The Target of Every Arrow

For a moment, a slight disturbance arose in the crowd.

"Your His Majesty and Sovereign Ning are right. If grain-producing areas don't sell their grain, wouldn't that lead to mass unemployment and grain rotting in the fields? We can't blame the Spirit Hall Spirit Hall this just because they purchased grain from them, can we?"

Furthermore, the public's targeting of the Star Luo Empire is merely a means of diverting attention from the conflict. To assume that the Spirit Hall is interfering and manipulating public opinion based on this is far too naive.

Yu Xiaogang was embarrassed; he hadn't expected Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi to support Wu Qi.

Wu Qi smiled and said, "It seems that Mr. Yu Xiaogang's first piece of evidence is somewhat untenable. Since everyone feels that this matter has nothing to do with our Spirit Hall, then this so-called evidence falls apart on its own."

While there was indeed an element of Bibi Dong's deliberate intent in this matter, Bibi Dong has not made any statement, and those who instigated public opinion have not been apprehended. For Yu Xiaogang to use this as evidence is nothing more than making a fool of himself.

Yu Xiaogang's lips twitched slightly.

This evidence was provided by Bibi Dong in her letter. He couldn't verify much of it, but one piece of evidence was confirmed to be true.

"Your His Holiness the Pope the fourth point, the Spirit Hall's Demon Bear Douluo appeared on the border Two Great Empires. That night, a nearby Dam suddenly collapsed, causing several villages in the Star Luo Empire to be flooded. Since it was harvest season, the entire crop failed, and thousands of people were forced to endure hunger."

Demon Bear Douluo did indeed receive orders from Bibi Dong to destroy the Dam. Moreover, many people witnessed him doing so, making it unrealistic to deny it with words alone.

The Demon Bear Douluo, who was still at the scene, suddenly became the target of everyone's criticism. Countless people asked him if the matter was true or false, and some people even despised him because of it.

Wu Qi feigned doubt and cast an inquiring glance at him.

Wu Qi had given prior instructions on this matter, Demon Bear Douluo naturally knew what to say, "Your His Holiness the Pope, this was indeed done by your subordinate."

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

"Was this really done by the Spirit Hall? Could they really be secretly instigating a war?"

"That shouldn't be the case. The Spirit Hall has always stood on the side of peace on the continent. Why would they do this?"

Seeing that public opinion was in his favor, Yu Xiaogang straightened his chest and a wicked smile appeared on his lips.

Before Wu Qi could pursue the matter, Demon Bear Douluo quickly added, "Your His Holiness the Pope, it is true that I did this, but it was not because of the former His Holiness the Pope, nor was it on the orders of the Spirit Hall."

As he spoke, he said with a look of shame, "It was an official from the Heaven Dou Empire. He sent someone to present me with a Soul Bone, asking me to do him a favor. I knew my contribution was insignificant and unlikely to receive a Soul Bone Soul Bone reward in the palace, so I secretly accepted it."

"Later, that official ordered his men to breach the Dam, causing the floodwaters to engulf nearby villages and escalate the war Two Great Empires."

"Why would he do that!" Wu Qi demanded sharply.

Demon Bear Douluo shook his head, indicating that he did not quite understand, and then took out the Contract that both parties had signed at the time to prove his innocence.

The so-called official had already been executed by Xue Qinghe. Now, with his name brought up, who could discern the truth?

Seeing that the evidence was irrefutable, Wu Qi looked at Xue Qinghe and asked, "Your Xue Qinghe, His Majesty, do you have anything to say?"

Xue Qinghe remained silent, his expression darkening.

Ning Fengzhi sighed and stepped forward. "Your His Holiness the Pope, may I, Ning, offer my explanation?"

Having received an affirmative answer, Ning Fengzhi addressed everyone present and explained, "Because His Majesty has changed the political landscape of the empire since ascending the His Majesty, this Marquis Zhang Dong's situation in the Imperial Court is very delicate, and he wants to take this opportunity to gain His Majesty's favor."

"At that time, the Star Luo Imperial Family was protecting the murderer of the late emperor. In order to force the Star Luo Imperial Family to hand over the murderer, Marquis Zhang Dong secretly contacted the powerful figures of the Spirit Hall to destroy the Dam, so as to make the war stalemate."

"In that case, considering the cost of war, the Star Luo Imperial Family will most likely compromise and hand over the murderer."

"Later, the Marquis was investigated by His Majesty for treason and confessed to the matter during interrogation. However, at that time, the Two Great Empires were in a long-awaited truce, and His Majesty did not publicize the matter."

"The testimony given by Marquis Zhang Dong is currently stored in the Imperial Family Archives. His Majesty will certainly release it to the entire continent upon His Majesty return."

He's just a Marquis's already been executed; how can outsiders know the truth from falsehood if you add a few things to his testimony?

Furthermore, Wu Qi had already informed Ning Fengzhi of the plan, and the latter had already dealt with the matter. Even if someone were to search through the Archives now, they wouldn't find any clues.

Yu Xiaogang was completely dumbfounded.

He placed great hopes on this piece of evidence, after all, the Demon Bear Douluo was witnessed by many people during his actions, and there were a large number of eyewitnesses.

However, the other party did not act in the name of the Spirit Hall, but was invited by a Marquis of the Heaven Dou Empire to instigate a war.

Even if the matter were investigated, the Spirit Hall would at most be held responsible for negligence, and Xue Qinghe had already executed that Marquis, so there was no way to hold the Heaven Dou Royal Family accountable.

For a moment, Yu Xiaogang looked constipated, as if he had punched a cotton ball, unable to vent his strength.

Seeing the change in the audience's attitude, Yu Xiaogang knew that the situation was hopeless.

He couldn't even verify the remaining evidence himself, and with Wu Qi's silver tongue, he could easily shirk responsibility!

Seeing that the time was ripe, Wu Qi finally spoke, "Since this matter is indeed related to the experts of my Spirit Hall, my Spirit Hall naturally needs to give the suffering village an explanation."

As he spoke, he looked at Demon Bear Douluo, "Given the circumstances of this matter, I hereby deduct your salary for three years, and order you to repair the Dam within one year, provide appropriate compensation to the affected village, and help the villagers rebuild their homes. Do you accept this?"

Helping disaster victims rebuild is essentially a public relations project, funded internally by the Spirit Hall. As for the so-called salary deduction, it's an internal matter for the Spirit Hall, and whether Demon Bear Douluo received his salary is nobody else's business.

"Your subordinate is terrified. Given the opportunity to redeem yourself, Your Holiness is willing to follow Your His Holiness the Pope's arrangements."

Wu Qi and the Heaven Dou Royal Family have both made corresponding statements on this matter, so it is naturally impossible to pursue it further.

However, Wu Qi did not stop there. He pointed to the evidence that Yu Xiaogang had listed and explained it one by one.

Most of the evidence was actually false information provided by Wu Qi. These fabricated stories, coupled with the presence of the emperors of the Two Great Empires, naturally allowed them to be refuted.

Suddenly, Yu Xiaogang became the target of public criticism.

"I thought the evidence was real, but I didn't expect someone to be using this as a pretext to cause trouble for the Spirit Hall."

"Hey, do you know what Yu Xiaogang did in the past?"

"Back during the Spirit Master Competition, Yu Xiaogang caused the Organizing Committee a lot of trouble, and even flaunted his fake Elder Token in front of the Spirit Hall."