Whether it was Niu Tian and Titan or the elders of the Clear Sky Sect, none of them paid any attention to Du Busi's self-detonation.
Their objective this time had been to wipe out completely all those who dared to defy the will of the Clear Sky Sect.
Since the Body Sect and the powerhouses of the Heavenly Soul Empire had chosen to court death themselves, there was naturally no reason to let them off. They would never leave behind such ticking time bombs.
Under absolute suppression by overwhelming strength, the Clear Sky Sect quickly eliminated all the targets present. Aside from leaving behind a few necessary ministers to help them clean up the mess left by the Heavenly Soul Empire, everyone else died beneath the Clear Sky Hammer.
Originally, these ministers had wanted to stand firm and refuse cooperation, but the Clear Sky Sect used a combination of carrot and big hammer.
After witnessing how miserably those people died, the ministers no longer dared utter a word of refusal and could only obediently follow the instructions of the Clear Sky Sect elders.
This situation was not unique to the Heavenly Soul Empire. The Star Luo Empire, which had been targeted by Shrek Academy, suffered the same fate.
Those who truly refused to cooperate were all executed, while some more spineless individuals were left behind to assist them in governing Star Luo and Heavenly Soul.
These people had originally been the first to contact the Sun Moon Empire back then, seeking an opportunity to defect—soft-boned cowards to begin with.
Now, under the overwhelming intimidation of Shrek Academy and the Clear Sky Sect, they could only submit and obey, not daring to secretly contact the Sun Moon Empire at all.
Even so, through the accounts spread by those who had successfully escaped the imperial palaces, the entire Douluo Continent learned of the upheavals that had occurred in the Star Luo and Heavenly Soul Empires.
They also came to understand just how enormous the ambitions of Shrek Academy and the Clear Sky Sect truly were.
This academy and that sect, driven to the brink of destruction, had already completely descended into madness.
Within the imperial palace of the Dou Ling Empire, Long Xiaoyao turned his head to look at Ye Xishui on the other side and asked with some confusion,
"Regarding Zhongli Wu's death, don't you have anything you want to say?"
Ye Xishui did not even glance at Long Xiaoyao. In a voice utterly devoid of emotion, she replied calmly,
"What is there to say? Just a fool who brought death upon himself."
"He was actually stupid enough to attempt to kill Huo Yuhao in Mingdu—someone the Sun Moon Empire values so highly. If that isn't courting death, then what is?"
Long Xiaoyao was left somewhat speechless.
Zhongli Wu had indeed brought death upon himself, but no matter what, he was still Ye Xishui's biological son.
Her own son had died, yet Ye Xishui showed not the slightest trace of grief?
Long Xiaoyao even felt that Zhongli Wu's death had instead brought Ye Xishui a faint sense of pleasure.
What kind of situation was this?
Ye Xishui did not explain. She truly felt extremely happy about Zhongli Wu's death.
Because it meant she had completely cast off the pain of the past. There was no longer a biological son named Zhongli Wu to constantly remind her of what the previous Holy Spirit Cult Leader had done to this so-called Saintess!
Moreover, Zhongli Wu's lineage had never once gained Ye Xishui's favor from beginning to end.
Even if they all died, it would not matter in the slightest.
After all, Ye Xishui still had another bloodline of descendants who had long since been "whitewashed" through Shrek Academy and had become figures of extremely high status within Shrek Academy.
Just as Ye Xishui was pondering whether, with matters having developed to this point, there might be an opportunity to acknowledge her relationship with Yan Shaozhe, Long Xiaoyao spoke again,
"Xishui, what are you planning to do about the Sun Moon Empire? Don't forget, after killing Zhongli Wu and those elders, they had no intention of stopping there."
"Instead, they're using this opportunity to declare war on our Holy Spirit Cult, attempting to completely destroy us!"
Hearing this, Ye Xishui came back to her senses and let out a cold laugh.
"For the past five years, the Holy Spirit Cult has been held in check by Star Luo and Heavenly Soul. Could those people of the Sun Moon Empire really think that our Holy Spirit Cult doesn't dare make a move against them?"
"Since they've taken the initiative to declare war, there's nothing more to say. Let's fight!"
"And most importantly, this time it's not just our Holy Spirit Cult facing the Sun Moon Empire alone."
"Shrek Academy and the Clear Sky Sect, who have just seized Star Luo and Heavenly Soul, are both standing on our side this time!"
Ye Xishui appeared supremely domineering, showing no worry at all about the war that was about to erupt with the Sun Moon Empire.
It could only be said that the actions of Shrek Academy and the Clear Sky Sect had given Ye Xishui tremendous confidence.
What Ye Xishui was thinking about now wasn't merely blocking the Sun Moon Empire's offensive.
What she wanted was to join forces with Shrek Academy and the Clear Sky Sect and counterattack the Sun Moon Empire's homeland together!
To let the entire continent know that provoking their Holy Spirit Cult was nothing more than a delusional fantasy for the Sun Moon Empire!
Seeing her demeanor, Long Xiaoyao couldn't help but smack his lips and say,
"Mu En's actions this time really exceeded my expectations."
"Back then, he always kept Shrek Academy's traditions on his lips and never allowed anyone to break its rules. Yet this time, he personally led Shrek's people to seize the Star Luo Empire."
"It seems Mu En has truly been forced into a desperate corner."
Unlike Ye Xishui, when it came to the impending war with the Sun Moon Empire, Long Xiaoyao was not optimistic at all. Instead, he was filled with concern.
According to the intelligence obtained by the Holy Spirit Cult, the changes that had taken place within the Sun Moon Empire over the past five years were simply enormous.
That rumored battle armor was something they had never even heard of before.
Just on the surface alone, there were Kong Deming, Jing Hongchen, and Ye Yulin—three individuals possessing Super Douluo–level strength. With the addition of soul tools and battle armor, they were already capable of contending with Limit Douluo.
No one could guarantee just how far the Sun Moon Empire's war preparations had progressed.
Besides these three, was it possible that there were others who possessed four-character battle armor?
If they were too careless, something truly disastrous could happen.
Thinking of this, Long Xiaoyao cleared his throat twice and hurriedly reminded Ye Xishui,
"Don't be overly confident, Xishui. We still don't know whether the Sun Moon Empire has other trump cards. Even the strength they openly possess is not something that can be dealt with easily."
"Moreover, even if we can ally with Shrek Academy and the Clear Sky Sect this time, there will never be much trust between us and them!"
"Even if we ultimately defeat the Sun Moon Empire, I can guarantee that Shrek Academy and the Clear Sky Sect will immediately join forces to wipe out our Holy Spirit Cult!"
"No matter what, the Holy Spirit Cult is a force composed of evil soul masters. Any individual who seeks to unify the continent will absolutely not allow an unstable factor like us to continue existing!"
It had to be said that anyone capable of becoming a top-tier powerhouse rarely had a dull mind.
Unfortunately, as a simp, no matter how credible Long Xiaoyao's words were, they would never be taken to heart by Ye Xishui, that so-called goddess.
(End of Chapter)