Identity Exposed

Chapter 49: Identity Exposed

"A powerful empire should not have phenomena such as orphans or the buying and selling of slaves."

Liyue, as the strongest of the Seven Nations, occasionally had cases of orphans and abandoned children, but they were all properly taken care of by the Adepti or the Liyue Qixing.

That was why the House of the Hearth had orphans from the other six nations, yet not a single one from Liyue.

"I'm not saying everyone must be equal, or that everyone must become a dragon."

"But they should at least have enough to eat, clothes to wear, and a home to live in..."

At this point, Zhongli paused and glanced at "Xue Qinghe," who was jotting something down in a little notebook.

"???"

Zhongli was full of question marks. What was going on with this Qian Renxue?

"Eh~"

"Xue Qinghe" froze, then looked up and met Zhongli's gaze. She instinctively said, "Guest Consultant, please continue?"

"Once I become emperor, I'll find a way to implement each of these things!"

"However, I'm thinking about another problem right now."

"How can I develop the empire's economy?"

"None of this is actually difficult. We just lack money..."

"Xue Qinghe" said honestly. On today's Douluo Continent, both industry and manufacturing were underdeveloped—indeed, extremely backward!

Other than oppression, most methods of acquiring Gold Soul Coins involved taking crooked paths...

Hearing this, Zhongli could not help but take another look at "Xue Qinghe."

Did she trust him that much?

All Zhongli saw in her eyes was sincerity. With his vast experience in judging people, he knew that look could not be faked.

Qian Renxue truly trusted him, almost unconditionally.

Qian Renxue: Sincerity was the ultimate killing move!

After considering it for a moment, Zhongli finally said, "If you want the empire to become prosperous, you must first make the common people prosperous."

"Develop industry, manufacturing, agriculture, and commerce selectively."

"Regions suitable for cultivation should focus on agriculture. Regions unsuitable for cultivation can develop manufacturing, industry, and so on."

"As for commerce..."

Qian Renxue listened while taking notes, occasionally raising a question or two. Zhongli was able to answer every one of them perfectly.

It left Qian Renxue wanting to say something, yet unable to find the words.

He was incredible!

How was this merely knowing astronomy above and geography below? He was practically omniscient and omnipotent!

Even when it came to how to develop an empire, how to transition from agriculture to industry, and how to transition from industry to trade, he explained everything in perfect order!

Just a little reasoning made it seem as though Zhongli's words were completely feasible...

He was not merely talking on paper. It was as though he had truly governed an empire before!

How strange!

Were there not only the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire on Douluo Continent?

Zhongli's development path, which seemed to have been "put into practice," left Qian Renxue's eyes hazy.

They were filled with admiration.

So amazing. So this was how such problems could be solved?

Suddenly, "Xue Qinghe" seemed to think of something and instinctively said, "B-but the land is almost entirely in the hands of nobles. This..."

This was a very serious issue. The land was all held by the Royal Family, the nobles, and forces large and small.

Commoners had no land of their own. The fields they cultivated belonged to nobles, not to themselves.

This was also one reason why, despite working tirelessly every day and having decent harvests, they could only afford one meal a day.

If they could not even eat their fill, how could anyone expect them to awaken Soul Power or powerful martial souls?

That was even harder than winning the lottery.

Hearing this, Zhongli stroked his chin and said nothing. Instead, he looked toward "Xue Qinghe."

Did she truly see herself as the Crown Prince?

How much did the interests of the Heaven Dou Empire's nobles have to do with her?

Of course, doing this would definitely provoke resistance from the nobles, and a great war would be unavoidable.

In the end, force would still be needed to resolve this issue.

"Cultivate diligently. When you are strong enough and have enough people supporting you, you will find that nothing is impossible."

Zhongli said earnestly.

Liyue could not have built such a flourishing age through his efforts alone.

"Xue Qinghe" froze, seeming to realize something. She gave Zhongli a thoughtful look before finally nodding.

Yes, she needed to cultivate diligently.

She was destined to become the Angel God.

Once she became a god, noble resistance and the like would no longer be a problem.

And with the Vago Rock Emperor's assistance and guidance, she would surely be able to create a flourishing age!

"Sigh~"

"Why can Paimon understand every word you two are saying, yet not understand what you mean?"

Paimon gnawed on some unknown fruit and spoke instinctively.

The two of them had been babbling on and on, but she really could not understand what they meant!

It seemed to be about how Zhongli had once built Liyue...

Yet it also seemed to include some new things.

"Little Paimon, everything on the table is yours. Eat well. If it isn't enough, ask the auction house for more."

"Ah? All right!"

"Xue Qinghe" had figured out Paimon's personality. As long as she had something to eat, she would stay quiet for a while.

At this moment, in the sparsely populated white area, Tang San and Xiao Wu were talking about something.

"What the heck? These people are just looking down on us!"

"When they saw we didn't have many Gold Soul Coins, they acted completely indifferent!"

"We're guests too, okay!"

Xiao Wu was extremely dissatisfied with the reception attendants' attitude and spoke angrily.

Before Tang San could reply, a gentle voice sounded.

"Little girl, you cannot blame them for this. To them, you have no value whatsoever."

"Naturally, they will not take you seriously, nor will they greet you with smiling faces."

Hearing this, Tang San and Xiao Wu looked toward the source of the voice. It was a middle-aged man dressed in magnificent robes and leaning on a scepter.

He too wore a mask, concealing his true appearance.

Behind him stood a straight-backed elderly man with flowing white hair.

Suddenly, the old man's entire body trembled. His heart was pounding with excitement, and his hands were shaking!

This was luck that could not be stopped once it arrived!

Tang San had not been taken away by Dugu Bo, so he had naturally never come into contact with the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well...

No, Zhongli had already moved the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well away. Even if Tang San had been taken away by Dugu Bo, he still would not have encountered it.

Without encountering the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he naturally would not have the Lovesick Heartbreak Red!

Before a level ninety-six Super Douluo, Xiao Wu had nowhere to hide at all!

As though she sensed Chen Xin's gaze, Xiao Wu suddenly felt somewhat guilty. She had a feeling that something bad was about to happen.

That old man's gaze was far too fervent.

"Oh~ May I ask why you say that?"

"We are guests, and they are guests too. Why are we being treated so differently?"

Seeing that this man spoke elegantly and seemed rather extraordinary, Tang San decided to converse with him.

"It is very simple. They are merchandise as well."

"But you do not have the means to purchase that merchandise..."