row.
This seating arrangement undoubtedly highlights Shrek Academy's status on the continent. Even with its greatly diminished strength, it remains a first-rate power on the continent, wielding significant influence.
Xuan Zi led the Shrek group through the slightly crowded passageway inside the hall, heading straight for the first row.
Their gazes swept across the entire room discreetly, giving them a general idea of the current situation at the peace talks.
The central, front row Core Zone is naturally reserved for the parties directly involved in this peace negotiation.
Representatives from the original Douluo Three Kingdoms have all arrived, led by emperors from the three kingdoms, demonstrating the importance they attach to this peace talks.
The seats labeled " Sun Moon Empire" remained empty, indicating that they had not yet arrived.
Next to the Shrek Academy were the seats for the Body Sect, whether it was intentional or not is unknown.
As soon as Xuan Zi sat down, he felt an undisguised gaze fall upon him from the side.
He didn't need to look to know that it was the Sect Master of the Body Sect, Du Busi.
The other person's eyes were full of provocation.
If this had happened a few years ago, given Xuan Zi's fiery temper, he probably would have slammed his fist on the table and stood up immediately.
But now, having experienced serious injuries, dramatic changes at the academy, and other upheavals, he has matured considerably.
More importantly, he knew very well that in terms of individual combat strength, he was no match for Du Busi at this moment.
His face remained calm and composed, as if he were unaware of the piercing gaze. He simply shifted his gaze to the other side of the front row.
However, this glance gave him a sudden shock, and his brows furrowed deeply.
There, a figure dressed in a black robe, exuding a somber aura, sat alone.
It was another familiar face, or rather... a familiar beast, because this person was none other than the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, the Beast God Di Tian!
Why were the Soul Beast invited here?
What is the connection between this war between human empires and the world of Soul Beast?
A huge sense of doubt welled up in Xuan Zi's heart. He subconsciously looked around and found that he was not the only one who was surprised.
The faces of many representatives of various factions inside the hall showed varying degrees of astonishment, fear, and confusion.
The gazes cast toward Di Tian were filled with vigilance and confusion.
Di Tian seemed oblivious to all the gazes around him, simply sitting there quietly, closing his eyes to rest.
Soon, the agreed-upon time for the peace talks arrived.
The light at the entrance of the main hall dimmed slightly, and Ju Zi pushed the specially made wheelchair, carrying Xu Tianran, slowly into the solemn hall.
Behind Xu Tianran followed several high-ranking officials of the Sun Moon Empire, all with solemn expressions, as they slowly moved forward.
Almost simultaneously, dozens of eyes in the front row of the main hall, in the direction originally belonging to the representatives of the Douluo Three Kingdoms, focused on the wheelchair and the person sitting on it.
The emotions contained in those gazes were so intense they were almost tangible: a deep-seated hatred, the grief and indignation of homes burned and compatriots shed blood, and an uncontrollable hostility toward the perpetrators of this war.
However, today was a day for peace talks, and all the hatred and anger were forcibly suppressed after a brief stare.
However, the atmosphere inside the hall became even more heavy due to this momentary emotional fluctuation.
Xu Tianran seemed oblivious to the hostile gazes directed at him. His expression remained calm as he allowed Ju Zi to push him to the designated central position at the front.
Just as the people of the Sun Moon Empire took their seats, at the very front of the hall, the space rippled like water, and a figure appeared without warning.
He had short silver hair, wore a bright yellow robe, and had a gentle face with deep, ancient eyes.
It was none other than Kong Deming, the Silver Moon Douluo, who initiated these peace talks!
His appearance showed no sign of an outburst of Soul Power, yet it seemed to instantly erase all the noise and whispers in the hall, making him the absolute focus of attention.
Even Di Tian, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened his dark golden eyes at this moment.
Kong Deming's gaze swept calmly over the packed seats of representatives from all sides, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"Thank you all for accepting my invitation to participate in these peace talks."
His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. "Now that everyone is here, let's begin."
As soon as he finished speaking, the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Neither the Sun Moon Empire, the direct party to the conflict, nor the representatives of the original Douluo Three Kingdoms took any action, because they were also unaware of the specific procedures for this peace negotiation.
All eyes remained on Kong Deming, awaiting his next words.
Kong Deming didn't let the silence last long; he cut to the chase. "This war sweeping across the continent has lasted for over a year."
"All the participating nations suffered heavy casualties and their national strength was greatly depleted."
"Countless cities were reduced to ashes, and countless families were torn apart. If the fighting continues, the only way forward is mutual destruction."
He paused slightly, as if to remind everyone of the cruelty of war.
"Therefore, today's cessation of hostilities and peace talks is not a compromise for one side, but rather a means to secure a future for the people of the four nations and to provide a respite for this continent. In the present moment, ending the war is beneficial to all four parties."
Kong Deming's gaze slowly swept across the area directly in front of him, mainly observing the expressions of the representatives from the four countries.
Originally belonging to the Douluo Three Kingdoms, after the three emperors briefly exchanged glances, Xu Jiawei of the Star Luo Empire was the first to break the silence.
"A ceasefire is acceptable."
Xu Jiawei's voice was loud and clear. He looked directly at Kong Deming and asked, "But how should we deal with the Sun Moon Empire's encroachment on the lands of my Star Luo Empire and Heavenly Soul Empire?"
Clearly, Xu Jiawei is now the representative of the original Douluo Three Kingdoms.
The Dou Ling Empire and the Sun Moon Empire do not border each other, so there has been no territorial loss. Currently, the main problem is that the Star Luo Empire and Heavenly Soul Empires have had nearly half of their territory occupied by the Sun Moon Empire.
Before Kong Deming could respond, a mocking laugh came from the Sun Moon Seats.
Xu Tianran raised his eyes to meet Xu Jiawei's gaze. "Those lands were won inch by inch by our Sun Moon, through bloody battles!"
"You couldn't defend it, that's your incompetence. Now that you've entered my Sun Moon, how can you just hand it back?"
" Xu Tianran!" Xu Jiawei's expression changed drastically. He slammed his hand on the table in front of him, making a loud bang. "Don't push your luck! If you're going to be so unreasonable, then there's no point in talking about peace!"
"Even if my three kingdoms shed their last drop of blood, we will fight you to the very end!"
"That's right!" Emperor Weixin, the representative of the Heavenly Soul Empire, snorted coldly. "Exactly! If the territory isn't returned, what's the point of talking? We might as well continue fighting!"
The Heavenly Soul Empire was originally a branch of the Heavenly Soul Empire Heaven Dou Empire. If it were to lose half of its territory, wouldn't it become the smallest empire? How could it face its ancestors and its millions of subjects?
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly plummeted to freezing point. Neither side was willing to back down. The peace talks had only just begun, but they were on the verge of collapsing completely over this first substantive issue.
All eyes were once again on Kong Deming, the powerful figure who had initiated the peace talks. How would he deal with this seemingly unsolvable deadlock?