Chapter 20: The Shockwave in the Star Luo Empire

Over the span of several days and nights, the Star Luo Empire was thrown into great turmoil.

The deaths of En Ci and Hu Jie were insignificant to Di Tian and the Demon Empress, not even worth the effort to discuss. But for the Star Luo Empire and the Tang Sect, the impact was entirely different.

En Ci was the headmaster of the Monster Academy, the national teacher of the empire, and the head of the royal consecration hall. It would not be an exaggeration to call him a pillar of the heavens and an unshakable foundation of the empire.

That day, the Star Luo Emperor, Dai Tianling, had just finished his morning court session in the palace when the vice hall master of the royal consecration hall—a Hyper Douluo—barged into the palace at full speed, ignoring all courtly etiquette and crashing through the royal guards.

"Your Majesty, the hall master… He has fallen!"

Dai Tianling, who had been wondering why the vice hall master had violated the palace's strict prohibitions, was struck by the shocking news of En Ci's death.

Bang!

He slammed his hand on the table, his face full of disbelief as he shouted:

"Impossible!"

"This is absolutely impossible!"

"My teacher, En Ci, is invincible in this world!"

"He is an Ultimate Douluo, the only Four-Word Battle Armor Master of my Star Luo Empire!"

"You dare deceive me!"

"Do you think that just because you are the vice hall master of the consecration hall, I would not dare to punish you for deceiving your emperor?!"

Faced with Dai Tianling's furious outburst, the vice hall master wore a bitter expression. He, too, had initially refused to believe the news. But after multiple verifications by the hall's consecrators, En Ci's death was confirmed beyond doubt.

"Your Majesty, it has been verified that Hall Master En Ci has indeed fallen."

"He was invited by Smiling Face Douluo Hu Jie, the head of the Tang Sect's Star Luo branch, to visit Dragon Valley. In the end, both he and Smiling Face Douluo Hu Jie perished together."

"The Tang Sect has also confirmed this news and has assured us that this was not a deliberate scheme on their part. Their Deputy Sect Master, Amorous Douluo Zang Xin, will personally visit the Star Luo Empire soon to meet with Your Majesty."

Dai Tianling, still seething with rage, was barely able to suppress his emotions. But as his rationality returned, he realized that no one would dare commit treason by lying about En Ci's death, nor would anyone dare to joke about it.

The undeniable truth of the situation was like a heavy club smashing down on his head, causing his mind to reel, his vision to darken, and his body to collapse onto the dragon throne.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" The vice hall master was alarmed, immediately flying forward in panic.

He was truly terrified. If something happened to Dai Tianling, his reckless intrusion into the palace would make him the prime suspect—he would never be able to clear his name!

Fortunately, Dai Tianling did not faint. Instead, he grabbed hold of the vice hall master, forcibly suppressing his grief as he said:

"My teacher, En Ci, once left me several silk pouches, instructing me to only open them in times of crisis. One of them was to be opened only in the event of his death."

"That—That is excellent news!"

"Vice Hall Master, please stand guard at the palace gates. Without my decree, no one is allowed to enter!"

"As you command, Your Majesty."

Once the palace was fully sealed, Dai Tianling retrieved a silk pouch from a secret compartment beneath the dragon throne. Upon opening it, he found a letter inside.

"Tianling, if you are reading this pouch, then I have most likely perished."

"Death comes for all men, so do not grieve or despair."

"I leave this letter only out of concern for the matters that follow. If I have died unexpectedly, it must have been at the hands of a formidable opponent. Without an Ultimate Douluo to act as a deterrent, both the empire and the capital will be in grave danger."

"But there is something Your Majesty does not know: our Star Luo Empire actually has a second Ultimate Douluo. That person is my first disciple, Kirin Douluo Tong Yu."

At this, Dai Tianling's brows furrowed in surprise, but he continued reading.

"I know that Your Majesty harbors resentment towards Tong Yu due to his past crimes and lack of public support."

"But the events of that year contain many hidden truths."

"Tong Yu fell in love with a girl from a young age, but in the end, he could not be with her. In despair, he attempted suicide by poisoning himself, which triggered a positive mutation in his martial soul. When his family berated him, he left home alone to study at Monster Academy."

"Tong Yu's mother, unable to contact him, repeatedly asked about him from the girl he once loved—who was now married. The girl grew irritated and, in a cruel act, severed his mother's Achilles tendons."

"This was the reason why Tong Yu killed that girl."

"But even then, he only severed the girl's Achilles tendons in return—he did not truly kill her, nor did he commit the heinous atrocities that the rumors claim. The girl died due to excessive blood loss after failing to receive timely medical treatment."

"Regardless of his intent, Tong Yu has always believed he was guilty of murder. Feeling irredeemable for killing a mother in front of her son, he did not argue his case and willingly accepted the empire's punishment to atone for his sins."

"Alas… As his teacher, I could only lament his wasted potential."

"Your Majesty, please deliver these words to Tong Yu: 'To become the pathetic fool of a woman who never loved you while betraying your devoted mother? You have utterly disgraced the eighteen generations of the Tong family!'"

"The truth I have shared is more than enough to clear Tong Yu's name. Your Majesty should have no qualms about reinstating him."

"Tong Yu's Five Elements Kirin Martial Soul is of divine beast lineage, much like my Bright Holy Dragon. It can nurture a Four-Word Battle Armor, and with the combined efforts of our empire's Saint Craftsmen, he could become yet another Four-Word Battle Armor Master and Ultimate Douluo."

"Furthermore, Tong Yu possesses talent that surpasses my own. In his prime years, he has the potential to transcend the Ultimate Douluo realm and reach the rank of Pseudo-God, making him invincible on the continent and the new guardian deity of the Star Luo Empire."

"However, Tong Yu is stubborn by nature. If you wish for him to serve the empire wholeheartedly, you must not use past favors to guilt him into service—not even in my name as his teacher."

"You must treat him like family, ensuring that he willingly chooses to stay and aid Your Majesty. Only sincerity will be met with sincerity, for no one can dictate the fate of an Ultimate Douluo."

"There is so much more I wish to say, but words fail me. Tianling, my student, your teacher has departed this world."

"Drip, drip…"

Dai Tianling's tiger-like eyes welled up with tears, his nose stinging. He slumped against the dragon throne, staring blankly for a long time.

En Ci had no children of his own. Though they addressed each other as teacher and student, their bond was closer to that of father and son. Beyond their roles as ruler and minister, there was an undeniable familial love.

No one knew how long he sat there, lost in thought. But eventually, the weight of the empire's responsibilities forced Dai Tianling to compose himself.

As he looked toward the palace gates, where a crowd had gathered, he wiped his tears with his imperial robe.

"Vice Hall Master, you may all enter."

The noise outside came to an abrupt halt before a surge of people rushed in.

His empress, his children, his loyal ministers, the royal consecrators… Words of comfort flooded the room.

Dai Tianling raised his hand to silence them, scanning his many royal daughters carefully, weighing his options.

He murmured inwardly, "Alas… my older daughters are already married."

"This one won't work, she's from a different branch…""This one is also unsuitable…"

Finally, his gaze settled on…

(End of Chapter)