Halfway through.
So far, it can be said that it is progressing very smoothly.
Fortunately, it is not currently a time of war. Although the princes of the Sun Moon Royal Family are ambitious and constantly provoke on the border, there is still an emperor above them. As the high-end combat force of the Empire, apart from the commanders of the three Beast King Soul Guidance Legions—Fire Phoenix, Evil Lord, and Terrorclaw— who are required to be stationed with their legions at various borders of the Empire, the other Ninth - Level Soul Engineers generally do not stray far from Mingdu.
Otherwise, An Zhen would have to go out and search again. As long as Mingdu is captured, a mere three or four Ninth-Level Soul Engineers outside won't significantly impact the overall situation. Given the hostility between the three kingdoms of the Original Douluo Continent, and considering their families and ties within Mingdu, their only option is to obediently return and pledge loyalty to the new emperor. However, if their numbers increase, they will possess the ability to challenge Mingdu, and the Empire could easily descend into chaos. In the worst-case scenario, a war potentially engulfing the entire Douluo Continent could break out.
Xu Tianyuan strikes again.
A magnificent backstab was launched against the Sun Moon Emperor.
"Your Highness." Xu Tianming, a Ninth-Level Soul Engineer who had half-understood the situation, entered the main hall. Behind him, his spirit power carried several large boxes, and several Eight-Ring Soul Instructors who had signed master-servant contracts also carried several large boxes. "These are the Imperial Dragon Soul Guided Weapon Legions' stored supplies, as well as the level eight and above fixed-position soul-guided cannon shells that we personally possess."
The boxes were neatly arranged on one side of the main hall; there were no fewer than a hundred of them at a glance.
Confiscated fixed-mount guided missile shells.
This was an order given by An Zhen.
Fixed-position soul-guided cannon shells are undoubtedly powerful weapons of war, but if they explode on one's own territory, it's a different story. A level 8 fixed-position soul-guided cannon shell is equivalent to a Super Douluo unleashing the full power of its strongest Spirit Ability, and its range is generally larger than that of a Spirit Master. Although powerful beings don't just stand there waiting to be bombed, it is a terrifyingly devastating attack on various buildings and low- to mid-level Spirit Masters.
"Um."
Fourth, Spirit Ability, erosion.
Virtual World devoured this entire space in one gulp.
Eighteen level-nine fixed-position soul-guided artillery shells and eighty-five level-eight fixed-position soul-guided artillery shells.
There are quite a lot.
Xu Tianming's face was full of pain.
Possessing immense wealth and power, they frequently purchase various rare metals, accumulating a terrifying amount of resources. Each generation of Imperial Dragon Soul Guided Weapon Legion's Soul Guide secretly manufactures fixed-position soul-guided cannonballs in their spare time. With proper maintenance and reduction of essential usage, this is the accumulation of their recent generations.
"Don't worry about these things. Just work hard with me, and I can bring you far more than this," said An Zhen, lounging lazily on the head seat. He wasn't just making empty promises. If he followed his plan, the Sun Moon Empire would become stronger than ever before, and as high-ranking members of the Empire, they, as Ninth-Level Soul Engineers, would naturally benefit as well.
Aside from acquiring the power of faith, An Zhen still highly values the potential of the Sun Moon Empire. Of the Original Douluo Three Kingdoms, setting aside the unstable variable Shrek Academy, none of the three are up to par in terms of fundamental aspects.
The Star Luo Empire is in the best position. Under the leadership of Xu Jiawei, who can be described as a wise ruler, the entire Empire is actively developing spirit tools and introducing advanced technologies from the Sun Moon Empire. However, it started late and is also hampered by various domestic forces. After all, following the changes of that year, the Star Luo Empire is essentially a company with the Star Crown Sect as its core and multiple Sects operating together. Although the royal family is powerful, the underlying issues still remain.
The Tianhun Empire is ideologically feudal and resistant to spirit tools; any Soul Guide with any talent will leave from there. As for the Douling Empire, well, this one is the weakest, needless to say. Although it doesn't reject spirit tools, the royal family is problematic. Having granted out vast territories, those noble lords are restless. In the original story, when the Sun Moon Empire attacked, there were quite a few traitors; it was practically a quagmire.
"Yes." With their lives and bodies in the other party's hands, even if the other party was making empty promises, Xu Tianming and his brothers had no choice but to obey.
"Go down." An Zhen could sense the resentment and frustration in their hearts.
A little negative emotion is nothing to worry about. After all, they've gone through such a change. They're human, not machines. How could they not have any negative thoughts? Time will tell how wise it was for them to choose to obey today.
An Zhen slowly closed his eyes.
I've been doing quite a lot lately.
In the unknown void, strands of extremely pure Life Qi flowed into reality, lingering around An Zhen and being absorbed by his ever-seeking physical body.
Time passed second by second.
As the first rays of dawn rose, illuminating the quiet Soul Guidance Corps encampment, a series of hurried footsteps reached An Zhen's ears.
"His Highness is resting." Outside the main hall, Xu Guozhong, acting as both a guard and a lackey, stopped Xu Tianyuan.
"Enter."
A clear, crisp sound came from inside the hall.
An Zhen opened his eyes.
Things had reached a critical juncture, and he didn't want any unexpected events. He hadn't returned to Mingde Hall during this time, nor had he even had the chance to be intimate with Bing'er in the Virtual World.
With powerful mental force and physical body, plus the nourishment of the life force, he can maintain peak condition even after a month of hard work.
"Your Highness." Xu Tianyuan strode forward and reported the results of his trip. "With rare metals as payment, I invited Bu Po Douluo... " Zheng Zhan came to help at the Imperial Dragon Soul Guided Weapon Legion's base. As for the other retainers, only Shen and Su were at home; the others were not known.
Ninth-Level Soul Engineers are also human beings, and they have their own homes within Mingdu.
Although they are enshrined in the Hall of Enshrinement, they don't stay there all the time. They stay at home when they are off work, and when they are working, they may be assigned to various positions as needed by the Empire, or conduct research on spirit tools or similar things. In short, they go wherever they are needed, after all, the Empire doesn't support these enshrined beings for nothing.
"Well done, thank you for your hard work," An Zhen praised.
"This is my duty as a subordinate."
Hall of Enshrinement.
Including Kong Deming, there are a total of nine Ninth-Level Soul Engineers. They can be considered half of the Sun Moon Empire, the anchor of the Sea God.
" Douluo is not broken" " Zheng Zhan." An Zhen read the name aloud.
One of the few Ninth-Level Soul Engineers in the original work to have his own name. He knew a little about this person, but not from the original work, but from his grandfather, Mirror Hongchen. Many years ago, his grandfather had a major conflict with this person. Although it was eventually resolved, the relationship between the two was very strained as a result.
An hour and a half later.
Looking at the old man in blue kneeling before him, An Zhen, who had just signed another master-servant contract, sat back down in the head seat.
"Tell me, besides Su and Shen, where are the Hall of Enshrinement worshippers now?" An Zhen commanded the master-servant contract.
Give it a try.
An Zhen wasn't sure if Zheng Zhan knew. If those retainers had been sent out by the emperor on missions, they would have to go out and search again. If they really couldn't find them, they would go to the commanders of the three Beast King Soul Guidance Corps, as those three corps had clearly defined locations.
"In the Hall of Enshrinement, we are conducting the twelfth research project on the core magic array of the tenth-level spirit tool, under the guidance of Master Kong." Zheng Zhan, driven by the master-slave contract, spoke. Only after the command ended did he realize that his body was being controlled by the other party, and that the information fed back from the so-called master-slave contract was actually true?!
"Oh?" An Zhen remained silent.
Good news is all in Mingdu.
Bad news: Six Ninth-Level Soul Engineers have gotten together.
Xu Guozhong and Xu Tianyuan looked at An Zhen. Previously, His Highness had been targeting a Ninth-Level Soul Engineer alone; what would His Highness do now?
"Killing them is not difficult."
An Zhen's voice slowly rang out.
The next moment, a massive mental force, filled with an aura of death, surged forth, making one feel as if they were in the gap between life and death, with one foot halfway into the legendary land of death.
"Your Highness." Facing once again the terrifying being that had previously eroded his spiritual sea, Xu Tianyuan felt as if his throat was being choked, as if he had been reduced from a Titled Douluo to an ordinary person, about to suffocate. "I have a good personal relationship with one of them. Perhaps I can bring him out and persuade him to abandon the darkness and embrace the light."
"Yeah?"
An Zhen blinked, and the next second, the massive mental force vanished as if nothing had happened.
Zheng Zhan's eyes were filled with surprise. What kind of monster had Empire provoked?
"In that case..."
An Zhen stood up, stretched, a strand of black hair falling loose in front of him, a solemn look flashing in his eyes, and gave orders to the master-servant contract, " Xu Tianyuan, go and bring that retainer out. Zheng Zhan, take me to visit Retainers Shen and Su."
An Zhen gave Zheng Zhan an order, asking if he could bring out one of the retainers.
"No." Driven by the master-servant contract, Zheng Zhan said, "Being able to conduct research and development on a level 10 spirit tool with Master Kong, even as a Ninth-Level Soul Engineer, is always very rewarding. Unless we have a very close personal relationship and something extremely important happens, I generally won't leave. If it weren't for the limited number of spots, I wouldn't be resting at home."
"Then let's set off," An Zhen said.
Who could have predicted such a turn of events?
Do we have to wait a while longer? Until Kong Deming finishes this research conference?
No.
It has Electrolux teacher and Di Tian.
Ten Ninth-Level Soul Engineers.
Twelve against six.
Even if things don't go smoothly at Xu Tianyuan's place, we can still take down the two retainers who are resting at home.
Fourteen against six.
The advantage lies with me!
At dawn, three figures separated from the Imperial Dragon Soul Guided Weapon Legion and headed in different directions. The civil and military officials of the Sun Moon Empire had already arrived at the imperial palace, awaiting the aging emperor's entry at the auspicious hour to take his seat on the throne representing the supreme authority of the Sun Moon Empire. A handsome young man with long, deep purple hair, a gentle smile on his face, entered the palace in a wheelchair with the assistance of his attendants.