Douluo Continent: I got the Sharingan at the start!

The two looked on in disbelief, as if they had a thousand words to say but could no longer utter a sound.

A man in black sneered and said disdainfully, "Truly, human relationships are cold and fickle; when disaster strikes, everyone flees for their lives. How many times has this happened already? Never failed."

"This place is really strange; it needs the lives and blood of men and women who betray love to be stirred up." He paused, then added, "Ancient forces lie dormant at the bottom of this lake, and only such extreme negative emotions can awaken them."

Only by witnessing the shattering of love can the door to the altar be opened. Another man in black nodded silently in agreement.

He looked down at the lake and said softly, "I hope this offering is powerful enough to meet the needs of the slumbering one."

Having said that, he pulled a black talisman from his robes and tossed it into the lake. The talisman emitted a dazzling light the instant it touched the blood, and the lake began to churn violently, as if something was about to burst forth from the water. The man in black nodded in satisfaction and said, "The ritual begins."

They floated silently in the air, waiting for the movement at the bottom of the lake.

The lake water churned more and more violently, forming a huge whirlpool that exuded a suffocating sense of oppression.

Suddenly, a blood-red light shot into the sky from the center of the vortex, illuminating the entire night sky. Upon seeing this, the man in black revealed a fanatical expression.

"We did it!" they cheered in unison, as if they had seen the dawn of victory.

Another man in black frowned and impatiently hissed in a low voice, "Enough with the nonsense! Drain their blood quickly so we can go back and report."

He paused, a hint of tension in his voice, "Once this place is activated, it will erupt in full force in an hour."

"At that time, even gods will not be able to escape, and all humans involved will..." The man in black suddenly stopped speaking, as if he realized that he had almost revealed some secret that he should not have said.

The first man in black seemed to suddenly remember some taboo, his expression changed slightly, and he immediately fell silent, focusing on the movements of his hands.

With a flash of cold light, the dagger in his hand pierced the couple's bodies once more, and blood gushed out, staining the lake water red.

The couple's breathing grew weaker and weaker, their eyes gradually unfocused, and the flame of their lives flickered like a candle in the wind. Their bodies trembled slightly, and finally they stopped struggling.

Crimson blood dripped down the blade of the dagger, creating ripples on the lake's surface.

The couple's faces gradually turned pale, their lips lost their color, and their eyes lost their luster.

Their vitality rapidly faded, and their bodies gradually became cold and stiff.

Blood spread across the lake, turning the clear water a deep crimson.

The couple eventually bled to death, and their lives came to an end.

The two bodies fell into the lake one after the other with two muffled "plop, plop" sounds. The lake water rippled, but quickly returned to calm.

Seeing that their mission was complete, the two men in black dared not linger for a moment, quickly turned around, and took to the air.

Their figures were lithe and agile, like two black bats in the night sky, quickly disappearing into the darkness.

In the blink of an eye, their figures vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed.

A few minutes later, the lake began to churn, and the water that had been stained red with blood gradually faded, replaced by a strange color.

The golden and silver light shimmered and danced on the lake's surface, like twinkling stars in the night sky.

The golden light was like leaping flames, radiating intense heat, while the silver light was like flowing mercury, radiating a soft glow.

The gold and silver colors intertwine and blend together, creating a unique and breathtaking spectacle.

The golden light continued to expand, like a golden wave sweeping across the entire lake.

A silver radiance followed closely behind, like a silver ribbon wrapped around the golden waves.

The gold and silver colors spread outwards at an astonishing speed, enveloping the entire lake in a strange light.

The lake water churned and surged, as if something was about to burst forth from the water.

The golden and silver light on the lake grew increasingly dazzling, reflecting a magnificent golden glow onto the surrounding scenery.

The energy fluctuations in the lake water grew stronger and stronger, as if some powerful force was brewing.

"What's the situation?" Xu Tianran, the regent and crown prince of the Sun Moon Empire, asked with a gloomy expression, dressed in mourning clothes.

His brows were furrowed, his gaze sharp, and he exuded an aura of authority.

The Imperial Defense Minister, kneeling before him, said in a deep voice, "The situation has stabilized. But the losses have been heavy, especially in terms of soul-guided devices."

"Nine out of ten of the soul tools we've stored for years are gone..."

Xu Tianran waved his hand, interrupting the Defense Minister, and said, "I don't want to hear about the damage figures. I'm asking you, what is the public sentiment right now?"

The defense minister said, "Public sentiment is relatively stable, after all, this is a loss of domestic products, and it doesn't concern them much."

Xu Tianran nodded and said, "Pass on my order to spread the news of the stolen soul tool throughout the continent and stir up public sentiment. Strictly suppress news of His Majesty's death."

At the same time, you personally wrote an article blaming the Star Luo Empire and the Heavenly Soul Empire for the theft.

"Yes," the Minister of Defense replied respectfully, feeling great admiration for the Regent's ability to calm himself down and respond swiftly.

With so many things happening at once, the fact that he could handle them so calmly and methodically truly shows he has the qualities of a wise ruler!

The Minister of Defense bowed and asked in a deep voice, "Your Highness, what about Shrek Academy? This matter is also very likely related to them."

"When we make the announcement to the public..." He paused slightly, waiting for Xu Tianran's instructions, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry and expectation.

Xu Tianran slowly shook his head, his deep gaze fixed on the bright sunlight outside the window, as if piercing through layers of fog and seeing into a more distant place.

He pondered for a moment, then said in a low but firm voice, "Let's not mention them." He paused, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound, as if he were thinking about some important strategic deployment.

"Shrek Academy is, after all, just an academy." He spoke again, his tone carrying a hint of disdain, yet also a hidden sense of apprehension. "But at the same time, they are also spiritual leaders among many Soul Masters."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing within them.

"If we include them," he paused, as if weighing the pros and cons, "it will affect our strategy." His tone became decisive, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"As for dealing with them," he said with a confident smile, "I have my own ways."

He waved his hand gently, indicating that the Defense Minister could leave.

"Yes," the Minister of Defense replied respectfully, bowing again before turning and leaving with steady, powerful steps. The heavy palace doors closed slowly behind him, isolating him from the sounds of the outside world.

The hall returned to silence, with only Xu Tianran sitting there quietly, like a majestic mountain peak, unmoving.

Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing him in a golden glow.

A moment later, a soft footstep broke the silence in the hall.

A figure dressed in black appeared silently at the palace entrance; it was the mysterious Imperial Advisor.

He walked in without being announced, his steps light and steady, as if a gentle breeze had swept by.

His face was filled with undisguised joy, and he walked with a brisk pace, as if he had brought some good news.

Xu Tianran raised his head, his gaze falling on the mysterious national teacher, a look of concern on his face.

"Grand Preceptor," he asked, his tone tinged with urgency, "what's the situation?"

The mysterious imperial advisor walked up to Xu Tianran, bowed, and then said with a slightly excited tone, "The situation is not good." He paused, as if organizing his thoughts.

"The Heavenly Soul Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and even the people from the Body Sect have all fled." His tone carried a hint of surprise, as if he hadn't expected the other side to retreat so quickly.

"They actually prepared a large number of earth-burrowing soul tools."

He continued, his tone filled with disbelief.

"They sent all their key personnel out."

He paused, then added, "Based on the drilling we found, at least a hundred people were smuggled out."

He shook his head and sighed, "Even if there are any remnants, they are scattered among the people and are very difficult to find."

Upon hearing this news, Xu Tianran's facial expression instantly contorted, like a crumpled piece of paper.

He slammed his right fist into his left palm with a dull thud, revealing his anger and resentment.

"Damn it!" he said through gritted teeth, his voice filled with rage.

"I should have thought of that sooner!" He stood up abruptly, pacing back and forth like a caged beast. "Make sure the Red Dust Hall Master strengthens underground surveillance throughout the city."

He spoke firmly, with an unquestionable command.

"The bombing at the underground warehouse must have been done by them too." He paused, his tone full of certainty. "There's no way they could have broken into the warehouse except by drilling underground."

The exact nature of the underground warehouse remains a complete mystery.

No one could possibly know the specifics of what happened. Xu Tianran could only blame the Star Luo Empire and the Heavenly Soul Empire for the incident, based on the principle of maximizing his own interests.

This would give them more justification for the wars they might wage in the future.

Although the soul tools were stolen, many that couldn't be taken away were left behind, which was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

This also gave Xu Tianran a reason to act. Regardless of who was responsible, the Sun Moon Empire could simply assume that it was the Heavenly Soul and the Star Luo Empire.

The mysterious imperial advisor took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, his tone heavy as he said, word by word, "The losses this time were indeed severe."

He raised his eyelids, his gaze falling on Xu Tianran. The "Your Highness" he had originally addressed him lingered on his tongue for a moment, then he swallowed it back and changed his address to, "Oh, no, now I should address you as His Majesty."

He bowed slightly to show respect for the new emperor, then straightened up, staring intently at Xu Tianran, and asked, "Your Majesty, when do you plan to send troops?"

His long, slender fingers tapped the table unconsciously, one tap after another, as if striking the drumbeats of war.

As the leader of the Holy Spirit Cult and the actual controller of this group of evil soul masters, no one looked forward to the war more than him.

War means death, destruction, and also the influx of countless souls into his control, becoming the source of his power.

He could almost see countless souls wailing and struggling on the smoke-filled battlefield, eventually transforming into pure energy that he would devour and absorb.

Xu Tianran paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed, as if he were weighing the pros and cons.

He stopped and pondered for a moment before saying, "This incident happened too suddenly. Stabilizing the internal situation is the top priority."

He walked to the window, gazing into the distance, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Moreover, the underground warehouse was robbed, and we suffered heavy losses. Most of the soul tools we had prepared for the war have been completely destroyed."

He turned around, his gaze falling on the mysterious Grand Preceptor, a hint of probing in his eyes: "If the Grand Preceptor is willing to commit fully, we might be able to launch the war ahead of schedule, but..."

His words carried a hint of hesitation, clearly indicating that he did not have much hope for the Holy Spirit Church's full support.

The mysterious imperial advisor shook his head decisively and said firmly, "We can only provide covert assistance; we can never fully commit ourselves."

His tone was firm and left no room for doubt: "The Soul Master world has never tolerated us. Although we are strong enough to protect ourselves now, if we participate in the war in full force, it will inevitably draw out those hidden sects."

He walked to Xu Tianran's side and lowered his voice, saying, "By then, it will be even more difficult for His Majesty to complete the invasion."

He paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, and continued, "In my opinion, the war can be postponed, but we can take this opportunity to deepen the hatred of our people towards those two countries."

He stretched out his hand, made a fist, and said in a chilling tone, "Continue to increase troop numbers and train soldiers, and do everything possible to produce soul-guided devices to make full preparations for war."

His gaze was piercing as he stared at Xu Tianran, saying each word clearly, "Now that we've already torn off the mask of civility, we must begin an arms race ahead of schedule. If we don't act now, all is well; but once we do, we must do it with overwhelming force, achieving victory in one fell swoop!"

Xu Tianran nodded in satisfaction, a faint smile playing on his lips, and said approvingly, "That's exactly what I was thinking too. To repel external threats, we must first secure internal stability."

He walked to the table, picked up a list, handed it to the mysterious Grand Preceptor, and said in a deep voice, "I need to stabilize the domestic situation first, and take this opportunity to eliminate a group of traitors. I'll leave this matter to the Grand Preceptor."

At this point, a cold glint flashed in Xu Tianran's eyes, and a sinister killing intent appeared on his lips.

The mysterious imperial advisor took the list and calmly replied, "Yes."

His gaze swept over the names on the list, his tone chillingly calm: "Some people should indeed be held responsible for this incident, and as for those who are innocent, we could say they are responsible for the theft." (End of Chapter)