Chapter 281: The Final Blow, Part Two
But Ayin was not yet done. A surge of deadly lightning flickered in her hand as she prepared to strike Tang Hao down. Dao Ba and the others did not interfere, knowing this was Ye Wen's arrangement.
Although Ye Wen had once toyed with the idea of forcing Tang San to watch his parents fight to the death, hoping it might shatter his resolve, Tang San's meteoric rise in power posed a real threat. Even after years of relentless training, Ayin's strength had reached only level 96, not nearly enough to confront the terrifying might of a god like Tang San.
When Ye Wen agreed to Ayin's request to personally carry out the Hao Tian Sect's final execution, she found some closure. Though her years of self discipline had softened her hatred, the bitterness remained, and this was a chance to resolve it.
In the end, Tang Hao met his demise, reduced to a charred figure, consumed by despair. Watching as her tormentor breathed his last, Ayin felt a deep, quiet release. The heavy chains binding her soul seemed to dissolve, and as her spirit lightened, her cultivation broke through to level 97.
A breeze stirred, and Tang Hao's scorched remains scattered into the wind, leaving behind only six flawless spirit bones a grim reminder of the once powerful soul master who had fallen here. Ho Rui approached, gathering the spirit bones with a respectful nod toward the still reeling Ayin.
"Ayin, what will you do next?" she asked gently.
Ayin felt no attachment to the spirit bones collected by Ho Rui; they were all part of Tianxing Academy now and understood the protocols. As for her future... Ayin had little thought. She looked toward Ye Wen, her last remaining hope, longing to see Tang San's fall by his hand. Ayin's only wish now was to bury her child properly and finally let her spirit rest.
Seeing Ayin's quiet acceptance, Ho Rui suggested, "Then why not stay with us for now, Sister Ayin? We've much to clean up in Xingluo."
Ayin agreed with a nod, her emotions settled. She owed Tianxing Academy a debt for its support, and a sense of purpose stirred within her as she joined Ho Rui and the others in their work.
Xingluo Empire was left vulnerable after the White Tiger Emperor concentrated all his forces in a final, desperate battle. Ye Wen's strategy of five years had been to cultivate competent local officials among the empire's population, and this moment had been his objective all along.
In a continent where literacy was rare, it was easy enough to find powerful soul masters, but officials capable of administering entire cities effectively were scarce. In Douluo, there were no exams for selecting officials. Most were nobles, appointed through nepotism, and often lacked genuine skill. Ye Wen's plans focused on purging these ineffective relics and installing trustworthy people in their place.
"Rule justly or face the consequences," Ye Wen often reminded his subordinates, emphasizing the responsibility of those in power. He knew that exploitation bred resentment and resistance.
The process of annexing the Xingluo territories went smoothly, aided by Duke Zhu and his network. They uncovered and executed numerous disloyal royal bastards. Even if some of these nobles hadn't committed outright crimes, their bloodlines alone marked them as potential threats.
As a result, the Xingluo Empire fell quickly, its lands integrated into the new order. People, weary of White Tiger's harsh rule, welcomed the Tian Dou administrators. They had suffered greatly in the last five years under his tyranny and hoped that peace would return once the entire continent united.
Even the peasants understood that a unified continent would end their misery. Though they could expect taxation, it was preferable to the endless cycle of wars and scarcity. The new empire represented a better life, and even if only out of self interest, the people supported it.
Amidst this sweeping change, Dai Mubai's fate was sealed. Known for his cunning, he had once fled the royal palace, evading a brutal struggle for the throne. But with the two empires at war, Mubai realized he could not take sides without risking his life. As a wandering spirit mercenary, he had tried to stay under the radar, hiding one of his "Evil Eyes" under an eyepatch to avoid recognition.
But fate had other plans. Recognized by former comrades, Mubai was killed in a brutal ambush. The treacherous world of soul hunters was unforgiving; many mentors even warned new recruits that the real danger in the wilderness wasn't spirit beasts but other humans.
His death marked the end of Xingluo's royal family. Ye Wen's plan for unification had succeeded: after centuries of division, the continent finally became one. History would call this moment the beginning of the Spirit Empire, the First Year of the Holy Spirit Era.
Meanwhile, Ye Wen was engaged in a battle against his most formidable foe to date. He had anticipated that the God of Asura would boost Tang San's power, but he hadn't expected Tang San to strike with such ruthless speed as soon as they entered the isolated battlefield. Although he narrowly dodged the blow, a wound across his shoulder throbbed, refusing to heal.
With a quick smile, Ye Wen ran a finger over the wound, licking the blood away. "You're pretty terrifying, Little Tang San. So, this is the power of the second generation God of Asura?"
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