Half a year has passed, and the two great empires of Heaven Dou and Martial Soul have been preparing for war and have finally completed their final preparations.
On the continent rife with undercurrents, a joint offensive against the Star Luo Empire is imminent, but it lacks only a convincing reason to wage war—without a legitimate cause, there is no justification.
Deep within the palace of the Spirit Hall Empire, Bibi Dong, clad in a purple robe, sat upon the throne, her eyes as cold as frost.
Her fingertips lightly tapped the armrest, a well-thought-out plan taking shape in her mind. Three days later, the Spirit Hall Empire's war report spread throughout the continent, " Clear Sky Sect Tang San and his son Tang Hao, remnants of the Clear Sky Sect, burdened with heinous crimes, are currently hiding within the territory of the Star Luo Empire. The Star Luo Star Luo Empire is given seven days to hand them over, otherwise, our Spirit Hall Empire will immediately dispatch troops to eliminate this heresy!"
When the news reached the Star Luo Empire, Dai Mubai sat in the Crown Prince's residence, his brows furrowed. Tang San was now his most trusted right-hand man, an indispensable assistant in everything from border wars to court strategies; and Tang Hao, with his strength as a level 97 Titled Douluo, was renowned throughout the continent. To show their respect, the Star Luo Empire had long treated him as an honored guest, with far greater courtesy than ordinary people. To ask them to hand over these two pillars of the state? It was simply a pipe dream.
"Reply to the Spirit Hall Empire," Dai Mubai's voice was steady and resolute, " Tang San and Mr. Tang Hao have rendered meritorious service to my Star Luo Empire, and my Star Luo Empire has no reason to hand them over. If the Spirit Hall Empire uses this as an excuse to launch a military attack, the entire Star Luo Empire will fight to the bitter end!"
The message of refusal reached Spirit City, Bibi Dong slammed her hand on the armrest of her throne, her eyes blazing with fury. "So this is the Star Luo Empire! They won't listen to reason, they'll have to suffer the consequences!" She abruptly rose, her purple-gold Soul Power surging around her. "Issue my order: Spirit Hall Empire, declare war on the Star Luo Empire immediately! Allied forces of the Heaven Dou Empire, follow me and crush Star Luo Empire!"
War drums thundered, and banners blotted out the sun. Another dramatic shift in the mainland's political landscape officially began under this meticulously planned "pretext."
The declaration of war by the Spirit Hall Empire struck like a thunderbolt across the continent, and the Heaven Dou Empire, which had already reached a tacit understanding, immediately responded.
The million- Heaven Dou army gathered from various prefectures like a tidal wave. Their iron armor clanged, their banners stretched endlessly, and in just a few days they had set up their formation on the border with the Star Luo Empire. Their camps stretched for dozens of miles, exuding a murderous aura, waiting only for a command to join forces with the Spirit Hall Empire's allied forces and march south.
The message reached the capital of the Star Luo Empire, and the atmosphere deep within the palace was as heavy as iron. The Star Luo Emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, his hand gripping the military tally so tightly that it almost crushed with his knuckles.
"Have you all seen it clearly?" His voice was deep as he swept his gaze over the high-ranking officials in the hall. "What remnants of the Clear Sky Sect? It's nothing but a fig leaf for them! The Heaven Dou and Martial Soul are wolves in sheep's clothing, always coveting the territory and destiny of my Star Luo Empire. Today they can use Tang San and his son as an excuse, but tomorrow they can find other pretexts. If we keep backing down, we will only end up with the destruction of our country and the ruin of our families!"
Crown Prince Dai Mubai stepped forward and said loudly, "Father is absolutely right! The Tang San brothers and Senior Tang Hao have rendered great service to our Star Luo Empire. Not to mention that we absolutely cannot hand them over according to morality, even if we did, how could the greed of wolves be satisfied? Rather than sitting and waiting for death, we should rise up and fight, and let them see the fighting spirit of the sons of the Star Luo Empire!"
The courtiers in the hall unanimously agreed, their previous sliver of hope completely vanished. "Issue my decree!" The Star Luo Emperor abruptly stood up. "All legions across the nation shall immediately enter a state of highest alert. The Northern Iron Cavalry shall rush to reinforce the Eastern Front; the Southern Navy shall blockade the inland rivers; the Imperial Guard shall be tripled in size to guard the capital! Tell all soldiers that this battle concerns the very survival of the Star Luo Empire. Those who retreat will be executed; those who fight to the death will be honored!"
Military orders were issued from the palace, Star Luo Empire instantly transformed into a precisely operating war machine.
Border fortresses were reinforced, supplies were transported day and night from the rear, and a million soldiers donned armor and wielded weapons, their eyes burning with the fury to defend their homeland.
They all understood that this battle was unavoidable, and only through blood and fire could they defend the dignity of their homeland.
On the open field, three torrents of steel stand facing each other from afar.
The Star Luo Empire's black-armored cavalry array resembled an inky wave, the Spirit Hall Empire's mixed legion shimmered with the light of various Soul Ring, and the Heaven Dou Empire's infantry phalanx formed a solid barrier with shield walls.
The first to launch an attack was the Soul Master squad of the Spirit Hall Empire. Dozens of elemental Soul Skill tore through the sky, carrying scorching flames and sharp ice shards as they hurtled towards the Star Luo Empire Army formation.
The Soul Douluo -level powerhouses of the Star Luo Empire immediately activated their Martial Soul, and a huge beast-shaped barrier rose from the ground, blocking most of the attacks. The scattered penetrating energy was also neutralized by the Soul Guidance Shields of the front-line warriors.
Immediately afterwards, the Star Luo Empire's light cavalry launched a charge, the sound of their hooves shaking the earth. They did not rush straight into the enemy formation, but instead used their speed advantage to flank the enemy, firing wave after wave of crossbow bolts tempered with Soul Power.
The heavy infantry of the Heaven Dou Empire advanced rapidly, using shield walls to provide cover for the Soul Master of the Spirit Hall Empire. The two sides exchanged blows, with arrows and Soul Skill weaving together to form a dense network of firepower, yet both sides tacitly preserved their main fighting force.
After several rounds of probing, the commander of the Star Luo Empire, having figured out the allied forces' attack rhythm, decisively ordered a retreat. The black-armored army retreated in an orderly fashion, like a tide receiving a command. The cavalry covered the rear to guard against pursuers, while the infantry maintained a tight formation and retreated steadily.
The allied forces did not pursue rashly, but merely observed from a distance. Soon, the Star Luo Empire disappeared into the outline of the mountains ahead—they had retreated to Heavenly Star Pass. It was the most fortified defensive line on the border of the Star Luo Empire. The majestic pass was built along the steep mountainside, with walls a hundred meters high, constructed of special rocks. There was only one narrow passage in front of the pass, truly a place where "one man can hold the pass against ten thousand."
Standing atop the gate, the Star Luo Empire ' armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight. They knew this would be the true battlefield. To set foot on the Star Luo Empire's soil, the allied forces must first traverse the ruins of Heavenly Star Pass.
Yu Tianheng's silver spear pointed diagonally at the ground, its tip reflecting the morning light from the direction of Heavenly Star Pass, gleaming with a cold light. He watched as the last column of black-armored infantry of the Star Luo Empire disappeared into the shadows of the pass, and the city gate, forged from a hundred pounds of refined iron, slammed shut with a "boom," the dust it kicked up forming a hazy barrier in front of the pass.
"Young Marshal, the drums from the Martial Soul side have sounded. It looks like they're going to get serious." The lieutenant lowered his voice to remind him, glancing at the left camp— the Spirit Hall Empire's purple-black military flags were being raised in large numbers, and the various Soul Ring released by the Soul Master legion were like a floating sea of lights, even the air trembled slightly due to the density of Soul Power.
Yu Tianheng slowly turned his horse around, the scales on his black armor shimmering in the sunlight. "Order each battalion to move from the rear to the front and retreat to the mountain hollow two miles away to set up camp. The scout battalion will split into three teams, each keeping a close watch on the mountain paths on the east and west sides of Heavenly Star Pass and the front of the pass wall. Report any unusual activity immediately."
"But..." the lieutenant general said anxiously, " The Star Luo Empire has just entered the pass, and their defensive deployment may not be secure. If we join forces with the Martial Soul now..."