Star Luo Empire.
Imperial Palace.
Upon the towering, awe-inspiring city wall, Xu Jiawei—clad in lavish imperial robes—stood, his expression solemn as he gazed down at the military review taking place below.
Phalanxes of different branches marched past one after another, displaying the latest types of soul tool weaponry. This parade was, in a way, a pre-battle show of force—to both boost the morale of their own troops and send a message to the continent at large. After all, these soul engineers in heavy armor, having passed imperial inspection, would shortly be headed for the frontlines.
In terms of soul engineer standards, the Star Luo Empire could rightfully boast a place among the very best on the continent.
As such, this military review had drawn numerous minor principalities' leaders as spectators. Even the Dou Ling Empire and Heavenly Soul Empire had sent representatives to show their support.
"Your Majesty! The latest report—Duke White Tiger personally led our forces to conquer three key Sun Mu En Empire soul engineer strongholds! We've torn a massive gap into the west side of the Ming Dou Mountain Range and are now in hot pursuit. The enemy is in full retreat—we've scored a decisive victory!"
A messenger flew in from the sky, landing with a thump, presenting a military dispatch and announcing loudly.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Felicitations, Your Majesty!"
Amid the Star Luo officials and small country monarchs offering their congratulations, Xu Jiawei wore a gentle smile. "Thank you all, let us rejoice together."
"The mighty army led by Duke White Tiger, supported by his excellent sons… surely, they will hold the fortress for Your Majesty!"
"Has Shrek Academy still not arrived?" Xu Jiawei's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing by.
Yet his face maintained a gentle smile.
"Well... reporting to Your Majesty, no, they have not." All the sect elders, noble representatives, and minor rulers nearby fell silent, not daring to answer; only the Imperial Prime Minister responded to prevent His Majesty's words from hanging in the air.
To be honest, no one dared answer that question.
Shrek Academy has always been a truly transcendent force on the continent, above all other powers, drawing talents from every nation and endlessly strengthening itself.
Any wise or ambitious ruler resents seeing their most promising young talents continually absorbed by Shrek, even if nothing overt has been done—many are simply biding their time.
Grievances have always simmered beneath the surface.
In the past, they could endure.
Today, though…
From start to finish, Shrek Academy had never supported the front lines—even refusing to put on even a token display, humiliating Star Luo's emperor in front of all.
His patience had reached its limits.
"No envoys sent to inform them?" Xu Jiawei asked absentmindedly, caressing the hand of the noblewoman beside him.
"…We did send them," the Prime Minister replied awkwardly—he understood what His Majesty intended, namely to express discontent with Shrek, but Shrek Academy was simply not a power they could afford to offend.
"Then why have they not arrived?" Xu Jiawei's voice was calm, but the foreign guests were as silent as cicadas in winter, ducking their heads, sipping tea, or feigning ignorance in a failed attempt to change the subject.
Some, cold sweat trickling down their backs, wished fervently for an excuse to leave.
"Gulp~"
The Prime Minister's throat bobbed—he dared not say more.
"Not long ago, they nearly incited a continental war, yet Shrek Academy only sent a single person to block Sun Mu En's Evil Sovereign Soul Engineer Regiment headed to Shrek City, leaving us to shoulder all the chaos?!" Xu Jiawei's voice grew cold.
"What exactly do they want?!"
"..."
The atmosphere was oppressively tense.
"All my Star Luo men dying by the thousands, filling the gaps at the front with their corpses, but Shrek Academy cleans only its own doorstep!"
"Your Majesty, please…" The Prime Minister nervously clutched Xu Jiawei's robes, his voice trembling.
Xu Jiawei sighed helplessly.
"Forget it, I'm being petty. Everyone, just leave it at that, there's no need to take it to heart."
...
The mood gradually eased.
Xu Jiawei's gaze subtly studied the others' reactions.
It was a risk—risking enmity with Shrek—but after so many years, he could not continue waiting.
Ever since the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan spread soul tools millennia ago, the original continent had entered the soul tool era. The only pity was that Heaven Dou Empire, the birthplace, did not benefit due to internal strife and division.
Thus, Star Luo became the greatest beneficiary.
Their soul engineering level surged.
Now, save for the superweapons that were linked soul tool formations, they were almost on par with the Sun Mu En Empire.
The hints from today's military review—even the representatives from Heavenly Soul and Dou Ling Empires looked on with envy.
That was why Xu Jiawei dared speak these words.
Saying so carried risk and reward. Offending Shrek might also draw those dissatisfied with its dominance into Star Luo's camp…
Indeed. Xu Jiawei, for his part, was fed up with Shrek's tyranny and wanted to be the real boss!
Send a signal, win over other powers, and after defeating the Sun Mu En Empire, challenge Shrek for supremacy!
And as he expected, many were already cozying up to him, pledging loyalty…
"Shrek Academy is the continent's academy, eternally neutral, never siding with any power… tsk."
Xu Jiawei glanced at Shrek's response letter, feeling it hypocritical. At the last tournament, the up-and-coming Su Wen had certainly displayed extraordinary strength, but in Xu Jiawei's view, he was still not as useful as a level-10 fixed soul tool shell.
If they pressed Shrek, Star Luo's superweapons—researched for years—could always be unleashed.
"Report!!"
Another figure flew in from the skies.
A Heavenly Soul envoy chuckled, "It seems Duke White Tiger's command is excellent, and Star Luo's soul engineers are strong. Success after success—perhaps soon there'll be news of the breakthrough at Ming Dou Line and a direct assault on Ming Du!"
"Hahahahaha…"
Other foreign guests mulled things over.
Such prowess proved the Star Luo Empire's strength; should they risk offending Shrek to cozy up to Star Luo?
A timely helping hand is more precious than additional honors when things are going well.
But the next instant—
The Star Luo messenger fell to his knees, eyes bloodshot. "Your Majesty, disaster! The Duke fell for an enemy ruse—the Sun Mu En troops feigned defeat, lured us in, and then their two remaining beast soul engineer regiments plus half the Royal regiment struck! We are locked in a bitter struggle!"
"What?!"
The scene instantly fell silent.
Xu Jiawei frowned and shouted, "Even if it's tough, we have the upper hand! Not to mention Duke White Tiger's hundred thousand elites and various reinforcements—how can just two beast soul engineer regiments spell disaster?!"
To them, Sun Mu En's "beast soul engineer regiments" were just impressive names—bluster, nothing more.
Why, didn't Su Wen from Shrek defeat one single-handedly?
Hah, Star Luo could take on ten of these!
"It's not like that…" The messenger's face twisted. "Your Majesty, their beast regiments are far better equipped than us, not to mention their linked defense arrays. Our top experts can't even break through; we're just being passively beaten down!"
Xu Jiawei wore a look of disbelief, rubbing his chin.
Could those beast regiments really be so strong?
Then why were they routed by a mere kid? Wiped out, even?
"Your Majesty, quickly send reinforcements—the Duke is barely holding on!" The messenger pleaded.
...
Xu Jiawei took a deep breath, coldly glancing around to see all the foreign guests' shifting expressions—a jumble of emotions in his heart.
To be the boss, you have to be the strongest.
Otherwise, if Star Luo's frontlines truly collapsed today, these people wouldn't just desert him—they'd probably trample him for good measure.
Especially since he had implicitly challenged Shrek.
"Dispatch a rescue force at once—!" Xu Jiawei began to bark orders, but was interrupted by another blazing-fast messenger.
"Report—three divisions (thirty thousand elite) followed the Duke into the enemy heartlands, but were surrounded and cut off. Over half have been routed, each fighting on their own, being swamped and either wiped out or captured by Sun Mu En's forces. The Duke himself has tried to break out several times, but is gravely wounded and in mortal danger!"
The room went utterly silent.
Countless foreign guests gaped in shock at Xu Jiawei, who felt icy chills crawling up his back, knees weakening.
Duke White Tiger's hundred-thousand-strong army represented half of Star Luo's strength.
Thousands of elite soul engineers equipped with the latest soul tools…
If they were wiped out, the blow to Star Luo would be fatal.
Why was the Sun Mu En Empire so strong?
Just recently, it was a balanced match—but now they seemed to have transformed overnight.
"Reinforce! Reinforce! All-out reinforcements!" Xu Jiawei's face turned red as he roared.
Quickly, another messenger shot in like a falling star.
Blood stained his body, and one sleeve was empty. Choking back tears, he reported, "Your Majesty—the entire Ming Dou Mountain Range front has collapsed! Our army is scattered, pursued and surrounded by the Sun Mu En Empire! Duke White Tiger—he, he…"
"What about him?!" Xu Jiawei demanded.
"He's missing…"
...
"Your Majesty!" Several ministers rushed forward to steady the emperor, watching his complexion change and body stagger.
The other foreign guests were filled with terror and shock.
Snuggling up to a big brother?
Thank goodness we didn't offend Shrek!
In a crisis, you need true strength on your side…
It appeared Sun Mu En had hidden its power too well—crippling even the mighty Star Luo Empire.
As for Xu Jiawei's earlier posturing to Shrek, he'd really shot himself in the foot.
Far too arrogant…
"Your Majesty, we must take our leave now."
"My hunting dog has given birth."
"Our ruler just sent an urgent message from home…"
One awkward excuse after another.
Farewell after farewell resounded.
With the Ming Dou Line breached, nothing could stop the Sun Mu En Empire now—the gateway was open.
So, whose thigh should they cling to now?
The answer was obvious.
"Brother…"
Xu Jiujui stood in the crowd, dressed in palace finery, her bright violet eyes fixed sadly on her brother, who seemed to have aged decades in an instant.
"Jiujui… it appears I was wrong," murmured Xu Jiawei, eyes unfocused.
Jiujui had counseled him before, but he had refused to listen.
"Looks like Su Wen's strength is truly unfathomable. From what bystanders say, he smashed that 'frail' linked defense shield with a single punch," Xu Jiawei said, self-mockingly.
Now, the very "frail" defensive shield that Su Wen had smashed had destroyed his army—and turned Star Luo into a laughingstock.
"He was the one who, a few years ago, led the Shrek Reserve Team to crush all rivals at the continental tournament," Jiujui said, her look complex.
"With strength like that, and a seat on the Sea God's Pavilion at such a young age…"
A memory replayed in the young woman's mind.
Surrounded by ferocious evil flood dragons, under immense pressure, he still stood proud and unyielding, crushing all resistance and claiming victory. That dazzling silhouette…
But now, the gap between them was immeasurable.
"We… should seek help from Shrek Academy," Xu Jiawei said with resignation.
He understood what that meant.
But at this point, pride was nothing compared to survival.