Chapter 1149: Battle Results!

Chapter 1149: The Outcome!

On the battlefield.

White Yun received Zhou Zhan's order swiftly.

"All units, listen up! Enemy reinforcements are approaching—retreat immediately!"

He issued the command instantly.

At the sound of White Yun's order, the soldiers swiftly pushed back the enemy forces before their ranks began to retreat at full speed, heading toward the Cosmic Emperor's Ship.

"Stop them!"

"Never let them escape!"

The Crimson True God leader of the Xuan An Crimson Empire saw the scene unfold and his face darkened instantly. He quickly issued his order.

The Crimson soldiers surged forward, eager to intercept and halt the retreating soldiers of the Jiaoyang Empire.

But right at that moment.

Before their very eyes, a kaleidoscope of visions suddenly materialized, as if the deepest thoughts and desires of their own hearts had taken form, utterly bewitching these creatures of the mist and freezing them in their tracks, save for a mere handful of resilient minds who barely discerned that these were but illusory phantoms conjured by a grand array.

Yet, to perceive the truth was one thing; to break the spell was quite another.

They struggled with all their might, unleashing every power at their disposal to tear themselves free from this formation's dreamscape, but to an outsider, they appeared as though struck completely blind, scurrying aimlessly in every which direction.

The Scarlet True God leader, having remained stationed at the rear, was spared from falling into the illusion.

When he beheld his own soldiers rushing about frantically like madmen, his eyes widened in shock, and a furious rage instantly erupted within his chest.

"Damned formation!"

"Emperor of Living Beings!"

"If you have the courage, stop hiding behind your arrays and face me in open combat!"

"Weren't you fighting perfectly well just a moment ago? Why flee all of a sudden? You coward!"

He roared to the heavens.

"You want to fight me one-on-one? Go back and tell your leader, Os, to have his Chaos Crimson Empire face my Sun Empire in a fair, one-on-one duel."

"If Os, that coward, dares not, then you shall simply shut up and obey me."

"Hmph."

"Fifty thousand Crimson Empire-level forces and a million Crimson Kingdom-level forces, all attacking my Sun Empire!"

"What face do you have to speak to me like this?"

Are all beneath the Crimson Master's command as thick-skinned as you?"

The contemptuous voice of Zhou Zhan echoed across the entire sky.

Every Crimson being present heard it.

Many powerful ones among the Crimson beings now longed to vanish into the earth's crevices, desperate to hide their embarrassment.

What the Celestial Emperor Sovereign had said had finally unveiled the truth they had long refused to face.

That at the very moment they summoned their armies, they had, in silence and without knowing, acknowledged that no single force among the Crimson Powers could stand against the Celestial Emperor Sovereign’s Radiant Empire in a one-on-one duel.

Thus, they were left with no choice but to rely on overwhelming coordinated attacks.

The Crimson True God’s leader had said this—words that even they themselves now found deeply awkward to hear.

And now, upon hearing Zhou Zhan’s words, the Crimson True God erupted into fury, his pride shattered.

He opened his mouth, only to find himself unable to utter a single word of rebuttal.

At that very instant,

the Crimson soldiers suddenly realized the illusion had vanished—along with the soldiers of the Radiant Empire and the corpses of the combatants.

The Crimson True God’s leader and the other Crimson deities stared at the now empty battlefield, their faces darkening with dismay.

Especially when they learned that their side had achieved no victories, not even a single prize.

Their faces instantly grew darker.

"Retreat!"

The leader of the Crimson Deity could only utter this bitterly.

Though the Crimson Soldiers were reluctant, they had no choice but to obey and withdraw.

On their way back, they encountered the Crimson Empire of Black and the Crimson Empire of Crimson Heat.

When they saw the vast army of the Xuanan Crimson Empire, the leaders of the two nations' Crimson Deities immediately flew over to ask:

"Where is the Emperor of the People?"

"He's already fled," said the leader of the Xuanan Crimson Empire, sighing in frustration.

"Runned?"

At this, the two leaders of the Crimson True Gods instantly went pale. "You've surrounded them with such overwhelming force, yet not only did you fail to capture them—you've let them escape?!"

"Hmph!" The leader of the Xuan'an Crimson Empire snarled in anger. "Did you think I wanted them to flee?"

"The Celestial Sovereign's vessel was so agile, our ships couldn't even keep up. And worse, they've mastered an array of power comparable to a Supreme God's. Once activated, the array allows them to fight or flee at will—what can we possibly do?"

The two Crimson Empire True God leaders exchanged a look of disbelief.

An array comparable to a Supreme God's?

Does the Celestial Sovereign possess such depth of power?

"Where are your True Gods?"

Suddenly, the leader of the Chìrè Crimson Empire noticed something unusual and asked curiously.

The leader of the Xuan'an Crimson Empire remained silent.

"You don't seriously expect me to tell you that over six hundred true gods under your leadership have all perished, do you?"

The True God Leader of the Black Duro Empire asked, bewildered.

"..."

"Actually, they *have* all perished?!

Six hundred true gods of Duro! How did you manage that?!"

"You're finished. Even if you are the True God Leader of the Xuanan Duro Empire, causing such massive casualties among true gods in a single battle—no one can absolve you of responsibility."

The two Duro True Gods stared at the leader of the Xuanan Duro Empire, their expressions shifting with concern.

Six hundred true gods!

Since the beginning of the Universal Tribes' Catastrophe event, up to now, no other instance had seen such a loss.

Even if the Emperor of the Empire behind them tried to conceal or cover it up, it would be impossible to hide the truth.

After this battle, his fate might not be very favorable.

"I will report to the Sovereign immediately, and then go to Osmer to face punishment!"

The True God of Xuan An spoke coldly, his crimson eyes blazing with frost.

Then, without another word, he led his army away.

Leaving behind these two leaders of Crimson True Gods, staring at each other in silence.

"Looking at his attitude, it seems he isn't showing any sign of resentment. This Celestial Sovereign of the People truly is formidable."

The leader of Black Duu's Crimson True Gods said.

"Only daring to sneak attack."

The leader of Chih Reat's Crimson True Gods sneered disdainfully.

"Speaking of it—since the enemy has already fled, why did they launch a sneak attack on us just before leaving? And after striking, they simply vanished, showing no desire to prolong the battle or pursue any victory. What could possibly be their motive?"

The Blackdou Red Empire True God Leader spoke in puzzlement.

They had been inexplicably attacked once each by the Proud Sun Empire on their way here, and then the latter had simply retreated, using the Cosmic Emperor Ship—leaving them utterly unprepared.

"Perhaps... we're not to their liking?"

The Crimson Hot Red Empire True God Leader mused.

"Maybe so."

The Blackdou Red Empire True God Leader shook his head.

Then, neither god said another word, and both led their armies in retreat.

...

Inside the Cosmic Emperor Ship.

Aong Chenglin and the Paper Spirit Lord approached Zhou Zhan with eager faces, reporting the news:

"Reporting to the Emperor, I have turned over 280 billion Red Soldiers, over 3,000 Red Deities, and 3 Red True Gods!"

"Reporting to the Emperor, I have also turned over 4,100 billion Red Soldiers, over 5,000 Red Deities, and 5 Red True Gods!"

"Excellent!"

A smile tugged at Zhou Zhan's lips.

Though this great conflict had been a calamity unlike any they had ever faced, if managed wisely, it could also become an unprecedented opportunity.

The recent uprisings had proven this point.

With just three successful coups, he had mobilized a trillion Red Soldiers, over 12,000 Red Deities, and 14 Red True Gods.

Such a force could rival the entire military strength of a full-fledged junior Divine Realm-level master faction!

"Emperor."

"I also have good news to report."

"In just the recent battle, a total of 1,061 Legendary Upper Rank Soldiers have been promoted to Lower Divine Rank Deities, and five Upper Rank Divine Rank Deities have ascended to True Divine Rank Deities!"

Bai Yun said, stepping aside.

And there, behind Him, five newly elevated True Gods stepped forward, their faces filled with confident pride, bowing respectfully to Zhou Zhan:

"Respect to the Emperor!" ×5

"Excellent, excellent!"

Zhou Zhan's heart swelled with joy.