Retreat

After absorbing the Spirit Bone, Di Hong's Soul Power Level reached sixty-seven. Just three more levels, and he would reach the Soul Saint rank. Once the war ended and he returned to cultivation, he would probably break through to Soul Saint and obtain his seventh spirit ring in less than a year.

How long had it been? Just one year.

Innate twentieth-level soul power truly made cultivation speed different.

Come to think of it, Qian Renxue had spent twenty years as an Undercover Agent, wasting most of that time, yet she had still cultivated to the Soul Saint rank. He had never gone undercover, and virtually none of his cultivation time had been wasted. This rate of improvement was about right.

Thinking back to when he had been Obtaining Spirit Rings, had he been a little too conservative?

In terms of physical fitness and toughness, he far surpassed Spirit Masters of the same level.

The more he thought about it, the more regretful he felt. Perhaps his first spirit ring could have absorbed an eight-hundred-year spirit beast, and his second could have gone straight to a thousand-year one.

Perhaps he had been overly cautious back then. He had thought a four-hundred-year first spirit ring was already excellent, and it truly was. Among Spirit Masters, those whose first spirit ring was four hundred years old were rare—perhaps only one in ten.

There were even plenty of Spirit Masters whose first spirit ring was not a century-level spirit ring.

His Sixth Soul Ring came from the Sixty Thousand Year Fire Feather Bird King. According to his plan, his seventh spirit ring would come from a ninety-thousand-year spirit beast, while he would only begin seeking Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts for his eighth and ninth spirit rings.

Perhaps he could directly try hunting a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast for his seventh spirit ring, but he probably could not defeat one.

Even ordinary Titled Douluo might not be able to defeat a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, much less him.

There were several Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, but he would not consider them because he could not beat them. He did not think a Soul Emperor like himself could fight the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python. Even those two Soft Bone Rabbits would probably be too much for him.

Tang San's future wife apparently had not yet transformed into human form.

Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts with the fire attribute were even harder to find.

"Let's just take things one step at a time."

Since his first and second spirit rings could no longer be changed, he would leave them as they were for now. He could think of ways to increase their age later, such as taking divine trials to raise his spirit ring ages.

If he were to take divine trials, the Sea God's would undoubtedly be the most suitable. As a fire-attribute Spirit Master, he could never inherit the Sea God's Godhood. Therefore, using the power of the Sea God's divine trials to improve his own strength was undoubtedly the best option.

Over the next month, the Two Great Empires did not engage in another large-scale battle, but clashes between Spirit Masters never ceased. Meanwhile, envoys from both nations held negotiations at Spirit Hall.

In these negotiations between the Two Great Empires, both sides communicated frankly. They fully exchanged views on matters of concern to each side and deepened mutual understanding.

The outcome of the talks was still beneficial. Heaven Dou Empire reserved judgment regarding Star Luo Empire's outrageous demands.

The first round of negotiations ended without result. Neither side got what it wanted.

Then came the second round of negotiations. The two nations naturally conducted their verbal battle with grace; after all, they were the continent's only two empires and still had to preserve their dignity. Thus, during the talks, the delegations of both countries engaged in cordial and friendly physical exchanges.

The people of Spirit Hall were left speechless. How were these people, who were not even Spirit Masters, fighting more fiercely than Spirit Masters?

Had Spirit Hall not stopped both sides, people might have been beaten to death. After all, both sides had already grabbed stools and teacups.

After nearly a month of negotiations, the two sides had reached no result. But Star Luo Empire could no longer afford to wait, because its frontline army's supply lines were constantly being harassed, putting immense pressure on logistics. As for sending reinforcements and continuing the war against Heaven Dou Empire—

That was definitely not an option.

The war between the two sides had always been kept within certain limits. Star Luo Empire's offensive had only seized several border mines and towns; it had not crossed the Lima Plain—or rather, it simply could not get through.

They were certainly unwilling to stubbornly assault Jialing Pass. If they attacked Hagendas Kingdom to the north, they could easily be caught in a pincer attack.

Besides, Spirit Hall would not permit the war to expand in scale. If Star Luo Empire truly dared launch a war of annihilation, then Spirit Hall would dare to fully support Heaven Dou Empire.

So sending reinforcements was impossible. They could only negotiate and try to gain more benefits.

Inside the military camp.

Watching the soldiers drill, Di Hong felt rather bored.

"Are these negotiations at Spirit Hall really not going to produce a result?"

"Star Luo Empire is probably demanding too much, and Heaven Dou Empire can't accept it."

"Just wait. There might be a result in another month or two."

Di Yang had no solution either. The outcome of the war was not something he could decide. Star Luo Empire was no longer attacking, so both sides could only remain locked in this stalemate and wait for the final result.

Dai Yutian did not dare attack again either. That battle had left him with a slight psychological shadow. A Soul Saint had died at Di Hong's hands just like that. If he had been the one who fought Di Hong then, there was no need to guess—if no one had saved him, he would certainly have died at Di Hong's hands.

A single flame shield had been enough to injure him.

Moreover, the hand that had been burned still had not fully healed.

Another month later, the Two Great Empires finally reached an agreement. Heaven Dou Empire gave up two important mines, and Star Luo Empire accepted the gains and agreed accordingly.

After learning the result, Di Hong let out a sigh.

"A battle involving hundreds of thousands of people caused tremendous casualties, and in the end, all they got were two mines."

"We didn't need to give Star Luo Empire anything at all. If we had simply kept dragging things out, Star Luo would have been unable to hold on."

Di Yang was helpless as well.

"There was no choice. I heard the Second Prince said something to the emperor that made him agree to some of Star Luo's demands."

"When I went to see the Crown Prince just now, he was furious. He was practically on the verge of cursing."

Although Xue Ye's cultivation in martial souls was fairly mediocre, he was an absolute hardliner. What he advocated was that not an inch of the nation's territory should be yielded, so naturally the result of the negotiations did not satisfy him.

Yet fury was useless now. The papers had been signed, and the treaty was set. Next, Star Luo Empire would withdraw its troops, and they would all return home.

To them, this war had undoubtedly been a failure. They had gained nothing, suffered casualties, and even lost two mines.

Mineral resources were extremely important strategic assets. Losing two mineral veins at once was truly painful.

There was another matter in these negotiations: Spirit Hall planned to hold a Soul Master Exchange Meet in Spirit City half a year from now. Free soul masters, Soul Master Academies, sects and clans, and soul masters from the empires could all participate.

However, their Soul Power Level could not exceed that of a Soul Saint.

In other words, anyone below Level 70 could participate. Of course, Level 70 soul masters could participate as well, as long as they had not obtained their seventh Spirit Ring.

There were no restrictions on age or background.

A few days later, the Star Luo Empire withdrew its troops and returned.

The armies of Heaven Dou's affiliated Kingdoms also began withdrawing one after another.

Before Di Hong left, Xue Ye came to find him.

"Brother Di Hong, I hope you'll participate in the Soul Master Exchange Meet half a year from now."

"Me?" Di Hong pointed at himself.

"Yes." Xue Ye nodded.

"But I'm already Level 67. In half a year, I might break through to Level 70."

Xue Ye patted Di Hong on the shoulder. Though it was somewhat difficult to say, he still spoke.

"Although this is unfair to you, I still hope you can participate. This Soul Master Exchange Meet is very important."

Di Hong pressed his lips together, then nodded in agreement.