"My honored ministers, Spirit Hall comes with force. Who among you has a strategy?"
The Star Stripe Emperor sat above them and asked the question he most wanted answered.
No one below said a word.
Those who stood in high office understood the difference between Star Stripe and Spirit Hall better than anyone. In any previous war, they would have offered advice freely. This time, Spirit Hall had produced a monster named Wu Ling. The Soulcraft armaments he invented had raised the team combat ability of the Spirit Master system by force.
In the past, even powerful Spirit Masters still fought blade against blade unless their strength reached a certain level. With enough soldiers, Star Stripe could still resist Spirit Hall's Spirit Master army through numbers. With the birth of Soulcraft armaments, that tactic was now nearly useless.
Aside from numbers, the Star Stripe Empire was not truly stronger than Spirit Hall in any meaningful area. They could still use the Soulcraft gear they had bought before, but the gap was too large. Against Spirit Hall's current army, armed to the teeth, those weapons posed almost no threat.
More importantly, not everyone in the hall was a fool. As early as the moment Wu Ling invented Soulcraft armaments, some people had already seen the shape of the future and made plans. More than a few officials below had their own motives.
Crack.
The sharp sound echoed through the palace. The Star Stripe Emperor had struck the armrest of his throne.
The civil and military officials below still lowered their heads and stared at nothing. The scene resembled a classroom when the teacher asked a question. If you raised your head, it meant you wanted to answer.
"Hmph. The nation stands at the edge of survival, yet the entire court has nothing to say. What use are you? Are you all here only to eat imperial grain?"
As he roared, Spirit Emperor level pressure spread from the Star Stripe Emperor.
Unlike Emperor Noctis of Polaris, the Star Stripe Emperor had killed all his brothers and climbed onto the throne himself. He possessed Spirit Emperor level Spirit Power. In the Star Stripe Empire, he counted as one of its strongest figures.
One of its strongest, not the strongest, because the Spirit Hall bishop stationed here was also a Spirit Emperor level expert.
Because Emperor Noctis had powerful guards and the Star Stripe Emperor was powerful himself, decapitation strikes had never had much precedent. If a decapitation operation was exposed, it would damage the reputation of one's faction. That was why Lucius Cross had preferred to let Aurelia scheme for more than ten years instead of personally assassinating Emperor Noctis.
Unfortunately, the current Spirit Hall had someone who cared nothing for reputation, and that person truly possessed the ability to execute a decapitation strike.
Dong.
Clang.
Inside the palace, an unknown bell rang. Along with it came the sound of a blade being drawn.
The ministers below were startled. They followed the sound and saw blood pouring down from above.
They looked higher and saw a headless corpse seated on the throne.
Blood sprayed from the cleanly severed neck. The familiar head rolled across the floor. The officials, still too stunned to react, met the eyes of the head that had once belonged to the Star Stripe Emperor.
There was no fear on that face. No anger. Only confusion.
"His Majesty has passed!"
At last, one timid minister screamed. The court fell into chaos.
Among them, the representatives of House Regis and House Lockehart also looked terrified, but cold calculation flashed beneath their panic from time to time.
After the first wave of disorder, the timid ministers rushed toward the exit. In their minds, the Star Stripe Emperor had been the strongest person in the empire. Since even the strongest had been killed so easily, weak men like them had no power to resist.
Just as they were about to leave, the palace gates slammed shut. No matter how hard they beat against them, they could not open even a crack.
The bell rang again.
"Listen. The bell has already tolled for you. It is time to set out."
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Each footstep seemed to weigh on them. They looked up and saw a figure wearing a skull mask. He looked like an Assassin, yet he walked down the steps openly.
In his hand, he carried a greatsword that seemed to have nothing to do with assassination.
The slaughter began.
No. The assassination began.
Outside the palace, inside Spirit Hall's temple, the original red robed bishop sat with Ghost Leopard Sage, Demon Bear Sage, and the newly advanced Sacred Dragon Sage Theron Albion. They were studying the Star Stripe Empire's war situation.
To be precise, Theron Albion was studying it. Ghost Leopard Sage and Demon Bear Sage were only glancing through it out of boredom.
Theron did not complain. He had only recently advanced and urgently needed an achievement to prove his strength. The other two Titled Sages had given him such a chance.
At that moment, they all sensed the disturbance inside the palace. Using the opportunity, Theron suddenly asked, "Ghost Leopard Sage, Demon Bear Sage, I have just advanced and still do not understand many things. May I ask what relationship that old man has with His Highness?"
Ghost Leopard Sage and Demon Bear Sage looked at each other. Then Ghost Leopard Sage spoke.
"To be honest, we are not clear either. We only know they seem connected to His Highness's Spirit Skills and Martial Soul True Form. The earlier ones were still understandable, but these latest two..."
Both men shook their heads.
Whether it was Karna or First Hassan, neither was an opponent they could defeat.
During those few exchanged words, the palace gates opened. The heads of House Regis and House Lockehart walked out, soaked in sweat.
When they saw the sunlight outside the palace, both thought back to what had happened inside.
They only remembered the Spirit King and Spirit Daoist ranked military officials rushing forward, planning to die with the attacker. A heartbeat later, every one of them had been separated from his head.
Moments later, only the two of them remained alive inside the palace.
The Assassin had spared them not because he was merciful, but because they had prepared early.
Part of House Regis had long since joined Spirit Hall and obeyed Pope Bibi Dong. House Lockehart had joined under Wu Ling through Blair Lockehart's connection.
"When I return, I will kill every clan member with divided loyalties," the head of House Regis suddenly said. "One person must never be allowed to endanger the whole clan."
"Count me in."
Inside Spirit Hall's temple, the three Titled Sages also noticed the two men leaving the palace.
Theron Albion was about to move, but Ghost Leopard Sage stopped him.
"Enough, Sacred Dragon Sage. Those two have already brought their clans into Spirit Hall. They count as our people. After this, I doubt they will dare hold second thoughts. Our priority is to stabilize the imperial city, then send troops against the kingdoms that refuse to obey."
At that point, Ghost Leopard Sage smiled.
"His Highness sent those beings out specifically so they could move their bodies a little."