The news that Tianlin had occupied the Lima Plains and the Kingdom of Sylvis had not yet spread, but two other events quickly exploded across the continent. The first: in the Battle of Gengxin City, Tuoba Xi inflicted a crushing defeat on the Star Luo Empire, causing rivers of blood. Dai Tianjue was furious and immediately prepared to personally lead his troops to retake Gengxin City. He sent scouts ahead, discovering that Gengxin City was now an empty city, so he expected the assault would be easy.
But upon arrival, Dai Tianjue saw Oslo standing atop the city walls, holding Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun as hostages. Dai Tianjue had no choice but to camp his army outside the city — he couldn't attack, but he also couldn't retreat.
After all, Dai Weisi was now essentially the last hope of the Star Luo Empire. He absolutely could not be allowed to die. Even if another heir could be produced, it would take at least thirty years to raise him to Dai Weisi's current level, and even then, there was no guarantee he would be as outstanding. For just the sake of Gengxin City, it really wasn't worth the risk. Fortunately, Oslo promised that so long as Dai Tianjue didn't attack for thirty days, Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun would be returned unharmed.
Dai Tianjue understood the principle that speed is the essence of war, and originally didn't want to agree. But he couldn't just abandon Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun. In the end, he bargained down to twenty days, not realizing this was exactly as Tianlin had predicted — twenty days was Tianlin's bottom line. The thirty days Oslo initially offered were just to leave room for Dai Tianjue to negotiate.
The second event: news quickly spread throughout the Heaven Dou Empire that the Spirit Empire's army had been soundly defeated by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect outside Heaven Dou City. The Heavenly Dou imperial family was overjoyed — as expected of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, their combat power was truly extraordinary.
If only they weren't so arrogant and unwilling to obey the imperial family's orders, Xue Ye wouldn't have minded making them the national guardian sect, second only to the emperor.
Only Xue Beng frowned deeply. While he was happy that the Spirit Empire was defeated, the strength of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect made him wary. Once this matter was settled, the sect could not be left unchecked — it had to be eliminated, or else, sooner or later, they'd become another Spirit Empire.
Meanwhile, in Spirit City, Ghost Leopard Douluo, anxious and exhausted, raced back to Spirit City and immediately reported to the grand worshipper, Qian Daoliu.
"What did you say? All the territory south of Heaven Dou City and north of Gengxin City has been occupied by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Qian Daoliu was shocked. Previously, Bibi Dong's side had been reporting victories. How did everything change in just a few days?
The news of the defeat at the gates of Heaven Dou City had only just arrived, and now even the rear had been occupied. This meant that Bibi Dong's army was now isolated, unable to advance or retreat to Jialing Pass. If attacked from both front and rear, the entire army could be wiped out.
Ghost Leopard Douluo shook his head.
"I don't know exactly how it happened. Jialing Pass was lost because the Luo family father and son turned out to be Tianlin's agents, catching us completely off guard. But Gengxin City had Tuoba Xi guarding it — unless the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect teamed up with the Star Luo Empire to take it down."
"No, that's not it," Qian Daoliu said gravely. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would never cooperate with Star Luo. There's another possibility: just like the Luo family, Tuoba Xi is also Tianlin's man. They didn't attack Gengxin City with Star Luo — they helped Tuoba Xi drive off the Star Luo army, then quickly, while the front lines were in chaos, joined with the Luo family to launch a surprise attack on Lima Plains."
Hearing this, the Third Worshipper was shocked.
"Grand Worshipper, you mean the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect never really allied with any empire, they are…"
"They are fighting for their own hegemony," Qian Daoliu said, voicing his uncertain thought. "Ning Fengzhi, Jun Tianlin — what a grand game of chess! I thought they only wanted to protect themselves, but it turns out that our Spirit Empire, plus the two great empires, are all just their pieces. By taking advantage of the three-way war, they've captured nearly a third of the continent without a single stroke of bloodshed."
"Grand Worshipper, we must mobilize at once! If Her Majesty is surrounded by Ning Fengzhi, Sword Dao Chen Xin, and Jun Tianlin, she's doomed!" Ghost Leopard Douluo urged.
Qian Daoliu was silent for a while, weighing the pros and cons. Actually, he did not want to get involved at this time. His top priority was to guide his granddaughter to become a god — he did not want any unnecessary complications.
Right now, Qian Renxue was not involved in the war, traveling the continent to punish evil and promote good, working on her eighth Angel God trial, progressing well.
But Qian Daoliu had to admit, Tianlin was incredibly strong and advancing too fast. He was also Qian Renxue's greatest emotional weakness. Even if she became a god, she might not be able to defeat him. If Tianlin became a god, as the inheritor of the God of Asura — a God King level deity — he'd far surpass the Angel God.
If Spirit Empire wanted to win, they'd need at least two first-level gods to gang up on him. So Bibi Dong could not die — she inherited the Rakshasa God position, also a first-level god. The rift between her and Qian Renxue had eased a lot over the years; they should be able to cooperate.
Also, Chen Xin had a god position inheritance (though only second-level), but if he became a god too, things would be even trickier. Qian Daoliu couldn't let Qian Renxue struggle alone.
Moreover, if Bibi Dong's army was destroyed now, Tianlin and Ning Fengzhi would surely press their advantage and attack Spirit City. Qian Daoliu alone couldn't defeat them together.
"Very well. I will go to Heaven Dou City at once. But Spirit City cannot be left unguarded. Third, Fourth, Fifth Worshipper — I leave Spirit City in your hands," Qian Daoliu decided.
"Grand Worshipper, are you going alone?" Fourth Worshipper asked hesitantly.
Qian Daoliu nodded.
"This great battle is really just between Bibi Dong and me against Sword Dao Chen Xin and Jun Tianlin. Others can't get involved. If Qian Renxue finishes her eighth trial and returns, have her wait for me here. If I survive, I'll immediately help her become a god. If Bibi Dong and I both die, surrender Spirit Empire — Tianlin won't kill you or her. Let her find a secluded place to train, and don't seek revenge. By then, the continent will be unified under the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and as the Angel God's inheritor, she must not stir up war again. When she reaches level 99 and completes her inheritance, she can ascend to the God Realm."
"That goes for you as well. If things become hopeless, do not resist to the death. You are all top experts; you can help Ning Fengzhi quickly unify the continent. After all, this war was started by Spirit Empire, so we have a duty to end it quickly and restore order."
Qian Daoliu's thinking was much like Tianlin's: in times of chaos, heroes compete by strength; in times of peace, people live in stability. Anyone who dares stir up trouble again, the whole continent's strength will be united to eliminate them.
The three worshippers, moved by Qian Daoliu's righteousness, bowed:
"We obey Grand Worshipper's orders."
Qian Daoliu glanced at the Angel God statue, a look of resolve in his eyes. After dominating the continent for a century, he believed he would not be defeated easily.