Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

Gu Rong's hoarse voice rang out, tinged with coldness: "Three legions, plus at least two Title Douluos leading them. Bibi Dong has gone all out. Can the Northern Border withstand this?"

Feng Zhi didn't answer. He turned around and walked to the window. On the city wall outside, sentries were patrolling back and forth with torches, the light flickering in the night. "Then let's see what Eva can do."

He paused, then said, "And the skills of her new ally." He looked away and turned to look at Gu Rong.

"Uncle Gu, help me draft a letter for Lady Eva in the North. Tell her that the Spirit Empire has withdrawn at least three legions from the eastern front and is heading north, their target most likely her Heavenly Dou United City-State."

He urged her to prepare as early as possible. He also reminded her that the Spirit Hall would be deploying a significant number of Title Douluos this time, and advised her and her new ally to be cautious.

Gu Rong nodded, then turned and walked towards the door.

Ning Fengzhi looked at the map again, his gaze slowly moving over the dense markings. After a long while, he let out a soft breath. "This battle is getting more and more interesting."

……

north.

In the council hall of the Tiandou United City-State, a map of the northern border defenses lay spread out on a long table, its edges weighed down by several copper paperweights, the ink still fresh.

Eva sat in the main seat, her fingertips lightly tapping the table. Today, she wasn't wearing her signature dark green outfit, but a deep purple robe with a band of silver-gray fur around the collar, which made her already exquisitely beautiful face appear even more aloof.

Her long hair wasn't styled into her usual bun; it was simply tied back with a silver hairpin, with a few stray strands falling around her ears.

Her gaze fell on the map of the northern border on the opposite wall. Several passes leading north from the Spirit Empire were circled in vermilion ink, and the surrounding area was densely marked with intelligence reports sent back by spies.

Three legions, with their supply convoys stretching for dozens of miles.

Seven people were seated in the council chamber. They were representatives of the most powerful old noble families of the Northern Territory, an old duke with white hair but a straight back, two counts in their prime who commanded private armies, and a taciturn duke who had not uttered a word since entering.

Godo sat in the first seat to Eva's right, still wearing that deep purple dress. Her pale fingers toyed with an unknown herb, and her eerie green eyes were half-closed, as if she were dozing off or pondering something.

“Bibi Dong is determined to take over the Northern Border this time.” The one who spoke was the old duke with gray hair, surnamed Qin, whose ancestors for three generations had been border army commanders of the Heavenly Dou Empire.

After the fall of the Tiandou Kingdom, he led his remaining troops to retreat to the northern border. Now he still has nearly 10,000 private soldiers under his command, making him the strongest military force among the old nobles of the northern border.

"The three legions are not a test, but an encirclement. The Martial Soul Empire's garrison on the eastern front is also being mobilized, and we may very well face a pincer attack from two fronts."

"The combined military strength of the northern city-states is only slightly over 60,000, of which less than half have actually seen combat. The rest are new recruits who have only been training for a few months."

Another count frowned, "The chances of winning by directly confronting three legions are slim."

Eva didn't reply, but just looked at Godot.

Ge Duo tossed the herb in her hand onto the table and looked up.

"The first batch of the pills you requested is ready. Two thousand Qi-Nourishing Pills, one thousand Soul-Returning Pills, and five hundred Barrier-Breaking Pills."

The Qi-Nourishing Pill can double the stamina recovery rate of ordinary soldiers within three hours, while the Soul-Returning Pill has miraculous effects on external injuries; as long as it's not a fatal wound, it can stop bleeding and scab over within an incense stick's time. As for the Barrier-Breaking Pill…

She paused, her eerie green eyes sweeping over everyone present. "After taking it, Soul Masters below the Soul Venerable level will have their Soul Power's explosive power increased by 50% for a short period of time, lasting for the duration of an incense stick."

A moment of silence fell over the council chamber. The taciturn duke raised his head, a clear look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Chapter 513 Arrangements in the North

A moment of silence fell over the council chamber. The taciturn duke raised his head, a clear look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

His surname is Zhao. His ancestors were founding heroes of the Tiandou Empire. The title was still held in this generation, but the fiefdom had been reduced by more than half.

He is able to sit here not because of his family's influence, but because of the eight thousand private soldiers he commands and the two border towns that have not yet been destroyed by war.

He had met many alchemists, including the old elders of the Imperial Medical Academy of Tiandou City and the support-type soul masters of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Which one of them wasn't arrogant and conceited?

But who could produce such a quantity of pills in such a short time?

Two thousand Qi-Nourishing Pills, one thousand Soul-Returning Pills, and five hundred Barrier-Breaking Pills.

This isn't medicine making, this is a fucking assembly line.

Duke Zhao's gaze lingered on Ge Duo for a moment, his ever-half-closed, deep green eyes never lifting, as if the numbers he had just reported were nothing more than a batch of freshly baked steamed buns.

He looked away, having made up his mind.

This woman is someone I absolutely must befriend.

General Qin gave Ge Duo a deep look, and a rare solemnity appeared in his eyes, which were somewhat clouded by the passage of time.

He has lived most of his life and has seen too many people who boast wildly but ultimately can't produce anything of substance.

But Godot was different. When she recited those numbers, her tone was as calm as if she were reading a menu. It wasn't boasting, it wasn't bluffing, she was simply stating a fact.

"With this batch of pills, the chances of defending the city have increased by at least 30%."

General Qin nodded slowly, tapped his fingers twice on the table, and then suddenly changed the subject, "But the problem is still there: we don't have enough high-end combat power."

He picked up a thin wooden stick and pointed it at the passes circled in vermilion on the map.

"The Spirit Hall brought at least two Title Douluos with them on this northward expedition, and possibly more. Reports from our scouts mention that there are more than one person in the group wearing platinum bishop robes. On our side, how many Title Douluos can we offer?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Eva and Godot. "There are only two of them, Lady Eva and Her Majesty Godot. Two against two, it's barely a tie. But if there's one more, no one can stop them."

The atmosphere in the council chamber instantly sombered upon hearing this.

The counts exchanged glances but remained silent. They had soldiers, provisions, and cities, but a Title Douluo wasn't something that could be conjured up simply by having money and provisions.

In the entire Northern Territory, apart from Gedo and Eva, there is not a single Title Douluo.

Eva leaned back in her chair and tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest twice.

Then she laughed.

The smile was faint, the corners of his mouth only slightly turned up, yet it inexplicably silenced everyone present.

"Who said the Northern Territory only has two Title Douluos?"

General Qin frowned slightly. Duke Zhao raised his eyes, a hint of inquiry flashing in them. Ge Duo's eyes remained half-closed, but the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

“I have another subordinate,” Eva said, picking up her teacup and taking a slow sip. “He’s on his way.”

General Qin tightened his grip on the wooden pole slightly, his voice becoming a few decibels deeper than before: "Madam Eva, this matter is of utmost importance. May I ask... what is the name of this subordinate of yours?"

Eva set down her teacup, the porcelain cup making a very soft, crisp sound as it collided with the table. She raised her eyes, her emerald green gaze sweeping over everyone present, the languid smile still playing on her lips.

"Dugu Bo".

It was as if someone had pressed the pause button in the council chamber; all sound vanished in that instant.

General Qin's pupils contracted slightly. Duke Zhao's teacup froze in mid-air, the tea inside swaying twice, almost spilling.

The counts who had been whispering all fell silent, their eyes turning to the person in the main seat.

Dugu Bo. Poison Douluo, a level 92 Title Douluo, the only one on the continent to be titled with poison. His Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Poison is a mobile natural disaster on large-scale battlefields; a single soul skill can render an area within a hundred feet barren.

"Dugu Bo?" General Qin's voice lowered unconsciously. "Didn't he retire a long time ago? Ever since Emperor Xueye passed away, there has been no news of him in Tiandou City..."

“He’s mine,” Eva interrupted him, her tone as flat as if she were commenting on the weather. “It was while the snowy night was still here.”

The moment those words were spoken, everyone's expression in the council chamber changed.

Was Dugu Bo already Eva's man when the Snow Night Emperor was still alive?

Doesn't that mean that this Poison Douluo has been serving under her for many years?

General Qin looked at Eva and suddenly felt that he couldn't understand this woman anymore.

A woman who has endured for many years, playing the role of a virtuous and gentle queen in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, has secretly subdued a titled Douluo and has now won over the continent's number one alchemist.

Duke Zhao was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Dugu Bo's poison is indeed a powerful weapon on the battlefield. But his cultivation level..."

He paused, carefully choosing his words, "I heard he's been stuck at level 92 for a long time, and there's been no news of him breaking through in recent years."

“That was before,” Ge Duo suddenly spoke, her voice languid, as if she had just woken from a nap. She casually placed the herbs in her hand on the table and raised her deep green eyes.

"He was indeed stuck at level 92 for a long time. However, he took a batch of pills from me before, specifically to break through his bottleneck. Judging by the time, things should be different when he comes back."

General Qin tightened his grip on the wooden pole.

Breaking through the bottleneck! How many years has Dugu Boka been at level 92? At least a decade or so.

If this breakthrough is successful, then he will become a level 93 Title Douluo.

Although there is only one level difference between level 93 and level 92, at the Title Douluo level, the difference between each level is enormous.

A level 93 Poison Douluo, coupled with his Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Poison which can cover the entire battlefield, is probably more terrifying in terms of lethality on the battlefield than two level 92 Title Douluos combined.

Duke Zhao took a deep breath and steadily placed the teacup back on the table. He now finally understood why Eva had been so composed throughout.

Three titled Douluo.

Eva, who has a firm grasp on the overall situation; Gedo, who can mass-produce high-level pills; and Dugu Bo, who is level 93 and can take on ten thousand men on the battlefield.

With these three together, as long as the number of Title Douluos who come isn't too excessive, defending the Northern Territory will be a piece of cake.

Eva's gaze swept across the faces of everyone present, taking in every change in their expressions.

She picked up her teacup, took another sip, then put it down, placing her hands folded on her knees, her posture still the same languid elegance she never showed before.

“Now that everyone has no more questions,” she began, her voice not loud, but it made everyone instinctively straighten their backs, “let’s talk about the next arrangements.”

“General Qin.” Eva looked at the old duke with gray hair.

"Your subordinate is here." General Qin stood up, supporting himself on the edge of the table, the metal plates of his armor clanging as he moved.

"Iron Gate Pass and North Wind Pass on the northern front are the areas you are most familiar with. Your nearly 10,000 private soldiers are the most capable fighters in the northern border. I will replenish your ranks to 12,000 men, plus 2,000 Qi Cultivation Pills and 500 Soul Returning Pills. You will guard these two passes. No matter how many people the Spirit Hall sends, you are not allowed to retreat a single step before I say we must withdraw."

General Qin's fingers trembled slightly as he gripped the hilt of his sword. Iron Gate Pass and North Wind Pass were the gateways to the north, and Eva had entrusted him with these two most important passes, along with additional troops and elixirs.

"This subordinate obeys the order."

“Duke Zhao,” Eva said, turning to the taciturn duke.

Duke Zhao raised his eyelids and nodded slightly.

"Your fiefdom is located in the west. You have managed Yingchou Gorge and Luoyan Ferry on the western front for so many years. You know better than anyone the thickness of every section of the city wall and the depth of every ferry crossing."

"I'll leave the western front to you, and I'll give you another three thousand men, plus your eight thousand private soldiers, making a total of eleven thousand. The elixirs will be the same as General Qin's: two thousand Qi-Nourishing Pills and five hundred Soul-Returning Pills."

Duke Zhao remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "The western front will not be lost."

Eva then turned to the counts and assigned them tasks one by one: inspecting the supply lines, transporting the wounded, and guarding the reserves, explaining each task clearly. Only after the last person had received his orders and stood up did she turn to Godot.

"Please take good care of the pills. The supply cannot be interrupted. The Qi-Nourishing Pill and the Soul-Returning Pill are consumables, and we need to replenish them after each battle. Don't rush to refine the Barrier-Breaking Pill. That thing can be used as a trump card in critical moments, and it's too early to reveal it now."

Geduo toyed with the herb in her hand, her eerie green eyes remaining fixed on it. "Understood. As long as we have enough materials, the pills won't run out. However, some materials aren't produced locally in the Northern Territory, so we'll have to source them from elsewhere."

“Give me a list, and I’ll have someone take care of it. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has two trade routes still open in the Northern Territory. Ning Fengzhi personally made arrangements for our goods to have priority passage.” After Eva finished speaking, she scanned the entire room again, her voice not loud, but every word clear.