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After three days and two nights of hard travel, Dai Weisi and his two companions finally returned to Star Luo City in the dead of night.
However, Star Luo City, which should have been under curfew, was ablaze with lights, leaving the three of them startled.
Outside the city, the Star Luo Royal Knights, along with the White Tiger Legion, Fierce Tiger Legion, Gale Legion, and War Tiger Legion, had all been mobilized. They stood in neat formations, poised as if preparing for a decisive war against an enemy.
Something had happened!
This was the only thought in the trio's minds. Dai Weisi and Dai Tianxing exchanged a glance, instantly understanding each other's thoughts before hastily flying toward the Star Luo Imperial Palace.
Sure enough, the palace was also brightly lit, and from within, they could hear the sounds of a heated argument.
"The Clear Sky Sect is our ally! I believe we should dispatch troops to rescue them!"
"I second the motion."
"I agree as well!"
"No, we cannot fight! Absolutely not! Spirit Hall has deployed eight Titled Douluo and ten thousand spirit masters. This is a war Star Luo cannot afford!"
"I propose we sever ties with the Clear Sky Sect and observe from the sidelines, or perhaps seek peace with Spirit Hall!"
"I second the motion."
"I agree as well!"
"I believe we should—"
"Enough! Quiet down, all of you! Po Jun, tell me, what in the world has happened?" Dai Tianxing had already appeared inside the palace hall.
The entire court of civil and military officials was gathered, with ministers and generals arguing fiercely. The debate had left Dai Po Jun agitated and overwhelmed.
Dai Weisi scanned the room. Practically every notable figure in the Star Luo Empire was present—ministers, generals, Lie Tianhu, Lin Qiuyang, Yang Wudi, Bai He, Niu Gao, and even Zhu Zhuyun, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Tianyu were in attendance.
This left him deeply puzzled. What could have happened to bring so many important figures together?
Upon seeing the three arrive, the entire court knelt and saluted.
"Greetings, Grand Emperor! Greetings, Empress Dowager! Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Rise, all of you," Dai Tianxing commanded. "Po Jun, what is going on? I heard mention of 'Spirit Hall' and the 'Clear Sky Sect.' What has happened with them?"
"Father, this is the situation…" Dai Po Jun, looking weary, explained everything—how Spirit Hall had launched an assault on the Clear Sky Sect, and how Tang Yuehua had sent a messenger to Star Luo to plead for aid.
After hearing the report, Dai Tianxing's brow furrowed deeply. The news that all eight elders of Spirit Hall's Elder Hall had been deployed made his scalp tingle with unease.
Dai Weisi, on the other hand, had a look of realization. Ever since he had heard that Tang Hao had killed hundreds of Spirit Hall's spirit masters, he had suspected there was more to the story.
After all, with the power Bibi Dong and her forces possessed, it was impossible that they couldn't have stopped a single, heavily injured Tang Hao. It was now clear—Bibi Dong had planned all along to shift the conflict to the Clear Sky Sect.
Letting Tang Hao rampage was merely a pretext to give Spirit Hall a justifiable reason to attack the sect.
"Sister Yuehua…"
Learning that Tang Yuehua had returned to the Clear Sky Sect to join the battle, Dai Weisi felt a pang of anxiety. If anything happened to her, he would be devastated.
"Right now, everyone is arguing over whether to send troops to aid the Clear Sky Sect!"
Dai Po Jun was now faced with three difficult questions. To help, or not to help? If they chose to help, how should they go about it? And if they chose to stand by, how could they protect the interests of the Star Luo Empire?
"Father Emperor!"
As soon as Dai Po Jun laid out the dilemma, Dai Weisi spoke without a moment's hesitation.
"I believe we must send aid to the Clear Sky Sect!"
He paused, then continued with conviction, "On the surface, Spirit Hall is attacking the Clear Sky Sect to avenge their fallen spirit masters. In truth, this is a feint—'Xiang Zhuang performs a sword dance as a cover to assassinate the Duke of Pei.' Bibi Dong's true target is undoubtedly the Star Luo Empire.
"Do not forget, on our way to Spirit City, Bibi Dong sent Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo to ambush us. She is fully aware that the Clear Sky Sect and our empire are in a defensive alliance. Therefore, I believe her true intention is to use the attack on the Clear Sky Sect as a means to strike at us.
"If we fail to send troops, our alliance with the Clear Sky Sect will shatter. When other powers see our inaction, they will never dare to ally with us. We will be isolated on the continent. Even if we avoid Spirit Hall's wrath this time, Bibi Dong's wolfish ambition is as clear as day. How can we sleep peacefully with such a threat at our doorstep? If we do not help them now, we will be all alone when Spirit Hall eventually comes for us."
Dai Po Jun nodded slowly. Though he didn't fully grasp the historical allusion of 'Xiang Zhuang's sword dance,' he understood the logic in his son's words.
"Continue."
"But if we send troops to aid the Clear Sky Sect, the situation becomes entirely different. While it will give Spirit Hall an excuse to move against us, it will also show every power on the continent where we stand.
"The Clear Sky Sect, especially, will be bound to us in an unbreakable alliance. In the future, if we are the ones in trouble, they will surely come to our aid. Moreover, seeing our resolve, other major powers will be more willing to ally with us, like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan or the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. That is why I am certain we must send troops!"
After hearing Dai Weisi's impassioned speech, Dai Po Jun nodded again, his mind made up.
"Very well. I have decided! We will march on Spirit Hall and aid the Clear Sky Sect! From this moment on, I want to hear no more talk of suing for peace. General Lie Tianhu!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"You were also a proponent of aiding the Clear Sky Sect. Tell me, how do you propose we do it?"
Lie Tianhu unfurled a map showing the border between the Star Luo Empire and Spirit City. "Your Majesty, with Spirit Hall's forces attacking the Clear Sky Sect, Spirit City's own defenses must be thin. I propose we lead our main army in a direct assault on Spirit City!
"When their forces on the front line hear that their capital is under attack, they will be forced to withdraw to defend it. In doing so, the crisis facing the Clear Sky Sect will resolve itself!"
Dai Po Jun nodded in approval. It was the classic strategy of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao.' Sending troops directly to the Clear Sky Sect was a long journey that would waste precious time.
Just then, Dai Weisi interjected, "Uncle Tianhu is truly a master of strategy. However, I would like to propose a small modification."
"Oh?" Lie Tianhu raised an eyebrow. "What brilliant insight does the Crown Prince have?"
"I agree that Uncle Tianhu should lead the main army to attack Spirit City. At the same time, we should dispatch a separate force of fifty thousand troops, under my command, to head toward the Heaven Dou Empire.
"Once we arrive, we will split into two prongs. One will feign a march to rescue the Clear Sky Sect, drawing attention. The other will lie in ambush along the path that Spirit Hall's army must take to retreat to Spirit City.
"When the Spirit Hall forces retreat, they will be exhausted and their morale low. That is our moment to strike with the advantage of rest against their fatigue. When they pass our ambush, we will attack suddenly and catch them completely by surprise!
"This strategy is called: Wait at ease for the weary, then encircle and annihilate their reinforcements!"
(End of Chapter)