Chapter 218: Encirclement and Suppression Plan

Xu Chengzhi first exchanged pleasantries with Duo Qing Douluo and Zhen Hun Douluo for a moment, then turned his attention to Huo Yuhao.

"I've also heard quite a few stories about Your Excellency Huo Yuhao recently."

Xu Chengzhi wore a gentle smile on his face, yet his gaze was secretly sizing up Huo Yuhao. As the Emperor of the Star Luo Federation, he naturally knew clearly the waves this young man had stirred up in Star Luo City recently.

Having just arrived in Star Luo City not long ago, he had already caused such an uproar; one might say he truly lives up to being the Spirit Pagoda's heir?

"Your Majesty overpraises."

Huo Yuhao gave a slight, neither-servile-nor-arrogant nod, his ice-blue eyes revealing no emotional fluctuation, "They were merely trivial matters."

Xu Chengzhi smiled meaningfully: "A matter that made the Dawn Society eat a loss — in Star Luo, that hardly counts as a trivial matter."

After exchanging pleasantries for a moment, Xu Chengzhi continued with the proper business.

Afterwards, a series of tedious ceremonies — presenting credentials, the Chairman's address, the Federal representative's address, Xu Chengzhi's address — proceeded in an orderly fashion. Inside the Star Luo Palace, ritual music lingered melodiously, and both sides' representatives completed the formal diplomatic exchange in a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

Anyway, in Xie Xie's words — this ceremony is just wasting life, but it's something that simply has to be done.

Xie Xie stood in an inconspicuous position at the back of the delegation ranks, forcing down the urge to yawn, and secretly nudged Tang Wu Lin beside him with his elbow: "Hey, how long are these addresses going to go on? My legs are numb from standing."

Tang Wu Lin kept his eyes straight ahead, "Just hold on a bit longer and it'll be over."

"I never realized before that you're actually even more able to endure occasions like this than me." Xie Xie muttered softly.

"Because the banquet phase is coming up soon."

Tang Wu Lin said with a smile.

Xie Xie: "..."

I see, that explains it.

Time passed amid the two's on-and-off chat, the address segment finally neared its end, and Xu Chengzhi announced the start of the banquet phase.

But this time belonging to the young people had nothing to do with the group led by Duo Qing Douluo, Zhen Hun Douluo, Huo Yuhao, and Gu Yue Na; after making a symbolic appearance at the banquet, they were invited by Star Luo to proceed to the Star Luo Hall deep within the palace for a secret talk.

Because Xu Chengzhi, as Emperor, needed to remain in the banquet hall to preside over the overall situation, Chairman Dai Tianling personally accompanied everyone there.

This made quite a few girls interested in Huo Yuhao even more curious, yet they didn't dare rashly approach to strike up a conversation. They could only watch from afar as that tall, straight blue figure disappeared into the palace depths, their eyes full of regret and reverie.

"He's the Spirit Pagoda's next Tower Master? Even younger and more handsome than I imagined." A noble young lady gently shook her feather fan, her face showing amazement, "Walking alongside a Limit Douluo without being suppressed, instead projecting his own aura — truly accomplished at a young age."

"I heard when he gets serious, he defeated a Red-Grade Mecha Master in one move; among peers, no one in Star Luo is his match." The female companion beside her nodded in agreement, cheeks slightly flushed, "A few days ago, a single sentence from him shook half of Star Luo City, which shows his power and influence. If only..."

"Forget it, even Miss Dai Yun'er threw herself into the game and couldn't gain the slightest advantage before him." A young man not far from them spoke quite realistically: "And the girl beside him is so dazzling and moving — can you compare?"

Hearing this, the young ladies involuntarily recalled the stunning glimpse of Gu Yue Na's appearance — silver hair like a waterfall, eyes like stars, every gesture carrying an extraordinary, transcendent temperament.

Such a girl they indeed could not compare to.

But is that something you can say? Do you know what "truth cannot be spoken" means?

Not even giving people a chance to fantasize — simply heinous. The girls looked unkindly at the speaker, only to discover he wasn't a Star Luo noble scion they recognized, but instead wore the Federal Delegation's insignia.

Such a mouth — naturally it was Xie Xie.

Over these two months, Xie Xie had severely suppressed his nature. To avoid causing diplomatic issues between Star Luo and the Douluo Federation, he had always been cautious in speech, rarely running his mouth, lest he provoke major contradictions... but occasionally there were moments like now when he couldn't help but vent a few lines.

With your level, you still want to fight Na-jie for a man? Go look in a mirror first, see what you amount to, then talk.

While Xie Xie drew public ire and began a "war of words against a bunch of kids" outside, inside the Star Luo Hall.

The heavy gilt doors slowly closed behind everyone, isolating the banquet's clamor outside.

Inside the Star Luo Hall, the soul-guide stars embedded in the dome emitted a soft light, illuminating the entire hall as if one were amidst a star river. Dai Tianling raised a hand, signaling the attendants to withdraw; once only core personnel remained in the hall, the gentle smile on his face gradually faded.

Dai Tianling solemnly performed the highest-standard Star Luo salute toward everyone:

"Here, on behalf of Star Luo, I thank all of you for being willing to travel ten thousand li from the Douluo Continent to render assistance."

"The Holy Spirit Cult has run rampant in our Star Luo territory these years. Though we have encircled and suppressed them many times, we have never been able to eradicate them. Instead we suffered heavy losses, letting the evil soul masters' arrogance grow ever more rampant... If not for the Douluo Federation extending a helping hand, we still wouldn't know when we could launch a counterattack."

"Chairman is too polite." Duo Qing Douluo said in a flat tone: "Evil soul masters are to be killed by all; we are merely fulfilling our basic duty!"

For some reason, hearing Duo Qing Douluo's reply, a trace of chill rose behind Dai Tianling.

Fortunately, the authority accumulated from standing at the continent's peak for many years kept him from showing it; he merely responded with a smile, "Regardless, Star Luo will keep this kindness engraved in its heart."

Duo Qing Douluo glanced at the smile on Dai Tianling's face, suppressed the irritation in his heart, and asked calmly: "The Star Luo Delegation once said there is news of the Qilin Douluo here, and the Holy Spirit Cult's whereabouts... our delegation came precisely for this. I wonder if the Star Luo side has already prepared the plan and preparations for encircling and suppressing the Holy Spirit Cult?"

"Naturally." Dai Tianling sat upright, "The next period will be the time for the Star Luo Continent's Advanced Soul Master Academy Competition; the eyes of Star Luo City's populace will all shift to that."

"And we hope your side can place the exchange competition's core on this, letting your students participate; at that time you can use this to attract the entire Star Luo Continent's attention, diverting the evil soul masters' and those resistance armies' attention. Let them mistakenly believe Star Luo's energy will be focused on this competition."

"After all, a dispute between the younger generations of two countries has always been most able to stir the populace's emotions. At that time Star Luo will secretly mobilize elites, coordinating with your side's powerhouses to jointly raid the Holy Spirit Cult's strongholds."

"Sound East Strike West? Not a bad plan." Duo Qing Douluo first nodded slightly, then his tone suddenly shifted, "But are you sure the Holy Spirit Cult will lower their guard because of this?"

Dai Tianling pressed his lips tightly, as if finding it somewhat difficult to speak.

Fortunately, a gentle voice came from the side, informing the few people of the reason.

"It is shameful to say. The Holy Spirit Cult also pays great attention to the competition; they seem to be searching for young soul masters with specific aptitudes. Our Star Luo has already lost several outstanding young soul masters because of this. So we are very certain: as long as the Soul Master Tournament opens, their attention will be diverted because of it."

An undeniable presence accompanied the voice from outside the hall, causing Duo Qing Douluo and the others to frown one after another.

This is... Star Luo's Limit Douluo?

(End of Chapter)