For the Peace of the Continent
——
Arrived at the Falling Star City Spirit Hall Branch.
Zhou Qing simply told Norman that after the turmoil ended, his niece, who supported him, would temporarily take control of the situation, overshadowing the other families and nobles in the city.
"From what you did to Dales at the previous speech, I can tell that you and he don't seem to get along." Norman first praised You Hui for making a good friend, but then stared intently at Zhou Qing, as if trying to see his true thoughts.
However, Zhou Qing's eyes shone brightly like stars. "He is indeed not someone we can get along with. He has an extremely close connection with the Fallen Ones we are hunting down. I think you have also confirmed this."
"It would be strange if they really had no connection."
Norman chuckled, "However, we have no evidence, and even if we did, the Spirit Hall couldn't take him down directly. I can only stall him as much as possible and wait for the Star Luo Empire's higher-ups to send someone over—"
In this situation, the fact that a city lord would have connections with the Fallen Ones would inevitably lead the higher-ups of the Star Luo Empire to try their best to conceal the matter.
Otherwise, the reputation of the Star Luo Empire would be somewhat affected...
Therefore, my Spirit Hall must pretend to know nothing afterward to avoid causing trouble for ourselves.
civilian--
"My voice carries little weight; what I say is insignificant."
At this point, Norman's smile faded, and he looked directly into Zhou Qing's eyes, saying in a deep voice, "Actually, if we had used the power of Sword Douluo Your Crown intimidate him a little, Dales would have been unable to hide it any longer. Moreover, with Sword Douluo's Your Crown, things might not have escalated to this point."
"Call--"
Zhou Qing exhaled and said Youyou, "Mr. Norman, you are so old, you should know that the death of Dales doesn't change anything."
Norman was stunned. He looked at Zhou Qing with a hint of surprise, then exclaimed, "You really don't seem like a six-year-old child."
"Isn't it obvious? How could an ordinary six-year-old have the extraordinary physical abilities of the three of us?" Zhou Qing joked. "Also, to put it more directly, Dales is the direct enemy who killed my biological parents, and at the same time, he was an accomplice in the murder of You Hui's parents."
"Is this really true?!"
In an instant, Norman's eyes turned cold. "My niece died at the hands of Dales and that Fallen Ones?"
"Yes!"
You Hui clenched her fists and pleaded, "So, Uncle, please help me, okay?"
"Alright, I agree, after all, You Hui is my niece's granddaughter." Norman's eyes remained sharp. "However, I want to know more specific details, such as whether what Dales said about the Fallen Ones at Falling Star Slope is true? You probably investigated the relevant information when you went out yesterday, right?"
Norman guessed wrong, but Zhou Qing was indeed able to say the relevant information, "I can only say that the Soul Ancestor- level Fallen Ones we were hunting has died at our hands."
"Dead?"
Norman was startled. "Why is Dales making such a big fuss? And what about the Fallen Ones at Falling Star Slope?"
"They would create various pretexts to win over wealthy and powerful people, Tax Donation, and after the deal was done, the wealthy and powerful would return all their money, while the common people would split the money 70/30."
Zhou Qing once again described Dales ' methods, each sentence piercing the heart, causing Norman's pupils to widen—he had lived for so many years and thought that the powerful and wealthy of the Two Great Empires were nothing special, but now he understood that the so-called "oppression" was not the children of the powerful and wealthy openly disciplining and bullying the common people, but rather a darker method in which local officials colluded with their families to siphon money from the people into their own pockets.
Such things have happened before, but on a smaller scale and not very noticeable, so much so that Norman didn't notice them.
And now—
Everyone in the city must pay or donate one Gold Soul Coin... This will drain the wealth accumulated by the people of the city over generations!
"And what about the so-called Fallen Ones?" Norman asked, trembling.
"Naturally, it's Dales's people! Those who know he has connections with the Fallen Ones ... In order to distance themselves from the Fallen, they can conveniently be wiped out as Fallen Ones, killing two birds with one stone..." Zhou Qing also discovered that the Hall Master of the Spirit Hall was completely ignorant about how to govern a city, or even about the ways in which the city lord and the families and nobles in the city had connections of interest.
To put it nicely, it's aloofness!
We refuse to compromise our principles!
To put it bluntly, they're just naive and clueless!
In other words, naive and ignorant of the ways of the world!
It's no wonder that in the original novel, after the Spirit Hall hastily established its nation, it implemented curfews and violent oppression, causing widespread panic. In the end Bibi Dong died and Qian Renxue was crippled. The Spirit Hall Empire, which was able to rival the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empire Two Great Empires, disintegrated in a very short time and returned to the rule of the Two Great Empires.
No matter how bad the Two Great Empires were, at least they knew the needs of the common people and implemented policies to govern them.
Herdsmen may not be pleasant to hear or useful, but at least ordinary people can survive.
For the vast majority of ordinary people with extremely low Innate Soul Power, becoming Soul Master is an unattainable dream; survival is their only real need at the moment.
The high-ranking members of the Spirit Hall are Soul Master who focus on cultivation. As for how to govern a city, most of them probably think that they can just follow the existing model of the Spirit Hall and subdue others by force.
In other words, as long as you are strong, you can make others obey you.
Having great strength doesn't equate to knowing how to manage, govern, or rule a country. After the Spirit Hall establishes its own nation, those powerful Soul Master will inevitably be promoted and given real power, replacing the ruling class that was originally subservient to the Spirit Hall...
But that's precisely the worst part!
Norman's complete ignorance of politics offers a glimpse into the situation. The Hall Master of the secondary temples, the main temples, and even the Holy Hall in the capitals of the Two Great Empires, might have a better understanding of politics, economics, and people's livelihoods than Norman, but they would generally still be accustomed to using force to suppress others.
Organizations that prioritize strength are naturally easier to manage internally, since those with greater strength have more say and don't need to care about the opinions of the weak.
However, once the vast majority of commoners who cannot become Soul Master are also included in the scope of management, the "truth" of the Strong Reign Supreme is no longer applicable.
"There's actually such a trick to it!"
Norman opened his mouth, and it took him a long time to come to his senses, but when he looked at Zhou Qing, there was a hint of fear in his eyes.
Because this six-year-old child could see so clearly, it was as if he could read Dales's mind, understanding all the intentions behind Dales's actions!
monster?
No!
This is absolutely monstrous!
"Children, do you... do you want to join the Spirit Hall?"
"Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo from Nuoding City also extended an invitation to us, but we are still free." Zhou Qing smiled and politely declined Norman's invitation.
"Sigh, to be honest, your talent for cultivation is exceptional, and your thinking is sharp enough to see through people's hearts... I really don't know what you will become when you grow up? And what kind of changes will you bring to this continent?"
Norman's eyes turned slightly cold as he said this, "Perhaps, for the sake of peace on the continent, I must kill you now!"