Chapter 430

In the next few days, Tang Wulin began working overtime again.

The news that Shilake Academy and the Body Sect had reached cooperation shocked many people, and every day countless letters were sent to the Sea God Pavilion inquiring about the matter.

Some asked about the future development direction, some asked why Shilake Academy wanted to cooperate with the Body Sect, and some directly began doubting the truth of this news, asking him whether it was really true.

Out of a strong sense of responsibility, Tang Wulin carefully read them all and sent replies back.

But soon, a truly important letter arrived.

"Respected Sea God Pavilion Master, I, Xu Jiawei, Emperor of the Star Net Empire, sincerely invite you to come to Ming Dou Shanmai to discuss matters with my sister Xu Jiujiu."

"Hmm..."

Tang Wulin pondered, then handed the letter to Song Lao beside him.

"Song Lao, what do you think?"

After looking at it, Song Lao's eyes also flashed with a strange light.

"This kid Xu Jiawei sure reacts fast."

"Hmm."

Undoubtedly, Xu Jiawei, upon learning of the academy and Body Sect matter, immediately went to court to decide on countermeasures, which is why he sent this letter so quickly.

By comparison, the Dou Ling Empire's response was much slower.

"Ming Dou Shanmai..."

Song Lao lightly flicked the letter paper and asked, "Wulin, if I'm not mistaken, the situation in Ming Dou Shanmai has been tense lately, right?"

"Yeah, that's correct."

Ming Dou Shanmai, as the most important border region between the Star Net Empire and the Ri Yue Di Guo, has always been the focus of their conflicts.

To ensure this place was not lost, Xu Jiawei even sent White Tiger Duke Dai Hao, his most capable general, to guard it.

With the Ri Yue Di Guo's small moves increasing in recent years, the situation in Ming Dou Shanmai has become ever more tense, recently staying at a critical point where a slight spark could set it off.

Recently, there were even rumors that the Dreadclaw Soul Engineer Legion had appeared near Ming Dou Shanmai, instantly putting all the high-ranking officials of the three original nations on edge.

At this time, inviting Tang Wulin, the leader and strongest of Shilake Academy, to come here itself carries great symbolic significance.

"This is trying to drag us completely into the water."

As long as Tang Wulin goes to Ming Dou Shanmai, it basically means openly siding with the Star Net Empire and opposing the Ri Yue Di Guo.

Although this has always been something both sides know implicitly, whether to bring it into the open still makes a big difference.

"But this is fine; it suits me just fine."

Tang Wulin gave a light smile and rose to his feet.

Song Lao asked, "Wulin, are you going?"

"Yeah."

Tang Wulin lightly nodded.

"Song Lao, please ask the Sea God Pavilion's Senior Elders if anyone is willing to come along; I need two Senior Elders to follow me this time, and please stay at the Academy to handle the subsequent affairs."

In the worst-case scenario, he could clash with the Dreadclaw Soul Engineer Legion in Ming Dou Shanmai, an opponent that is a Beast King–level soul engineer legion; one can never be too careful.

"Understood."

Song Lao agreed, and then her figure vanished without a trace.

Tang Wulin looked out the window, his gaze gradually deepening. Two days ago, Huo Yutong suddenly told him that war was about to begin, and at the latest it would fully erupt within a month.

Since her martial soul evolved into the Eye of Fate, her intuition has become increasingly accurate, and Tang Wulin believes this is the case now as well.

Perhaps this Ming Dou Shanmai incident will be the spark that ignites the war.

Soon, the members of this operation were decided.

Besides Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong, the Sea God Pavilion also dispatched two Senior Elders named Feng Han Yu and Wu Chi Xiang, both of whom are powerful beings at the Honored Douluo level.

Feng Han Yu's martial soul is the Cold Crossing Crow, an ice-snow type flying martial soul; he is a ninety-five–rank agility-attack system Super Douluo.

Wu Chi Xiang's martial soul is Heavenly Fragrant Plum, skilled in various control abilities; she is a ninety-three–rank control system Honored Douluo.

To be honest, Tang Wulin is not very familiar with them, since he only became Sea God Pavilion Master two years ago and hasn't seen these two Senior Elders in action much.

However, according to Song Lao's description, they are both trustworthy powerhouses, which is enough.

Even if a battle truly breaks out, with Huo Yutong's Mental Detection Sharing, their coordination will have no gaps.

That night, Tang Wulin's party set off from Shilake Academy, and with all‑speed travel they reached Ming Dou Shanmai before dawn.

Looking back, this is the third time Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong have come here.

The first time they came as members of Shilake Academy's reserve team, the result was that the main team members were killed here by the God of Death's corpse‑burst technique, pierced through, and the team nearly wiped out.

The second time they came as leaders of Shilake Academy and the Tang Sect battle team respectively; at that time they were trapped in the Qiankun Asking Love Valley and were forced to accomplish here the heavy task of rescuing White Tiger Duke Dai Hao.

This is the third time, and this time they come as Sea God Pavilion Master and Sea God Pavilion member respectively; this time they aim to forge a wartime alliance between Shilake Academy and the Star Net Empire, and in the worst case they may have to oppose the Ri Yue Di Guo forces stationed here.

One could say this place records different stages of their lives, and each memory of coming here leaves them with a profound impression.

Unlike the previous two times, this time they are greeted not by the wary eyes of patrol troops, but by White Tiger Duke Dai Hao himself.

"I have long heard of the new Sea God Pavilion Master's great name; welcome to the Northwestern Group Army!"

At this moment, the White Tiger Duke wore a military uniform; his white armor bore black patterns, and upon close inspection, faint soul power light could be seen flowing across it.

Tang Wulin has frequently visited the Soul Engineer Hall these past two years, gradually developing some discernment; if he is not mistaken, this should be a close‑combat type soul engineer armor, far inferior to the legendary humanoid soul engineer device, at most qualifying as a seventh‑rank soul engineer device.

Regarding this, Tang Wulin inevitably felt a bit sorrowful in his heart.

Even the esteemed White Tiger Duke, the Star Net Empire's top general, can only wear seventh‑rank soul engineer armor, showing how far behind the soul engineer technology of the three original Douluo nations has fallen.

Most likely, aside from Shilake Academy, it would be hard to find an eighth‑rank soul engineer anywhere in the three nations.

Although he felt sorrow in his heart, he showed nothing on the surface, instead smiling as he grasped Dai Hao's outstretched hand.

"Me too; I have long admired your great name but never had the chance to meet you. I hope we can get along well, and please just call me Wulin."

While saying that, he secretly glanced at Huo Yutong beside him.

Her expression was normal; you couldn't tell anything was wrong.

But those who knew her well understood that her inner state was certainly not as calm as she appeared.

Sighing inwardly, Tang Wulin released his grip on Dai Hao's hand and said:

"Your Grace, let's go inside to talk."

"Okay."

By the way, I just thought of something: without the Bright Capital Great Explosion, Ye Xi Shui's Death God Tower still hasn't been completed.

Great, the Star Net Empire's two thousand Soul Saints have been freed.

(End of chapter)