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"The backward and decaying Douluo natives?"
Hearing this, Yu Tianheng couldn't help but sneer coldly. "How advanced and civilized are you? You used soul-guided bombs to annihilate an entire city and slaughtered most of its residents. Is this your so-called civilization?"
The man's face flushed with embarrassment as he shook his head. "I don't agree with it, but those were the orders from above. We soldiers have no choice but to follow orders; it's our duty."
Yu Tianheng was about to continue mocking him, but Tang San raised his hand to stop him. "You make a fair point, but most of your comrades might not think the same way you do."
The man lowered his head in silence, unsure of how to respond. After a while, he finally said, "If I ever have the chance to return to my homeland, I would persuade my fellow countrymen that this unjust war of aggression should never have happened."
"Return? Do you think you have a chance?" Tang San's tone was calm, without a hint of sarcasm, but the man could only open his mouth without finding any words to say.
Indeed!
Given the current situation, how could he possibly go back? Just staying alive would already be a stroke of luck.
"What is your name?" Seeing the man silent and seemingly losing all hope, Tang San asked calmly.
"Liu Ziqiang."
The man finally spoke, revealing his name.
"Well then, Liu Ziqiang from the Sun Moon Empire, would you be willing to document all the crimes your compatriots committed against the residents of Xiaohai City?" Tang San took out a notebook and a pen, handing them over. "If you believe your Sun Moon army was wrong, then prove it with your actions. Write down everything the Sun Moon army did, without exaggeration or omission. Be truthful."
Liu Ziqiang hesitantly accepted the notebook and pen.
If he wrote it all down, he would undoubtedly become a traitor in the eyes of the Sun Moon Empire.
But if he refused, he would likely be thrown back into the pit with the other prisoners.
"I have one question: What will you do with the prisoners?" Liu Ziqiang took a deep breath, mustering his courage to meet Tang San's gaze directly.
"We won't slaughter them like you did. Otherwise, we would be no different from you," Tang San replied firmly, easing the heavy weight on Liu Ziqiang's heart.
"But—"
Liu Ziqiang tensed up again.
"They will face trial. Every building destroyed, every grain stolen, every innocent life taken will be accounted for. We will at least determine the extent of their crimes, and each will be judged accordingly."
"Even if someone did nothing wrong, just stepping foot on this land as part of an invasion is a crime in itself."
Liu Ziqiang wanted to plead for mercy but found no grounds to argue. He could only say, "I will try to be as objective as possible in my account."
After Liu Ziqiang was led away under the watchful eyes of two soldiers, Yu Tianheng asked, "Captain, why are we doing this? Even if we slaughter all the prisoners to avenge the people of Xiaohai City, it wouldn't be a problem, right? The people of the continent wouldn't think it's cruel; they'd probably applaud us."
"And then what?" Tang San asked.
"Uh..." Yu Tianheng was taken aback, hesitantly replying, "Then everyone would be happy?"
"Idiot!" Dugu Yan smacked him on the head. "It's obviously to deal with the Sun Moon Emperor, Xu Huang, who possesses a power level of one hundred."
"Think about it—there are thirty thousand prisoners here. Do you think the other side would simply abandon them? Even if Xu Huang is incredibly powerful, he can't conquer and manage the entire Douluo Continent by himself."
"Even if some people on our continent were willing to become traitors, he would still trust his own people more."
"Familiarity breeds trust."
"These prisoners are definitely bargaining chips for negotiating terms."
Yu Tianheng suddenly understood. "So that's the plan. No wonder you're the captain; you think so far ahead."
While their reasoning made some sense, these thirty thousand prisoners were not merely bargaining chips for negotiation.
The trials were about justice, showing the entire continent what crimes these people had committed without embellishment, staying true to the facts.
Moreover, this was done with the future in mind.
Killing them all might bring immediate satisfaction, but it would lead to an endless war with the entire Sun Moon Empire. If they ever pushed into the Sun Moon Continent, they couldn't possibly kill every last Sun Moon citizen, could they?
People are valuable...
The living have more value than the dead.
As for why Tang San had to kill Yu Hongchen and so many Titled Douluo, he could only say that the circumstances left no other choice. They were too powerful, and their ideologies were difficult to change. If they weren't eliminated, they would have caused devastating casualties to the Tian Dou Army and the New Tian Dou Federation Army. After all, they weren't like the guardians of the gods, such as Qian Daoliu or Bo Saixi, who stayed out of worldly affairs. Under the guise of "conquest" and "civilization," they would have used their power against ordinary armies, so they had to be removed first...
"Your Holiness, are you there?"
Outside the Pope's Palace, a Blue Silver Emperor vine trembled slightly, and a faint, ethereal figure gradually materialized. With the infusion of energy from heaven and earth, the figure slowly solidified, transforming into Tang San. Through the Blue Silver Emperor, Tang San could project a spiritual manifestation, similar to a thought entity, and freely move within the range of the vine's roots.
Receiving no response, the thought-form Tang San entered the Pope's Palace and searched every room, finally finding Bibi Dong soaking in a man-made hot spring at the back of the palace.
This is truly—
Leisurely.
"Do you like what you see?" Bibi Dong, noticing the thought-form Tang San staring at her intently, asked with a frosty expression. Yet, deep down, she wasn't as displeased as she appeared. In fact, a part of her wished the Tang San before her wasn't just a thought-form.
"It's quite nice." The thought-form Tang San nodded instinctively before realizing what he had said. He quickly began reporting on the battle situation: "The Sun Moon Empire's peerless powerhouse, a level ninety-eight expert, and twenty-four titled Douluo—all have been eliminated…"
Bibi Dong, with her formidable spiritual power, had already sensed the battlefield's outcome and was well aware of the situation at Xiaohai City. However, even she hadn't expected the Sun Moon Empire to command so many titled Douluo. If not for Tang San's assistance in elevating her strength to its current level, she might have been locked in a prolonged battle against that peerless figure from the Sun Moon Empire.
As for Qian Daoliu?
He only cared about whether his granddaughter could become a god. He might even seize this opportunity to bring Qian Renxue back to the Spirit Hall to complete the Angel God's trials, and then use divine power to unite the continent.
But what surprised Bibi Dong most was that Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, in their true forms clad in Spirit Bone Armor, had fused together—and were now inseparable…
"...In addition, the Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire is personally coming here, and he possesses an extremely powerful artifact. My original spirit can't even probe its exact nature…"
Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong frowned. "An emperor of an empire doesn't stay within his own country but instead crosses the sea to come here… Is the empire left unattended? Or is he just a puppet emperor, like those of the New Tian Dou Federation?"
Take the Douluo Continent as an example: no emperor, unless they were a foolish ruler, would be idle.
Either that, or, like Xue Beng, the real power lies with various small states, and he's merely a figurehead.
But the Sun Moon Emperor? Is he really like that?
"Maybe, perhaps, possibly, or…"
"Speak."
Bibi Dong cut off Tang San's thought-form, glaring at him.
"I suspect that this emperor delegates everything to his subordinates, including managing state affairs, while he focuses solely on being the strongest, using his power to suppress all dissent. When someone has the strength to subdue the entire world, they can easily leave the details to others. Whether his suggestions are adopted, whether they are suitable, and whether the empire develops as he envisions it—that's another matter entirely."
The thought-form Tang San voiced his conjecture. "The ruling style might be similar to how the Spirit Hall is currently developing, but on a larger scale. The disparity between the rich and the poor across their continent is likely similar to ours. As for Xu Huang, well—he's somewhat like me, but more autocratic. He probably dislikes others meddling in his affairs, which is why he became the emperor himself."
Bibi Dong was silent for a moment, then slowly rose from the pool, drying herself in front of Tang San before dressing. Suddenly, she asked, "So, do you like people criticizing you?"
"No one enjoys it, but if I don't hear it, I don't mind. After all, I'm not perfect. Besides, I respect women and everyone's opinions. If I find them suitable, I'll adopt them." The thought-form Tang San watched Bibi Dong dress, his gaze steady, and answered without haste.
"I can't see that at all." Bibi Dong replied, a hint of exasperation in her voice. Then she added, "I'll keep an eye on Xiaohai City and the Soul Sea Pass. If that person truly unleashes divine-level power without attracting the attention of the Divine Realm, I'll join you in seizing that extraordinary artifact."
"If we can't defeat him, we'll do as you suggested and use an attack that surpasses divine power. Whether it's him or us, it will draw the attention of the Divine Realm."
"If we can't handle it, let the gods take care of it… By the way, are you sure that artifact isn't something left behind by a deity from the Divine Realm on the Sun Moon Continent?"
If that artifact were part of a god's trial left behind by the Divine Realm, even if they attracted the Divine Realm's attention, it would be futile. The gods wouldn't interfere.
After all, Xu Huang himself hasn't reached level one hundred.
"It's not," the thought-form Tang San stated confidently. "When the time comes, Your Holiness, don't be surprised if it resembles the God Imprint Throne."
"Is that so?"
Bibi Dong cast a glance at him, knowing Tang San had secrets, but she wasn't inclined to pry. After all, she hadn't shared her secrets with Tang San either.
Besides, everyone has their privacy, and it should be respected.
"So, if we manage to seize that artifact, which resembles the God Imprint Throne, who will use it?"
"Whoever can use it, will use it," Tang San replied objectively. After all, not just anyone could wield a divine artifact—it required the artifact's approval.
Moreover, the Eternal and Creation God Imprint Throne was a super artifact. If the attributes didn't match, it would reject the user outright, denying even the chance to take the trial.
(End of Chapter)