The mountain of gold soul coins taken from the Northern Second Soul Engineer Regiment's commander was just the beginning. As Huo Yuhao rummaged through the rest of the spoils—especially from the nine remaining level-seven soul engineers—he found more wealth than he had anticipated. High-level soul tools of every kind, piles of rare metals, and even two or three fragments of Silver Dragon Scales—these were not ordinary trophies. It was a treasure trove of imperial military resources.
When he tallied everything, the combined value of the seized gold soul coins alone nearly reached one hundred million. That figure alone was enough to offset the strategic costs of the entire lightning assault campaign. As they said, war burned money—but it could also make money.
Once the inventory was complete, Huo Yuhao didn't hesitate. He modified the leftover soul tool storage rings and wristbands on the spot, adapting them for sealed milk bottle charging, and handed them out to the members of the sniper team as personalized commendations.
The moment those gleaming storage devices were distributed, cheers rang out across the sniper squad. Their rewards weren't just about wealth—it was the recognition from their commander, a symbol of honor they would wear with pride.
Just as the cheers faded, a member of the logistics team hurried over with the final battlefield recovery report. Most of the larger soul tool installations had been severely damaged during the bombardment and were unsalvageable. But the bodies—those were rich in spoils. High-grade soul tool components, leftover ammunition, utility devices—loot that would bolster the New First Army's future operations.
Satisfied with the results, Huo Yuhao quickly convened a short commendation assembly. In front of the entire army, he praised the assault squad, sniper team, fire support unit, and the logistics detail for their precise, disciplined performance. He handed out a few extra rewards and, with a wave of his hand, opened the Gate of the Necropolis.
The New First Army vanished as swiftly as it had arrived.
Meanwhile, news of their stunning victory exploded across the empire.
Within a day, all of Mingdu was abuzz. Under the influence of a full-scale propaganda campaign, the entire nation learned how the Northern Duke—one of the Third Prince's most powerful backers—had lost both of his elite soul engineer regiments in a single night.
The shockwaves were immense. Citizens and nobles alike were stunned. Xu Tiannan had struck back with astonishing speed and brutal precision, just days after the uprising had begun.
The underlying message was clear: if even the mighty Northern Duke could be crushed so easily, then what hope did the rest of the rebel nobles have?
Among those with access to insider information, speculation surged. How powerful was the force behind Xu Tiannan? The Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Regiment may have been involved, but they alone could not have carried out both assaults. Which meant Xu Tiannan likely possessed a second secret military unit—one as powerful as a Guardian Hand.
Was this his hidden card?
That idea alone made many nobles break into cold sweat. Facing such overwhelming force, the wisdom of joining the rebellion now seemed… questionable. And so, just as fear took root, Xu Tiannan struck again.
He issued a nationwide proclamation:
"To all who have raised arms in rebellion—submit now, pledge your loyalty to the unified future of the Sun Moon Empire, and all transgressions will be forgiven. Resist, and face total eradication."
Everyone understood what "pledge your loyalty" meant. It meant paying—money, land, soldiers. But between gold and their heads, most nobles chose survival.
Like dominoes, provinces fell back in line. Noble houses who had once declared for the Third Prince now rushed to rejoin Xu Tiannan's camp. The tides of rebellion receded almost overnight.
The Third Prince's power, once seemingly unstoppable, had been crippled. His grand coalition reduced to only a handful of loyalists—those who had joined him before the education reforms even began. Huo Yuhao's blitzkrieg hadn't just crushed two regiments—it had crushed the rebellion's momentum.
Back in Wangyue City, the Third Prince was livid. He raged day and night, cursing the weakness and cowardice of his supposed allies.
How could they abandon him so quickly?
Now, more than ever, he regretted not revealing his ace up the sleeve—his secret alliance with the Three Great Nations of the Douluo Continent. If only he had told the nobles of the reinforcements coming from the outside world, perhaps they would have held fast. But treason was treason. Had word of that leaked, the Guardian Hands and the Royal Soul Engineer Regiment would've executed him without hesitation.
So he had remained silent. And now, he was reaping what he sowed.
Still, the Third Prince told himself it was only a setback. He'd always expected things to get worse before they got better. And with foreign aid already en route, he still believed he could turn the tide.
Meanwhile, Xu Tiannan's goals had become clearer than ever. It was now obvious to the world—he didn't just want to win the civil war. He wanted to unify the entire continent under the banner of the Sun Moon Empire.
The Three Great Nations wouldn't take that lying down. Their intervention was not only likely, but inevitable.
Of course, regardless of how the Third Prince tried to reassure himself, the truth was clear to everyone else—the civil war, which had once promised to reshape the empire, had become little more than a farce.
The Third Prince's grand uprising had lost its spark. It wasn't over yet, but the sense of urgency and danger had dwindled. Xu Tiannan's preemptive strike had turned the tide.
Especially for the Northern Duke.
The destruction of both soul engineer regiments had hit him like a hammer. He could barely breathe from the fury and grief. He had lost everything. Rationality might have told him to surrender, to preserve what remained. But there was no going back now. His hatred for Xu Tiannan burned like wildfire.
So he rallied the remnants of his power. He relocated the Northern Third Soul Engineer Regiment to a hidden stronghold and began regrouping, preparing for whatever orders the Third Prince would issue next.
The war had become a comedy—but the killing wasn't over. The smell of gunpowder lingered, thick in the air. And soon, everyone knew, the next move would be the Third Prince's.
This time, he wouldn't sit back. This time, he would strike first.
Xu Tiannan, for his part, welcomed the challenge. He was curious—what other tricks did this paper tiger of a prince have left?
As for Huo Yuhao, he decided the New First Army could rest. Their part in this war, at least for now, was done. The next battles would be direct, head-on clashes—not the type of warfare his force was best suited for.
And he had no intention of throwing his people into needless bloodshed.
(End of Chapter)
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