The Legend of the Dragon King

“Don’t worry, Your Excellency, I’m alright. We’ll start with the current mission right away.”

The Holy Spirit Douluo said no more. Tang Wulin regained his blank gaze. When the others saw the blazing flames of fighting spirit reignited within his eyes, they could not help but sigh with relief.

The palace of the Dou Spirit Empire.

Xue Yuntian frowned when he read the report in his hands. As the emperor, he did not have it easy. The Dou Spirit Empire was founded before the Star Luo Empire. It was also the first empire to have established itself on a continent.

During the first thousand years, the empire focused its energy on increasing its population. Back then, those who were able to make their way to this continent numbered no more than three thousand. It was difficult for the empire to sustain itself for generations with these numbers.

To increase the population, a part of the populace intermarried. As a result, for a long time, there were many babies born deformed in the Dou Spirit Empire. However, not all children born from parents who were closely related had problems. There were some who were born normal. It was through such an arduous history that the Dou Spirit Empire’s population gradually grew.

At first, the continent was barren. They had to begin from scratch. Apart from the soul beasts, there were no natives on this continent. For this reason, the Dou Spirit Empire had trouble setting up its base.

The royal family had taken the surname Xue from their initial Guo after they settled here. It was supposed to signify a new beginning. They finally made progress with each passing day.

However, the first settlers of the Dou Spirit Empire were the true inhabitants of the Douluo Continent back then. They observed their traditions. When they left the Douluo Continent, soul tools were developing rapidly. However, the Dou Spirit Empire was destroyed because they were not adept in utilizing the soul tools. After they settled down, they underwent a population boom. They began cultivating the barren lands which met their daily lives’ needs. Subsequently, they continued to develop their country. However, they were not at all skilled in the use of soul tools. The Dou Spirit Empire had to begin from ground zero.

The Douluo Federation was very strict in the dissemination of its soul tool technology. Although their main target was the Star Luo Empire, the Dou Spirit Empire was equally affected. If the Tang Sect had not smuggled in the soul tools into their empire, the Dou Spirit Empire would have fallen behind further.

Nonetheless, the Tang Sect provided limited support to the Dou Spirit Empire. They would only sell them completed soul tools, but not the soul technology.

It was the Tang Sect’s policy for they did not wish to see another powerful empire emerge when the Federation was divided internally. If it happened, a war would be inevitable. The Tang Sect only wanted to help the traditional folks on the Douluo Continent pass down their legacy in the Dou Spirit Empire. On the contrary, they did not wish to be the cause for the breakout of a world war.

The soul technology the Dou Spirit Empire owned was outmoded. They only made some improvements after a few thousand years of work. Hence, they were far behind compared to the Federation.

When they heard that the Douluo Federation was going to initiate a war, they were, naturally, anxious about it. As the emperor, Xue Yuntian had many sleepless nights. He knew only too well that with the Douluo Federation’s might, his own army might not even survive for ten days. The difference in strength between the two armies was too great.

Although the Star Luo Empire had long ago intended to form an alliance with the Dou Spirit Empire, the distance between the two continents was too great. It would be very difficult for them to support one another. The navy was one area where there was a large gap between the two empires and the Federation. It would be easy for the Federation to cut off the communications between them.

Feeling helpless, Xue Yuntian requested the help of the two most powerful organizations in the present world, namely the Spirit Pagoda and the Tang Sect. He hoped that they would be of some help. The Tang Sect agreed, but the Spirit Pagoda seemed hesitant. It turned out they took this opportunity to coerce and extort him instead. Undoubtedly, the two organizations had their eyes on the resources of the Dou Spirit Continent. The Tang Sect was more ethical as they traded their weapons for the resources, whereas the Spirit Pagoda wanted the resources for free. They were only willing to be the Federation’s armies after they had obtained enough resources.

After numerous discussions with his high-ranking officials, Xue Yuntian felt that the Tang Sect’s proposal was more equitable. At least, the Tang Sect was providing something tangible. On the other hand, the Spirit Pagoda was avaricious. Besides, it was just a promise. In any case, promises were of the least value in a war among countries. Regardless of the Spirit Pagoda’s powerful influence, Xue Yuntian did not dare put his faith in them.

On the other hand, the Tang Sect did not explicitly list the things that they would provide. The only thing they said was that their Sect Master would personally visit him and bring along the objects required.

Not long ago, there was news of a surprise attack on the Eastsea Fleet. A war could be waged at any moment. Xue Yuntian was anxious, but the Tang Sect’s reinforcements were nowhere to be seen.

After an agonizing wait, they finally received an update. However, he had been stood up as they had promised to meet in the Dou Spirit Empire’s capital, Heaven Dou City. For reasons unknown, the Tang Sect’s Sect Master and his envoy had gone to Spirit Wave City instead.

Xue Yuntian had made preparations on his part. He was willing to forgo his pride as the emperor to go to Spirit Wave City to meet the mysterious Tang Sect’s Sect Master. At this very moment, he stared with his mouth agape upon receiving news that the Spirit Pagoda’s headquarters in Spirit Wave City was destroyed. More than half of the Spirit Pagoda’s high-ranking officials were killed. The survivors were only a third of their initial numbers.

The Spirit Pagoda, that was the Spirit Pagoda for crying out loud!

Naturally, Xue Yuntian knew about the conflict between the Tang Sect and the Spirit Pagoda. In a way, these two great organizations were related to each other. They could even be said to be blood relations. The Spirit Pagoda’s founder, the Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao was one of the Shrek Seven Monsters. No matter how hard they fought one another, they still showed some restraint.

‘What’s the meaning of this? Why was the Spirit Pagoda’s headquarters destroyed right after the arrival of the Tang Sect’s Sect Master?’ Xue Yuntian found it hard to believe that it had nothing to do with the Tang Sect. Even if he wanted to destroy the Spirit Pagoda’s headquarters, he would have to mobilize a large army and the royal family’s servants. Naturally, he dared not do that. The Spirit Pagoda had many experts. Under the Dou Spirit Empire’s royal family, the highest cultivation base was that of a rank-98 Hyper Douluo. They did not even have a single Limit Douluo nor did they have a four-word battle armor master. There were only three red mechas throughout the Dou Spirit Continent. These combat powers were not comparable to the high-end combat capabilities of the Spirit Pagoda.

‘What’s the Tang Sect trying to do?’

“Your Highness, we have word from the Tang Sect,” an elderly manservant walked hurriedly into the room. He held a printed report in his hands.

“What is it?” Xue Yuntian stood up with an anxious air and walked up to meet him.

The manservant’s hand was shaking a little. He presented the report to him.

Xue Yuntian read the report aloud, “On the grounds that evil soul masters of the Holy Spirit Cult were found in the Spirit Pagoda’s Branch, and with evidence that the Spirit Pagoda has been collaborating with the Holy Spirit Cult to develop a secret poison against the Dou Spirit Empire, we have destroyed them. The Tang Sect assumes full responsibility on this matter.”

The report fell to the ground with a loud clack. Xue Yuntian mumbled, “Madness, this is madness. They’re all mad.”

To guess who did it was one thing, to admit it openly was yet another. If the Tang Sect had announced that they would assume responsibility for this, it meant that the Tang Sect was officially declaring war against the Spirit Pagoda! It was definitely a dire event that would affect the entire continent.

Even though the Tang Sect had gone into hiding in the Federation, Xue Yuntian naturally knew the hidden strength this largest sect under the heavens possessed after having worked with them for so long. If he were to pick the organization that could undermine the Spirit Pagoda, his answer would be the Tang Sect. Currently, that was exactly what the Tang Sect had done. They had chosen such a violent method, nothing less.

Could it be that the Spirit Pagoda was truly collaborating with the evil soul masters? Was that poison research done right under the palace’s nose in Spirit Wave City? A surge of cold air rose from beneath his feet. Xue Yuntian shivered, although it was not that cold.

Compared to the Tang Sect, the Spirit Pagoda was not inferior in the hidden secrets they possessed. More importantly, they were more dominant. Almost every soul master was somehow connected to the Spirit Pagoda. Without the supply of spirit souls provided by the Spirit Pagoda, there was no way the soul masters could grow.

Outwardly, the Spirit Pagoda did not control the soul masters to avoid suspicion. But, what if they grew powerful enough?

The Spirit Pagoda was able to stall the federal armies because they had gained control of a few seats in the federal parliament. Under such circumstances, would the Spirit Pagoda be overtaken by ambition?

If what the Tang Sect said was true, that the Spirit Pagoda and the Holy Spirit Cult were indeed collaborating together, it would be ominous for sure. It meant that Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect’s headquarters destruction were definitely the work of the Spirit Pagoda. If indeed that was the case, then it was understandable why the Tang Sect had chosen such a vicious method to deal with the Spirit Pagoda.