Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

Gu Yuena's fingertips curled slightly inside her sleeve.

Although she knew this auspicious beast was different from ordinary soul beasts, she never expected it to take that step toward the gods so quickly in this way.

That pure affinity with the rules, that talent that allows one to touch the very essence of the laws without any medium, is something she has never seen in any other being.

Gu Yuena lowered her eyes slightly, pulling herself out of the tremor, letting that sensation recede into the depths of her consciousness like a tide.

She needs to take care of her own affairs first.

She had not responded to the call, but that did not mean she could completely ignore it.

She needs to make a choice, and she can't delay it for too long.

On the other side of the Lake of Life, Di Tian stood in the shadow of an ancient tree, his black robe almost blending into the shadows of the tree in the night, revealing only his vertical pupils that gleamed with a golden light in the darkness.

He naturally sensed the movement from the auspicious beast's side. The divine aura that was slowly taking shape, although it had not yet truly entered that realm, was already proving to him that it would eventually complete this step.

Di Tian withdrew his gaze and looked back towards the bottom of the Lake of Life.

He had been waiting for a long time. Ever since he received that call, he had been watching the Silver Dragon King, waiting for her to make her decision.

He was different from the ferocious beasts like the Crimson King, the Bear King, and the Jade Princess. He was a dragon, and deep within his soul was engraved his loyalty to the Dragon God, a loyalty that had transcended countless years and had never truly faded.

But the Silver Dragon King was also the object of his previous oath of loyalty, and the one he had been protecting for hundreds of thousands of years.

If the Silver Dragon King decides not to go to the Dragon Realm, can he continue to follow her as he does now?

Di Tian's fingertips tightened slightly inside his sleeve, then slowly relaxed.

He had no answer, but he knew he wouldn't have to wait long.

In the dark waters at the bottom of the Lake of Life, Gu Yuena remained seated cross-legged, her long silver hair gently swaying in the water, and the silver aura surrounding her rose and fell steadily like breathing.

She's thinking about the same thing.

The call was still there, like a door that was always ajar, waiting for her response.

She didn't know how the new Dragon God would view her, the unresponsive half of the former Dragon God, nor did she know whether her refusal to go would be seen as a provocation or disrespect.

The sensation came so suddenly that she had no time to prepare.

Her first reaction was resistance. She didn't even seriously consider what it meant; she simply subconsciously chose to wait and remain silent.

But now she has calmed down.

She began to realize that the call itself did not contain any coercive meaning; the other party was simply confirming whether she was still there, and whether the two beings of the same origin as him could be contacted.

She waited for the new Dragon God to send another urging or command, but nothing came.

That silence made her more uneasy than any words.

The Silver Dragon King began to worry. She worried that her silence would be interpreted as an attitude, that the new Dragon God would harbor resentment towards her unresponsive half, and that her still-healing wounds would become a reason for being purged at some unknown moment.

Chapter 559 Pre-Battle Preparations

The Silver Dragon King was somewhat frightened.

She is the other half of the former Dragon God, the Silver Dragon King who inherited the Dragon God's wisdom and control over the elements. However, she is currently seriously injured and her strength has not yet recovered. If the new Dragon God is truly dissatisfied with her, she will not even have the means to resist.

But after thinking about it for a long time, she finally gave up the idea of ​​taking the initiative to contact the new Dragon God.

Before she fully recovers from her injuries, she needs to keep more trump cards up her sleeve. News about the revival of the Dragon Clan and her observations about the situation on the Douluo Continent might serve as leverage between her and the new Dragon God.

She thought of Di Tian and Zi Ji, the two ferocious beasts who had followed her for many years and guarded the Star Dou Great Forest for her for countless years. They obviously knew about the new Dragon God's appointment.

Logically, the return of the dragons would mean that their loyalty should be reverted to the being who possesses the full authority of the dragon god.

But they made no move. Di Tian remained guarding the edge of the Lake of Life, and Zi Ji continued to cultivate on the other side of the core area, as if nothing had happened.

They made their stance clear to the Silver Dragon King through their silent actions.

The Silver Dragon King lowered her eyes slightly, suppressing the complex emotions that surged within her. Their loyalty remained unwavering, and she needed that loyalty to maintain her current position.

……

Barak Royal City, Royal Palace Council Hall.

On the long table in the center of the council hall lay a huge military map of Douluo Continent. Several battle lines, outlined in vermilion ink, stretched from the northern border to the southern frontier, crisscrossing like a net being tightened.

Several copper paperweights were pressed against the corners of the map, their edges worn and obviously having been read many times.

Several figures sat on either side of the long table.

Eva sat in the first seat to the left of the main seat. Today she wore a deep purple robe with a collar trimmed with silver-gray animal fur, which accentuated her already exquisitely beautiful face and gave her a cold and aloof air characteristic of the Northern Territory.

Her long, dark hair was styled into a simple bun, with a few stray strands falling around her ears and swaying gently as she tilted her head slightly.

Opposite her sat Emperor Dai Tianfeng of the Star Luo Empire, dressed in a dark gold imperial robe, with a resolute face and a calm and dignified air cultivated from years of ruling the empire.

He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the map, seemingly surveying the terrain, but his peripheral vision would occasionally sweep over Eva, each time so quickly that it was almost imperceptible unless one was specifically looking for her.

To Dai Tianfeng's right, Ning Fengzhi, the sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, held a cup of tea, his posture calm and refined.

Today he wore a moon-white robe, the hem of which hung down to the edge of the chair. He looked like a bamboo planted in the council hall, a stark contrast to the solemn aura of the generals around him.

He drank tea much less frequently than usual, and each time he put down his teacup, his gaze would linger briefly on a certain spot on the map.

Next to Ning Fengzhi was Yu Yuanzhen, the sect leader of the Blue Lightning Overlord Sect. He was burly, with a resolute face and short, gray hair standing on end, just like his fiery temper.

He placed his hands on the table, his knuckles thick and strong, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, carefully examining the battle lines on the map that had been repeatedly marked.

Tang Xiao, the sect leader of Haotian Sect, sat at the other end of the long table. His dark gray outfit was extremely simple, which contrasted sharply with the others present.

His face was rugged, but his eyes were like the deepest, coldest pool in a mountain stream, silent yet able to reflect every subtle movement beneath the surface.

To Tang Xiao's left, Princess Ailuo of the Barak Kingdom sat quietly in her seat, her light golden hair held in place by a silver hairpin. Her posture was dignified, but her presence was intentionally or unintentionally minimized.

She didn't speak or offer any opinions; she simply sat there quietly, maintaining the proper etiquette expected of a host.

The meeting was not initiated by Aurora. Although the Kingdom of Barak still nominally retains a certain degree of autonomy, its influence is insufficient to initiate a meeting of this level in the face of this war sweeping the continent.

The conference was jointly initiated by the Star Luo Empire, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the Haotian School, and the Northern Allied Forces. The choice of Barak Royal City as the conference location was simply because the city is located in the central region of the entire Douluo Continent, allowing all parties to arrive as quickly as possible.

Eva sat up slightly, raised her hand, and lightly touched the battle lines drawn in vermilion ink on the map with her fingertips.

"Gentlemen," her voice was not loud, but it clearly resonated throughout the council hall, "After the great victory in the Northern Frontier, the Spirit Empire's battle lines have contracted, but it is only a contraction, not a collapse. They need time to catch their breath to reassess the pressure on each front and adjust their troop deployments, and that time to catch their breath is now almost up."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the people present: "If we don't take the initiative, once they regain their footing, all fronts will revert to the previous war of attrition. Finding a suitable opportunity then won't be so easy."

Dai Tianfeng's eyebrows twitched slightly. He didn't speak immediately, but his gaze lingered for a moment on the map at the locations where Eva's fingertips had passed.

Ning Fengzhi picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and when the rim of the cup touched his lips, his gaze was still on the table, as if waiting for others to speak first.

Yu Yuanzhen broke the silence first. His voice was deep and resonant, like a stone thrown into a deep pool: "The Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect is ready. All the disciples who can fight have returned to their positions, and the soul tools, medicinal herbs, and provisions have all been inventoried. We are just waiting for your order."

Tang Xiao nodded, his voice steady: "The Haotian Sect is ready to send troops at any time. The elders are all in place, and the allocation of resources within the sect has been completed. They will not hold us back."

Dai Tianfeng was silent for a moment, then looked up from the map and swept his gaze over everyone present: "The Star Luo Empire's army can be deployed to the battlefield at any time. But there is one condition: the Star Luo Empire's army must be commanded by Star Luo's generals. I will not relinquish command."

Eva did not refute this, as she had anticipated it: "Each front has its own command. Operational-level cooperation is coordinated by the coalition forces, while tactical-level execution is carried out independently."

Dai Tianfeng looked at Eva, a solemn glint flashing in his sharp, hawk-like eyes, as if confirming something silently. He didn't raise any further objections, but simply nodded slowly.

Ning Fengzhi put down his teacup, his voice gentle yet clear: "Then let's set a time. The first phase of deployment must be completed before the heavy snow closes the mountains. All units, from now on, should adjust their state as quickly as possible and prepare to meet the enemy."

Eva didn't answer immediately. She was quickly calculating the time in her mind, the distance between the parties, the speed of mobilization, the length of the battle line, and the logistical support. Every aspect was running, connecting, and colliding in her mind, like playing an invisible game of chess.

A moment later she announced a time: "Twenty days from now, the entire front will launch a simultaneous attack. Before that, all parties will complete their assembly and deployment."

Everyone present was silent for a moment, then nodded in unison.

With the timeline set, the division of labor on the front lines gradually took shape. Sects such as the Clear Sky Sect, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect were responsible for containing the western front, forcing the Spirit Empire to commit sufficient defensive forces to its western border.

The Star Luo Empire was responsible for the main attack on the southern front, using its powerful regular army to break through the Southern Defense Line of the Martial Soul Empire head-on.

The Northern Alliance was responsible for the central breakthrough, using their mobility to tear a gap in the central part of the Spirit Empire.

The three forces will launch an attack from three directions on the same day, preventing the Martial Soul Empire from concentrating all its forces in any one direction.

The meeting lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, discussing details such as logistical support, communication coordination, and contingency plans for dealing with emergencies.

Once the last agenda item was settled, the key figures dispersed, preparing to return to their respective spheres of influence.

Aurora stood at the entrance of the council chamber, watching the figures disappear through the corridor. She didn't approach them to speak, nor did she try to mingle among those important figures.

Throughout today's meeting, she remained a quiet background figure.

Eva walked alongside Ning Fengzhi for a while in the corridor. Ning Fengzhi turned his head and glanced at her: "How is the state of the Northern army?"

"They are already recovering. With Gedo's pills, the wounded soldiers are recovering at an incredible speed. As for expanding the army, although the northern border is harsh and cold, there are quite a few people willing to join the army and make a living, so there is no problem with manpower."

Ning Fengzhi nodded, not stopping in his tracks: "That's good."

Eva didn't say anything more. The two parted ways at the fork in the road at the end of the corridor and went their separate ways.

Eva walked alone through the corridor brightly lit by the afternoon sun, through several archways, and back to the courtyard where she was temporarily staying.

Several Northern messengers who had accompanied her were waiting quietly. When they saw her return, they all stood up straight.

"Send the order back," Eva said succinctly, "all units to enter a state of high alert, inventory and catalog supplies, and complete this within three days. Also, tell Godot to prioritize ensuring the stockpile of pills, as subsequent consumption will be substantial."

Several messengers acknowledged the order and quickly left the courtyard.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in the northern border, within the military camp at Iron Gate Pass, a shockwave was spreading outwards like a stone thrown into a still lake.

Initially, it was just a brief message that the allied forces were about to launch a full-scale offensive.

The news spread through the military camp much faster than any commander had anticipated. In less than half an hour, it reached every tent from the command post, and then from the tents to every soldier who was resting on the training ground or in the rest area.

Xiao Wu was squatting at the entrance of the barracks, wiping her boots. Her pink scorpion braids hung down from her shoulders, gleaming softly in the afternoon sunlight.

When she heard the news, she abruptly stopped what she was doing.

She looked up, her pink eyes swirling with incredibly complex emotions. She froze for a moment, as if she hadn't heard what she was hearing, but then that stunned silence quickly transformed into an uncontrollable excitement, like a flame that had been suppressed for too long finally finding a way out and bursting into flames.

She stood up abruptly, not even bothering to wipe her boots, and strode quickly toward Zhu Zhuqing's tent.

When the curtain was lifted, Zhu Zhuqing was sitting on the edge of the bed tidying up her equipment. Her long, dark hair was neatly tied behind her head. When she heard the noise, she looked up and saw Xiao Wu's excitement, which was almost written all over her face. She didn't say anything.

"Zhuqing! Have you heard the news? War is about to break out!" Xiaowu walked up to her in a few steps.

"I've heard about it." Zhu Zhuqing didn't stop what she was doing.

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this day!" Xiao Wu sat down on the low stool in front of her, her hands supporting her knees, her pink eyes shining brightly.

“I’ve been waiting since the first day I arrived in the North. After waiting for so long, it’s finally here.”