"It was my poor planning, Your Majesty. Please punish me."
Inside the Mingdu Imperial Palace, Ju Zi knelt before Xu Tianran.
Xu Tianran, his face grim, slowly put down the intelligence report and looked at Ju Zi, who was kneeling on the ground. A faint smile finally appeared on his face.
"Get up quickly. Among the entire Empire, you are the one I trust most. What happened in Dongyang City exceeded everyone's expectations, so how could I blame you?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Hearing Xu Tianran's words, Ju Zi responded verbally, but in her heart, she understood perfectly.
Having followed Xu Tianran for so long, she naturally knew his personality. She, like everyone else, was merely a tool for Xu Tianran to achieve his ambitions. If he didn't still need her to help him conceal some secrets, her fate would likely be no better than those who had followed him before.
Thinking of this, her eyes grew colder.
"I never imagined that the Holy Spirit Cult would be raising such a Spirit Beast in Dongyang City." Xu Tianran picked up the intelligence report again. "And the strength of the Three Great Empires seems to have become even more terrifying."
Ju Zi remained silent, just standing quietly to the side. A moment later, another elder walked in.
The elder was over one hundred and fifty years old, but he didn't look old. Although his hair and beard were white, his face still carried a hint of vitality.
Ju Zi secretly glanced at the newcomer, then quickly lowered her head.
Even Xu Tianran became a bit more respectful upon seeing Kong Deming. After all, regardless of his strength, Kong Deming also had royal blood from the Sun Moon Empire flowing in his veins. Strictly speaking, Xu Tianran had to call him a grand-uncle. Furthermore, he was the only Ten-Rank Soul Engineer in the Sun Moon Empire.
"Hmm." Kong Deming naturally noticed Ju Zi's gaze, but he didn't pay it any mind.
"Dongyang City there—"
Kong Deming understood Xu Tianran's meaning. He stroked his beard and sighed softly, "I've examined the traces left there. The strength of both parties involved in the fight—I'm afraid they are both no less than mine."
"What?" Xu Tianran couldn't hold back his composure.
Kong Deming had advanced to the Super Douluo Realm, becoming a Tenth Level Soul Master. Combined with his Tenth Level Soul Guidance Device, he could unleash attacks that surpassed the limit of a Douluo. Yet, even so, he claimed that the strength of the two parties who fought in Dongyang City was no less than his own.
How could so many powerhouses suddenly appear on the Douluo Continent?
"Old Kong, can you be sure?"
"Yes." Kong Deming nodded. "One party is indeed the Spirit Beast raised by the Holy Spirit Cult. The other party—"
Kong Deming lowered his head and pondered for a moment. "Combining the scenes witnessed by the people in the city, it is likely Peerless Douluo, who, with the cultivation of a Titled Douluo, shook the limits beneath Yu Ming City back then."
Xu Tianran clenched his right hand, his arm supporting the table trembling slightly.
"If this person is stationed within the Star Luo Empire, I'm afraid that even if the Mingde Hall's humanoid Soul Guidance Devices can be widely promoted, it will be impossible to truly annihilate the Three Great Empires."
Xu Tianran, of course, had not truly given up on the idea of unifying the Douluo Continent. He had agreed to a ceasefire back then only because four out of the five protector Soul Masters of the Sun Moon Empire were gone, and the Three Great Empires also had Ninth Level Soul Masters. That was why he had no choice but to agree to a ceasefire.
However, just as he was making intensive preparations, he heard such news.
Even Ju Zi, who was beside him, couldn't help but look up at Kong Deming. She wasn't Xu Tianran, but her eagerness for war was no less than his.
"Old Kong, even if you make a move, is there no chance of victory?"
Kong Deming shook his head slightly. "If it's a direct confrontation, there might be a chance, but if the opponent doesn't choose to engage directly—"
Although Soul Guidance Devices can help a Soul Master exert power far beyond their own spirit power cultivation, for him to unleash power beyond his limits with level ninety-five spirit power, he needs the assistance of other Soul Masters. In terms of flexibility, he can never compare to a Spirit Master, unless he can make further advancements in Soul Guidance Device research.
"Moreover, at this level of strength, it cannot be compensated by numbers." Kong Deming added.
Only those who have reached a Realm beyond the limits truly understand how terrifying the power of this Realm is. Although Xu Tianran also has the cultivation of a Titled Douluo, his cultivation relied too much on external means, and he probably hasn't fully understood the weight of his earlier statement that their strength was no less than his.
Upon hearing this, Xu Tianran slowly looked up at Kong Deming, and then suddenly slumped down. His body was incomplete, and whether it was his daily life or his lifespan, he couldn't compare to a normal person. The only thing supporting him was his ambition to unify the Douluo Continent.
The previous defeat in war had already disheartened him. Now, hearing that his goal could no longer be achieved, he seemed to have aged many years in an instant.
"Thank you for your hard work, Old Kong. Please go back and rest." Xu Tianran's voice was much hoarser.
Kong Deming nodded slightly, then paused for a moment. "Your Majesty, human life has an end. Even if there is no hope now, in a few hundred years, the strength of the Sun Moon Empire will still be superior to the Three Great Empires. You must not jeopardize national affairs due to temporary gains or losses."
Kong Deming said something with a hidden meaning, then turned and left.
"Your Majesty."
"It was my fault for blaming you. With such strength, it's no wonder Dongyang City couldn't stop them."
Ju Zi's hands trembled slightly. Perhaps the news had too great an impact on Xu Tianran; this statement undoubtedly showed that he had been quite dissatisfied with Ju Zi before.
"Your Majesty, Old Kong is right. Even if you cannot expand your territory, if you can make the Empire prosperous, you will still be a wise ruler." Ju Zi said softly, as if oblivious.
"What do you mean by this?"
"Your Majesty, the entire Empire has long harbored resentment towards the Holy Spirit Cult. Since they have lost their value, why not take this opportunity—"
Ju Zi didn't continue, but her meaning was already clear.
Now that his throne was stable, and with no hope of territorial expansion, the Holy Spirit Cult had lost its purpose. Instead, it would be better to take this opportunity to eliminate them all, which could also earn him a wave of good reputation.
After a long period of deep thought, Xu Tianran finally spoke slowly, "You go and prepare for this matter."
"Your Majesty, why not have the Crown Prince officially become Old Kong's disciple next month? At that time, we can also invite Death God Douluo to the palace for a banquet."
"Very well."