NCCnovel Chapter 433 Alliance! The Sun and Moon Empire?
Chapter 433 Alliance! The Sun and Moon Empire?
The realm of gods, the Temple of Asura.
The blood-red river flowed silently, and the phantom of the blood-red demonic sword hovered in the center of the temple, exuding an extremely chilling divine might. The Asura God, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.
There was no anger, no surprise in those eyes, only pure coldness.
He raised his hand and pointed.
In the void, the scene that had just occurred on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest slowly emerged.
The Rakshasa's divine sense descended to the mortal realm via the Rakshasa Demon Scythe.
Using divine skills, they sacrificed countless souls.
They broke through the lower realm and forcibly rescued the inheritor.
A moment later, the Asura God's eyes turned cold, and he said in a deep voice:
"Rakshasa".
"You have some nerve."
The divine realm has rules: deities are forbidden from interfering in the struggles for succession in the mortal world, nor are they allowed to forcibly interfere with the established order of the mortal realm using divine techniques. Successors can fight, can lose, and can die.
However, if the deity or its divine consciousness were to intervene personally, it would disrupt the order of the divine realm. Moreover, the Rakshasa God used the evil divine technique of sacrificing ten thousand souls in place of each other, directly offering up the souls of the dead in the mortal world to save the successor.
This is more than just a violation.
Instead, it is a provocation against the enforcers of the divine realm.
The Asura God slowly stood up, his crimson divine light illuminating the entire temple, and roared:
"Since you dare to reach down there."
"Then don't blame me for cutting off your hand."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Asura God took a step forward, and crimson divine light tore through the void of the divine realm.
The direction was directly towards the Rakshasa Temple.
The outer edge of the Starry Sky Forest.
Even after the Rakshasa rift closed, a nauseatingly cold aura still lingered in the world.
The purplish-black mist slowly dissipated across the battlefield, leaving large swathes of land, tainted by the Rakshasa God's power, still scorched and cracked. Many soul beasts and Soul Masters from the Spirit Empire stood silently in place, their expressions extremely complex. In the battle just now, they had almost driven Tang San to the brink of despair.
Tang Chuan, Qian Renxue, and Di Tian joined forces, unleashing the Trident of the Sea God, the Holy Sword of the Angel, and the Claw of the Dragon God simultaneously, leaving Tang San utterly powerless to resist.
If it weren't for the remnant soul of the Rakshasa God forcibly descending to the mortal realm to intervene, Tang San would undoubtedly be dead today.
But he still managed to escape.
Standing on a collapsed patch of land, Xiong Jun clenched his dark gold claws tightly, the claws digging deep into the soil, and roared, "That brat got away again!"
Its voice was deep, suppressing an undisguised rage.
"The next time I see him, I'll tear his legs off first!"
The Crimson King's three heads simultaneously spewed out scorching breath, with hellfire churning in their mouths, clearly enraged by Tang San's escape.
Zi Ji coldly gazed in the direction where the Rakshasa rift had disappeared, and said:
"With the Rakshasa God personally intervening, this is no longer a battle in the lower realms."
Biji gently flapped her emerald wings, her life-giving radiance showering upon the injured soul beasts and soul masters. She didn't speak, only a hint of worry in her eyes. Tang San was already in enough danger; now, with the Rakshasa God forcibly protecting him, killing him next time would only be more difficult.
Di Tian transformed into a man in black and stood in the center of the battlefield.
His golden dragon eyes were as deep as an abyss, and his face did not show much anger. However, the ferocious beasts who were familiar with him knew that the calmer Di Tian appeared, the stronger his killing intent was.
Tang Chuan stared at the direction where the Rakshasa crack disappeared, remaining silent for a long time.
Qian Renxue sheathed her Angelic Holy Sword, and her six golden wings slowly closed. She glanced at Tang Chuan, then looked at Di Tian, and said calmly, "Since the Rakshasa God has already made his move, the God Realm will not stand idly by."
Di Tian said coldly:
"If the divine realm truly cared, it wouldn't have allowed the successor of the Rakshasa God to slaughter cities and devour souls until now."
Tang Chuan shook his head and said, "This time, the Rakshasa God is different. When the inheritor does evil, it's a matter for the lower realm, and the divine realm usually won't directly intervene. But for a god to secretly descend to the lower realm and use divine techniques to save people is a blatant violation of the rules of the divine realm. If the Asura God discovers this, she will definitely come looking for her."
Qian Renxue nodded: "The divine power fluctuations from that attack were too obvious to be hidden from the God Realm."
Xiong Jun sneered:
"How the gods fight is their business. The fact that Tang San is still alive is troublesome."
"That's why we need to make a contract first," Tang Chuan suddenly said.
As soon as he said this, all eyes, including those of the ferocious beasts, fell on him.
Tang Chuan slowly turned around, looked at Qian Renxue and Di Tian, and said in a deep voice:
"Although Tang San was rescued this time, he was severely injured. It will be impossible for him to fully recover in a short time. But once he truly inherits the Rakshasa Godhood, it will be difficult to kill him again."
Di Tiandao asked, "You want humans and soul beasts to formally form an alliance?"
Tang Chuan nodded.
"Let's form an alliance, at least until Tang San dies."
Qian Renxue's golden eyes flickered slightly, but she did not immediately refuse.
Tang Chuan continued, "From this day forward, until Tang San dies, the Spirit Empire, the Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and the Star Dou Great Forest shall not kill each other, nor shall they initiate a major war. The main force of the Spirit Empire shall temporarily suspend its attacks on the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires; the Star Dou Great Forest shall also not launch a true beast tide to attack human cities. All forces shall prioritize the annihilation of Tang San."
Xiong Jun frowned: "What if human soul masters go into the forest to hunt high-level soul beasts?"
Qian Renxue glanced at it and said coldly:
"Until Tang San is eliminated, no one belonging to the Spirit Empire is allowed to enter the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt high-level spirit beasts over ten thousand years old. If anyone disobeys this order, the Spirit Empire will take appropriate action."
Di Tian looked at Qian Renxue, paused slightly, and said:
"Does what you say represent the entire Spirit Empire?"
Qian Renxue calmly said, "In the current Martial Soul Empire, I am the one who calls the shots."
This statement, though not ostentatious, carries an undeniable authority.
She is no longer the Pope of the Spirit Hall during Bibi Dong's era, nor is she Xue Qinghe hiding in the Heaven Dou Palace. Instead, she is the true ruler of the Spirit Empire who has inherited the position of the Angel God.
Upon hearing this, the powerful figures from the Hall of Worship, including Golden Crocodile Douluo, had mixed feelings, but none of them objected.
Di Tian remained silent for a moment, then slowly said:
"The Star Dou Great Forest can also agree to this. As long as Tang San is alive, the ferocious beasts in the core area will not attack human cities on their own initiative. If humans do not venture deep into the forest, we will not cross the boundary."
Tang Chuan said, "I'll handle things with Tian Dou and Xing Luo."
Qian Renxue looked at him and said calmly, "Are you sure you can do it?"
Tang Chuan said, "They have no choice now. Tang San's massacre of a city and his devouring of souls are problems that no single empire can solve. If Tian Dou and Xing Luo still want to take this opportunity to start a war, I will personally go and talk to them. Moreover, that Avalanche was actually just a puppet of my Soul Palace."
Xiong Jun scoffed, "You call that negotiation?"
Tang Chuan glanced at it with disinterest.
Xiong Jun grinned: "Alright, I understand. If anyone doesn't listen, you can talk to them with your trident."
A faint smile seemed to flash in Qian Renxue's eyes, but it quickly returned to calm.
Di Tian slowly raised his right hand.
A wisp of black-gold dragon power emerged from his palm, transforming into a dragon-shaped mark.
"In the name of the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, the Star Dou Great Forest hereby establishes this covenant. Before Tang San's death, the Star Dou Great Forest will not launch attacks on human cities, intentionally create beast tides, or hunt innocent humans. However, if any human soul master takes the opportunity to venture deep into the forest to hunt high-level soul beasts, Star Dou has the right to retaliate."
Qian Renxue also raised her hand.
Golden angelic light condensed into a six-winged angel mark in her palm.
"In the name of the Angel God, the Spirit Empire hereby establishes this covenant. Before Tang San dies, the Spirit Empire shall temporarily suspend its full-scale attack on Heaven Dou and Star Luo, and shall not proactively enter the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt spirit beasts older than ten thousand years. If Tang San appears, the Spirit Empire's primary task shall be to eliminate Tang San."
Tang Chuan finally raised the Trident of Poseidon, and the blue-gold light of Poseidon and the cyan-gold life force of Blue Silver Emperor spread out at the same time, transforming into a mark intertwined with blue silver and ocean waves.
"In the name of the Trident of the Sea God and the Blue Silver Emperor, I, Tang Chuan, hereby establish this covenant. Before Tang San dies, I will mediate conflicts between humans and soul beasts and prevent the three parties from starting a war. If any party violates this covenant and initiates large-scale slaughter, I will personally hold them accountable."
Three marks floated in mid-air.
Golden angel, black and gold dragon shadow, blue and gold ocean tide.
The next moment, the three marks merged simultaneously, transforming into a huge covenant light pattern that fell into the land surrounding the Star Dou Great Forest.
hum-
The entire battlefield trembled slightly.
The ley lines of the Star Dou Great Forest, the Soul Masters in the human army, the Holy Light of the Angels, the Power of the Dragon King, and the Power of the Sea God resonated briefly at this moment.
From this moment on, until Tang San dies, humans and soul beasts will no longer be enemies, at least temporarily.
They are allies, not just allies.
As Golden Crocodile Douluo watched this scene, he felt a mix of emotions.
The Spirit Hall had been fighting against spirit beasts for many years, and he never imagined that one day the Spirit Empire would stand together with the Star Dou Great Forest under the same covenant.
But Tang San forced everyone here.
If we don't join forces, everyone will become a spirit on the Rakshasa altar.
It's better to temporarily ally with soul beasts than to let Tang San become a god.
Di Tian turned to look at Bi Ji and said, "Heal the wounded and cleanse the Rakshasa's death energy."
Brigitte nodded gently, and emerald-green life radiance rained down upon her.
Qian Renxue also gave an order to Golden Crocodile Douluo:
"Order all armies to withdraw to within thirty miles of the outer edge of the Starry Sky and establish a defensive line. Do not venture further into the forest. Concentrate the population of all towns in the major cities to guard against Tang San's sneak attacks."
Golden Crocodile Douluo bowed and said, "Yes."
Tang Chuan retrieved the Trident of Poseidon, then looked at Di Tian and said calmly:
"Tang San will be in even more danger next time he appears."
Di Tian said, "Therefore, this time, we cannot give the Rakshasa God another chance to interfere."
Qian Renxue said coldly, "If the Rakshasa Goddess dares to descend to the mortal realm again, someone from the divine realm will naturally deal with her."
Tang Chuan nodded: "What we need to do is find Tang San before he truly becomes a god."
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the human world.
Qian Renxue glanced at him, then withdrew most of the radiance of her Angelic Armor and followed. She didn't fly away immediately, but instead walked side by side with Tang Chuan across the scorched earth on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, where the Soul Master legions of the Spirit Empire were gradually withdrawing.
Further away, Di Tian and the ferocious beasts returned to the ominous land.
A war that should have swept across the continent was temporarily halted because of Tang San.
But everyone knows that this is just a brief respite before the storm.
On the way back to the human world, the setting sun cast its rays.
The plains outside the Starry Sky Forest were dyed a dark gold color.
Tang Chuan and Qian Renxue walked side by side, with a distance between them that was neither too close nor too far.
The wind blew across the wasteland, stirring up the dust left over from the battlefield.
Qian Renxue suddenly spoke: "Tang Chuan."
Upon hearing this, Tang Chuan turned his head slightly to look at her.
Qian Renxue gazed ahead, her long golden hair swaying slightly in the wind. Her voice, though lacking the majesty of an angel, carried more of Qian Renxue's own calm.
"Have you always thought that the Spirit Empire's war to unify the continent and Tang San's massacre of civilians on the continent are essentially no different?"
Tang Chuan did not answer immediately. After a moment, he said, "At least the methods are different."
Qian Renxue said calmly, "Is it just a difference in methods?"
Tang Chuan said:
"You want to establish order, Tang San wants to create death. I can tell the difference."
Qian Renxue glanced at him, looking puzzled.
"Then why did you stop me?"
Tang Chuan said calmly:
"If your unification is built on too many innocent deaths, I will stop it."
Qian Renxue smiled gently.
The smile was faint, yet it carried a hint of barely perceptible helplessness.
"You're still the same."
Tang Chuan asked, "What?"
"You always like to draw clear lines," Qian Renxue said. "But the real world isn't something that can be improved by saving a city or killing someone. Whether it's Tiandou or Xingluo, the nobility is corrupt, sects are fragmented, and Soul Masters are high and mighty. Ordinary people can only be dragged into war forever. Do you think it's a good thing to let the two great empires continue to check and balance each other?"
Tang Chuan remained silent.
Qian Renxue continued, "In the past, Bibi Dong was in charge of the Spirit Hall. She had hatred, obsessions, and too much madness. She wanted to destroy the three upper sects, destroy the two great empires, and turn the entire continent into a tool for her revenge on the world."
When Bibi Dong was mentioned, Qian Renxue paused for a moment.
But she quickly added, "But it's not her now."
"I am the one who now leads the Spirit Empire."
"I will not slaughter cities and devour souls like Tang San, nor will I be driven by hatred like Bibi Dong. I want to unify the continent to end the long-standing war of division, so that soul masters will no longer belong solely to sects, ordinary people will no longer be trampled on by nobles, and martial soul awakening, soul master education, and protection of commoners will all be brought under a unified order."
Tang Chuan turned to look at her, and Qian Renxue also stopped in her tracks. The setting sun shone in her golden eyes, making her look both noble and indescribably lonely.
"Tang Chuan, you should understand."
"A divided continent will always have countless wars."
"The Heaven Dou and Star Luo factions can join forces to fight the Spirit Empire today, but they will continue to fight for border cities tomorrow. Sects will fight for resources, nobles will sacrifice commoners for power, and spirit masters will hunt spirit beasts for spirit rings."
"These things will never stop without a truly strong and unified order."
"And the Spirit Empire, at the very least, has the capability to do this."
Tang Chuan said, "Ability and qualifications are not the same thing."
Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed slightly.
Tang Chuan continued, "You have the power to unify the continent, but after unification, can you guarantee that the Spirit Empire won't become a new oppressor? Can you guarantee that your successor will be as clear-headed as you? Can you guarantee that all the people will accept your order, instead of just fearing your divine power?"
Qian Renxue fell silent.
These three questions are difficult to answer.
Tang Chuan didn't press the issue; he simply said, "I'm not against order, nor do I believe in division. If you can truly do what you say, I won't stop you for the sake of the Heavenly Dou or Star Luo royal families."
Qian Renxue's eyes flickered slightly.
Are you serious?
Tang Chuan looked towards the distant human city.
"I am neither a subject of Avalanche nor a subject of the Star Luo Royal Family."
"I saved people, not to protect any particular throne."
"If one day you can prove that the unification of the Spirit Empire will allow more people to live better lives, rather than just allowing the Spirit Empire to stand taller, I may not always stand against you."
Qian Renxue looked at him without saying a word for a long time.
At this moment, those complex emotions resurfaced in her heart.
Back in Heaven Dou City, when she was disguised as Xue Qinghe and spent time with Tang Chuan, this was the thing that mattered to her the most. Tang Chuan wasn't like others; he wouldn't flatter her just because she was the Crown Prince, nor would he dismiss her simply because she was the young master of the Spirit Empire.
He looks at what people do, not which side they stand on.
This made Qian Renxue feel both threatened and appreciative.
She whispered, "Then I'll prove it to you."
Tang Chuan turned to look at her.
Qian Renxue's voice was not loud, but very firm, as she said:
"I will prove that the Spirit Empire in my hands will not become a second Rakshasa Sacrifice Ground, nor will it become a continuation of Bibi Dong's hatred."
"I will unify the continent. But I will do it my way."
Tang Chuan said, "Then I'll wait and see."
Qian Renxue suddenly asked, "What if I really did it?"
Tang Chuan was taken aback.
Qian Renxue looked at him with a deep gaze and said, "If one day I truly establish an order that you approve of, will you still stand against me?"
The sound of wind swept between the two.
Tang Chuan did not answer immediately.
After a long pause, he finally said, "We'll talk about it on that day."
Qian Renxue didn't seem surprised by the answer; she smiled gently.
"You're still so cautious."
Tang Chuan said, "It's better to be cautious than for Tang San to go crazy."
Upon hearing Tang San's name, the atmosphere between the two, which had just eased, became even more tense.
Qian Renxue looked up into the distance, her golden eyes turning cold again, and said, "Even if Tang San is seriously injured this time, I don't think he will remain silent for long."
Upon hearing this, Tang Chuan nodded, his figure flashing with a blue-gold light as he increased his speed.
"Since the Rakshasa God saved him, he will surely find a way to accelerate his inheritance."
"The next time we meet, he might not be a half-baked Rakshasa inheritor anymore."
Qian Renxue gripped the Angelic Holy Sword tightly and sped up to catch up.
"Then we'll find him before Tang San becomes a god."
Night fell over the sea.
On the boundless sea, storms raged, dark clouds hung low, and thunder continuously exploded deep within the clouds, illuminating the dark sea with flickering light.
This is no longer the sea area near Douluo Continent.
It is beyond the reach of any force, including Heaven Dou, Star Luo, or Martial Soul Empire.
On the other side of this distant sea, there is a continent.
Sun and Moon Continent.
At this time, the Sun Moon Continent had not yet collided with the Douluo Continent, and the Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent were unaware that such a vast empire existed on the other side of the sea.
Here, while the Soul Master system also exists, what truly supports the strength of the Sun Moon Empire is another kind of power.
Soul guide device.
On the city wall, soul-guided cannons were lined up in a solemn array.
In the border outpost, the soul-guided detection lights can sweep across dozens of miles of wilderness.
Nobles travel in soul-guided carriages, elite soldiers are equipped with energy-storing soul-guided armor, and even in ordinary towns, soul-guided lamps powered by soul power crystals can be seen along the streets.
The Soul Masters here may not be able to surpass the top sects of Douluo Continent in terms of individual combat strength, but in terms of the development of Soul Tools, they have been ahead of Douluo Continent for many years.
The western border of the Sun and Moon Empire.
Black Rock Coast.
Far from the capital of the Sun and Moon Empire, this place is plagued by constant storms, with steep sea cliffs and knife-like reefs.
Because of the presence of several rare metal mines nearby, the Empire built a border town called Blackrock City here.
Thirty miles outside Blackrock City lies an abandoned mine.
Deep in the mine, the lights were dim.
Several semi-enclosed soul-guiding workshops sat in the valley, their massive metal chimneys spewing pale blue steam. Railway tracks stretched deep into the mine, with soul-guiding minecarts parked beside them, their carriages piled high with unrefined black-patterned iron and red silver ore.
This place is nominally a military testing ground in the western border of the empire.
In reality, it was the place of exile for a disgraced prince.
Xu Jingyuan.
The third prince of the Sun and Moon Empire.
He was once one of the most prominent princes in the capital.
Unfortunately, the Sun and Moon royal family is never short of geniuses, nor is it short of conspiracies.
After failing in a struggle for the throne, his maternal clan was suppressed, his confidants were purged, and he himself was given the title of "supervisor of the manufacture of weapons in the western border" and sent far away to this desolate coast.
To put it nicely, it's about supervising the manufacturing of soul-guided weaponry.
To put it bluntly, it's simply about keeping him away from the capital and the center of power, leaving him to fend for himself.
As night deepened, Xu Jingyuan stood atop the highest observation tower of the Black Rock Mine, draped in a black fox fur coat, gazing at the surging sea in the distance.
He looked to be no more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a pale face and extremely deep-set eyes. Unlike the princes in the capital who lived in luxury, he did not have much arrogance or extravagance. Instead, he carried a kind of gloom and calmness that came from long-term suppression.
Behind him stood two Soul Masters, one an old man with gray hair and beard, wearing a dark blue Soul Master robe and a Level 6 Soul Master badge on his chest.
The other person was a burly middle-aged officer with a short-barreled soul-guided cannon hanging from his waist and wearing half-body soul-guided armor.
Suddenly, the soul-guided detection array at the top of the observation tower began to tremble violently.
hum-
A ring of pale red light spread from the metal disc.
The soul master on night watch's expression changed drastically, and he shouted urgently:
"Your Highness, unusual spatial fluctuations have been detected in the sea to the southwest!"
Xu Jingyuan frowned, looked up, and looked puzzled:
"Is this a spatial fluctuation?"
(End of this chapter)