The defeat was like a mountain collapsing, and survival was already at the end of the road.
Tang Sui did not participate much in the subsequent battles.
In the Battle of Jia Ling Guan, the Title Douluos of the Spirit Empire were either killed or self-destructed to atone for their country.
The Title Douluos of the Heaven Dou Empire had also almost died, but were resurrected by Tang Sui using Qing Nu Fang.
It turned out that the resurrection of Qing Nu Fang also came at a price.
After a three-day resurrection incubation period, all those resurrected had their soul power drop by ten levels, essentially returning to their original state, but at least they had saved their lives.
The good news was that the morale of the Spirit Empire had already scattered after the continuous deaths of their highest venerables.
The remaining armies of the Heaven Dou Empire advanced triumphantly, joining forces with the Star Luo Empire, which had launched a full-scale attack on the Spirit Empire's border defenses from the other side, all the way to the Spirit Empire's imperial palace.
Accompanying the six-winged angel statue, which symbolized the highest honor and faith of the Spirit Empire, it was shattered into countless fragments under Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer.
The glory of the Angel God was utterly extinguished, and the remaining high-ranking officials of the Spirit Empire's eyes dimmed. Those with fiery temperaments committed suicide on the spot, while the rest lost all will to fight, their hands and feet shackled to restrict their soul power, becoming captives among many.
Amidst the tidal cheers, Tang Sui, who had been observing from the sidelines, approached the two emperors of the Star Luo and Heaven Dou Empires.
The joy on the faces of the two emperors subsided somewhat as they bowed respectfully and cautiously to Tang Sui.
"Demon God Exalted."
Tang Sui's promotion to Demon God had now spread across the continent, and everyone knew that this Demon God was not like the deities they typically understood.
Although it felt somewhat blasphemous to consider this Demon God more akin to an evil god, the citizens of the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire, who had benefited greatly, were in no position to judge.
Hei Mian could now break free from the shackles of illusion and reality of the Face Spirit Race and exist independently with Tang Sui, but Hei Mian still disliked appearing in public. It usually resided within the sea of consciousness, accompanying the tranquil darkness and floating masks, observing the outside world as if watching a movie.
Those who walked outside often only saw Tang Sui alone.
"I have something to discuss with you."
The Demon God deigned to use the word "discuss."
Xue Beng and Dai Hao dared not be negligent, stating they would listen attentively.
"Although I am different from ordinary deities and can interfere in human wars, due to an agreement with another being, I will not easily interfere in the wars of the entire Douluo Continent from now on."
Tang Sui specifically said "the entire Douluo Continent."
The two were startled, but inexplicably, they felt this was the norm.
After all, which of the deities recorded on the Douluo Continent did not ascend later, and besides protecting their legacy and the Hall of Worship with divine power, also meddle in mortal affairs?
Only this one was truly an exception.
"I will stay until my brother becomes a god, and then we will ascend to the God Realm together. However, it's not that I cannot descend. The constraints of the Heavenly Dao are like nothing to me; I can cross between the two realms at any time."
As soon as her voice fell, a flash of red lightning streaked across the sky, as if issuing a warning.
Dai Hao and Xue Beng, who understood immediately, fell silent.
They watched Tang Sui cast a casual glance upward and say dismissively, "Also, I hope you two will agree to three common matters of mine."
The two emperors promptly bowed their heads: "Your Exalted, please speak."
It was spoken as "hope," but heard as "must."
"First, during the process of eradicating the remaining forces of the Spirit Empire, restrain your own soldiers. Those who surrender shall not be killed, the innocent shall not be massacred, and you shall not take this opportunity to bully the elderly, weak, women, and children."
"Second, after incorporating the citizens of the Spirit Empire, do not treat them as slaves, nor oppress or bully them at will. Resettle them properly. This is a transaction I made with another... God Child who can match me. If any of you deceive superiors and inferiors, causing me to break my vow..." Tang Sui's expression turned cold, and an invisible divine might instantly locked onto Dai Hao and Xue Beng, causing them to break out in a cold sweat that soaked their undergarments.
"That God Child also possesses the ability to traverse realms. Whether she will cross realms to settle scores with you, I do not know, but I will personally intervene. Do you understand?"
Feeling able to breathe again, Dai Hao and Xue Beng quickly responded with firm affirmations:
"Understood! Resettling them is already within our responsibilities."
Although he truly wanted to brand the captives and the former citizens of the Spirit Empire as slaves, he...
The thought that there was another powerful deity on the side of the Spirit Empire, who could fight Dai Hao to a standstill, suppressed such ideas.
As for Xue Beng, who had never intended to treat the remnants of the Spirit Empire this way, it was much easier.
Instead, he felt this provided a valid reason to directly reject his uncle.
Xue Beng, who was not particularly skilled in imperial power struggles, stated that there was no problem.
Tang Sui gave a hum and looked towards the internal bickering between the Clear Sky Sect and the Tang Sect, which was formerly part of the Single Attribute Four Sects, after they had united against the common enemy. She swept her gaze over her Black Armored Knights, who stood in a silent formation, guarding their post, and felt a sense of relief, uttering the last matter:
"Third, although the Spirit Empire has perished, I hope you will continue their subsidy policy for soul masters, giving other soul masters a greater hope of survival."
No one could better understand the difficulty of survival than she. Sudan Novel Network.
Dai Hao and Xue Beng exchanged glances and nodded solemnly.
Frankly, they did not consider these three conditions to be a great matter.
After witnessing the terrifying scene of the Demon God wreaking havoc on the battlefield, capable of taking tens of thousands of soldiers' lives with a flick of her wrist, they were truly surprised that this Demon God possessed such a gentle side.
"Since you have agreed, then sign the Divine Covenant."
Hei Mian's cold voice suddenly rang out.
The silver-haired Demon God, adorned with golden pendants, silently appeared beside Tang Sui. Her misty gold eyes, which blended into everything, observed Dai Hao and Xue Beng without emotion.
"You two are human emperors, possessing the destiny of a nation. By signing the Divine Covenant with us, the covenant's effects will automatically bind all those of your bloodline, and even affect the national destiny. Once you violate it and allow it to escalate without acting, the national destiny of your two countries will also suffer backlash. Decline is just the beginning, do you understand?"
Dai Hao and Xue Beng fell silent.
They had never imagined such an outrageous contract, akin to a forced sale.
However, since they had agreed to Tang Sui, they had no intention of going back on their word. One after the other, they used the national destiny of their respective empires and a drop of their vital blood as the medium for the covenant, signing the Divine Covenant with the twin gods.
Having dealt with the most important matters, Tang Sui shifted her gaze to her Black Armored Knights. Thinking of the believers who had temporarily returned to the City of Slaughter with Shang Yang, and of the new world life she had promised them, a slight smile curved her lips.
A new world, she would certainly create.
After all, it was her "retirement home" for Lord Seimei and everyone in Heian-kyo.
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An author's recommendation for a friend's new novel who has just started writing here: "Amateur Turns to Extreme Sports, Stop Showing Off Your Skills!" by Da Ju Mao Yao.
It's a great female-led story with no romance. If you like stories about wilderness survival and resource gathering, feel free to check it out!
There are probably two more side stories, and then the entire book will officially conclude. Heh heh.