"Sect Master Ning agreed to help our Star Luo Empire?"
Hearing this news, Dai Mubai, with dark circles under his eyes, was overwhelmed with excitement.
Ever since learning that the Star Luo Empire had gone to war with Spirit Hall, he had hardly slept a single night.
Day and night, he had been racking his brain, thinking of ways to help the Star Luo Empire.
At the very beginning of the war, Dai Mubai had already sent word to his father, the Emperor of Star Luo, expressing his desire to return and assist.
But the Emperor of Star Luo rejected him.
The reason given was that by remaining in Heaven Dou City, he could gather valuable intelligence.
At the same time, the Emperor of Star Luo also hoped that his son's presence in Heaven Dou City would serve as a show of goodwill toward Xue Qinghe.
If the Heaven Dou Empire chose to remain neutral, the Star Luo Empire could still accept it.
But if the Heaven Dou Empire decided to side with Spirit Hall, then the Star Luo Empire would truly be doomed.
Yet with his nation in peril, how could Dai Mubai possibly be at ease staying in a foreign land?
A true man—if he must die—should die on his own homeland.
In recent days, Dai Mubai had even been considering the feasibility of sneaking back to Star Luo City.
Who would have thought that instead, Ning Rongrong would bring him such joyous news—
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had decided to fully support the Star Luo Empire.
In this era when the Clear Sky Sect remained absent from the world, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was undoubtedly the leader among all sect powers.
Gaining their support meant also gaining the support of the majority of sect forces.
This would fill the gap in the Star Luo Empire's lack of high-end combat power.
With the Star Luo Empire's accumulated foundation over many years, in this war against Spirit Hall, the outcome was still uncertain!
"How could it be false?" Ning Rongrong crossed her arms over her chest, smiling as she looked at the overjoyed Dai Mubai before her.
Oscar placed his hand on Dai Mubai's shoulder and chuckled, "Boss, this time we can fight side by side again."
"You also… decided to go to the Star Luo Empire?" Dai Mubai was completely stunned, staring dumbly at Oscar.
"Not just me, Fatty's going too." Oscar grinned, beckoning to Ma Hongjun not far away.
"We Seven Devils once swore we'd advance and retreat together. How could I be left out of a battle like this?" Ma Hongjun clasped his hands behind his back, grinning as he looked at Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing beside him. "When we arrive in your territory, you'd better treat us well."
"In Star Luo City, I have many sisters. When the time comes, introducing one to you won't be a problem."
Zhu Zhuqing lightly bit her red lips, revealing her sharp little tiger teeth, narrowing her eyes as she said this.
"Hey, we're all good brothers here—why bring up women!" Ma Hongjun's eyes lit up, waving his hand with mock righteousness.
Ning Rongrong moved next to Zhu Zhuqing, covering her mouth with a laugh. "Then, Zhuqing, don't introduce anyone to Ma Hongjun."
"Hey, hey, Rongrong, that's not right…" Ma Hongjun flailed his hands, fuming.
Amidst their banter, everyone's gazes simultaneously turned toward Xiao Wu standing quietly on the side.
And then they all sighed.
Dai Mubai said, "What a pity that Xiao San isn't here. Otherwise, the Seven Devils could all be together again."
Ma Hongjun scratched his head. "Third Brother's always been punctual. What happened this time? It's already past our agreed time, and we still haven't seen him."
"Maybe he's busy cultivating," Ning Rongrong said, defending Tang San.
"Xiao San's talent is probably the best among us, and his cultivation is also the most diligent.
If he fell into a state of enlightenment, forgetting the time would be perfectly normal."
Oscar nodded in deep agreement, secretly holding Ning Rongrong's hand, and laughed lightly:
"Xiao San is someone blessed with fortune. Every time he encounters danger, he always manages to turn peril into safety.
Even if he's run into some difficulty this time, nothing will happen. Why don't we all leave a letter together and place it with Dean Flender?
That way, even after we've departed, Little San can find out our whereabouts when he returns."
Hearing this, everyone nodded.
"That's a good idea. Let's do that," Dai Mubai said.
Star Luo Empire.
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
"Achoo!"
Tang San rubbed his nose and looked around. Who was speaking ill of him?
All around came the ding ding dang dang of hammering—almost everyone was focused on forging.
No one was looking at him.
This made Tang San shake his head inwardly.
Probably just the aftereffects of sneaking away from Qian Daoliu.
He always felt as though someone was watching him.
At this moment, a sturdy man, bare-chested, walked over.
He handed over a mechanical steel weapon to Tang San:
"Xiao San, according to the design you gave, our Clear Sky Sect disciples have already forged the first Zhuge Divine Crossbow. Take a look, see if there are any flaws."
Tang San accepted the Zhuge Divine Crossbow and loaded it with two refined steel bolts.
Then he stepped out of the noisy forge and aimed at a wrist-thick walnut tree in the courtyard.
Swish!
The bolts shot out.
The walnut tree split cleanly in two!
Seeing this, Tang San nodded in satisfaction, raising the crossbow in his hand to examine it. "Seems the steel provided by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is of excellent quality. With Zhuge Divine Crossbows like these, we can deal with any Spirit Master below Spirit Ancestor level."
"Uncle Wan, what matters next is how many Zhuge Divine Crossbows our Clear Sky Sect disciples can produce." Tang San spoke to the burly middle-aged man before him.
Tang Wan's expression was grave as he nodded. "All Clear Sky disciples will work day and night to mass-produce the Zhuge Divine Crossbow!
The evil Spirit Hall committed against our Clear Sky Sect, I will repay piece by piece!"
Tang Wan was the youngest elder of the Clear Sky Sect.
The Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Xiao, had perished in the last siege by Spirit Hall.
At present, the Clear Sky Sect was temporarily under Tang Wan's leadership.
Originally, Tang Wan's plan was to lead the remaining strength of the Clear Sky Sect to ally with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan against Spirit Hall.
Unexpectedly, on the way to the clan, he encountered Tang San—the son of Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Douluo.
Tang San's strength had already been revealed two years ago, when he returned to the Clear Sky Sect to clear his father's name.
Now, after several years apart, his cultivation was even more unfathomable.
Thus, Tang Wan deeply respected Tang San, even intending to have him serve as acting sect master.
But Tang San politely declined, saying he was not adept at sect administration.
After learning the current situation, Tang San immediately produced the design for the Zhuge Divine Crossbow, aiding the Clear Sky Sect in bolstering its military strength.
The Clear Sky Sect had once been the number one sect in the world. With the Clear Sky Hammer, they also commanded immense prestige in the forging world.
Although their combat strength had been severely reduced due to Spirit Hall's siege, their forging ability remained unchanged.
"The production of Zhuge Divine Crossbows is no longer a problem. What must be expedited now is the recruitment of an army to wield them," Tang Wan said thoughtfully.
"My suggestion is to select from among the sects that were formerly Clear Sky Sect's affiliates.
These people are loyal and trustworthy," Tang San proposed.
Hearing this, Tang Wan's expression turned bitter. "Back then, it was we of the Clear Sky Sect who heartlessly abandoned them. Would they still be willing to follow our leadership?"
"For the sake of the sect, I'll personally go and persuade them," Tang San said firmly, his gaze resolute.
This wasn't just for his father's sect—
It was also a way to strengthen his own power.
Tang San understood well: Spirit Hall could not be destroyed by his strength alone.
He needed allies.
(End of Chapter)