As the original emperor of the Star Luo Empire, Xu Jiawei naturally would not agree to such conditions. Although it appeared to grant some authority, the Star Luo Empire had ultimately perished under his rule.
However, while he might hold such thoughts, others within the Star Luo Empire's imperial family might not necessarily share them.
Ju Zi had only said that the one managing the territory would be someone from the imperial family, without specifying which individual.
As soon as these words were spoken, countless pairs of eyes behind Xu Jiawei waited for his response.
Xu Jiawei did not doubt that if he rejected Ju Zi's proposal, someone behind him would immediately step forward, sever his head, and offer it to Ju Zi, then become the new lord of the Star Luo territory under the Sun Moon Empire.
After all, aside from him, the other members of the imperial family had no chance of becoming emperor; their highest possible status was merely becoming a local lord. Now, by pledging loyalty to the Sun Moon Empire, they could rule over a much larger domain. No one could guarantee whether, in their hearts, power or the Star Luo Empire weighed more heavily.
It was not only Xu Jiawei; the people from the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Dou Ling Empire also showed slight unrest.
Ju Zi unhurriedly took a sip of tea, savoring the high-quality tea leaves prepared by Shrek Academy, feeling as though her mind had become much clearer in that instant.
Lin Xiao and Jing Hongchen paused slightly, then simultaneously withdrew their gazes and exchanged a glance.
Before this, even Lin Xiao had not expected Ju Zi to say such words during the banquet.
Although he had achieved his current cultivation at a young age, when it came to governing a nation, he was still far inferior to Ju Zi.
They had only roughly discussed some ideas beforehand; now that the words came from Ju Zi's mouth, it had become a choice that the three great empires could not decide upon.
Facing Shrek Academy, Ju Zi's opening statement was "to prevent war from breaking out across the continent," while facing the three great empires, she released a meticulously prepared scheme.
No matter how they responded, the fact that the three great empires would perish here had already become reality. From the very beginning of these peace talks, the outcome had already been decided.
Lin Xiao was not afraid that Ju Zi's scheme would fail. After all, having been born in the Holy Spirit Cult, he had seen far too many ugly sides of humanity.
To the imperial family members before him, when faced with absolute power, they were no different from those greedy, evil soul masters.
"Elder Xuan—"
Just as the people from the three great empires were whispering among themselves, a voice suddenly came from outside the hall.
Ju Zi frowned imperceptibly, seemingly slightly displeased that someone had interrupted her plan.
In contrast, the people from the three great empires all breathed a collective sigh of relief. Although the problem had not been resolved, being able to delay for a while was still good.
Xu Jiawei even glanced in Xuan Zi's direction and gave a slight nod.
He had not expected that Shrek Academy, which had never involved itself in such matters before, could arrange for someone to break the deadlock at such an awkward moment.
Only Xuan Zi, sensing several gazes turning toward him, felt slightly stunned. He had no idea when he had arranged for a disciple to knock on the door at this moment to break the stalemate inside the hall.
However, he quickly reacted. He had already arranged everything beforehand; if someone was rashly disturbing them now, something major must have happened outside.
With this thought, Xuan Zi suddenly stood up and walked toward the outside of the hall.
"What happened?"
As soon as Xuan Zi opened the door, he saw the Martial Soul Department Director Du Weilen, his face full of anxiety.
"Elder Xuan, soul beasts have come outside… so many soul beasts…"
"So many soul beasts?"
Xuan Zi looked somewhat puzzled in the direction Du Weilen was pointing. However, with just that one glance, his expression sank drastically.
In the eastern sky, it was clearly still daytime, yet that part of the sky looked as if it had been completely covered by a neat black curtain, thoroughly blocking out all light.
And that patch of darkness was still continuously approaching Shrek Academy.
A bright green firework rose from the eastern city wall of Shrek City. Upon seeing this, Xuan Zi's expression changed drastically. He turned his head to look at Ju Zi, but quickly withdrew his gaze.
That signal was Shrek Academy's emergency signal. His first thought was that the Sun Moon Empire had launched a forced attack on Shrek City.
But now, several members of the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family, along with Lin Xiao and Jing Hongchen, were all inside Shrek City. How could the Sun Moon Empire possibly launch an attack so rashly?
The speed of that black curtain appeared slow, but in reality, it was extraordinarily fast. In just a few breaths, the eastern part of Shrek City had already been completely engulfed in darkness.
The air was filled with the unique foul stench of soul beasts, and the enormous pressure, completely different from that of humans, allowed the soul masters present who knew some inside information to guess the identity of the visitors.
Xuan Zi's gaze shifted slightly as deep yellow light rose from his body, carrying a thick aura of earth as he flew into the sky.
"You are… Di Tian?"
"Oh? I didn't expect that after Mu En's death, there would still be someone in Shrek Academy who remembers my name." A deep and powerful voice rang out from the pitch-black sky. "Correct, it is I."
"My Shrek Academy had an agreement with your Star Dou Great Forest that you cannot leave the Star Dou Great Forest without a reason. Now you have brought so many soul beasts here—what exactly is your purpose?"
Xuan Zi's expression grew increasingly grim. Dealing with the Sun Moon Empire had already cost him considerable effort; now Di Tian leading so many soul beasts here was definitely not good news.
If the soul beasts from the Star Dou Great Forest suddenly launched an attack, afterward, Shrek City would likely no longer have the strength to resist the Sun Moon Empire.
"I heard that you humans have gathered here to decide the future direction of the Douluo Continent. As the co-lord of soul beasts, representing the soul beast clan, I naturally had to come and listen as well."
Di Tian was unexpectedly cooperative. After hearing Xuan Zi's question, he almost without hesitation stated the purpose of his visit.
However, seeing the massive display he had brought, how much of it was true and how much was false was hard to say.
Inside the hall, whether it was Ju Zi or the people from the three great empires, none could remain seated any longer and walked out. In other parts of Shrek Academy, the students had already fallen into chaos.
Although the teachers were doing their best to maintain order, under the overwhelming aura of the soul beasts filling the sky, even those teachers could not help but tremble unconsciously.
Lin Xiao slightly shifted his body, quietly releasing his aura to protect Ju Zi behind him, then turned his gaze toward the sky.
A beast tide…
In Lin Xiao's memory, the original Di Tian had indeed launched a beast tide once, but that time, it was triggered because the Emperor Auspicious Beast in the Star Dou Great Forest had sacrificed herself for Huo Yuhao.
But now, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion should still be safely staying within the Star Dou Great Forest. Why would Di Tian bring so many soul beasts here?
Although a beast tide had not yet formed, whether it would or not depended solely on Di Tian's will. With such a massive display, had he really come here just to participate in the peace talks between the Sun Moon Empire, the three great empires, and Shrek Academy?
This peace talk was only about humans deciding the territorial ownership of the three great empires; it had nothing to do with the Star Dou Great Forest…
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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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