Sa's Righteousness

Chapter 33: Salas's Righteousness

"I want to know how much protection money Heaven Dou City brings in every year," Nan Feng said.

Salas's eyelid twitched. "Elder Nan Feng, this kind of matter..."

Slap!

Nan Feng slammed the Pope Order onto the table.

"How much?"

Salas's expression stiffened. "Around one million."

"How much did you take?" Nan Feng asked.

Salas felt a bit guilty. "Elder Nan Feng, I didn't..."

Nan Feng put the Pope Order away. "How much?"

Salas let out a sigh of relief. "Two hundred thousand. The rest is distributed among the other bishops and subordinates of the Martial Soul Temple."

"But please rest assured, Elder, the work of the Martial Soul Temple has never fallen behind in the slightest!"

"Nonsense!" Nan Feng looked speechless.

"You've skimmed so much off the top, yet you expect me to believe you're working hard? Do you want to ascend to the heavens?"

Although Martial Soul Hall originated in the era of the Angel God twenty thousand years ago and had a long history, it had only truly grown powerful in the last thousand years. Because of the emergence of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire and the establishment of a complete social system, the Douluo Continent had officially entered the feudal era.

Before this, apart from the soul master factions, the society of ordinary people on the Douluo Continent could almost be described as being in a state of semi-slavery and semi-primitive society, with countless small countries and tribes scattered across the continent.

It wasn't until over a thousand years ago that the ancestors of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and the Star Luo Royal Family rallied some unaffiliated, wandering soul masters and started a war. It was a case of big fish eating small fish, and after spending several hundred years annexing the small countries on the Douluo Continent, they finally formed the situation of the two great empires standing in opposition a millennium ago.

The progress of the era drove the exchange and development of information, as well as the improvement of social productivity. Human society gradually prospered, and those major soul master factions that had always been isolated from the world, such as the Clear Sky Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, finally officially established contact with the outside world.

However, these sects placed great importance on the inheritance of martial souls and were not keen on absorbing outside soul masters. Only a few soul master factions, represented by Martial Soul Hall, were willing to recruit outsiders. After a thousand years of development, Martial Soul Hall finally attained its current influence, which spanned the entire continent.

When it came to driving the era of the Douluo Continent, Heaven Dou and Star Luo were the main forces; Martial Soul Hall was, at best, someone looking to pick the peaches.

If it weren't for Martial Soul Hall constantly stirring the pot in the middle, Star Luo would have wiped out Heaven Dou hundreds of years ago. Even now, as long as Martial Soul Hall didn't cause trouble, it would be incredibly easy for Star Luo to destroy Heaven Dou.

Star Luo was a military empire with a highly centralized government, while Heaven Dou was a twilight empire where the nobility just laid back and even the imperial family had no prestige. There was no need to even think about which was stronger and which was weaker.

Only with conflict could there be topics of discussion, and only with war could there be peace. Martial Soul Hall needed the two great empires to maintain their conflict so that it could highlight its own greatness.

White needed corresponding black to set it off.

"From now on, it's a fifty-fifty split," Nan Feng said.

Salas was taken aback. "Elder Nan Feng, this isn't something I can decide on my own."

This one million Gold Soul Coins was actually collected from the bottom up, layer by layer. In the end, only two hundred thousand reached his hands. It wasn't that he received a million, kept two hundred thousand for himself, and then distributed the remaining eight hundred thousand to others.

He could afford to take half of his own two hundred thousand and hand it over to Nan Feng as a protection fee for his allegiance, but he wasn't sure if the others would be willing, nor could he interfere with their shares.

"Is it that difficult?" Nan Feng asked.

"I haven't even asked for a thirty-seventy split yet, and you're already calling it hard?"

Salas's expression stiffened. "Elder Nan Feng, this matter involves too wide a scope. It touches almost every level of Martial Soul Hall branches within the Heaven Dou Empire. I really can't do it on such short notice."

"If you can't do it, can't you get someone else to do it?" Nan Feng said.

Salas was stunned. "What do you mean?"

"Your grasp of political economy is truly lacking," Nan Feng said, sounding as if he were disappointed in someone failing to live up to expectations.

"If the money from Martial Soul Hall's subordinates is hard to touch, then touch the money from above. The kingdoms, duchies, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, and the nobles of Heaven Dou—that is where you should exert your influence."

"Once they run out of money, they will naturally go and collect it from those below them."

"In this way, we get the money, while the Heaven Dou Empire is seen as tyrannical and exploitative, causing public resentment to boil over. As long as Martial Soul Hall gives those below even a small benefit, the 'big stick' is wielded by the two great empires, while the 'sweet date' is provided by Martial Soul Hall. Back and forth, wouldn't the hearts of the people be won over?"

Salas wore a strange expression.

Good, good, good. No wonder you're a favorite of the Pope Hall and an Honorary Elder at such a young age. How could the likes of us ever hope to reach this level of thinking?

They say nobles have black hearts, but who is blacker than you?

"What kind of look is that?" Nan Feng frowned.

"Isn't this the same thing Martial Soul Hall has been doing all along?"

Where do you think the subsidies issued to low-level spirit masters come from?

They are snatched from the hands of the two great empires!

Martial Soul Hall has always been using money extorted by the two great empires to build its own reputation!

Now, he was merely magnifying that process just a tiny bit.

"Don't blame me for being ruthless," Nan Feng sighed.

"Severe illnesses require strong medicine. Look at those people below; how many have already become numb to the exploitation and oppression of the two great empires?"

"If I want to strike down the most terrifying evil, it is inevitable that I must tear away the thin, sugary coating of false justice."

"Only by striking a ruthless blow, by pushing those long-numbed people until they can no longer endure, until they have absolutely no way to survive, will they finally stand up and resist!"

"The process of struggle is bloody, and even more cruel, but whether they want safety or to live with dignity—that is a choice they must make for themselves."

Salas's expression stiffened. "Elder Nan Feng, what you're saying... doesn't that sound a bit, well, wrong?"

Forcing those commoners into a dead end, making them have no choice but to rebel?

What the hell is he trying to do?!

If the people below revolt, Martial Soul Hall won't have an easy time either!

Playing a game like this is a case of inflicting eight hundred damage on the enemy while suffering a thousand yourself!

"Wrong? Is it?" Nan Feng stood up.

"This world needs change. The rotten, putrid flesh is already stinking to high heaven. To completely eradicate this stubborn, malignant disease, a painful scraping of the bone to remove the poison is absolutely necessary."

"If they lack the courage to stand up, then they have no right to stand at all!"

This is too absurd! Too insane!

Salas looked at the man before him with a hint of fear. "Elder Nan Feng, does the Pope know about this?"

"Of course," Nan Feng said.

"She was the first supporter of the ideology I've cultivated!"

"You are the third, Bishop Salas. Are you interested in creating a new era for the continent with me?"

Salas's eyelid twitched. "I... can I choose not to participate?"

He was getting on in years! He had worked so hard to reach his current position, and in a few decades, he would be honorably headed to the grave. He really didn't dare to get involved in these kinds of things!

"Of course you can!" Nan Feng patted Salas on the shoulder and sighed deeply.

"It's just a pity that I've lost a brave ally..."

Lost?

Salas's expression stiffened. "Elder Nan Feng, I think... I should participate!"

This wasn't a discussion at all!

This was a naked threat!

"Bishop Salas, don't force yourself. Not everyone has the resolve to face death in order to find life. I understand you!" Nan Feng sighed.

You've already put me in a dead end!!

Salas cursed inwardly, but he had no choice but to play along. "Elder Nan Feng, if I could contribute even a little to such a noble cause, I would have no regrets in this life!"

"A righteous act, Elder Salas!" Nan Feng said, his face full of admiration.

"On behalf of the suffering masses of the world, I thank you, Elder Salas!"

"Not at all, not at all..." Salas was on the verge of tears.

He really didn't want to stir up trouble!

He just wanted to work honestly until his retirement!!