Douluo Continent: Starting from Awakening the Vermilion Bird Martial Soul

"After all, he is King Silves."

Di Hong nodded. To be honest, he was somewhat fortunate to be a prince of the Heavenly Dou Empire. If he were from the Star Luo Empire, he wouldn't even consider such a thing, because the national conditions of the two countries were different.

The Star Luo Empire's royal family wielded immense power, so much so that even the Spirit Hall struggled to control them. In contrast, the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family was more fragmented, and the Spirit Hall's checks and balances made it difficult for them to unite unless faced with a major crisis.

Di Hong saw this through this war.

Even when they were at war with the Star Luo Empire, the two princes were still fighting each other.

Moreover, the Spirit Hall's influence in the Heaven Dou Empire is greater than in the Star Luo Empire, and the Spirit Hall will likely target the Heaven Dou Empire in the future, which presents a great opportunity for him.

Two dogs fight, play off.

He wanted to be the fisherman.

However, to be a fisherman, one must have the strength. With strength, one is called a fisherman; without strength, one is called a shrimp.

Back in his tent, Di Hong took out a soul bone that was glowing red from his soul tool.

This is a right leg bone, and it looks to be about 40,000 years old.

"A Soul Saint actually has a 40,000-year-old soul bone, what good luck!"

He now possesses two soul bones, one a left leg bone and the other a left arm bone, both 60,000 years old, and now he has an additional right leg bone.

"My luck seems to be pretty good too."

In just seven years, he has acquired three soul bones. At this rate, he has a good chance of collecting all six soul bones. It's a pity that he doesn't have any external soul bones, but that doesn't matter anymore.

This is also a fire-attribute soul bone, which he absorbed perfectly.

Although it's only 40,000 years, it's already quite impressive.

So he sat down cross-legged and began to absorb the soul bone.

In today's battle, nearly 20,000 of the 50,000-strong army of the Kingdom of Silves were killed, and more than 300 of the Scale Armor Army also perished. As the elite force of the Star Luo Empire, the Tiger Guard Army was extremely powerful in combat.

If Silvis is in such a state, then there's no need to say more about the other armies.

The main army of the Heavenly Dou Empire suffered more than 20,000 casualties, and the combined casualties of the Hagendas Kingdom and the Barak Kingdom were nearly 50,000. In just one day, nearly 100,000 soldiers died, not counting the wounded.

Hundreds of Soul Masters were also killed or wounded.

The Star Luo Empire was also suffering, losing a Soul Saint in battle, with casualties no less than those of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Chapter 39 Withdrawal

After absorbing the soul bone, Di Hong's soul power level reached level sixty-seven. He was only three levels away from reaching the Soul Saint level. If he went back to cultivate after the war, he would probably be able to break through to the Soul Saint level and obtain his seventh soul ring in less than a year.

It's only been a year.

With innate level 20 soul power, the cultivation speed is truly different.

Thinking about it, it makes sense. Qian Renxue spent twenty years undercover, wasting most of her time, yet she still managed to cultivate to the Soul Saint level. He didn't go undercover, so he didn't waste any of his cultivation time, and his improvement speed is about the same.

Looking back now, wasn't he a bit too conservative when acquiring spirit rings?

In terms of physical fitness and strength, he far surpasses other Soul Masters of the same level.

Thinking about it, he actually felt a little regretful. Perhaps his first spirit ring could have absorbed an 800-year-old spirit beast, and then his second spirit ring could have directly reached a thousand years.

Perhaps he was too cautious at the time, thinking that a first spirit ring of four hundred years was already very good. In fact, it was indeed very good. Among the spirit master group, very few people have a first spirit ring of four hundred years, probably only about one in ten.

There are even many soul masters whose first soul ring is not a hundred-year soul ring.

His sixth spirit ring was a 60,000-year-old Fire Feather Bird King. According to his plan, his seventh spirit ring would be to absorb a 90,000-year-old spirit beast, and then he would choose to find a 100,000-year-old spirit beast to absorb for his eighth and ninth spirit rings.

Perhaps he could try hunting a 100,000-year-old soul beast with his seventh soul ring, but he might not be able to defeat it.

A 100,000-year-old soul beast is something even ordinary Title Douluos might not be able to defeat, let alone him.

There are a few 100,000-year-old soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest on the mainland, but he doesn't consider them because he can't beat them. He doesn't think that a Soul Emperor like himself can fight against the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python. He probably wouldn't even be able to handle those two Soft Bone Rabbits.

It seems that Tang San's future wife hasn't taken human form yet.

Fire-attribute 100,000-year-old soul beasts are even harder to find.

"We can only take it one step at a time."

Since the first and second spirit rings cannot be changed, let's leave it as it is for now and find a way to increase their age later, such as by participating in the Divine Trial.

If he were to participate in the Divine Trial, the Sea God would undoubtedly be the most suitable candidate. As a fire-attribute soul master, it would be impossible for him to inherit the Sea God's divine position. Therefore, using the power of the Sea God's divine trial to improve his strength would undoubtedly be the most appropriate choice.

Over the next month, no large-scale battles broke out between the two empires, but the clashes between Soul Masters continued, and the envoys from both countries held negotiations at the Spirit Hall.

During these negotiations between the two great empires, the two sides engaged in frank exchanges and fully discussed their respective concerns, thereby enhancing mutual understanding.

The talks were still beneficial; the Heavenly Dou Empire remained reserved about the Star Luo Empire's exorbitant demands.

The first negotiation ended without any resolution, and neither party got what they wanted.

Then came the second round of negotiations. The two countries engaged in a war of words, and they were both magnanimous, as they were the only two empires on the continent and had to maintain their dignity. Thus, during the negotiations, the delegations of the two countries had a cordial and friendly physical exchange.

This left the Spirit Hall members speechless; how could a group of non-Spirit Masters fight more fiercely than Spirit Masters?

If the Spirit Hall hadn't intervened, they probably would have killed each other, since both sides had already grabbed benches and teacups.

After nearly a month of negotiations, the two sides have reached no results. However, the Star Luo Empire can no longer wait, as their frontline troops and logistics are constantly being harassed, putting them under great logistical pressure. As for sending reinforcements to continue fighting the Heavenly Dou Empire...

That's definitely not possible.

The war between the two sides has always been kept under control. The Star Luo Empire's offensive has only captured some border mines and towns, but has not crossed the Lima Plain, or rather, it is simply impossible to cross it.

They certainly wouldn't be willing to fight to the death at Jialing Pass, but if they attacked the Häagen-Dazs Kingdom to the north, they would easily be caught in a pincer movement.

Moreover, the Spirit Hall would not allow the war to escalate. If the Star Luo Empire dared to launch a war of annihilation, the Spirit Hall would be willing to do everything in its power to help the Heaven Dou Empire.

Therefore, it's impossible to increase troop numbers; the only option is to negotiate and try to gain more benefits.

Inside the military camp.

Looking at the soldiers who were training, Di Hong felt somewhat bored.

"Is it impossible to reach a conclusion through negotiations with the Spirit Hall?"

"It's likely that the Star Luo Empire is making an exorbitant demand that the Heaven Dou Empire cannot accept."

"Just wait, maybe we'll have a result in another month or two."

Di Yang was helpless; the outcome of the war was not something he could decide. Now that the Star Luo Empire was not attacking, the two sides were just at a stalemate, waiting for the final result.

Dai Yutian dared not attack again. That battle with Di Hong had left him with some psychological trauma. A Soul Saint had died at Di Hong's hands. If he had been the one fighting back then, it was easy to guess that he would have died at Di Hong's hands if no one had saved him.

A single fire shield is enough to hurt him.

Moreover, his burned hands have not fully healed yet.

A month later, the two empires finally reached an agreement. The Heavenly Dou Empire gave up two important mineral veins, and the Star Luo Empire, seeing the benefits, readily agreed.

After learning the result, Di Hong sighed.

"A great battle involving hundreds of thousands of people, with huge casualties, resulted in the acquisition of only two mineral veins."

“We can completely refuse to give anything to the Star Luo Empire. If we keep dragging this out, Star Luo will not be able to hold on.”

Di Yang was also helpless.

"There's nothing we can do. I heard that the Second Prince said something to the Emperor, which led the Emperor to agree to some of Xingluo's demands."

"When I went to see the Crown Prince just now, he was very angry, he was almost cursing."

Although Xue Ye's cultivation in martial spirit was relatively average, he was a hardliner who advocated for the protection of the country's territory, not to be ceded an inch. Therefore, the outcome of the negotiations was naturally not to his liking.

However, even anger was useless; the agreement had been signed and the treaty settled. The Star Luo Empire should now withdraw its troops, and they should all return home.

This war was undoubtedly a defeat for them; they gained nothing, suffered casualties, and lost two mines.

Mineral resources are extremely important strategic resources, and losing two mineral veins at once is truly heartbreaking.

There was another matter to discuss during the negotiations: the Spirit Hall planned to hold a Spirit Master Exchange Conference in Spirit City, scheduled for six months from now. Spirit Masters from freelance schools, academies, sects, families, and even the Empire could participate.

However, the prerequisite is that the soul power level cannot exceed that of a Soul Saint.

In other words, anyone below level 70 can participate, including level 70 Soul Masters, as long as they haven't obtained their seventh Soul Ring.

No age or background restrictions.

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

The armies of the Tiandou Affiliated Kingdom also began to withdraw one after another.

Before Di Hong left, Xue Ye found him.

"Brother Di Hong, I hope you can attend the Soul Master Exchange Conference in six months."

“Me?” Di Hong pointed to himself.

“Yes.” Xueye nodded.

"But I'm already level 67, and maybe I'll break through to level 70 in six months."

She patted Di Hong on the shoulder, and although it was a little difficult to say, Xue Ye still spoke up.

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