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"I didn't expect that Spirit City would truly thrive, cough, cough!"
In the Tian Dou Palace, Emperor Xue Ye glanced at the "Spirit Hall Daily" in his hand. It reported Tang San's new theories and the establishment of another Spirit Enlightenment Academy in a village by Spirit Hall.
Compared to two years ago, the wrinkles on his face had deepened, his hair had grown whiter, and his frequent coughing indicated his declining health.
During these two years, Xue Qinghe had matured significantly, taking on more responsibilities. Due to the growing popularity of Spirit Hall among the populace, he often had to cooperate with the new Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall in Tian Dou City, Ling Yuan.
As for Salas?
Half a year ago, Ma Xiu Nuo found evidence of his embezzlement of nearly three billion gold soul coins and reported it to Spirit City. The Pope herself dismissed Salas, and Ma Xiu Nuo, for his meritorious report, was rewarded with a million gold soul coins. Though too old for promotion, his reward was substantial, and his past support of Tang San meant no one dared to criticize him.
However, Ma Xiu Nuo remained humble and diligent, hoping to witness Spirit Hall's true prosperity before his retirement.
Ma Xiu Nuo's actions inspired many lower-level Spirit Hall members to begin collecting evidence of corruption among their superiors in their spare time. The potential reward of a million gold soul coins outweighed personal loyalties. In smaller locations, staff were even willing to sell out colleagues for a few hundred gold soul coins, let alone a rarely-seen branch leader.
This anti-corruption drive was spearheaded by Bibi Dong, aiming to cleanse the branches of corrupt elements. Initially, she worried that pushing too hard might cause chaos, but Tang San advised a thorough purge, which she immediately endorsed.
After all, Tang San had helped her earn nearly a trillion gold soul coins. The corrupt officials' money wasn't going to her anyway, so she decided to confiscate their ill-gotten gains and use them for constructing Spirit City and Spirit Enlightenment Academies.
Bibi Dong found that once these corrupt individuals were removed, there was no shortage of replacements. More and more civilian soul masters were joining Spirit Hall, prompting her to intensify the anti-corruption campaign. Any person, even civilians, could report Spirit Hall personnel, and verified reports would earn the whistleblowers rewards, including the right to live in Spirit City's outer city.
This initiative further bolstered Spirit Hall's growth, gradually addressing its foundational shortcomings.
"Sigh, is Spirit Hall aiming to establish a nation?" Emperor Xue Ye closed the "Spirit Hall Daily" and tossed it onto a nearby table. After pondering for a while, he summoned Xue Qinghe.
"Father, why have you summoned me?"
At this moment, Xue Qinghe appeared with dark circles under his eyes, his skin losing some of its luster, looking rather fatigued.
In the past two years, Xue Qinghe had become adept at handling state affairs. Recently, however, the Kingdoms, Duchies, and independent cities within Tian Dou Empire reported numerous actions by Spirit Hall, resulting in a mountain of paperwork in his study. The trivial matters left him no time for cultivation.
Yet, his worn appearance was partly a façade for Emperor Xue Ye.
"These days have been hard on you," Emperor Xue Ye sighed. "But, things may get even tougher. With Tang San, Spirit Hall has flourished like a fish in water. No longer rootless, its foundation is solidifying. In the future, it may even establish a nation and crown an emperor."
Xue Qinghe also sighed.
Once, he suspected Tang San of intending to dismantle Spirit Hall. However, in just two years, Tang San's actions changed their views and expanded Spirit City's area by nearly 200,000 square kilometers.
Today, Spirit City, encompassing six outer cities and an inner city, spans nearly 300,000 square kilometers and houses nearly ten million people. Most of these residents are non-soul master civilians with various skills.
It is these civilians who have compensated for Spirit Hall's foundational shortcomings.
As for the influx of people, since Spirit Hall issued a "Talent Recruitment Order," countless skilled civilians and soul masters from the two empires have traveled great distances to Spirit City to showcase their abilities.
Spirit City welcomed everyone. Even those without special talents were hired as laborers, contributing to the city's construction.
Moreover, Spirit Hall also took in disaster victims, offering them work instead of direct handouts. This "work-for-relief" program was a testament to Tang San's wisdom. By providing jobs instead of charity, disaster victims could earn their livelihood and retain their dignity.
He never treated disaster victims as beggars!
Xue Qinghe marveled at Tang San's intellect, internally cursing him while outwardly expressing genuine shock to Emperor Xue Ye. "Does Spirit Hall truly intend to establish a nation?"
"In the past, they might have had ambitions but lacked the foundation. Now, with Spirit City's solid base, that has changed," Emperor Xue Ye lamented, shaking his head at Xue Qinghe's naivety. But it wasn't entirely his fault.
Previously, major forces anticipated that Tang San joining Spirit Hall would bolster its strength, potentially adding a few more Super Douluo or Peerless Douluo to its ranks, thus altering the continental power dynamics.
But they never expected changes to Spirit Hall's institutional structure.
Moreover, Spirit City's Spirit Technology City researches advanced industrial soul tools, machinery, and assembly line forging, making Spirit City a world apart from other regions.
Spirit City's current scale surpasses that of most kingdoms and duchies within the Tian Dou Empire!
If he were the Pope of Spirit Hall, he would also aspire to establish a nation!
"What should we do?" Xue Qinghe feigned concern, pretending to worry about Tian Dou's future.
"No need to worry. Thanks to rapid information dissemination, Spirit Hall must gain universal recognition before it can establish a nation," Emperor Xue Ye stated confidently. "The continent has only two empires: Tian Dou and Star Luo. Although Spirit Hall has a long history, managing an entire nation isn't something they can prepare for in just two years. For now, they have only supplemented their population base."
"Moreover, imperial succession requires a bloodline!"
"Traditionally, the Pope of Spirit Hall has been from the Angel lineage. Currently, Bibi Dong, who isn't from the Angel lineage and has no descendants, serves as Pope. She has only one disciple: Hu Liena, who is the Holy Maiden."
"Though Tang San is the Holy Son, he has made no effort to conceal his disinterest in power, focusing solely on cultivation and research. It's unlikely he will assume the role of Pope in the future."
"Therefore, Hu Liena is the most likely candidate for the next Pope. If she follows Bibi Dong's example, wouldn't the emperor's position be rotated among individuals?"
"This cannot be sustainable."
To Emperor Xue Ye, only a bloodline succession can stabilize people's hearts. Without it, who would accept the next leader?
Xue Qinghe nodded in agreement. After all, the Pope of Spirit Hall has always been from the Angel lineage. Only an Angel could lead Spirit Hall to ensure its lasting legacy and eternal prosperity.
Back at the Crown Prince's Palace, Xue Qinghe summoned Porcupinefish Douluo and asked, "How is Spirit City's development progressing?"
"Reporting to the Young Master, Spirit City is in a period of rapid expansion. Its scale is still increasing. However, according to the Grand Worshipper, it is estimated to reach saturation within three years," Porcupinefish Douluo replied respectfully. "By then, Spirit City will have a population exceeding ten million, forming the foundation of a potential nation!"
This was unimaginable in the past!
Although impressed, Porcupinefish Douluo didn't care much, as most of the population were not soul masters. To him, his strength was more reliable than mere numbers. Of course, if those ten million people were resolute and united, willing to fight to the death, even he, a titled Douluo, would have to retreat, unable to withstand such a force. After all, titled Douluo are human too, and their soul power would eventually be exhausted.
"Tang San is truly a genius!" Xue Qinghe increasingly wanted to recruit Tang San but was upset that the woman had taken him first. His mood darkened as he asked, "How is that woman doing now?"
Porcupinefish Douluo lowered his head, hesitant to speak. Knowing the complex relationship between Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong, he didn't dare to comment recklessly. Both women were not to be offended!
"Never mind, don't say anything," Qian Renxue sensed his thoughts and gave him an out. Her eyes narrowed as she continued, "I must speed up my plans. I need to quickly seize the throne of the Tian Dou Empire and return to complete the divine test. Otherwise, I won't surpass that woman."
Unlike Bibi Dong, who was aware of some secrets of the Divine Realm and was delaying her progress to godhood, Qian Renxue believed that becoming a god was more reliable and would allow her to conquer the entire continent with great momentum. However, due to her pride and the need to prove herself to the irresponsible woman, she had to postpone the Angel God's test.
Porcupinefish Douluo wanted to offer advice but couldn't find the right words.
In the past two years, Tang San's soul power had reached level 60, but due to his time spent forging, researching, and assisting Bibi Dong and Hu Liena with management, he hadn't yet obtained his sixth soul ring.
Xiao Wu and Huo Wu had also reached level 60 but hadn't acquired their sixth soul rings.
Guang Ling, Ning Rongrong, and Lan Yinzi had naturally advanced to the Soul King stage. Guang Ling was at level 54, and Ning Rongrong was at level 52.
Gu Yuena, despite her "eight-year-old" age, had become a Soul Ancestor, mastering water, fire, wind, and earth elements, and her soul power had reached level 49, just one step away from becoming a Soul King. Her rapid progress made Huo Wu and Ning Rongrong envious.
However, only Tang San and Xiao Wu knew that her training was merely a facade and couldn't be compared to ordinary cultivation methods.
"Let's go. I've already requested a long leave from the Pope. We can go out for a while to hunt soul beasts and obtain soul rings!"
(End of Chapter)