Chapter 57: The Fall of Star Luo

[Douluo Calendar, December 28, 2025 — Star Luo Empire's First General, MacArthur, personally led an army against Zhou Sheng'an's forces. His strategist warned, "Their sharpness cannot be resisted," but MacArthur dismissed it, saying, "A mere child is no threat; arrogant troops are doomed to fail."]

[The strategist advised again: In the current situation, a direct confrontation with the Zhu Army should be avoided. Instead, the general should use his influence to incite rebellion within cities under Zhu control while resisting their forces, effectively undermining them from within.]

[MacArthur was unconcerned and insisted on crushing Zhou Sheng'an's arrogance.]

[The two armies faced off near the Huai River.]

Even though it was just a simulation, Zhu Zhuqing still felt her heart tighten as she read the entry. A powerful sense of threat loomed over her — the Star Luo Empire's First General was leading an army of five hundred thousand!

This could be considered Star Luo's final trump card — their strongest remaining force.

It also represented the peak of Star Luo's might.

Faced with such terrifying strength… how would Teacher win?

And even if he did, all that awaited him was a chaotic mess of a country, with the looming threat of invasion from the Heaven Dou Empire!

And after its period of rest and recovery, Heaven Dou was no pushover.

"Teacher, what will you do?" Zhu Zhuqing murmured.

[Zhou Sheng'an gathered the scattered remnants of Star Luo's troops and completed their training at record speed. The weaker soldiers were assigned to the upper reaches of the Huai River's tributaries to build sandbag barriers and block the embankments.]

[Zhou Sheng'an led his troops to engage MacArthur's forces, feigned defeat, and retreated several li.]

[MacArthur was overjoyed. He publicly waved his riding whip, pointed at Zhou Sheng'an, and said, "That child is no threat! Watch me drive straight through and crush this traitor in one strike!"]

[…]

[Douluo Calendar, December 31, 2025 — During the pursuit of Zhou Sheng'an's army, MacArthur's forces were struck by a sudden surge from the Huai River, splitting their army in two. With their morale shattered, they were ambushed by Zhou Sheng'an's troops and suffered a crushing defeat!]

[Zhou Sheng'an commanded his 150,000-strong army with smooth, fluid formations, maneuvering like an extension of his own body.]

[The entire Star Luo Empire was shaken!]

[Zhou Sheng'an's momentum could not be stopped!]

[Star Luo's Regent, Dai Ergong, recalled the border defense forces, abandoning resistance against Heaven Dou's invasion. He gathered an army of 300,000 to strike down Zhou Sheng'an, but before the troops could assemble, they were ambushed!]

[Douluo Calendar, January 18, 2026 — Star Luo City fell. Dai Ergong was defeated and committed suicide. The Star Luo Empire was destroyed!]

[Zhou Sheng'an's name shook the entire continent!]

[Zhou Sheng'an captured the two princes of Star Luo alive and eradicated the rest of the royal bloodline.]

[The former commander of the border forces was awed by Zhou Sheng'an's ability and willingly pledged allegiance. He immediately led his troops back to defend against the Heaven Dou invasion.]

[…]

Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks turned red. She wasn't particularly interested in military affairs, but she was very interested in Zhou Sheng'an, who had swept across the land like a storm!

Zhou Sheng'an, who stood invincible across the world — he was almost the perfect image of a hero in her heart!

"So Star Luo Empire… really is going to change hands?" Zhu Zhuqing murmured. It all felt unreal — the once mighty Star Luo Empire had fallen in just a few short months!

And the one replacing the royal Dai family… would be their Zhu family!

If she told her father about this result, he probably wouldn't even dare to believe it!

"Then… once I meet Teacher, which path should I choose?" Zhu Zhuqing fell into hesitation. A pleasant kind of trouble.

Whether she chose the Grand Sage Master route or this military general route, either one could take off!

Of course, the latter hadn't finished simulating yet.

…

Moon Pavilion

Seeing the changes in the log, Tang Yuehua's expression shifted subtly.

She had always believed Zhou Sheng'an wouldn't end well. Even if he won, it would be a drawn-out and bloody victory.

But Zhou Sheng'an seemed determined to slap her in the face — again and again!

In just two months, he had completely crushed the Star Luo Empire!

He'd directly forced them into extinction!

This terrifying achievement was nothing like what she had expected!

And what was more outrageous — Zhou Sheng'an's forces hadn't even suffered much loss. Instead, after absorbing the defeated soldiers, his strength had risen even higher.

If he could defeat the militarily superior Star Luo Empire, then the Heaven Dou Empire's invasion likely posed no threat.

In other words… her previous judgment of Zhou Sheng'an had been biased.

Zhou Sheng'an was reckless — but he had the strength to back it up!

"In that case, with Star Luo under new leadership, we're back to the old dynamic again — Star Luo and Heaven Dou in opposition, with the Spirit Hall playing mediator," Tang Yuehua nodded slightly.

"If… if that's the case, then for us of the Clear Sky School, there's not much to gain."

"If Zhou Sheng'an wants to go a step further and unify the Douluo Continent… then maybe, just maybe, with my elder brother's temperament, he might come out of seclusion to assist him and fight the Spirit Hall. But that's almost impossible."

"If Zhou Sheng'an isn't foolish, he should know when to stop."

Tang Yuehua made her guess — but the moment the words left her mouth, her smile froze.

She was about to get slapped again...

…

Zhou Sheng'an didn't even need to lead troops personally. The former border commander of Star Luo returned and quickly suppressed the Heaven Dou invasion, while Zhou Sheng'an focused on clearing out the interior of the Star Luo Empire.

[Douluo Calendar, April 24, 2026 — All cities within the former Star Luo Empire surrendered to the Zhu Nation.]

[Douluo Calendar, May 12, 2026 — The Star Luo Empire formally changed its national title to the Anzhu Nation. Its first Empress was Empress Zhu. Zhou Sheng'an was granted the title of Grand Marshal of All Forces and the peerless rank of "King Beside One Character," with no fief.]

[Douluo Calendar, May 21, 2026 — The Heaven Dou Empire sent a congratulatory gift and withdrew their troops, hoping for peaceful coexistence. Empress Zhu rejected the peace offering, issued a list of ten crimes committed by Heaven Dou, and ordered the Grand Marshal to lead an expedition against them!]

[Zhou Sheng'an led 500,000 troops to march against Heaven Dou!]

The scene shifted. Zhu Zhuqing and Empress Zhu sat across from each other.

By now, Empress Zhu's clothes had changed into full imperial robes. Her aura was awe-inspiring, and when she looked at Zhu Zhuqing, there was less familial warmth and more imperial indifference.

Sensing the change in her aunt's demeanor, Zhu Zhuqing sighed softly and asked,

"Aunt, why don't you make your relationship with Teacher public?"

Empress Zhu replied coolly, "You're still young. You wouldn't understand."

"…"

Zhu Zhuqing did understand. She knew… her aunt had changed. In the face of power, love no longer mattered.

Empress Zhu feared Zhou Sheng'an's overwhelming merit and influence. She feared he might directly replace her as ruler of the Anzhu Nation.

That's why she avoided making their relationship public, terrified he might gain a legitimate claim to the throne.

She didn't even grant him a fief.

After all, Zhou Sheng'an had used a mere tiny Zhu Nation to bring down the Star Luo Empire.

But it didn't stop there — Zhu Zhuqing even caught a glimpse of killing intent in her aunt's eyes. That killing intent was directed at Zhou Sheng'an.

She actually intended to discard him once he'd outlived his usefulness — like a hunting dog killed after the rabbit was caught, or a bow discarded once all the birds were shot down.

"Zhuqing, I won't just be the Empress who replaced Star Luo. I want to be the Great Empress who unites the entire continent!"

"Only then would I be worthy of my matchless self!"

Empress Zhu's voice was filled with wild ambition.

Zhu Zhuqing forced a smile, but her heart clenched. Her aunt really had changed.