Zhou Qing Couldn't Take It Anymore

Knock knock knock!

Ta-da!

As the lively drumbeats and gongs sounded from the side of the stage.

Dales strode onto the podium with his head held high.

"Should we go up too?"

Looking at the sea of people below the stage, Xiao Wu felt a strange sense of fear—there were even more people than when the Nuoding City Friendly Tournament was held, and most of the men were shirtless.

"Go up."

Zhou Qing took the lead and Human Dao behind him, "As long as we don't feel awkward, it's others who will feel awkward!"

Have no choice!

Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Romantina could only follow.

And You Hui?

Because she was a local and Baron, she had to set an example alongside other local dignitaries by being responsible for making donations.

Dales took the megaphone-like Amplifying Soul Tool handed to him by the steward and shouted, "Gentlemen, this meeting is to exterminate the Fallen Ones and bandits fifty miles south of Falling Star City gate at Falling Star Slope. However, to gather the necessary manpower and resources, we need your help. Therefore, I hope you will understand that I plan to collect taxes for next year, the year after, and even the year after that ahead of schedule! Including donations—"

"One Gold Soul Coin each!"

"Splash!"

These words caused an uproar, with some people even hurling insults at Dales, who was present.

They thought they would only have to donate a little money, but they never expected to have to pay so much!

One Gold Soul Coin?

This is going to drain them of their entire fortune!

"I support it!"

At that very moment, the head of the Li Family raised his right arm and shouted.

"I support it too!"

The other families in the city also raised their hands and shouted, "Exterminate the Fallen Ones and restore stability, peace, and tranquility to Falling Star City!"

Seeing that all the families in the city, big and small, were supporting Dales, and even directly ordering people to put taxes and donations in front of the podium, most of the people fell silent.

Upon seeing this, Tang San felt a strange sense of familiarity—

In my previous life, there was a small town near the Tang Sect. The county magistrate changed almost every two or three years, and banditry was rampant. The newly appointed magistrate, in alliance with local gentry, gathered manpower and resources to suppress the bandits every year, but the bandits persisted...

How similar is the situation today to the present one?

Hu Fangyuan is already dead. Even if he has accomplices, they are not a threat. Why go to such great lengths?

Who are the Fallen Ones that Dales mentions?

He just wanted to use this opportunity to silence his own people!

And now?

They just want to make money off this!

"Good!"

Dales laughed heartily, "You are all wise, kind, and farsighted men!"

The unspoken meaning of these words is to Taunt those who do not pay taxes or donate money as short-sighted, despicable, and ignorant fools!

Ordinary people, who value face the most, can only grit their teeth and pay taxes and donations in advance to avoid being criticized by others who have paid.

Especially since all the major and minor families in the city have paid, it would be quite unreasonable for them not to.

Looking at the commoners who were paying, Zhou Qing lowered his head, concealed the sorrow in his eyes, clenched his fists, and finally took a deep breath, trying to calm the turbulent emotions in his heart.

"Your taxes and donations will not be paid in vain!"

Seeing the commoners taking out their money, Dales beamed with joy, took a step forward, and pointed at Zhou Qing and the Human Dao, saying, "They are all geniuses. Don't underestimate them because of their young age; they are already Soul Master and champions of the Notting Friendly Tournament. Even the members of the Star Luo Royal Academy Team are full of praise for them! In fact, even Mr. Zhong Dingxiu of my Star Luo Royal Academy has praised them as young talents!"

"That's a Soul Saint!"

Immediately, the crowd cheered, hoping that Zhou Qing and the others could help them eradicate the Fallen Ones as Dales had said, so that they could live a good life in the future and not have to live in fear of the Fallen Ones!

As for money?

You can earn more later.

Afterwards, Dales hoped that Zhou Qing and the others would demonstrate their strength, that is, release their Martial Soul and Soul Ring.

However, Zhou Qing refused, saying, "There's no need for such trouble. The best way to demonstrate strength is naturally through battle. Lord Dales is also Soul Master, and his cultivation has even reached the level of Soul Elder at level thirty-one. Why don't you have a match with us now and see what we're made of?"

"That's a great idea!" Xiao Wu rubbed her hands together, extremely disgusted with Dales who was fooling the local people to make money. Now that she had a chance to teach him a lesson in a fair and square way, how could she let it pass?

Dales ' face turned ashen instantly, but the color vanished in an instant. He put down the Amplifying Soul Tool in his hand and said with a forced smile, "I am a Soul Elder, and you are just Soul Master. Fighting with you would inevitably be suspected of bullying the weak."

"Lord Dales!"

Zhou Qing twisted his neck and chuckled, "According to you, if we're so weak, what are we even doing on this stage? After all, among the Fallen Ones we'll be facing later is a Soul Ancestor!"

Before Darles could speak, Zhou Qing's martial soul possessed him, but his spirit rings did not appear. Since facing the pressure from Sword Douluo in the Spring Festival Pavilion, Zhou Qing's connection with his martial soul had deepened. When using spirit skills, his spirit rings could be placed outside his martial soul without being deliberately exposed on his body.

Zhou Qing shouted loudly to the people below the podium, "Fellow residents of Falling Star City! Now, Dales wants to personally test our strength and have a one-on-four battle with us. However, we are worried that Dales will get injured and do not want to fight him, but we are also afraid that you do not trust our strength. Therefore, the greatest Dales in the history of Falling Star City has given you the choice—"

"You tell me!"

"To fight or not to fight?"

Dales's face was extremely ugly!

When did he ever say that?

We absolutely have to beat him up in public!

The crowd below couldn't help but get excited. Some of the brighter-minded people realized that Zhou Qing and his group probably didn't get along with Dales and wanted to take the opportunity to teach Dales a lesson.

After all, Zhou Qing didn't call Dales "Lord City Lord," but addressed him by his first name!

but--

If Dales could really get beaten up in front of the whole city, that would be perfect!

so--

In that instant, the entire city responded in unison, "Attack!"

In just ten seconds, everything changed from the initial chaos to the subsequent harmony, and finally to the unity of all people!

In a mere ten seconds, the cheers of the entire city seemed to form a peculiar rhythm with the heartbeat within Zhou Qing's Blood Circulation System Martial Soul, rippling outwards!

Looking down at the dark mass of people, at their eyes that seemed to be shining at that moment, and at the loud the Scream of "Fight!" that seemed to shake the heavens, Dales unconsciously swallowed, a nameless fear rising in his heart, and he took three steps back.

At that moment, only one thought remained in his mind:

Zhou Qing!

This person is adept at inciting people! Terrifying! He must not be allowed to live!

"Dales, what do you think?"

Zhou Qing put away his Martial Soul, turned around, and looked at Dales with a smile.

"If that's the case, then let this city lord test your mettle!" Dales picked up the Amplifying Soul Tool and shouted loudly. He then threw it aside, Martial Soul Possession, and released three Soul Ring —white, yellow, and yellow—before launching a direct attack on Zhou Qing, hoping to catch him off guard!