Chapter 29: War Has Arrived

The citizens of Douling City have been living in a state of constant anxiety and dread.

It began with a fierce clash between dozens of Spirit Douluos within the city, a battle so intense that its shockwaves were visible across half the city. Some even claimed to have seen a Titled Douluo join the fray, seemingly locked in a struggle over some mysterious prize.

To the common folk, the cause mattered little; they only knew the destruction it wrought. Countless buildings were leveled, and an untold number of people perished in the aftermath, leaving many families shattered by the loss of their kin.

For a time, the city echoed with wails of grief, and those left homeless wandered the streets. Fortunately, the Church of Abundance was soon established as the state religion, and with its newfound resources, it quickly managed to provide for the refugees.

But before long, news arrived that the Star Luo Empire’s armies had breached the borders, slaughtering their way through three cities. Panic gripped the populace, who retreated into their homes, too terrified to venture out. The once-bustling streets of the city fell deathly silent.

Enraged, the Emperor of Douling issued over a dozen imperial edicts overnight, demanding that the landed nobility dispatch troops to the front lines and ordering a purge of irresponsible officials. Furthermore, he proclaimed that a dedicated section within the imperial palace would be constructed to bury and commemorate the heroic soldiers who had fallen, vowing to hold annual memorial services so that their sacrifice would never be forgotten.

This declaration ignited a firestorm of patriotic fervor. Every Douling citizen with a shred of love for their country was moved to tears, shouting calls to serve the nation and avenge their fallen brethren as they flocked to enlist for the front.

Unlike the commoners, the courtiers in the palace were gripped by a deeper, more profound terror. As time passed, they began to notice something deeply unsettling. Looking at the middle-aged figure on the throne, they recoiled as if they were staring into the eyes of a demon.

Scanning his ministers with an icy gaze, the Emperor spoke: "My lords, the Star Luo Empire repeatedly encroaches upon my borders and has now breached our gates. Do you have any brilliant strategies to offer?"

A suffocating tension filled the grand hall. Under the Emperor’s reign of terror, no one dared to be the first to speak. Yet, as the gaze from above grew increasingly frigid, one official gritted his teeth and stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I believe we should negotiate with the Heaven Dou Empire. Offer them incentives and warn them of the consequences, demanding that they send troops to our aid."

"Hmph! The Heaven Dou Empire still harbors dreams of annexing my Douling to revive the former Heaven Dou Empire. How is your suggestion any different from inviting a wolf into the house?" The Emperor roared, "Guards! Drag this traitor away and behead him! Execute his entire clan!"

The man’s legs gave way, and he collapsed, kowtowing frantically to beg for mercy. But the order had already been given; the soldiers entered and dragged him away. Realizing his fate was sealed, his pleas turned into curses.

"Tyrant! You tyrant! The Douling Empire will fall because of you sooner or later! Your end will be even more miserable than mine! Hahaha! I will be waiting for you in the afterlife!"

The Emperor was incensed: "Absurd and ridiculous! I am an eternal monarch; as long as I remain, the nation remains!"

"Have him dismembered by five horses! And force his wife and children to consume his flesh!"

Upon hearing this, the courtiers felt their world go black. Cold sweat drenched their bodies, and they stood trembling, paralyzed with fear.

"Swine, all of you are swine! In this vast empire, not one person can share my burdens!"

The Emperor on the throne vacillated between rage and melancholy. The erratic shifts in his mood made it impossible for the ministers to tell if he truly cared for the state of the empire at all. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he shouted: "Summon the Grand Preceptor! I have matters to discuss with him!"

The ministers breathed a collective sigh of relief, grateful that the focus had shifted away from them.

With the soldiers riding at full speed, Lu Chun was quickly brought to the palace. The Emperor stepped down from his throne, grasped Lu Chun’s jade-like hands, and smiled broadly. "Grand Preceptor, you have arrived. I have something to discuss with you."

"The Star Luo Empire is invading our borders, which is truly detestable. I ask you, Grand Preceptor, what is your take on this?"

Under the Emperor’s piercing gaze, Lu Chun replied gently, "Your Majesty, set your heart at ease. I shall handle this matter myself."

He understood the Emperor’s intentions, and as he had been planning to leave the city anyway, he readily agreed.

"Hahaha! With you here, I am at ease. You are worth more than all these ministers combined!" The Emperor laughed heartily.

"You are too kind."

The ministers’ expressions shifted in complex, unreadable ways upon hearing the Emperor’s words.

As soon as Lu Chun returned to his residence, a voice echoed in his ears.

"My God, do you intend to involve yourself in this farce orchestrated by the Emperor?"

Shu Hu already knew that the current crisis in the Douling Empire was a product of the Emperor’s own making, and that Lu Chun was an indirect accomplice. Yet, in Shu Hu’s eyes, his God could do no wrong. His God had provided the methods and warned of the risks—he had done all that was required. How could he be burdened with the guilt of the innocent?

All of this was the result of the Emperor’s own greed. Why should his God have to bear this responsibility?

The massive tree trunk swayed, and hundreds of facial features trembled as Shu Hu’s inner rage burned fiercely.

"It is of no consequence."

Lu Chun shook his head and smiled. "In the end, this farce was facilitated by me. Since that is the case, what harm is there in spending a bit more effort to see it through?"

"Besides, the Emperor is truly running out of time."

He sighed. After feeding the accumulated Spirit Douluos of the past centuries and the many nobles he had secretly slaughtered to the Ginseng Fruit Tree, he had completed three more metamorphoses. The female faces on the tree trunk had become more solid, and blood-red flower buds had sprouted from the crown, emitting a richer, more concentrated fragrance that had rejuvenated the Emperor’s appearance back to his prime.

These changes had only fueled the Emperor’s obsession with immortality, driving him to launch a massive war to harvest more blood and flesh. The toll would be horrific.

In this war, everything would be shattered. Tens of millions of families might be destroyed, and the Douling Empire might never recover, perhaps even falling entirely. But the Emperor did not care. As he had said: "As long as I remain, the nation remains!"

This statement was tantamount to an admission that he had already abandoned the empire. To everyone, this solitary tyrant had gone completely insane.

No one would bow to a madman. Lu Chun could see that Douling City would not be peaceful for long. Though the Emperor ruled with an iron fist, the nobles and officials might well strike back when faced with their own extinction.

That was why he wanted to leave for a while, only to return and pull the curtain down himself when this play reached its climax.

"Then I shall accompany you," Shu Hu said respectfully.

"Very well."

Lu Chun did not refuse.

Shu Hu had absorbed everything of He Zhi, accumulating nearly four hundred years of spirit power, eight spirit rings, and the power of spirit bones. His strength was comparable to that of a Limit Douluo. With him by his side, few on the Douluo Continent could pose a threat to him.