Unifying the Continent!

Snow Empress and Ice Empress landed before the manor gates. As they took in the fairyland-like scenery before them, they were momentarily lost in a daze.

"Since you are here, come in."

A gentle voice drifted from deep within the manor. It was not loud, yet it rang clearly beside the two women's ears, carrying a peculiar power that soothed their hearts.

Snow Empress adjusted her white gown, took the somewhat nervous Ice Empress by the hand, and slowly stepped into the manor.

They followed a path carpeted with nine-colored petals and soon came upon an exquisite pavilion.

Tang Xiao was seated within it, leisurely holding a cup of clear tea. His ink-black hair cascaded over his shoulders, and his incomparably handsome face held no unnecessary emotion. Yet as he sat there, he seemed to have merged with heaven and earth itself.

Qian Renxue sat beside him, gently peeling a spiritual fruit for him. Her golden gown shimmered with holy radiance beneath the sunlight.

The arrival of the two women broke the pavilion's tranquility.

"Snow Empress of the Far North greets Your Excellency and the Mistress."

Snow Empress dipped slightly into a flawless bow, her cool voice carrying sincere respect.

Ice Empress hurriedly followed suit, though her large emerald eyes could not help wandering back and forth between Tang Xiao and Qian Renxue.

She had to admit that these two people before her were unparalleled, whether in appearance or bearing. Tang Xiao in particular gave off no intense divine power fluctuations, yet the restrained pressure of supreme authority surrounding him made it difficult for her to breathe.

Tang Xiao set down his teacup and looked at the two women standing outside the pavilion.

Snow Empress wore white, her skin fairer than snow. There was an ethereal elegance between her brows, like a snow lotus quietly blooming atop a snowy mountain, so beautiful it took one's breath away.

Ice Empress, meanwhile, was clad in emerald green. Petite and delicate, with incomparably lively large eyes, she looked somewhat restrained, but the unique wild beauty belonging to a soul beast overlord shone through completely. She was indeed a rare and peerless beauty.

"No need for such formalities. Sit."

Tang Xiao pointed to the stone chairs opposite him. His tone was calm, without any discernible emotional fluctuation.

Qian Renxue also smiled and nodded to them, displaying the grace and magnanimity of the Blue Silver Empire's mistress.

Snow Empress and Ice Empress exchanged a glance before sitting down on the stone chairs somewhat stiffly.

"Judging by your complexion, your injuries should have fully healed."

Tang Xiao looked at Snow Empress and spoke lightly, breaking the brief silence.

"Thanks to the Life Divine Power Your Excellency bestowed upon us before, not only have our injuries fully recovered, but our cultivation has also faintly improved."

Snow Empress replied softly, a slight blush appearing on her fair face.

"Since I promised to protect the Far North, naturally I would not stand by and watch you perish."

Tang Xiao took a sip of tea, his gaze calmly resting on them.

"However, you did not come here today merely to offer thanks, did you?"

Having her thoughts seen through so directly, Snow Empress felt a little embarrassed. But she quickly composed herself, and her expression became exceedingly solemn. She rose to her feet and bowed gracefully to Tang Xiao once more.

"Your Excellency is wise. Snow Empress has come today to formally swear allegiance to Your Excellency on behalf of the Far North."

"All soul beasts of the Far North are willing to submit to the Blue Silver Empire for all eternity, to heed Your Excellency's commands without a trace of disloyalty!"

Seeing this, Ice Empress hurriedly stood as well. Her expression was equally resolute as she declared loudly, "Ice Empress is the same! I am willing to obey Your Excellency's command!"

Tang Xiao looked at the two peerlessly beautiful women before him, a faint smile appearing on his face. He did not immediately state his position, instead turning to Qian Renxue beside him.

Understanding his intent, Qian Renxue smiled and said, "The soul beast clan of the Far North is immensely powerful. With your addition, the Blue Silver Empire's territory will become even more secure. However, I have heard that the soul beasts of the Far North have always rejected humans. Now that you have chosen to submit, do you have any conditions?"

At Qian Renxue's question, Snow Empress bit her red lip and raised her head to look at Tang Xiao, a trace of hope and nervousness flashing in her eyes.

"Your Excellency, Snow Empress does indeed have one presumptuous request."

"Let me hear it."

Tang Xiao's expression did not change as he gestured for her to continue.

"For countless years, the soul beasts of the Far North have suffered relentless slaughter at the hands of human soul masters. Countless have died or been wounded, and many races have even gone extinct because of it."

A trace of sorrow entered Snow Empress's voice. This was an unerasable pain in the hearts of all soul beasts.

"Now that the Far North has joined the Blue Silver Empire, I hope Your Excellency can enact laws restricting the unchecked hunting of Far North soul beasts by human soul masters, leaving my people a pure land where they can reproduce and thrive."

At this request, Ice Empress also nervously clenched the hem of her clothes. This concerned the future of all soul beasts in the Far North and was what they cared about most. If Tang Xiao refused, then although they would have no choice but to submit due to his strength, a barrier would inevitably remain in their hearts.

For a moment, the pavilion fell silent, with only the rustling of leaves stirred by the breeze. Snow Empress and Ice Empress held their breaths, waiting anxiously for Tang Xiao's answer.

"I wondered what difficult matter it was. So that is all."

Tang Xiao gave a soft laugh and shook his head.

"I was originally reincarnated from Blue Silver Grass. Naturally, I understand the suffering of soul beasts. Now that all of Douluo Continent is under the Blue Silver Empire's control, the empire's laws will naturally be set by me."

At those words, Snow Empress and Ice Empress's eyes lit up with delight at the same time.

"I agree to your request."

Tang Xiao looked at them, his tone calm yet carrying unquestionable force.

"Not only the Far North—every soul beast across Douluo Continent will be protected by imperial law in the future. Anyone who kills soul beasts without cause will face the empire's harshest punishment."

"At the same time, I will promote a new method of condensing soul rings, so that soul masters will no longer need to obtain soul rings through slaughter. Peaceful coexistence between humans and soul beasts is the direction of the empire's future."

These words were like a thunderclap exploding in Snow Empress and Ice Empress's minds. They had never imagined that Tang Xiao would not only agree to their request, but even intend to completely change the opposition between soul masters and soul beasts that had endured for countless years.

"An entirely new method for creating artificial soul rings?"

Ice Empress could not help crying out in shock, her beautiful wide eyes filled with astonishment and wild delight.

"Your Excellency, th-this can really be done?"

"In my empire, there is nothing that cannot be done."

Tang Xiao glanced at her indifferently. The confidence radiating from his every gesture made Ice Empress immediately shrink her neck, no longer daring to harbor the slightest doubt.

Snow Empress trembled slightly with excitement. She fell to her knees before Tang Xiao once more, a thin mist rising in her cool, beautiful eyes.

"We of the Far North shall never forget Your Excellency's great grace, through all eternity! From this day onward, Snow Empress's life belongs to Your Excellency!"

"Ice Empress as well! I swear to serve Your Excellency unto death!"

Ice Empress knelt beside her, her pretty face full of worship and fervor.

With a wave of Tang Xiao's hand, a gentle surge of nine-colored Life Divine Power instantly lifted the two women, preventing them from continuing to kneel.

"Rise. Since you are now one of us, there is no need to kneel at every turn in the future. We of the Blue Silver Empire do not follow such customs."

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

The two women rose to their feet. By now, the way they looked at Tang Xiao had completely transformed into fanatical worship.

"Since you have already submitted, I naturally will not be stingy as your lord."

As Tang Xiao spoke, he lightly clenched his right hand in the air.

Two clusters of life essence radiating nine-colored divine light appeared from nowhere, slowly spinning within the pavilion. The life aura they emitted was pure to the extreme, causing the flowers and grass throughout the entire estate to grow wildly in an instant, even blooming into more dazzling flowers.

Snow Empress and Ice Empress stared at the two clusters of nine-colored light, their breathing quickening. They could sense that the power contained within surpassed every heavenly treasure they had ever seen. It was origin power belonging to a God King-level powerhouse.

"This is the life origin of the Supreme Blue Silver Emperor."

With a flick of Tang Xiao's finger, the two clusters of light instantly merged into the two women's bodies.

"It can cleanse your bloodlines and enhance your potential. Snow Empress, together with the Nine Nether Cold Spring Origin in your possession, breaking through the seven-hundred-thousand-year bottleneck will be effortless. As for godhood, so long as you serve loyally, I will naturally help you condense divine cores in the future and ascend to godhood in broad daylight."

As the origin power entered them, Snow Empress and Ice Empress felt a warm yet vast power erupt explosively within their bodies. The cultivation bottlenecks that had hindered them for countless years began shaking violently at that moment, as though they might shatter at any instant.

Ecstatic expressions appeared on the two women's faces. Without bothering to say more, they hurriedly sat cross-legged and began using all their strength to refine this immense power.

Watching the two women cultivate cross-legged, Qian Renxue walked behind Tang Xiao and gently kneaded his shoulders. She spoke with a slightly coquettish pout.

"My husband is truly generous. The moment you act, you give away Supreme origin. Those two are quite beautiful too—aren't you tempted, Husband?"

Hearing the hint of jealousy in Qian Renxue's voice, Tang Xiao smiled helplessly. He reached out, took her jade-like hand, and pulled her into his embrace.

"What are you thinking? I merely want to cultivate two more deities for the empire. Those people in the God Realm are restless, and we will need some help. In my heart, no one can compare to my Xue'er."

Leaning against his broad chest, Qian Renxue revealed a sweet smile. That trace of jealousy instantly vanished without a trace.

"I knew Husband was the best. Still, judging by how those two looked at you just now, I'm afraid their whole hearts are already tied to you. The women of the Far North have always been the kind who never turn back once they have set their minds on someone."

"Let them do as they please, so long as they fulfill their duties."

Tang Xiao's tone was calm as he looked into the distance, an inexplicable light flickering in his deep black eyes.

Time passed bit by bit. The nine-colored divine light within the estate grew increasingly dense, even stirring changes in the clouds overhead.

An icy white radiance emanated from Snow Empress's body, perfectly merging with the nine-colored life power and transforming into a massive crystalline snow lotus that enveloped her entire body. That cool and sacred aura gradually caused the surrounding temperature to drop.

Behind Ice Empress, the phantom of a colossal Ice Jade Empress Scorpion emerged. The jade-green glow around her body became deeper and more sacred, while her once somewhat impure bloodline underwent a transformation toward a higher level beneath the cleansing of the Supreme Blue Silver Emperor's origin.

Suddenly, in the direction of the Far North, auspicious clouds filled the sky, and a massive ice-blue pillar of light shot into the heavens. This was the resonance of the laws caused by Snow Empress breaking through to seven hundred thousand years of cultivation.

Boom!

A powerful current of icy air swept through the estate, but the instant it neared the pavilion, Tang Xiao casually waved his hand and reduced it to nothingness.

Snow Empress slowly opened her eyes. The coolness in them was even more pronounced than before, yet her entire person now possessed an otherworldly, sacred air. She had succeeded! Seven hundred thousand years of cultivation, cleansed by the Supreme Blue Silver Emperor bloodline—her strength had now become infinitely close to that of a god.

Ice Empress beside her opened her eyes as well and let out an excited cheer. Though her cultivation had not risen as dramatically as Snow Empress's, she had still firmly broken through to the four-hundred-thousand-year realm. Her bloodline had also been greatly purified, and her future path to godhood was now smooth and open.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for granting us this!"

The two women spoke in unison, their voices filled with joy and reverence. They could clearly feel the changes in their bodies. This rebirth-like sensation was something they had never even dared to imagine before.

"Rise."

Tang Xiao spoke calmly.

"Now that your strength has greatly increased, I will leave the defense of the Far North to you. I do not wish to see any destabilizing factors emerge."

"Understood, Your Excellency!"

Snow Empress and Ice Empress responded respectfully. They knew that from this day onward, they were not merely the rulers of the Far North, but also the guardian gods of the Blue Silver Empire.

Just then, a Blue Silver Empire guard hurried into the estate. He dropped to one knee outside the pavilion, his expression respectful.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, Emperor Xue Beng of the Heaven Dou Empire has sent an envoy with a letter of surrender. He is willing to surrender unconditionally and merge the Heaven Dou Empire into the territory of our Blue Silver Empire."

"Additionally, Pope Bibi Dong of the Spirit Hall Empire has sent word that Spirit Hall has fully cooperated with our forces in taking over all defensive lines. Douluo Continent is now entirely under our empire's control. Please instruct us on the next course of action, Your Excellency."

Hearing the guard's report, Tang Xiao remained calm, as though everything had gone exactly as he expected.

"I understand. Have the cabinet handle the transfer arrangements. If the Heaven Dou royal family knows what is good for them, spare their lives. If they make any suspicious moves, kill them without mercy."

Tang Xiao waved his hand, and the guard respectfully withdrew.

Beside him, Snow Empress and Ice Empress listened in silent shock. The two great empires that had ruled Douluo Continent for countless years had now crumbled with such ease before Tang Xiao. This young man in his twenties had become the undisputed sole ruler of the continent.

"Snow Empress, Ice Empress."

Tang Xiao suddenly looked at the two women.

"Your subjects are here!"

The two women immediately bowed.

"Go. Return to the Far North and reorganize the soul beast clan. Before long, I will establish an order where humans and soul beasts coexist peacefully. When that time comes, I will need you to preside over the situation."

"Yes! We will not disappoint Your Excellency's high expectations!"

Snow Empress and Ice Empress bowed once more to Tang Xiao and Qian Renxue, then turned into two streaks of light and flew toward the Far North.

Watching their departing figures, Qian Renxue sighed softly with emotion.

"Husband, Douluo Continent has finally been unified. But Tang San and the Asura God will always remain a hidden threat."

Tang Xiao rose to his feet and walked to the edge of the pavilion. Looking at the Great Dao Golden Ranking still gleaming in the sky, his gaze was unfathomably deep.

"Unifying Douluo Continent is only the first step. The true challenge lies above. If the Asura God dares to meddle, I will cut off his hand. The God Realm should have changed masters long ago."