The Sun Moon Empire's army halted outside Shrek City. Juzi stood atop a soul guidance war chariot, gazing in the direction of Shrek City.
Within the city, a massive golden tree towered so high that even the city walls could not block it; from afar, its branches and leaves seemed to connect heaven and earth.
"Shrek City," Juzi softly repeated the name.
"Marshal, please allow the State Preceptor to rest for a moment. I volunteer to lead the vanguard and test them first," Xu Tianyuan, legion commander of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion, stepped forward. His eyes burned with fanaticism as he looked toward Lin Xiao.
Ever since Lin Xiao had repelled the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion in the Evil Soul Forest back then, his figure had remained etched in Xu Tianyuan's mind, impossible to erase.
At first, it was merely the fear of Lin Xiao. But as Lin Xiao became the Sun Moon Empire's State Preceptor and no longer concealed his identity, that fear subtly began to change.
Especially in recent days, under Lin Xiao's leadership, the Sun Moon Empire's forces had advanced like a hot knife through butter, nearly taking complete control of the Heavenly Soul Empire's territories.
"No rush," Juzi raised her hand, stopping the eager Xu Tianyuan. She glanced sideways at Lin Xiao beside her.
However, while the Sun Moon Empire side was in no hurry to attack, those on Shrek City's walls felt a growing torment.
For some reason, the Sun Moon Empire's army had stopped advancing, halting precisely at the edge of their attack range.
It was not a distance beyond the reach of soul cannons, but rather one where the power of the soul cannons would be greatly reduced, easily intercepted by the enemy.
On the city walls, Fan Yu walked past a group of soul engineers, watching them operate the soul cannons aimed toward the Sun Moon Empire's direction, watching that vast black mass of troops. A sense of helplessness rose in his heart.
Having lived in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Guidance Academy for more than two years, he had learned a great deal from it.
But precisely because of that, he understood even more clearly the gap between Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Empire.
He was certain that the distance chosen by the Sun Moon Empire army was absolutely not "just right" or a "coincidence"; someone had clearly seen through the precise data of the soul cannons atop Shrek City's walls at a glance.
Even though Huo Yuhao, during his more than two years as an exchange student, had obtained quite a few soul guidance device blueprints, allowing Shrek Academy to imitate and produce a batch of soul guidance devices and greatly improve their soul guidance technology.
The Sun Moon Empire's accumulation over thousands of years and the experience of countless soul engineers could not be learned through Huo Yuhao's method.
Of course, outside Shrek City, it was not only the Sun Moon Empire's army; quite a few experts from the three great empires had also gathered nearby.
Ever since the withdrawal from Heavenly Dou City a few days ago, in this short span of days, no one had been able to stop the Sun Moon Empire's army anymore.
Xu Jiawei had more than once sought aid from Shrek Academy, but she had not seen any experts from Shrek Academy arrive; all she received was Shrek Academy's response that they would defend relying on the city.
Facing the menacing Sun Moon Empire, Shrek Academy would naturally not sit idly by. But Xuan Zi also knew that if the opponent could defeat Du Bushi, he himself would have no chance of victory either.
Only by relying on the unique wonders of Shrek City could they completely block the Sun Moon Empire's advance.
Sending away the others in Shrek City was also to better utilize Shrek Academy's unique aspects.
But even so, they still could not stop the Sun Moon Empire's advance...
In front of the Sea God Pavilion, Xuan Zi shook his head, refusing to continue that line of thought. Such an outcome, he had never considered, and it absolutely could not happen.
At this moment, not only he, but many people in the three great empires shared the same thought.
This was perhaps the final confrontation between the Sun Moon Empire and the three great empires.
"Lin'er, Mei'er, go ahead."
With those words, Xuan Zi turned and flew toward Shrek City's walls.
"Marshal, what are we still waiting for?"
In the center of the Sun Moon Empire army, Xu Tianyuan could no longer hold back. These days of offensives had made him feel that war had never been so easy. As the Douluo Continent drew ever closer, many like him were filled with excitement.
Juzi, however, unhurriedly checked the time.
"Wait a little longer; the news should be coming back soon."
"News? What news?" Xu Tianyuan was somewhat surprised, unable to fathom that with the Sun Moon Empire's offensive proceeding so smoothly, Juzi still had other plans.
At that moment, a messenger soldier suddenly approached Juzi.
"Report to the Marshal: the Royal Soul Engineer Legion reports that they have used submarine soul guidance devices to bypass Yu Ming City along the coast and enter Star Luo Empire territory. They are about to complete the encirclement of Yu Ming City."
"Good." Juzi's eyes finally lit up. She looked toward Lin Xiao, saw him give a slight nod, then raised her voice slightly. "Pass down the order: prepare to besiege Shrek City. Remember—only surround, do not attack. Await my command."
"Yes!"
The messenger left to relay the order. Juzi lightly clenched her fist; even she felt a trace of excitement at this moment.
Just as most people thought, the final battle between the Sun Moon Empire and the three great empires was indeed about to arrive, but the battlefield was not at Shrek City.
Even though during this period Lin Xiao had defeated experts from the three great empires almost undefeatedly, he still harbored some wariness toward Shrek Academy. He understood Shrek Academy's secrets better than anyone.
It was not only the power contained within the golden tree, but also what lay behind it. It stood like an unshakable defensive line on the plain, blocking the Sun Moon Empire's advance.
But in Lin Xiao's memories from his previous life, there had likewise been an impregnable defensive line, and the way to deal with it was extremely simple: just go around it.
Similarly, though Shrek Academy had its own territory and did not belong to any of the three great empires, it was merely one city. Whether it existed or not would affect the Sun Moon Empire's unification of the Douluo Continent.
When the people of Shrek Academy were drawn in by the increasingly close Sun Moon Empire army, when the gazes of most experts from the three great empires were focused on this battle, the true battlefield had already unfolded in the rear of the Star Luo Empire.
With Yu Ming City sealed off, the Sun Moon Empire's southern army could charge into Star Luo Empire territory without any concerns, facing an entirely undefended plain.
Everyone was still waiting for Lin Xiao and Shrek Academy's experts to determine a victor; the people of the Sun Moon Empire also awaited Lin Xiao proving the supremacy of soul guidance devices.
But Lin Xiao himself knew that he had come to the front lines not to defeat anyone, nor to settle the question of whether soul masters or soul engineers were superior.
From beginning to end, he had only one goal, and now, with the Royal Soul Engineer Legion's message arriving, that goal was nearly achieved.
Once the Star Luo Empire's territory fell, armies and the like would become nothing more than rootless duckweed.
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are chapters available on Patreon."
"From Douluo to Godhood by Defy 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo: Far North Invincibledo 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Peerless: Living as an Evil Soul Master 40 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Dalu 2:Peerless Tang Sect Dawn of Sun and Moon 40 Advance chapters."
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