Douluo 2: This Dragon God has too much martial virtue

Chapter 548 A Moment of Crisis

Seeing Xu Yun's indignant expression, Huo Yuhao not only didn't restrain himself, but instead curled up a cold smile: "Wearing this military uniform, does Your Highness really intend to serve your country with your life?"

"The White Tiger Duke went to the battlefield at the age of thirteen!" Xu Yun retorted, sticking out his neck.

Xu Yun's fingertips trembled slightly as she suppressed the urge to teach her sister a lesson on the spot. Huo Yuhao's feud with the White Tiger Duke was already well-known in the previous competition, yet Xu Yun still spoke up for Dai Hao without any sense of propriety!

She shouldn't have agreed to let Xu Yun join the army. Keeping the girl confined in the palace until she reached a suitable age and married her off would have been better than her causing trouble here. If Xu Yun hadn't so recklessly insulted Dai Luoli as a good-for-nothing, then according to her elder brother's plan, marrying this little princess to Huo Yuhao's half-brother Dai Luoli might have been the best way to win over this peerless genius.

As for Xu Yun's own wishes, they were utterly insignificant in the face of the royal family's interests. Since she enjoyed the privileges of a princess and had caused such a huge disaster by speaking recklessly, she should pay the price for the stability of the empire.

"You want to follow his example?" Huo Yuhao glanced at Xu Yun casually. He wasn't easily provoked, but others might be.

"But he clearly said not long ago that 'the women in the military camp are all military prostitutes.' What? Is the little princess planning to personally 'comfort' those soldiers?"

"Insolence!" Xu Yun was so angry that he trembled all over and almost couldn't help but release his martial spirit again.

Xu Jiujiu gripped her sister's shoulder tightly, her delicate face now ashen. But her anger wasn't directed at Huo Yuhao; Dai Hao's fate was unknown, while this young man before her was someone the Star Luo Empire desperately needed to win over. Even with the slightest glimmer of hope, she wouldn't give up easily.

But Huo Yuhao's next words pierced her heart like a sharp sword: "Do you know who he was talking to? It was my master."

Xu Jiujiu felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. It was that mysterious girl who had presented the complete set of soul bones of Dragon God Douluo Mu En to the royal family as a bargaining chip. At this moment, the figure in his memory gradually overlapped with the boy in front of him, and the suffocating sense of oppression was exactly the same.

How dare Dai Hao?! These thoughtless words have directly impacted the relationship between the Star Luo Royal Family and the Dragon Pavilion!

Huo Yuhao's tone was terrifyingly calm: "Now do you understand why the Heavenly Soul reinforcements suddenly withdrew?" He looked up at Xu Jiujiu, his heterochromatic eyes swirling with something chilling. "You brought this upon yourselves! You probably know that I abducted Dai Huabin from your royal retainer, but what impact would his absence have on the battle? Of course, the same goes for Dai Hao. I hadn't even had a chance to do anything before I found him; he was already a prisoner of the Sun Moon Empire's marshal."

"It's all his fault, isn't it? If he hadn't angered my master, why would the Heavenly Soul Empire have suddenly withdrawn its troops? If the Heavenly Soul Empire hadn't withdrawn, the level nine fixed-position soul-guided cannons launched by the Sun Moon Empire would have been intercepted by the defensive soul-guided array they brought, and the Star Luo Empire wouldn't have suffered such heavy losses."

Xu Jiujiu and Xu Yun's faces turned deathly pale instantly. Huo Yuhao had revealed the bloody truth to them. Could it be that the culprit behind the Star Luo Empire's defeat on the battlefield was actually the Empire's God of War?!
Xu Yun's face turned deathly pale, her whole body trembling violently, and she screamed hysterically, "You're talking nonsense! How could Duke White Tiger possibly..."

"Enough!" Xu Jiujiu interrupted sharply, grabbing her sister's wrist and shoving her out the door without mercy. The heavy wooden door slammed shut in front of Xu Yun with a loud bang.

If he didn't let her leave, he wouldn't be sure for a long time whether he would be driven to the point of fainting from anger by her or whether Huo Yuhao would kill her first.

She took a deep breath, her fingertips digging into her palms to barely maintain her composure. She took a half-step forward, her voice filled with unprecedented earnestness: "Yuhao, you are ultimately a citizen of Xingluo. I know your Dragon Pavilion always speaks your mind, so I don't intend to waste time with idle chatter. I only ask you one question: is there any room for maneuver in this war?"

Huo Yuhao stared at me indifferently for a long time, a cold light flashing in his heterochromatic eyes. "Dragon Pavilion is the foundation of my life. After the Dragon Emperor retires, the title of Grand Duke of the Northern Territory may very well be passed on to me. If Star Luo had been willing to grant me a higher title than Dai Hao back then..."

"Would you accept it?" Xu Jiujiu suddenly interrupted him. "How could your teacher allow you to receive an award from another country? Besides..."

Moreover, how can a mere honorary title compare to the prestigious title of a top-tier Soul Master? Even if Dai Hao is truly a brilliant strategist, his prestige and status on the continent are far less significant than the weight of the title "Grand Duke of the Northern Territory." This title, a symbol of goodwill from the Heavenly Soul Royal Family to the Dragon Pavilion, has always been inherited by the nominal rulers of the Dragon Pavilion. Although it has the name of hereditary succession, it transcends bloodline inheritance and can only be inherited by Limit Douluo, who stands at the pinnacle of Soul Masters. How can its value be compared to the secular title that Dai Hao inherited?
Simply put, everyone is a duke, but every Grand Duke of the Northern Territory throughout history has been a Limit Douluo. Of course, this isn't a requirement of the Heavenly Soul Royal Family, but rather a reflection of the high standards the Dragon Pavilion holds to itself. Compared to the White Tiger lineage, where a title can be inherited simply by the death of the father, the difference between the two is like heaven and earth.

"Your Highness, look at you! You just called me a citizen of Star Luo!" Huo Yuhao leaned forward slightly. "As long as that power can completely overwhelm Dai Hao within the Star Luo Empire... who knows?"

Xu Jiujiu's heart sank suddenly; only now did she realize that it was all too late. Although she and her brother had discerned that the Dragon Pavilion's higher-ups might value this young man, Huo Yuhao's cultivation was still shallow at the time. Furthermore, the Star Luo Western Frontier needed Dai Hao, the "White Tiger War God," to oversee it. The Star Luo Emperor could not possibly bestow upon Huo Yuhao an excessively high title. With Xu Jiujiu's authority, the maximum she could promise at the time was only a hereditary viscountcy.

In the Star Luo Empire's strict noble hierarchy, the viscount is the lowest rank, second only to the baron. Even so, it still signifies the privilege of a formal fiefdom. And the phrase "hereditary without fail" carries immense weight, meaning the title and fiefdom will be passed down through generations, never to be severed.

However, such a "generous reward" seemed so insignificant, whether for Huo Yuhao, who was now capable of stirring up the winds and waves on the continent, or for the young man who had just begun to show his talent five years ago.

"Of course, I can guarantee that I will absolutely not help the Sun Moon Empire against the Star Luo Empire. Your Highness can rest assured about that." Huo Yuhao maintained his calm and composed expression.

After receiving Huo Yuhao's promise, Xu Jiujiu's face did not show the slightest smile. His carefully chosen guarantee clearly did not contain any intention to assist the Star Luo Empire.

But Xu Jiujiu still clung to a sliver of hope and relentlessly pressed on, "Then what does Xingluo need to give in order for you to help us..." Before she could finish, Huo Yuhao raised his hand to interrupt her, "Who told Dai Hao to provoke my master?"

This casual question suddenly reminded Xu Jiujiu of the missing royal retainers, especially the Super Douluo-level Shattered Star Douluo! Her fingertips instantly dug into her palm: "Could it be that those Title Douluos who accompanied the army..."

"That's right, they were all killed by Dai Hao. After hearing that my master planned to have Tianhun withdraw its troops, Dai Hao actually tried to capture her to stop the military order. It would have been fine if he had sought his own death, but he also had to drag four Title Douluos down with him." Huo Yuhao nodded very seriously. How thoughtful he was, he had even found a scapegoat for the Star Luo royal family.

After a long while, he staggered and fell to the ground. The truth behind the near annihilation of the Star Luo royal family's retainers was so absurd! The man revered as a god of war by the Star Luo Empire had led four titled Douluo into a doomed situation in order to obstruct a military order!

That man had fought half his life, yet he didn't even understand the principle that "a small act of impatience can ruin a great plan"! If only he hadn't provoked that person in the first place... If only he had stopped and apologized in time after provoking her... Countless "if onlys" gnawed at his long-held rationality like venomous snakes.

The sharp pain of her splitting nails brought a chill down her spine, and she realized her palms were a bloody mess. It turned out the Star Luo Empire hadn't just been defeated by the Sun Moon Empire's soul-guided cannons, but had been destroyed by the White Tiger Duke's arrogance! A boundless hatred burned within her. She didn't even resent Huo Yuhao's teacher; the strong were entitled to look down upon the masses. But what right did Dai Hao have? What right did he have to drag the entire empire down with him for his foolishness?!

Facing the onslaught of the Sun Moon Empire, the Star Luo Empire is now virtually powerless against the onslaught of soul tools. Even the attack range of a Title Douluo-level expert is far less than that of soul tools. The overwhelming advantage of soul tools is on full display in this war.

This proves the truth of the saying "backwardness invites aggression." With the Star Luo Empire's foundation, if it had focused on developing soul guidance technology after the first Holy War, it would never have fallen to this state. Tragically, that crushing defeat not only failed to break the prejudice that "soul masters are invincible," but instead made this outdated idea even more deeply ingrained.

Perhaps this war will awaken the Star Luo Empire to its true nature, though it may be too late. However, as long as they ultimately win, there will still be room for maneuver. But what constitutes a victory? Is it merely maintaining the Xu family's rule over the empire?

The current state of the Xingguan Xu family is much like that of the White Tiger royal family four thousand years ago, facing a life-or-death crisis. Back then, the Xingguan Sect stepped forward, not only saving the Xingluo Empire but also establishing its position as the leading power among the three kingdoms. Today, who can turn the tide for the Xu family?
But the intelligence Huo Yuhao brought gave Xu Jiujiu a self-deceiving excuse in her despair. She almost obsessively placed all the blame on Dai Hao. It was that man's arrogance that led to today's defeat, and had nothing to do with the Star Luo Empire's millennia-long stagnation and lack of ambition. This absurd conclusion became the fragile pillar supporting her last shred of dignity.

Xu Jiujiu's eyes turned bloodshot: "Why are you telling me all this? You have a blood feud with Dai Hao, and your stance is more inclined towards the Heavenly Soul Empire!"

"I've already said I'm a citizen of Xingluo! The countless lives on this land shouldn't be sacrificed for a fool like Dai Hao." Huo Yuhao shrugged. Before coming here, he had already learned about part of Ju Zi's battle plan. This war was destined to be bloody, but Ju Zi had done its best to prevent the war from affecting civilians.

"Moreover, the price paid by the Heavenly Soul Empire was far more severe. This beast tide devoured nearly a third of the Heavenly Soul Empire's territory. Those soul beasts don't distinguish between civilians and soul masters."

"It's truly regrettable." Xu Jiujiu lowered his eyes, trying to maintain a proper expression of sorrow, but a secret sense of pleasure welled up inside him. He never expected that the retribution for the Heavenly Soul Empire's betrayal of the alliance would come so swiftly and cruelly.

But there are more important things at the moment.

"So... what you meant just now was that you were willing to lend a helping hand to the common people of Xingluo?"

If giving up the White Tiger Duke can bring in Huo Yuhao as a powerful ally, then for Xu Jiujiu and the Star Luo royal family behind her, it's all worth it.

Huo Yuhao nodded gently: "Of course."

This simple promise overwhelmed Xu Jiujiu with ecstasy, so much so that she didn't notice that as Huo Yuhao spoke, his gaze swept past the soldiers marching past the window. Those figures wielding weapons were clearly not among the "civilians" he had promised to protect.

He already understood Ju Zi's plan. On this continent, whether it was the Sun Moon Empire or the original three kingdoms of Douluo Continent, the noble class had always been the foundation of the nation. The royal family, as the largest noble family, together with the entire privileged class, monopolized the nation's resources, which was the core reason why the imperial system could be maintained.

Ju Zi understood this strategy perfectly. In the occupied territories, her primary target was the Star Luo noble class. Through gradual infiltration using soul-guided technology, she aimed to make these privileged classes the first to align themselves with the Sun Moon Empire. Once the nobles became accustomed to the technological conveniences provided by the Sun Moon Empire but were unable to master the core technologies, they would be reduced to puppets. The longer the occupation lasted, the more unbreakable this dependency would become.

Ju Zi's plan, though seemingly simple, is in fact a perfectly legitimate and open strategy. This approach may be slow to take effect, but it can subtly and completely change the foundation of a nation. Once the plan succeeds, it will become incredibly difficult for the Star Luo royal family to reclaim their lost territory. Once people become accustomed to the convenience brought by soul tools, they will no longer be able to tolerate their past backwardness.

She proceeded cautiously, first winning over the noble class in the occupied territories, and then gradually infiltrating the common people through them. This top-down reform, like boiling a frog in lukewarm water, would, within a few years, completely win over the hearts and minds of the people to the Sun Moon Empire. At that time, even if the Star Luo royal family were to reclaim one or two cities, they would be facing a populace already accustomed to the new order.

Huo Yuhao didn't care about this. He knew that what ordinary people cared about most wasn't who sat on the throne or what the emperor's name was, but whether their rice jars were full and their children could grow up safely. The soul-guided technology of the Sun Moon Empire could indeed make the lives of ordinary people more convenient and comfortable. Just think of the soul-guided streetlights that lit up the streets of the Sun Moon Empire, and those soul-guided vehicles. These tangible changes were far more likely to win the hearts of the people than the ethereal glory of the empire.

He couldn't help but feel secretly fortunate that Dragon City had begun to gradually advance the innovation of soul guidance technology thousands of years ago, and this foresight ultimately benefited the entire Heavenly Soul Empire. Although the overall level of soul guidance technology in the Heavenly Soul Empire was still inferior to that of the Sun Moon Empire, it was enough to build a defensive barrier that made the other side wary. It was this foundation that kept the Sun Moon Empire from crossing the line, not the Limit Douluos stationed in Dragon City.

　I'll be very busy this month and next, but I'll make sure I get the perfect attendance bonus; updates will just be irregular. Those of you who know me well know that nagging me is useless, meow... no updates just means I'm busy.

　　(End of this chapter)