Chapter 581 - 412: In That Case, Let’s Lay Our Cards on the Table

The Lighthouse Empire, as one of the reigning hegemons at the pinnacle of the world,

had always viewed the White-Red Empire as a mere pawn to be manipulated at will.

They sought to keep it firmly in their grasp, to be used for their own purposes.

Now that the White-Red Empire was showing signs of slipping from their grasp, they had acted ruthlessly. They dispatched this mysterious force to clip the empire’s wings, forcing it to fall back in line and continue serving as their "loyal hound" for monitoring rivals.

After all, in the eyes of the Lighthouse Empire, the White-Red Empire and the Great Jing Empire

were nothing more than two hunting dogs leashed at the gate of the Great Xia Empire, wagging their tails and begging for scraps.

Their purpose was to constantly watch every move made by the Great Xia Empire and its leading figure, Chu He.

At the slightest sign of trouble, they were to pass intelligence to the Lighthouse Empire, allowing it to lay its plans and control the entire situation.

Another rumor exploded among the populace, causing a massive stir.

It made everyone gasp in shock.

Some suspected that the one truly pulling the strings behind the scenes was none other than Chu He of the Great Xia Empire!

In these chaotic times, everyone knew the name Chu He.

Hearing this claim, people were utterly astonished. It sounded like pure fantasy.

According to this theory, his actions were aimed at first blinding the Lighthouse Empire

by pulling out the two "nails" it used for surveillance.

After all, the White-Red Empire and the Great Jing Empire were right on his doorstep, a constant thorn in his side that left him restless.

Furthermore, given the Lighthouse Empire’s immense power,

dealing with the Great Jing and White-Red Empires should have been a simple task.

Why would they go to such great lengths and employ such a convoluted scheme?

There had to be a deeper game at play behind all this,

with various powers clashing in the shadows, none willing to yield.

Now, without the protection of its top-tier fighters, the White-Red Empire was like an ancient, unwalled city with its gates thrown wide open—precarious and teetering on the brink of collapse.

The populace was on edge, like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow. Their sense of security was shattered, and they lived in a constant state of panic.

Walking on the streets, their eyes revealed only fear and confusion.

Some of the White-Red Empire’s more affluent and well-connected citizens, those with access to inside information,

had already begun secretly plotting their escape from this land of sorrow.

They hastily packed their belongings, gathering their families.

And their destination, for the most part, was the Lighthouse Empire.

The Lighthouse Empire had always presented itself as an all-embracing nation.

It publicly claimed that as long as one could pass its layers of stringent, sieve-like screening processes,

anyone, regardless of their origin, could join at any time and start a new life.

In their eyes, the Lighthouse Empire was like a beacon of hope, capable of granting them shelter in these chaotic times and protecting them from war and fear.

...

「Atop Fuyue Mountain, inside the Divine Hall.」

Over a hundred handsome men and beautiful women stood silently, all dressed in elegant formal wear.

They stood as straight as pines, their attire exquisitely tailored.

Every line flowed with an air of luxury, fitting their forms like custom-made works of art.

In this gloomy environment, however, the scene was exceptionally bizarre.

These people were none other than the Vampire Clan from the Lighthouse Empire.

Once, under the leadership of Ye Lingyun, they had silently infiltrated the territory of the Great Xia Empire like shadows hidden in the dark.

Now, on Chu He’s command, they had been given a crucial mission: to come here and seize control of the entire White-Red Empire.

With the Vampire Clan’s extraordinary abilities,

this task was well within their capabilities.

"There are still quite a few people in this Divine Hall, and the aura here... I find it extremely unpleasant."

An Elder of the Vampire Clan furrowed his sharply chiseled brows. His narrow eyes, filled with thick disdain, critically surveyed their crude surroundings.

He glanced around, searching every corner of the dim Divine Hall.

Standing in the very center was Ye Lingyun, her graceful figure exuding an endless, sinister energy.

She parted her crimson lips, and instantly, a thick, black-red smoke billowed endlessly from her mouth.

The smoke, as if alive, spread rapidly in all directions, enveloping the entire Divine Hall in the blink of an eye.

In that instant, everyone except the members of the Vampire Clan

clutched their throats one after another. Their faces contorted in agony, and their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

Then, they collapsed to the ground, dying in agonizing struggles as their lives were snuffed out like fragile candle flames.

These people were all devout believers who prayed day and night to the great god Amaterasu.

Before this Dark Power, their lives were as insignificant as ants, crushed in an instant.

Soon, the radiant, pure solar energy that had once filled the hall

was completely devoured by the darkness, vanishing without a trace.

In its place arose a sinister, horrifying aura as thick and cloying as spilled blood.

It transformed the Divine Hall into a Purgatory on earth, making one feel as if they were standing at the very gates of Hell.

But this feeling, like something from the Hell Abyss, made all the members of the Vampire Clan feel as if they had returned home.

They reveled in the evil atmosphere, their faces twisting with delight.

Then, they opened their mouths and let out bursts of chilling laughter that echoed through the deathly silent Divine Hall, striking fear into any who might hear.

...

「The Great Xia Empire.」

On the vast sea, whose rippling blue waves resembled a giant silken cloth fluttering in the breeze,

several large ships were slowly sailing in from the horizon.

Their bows cut through the waves, kicking up white spray like the sea spreading its white wings.

Then, from the Great Xia Empire’s side, other ships rapidly approached.

Onboard stood rows of fully armed members of the Defense Team. They wore matching uniforms, their gazes as cold as winter stars, and the weapons in their hands glinted coldly in the sunlight.

"You are forbidden to advance!"

A deafening warning blared from the loudspeakers on the Great Xia Empire’s ships, spreading across the surface of the sea.

The news of Chu He’s intention to enter seclusion had already been relayed to the Queen of the Great Xia Empire, Lu Yinxing.

After careful consideration, the Queen made a decisive choice for this critical period:

she would completely seal off the entire Great Xia Empire, forbidding any outside force from taking even a single step inside.

After all, Chu He’s seclusion was tied to the rise and fall of the Great Xia Empire. Its importance was self-evident.

The fate of the Empire rested entirely on his shoulders alone.

’There’s no hiding this. If that’s the case, we might as well lay our cards on the table.’

With a determined gaze, Lu Yinxing issued the order.

In an instant, the entire Great Xia Empire mobilized like a war machine being switched on.

It rapidly entered a state of highest-level combat readiness.

Soldiers stood in strict formation, their weapons and equipment polished to a cold, hard shine. Rations and supplies were fully stocked. They were prepared to face any unknown challenge and defend every inch of their homeland.

Soon, from another direction, several more large ships approached as silently as ghosts.

These large ships prominently flew the flag of the White-Red Empire.

The bright banners snapped sharply in the sea breeze.

They had received orders to coordinate with the Great Xia Empire’s ships,

and they moved quickly to encircle the fleet that had appeared on the horizon.

’It seems the White-Red Empire really is under the Great Xia Empire’s control,’

’Otherwise, there’s no way they would show up now to help them.’

From the cabin of one of the surrounded ships, a middle-aged man with an extraordinary air slowly emerged.

He was dressed in a black trench coat.

A delicate Cross necklace hung around his neck,

glimmering faintly in the sunlight like tiny stars.

He held a Bible in his hands, exuding a mysterious, approachable aura.

He wore a gentle smile, as warm as a spring breeze, making it easy to feel an affinity for him.

However, when his gaze happened to fall upon the ships of the White-Red Empire, a bone-chillingly cold light flashed in the depths of his eyes,

like a shark hidden in the deep, baring its sharp fangs and sending a shiver down the spine.