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Martial Soul Temple.
Seated on the Pope's throne, Bibi Dong received news from Ling Yan about Tang San joining the Tian Dou Royal Academy. Frowning, she muttered, "Tian Dou Royal Academy? Well, she's there..."
"Pope, should we bring Tang San back? It might cause trouble to leave him at the Tian Dou Royal Academy," Chrysanthemum Douluo, also aware that Tang San had reached the rank of Soul Ancestor, shared a sentiment as a fellow plant martial soul user. Moreover, Tang San had proved a plant martial soul, dividing it from the tool martial soul category into the beast martial soul-plant martial soul classification, which made Chrysanthemum Douluo quite fond of the yet-to-be-revealed Tang San.
Therefore, leaving him at the Tian Dou Royal Academy might make her loyal to Tian Dou.
"No need to worry. Tian Dou Royal Academy is her domain, and the three Soul Douluo Commissioners there also lean toward the Tian Dou Crown Prince... Since she wants to prove herself to me, let's see what she's capable of," Bibi Dong set down the report in her hand, bringing up another matter. "Regarding the diversification of the competition venue in the Spirit Arena, it has been implemented. Additions include deserts, forests, rivers, grasslands, and other terrains. Can we convince the two empires' districts to add some new types of venues to the competition?"
"It should be possible. It's also beneficial to the upper echelons of the two empires, and after the theory was published, academies in both empires are trying to change," Chrysanthemum Douluo pondered and gave an affirmative response.
Though the diversification of the competition venue was troublesome initially, after implementation, it better showcased the adaptability of soul masters. The feedback received after implementation was positive.
Although the two empires took the opportunity to recruit a batch of talents, the biggest beneficiary was still the Martial Soul Temple. After the last competition, many soul masters chose to join the Martial Soul Temple.
The diversification of the competition venue was initially proposed and published by Tang San in theory, but the Martial Soul Temple also exerted considerable effort to implement it.
This effort was visible to soul masters across the continent.
"Then let's get it done. Also, the main venue of our Martial Soul City needs to be expanded. We can try to integrate deserts, grasslands, forests, rivers, ice, snow, and volcanoes into one venue," Bibi Dong's idea was somewhat fanciful.
"This... integrating all the venues into one, I'm afraid the dimensions of the final venue for the finals will need to exceed five hundred meters in length and width. Isn't that a bit too large?" Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged glances, somewhat surprised at Bibi Dong's extravagant idea. "This range almost occupies the entire area of the Martial Soul Spirit Arena."
"In that case, expand it. Isn't there plenty of extra space in front of the Pope's Hall?" Bibi Dong called in a Soul Douluo, instructed them on the matter, and then dismissed them.
"I hope to see a perfect competition venue in two years!"
"Yes, Your Holiness." The Soul Douluo bowed, accepting Bibi Dong's command and began to implement it.
Later, Bibi Dong inquired about another matter, "Ghost Douluo, how is the competition for the throne going on in the Star Luo Empire?"
"Davis and Zhu Zhuyun are firmly in control, while Dai Mubai, who fled from the Star Luo Empire in his childhood, has been staying in a non-formal advanced soul master academy in Soto City without proper certification, indulging in pleasure," Ghost Douluo reported the gathered information and slowly continued, "However, Zhu Zhuqing, the second daughter of the Zhu family, seems unable to bear her sister's oppression and has run away. It seems she wants to find Dai Mubai. Zhu Zhuyun did not obstruct this too much. Or rather, she dispatched people openly to assassinate her while secretly protecting her entry into the Tian Dou Empire."
"The sisterly bond seems decent, but Zhu Zhuqing, who also values power, won't spare her. She's a direct descendant of the Zhu family. If she doesn't go to find Dai Mubai, the useless prince, she has no other way out. Now that she's gone to find him and wants to vie for the position of queen, Zhu Zhuyun, who also values power, won't let her off."
Why was Bibi Dong so sure that Zhu Zhuqing pursued power?
The reason was simple.
If she didn't pursue power, she could have stayed at home and cultivated in peace. There would be no shortage of cultivation resources for her in the family. When she demonstrated her cultivation talent and strength, Zhu Zhuqing could have had her engagement with Dai Mubai, the prince, annulled, and become the new head of the Zhu family.
By then, her sister Zhu Zhuyun wouldn't make things difficult for her younger sister, would she?
One becoming the queen and the other becoming the new head of the Zhu family, isn't there a conflict of interests? However, Zhu Zhuqing chose the worst path—going to find Dai Mubai and preparing to fight to the death with Davis and her sister.
It can only be said that she is extremely foolish.
At least, that's how Bibi Dong sees Zhu Zhuqing.
However, Bibi Dong also understands that anyone born in such a competitive, even cruel environment inevitably has a strong pursuit of power to some extent. Otherwise, they wouldn't be considered "normal" in the Star Luo Empire.
"Your Holiness, there are Soul Saints and Soul Emperors hiding in the unregistered Soul Master Academy where Dai Mubai is staying. Should we order their capture?" Chrysanthemum Douluo brought up the matter of Shrek Academy.
"What level of soul masters?"
"Soul Saints and Soul Emperors."
"No wonder Dai Mubai went there. It seems he also has the idea of recruiting high-level soul masters to assist him..." Bibi Dong pondered for a moment and said, "No need to bother. Let's see what kind of trouble that useless prince can stir up. His main target is Davis and the others, which will let them fight among themselves."
"Understood." Ghost Douluo then presented another document. "Both empires have experienced large-scale famines again this autumn, with droughts occurring... In the Tian Dou Empire, many duchies and kingdoms have the right to autonomy and have not reported to the Tian Dou Royal Family. Instead, they are preventing the famine refugees from entering the cities and are blocking them outside. In the Star Luo Empire, they are even more cruel. They shoot the famine refugees on sight to prevent them from rushing into the nobles."
"Is that so? It seems that the two empires are becoming more and more decadent." Bibi Dong's tone was cold, devoid of any emotion. She continued, "Inform the current emperors of the two empires about this matter and let them handle it. If they can't solve it, let them pay, and we, the Martial Soul Temple, will take care of it."
To rule the continent, one needs not only military power but also public support.
Informing the current emperors of the two empires gives them some face, lest they later blame the Martial Soul Temple.
"By the way, publish this matter in the Martial Soul newspaper and provide detailed information."
"Understood."
Bibi Dong became aware of the importance of public opinion, especially given the popularity of Tang San's recent theories among common soul masters. It was obvious. Even if the two empires wanted to discredit the Martial Soul Temple, it wouldn't be easy, as the actions of the Martial Soul Temple were evident to everyone on the continent.
(End of chapter)