The Martial King Cup Begins

Finally, the group decided to go to the movies, hoping to get a glimpse into the local people's tastes. Si Ming had assumed that the Nation of Valor would like movies like "The Spirit Transformation Grandmasters Battle a Million Zombies," but when he arrived at the theater, he was surprised to find that the films were mostly comedies and romances.

Finally, at Cheng Xin's suggestion, Si Ming chose a recently popular movie called "Tofu Love".

The movie reached its climax, with the male and female protagonists embroiled in a fierce conflict. After a series of intense action scenes, they poured out their hearts to each other.

"Why can't we be together? Just because I like sweet tofu pudding and don't like savory tofu pudding, does that mean we can't be together?" the female protagonist asked tearfully.

"No, no, that's not it! Even if you don't like savory tofu pudding, I still love you deeply!" the male protagonist exclaimed, patting his chest.

"Then why is that? Why can't you accept me?"

"Because, because... because I not only like savory tofu pudding, but I also like to add cilantro, sesame oil, and even some chili sauce. I don't deserve your love!"

"Idiot! What's that? Even if you add tons of cilantro and chili sauce, I won't care, because—those are things I don't eat. It doesn't matter what you add!"

"Really, can I really do this?"

"Yes, because I love you, I want to be with you, like syrup and tofu pudding mixed together, permeating each other, never to be separated!"

"Yes, we'll be together forever. I'll embrace you like tofu pudding embraces peanuts and pickled vegetables."

The two embraced tightly, and the camera slowly pulled back to a spot not far away. The tofu pudding, without any syrup or salt, shone brightly under the light, looking incredibly beautiful.

Then, the end credits appeared on the screen and slowly moved upwards.

Si Ming stared in disbelief, remaining seated for a long while before finally exclaiming, "What... what the hell is this?! The Nation of Valor have such bizarre tastes!"

He turned to his companion, intending to join in criticizing the film, but then he saw Si Huaruo wiping her eyes with a handkerchief and saying in a nasal voice, "It's so touching. I never thought the Nation of Valor could make such a delicate film. My opinion of them has changed."

"Where's the touching part? What do you mean by 'delicate'? That tofu pudding was indeed made quite delicately." At this moment, Si Ming felt that Nation of Beauty's aesthetic sense was also quite peculiar.

"The ending was wonderful! The male lead, the female lead, and even the tofu pudding—everyone found happiness."

"Leaving aside the male and female leads, why does even tofu pudding find happiness?"

Si Ming felt that Nation of Beauty always claimed to pursue art, which might have distorted their aesthetic sense, so he sought validation from others.

Yu Shuying: "Hmm, it's a rare gem."

Ying Zhou: "Tch, I didn't cry."

Murong Wu: "No wonder it's a movie that claims to have moved a billion people; the plot and dialogue are both incredibly touching."

Only Hualiu showed a subtle expression. "I don't really understand Human Race emotional drama."

Si Ming was utterly shocked. Only the Monster Race agreed with his point of view. In the end, was he the one who was abnormal?

Chapter 655 The Martial King Cup Begins

The Martial King Cup was held as scheduled. Si Ming looked around and found that there were many more people than on the day the rules were changed. Obviously, many people, like Wu Xiu, felt that under the new rules, even disciples with poor strength had a chance to survive to the end, so they simply sent them to see the world. Even if they were eliminated on the first day, it would just be the same as the previous arena battles.

Although battles are full of variables, one's own strength is always the most important factor. Even if a disciple is a promising genius, potential is not the same as strength. Sending him to participate in the most advanced battles below the Spirit Transformation before his potential is fully realized is just using him as a stepping stone for others, needlessly damaging his confidence.

However, in the revised Martial King Cup, while individual strength is still the most important factor, its impact on the outcome has been greatly reduced. Many people have already begun "diplomatic" work before the competition, seeking allies and reaching agreements, such as agreeing to eliminate others first before conducting internal competition. In e-sports games, this means forming teams to play together.

In this way, even those with weaker skills have a chance to lift the Martial King Cup, and achieving a "zero-kill victory" is not impossible. Although there is a point limit, the points are only awarded based on the bracelet closest to you, and it has nothing to do with who you are defeated by. If you can get a powerful ally, you can get points without lifting a finger.

Si Ming had heard all this news, but he didn't care much about it and was too lazy to find "allies." It wasn't out of confidence in his own strength, but because he didn't need to make any special arrangements for his allies. If he encountered Si Huaruo and Murong Wu in the competition, he would never eliminate them by killing them, and they would inevitably team up together.

If everyone survives to the last day, they can simply decide the ownership of the Martial King Cup by playing rock-paper-scissors—a method that would inevitably embarrass the Nation of Valor, which changed the rules, but as a disciple of the Mohist School, Si Ming has no need to consider the other side's feelings.

Hundreds of experts gathered together, including many Spirit Transformation Grandmaster in charge of supervision. Even though no one deliberately activated their internal Essence Blood, the mere wisp of essence that leaked out and gathered together formed a straight, smoke-like phenomenon, dispersing the clouds in the sky and creating a "vacuum dome."

At the meeting, Si Ming saw many familiar faces.

"It's been a long time, Brother Si Ming."

The person who came to greet me was Su Yingtao. He looked no different from six months ago, but his demeanor was noticeably more composed. He was no longer the rough and tumble person he used to be; he had a refined and unpretentious air about him.

Si Ming laughed and said, "Actually, it hasn't been that long. It's strange, even though it's been less than a year since we parted, it feels like a long time has passed. There's a feeling that things have changed."

Recalling Su Yingtao, who had provoked her the moment they met, he was completely different from the refined and reserved man with a warm smile before her.

"Haha, it really feels like a lifetime ago. More major events have happened in the past year than in the previous twenty years combined. After you left, Brother Si Ming, the three emperors... The new emperor first abolished the privileges of the nobility, then reduced imperial power, transferred state affairs to the newly established State Affairs Office, and delegated the power to elect the prime minister, leaving himself only with the power of veto and dismissal... Such actions are very puzzling. They clearly go against common sense, yet they have proceeded with extraordinary smoothness."

Si Ming chuckled inwardly. The emperor wanted to reduce imperial power and transfer it to officials, who were naturally overjoyed. They only regretted that they had too little power, so they would never refuse. This transfer of power proceeded very smoothly. The problem lay in the obligations, or rather, responsibilities, that followed.

In the past, when the affairs of state were not going well and public opinion was in uproar, it was because the emperor was incompetent and had to issue an edict of self-reproach to apologize to the people. Now that the people in charge have become the prime minister and officials, it is naturally the responsibility of these people to issue erroneous decrees. They cannot issue an edict of self-reproach and simply brush it off with an apology. The power of dismissal held by the new emperor was prepared for this moment.

At the same time, Si Ming couldn't help but recall a saying: there are only individuals who betray their class, not classes that betray their interests. On Earth, even if a "sharp-eyed person" appears in a class that has already benefited from the system, he cannot save the entire class. He can only betray his own class, jump into another class, destroy the original class, and thus establish a new order, because the power of an individual cannot contend with the power of the entire class.

However, in the Sea Continent, as long as one is strong enough, an individual can force an entire class to submit. Han Hao is the emperor, but he cannot represent the entire imperial class. Those close to him, such as imperial relatives, and those further away, such as nobles and princes, are all part of the imperial class. Which emperor on Earth would dare to do this? He would be overthrown in a heartbeat. But Han Hao succeeded. He did not rely on his personal strength, but on the Spirit Transformation Grandmaster who had pledged allegiance to him, forcibly making the imperial class bow down.

Of course, this can only be considered a temporary success. Whether the policy can be continued or overturned by later generations depends on whether Han Hao can survive. If he can survive for thirty or forty years, the new rules will become old laws and can be passed down from generation to generation.

Su Yingtao said, "I heard that the French Emperor's idea to abolish aristocratic privileges initially stemmed from reading your book..."

"Stop! Where did this rumor come from? It's baseless, don't spread it around."

Si Ming had no desire to be called a revolutionary mentor. Of course, the French monarchy's approach was at most a reform, not a revolution, but "reform mentor" sounded even worse than "revolutionary mentor." Creating a new world in a grand way was one thing, but what kind of nonsense was it to prolong the life of the old class?

"Alright, let's not talk about that then," Su Yingtao smiled, sensing that Si Ming didn't want to discuss the topic, and then asked in a low voice, "How's my brother doing lately? Are he and his wife happy?"

"I'm sorry, I have no news of him. Neither our martial arts nor our technology have advanced to the point of enabling intercontinental communication. In fact, I don't even know where he lives."

When Su Yingbo was sent to the Barbarian Continent by Si Ming, it was not the Barbarian Continent of the three major martial arts worlds, but Barbarian Continent that had been turned into a wasteland. Si Ming had described the harsh conditions of that Barbarian Continent and thought it was very unsafe. He advised Su Yingbo to go to his Heavenly Martial Alliance to live in seclusion, but Su Yingbo wanted to stay away from the martial arts world and did not want to get involved in anything related to the martial arts world. He insisted on going to the wasteland Barbarian Continent, and Si Ming had no choice but to agree.