Chapter 325: The Stalemate of the Three Great Empires
Whether it was the Tiandou Empire, the Spirit Empire, or even the Star Luo Empire far away at the Tianmen Pass, all three sides had fallen into an eerie silence. None of them continued to engage in battle but instead silently stationed their armies.
For the Tiandou Empire, after the deaths of Emperor Xueye and Marshal Ge Long, internal instability arose. Empress Xueke had just ascended to the throne and needed to stabilize the situation and win the people's hearts.
Recently, Empress Xueke had been in frequent communication with Tang Xiao, Ning Fengzhi, and Lin Gong, offering great rewards and doing everything possible to gain the support of the three great sects.
Lin Gong and Yang Wudi had visited Yang Xiong several times. Yang Xiong simply told them to handle the matters as they saw fit. As long as it wasn't a matter of life and death for the sect, they should continue handling things the way they always had.
Having established the Body Sect for so many years, Yang Xiong had not micromanaged every small matter. Instead, he had set up a relatively complete system of sect rules, including a clear direction for the sect's development.
Under the sect's rules, everyone was to focus on cultivating and supporting the younger generation, with no internal strife or abuse of power. Additionally, there were certain divisions of benefits. These were the ironclad rules within the sect, and Lin Gong and Yang Wudi had gotten used to Yang Xiong's laid-back approach.
Moreover, the Body Sect had suffered significant losses recently. Although no powerful experts had fallen, nearly half of the thousand soul masters sent out by the sect had been injured or killed. Now, Lin Gong, Yang Wudi, and the others were handling matters with much more caution.
Another important point was that Bai He, who controlled the intelligence for the Tiandou Empire, often communicated with Lin Gong and Yang Wudi to minimize the sect's losses and protect the safety of the sect's disciples.
Otherwise, given the brutal battles of this time, the Body Sect would have suffered even more severe casualties.
The Haotian Sect, with fewer members, had lost half of its regular disciples and two Title Douluo.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which focused more on support, had many of its soul masters with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Martial Soul stationed behind the battlefield. Even so, the sect still suffered losses exceeding fifty percent.
The Tiandou royal family's soul masters had lost almost seventy percent, the highest percentage of any of the soul master factions.
Yang Wudi and Lin Gong knew that Yang Xiong was still recovering from his injuries and did their best not to disturb him. After all, Yang Xiong was the backbone of the entire sect, and even the entire Tiandou army.
Even Ning Rongrong had gone to Yang Xiong to complain. To win the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Empress Xueke had paid a great price, even bringing up childhood connections and practically begging to be called "sisters" with Ning Rongrong.
According to Ning Rongrong's analysis, Empress Xueke was extremely reliant on the Haotian Sect. She often consulted Tang Yuehua for both major and minor matters, showing a great deal of trust in her teacher.
After a well-organized period of handling, the Tiandou Empire's army gradually stabilized. It was no longer as chaotic as when Emperor Xueye had just died.
Yang Xiong was fully focused on healing. His body seemed to be enveloped by a red sphere of light, where the Asura God's power and the Angel God's power collided and constantly neutralized each other.
Given Yang Xiong's powerful physique, healing wasn't particularly difficult, but the priority was to recover quickly and not leave any hidden dangers for himself.
Compared to the Tiandou Empire, the Star Luo Empire and the Spirit Empire were relatively strange.
Since Bibi Dong returned to Spirit City, the entire Spirit Empire had fallen silent.
The Spirit Empire was now officially led by Golden Crocodile Douluo and Qian Renxue. Qian Renxue, now the Angel God, held an extremely high position in the Spirit Empire, being the object of everyone's worship.
Unfortunately, Qian Renxue was also busy healing, and it was the Saintess Hu Liena who was doing her best to calm everyone down. After all, changing generals at the last minute was taboo, and many of the ordinary soul masters in the Spirit Empire were diehard followers of Bibi Dong.
The Star Luo Empire, which had been aggressively attacking Tianmen Pass, suddenly pulled back thirty kilometers as soon as the news of Qian Renxue's ascension to godhood reached them. No further interference with Tianmen Pass was made.
The situation was no longer something that Star Luo could control. Even though the Star Luo Emperor and Empress were powerful, they didn't dare provoke the only level 100 True God in the world.
After Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong were crippled, Yu Xiaogang's status in the Tiandou Empire plummeted, and he now spent most of his time in his room, recuperating.
Both Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong appeared to have aged decades.
Though Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong were both over fifty years old, without the nourishment of soul power, they had long been considered elderly.
Now, with their martial souls crippled, they appeared even older.
Yu Xiaogang's hair was completely white, and his body seemed to lack any power. He had always been physically weak, focusing on books and academic pursuits. Now, he looked like a frail old man who had never exercised.
Liu Erlong was in slightly better condition, but after losing her martial soul and soul power, she no longer appeared like the youthful, middle-aged beauty she once was. Her hair had a few streaks of white, giving her a naturally aged look.
Empress Xueke was incredibly busy. Though she had sent many healing medicines and even personally visited Yu Xiaogang, her strength was of no help to him.
Flander silently cared for both Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong, and seeing them in this state caused him immense sorrow.
The Golden Iron Triangle had been famous across the continent for decades. The three of them had traveled the world together, surviving countless life-and-death situations, forming a deep bond. They were true brothers, inseparable in life and death.
Flander had always treated Yu Xiaogang as his best friend and loved Liu Erlong the most. He had left for their sake many years ago.
Now, both of them had been crippled, and the Golden Iron Triangle would never exist again.
Since their martial souls were destroyed, Yu Xiaogang had fallen into silence. His former pride was gone, and he no longer had the resolve for revenge that he once had.
As Qian Renxue had said, Yu Xiaogang had lost his greatest support. His family was destroyed, his father, who had secretly protected him, was gone, and one of the reasons for his father's death was his own fault.
Bibi Dong returned to Spirit City, and the youthful admiration that Yu Xiaogang once had was also gone. Even the hatred had faded.
His wife, Liu Erlong, had also been crippled.
From now on, all his pride had been shattered. Even the research he had done on soul masters over the years was just a compilation of the experiences of others. It was only by relying on the knowledge of the Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family that he had learned anything. Qian Renxue had torn away his final piece of dignity.
Liu Erlong, though herself crippled, still looked at Yu Xiaogang's aged and disheartened form with immense heartache.
"Xiaogang, you need to pull yourself together. Don't forget the grudge of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family. Don't forget you are the world-renowned Master. Even without a martial soul, it won't diminish your research and contributions over the years."
Yu Xiaogang shook his head helplessly: "Erlong, I understand my situation better than you. At my age, I probably won't live for many more years."
"Qian Renxue is right. My father died because of me. The knowledge I published offended too many people, which is why I was expelled from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family and rejected by all the soul master families."
"Back then, it was the Spirit Hall that took me in and made me an elder, but I never contributed to the Spirit Hall. I even hurt the woman who once loved me the most."
"As Qian Renxue said, everyone has the right to criticize the Spirit Empire, except for me. I hurt Bibi Dong, and I hurt you. From the beginning to the end, I've been nothing but a coward, someone who just runs away."
Liu Erlong quickly spoke: "Xiaogang, that's not true. You're the strongest man in the world. Even if the world despises you, you should still share that knowledge. It's because of your knowledge that common soul masters can develop better."
"Don't forget the Shrek Academy. It's the blood, sweat, and tears of the three of us. I've been running Shrek Academy for years, recruiting only common disciples, wanting to prove to the world that you were right, wanting the world to recognize you."
"Besides, even though your martial soul was crippled, with your knowledge, I don't believe there's no way to restore it."
Yu Xiaogang smiled bitterly: "Erlong, you don't need to comfort me. Qian Renxue is a god. She won't give me any chance to recover. There's no way to restore my martial soul unless it's through the gods."
Liu Erlong said: "Xiaogang, don't forget, though Qian Renxue is powerful, she's not invincible. Yang Xiong can resist her. With his knowledge, there should be a way to restore your martial soul."
Yu Xiaogang shook his head: "Erlong, it's hopeless. Yang Xiong is strong, but he's still just an ordinary soul master. He can't reach the level of a god, and besides, I've had no communication with him. He won't go out of his way for me, especially at a time like this with Qian Renxue still watching closely."
Liu Erlong's eyes suddenly lit up as if she thought of something: "Xiaogang, don't forget. Tang San has also inherited the divine power. Once he becomes a god, with what he has done for you, he'll surely help you restore your martial soul."
Yu Xiaogang froze for a moment, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes, but it quickly extinguished.
"Tang San... Tang San has suffered so much. Now, his father was killed by Qian Renxue, and his mother was forced to death by the Spirit Hall. Qian Renxue sees him as a thorn in her side. Even if he becomes a god, he will still face attacks from Qian Renxue. I can't let Tang San sacrifice so much for me."
(END CHAPTER)
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