Chapter 431: The Future of Daozhou

By this point, the true core strength of the Northern Jin Sword Alliance had been utterly decimated by Xu Yang's forces.

Feng Xiu's ambitions were abruptly halted. He understood that within years, he would be utterly incapable of unifying the Three Thousand Dao Provinces. Even the territories of the fallen empires, he realized, would likely be swiftly reclaimed within a short period.

Despite this setback, Feng Xiu never regretted opposing Xu Yang. He knew they were destined to be two individuals who could not coexist on the continent. Even if Feng Xiu were given another chance, he would still never have made the same choice as the Empress at the summit of Mount Qianyun.

"Demon Lord! Demon Lord!" Hundreds of thousands of demons in the back mountain area cheered Xu Yang's title aloud. Alusha watched this scene with a heart full of relief.

The catastrophe of the Myriad Demon Abyss had finally been safely averted, thanks to Xu Yang.

"It's all over now," Xu Yang said as he returned to Alusha, gazing at her with profound affection.

"Yes, this is all thanks to you, A Yang."

"Don't say that; it was just my duty," Xu Yang replied. "But now that things here are concluded, I should depart. I don't know how long it will be until we can meet again."

Alusha's expression seemed to falter for a moment. After a prolonged silence, she finally spoke softly. "Would you stay with me for just one day?" she asked. "We can simply sit at the vantage point on the back mountain, watching the sunrise and sunset, enjoying the most beautiful twilight. That way, I'll have something to look forward to until we meet again."

Xu Yang nodded gently, agreeing to Alusha's request. Dragon Python, ever shrewd, naturally understood not to linger as a third wheel. After instructing his subordinates to assist the demon warriors in clearing the battlefield, he led his own forces and departed early. Furthermore, given Dragon Python's knack for flattery, it was even less likely that he would reveal any of the unspoken details of this encounter to Xu Yang's teammates, especially not to the two notoriously jealous women, Wushuang and the Empress.

Good times, however, are always fleeting. Xu Yang and Alusha peacefully enjoyed a full day and night together at the vantage point.

The next morning, when Alusha opened her eyes, she found Xu Yang was no longer by her side. However, his Eternal Divine Artifact had been left behind for her. As Xu Yang's power continuously grew, the Eternal Divine Artifact itself, along with the primal energy it contained, had become exceptionally potent. Leaving it with Alusha would allow her to further enhance her strength and combat capabilities, particularly when channeled through her Demonic Empress Heart. Given that Xu Yang now wielded other top-tier divine artifacts like the Sword of Kings and the Asura Sword, he rarely had a need for this supreme demonic weapon. He felt more at ease knowing it was with Alusha rather than remaining by his side. Moreover, the sword could serve as a conduit between their souls, ensuring that if any powerful enemies attacked the demon race again, Xu Yang would receive immediate notification.

After departing from the demon realm, Xu Yang immediately returned to the main peak of the Thousand Cloud Sect without delay. As Dragon Python's earlier report had indicated, Xu Yang's forces had indeed achieved a resounding victory. The invading swordsmen of the Northern Jin Sword Alliance suffered heavy casualties, most of them either dead or wounded, and those who remained retreated in disarray. Furthermore, this battle allowed Xu Yang's forces to capture a significant number of top-tier magic artifacts. After all, the equipment possessed by these elites of the Northern Jin Sword Alliance was among the finest available to any major force in the Three Thousand Dao Provinces. These artifacts now formed a valuable part of Xu Yang's spoils of war.

"Hahaha, Feng Xiu's vitality has been severely damaged in this battle," someone exclaimed. "It's unlikely he'll be able to cause any more trouble for quite some time!"

The core members had once again gathered at the mountaintop, and it was evident that everyone was in excellent spirits.

"Boss, you truly are a prophet!" one member praised. "Following your tactical deployment, each of our various battlefields achieved immense victories. You really understood Feng Xiu perfectly."

Xu Yang smiled calmly. "As the saying goes," he began, "knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory in every battle. You still have much to learn."

"So, Boss, what are our plans now?" another asked. "Are we heading to Yunmengze?"

"No," Xu Yang replied. "I've suddenly changed my mind. We must first integrate the internal forces of the Three Thousand Dao Provinces. While the Sword Alliance is in disarray, other hidden factions are undoubtedly ready to seize the opportunity. If we were to leave right after this, they would simply ignite even greater conflicts, and we would ultimately suffer. Instead, it's better to strike first and control the tempo ourselves."

Xu Yang's reasoning, in fact, perfectly aligned with everyone else's thoughts.

"So, Boss, how large an undertaking do you have in mind?"

Long Kun's question held a deeper meaning: was Xu Yang merely planning to reclaim the two empires previously taken by the Northern Jin Sword Alliance, or did he intend to launch a full-scale war of conquest across the entire Three Thousand Dao Provinces?

Xu Yang's lips curved into a smile. "Since we're doing it," he declared, "let's do it spectacularly. Let us complete the goal that Feng Xiu failed to achieve."

"My heavens! Boss, don't tell me you intend to unify the entire Three Thousand Dao Provinces as well?"

"Why not?"

Upon hearing Xu Yang express his grand ambition for the first time, everyone present was overcome with uncontrollable excitement. Indeed, given the collective strength of Xu Yang's core team, sweeping across the entire Three Thousand Dao Provinces would be no difficult feat. Any powerful cultivator who had achieved the Tribulation Transcending Realm could easily overcome resistance from various factions.

"Our objective has now been set," Xu Yang declared. "The specific tactical planning and arrangements will require all of us to work together. From this day forward, this will be our sole goal: in the future, only one empire will be permitted to exist in the Three Thousand Dao Provinces, and that will be the Cold Moon Empire."

"No!" the Empress interjected, suddenly stepping forward to refute Xu Yang's proposal.

"We all know clearly that whether it's the Cold Moon Empire or the Heavenly Cloud Sect, you, A Yang, are the true core and the guiding force behind everything," she stated. "Since the Three Thousand Dao Provinces are ultimately destined for unification, their leading power should not be my Cold Moon Empire. Instead, it should be the Heavenly Cloud Sect—or rather, the Heavenly Cloud Empire."

The Heavenly Cloud Empire!! When this name first escaped the Empress's lips, no one present could have possibly imagined that it would become immortalized on the continent hundreds of thousands, even millions of years later, evolving into a sacred place of faith for its people.

"Sister Xue, are you truly planning to..." Wushuang began, her voice trailing off. Wushuang immediately grasped the unique intention behind the Empress's words.

"Precisely," the Empress confirmed. "Once the Dao Provinces are unified under us, I intend to relinquish my title as Empress of the Cold Moon Empire and merge it entirely into the territory of my Heavenly Cloud Empire. To us, an empire is merely a designation. As long as it ensures peace and stability for my people, I am willing to do anything. More importantly, the Cold Moon Empire is located in the central region of the Dao Provinces. Once the entire Dao Provinces are unified, the Cold Moon Empire will virtually never face external invasions again. This is truly what we all wish to see most."

"Exactly," Xu Yang affirmed, nodding gravely. "My unwavering resolve to unify the Three Thousand Dao Provinces stems from a desire to definitively end all conflicts in this continental region. Regardless of whether they are human or demon, all beings residing in this area will be governed by a single, unified power. This will eliminate all internal discord, ushering in a brand new historical era for the Three Thousand Dao Provinces. This day, for the entire Three Thousand Dao Provinces and indeed the entire continent, was a momentous one. Xu Yang's Heavenly Cloud Empire had finally been established!"