Hu Liena picked up a wolf-hair brush and drew a circle around the location of the Heaven Dou Army camp. The ink from the brush tip spread into a small black blot on the sheepskin. " Yu Tianheng... a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, always arrogant. His inaction may not necessarily be because he wants to profit from the situation."
"What else could it be?" Salas frowned, puzzled. "Could it be that he's waiting for us to beg him?"
Hu Liena didn't reply, her gaze shifting to the Star Luo Empire army's deployment on the map, a faint smile playing on her lips, "Regardless of what he's waiting for, now that reinforcements have arrived, it's time to change the game."
"..."
In the camp of the Heaven Dou army, the candlelight inside the tent flickered slightly under the glow of the charcoal fire in the copper basin. Yu Tianheng was bending over and reviewing documents on the military ration schedule. His fingertips had just dipped the wolf-hair brush in ink when his gaze suddenly lifted to the outside of the tent—the wind there seemed heavier than elsewhere, carrying a faint, Charm air.
"Since you're here, come out and meet me." His voice was steady, and without pausing, he signed the document.
The tent flap moved without wind, and the next moment, Hu Liena appeared in the military tent. She looked at Yu Tianheng and suddenly thought of the days they spent together in the Slaughter City.
This is only the second time the two have met since they parted ways in the Slaughter City, and their identities have also undergone a significant change: one is the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall Empire, and the other is the Divine Martial King of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Yu Tianheng put down his pen and looked up:
" Your Saintess Hall, what brings you here?" He stood up, the metallic clang of his armor breaking the silence, his tone carrying just the right amount of aloofness.
Hu Liena spoke up, "Let's come and see if the Divine Martial King's camp is as impregnable as rumored. After all, we are still 'allies'." She emphasized the last two words.
"With the Star Luo Empire still intact, we are naturally allies." Yu Tianheng walked to the sand table and moved the terracotta figures representing the Star Luo Empire army. "If the Holy Maiden has military matters to discuss, I will certainly cooperate. But if it's just about reminiscing... I'm afraid that's not appropriate."
Hu Liena smiled, her crimson eyes gleaming in the candlelight. " The Divine Martial King is quite straightforward. Very well, I came to ask when the Heaven Dou cavalry will, as agreed, flank and cut off Star Luo Empire's supply lines?"
Yu Tianheng brushed away the dust on the sand table with his fingers, revealing the mountain and river patterns etched beneath. Instead of answering directly, he asked, "If Star Luo Empire falls, where does the Spirit Hall Empire intend to target next?"
The air inside the tent seemed to freeze instantly, broken only by the crackling of the candlelight. Hu Liena looked into the sharpness in his eyes and suddenly remembered the edge of the Slaughter City, where he had stared at her in the same way, asking, "After we leave here, will we become enemies?"
She didn't answer then, and she still doesn't now. After a moment of silence, Hu Liena got up and left.
The next day, before the fog below Heavenly Star Pass had dissipated, six extremely powerful Soul Power shot into the sky like smoke signals, stirring up the clouds.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan held a golden Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, with pale pink Soul Ring flowing around him, and his face wore his usual effeminate smile; Ghost Douluo Gui Mei was hidden in a semi-transparent shadow, with only his green eyes flashing in the mist, and his black Soul Ring almost blending into the morning mist.
The Porcupinefish Douluo's body swelled slightly, his body surface covered with sharp, spiky protrusions, and his breath carried a pungent, fishy odor. The Ghost Leopard Douluo crouched on a boulder, his body poised to pounce like a cheetah, his gray fur standing on end as his Soul Power surged. The Snake Lance Douluo held a serpentine spear, its tip emitting a ghostly blue light. The Qian Jun Douluo clasped his hands together, thick, earth-yellow Soul Power gathering in his palms, as if it could shake the earth at any moment.
"They've held Heavenly Star Pass long enough." Chrysanthemum Douluo gently stroked a petal, his voice tinged with languor. "Let them see what true power is to those Star Luo Empire people."
Ghost Douluo's voice came from the shadows, carrying a metallic, scraping quality. "A direct assault! Take the pass within half an hour. Those few Titled Douluo from the Star Luo Empire are nothing to fear; with their numbers, they can't withstand the combined might of the six of us."
The Porcupinefish Douluo replied in a gruff voice, "We're outnumbered by more than tenfold in terms of Soul Master, and we have a significant advantage in Titled Douluo. What makes them think they can defend themselves? In my opinion, we should just smash the city gates open."
The Snake Lance Douluo swung his spear, a serpentine shadow swirling behind him. "The only thing we need to guard against is those old fogies from the Clear Sky Sect suddenly appearing. But they've been hiding for so many years, they might not dare to wade into this mess."
The Qian Jun Douluo stomped his foot heavily, causing fine cracks to appear in the ground beneath him. "To the Clear Sky Sect with the Heavenly Star Pass will surely fall! Pass down the order: in a quarter of an hour, all six of us will attack simultaneously, without holding back!"
The auras of the six Titled Douluo intertwined, enveloping the entire pass like an invisible giant net, even making the air seem to freeze. Although the Star Luo Empire on the pass tried to remain calm, their hands gripping their weapons trembled slightly—they could clearly feel that it was an absolute power capable of easily crushing all resistance.
Chrysanthemum Douluo glanced one last time at the Star Luo Empire Army flag fluttering in the wind, a cold smile playing on his lips, "Let's begin. Let them understand that opposing the Spirit Hall Empire only leads to death."
His pale yellow Soul Power suddenly surged, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan hovered in mid-air. His Seventh Soul Ring suddenly lit up, and the golden Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum bloomed behind him, creating a sky-covering phantom, with sharp, cold light gleaming from the edges of its petals.
"The extraordinary velvet-like mushroom reaches the heavens—break!"
With a low shout, enormous golden chrysanthemum petals, like spinning blades, hurtled towards the walls of Heavenly Star Pass with a piercing whistle that tore through the air. The brick and stone walls trembled under this oppressive force; the soldiers on the city walls could even hear their bones creaking as the powerful blow, capable of shattering mountains, was about to strike—
"Bang!"
A muffled thud shook the heavens and earth. A figure in black robes appeared out of thin air, his right fist clenched, and he actually crashed his flesh and blood into the golden chrysanthemum petals. Ripples of Soul Power exploded everywhere, and the illusory chrysanthemum petals shattered inch by inch, but the figure remained motionless, only the hem of his black robe fluttering in the shockwave.
"Who?!" Yue Guan was filled with shock and anger. When he looked up, his pupils suddenly contracted.
The newcomer was tall and imposing, his empty left sleeve fluttering in the wind, his right arm muscles bulging, and the dark golden phantom of the Clear Sky Hammer looming behind him. When his tiger-like eyes swept down, they carried a sense of earth-shattering oppression.
" Tang Hao?!"
The Porcupinefish Douluo cried out in alarm, his swollen body instantly tensing; the Ghost Douluo's shadowy figure fluctuated violently, his green eyes filled with disbelief; the Snake Lance Douluo gripped his spear tightly, his knuckles turning white; the Qian Jun Douluo protected himself with both hands, his Soul Power circulating to its limit; the Ghost Leopard Douluo even subconsciously arched his body, as if he was about to turn around and flee at any moment.
The expressions of the five Titled Douluo changed drastically at the same time, and the air seemed to freeze at that moment.