Join my Patreon to be 30 chapters ahead of the webnovel releases:
patreon.com/ZeroMoney
I would appreciate your help if you could join my Patreon and support me because it would keep me motivated.
******
As the days passed, the time arrived for the trial of the Sun and Moon Empire's captured soldiers.
*Defendants*: All Sun and Moon Empire prisoners.
*Trial Date*: May 5th.
*Location*: Central Plaza of Spirit Hall City.
*Judges*: Bibi Dong, Emperor Qing He, Emperor Xing Luo, and the Emperor of the New Tian Dou Federation.
*Assistants*: Hu Liena, Goron, Zhu Zhuqing, and Hawke.
Among the trial assistants, Hawk stood out as a representative of the New Tian Dou Federation. Many were curious about this newcomer, the leader of the Transcenders' Alliance. Hawk earned his position as an assistant due to being the most talented soul master among the younger generation of the Empire, having reached the rank of Soul Emperor, qualifying him to stand alongside Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuqing.
He personally extended the invitation, bringing Hawk to Spirit Hall City.
As for the Soul Douluo-level experts of the New Tian Dou Federation, although some were present... the reality remained that Emperor Xue Beng had been elected as a figurehead, with real power still in the hands of the rulers of various kingdoms and duchies.
At this moment, soul tool reporters and photographers from the Spirit Hall Daily, Tian Dou Daily, Xing Luo Daily, and New Tian Dou Federation Daily had taken their positions, ready to document the event.
The square was already packed with people, though the area closest to the center was reserved for the captured soldiers, as well as Spirit Hall's law enforcement and patrol officers maintaining order.
"The invasion of the Sun and Moon Continent has brought great harm to the Douluo Continent, resulting in the deaths of nearly an entire city's population..." Bibi Dong, standing on the raised platform of the outdoor courtroom, struck the stone ground with her staff. Instantly, a massive scene, several meters long, appeared in the sky.
It was a simulated image, created through the Blue Silver Network, perfectly recreating the moment when the city of Xiaohai was invaded.
The scene depicted artillery fire raining down, buildings collapsing, citizens crying out in despair, severed limbs, blood splattering, and a mound of bones forming a grotesque display...
It was a hellish vision of carnage.
Emotions surged through the crowd, their hatred for the Sun and Moon Empire's brutality palpable. Many wished to slaughter the prisoners on the spot and march to the Sun and Moon Continent to make them experience the horrors of massacre themselves.
"These invaders have committed heinous crimes. Therefore, we shall publicly judge the prisoners of the Sun and Moon army and announce to the entire continent: we will never forgive those who dare invade our land!" When the images finished playing, Bibi Dong sat down once again, ordering the names of the Sun and Moon soldiers to be called one by one, their crimes recited, and their punishments declared.
The trial was thorough, leaving no one out, yet it took only seven days to complete.
Those deserving death were executed, those fit for hard labor were sentenced accordingly, and those who needed to be stripped of their rights were punished.
The nations present witnessed both the meticulous nature of Spirit Hall and its terrifying power—the ability to reveal exactly what each prisoner had done during the invasion.
The soul tool technology of Spirit Hall had clearly reached a level unimaginable to others. Little did they know that the scenes displayed were actually simulated by the Blue Silver Network's "Heavenly Dao," based on intelligence from Sun and Moon soldiers opposed to the war, like Liu Ziqiang. The accuracy of the footage was only around 80-90%.
Yet, even with this margin of error, it was sufficient for the trial. After all, they were invaders. Everything was handled efficiently; even if the scenes were fabricated, no sane person on the Douluo Continent would plead for these aggressors. The fact that some of them were spared meant the trial was already quite merciful.
In parallel, within the astral world, the souls of many Sun and Moon war criminals guilty of massacres were imprisoned in the 18 layers of the Throne of Benevolence and Death. Here, they were studied by Spirit Hall's spiritual soul masters and later by Electrolux, who found ways to repurpose these souls.
"Your Holiness, why not just execute them all?" Xue Beng asked righteously. "These foreign invaders showed no humanity to our people; why should we show them any kindness?"
"The lightest sentence is life imprisonment. Do you consider that kindness?" Bibi Dong countered.
"The Douluo Continent is a civilized land. We should not be as barbaric as the Sun and Moon people," Xue Qinghe added, casting a glance at Xue Beng, who had only recently gained a faint political influence. Standing by his mother, he continued, "Otherwise, what difference would there be between us and them? Once we conquer the Sun and Moon Continent, their citizens will also become our people. It's only their ruling class that must be eradicated. Or do you plan to massacre the entire population of that continent?"
Xue Beng's face darkened, but he forced a smile. After all, the entire continent was watching this live broadcast. He couldn't afford to show an unpleasant expression, as it would damage the image of the New Tian Dou Federation.
Emperor Xing Luo quietly watched from the side, not involving himself in this "dispute." He was instead pondering whether he should pass the throne to Dai Weisi when he returned. Among the four main powers present, he was the oldest, and it seemed he no longer had much in common with these "youngsters." This was not a good sign. In the future, the Xing Luo Empire needed to ensure it held enough influence; they couldn't afford to be excluded by the other three powers.
...
While the leaders were still tangled in political and self-interested discussions, Tang San arrived alone at Phoenix City and found the Phoenix Sycamore Tree.
"Great Plant Emperor, you've finally come for me!"
Over the past five years, the Phoenix Sycamore Tree's intelligence had fully consumed the remnant phoenix soul within it, growing to an incredible level. It had now cultivated for over a million years. Sensing that familiar presence again, the tree was filled with excitement, its golden-red leaves rustling as if cheering for Tang San's arrival.
"It's been a while," Tang San said with a smile, placing his hand on the smooth bark of the tree. "I've come to take you with me. Are you ready?"
"I've been waiting for this day!" The Phoenix Sycamore Tree could hardly contain its eagerness. Emerging from the tree, it transformed into a small girl with golden hair and golden eyes, about the size of an infant, dressed in a robe of fiery phoenix feathers. "Absorb me quickly, great Plant Emperor! I can't wait to offer myself to you!"
"That's not quite the right way to put it," Tang San chuckled. Looking at the tree's original form, he asked curiously, "You're different from other plant soul beasts. Does your original form still exist?"
(End of chapter)