Sun Moon Empire, Mingdu, Imperial Palace.
Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao arrived together. In the Imperial Garden, two adorable little ones, carved from pink jade, were chasing and playing with each other. Zhu Ziyang's parents stood by, watching them with loving gazes.
"Papa!" The two little ones spotted Zhu Ziyang at once and waddled towards him, extending their small hands, wanting a hug.
Zhu Ziyang naturally wouldn't refuse. He took a few steps forward, squatted down, and with a practiced hand, scooped up both little ones, one in each arm. He smiled and asked, "Did you miss Papa?"
"Yes!" The two little ones answered in unison, their fair, tender faces beaming with joy.
Both little ones were three years old and looked identical. Only their sister, Jing Jing, had two small braids, otherwise, outsiders would find it difficult to distinguish the brother and sister. For example, Ma Xiaotao, who was meeting the two little treasures for the first time, was a bit confused at the moment.
"What's your name?" Ma Xiaotao gently asked, holding Jing Jing's hand, who Zhu Ziyang was holding in his left arm.
"My name is Jing Jing. Are you an auntie too?" Jing Jing looked at Ma Xiaotao, her big black eyes twinkling, and asked in a childish voice.
"Yes." Ma Xiaotao smiled happily. She said, "May I hug you, please?"
"Okay!" Jing Jing was not shy at all and immediately reached out to Ma Xiaotao. Ma Xiaotao smiled with delight and embraced her.
A moment later, Ma Xiaotao was playing in the garden with Zhu Yuhuang and Zhu Yuyue, who had already become familiar with her. Zhu Ziyang, meanwhile, was sitting in the pavilion chatting with his parents.
"Dad, how is Anyang City now? What are Uncle Hong's impressions of the Sun Moon Empire? And what are everyone else's reactions?" Zhu Ziyang asked.
"What reactions could there be?" Zhu Changhe waved his hand helplessly and said, "Aside from the first few days when everyone was a bit anxious and panicked, after that, they just went about their business. After all, the Sun Moon Empire's army didn't do anything heinous, so the villagers naturally wouldn't provoke trouble.
As for your Uncle Hong, although he is a Viscount of the Tianhun Empire, as you know, ever since Tian Yuan Academy was established, his heart has been entirely focused on the academy, and he has neglected the affairs of Anyang City quite a bit. After the officials sent by the Sun Moon Empire to Anyang City arrived, he unhesitatingly handed over the position of City Lord and wholeheartedly became its dean.
Moreover, Le Xuan even bestowed upon him the title of Count."
"Oh, that's good then." Hearing this, Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. At least from the situation in Anyang City, the common people of the Tianhun Empire didn't have much objection to the unification, which would save a lot of trouble. That's good.
"So, what do you two plan to do in the future?" Zhu Ziyang smiled and asked his parents.
"Your younger brother has reached an age where he can be independent, so we're relaxed. Your father and I originally planned to travel around, but the situation on the continent is unstable right now, so we plan to stay in Mingdu for a few years with the babies, and then go out when the continental situation stabilizes," Liang Ying said.
"Alright, as long as you two are willing, going anywhere is not a problem." Zhu Ziyang said with a laugh, "Ah Guang is at the academy, and I'm looking after him, so you don't need to worry. For Zhu Yuhuang and Jing Jing, I'll have to trouble you two more."
—
In the evening, Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao met Zhang Lexuan and Jiang Nannan.
Yes, Jiang Nannan. She had also emerged from her seclusion and successfully inherited the God Position of the goddess of taiyin, becoming the new goddess of taiyin.
At this point, Zhu Ziyang already had six God-level combat powers by his side: himself, Jiang Nannan, Ma Xiaotao, Snow Empress, Evil Emperor, and Second Shuang. Although on the Douluo Continent they were all collectively referred to as God-level, when they ascended to the God Realm, the situation would be different.
He was a God King, Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao were both First-Class Gods, and while Snow Empress, Evil Emperor, and Second Shuang were only ordinary God Officials, their potential for advancement was limitless, or rather, their limit was Zhu Ziyang.
Although Zhu Ziyang had not yet ascended to the God Realm, he had already gathered a formidable force around him. With Qian Lingyi and Huo Yuhao currently ascending to godhood, his power was still growing. By the time he ascended to the God Realm, even Sea God Tang San would absolutely not dare to act rashly.
What's more, he still had a trump card in his hand. As long as Tang San dared to cause trouble, he could immediately make it so that the God Realm would no longer have a Sea God or an Asura God!
"Sister Lexuan, when do you plan to make a move against the Star Luo Empire?" Zhu Ziyang asked Zhang Lexuan, who was sitting beside him.
"I've discussed it with several legion commanders, and we plan to launch an attack on the Star Luo Empire in a year, striving to complete the unification of the continent within half a year!" Zhang Lexuan said, her pretty face filled with the confidence and dominance of a strategist.
"Alright," Zhu Ziyang nodded, then looked at Ma Xiaotao and Jiang Nannan, saying, "Nannan, Sister Xiaotao, when the time comes, you two will act with Sister Lexuan and directly display your divine might when necessary. I believe that the manifestation of gods will definitely accelerate the process of unification and also deter those with ill intentions!"
"Oh, good! I was just worried about having nothing to do," Ma Xiaotao said excitedly upon hearing this.
Jiang Nannan also nodded, indicating no problem.
Following that, the four discussed some trivial matters, and then, it was a night of indulgence, sharing the same bed.
—
Evil Demon Forest, two streaks of light flew out of the pitch-black forest and landed on a nearby hilltop, revealing their true forms. They looked extremely disheveled, and were none other than Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui. Behind them, a stunning angel, clad in six wings and holding a golden longsword, flew unhurriedly. She was Qian Lingyi.
The situation at this moment was very clear: Qian Lingyi, whose cultivation had reached Limit Douluo, had completely suppressed Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui. In terms of both Spirit and cultivation, Qian Lingyi clearly held the upper hand. The Holy Spirit Church headquarters beneath the Evil Demon Forest had been destroyed, and the Evil Soul Masters hiding within the headquarters had all perished under the angelic sacred light. Only a very few Titled Douluo managed to slip away when Qian Lingyi's attention was diverted to the two Limit Douluo.
It turned out that Qian Lingyi, following Zhu Ziyang's suggestion, had been continuously judging Evil Soul Masters on the continent. In this process, the Angelic Sacred Sword in Qian Lingyi's hand transformed into a divine artifact due to absorbing too much power of faith, allowing her to successfully complete the second part of her God Position assessment.
Her state had already reached its optimal point. Now, as long as she judged Ye Xishui, the strongest Evil Soul Master of the current era, her state of mind would be sublimated, her merits would be complete, and she would be able to achieve her Angel God Position in the best possible state.
Now, there was only one last step.
"Don't resist stubbornly. The holy light will cleanse your sins and send you to reincarnation!" Qian Lingyi pointed her Angelic Sacred Sword at Ye Xishui, her expression serious and her tone cold.
"Why must you be so ruthless?" Long Xiaoyao asked with a hint of grief and indignation, "We have already sworn to withdraw from the world and never appear before people again. Is that not enough?"
"Sins will not diminish by avoidance. Only by accepting judgment is her best destination!" Qian Lingyi said, her heart unmoved.
"You..." Long Xiaoyao still wanted to argue, but Ye Xishui pulled him back.
"Xiaoyao, don't say any more." Ye Xishui gave Long Xiaoyao a deep look, then turned to Qian Lingyi and said, "If I accept your judgment, will you spare Xiaoyao?"
"Naturally." Qian Lingyi nodded faintly and said, "The angel's sword only judges those burdened with sin. Although Long Xiaoyao carries darkness, he bears no sin, and thus is not within the scope of my judgment."
"Good!" Ye Xishui nodded upon hearing this, and then, under Long Xiaoyao's shocked gaze, she struck him in the chest with a palm. Long Xiaoyao was sent flying directly, falling heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood, his aura instantly weakening.
"Xishui, you..." Long Xiaoyao looked at Ye Xishui with horror and grief, seeing a hint of determination flash across her face. He panicked, wanting to stand up and stop her, but Ye Xishui's palm had not held back, scattering all his spirit power throughout his body, making him completely unable to exert strength immediately. He could only watch helplessly.
"Xiaoyao, don't blame me..." Ye Xishui's words were unfinished when the Angelic Sacred Sword descended upon her head. An incomparably holy radiance enveloped her, and in an instant, the sacred purifying power caused the Death Douluo to instantly turn to ashes, leaving behind only a pile of personal belongings.
At the moment she killed Ye Xishui, Qian Lingyi heard a "ding" sound in her mind. She knew that her moment of ascension had arrived, so she didn't even glance at Long Xiaoyao. Her figure flickered and disappeared into the horizon.
When she reappeared, she would bring the Angel God's form back to the world.
Not long after Qian Lingyi left, several more figures flew out of the Evil Demon Forest and landed at the spot where Qian Lingyi had killed Ye Xishui, looking somewhat bewildered at everything that had happened around them.
After a long while, one of them spoke, "Senior Di Tian, the matter is concluded. I shall take my leave now. Farewell!"
With that, his figure slowly began to fade, disappearing from this world.
The remaining figures were none other than the overlords of the Star Dou Great Forest, Beast God Di Tian and several other fierce beasts, while the person who had left earlier was Huo Yuhao.
They had come with Qian Lingyi. Unlike Qian Lingyi's purpose, their target was the second fierce beast allied with Ye Xishui, Evil Emperor.
Di Tian wanted to subdue the Evil Demon Forest and the Evil Eye Tyrant clan, Huo Yuhao wanted an Evil Eye Tyrant as his ninth spirit ring, and Qian Lingyi wanted to attack the Holy Spirit Church, Evil Emperor's ally. Their purposes were different but their goals were consistent, so under Zhu Ziyang's matchmaking, they teamed up.
Qian Lingyi was responsible for the Holy Spirit Church, while Di Tian and Huo Yuhao were responsible for helping her contain the Evil Eye Tyrant ruler, Evil Emperor. The result was as it is now: Qian Lingyi successfully destroyed the Holy Spirit Church, Di Tian successfully subdued the Evil Demon Forest and the surviving Evil Eye Tyrant clan, and Huo Yuhao obtained an 800,000-year-old Evil Eye Tyrant ruler as a Soul Spirit. This was a win-win-win cooperation.
Only Evil Emperor and Ye Xishui were injured, and Evil Emperor really wanted to say, "Are you happy now!"
"Let's go too!" Di Tian waved his big hand and left the Domain of the Evil Demon Forest with a joyful mood.