"The vast forces of the Sun-Moon Federation's Poseidon Legion are about to invade. What do you all think?" The court of the Star Luo Empire was in session.
"Your Majesty, this invasion by the Sun-Moon Federation is primarily due to our detention of Lan Hai, a member of their diplomatic mission. The Federation is overwhelmingly powerful. I believe we should release Blue Hai immediately and seek peace to ensure our survival," a minister suggested.
As soon as this minister finished speaking, another official stepped forward in opposition. "Your Majesty, Lan Hai is deeply involved in the case of the imperial tomb robbery. He has even been accused of selling our royal ancestors' remains. How can we release him before the case is fully investigated?"
"I agree. If we do not strictly deal with Lan Hai as a warning, more people will begin targeting the ancestral tombs of our Douluo Continent," another official added solemnly.
"You speak lightly of the matter. If we do not hand over Lan Hai, do you intend to face the Poseidon Legion head-on? Tell me, which of your military units can stand against them?" the first minister retorted.
"All members of the Sun-Moon Federation's diplomatic mission are currently in the Star Luo Empire. Perhaps we can control them and use them to force the Federation to retreat," another minister suggested.
However, this proposal was met with widespread opposition.
Emperor Dai Tianling glanced at the speaker and said calmly, "Unless these individuals have leaked Star Luo's national secrets—making them spies—or they have broken our laws, no one is to harm them."
At this stage, the Sun-Moon Federation had only deployed the Poseidon Legion. Star Luo still had a chance to resist.
But if they took hostile action against the Federation's diplomatic mission, then it wouldn't just be the Poseidon Legion they would have to face.
Not only would other legions be mobilized, but powerful sects and noble families would also send their top experts.
That would spell true disaster for the Star Luo Empire.
"Lan Hai is merely an excuse for the Sun-Moon Federation's aggression. Their true intentions are uncertain. Now, with tensions rising between the Tang Sect and the Spirit Pagoda, the Federation is facing internal instability. This will surely impact the Poseidon Legion's logistics. We should seize this opportunity," a general said with a deep voice.
"Fight? What will we fight with? If war breaks out, we face the risk of national destruction. Can the prince afford such a price?"
"If we lack the courage to fight when the enemy is at our gates, what is the purpose of having a military? We might as well surrender now!"
"Given the disparity in strength between us and the Sun-Moon Federation, surrender may not be the worst option. It would spare Star Luo from the ravages of war, and our soldiers would not have to die in vain."
"Die in vain? Defending our homeland is meaningless to you?"
The court descended into heated debate.
Seated on the throne, Emperor Dai Tianling listened in silence as his ministers argued, occasionally making brief comments, though his mind was elsewhere.
The entire morning was spent in these endless discussions.
Yet no resolution was reached.
The second day, the third day—each was the same.
Until the fourth day, as the officials were once again in the middle of their heated exchanges...
"Report!" A palace attendant rushed in urgently.
"What is it?" Dai Tianling suddenly sat up.
"Your Majesty, the Sun-Moon Federation's Poseidon Legion has retreated! Just as they were five days away by sea, they suddenly changed course and headed back to Douluo Continent," the attendant reported.
"They retreated?" The ministers looked at each other in disbelief.
The Sun-Moon Federation was already facing internal strife. If the Poseidon Legion returned without even firing a shot, it would surely create enormous political backlash for the Federation's government.
"It seems our grand advisors have succeeded," Dai Tianling said, a faint smile forming on his lips.
One Day Earlier
Above the vast ocean, a fleet of warships advanced in formation, cutting through the waves. The sight was awe-inspiring—over a hundred battleships, arranged in three carrier battle groups forming a triangular formation.
Three massive aircraft carriers dominated the scene, each carrying squadrons of advanced soul-guided fighter jets. Each carrier was flanked by at least four battleships, with the leading carrier being escorted by a staggering eight.
"That central carrier is likely the Poseidon Legion's command ship. Chen Xinjie, the 'Vast Sea Douluo,' must be on board. We should stay as far away from him as possible. Tong Yu, you handle the right-side carrier and its surrounding battleships. I'll take the left side. Be careful and don't get detected," said the Divine Realm Douluo, his expression grim. Even as an Ultimate Douluo, he dared not confront such an enormous fleet directly.
These warships' defensive shields were nearly impervious—even a peak demigod would struggle to breach them.
Conversely, the soul-guided weapons aboard the fleet posed a real threat to even an Ultimate Douluo.
"Understood, Master. You be careful as well," the 'Kirin Douluo' Tong Yu replied, disappearing instantly.
The next moment, he materialized aboard one of the battleships.
Though even an Ultimate Douluo couldn't directly take on the entire fleet, he could evade radar detection and infiltrate the vessels with ease.
Taking down the main carriers was too risky, so they targeted smaller battleships instead.
Normally, any attack on a battleship would immediately alert the fleet, allowing them to retaliate.
Even Ultimate Douluo would struggle to escape unscathed if surrounded.
But neither Tong Yu nor En Ci planned to destroy the ships outright.
Instead, they maneuvered unseen through the fleet, planting devices aboard key vessels.
After half an hour, they silently withdrew.
On the Fleet's Flagship
Chen Xinjie sat in the command center, studying how to minimize losses in the upcoming battle.
From his past encounter with Star Luo's most advanced warship, the White Tiger, he was convinced that Star Luo's navy was no match for the Poseidon Legion.
Defeat was not an option; he hadn't even considered it.
He had certainly never imagined that someone would dare infiltrate the fleet and sabotage their warships.
Suddenly—BOOM!
The entire fleet shook violently.
"What's happening?!" Chen Xinjie's spiritual power expanded instantly, scanning the entire fleet.
His expression darkened. The massive warships were inexplicably colliding with one another!
Despite the activation of soul-guided protective shields, several ships suffered critical damage.
Some even began sinking.
"Report!" Chen Xinjie stormed onto the deck.
"Commander, the latest batch of battleships had their propulsion systems remotely hijacked. They lost control and crashed into surrounding vessels. We're still investigating the cause," a middle-aged officer from the War God Hall reported grimly.
Chen Xinjie took a deep breath, his eyes flashing. "Find out the cause immediately and report the damage."
"Sir!" A marine approached, presenting a small box. "We discovered this device in the affected ships' propulsion control rooms. It was used to override our systems remotely."
Sun-Moon Federation's elite engineers quickly identified the problem.
"General, this device is a basic control unit. While not highly sophisticated, it perfectly integrates with our propulsion system. We traced the remote signal—it's coming from the Star Luo Empire. It appears they have cracked our latest propulsion technology," the technician explained.
Chen Xinjie's expression grew stormy. The implications were dire.
"Casualties?" he asked coldly.
"Thirty-one ships affected. Four heavily damaged and sinking. Twenty-two others sustained various degrees of damage. Over three thousand casualties, initial estimates," an officer reported.
Chen Xinjie's face twisted in rage. His elite Poseidon Legion had suffered devastating losses—before even engaging the enemy.
"Orders?" a War God Hall member asked.
"What else can we do? Turn back. Tow the disabled ships to Douluo Continent for repairs."
Now that Star Luo had compromised their propulsion systems, pressing on would be suicidal.
"Whoever leaked our technology… I swear, I'll tear them apart!" Chen Xinjie seethed.
The Poseidon Legion turned around, defeated before they even arrived.