Chapter 289: Chapter 289: The Empire is Founded, the Eve of the Blue Lightning and Clear Sky Clans’ Annihilation
Lin Feng coughed lightly and pressed down on the Angelic Holy Sword in Qian Renxue’s hand. "Xue’er, stop fooling around."
Qian Renxue’s fine brows raised slightly. She sheathed her longsword and sighed, "If this is brother’s attitude, it would be better to just ignore me. It makes me seem like I’m being unreasonable."
Ah, this...
Lin Feng blinked. Didn’t Ling Yuan say that Xue’er knew about Bo Saixi and the Snow Empress?
Qian Renxue sighed again. "Why aren’t you talking? If brother doesn’t want to talk to me, then let’s not. The sisters outside are much more interesting, after all."
Lin Feng stared at Qian Renxue, momentarily at a loss.
"Pfft—"
She suddenly burst out laughing, breaking the slightly awkward atmosphere. She pointed at Lin Feng and said to Gu Yuena and Bo Saixi, "Xiao Feng is mine now. Any objections?"
She stared straight at Gu Yuena. Although she had already broken through to the god-level, she always felt that the Gu Yuena before her was even stronger. If not for some apprehension, she would have already chosen to have a "fair" spar with her. After all, her desire to be a dragon-slaying angel was not just a day or two old.
Gu Yuena said nothing. Bo Saixi remained silent.
"Silence means you agree. Let’s go," Qian Renxue snorted, grabbed one of Lin Feng’s ears, and started walking away, leaving Gu Yuena and Bo Saixi to look at each other and smile.
"Good brother, oh good brother, you’d better explain them properly, or I’ll have to use the family rules on you," along the way, Qian Renxue said with a smile, yet through gritted teeth.
The celestial phenomenon produced by Qian Renxue’s breakthrough to the god-level was propagated by Spirit Hall as the miracle of the angel’s return, in order to build momentum.
Within Spirit City, inside Spirit Hall, there was jubilation from top to bottom. Bibi Dong personally ordered for this miracle to be widely publicized, not only to celebrate the return of the Angel God but also to consolidate the Spirit Empire’s status in the hearts of soul masters.
The momentum of Qian Renxue’s breakthrough was immense. Even long after it had passed, the golden light in the sky still surged like a tide, complementing the dawn’s early light and enveloping the entire Spirit City in a sacred and solemn atmosphere.
To further embellish this miracle, Spirit Hall also organized a grand celebration. Taking this opportunity, Bibi Dong announced the founding of the empire, her voice piercing the clouds and shaking the soul of every soul master.
"Our Spirit Hall, since ancient times, has been a sacred place in the hearts of soul masters, gathering countless talents and powerhouses. We are spread across the continent, providing martial soul awakenings for the common people, offering places for soul masters to cultivate, and passing down countless precious martial souls.
"First, we had the Holy Son Lin Feng, who created the Soul Vein method, educating the masses and benefiting generations to come. Then, we have the arrival of the Angel God Qian Renxue, blessing the empire and shining her light in all directions. The glory of the Spirit Empire is the culmination of the painstaking efforts of our ancestors, and it is also the honor of our generation of soul masters.
"And now, under the great trend of the world, what has long been divided must unite. Spirit Hall will follow the mandate of heaven and unify this long-divided continent.
"There are tens of thousands of people in the world, yet the number of soul masters is but one in ten thousand. The Holy Son Lin Feng has a wish, to make the path of the soul master benefit all living beings, to allow the masses to cultivate, improve themselves, and walk the path of the strong together.
"To this end, Spirit Hall will initiate an unprecedented reform, establishing soul master academies in every city. Regardless of birth or status, all those with the potential to be soul masters can enroll and be taught, to learn the secrets of martial souls and explore the mysteries of heaven and earth.
"Furthermore, Spirit Hall will re-establish order, ensure the harmonious coexistence of soul masters and common people, and establish an impartial soul master court to handle disputes between soul masters and protect the weak from being bullied. I, Bibi Dong, in the name of the Empress, will personally supervise these reforms to ensure that every policy can truly benefit the people.
"The continent has been divided for a long time. Today, I, Bibi Dong, in the name of the Empress of the Spirit Empire, formally announce the founding of the Spirit Empire!"
As Bibi Dong’s powerful words fell, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the central square of Spirit City. The soul masters’ eyes shone with excitement, as if they could already see a new era unfolding before them.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
"Silence—"
With a soft command from Bibi Dong, the clamor in the square gradually subsided. The soul masters’ gazes once again focused on her, awaiting the Empress’s further instructions.
A streak of light cut across the sky, and Lin Feng’s figure suddenly appeared. Dressed in white robes purer than snow, he slowly walked to Bibi Dong’s side, his clear voice spreading throughout Spirit City.
"The way of Heaven is vast, the way of Man is long. The way of the martial soul values inheritance and innovation.
"I, Lin Feng, wish to establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, to secure a destiny for the people, to carry on the lost teachings of past sages, and to bring peace to all future generations. I will do everything in my power, not only to teach the methods of soul master cultivation but also to guide soul masters to comprehend the true meaning of the martial soul, so that the way of the martial soul may truly benefit all the people of the world."
The moment the Four Sentences of Hengqu were spoken, the entire Spirit City seemed to be shaken by an invisible force. The depths of the soul masters’ hearts were touched, and an inexplicable excitement and reverence spread among them.
An old man, his eyes brimming with tears, muttered to himself, "This is the true way of the soul master. The Spirit Empire has hope!"
A fire was lit in the heart of a young man, who asked loudly, "Lord Holy Son! Please impart your methods to us!"
A chorus of soul masters asked in unison, "Please, Lord Holy Son, impart your methods to us!" The voices of the soul masters converged into a torrent, filled with longing and anticipation, as if it would shake the entire Spirit City.
Hearing this, Lin Feng smiled faintly. He tapped his fingertip, and ripples instantly spread through space. A gentle power that seeped into the soul spread out, making every soul master present feel an unprecedented sense of peace and clarity.
"The way of the martial soul is to absorb the soul rings of soul beasts and merge with the qi of heaven and earth.
"However, the way of Heaven is to take from what has a surplus and supplement what is deficient; the way of Man is to take from the deficient to serve the surplus. Humanity has risen and continues to develop, yet the number of soul beasts is decreasing day by day. This is Heaven’s way of taking from the surplus. And we soul masters, by hunting soul beasts to obtain soul rings and enhance our own strength, is this not Man’s way of taking from the deficient to serve the surplus?
"If this continues, the soul beast race may face the danger of extinction, and the way of the soul master will also decline due to the loss of the source of soul rings. This is absolutely not what I wish to see, nor is it the future of the Spirit Empire!"
The eyes of a visiting soul master suddenly lit up, and he asked loudly, "May I ask, Lord Holy Son, what is the solution?"
Lin Feng smiled faintly. "All things in the world follow the principle of cyclicality and endless regeneration.
"Ever since I created the ’Innate Soul Evolution Art,’ I have been searching for the true path of martial soul cultivation, a way for soul masters and soul beasts to coexist in harmony.
"The martial soul originates from oneself, so it should naturally return to oneself.
"I have two new methods, named the ’Ring Condensation Method’ and the ’Vein Sculpting Method,’ which can allow soul masters to obtain soul rings and increase their soul power without hunting soul beasts.
"The ’Ring Condensation Method’ allows a soul master to use their own cultivation and spiritual power to condense the origin energy between heaven and earth, simulating the formation process of a soul beast’s soul ring, thereby condensing a unique soul ring within their own body. The ’Vein Sculpting Method’ uses a soul master’s deep understanding of their martial soul, with their own soul power as a guide, to reshape the soul ring into internal meridians.
"All external forces are returned to the internal. To nourish the external with the internal, this is the true essence of a soul master’s cultivation. These two methods can not only allow soul masters to avoid dependence on and harm to soul beasts but also stimulate a soul master’s own potential, taking their cultivation and combat power to the next level.
"All these wonderful uses are recorded in the ’Innate Soul Evolution Art’."
"Whoa—"
"It’s the legendary Soul Veins! The Lord Holy Son has finally perfected it!"
"From now on, we no longer need to go out hunting for souls! We can condense our own soul rings and soul veins! The soul veins that only the top figures had, we can also obtain them!"
Hearing this, the soul masters all showed expressions of pleasant surprise. They knew very well that the appearance of the ’Ring Condensation Method’ and ’Vein Sculpting Method’ would completely change the landscape of the soul master world, giving every soul master a chance to walk the path of the strong. The soul master world was about to change!
The soul masters in the crowd who originally held doubts and a wait-and-see attitude towards Spirit Hall’s sudden announcement of establishing an empire, after Lin Feng announced the new methods, their doubts instantly vanished.
"The Spirit Empire and the Lord Holy Son are the orthodox rulers of the continent, and I’ll stand by that!"
"The Star Luo and Heaven Dou Empires had better obediently follow the mandate of heaven and submit to the Empire!"
As Lin Feng’s words fell, the atmosphere in Spirit City reached an unprecedented climax. Soul masters discussed animatedly, their eyes shining with longing and anticipation for the future. They believed that under the leadership of the Holy Son Lin Feng and the Empress Bibi Dong, the Spirit Empire would surely usher in an unprecedented era of glory.
"That’s right! Those stubborn forces of Star Luo and Heaven Dou, those useless nobles, should have been unified long ago!"
"The Spirit Empire has such advanced cultivation methods and the protection of the Angel God Qian Renxue. The unification of the continent is just around the corner!"
"We soul masters finally have a true home. The Spirit Empire will surely stand tall forever! By the mandate of heaven, may it have longevity and eternal prosperity!"
The cheers of the soul masters rose and fell, as if they could already see the magnificent picture of the Spirit Empire unifying the continent. And at this moment, in a corner of Spirit City, several figures were quietly watching all of this.
"It seems the Spirit Empire is indeed not to be underestimated," a middle-aged man in gorgeous clothes said in a deep voice, a grave look in his eyes.
"Especially that Holy Son Lin Feng. His appearance has completely changed the landscape of the soul master world," another old man echoed, his gaze deep, as if he were contemplating something.
"However, unifying the continent is no easy task. Although the Star Luo and Heaven Dou Empires are not as strong as the Spirit Empire, they also have considerable foundations," the middle-aged man continued. "Besides, can their Spirit Empire really launch a war? That would mean bloodshed."
"You’re right," the old man nodded slightly. "But in any case, the rise of the Spirit Empire is an indisputable fact. We must be prepared."
"What does the clan say?"
The middle-aged man looked worried. "The Clan Master is acting willfully, convinced that the Spirit Empire is the culprit behind the murder of that ’good-for-nothing.’ He has already reached an agreement with the Clear Sky Clan to resist together. The momentum of that Qian Renxue’s breakthrough was immense. I don’t know if she has truly reached that legendary realm. We are like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot."
The other old man was silent for a moment. "Let’s go. It’s useless for us to think about these things. Let’s go rescue Tang Hao. Now is the most suitable time."
The middle-aged man nodded. "Alright. By the way, Uncle Zhao, as the mastermind who facilitated this, why did you have to come personally and put yourself in danger?"
Hearing this, a trace of mockery flashed in Uncle Zhao’s eyes. "Naturally, it’s better to do things personally."
They took advantage of the noise and chaos of the Spirit City celebration to quietly abduct Tang Hao.
"Are we really doing the right thing?" one of them couldn’t help but ask, his voice trembling with a hint of confusion.
"There is no other choice," another said in a deep voice, his eyes revealing a hint of determination. "Tang Hao is an important figure to the clan. We cannot let him fall into the hands of the Spirit Empire. Moreover, the Spirit Empire’s ambition is already clear. They want to unify the entire continent. We must be prepared to protect our own lives."
"But..." the person wanted to say more but was interrupted.
"No more buts, let’s go!" the middle-aged man in the lead urged. "The Spirit Empire’s celebration is about to end. We must leave here before they react."
The group said no more, quickened their pace, and disappeared into the bustle of Spirit City.
And on the high platform, Lin Feng glanced in that direction, a smile touching the corner of his lips.
The ceremony was still ongoing. Qian Renxue appeared high in the sky, dressed in a flowing, resplendent angelic battle armor. Her six wings flapped gently, and a golden light emanated from her, merging with the dawn’s light in the sky, like a true angel descending upon the mortal world.
Her gaze swept across the entire scene, finally settling on Lin Feng.
Seeing the look in Qian Renxue’s eyes, Lin Feng was slightly taken aback, then smiled and also rose into the sky to stand shoulder to shoulder with her. Their auras intertwined, as if a match made in heaven, causing the soul masters below to cheer even more fanatically.
"Everyone!" Qian Renxue’s voice was clear and majestic, piercing the clouds and reaching the ears of every soul master. "I, Qian Renxue, as the Angel God, will guard the Spirit Empire together with my partner, the Holy Son Lin Feng, and lead everyone towards a brighter future."
Qian Renxue took one of Lin Feng’s hands. They held hands, jointly looking down at Spirit City below, and the countless soul masters looking up at them.
Their auras erupted. The pressure from the two gods instantly enveloped the entire Spirit City. Qian Renxue, as the Angel God, her divine power was pure and vast, like a boundless golden ocean; and Lin Feng’s aura was equally powerful and mysterious.
The two powers intertwined, forming an unprecedentedly powerful field that left all the soul masters in Spirit City in a state of unprecedented shock.
Under the cover of this powerful field, the soul masters all involuntarily knelt on the ground, worshiping the gods in their hearts.
Lin Feng said softly, "I don’t think this step was in the agreed-upon program?"
Qian Renxue’s finger gently traced the palm of Lin Feng’s hand, a sly light in her eyes. "If I say it is, then it is. What, do you, little Lin Feng, have an opinion?"
"Of course not."
In this situation, letting Lin Feng stand with her and publicly announce their relationship was undoubtedly the best way to declare her sovereignty. No matter what happened later, her position as the first to arrive was unshakable.
The soul masters below had already exploded into a frenzy. What happened today seemed to have exceeded their expectations, yet it also seemed to be within reason.
"The Young Master Qian Renxue and the Lord Holy Son are truly a match made in heaven!"
"With them here, the future of the Spirit Empire will surely be even more glorious!"
Just as they were discussing, another purple figure slowly rose and stood shoulder to shoulder with Lin Feng. Bibi Dong was dressed in purple, her disposition noble and cold. Without another word, she took Lin Feng’s other hand, their fingers tightly intertwined.
Bibi Dong’s action stunned everyone present. An unbelievable thought flashed through the minds of all the soul masters.
"This..."
"How is this possible!"
The soul masters were dumbfounded. Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong, two female powerhouses with the highest status in the soul master world, were simultaneously displaying such an intimate gesture with the Holy Son Lin Feng.
"Congratulations to Your Majesty, congratulations to the Holy Son!" It was unknown who was the first to react and shout. After this shout, the cheers rose one after another.
A platinum bishop instructed someone beside him, "Take note of that person. He’s a talent."
Qian Renxue smiled and looked at Bibi Dong. "Does Sister Dong think I won’t be angry?"
Bibi Dong returned a smile. "You’ve already taken the lead. Can you tolerate it for a bit?"
Qian Renxue was stunned for a moment, then let out a soft snort. "You got off easy." And she said no more.
Her brows suddenly raised. Her powerful divine sense told her that several people were rushing towards them. Bibi Dong is one thing, but they want to come too? Qian Renxue’s figure moved, and the figures of the three of them disappeared from the air at the same time.
Leaving the soul masters below in shocked discussion. This scene was undoubtedly the most impactful one since the founding of the Spirit Empire.
Her Majesty the Empress of the Spirit Empire, and the suspected god-level Young Master Qian Renxue, were both Lin Feng’s partners.
The eyes of the female students of Spirit Academy shone with envy and admiration. They whispered among themselves, discussing animatedly.
"Wuwuwu, how could Brother Lin Feng do this? So, so Her Majesty the Empress is also...?" Dugu Yan sobbed, leaning on Ye Lingling’s shoulder.
Ye Lingling symbolically patted her head and comforted her like a mother, "Don’t cry, don’t cry."
"Damn it, teacher," Hu Liena gritted her teeth secretly. "You fed me empty promises and made me work, while you enjoy yourself like this. I really want to quit. Why did I accept the position of Holy Maiden back then~~"
Zhu Zhuqing’s eyes held a look of envy.
Xiao Wu, on the other hand, muttered indignantly, "What about our Mistress? What about our Mistress? How could Teacher Lin Feng not bring our Mistress along? Our Mistress is the main wife!"
The moment she said this, all the sighs and sounds of envy instantly disappeared. Several gazes were fixed deadly on Xiao Wu.
"Gulp— You, what are you guys doing? Don’t do anything rash!" Xiao Wu covered her chest with her hands. Why does it feel like I’m about to be turned into a spicy rabbit head?
"Sister Xue’er is the main wife!"
"That’s not right! Her Majesty the Empress is!"
"Neither is right, it’s that white-haired sister who is!!!"