After a misunderstanding, Tang Sui and the other two successfully reunited with Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had sensed their aura and come to investigate.
Chen Xin marveled at the three, who he hadn't seen in years. His gaze lingered for a moment on Tang San, who emanated a sense of threat, then shifted to Tang Sui, his eyes shining with wonder. "I heard from Rong Rong about your self-sacrifice to achieve enlightenment. To witness it firsthand now, I never imagined you would actually succeed. Truly remarkable."
"Sword Douluo Senior, you flatter me..."
"Sui Sui, Xiao San!"
A familiar voice abruptly cut off Tang Sui's words.
Tang Sui and the other two turned their heads, and familiar faces filled their sight.
Led by the Grandmaster, Flanders and Liu Erlong stood on either side of him. Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong walked behind. At the forefront were Dai Mubai and the others, who, upon seeing the three, excitedly rushed forward.
"Xiao San, I didn't expect you to rush over so quickly," Dai Mubai said, overjoyed as he looked at the travel-worn trio.
"Xiao San, Sui Sui, Xiao Wu, you're back!"
Flanders' gaze was fixed intently on the three.
Tang Sui and the others looked at their teachers and elders who had arrived with them, greeting each person by name.
The Grandmaster, seeing that the three appeared energetic and not injured, unlike what he might have expected from their encounter at Clear Sky School, nodded repeatedly. "Good. Now, your Shrek Seven Devils are truly complete."
Tang Sui met her companions' concerned gazes and nodded.
At this moment, the elders of the four halls of the Tang Sect, having received the news, also hurried over. Upon seeing the brother and sister pair with their imposing aura, the four immediately stepped forward, knelt on one knee, lowered their proud heads, and clasped their hands, speaking in unison:
"Greetings to the Sect Master, Deputy Sect Master!"
"Elders, no need for such formalities. Please rise!"
Tang San quickly raised his hands, and an invisible yet powerful energy gently but undeniably lifted the four kneeling elders. Observing Tang San's serene demeanor, the four exchanged joyful glances.
Not only had the Deputy Sect Master's strength increased, but the Sect Master's had as well!
To be honest, although they had each been sect masters of their own factions, they were not adept at commanding armies of thousands or tens of thousands. During this period, their nerves had been taut, fearing that a moment's laxity could result in immense damage to the Tang Sect. After all, they had mobilized their entire force for this campaign. Before Tang San or Tang Sui could arrive and rendezvous, they could not afford the slightest mishap.
Now that the two pillars of their Tang Sect had returned, and both had significantly improved their strength, how could they not be ecstatic?
Before the four elders could speak further, another booming voice sounded from afar, approaching rapidly—
"His Majesty arrives!"
Two columns of soldiers, clad in heavy armor and exuding an imposing aura, entered their sight. The rows in the center parted in an orderly fashion, standing to the left and right.
Dugu Bo, clad in an ink-green robe, stood with his hands behind his back. Upon seeing Tang San, his eyes shone with astonishing brilliance.
Beside him, Xue Beng, the new Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, wearing white and gold armor and a crystal crown, strode forward, heading directly towards Tang San and the others, even more excited than Dugu Bo.
"Teacher!"
Xue Beng, who had quickly reached Tang San, bowed first.
Tang San's pupils contracted. He raised his hands, and a surge of soul power shot out, stopping Xue Beng, who was about to perform a full kowtow. He quickly said, "Your Majesty, you must not! You are the ruler of a nation now. How can you still bow to me?"
Before heading to Sea God Island, Tang San had been summoned to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace. Not only had he received the Sea God's Jade Gourd and the title of Prince, but he had also become the teacher of Xue Beng, who was then the Crown Prince. Now that Xue Beng had become Emperor, Tang San had naturally become the Imperial Tutor.
"No! You are my teacher. This is a bow I must perform!"
Xue Beng's eyes were bright as he looked at Tang San, as if he were looking at a lifeline.
Indeed, Tang San was his lifeline.
While the master and disciple were catching up, Tang Sui, standing behind, glanced over and met the gaze of Prince Xue Xing, who was surrounded by other Soul Emperor-level legion commanders. Prince Xue Xing, who had a past conflict with Tang Sui at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, looked uneasy.
Prince Xue Xing: "..."
A stiff smile immediately appeared on his not-so-young face. His cautious gaze was like that of a mouse seeing a cat, afraid that Tang Sui still held a grudge and wanted to settle accounts.
Tang Sui shifted her gaze to Xue Beng, who was still chattering away.
Sensing that their past conflict was now in the past, Prince Xue Xing couldn't help but wipe the thin layer of sweat on his forehead.
As night approached, the marching army of millions began to set up camp and rest.
In the temporarily erected command tent, at Xue Beng's invitation, the Grandmaster, as the State Preceptor, Tang San, as the Imperial Tutor, and Tang Sui, who also held the title of Prince and possessed the strength of a Titled Douluo, were invited to discuss the war strategy.
With Xue Beng presiding, a circle of people stood around the hastily assembled simulated war table.
Upon hearing Xue Beng enthusiastically invite Tang San and refer to him as the Imperial Tutor, several legion commanders who had arrived at the command tent after finishing their subordinate affairs and had not yet met Tang San, began to communicate with each other through glances and telepathic soul power transmissions.
'He is the Imperial Tutor? He's so young...' an old legion commander, with graying hair and many crow's feet on his face, looked at the legion commander beside him, who had an old scar on his face.
The scarred legion commander's lips parted slightly, not concealing his probing gaze. He replied, 'I heard the Imperial Tutor once rescued Emperor Xue Ye and made a great contribution to the current Emperor's ascension. In terms of soul master talent and strength, he is indeed formidable. But when it comes to leading armies and commanding battles, humph.'
After a meaningful humph, he exchanged a look with the old legion commander.
Pretending not to notice their scrutinizing gazes, Tang San walked to the other side of Xue Beng's seat and said, "Your Majesty, you don't need to mind me. Let's focus on the main matter."
Xue Beng nodded, his brow furrowed with renewed worry. He sat down, propping his head, and said, "Our army is organized into legions of ten thousand men, and all those present are the heads of these legions. Currently, we are five days' march from the Spirit Empire. Today, I have summoned you generals to discuss specific tactical arrangements. The importance of this battle to the empire is self-evident. I hope all generals can work together! If we win this battle, I will surely reward your merits upon our return!"
Having skillfully painted a grand picture for everyone present, Xue Beng waited for them to offer their strategies.
"Your Majesty, the Spirit Empire is currently gathering a large army before Jialing Pass. Jialing Pass is located in the heart of the Heaven Spirit Mountain Range, with its rugged terrain providing a natural stronghold. The Spirit Empire has always occupied Jialing Pass, using its natural defenses to stand as an impregnable fortress. If we wish to gain the initiative in this war, we must break through this pass!"
The one who took the initiative to offer advice was a pillar of the Heaven Dou Empire, Marshal Ge Long, an 84th-level Soul Douluo in his early fifties with jet-black hair, the commander of the three armies.
Aside from the exceptionally gifted talents like Tang Sui and her group, very few truly aspiring individuals could reach the Soul Douluo realm by the age of fifty. He was indeed an astonishingly brilliant figure.
Xue Beng knew the importance of Jialing Pass, but he was also worried.
"The walls of Jialing Pass are a hundred meters high and a hundred meters thick. Facing the elite army of the Spirit Empire, it will be very difficult for us to break through the city... unless we bypass the Heaven Spirit Mountain Range and attack from elsewhere."
Marshal Ge Long tactfully conveyed that this idea was unfeasible and shifted the pressure onto Tang San, who held the esteemed position of Imperial Tutor at such a young age. He asked sincerely, "If we engage in a war of attrition, we still have the support of the Star Luo Empire. As long as we control the ratio of our army's losses to the enemy's, the chances of winning this war are very high. However, this is predicated on our soul masters being able to resist the Spirit Hall's soul master legions as much as possible. King Lan Hao, could you give me an estimate of how much you can withstand the Spirit Empire's soul masters?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Sui looked at the burly Marshal Ge Long with his thick eyebrows and large, honest eyes.