The massive explosion swept across Yuming Pass below. Most of the buildings within the pass collapsed under the blast, crushing many of the Star Luo Empire's soldiers to death.
Jiang Qingtong raised her hand and waved lightly, dispersing the smoke and dust. She then hurled her Ice-Fire Dragon Spear toward the direction in which Dai Hao had fled.
The Ice-Fire Dragon Spear turned into a streak of flowing light, instantly piercing across space and catching up to Dai Hao! Just as the spear was about to run straight through his body, a blue radiance descended from the sky, altering its trajectory. It only pierced through his right shoulder.
Sensing the interference of Sea God's power, Jiang Qingtong frowned slightly and immediately recalled the Ice-Fire Dragon Spear.
"So you do have some skill…"
Gripping the spear, Jiang Qingtong looked up at the sky. Above, the sunlight was gradually cooling.
The aura of an Ultimate Douluo around her faded rapidly, falling back down to the level of an eight-ring Soul Douluo. Behind her, Tianyin Douluo, Elder Hong, and the others flew forward.
"Your Majesty the Empress," they reported, "we have completely taken Yuming Pass. The remaining resistance is being wiped out."
Hearing this, Jiang Qingtong lowered her gaze to the shattered ruins of the pass.
After a long moment, she spoke:
"Tell them this: those who lay down their weapons will not be harmed. The Sun Moon Empire treats its prisoners well. We guarantee that in the future, they will be allowed to return to their homelands and reunite with their families."
Upon hearing her words, Liao Mengkai frowned. In the past, whenever the Sun Moon Empire clashed with the three nations of the original Douluo Continent, both sides fought with no mercy. The hatred ran deep.
Yet Jiang Qingtong was ordering them to treat enemy captives kindly—and even promising to send them home one day?
Was that reasonable?
Though puzzled, Liao Mengkai did not disobey. He quickly carried out the command.
When the Sun Moon troops shouted this message across the battlefield, a portion of the Star Luo and Heavenly Soul Empire soldiers indeed laid down their weapons and surrendered. But a greater number still resisted desperately.
For those who resisted, Jiang Qingtong's method was simple.
A crimson flame of Ultimate Fire ignited and swept through the entire Yuming Pass. Any who continued fighting were touched by the flame—and not even their bones remained, reduced instantly to ash.
In moments, the pass was filled with swirling dust.
Dust made from the ashes of countless dead.
After the Sun Moon Empire fully secured Yuming Pass, the dark clouds above gradually spread over the skies of the pass as well.
"How strange," Elder Hong remarked with a laugh, staring up at the churning clouds. "Wherever our empire extends its borders, the sky there turns black. Is it always like this?"
Jiang Qingtong nodded. "After all, that so-called god is notoriously petty. All he can do is use these tricks to smear the Sun Moon Empire. Time will reveal the truth—that our empire is the one leading the future."
After saying this, she issued several additional orders, including using Yuming Pass as a new forward base to seize nearby Star Luo cities, and strictly enforcing her prisoner-of-war policy. She also repeatedly warned Liao Mengkai not to be reckless, to pull back when necessary.
Liao Mengkai didn't fully understand, but he would never defy her commands.
After finalizing their next tasks, Jiang Qingtong departed Yuming Pass with Elder Hong, returning to Mingdu.
Star Luo City – Imperial Palace
Emperor Xu Jiawei was in the middle of a meeting with his ministers, discussing ways to cut imperial spending to maintain their massive army and soul tool production lines, when Dai Hao burst in—covered entirely in blood—startling everyone present.
After the initial shock and panic, Xu Jiawei recognized him and cried out:
"Medicine Immortal! Quickly—save the White Tiger Duke!"
The Medicine Immortal Douluo, Wang Qiu'er, who had received the Sea God's blessing and become an Ultimate Douluo on behalf of the Star Luo Empire, released her soul power at once. A healing aura enveloped Dai Hao, and his wounds closed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Before long, his complexion returned to normal. He exhaled and thanked her:
"Many thanks, Wang Qui're."
"No need," Wang Qiu'er replied.
Xu Jiawei hurriedly asked, "White Tiger Duke, weren't you guarding Yuming Pass? How did you end up returning in this state? Has something happened there?"
Dai Hao looked at the emperor, nodded grimly, and dropped to his knees.
"Your Majesty, forgive me! Yuming Pass… has fallen!"
He then told Xu Jiawei and the assembled ministers everything that had happened.
Learning that Jiang Qingtong had killed the Ultimate Douluo-level Xue Yu—along with so many Title Douluo—the faces of everyone in the hall turned deathly pale.
Xu Jiawei muttered, "An Ultimate Douluo… how is that possible? Isn't the Sun Moon Empire's empress supposedly not even twenty years old? Didn't they say she was harmless without a martial soul fusion skill? How could she already be an Ultimate Douluo?"
Dai Hao shook his head. "This minister does not know…"
Xu Jiawei grew increasingly panicked. He quickly issued orders:
"White Tiger Duke! I will immediately allocate troops to you. You must hold the Sun Moon forces at the border! They cannot be allowed to advance! Prime Minister—hurry and summon Shrek Academy for support!"
Dai Hao and the prime minister both nodded and rushed out.
Shrek Academy's representative soon arrived at the palace. Upon hearing that Yuming Pass had fallen and the Sun Moon Empire was already seizing cities along the border, he scolded:
"The Star Luo Empire is far too irresponsible! How could you lose such an important stronghold?"
Xu Jiawei frowned in displeasure, irritated by the reprimand, but this was no time to argue. Forcing down his anger, he said:
"Please, sir—notify Elder Xuan and the others immediately. We need their help to reclaim our lost territory…"
"I will notify the Academy at once," the representative replied, then departed for Shrek Academy.
He had barely left Star Luo City when he encountered Xuan Zi and Da Ming flying toward the capital. When Xue Yu died, the Sea God's blessing returned to Da Ming, and he instantly realized that something had happened at Yuming Pass.
Without waiting for Star Luo's message, they had rushed over on their own.
When Xu Jiawei learned that Elder Xuan had already arrived, he abandoned all imperial decorum and jogged to the palace gates to greet them personally.
"Elder Xuan! Heavenly Azure Douluo! You two have finally come! Please save the Star Luo Empire! With Yuming Pass lost, who knows how many cities the Sun Moon invaders will conquer next!"
Xu Jiawei bowed deeply before the two, pleading anxiously.
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