Using One Wolf to Drive Away a Tiger?

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The sturdy fortifications were reduced to dust in the dazzling explosion, and the fragile soul-guided shield shattered like a soap bubble.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh--!!!"

"Boom boom boom!!!"

Dense, torrential energy rays formed a deathly light curtain, covering the entire Sun Moon Empire's army formation.

The rays easily pierced through the crude Soul Tool Armor, exploding into sprays of blood and screams among the crowd.

Absolute firepower suppression.

The battle ended in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The Sun Moon Empire's "elite" legions, leaving behind a large number of corpses and wounded, began to scatter and flee.

The Soul Saint general was killed by a long-range sniper bullet fired by Baili Shouyue from the ship's watchtower thousands of meters away while he was trying to organize a counterattack.

The troops, having lost their commander, were completely out of control and began a massive rout. The high-ranking officers were powerless against the desperate fleeing soldiers who were trying to escape for their lives.

Tian Yue didn't even leave her command seat.

The battle is over.

The outcome of this battle further confirmed her judgment—they were utterly vulnerable.

From this point on, the conquest and occupation of the Sun Moon Continent by the Spirit Hall Empire officially began.

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Having accumulated rich experience in annexing the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire Empires, the Spirit Hall Empire has long since developed an efficient and mature system for ruling and managing its newly occupied territories.

The occupying forces swiftly took control of key cities, transportation hubs, and resource-producing areas. At the same time, the grassroots governance policies that had already proven effective in the Douluo Continent were rapidly replicated and implemented.

These very policies triggered an earthquake on the land of the Sun Moon Empire that was far more devastating than military conquest.

When the propaganda officials of the Spirit Hall Empire announced a series of policies in the square of the occupied territory using Amplifying Soul Tool, such as "Children over the age of six can go to the designated location for free Martial Soul Awakening" and "Slavery is abolished, and all former slaves are restored to their status as free citizens," the onlookers of the Sun Moon Empire initially looked bewildered, incredulous, and even thought they were dreaming.

Free Martial Soul Awakening?

In their minds, it was a "privilege" that only the sons of nobles and wealthy merchants could enjoy, and they often had to pay a huge sum of money or sign a harsh contract in exchange for such an opportunity.

Abolish slavery?

How can those who are branded and treated as property from birth be considered "human beings"?

The enormous shock left many people stunned, followed by an overwhelming sense of elation and disbelief.

The day after the policy was announced, long queues stretched as far as the eye could see outside the various Martial Soul Awakening Points.

It wasn't just six-year-olds of the appropriate age; many adults and even the elderly joined the queue, hoping for the best, or simply wanting to "experience" this incredible "gift."

Some parents, holding their infants still in swaddling clothes, cautiously asked the staff if it was possible to "wake up early."

Their thoughts were crystal clear—they feared this "beautiful dream" would vanish in an instant, that the Spirit Hall Empire would be defeated, and that this free "miracle" would be nothing but a mirage.

During the awakening process, some promising talents with excellent Martial Soul were indeed discovered, including two adults who were over thirty years old.

The staff regretfully informed them that they had missed the optimal age for training, and their future achievements might be limited.

But they didn't care at all; their faces still beamed with an almost silly, pure joy—the mere realization of their once unattainable dream of "becoming Soul Master" was enough to make them content.

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These messages, like sparks that start a prairie fire, spread at an astonishing speed through the regions yet to be occupied by the Sun Moon Empire.

Commoners' expectations, slaves' restlessness...

The Spirit Hall Empire brought not only military dominance, but also a completely new order that overturned the old social structure of the Sun Moon Empire.

The process of conquest thus encountered an unexpected "acceleration".

In many remote towns, after hearing the news of "free awakening" and "abolition of slavery," even "traitors" emerged, selling information and intelligence in the hope that the Spirit Hall Empire would come to them first.

The foundation of the Sun Moon Empire's rule began to shake violently from within and collapse rapidly under the dual impact of the Spirit Hall Empire.

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Sun Moon Empire, capital city, imperial palace.

The once solemn and majestic hall was now shrouded in a low-pressure atmosphere before a storm.

On the high seat, the emperor's brows were knitted into a deep "Chuan" character. The ministers below were arguing endlessly. The focus of the debate was the "New Deal" regarding the Spirit Empire that had spread rapidly from the occupied coastal areas like a plague.

"Your Majesty! This trend must not be allowed to continue!" An elderly nobleman, dressed in a magnificent purple robe and wearing his family crest on his chest, stepped forward, his hair and beard bristling, his voice trembling with excitement. "Free awakening of Martial Soul? Abolition of slavery? This Spirit Hall Empire is simply insane! They are using the most despicable means to shake the foundation of my Sun Moon Empire's thousand-year heritage!"

"That's right!" someone immediately echoed, their tone filled with condescending disdain. "If every peasant, every born lowly servant, could become Soul Master, what order of hierarchy would remain in this world? Wouldn't it be utter chaos!"

"You lowly commoners are unworthy!" another voice rang out, filled with undisguised arrogance. "The power of Soul Master should be wielded by those of noble blood and wisdom! Allowing those ignorant fools to seize power will only bring chaos and destruction!"

But others added worriedly, "Your Majesty, it's not just a matter of awakening. These rumors are spreading, and even the manors near the capital are becoming unstable. The slaves and commoners are acting strangely, their work is unproductive, and they're gossiping amongst themselves—they're not as docile as before."

"The spread of such rumors must be strictly prohibited, and those who spread them must be arrested as a warning to others! Otherwise, internal strife may ensue!"

The hall was filled with the angry shouts of the nobles, demanding that the news be suppressed and order maintained with stronger measures.

Just then, a relatively calm, even calculating voice rang out, cutting through the noise. "Your Majesty, gentlemen, please calm down."

As everyone looked, they saw a middle-aged official with a lean face and sharp eyes step forward.

He was not the most illustrious hereditary nobleman, but he was a finance and domestic minister whom the emperor had relied on in recent years, known for his resourcefulness and pragmatism.

"It's better to guide than to block." He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but clearly carrying throughout the hall. "The empire is currently facing internal and external troubles. Internally, the Evil Demon Forest is expanding, encroaching on the territory and depleting the national strength; externally, the Spirit Hall Empire is eyeing us covetously, its military might at its peak. The empire is in dire need of manpower, its military strength is stretched thin, and resource allocation is difficult."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over his colleagues who still wore angry expressions. "The policies of the Spirit Hall Empire are indeed hateful, but it's undeniable that they can quickly unleash the potential of the lower classes and create a large population with the aptitude of Soul Master in a short period of time. Why don't we... imitate its form, but distort its essence?"

"Imitate?" The old nobleman's eyes widened.

"Exactly." The lean minister nodded, a cold smile curving his lips. "We can also 'allow' commoners to awaken their Martial Soul, and even 'give' them the opportunity to become Soul Master. However, this opportunity must come at a price."

He elaborated on his plan. "We can issue a <Wartime Emergency Conscription and Soul Master Training Order>. We will announce that, in order to resist foreign enemies, the Empire will open up a portion of the Martial Soul Awakening slots to 'loyal' commoner children. However, the awakeners and their families must sign a lifelong service contract, unconditionally obey the Empire's orders, participate in the war against the Evil Demon Forest, or be incorporated into the new army to prepare for the resistance against the Spirit Hall Empire."

"This contract must be strict enough." As he said this, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "It stipulates that their descendants may also be bound by this contract, with all cultivation resources controlled and allocated, and they may not break free without permission; violators will be severely punished."

To put it bluntly, this is a disguised, more covert, and more thorough indenture, binding them to the empire's war machine for generations to come.

"In this way," he concluded, "We can both quell the unrest at the grassroots level caused by the Spirit Hall Empire's policies to some extent, giving them an outlet for 'hope,' and replenish the enormous losses at the front lines. The Martial Soul and potential they awaken will become one of the Empire's resources."

"As for abolishing slavery? We can declare a state of war, with the priority of resisting foreign enemies. The existing slave system can be temporarily suspended, and we can even include some 'unruly' slaves in this conscription system, sending them to the front lines to 'atone for their sins'."

This plan, in essence, was giving the common people and slaves a false hope.

A brief silence fell over the hall.

Chapter 326 Using a Wolf to Devour a Tiger?

A brief silence fell over the hall.

Many nobles began to quickly weigh the pros and cons.

This seems like... a solution?

It can not only resist the erosion of the Spirit Hall Empire's "fallacies and heresies", but also turn potential dangers into usable resources, and even strengthen its control over its territory and population.

The emperor's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne.

He knew that the plan was fraught with risks and could further exacerbate internal conflicts. Once those conscripted commoner Soul Master awakened their powers, they might not be willing to remain slaves forever.

However, under the current circumstances, this seems to be one of the few "practical" strategies that can simultaneously address both internal and external crises.

"What you say, my dear minister... is not without merit." The emperor finally spoke slowly. "In urgent situations, expediency is necessary. Let's proceed as proposed. You will take the lead in drafting detailed regulations with the military and promulgating them as soon as possible. Remember, what I need is a compliant sword, not a potential threat."

"Your Majesty, I obey!" The lean minister bowed.

Circumstances are beyond our control.

The decree was quickly passed and implemented.

The common people of the Sun Moon Empire were immediately excited when they learned that the empire could also help them awaken their Martial Soul "for free".

They no longer looked forward to the arrival of the Spirit Hall Empire as much as they had at the beginning.

Moreover, they couldn't understand the contents of those so-called contracts because most of them were illiterate and signed them without really understanding what was going on.

It wasn't until they awakened their Martial Soul and were taken to the recruit camp that they realized things weren't quite what they expected...

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Time passed quietly, and the Sun Moon Empire's "Wartime Emergency Conscription Decree" plan gradually began to reveal itself to the public.

Initially, those ordinary families who went to the designated location to awaken their Martial Soul souls with trepidation were hoping that a "Lord Soul Master" would emerge from their family to change their humble fate.

However, after those newly awakened young people, who had not even mastered the most basic Soul Skill, were taken away expressionlessly by imperial officers and noble private soldiers and sent to what was said to be the "frontline reserve," they were never heard from again.

There were no letters, no messages, not even the death benefits were delivered; they vanished without a trace, never to be heard from again.

Panic began to spread silently among the lower classes.

"Old Li's son was taken away last month, and it's been so long since then, there's still no news..."

"That girl from the Wang family, she awakened some kind of flowery Martial Soul. They said she'd be going to the logistics team, but at least those from the next village who were conscripted for logistics had someone send a message back. She..."

"I heard... the deaths in the Evil Demon Forest to the west were horrific. Many green recruits died without even seeing their Soul Beast clearly..."

Rumors and whispers circulated quietly in the fields, streets, and alleys.

Ordinary people may not understand sophisticated political maneuvering, but the instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm is ingrained in their very being.

That seemingly "gifted" opportunity for awakening is no longer a ladder to change one's destiny, but rather a one-way road leading directly to death and endless enslavement.

Soon, the long lines that had formed outside the "awakening points" in various places visibly shortened and became sparse.

Many people start to find various excuses to delay or avoid it, and even prefer to let their children "miss" the best age for awakening rather than send them into the tiger's den.

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The Sun Moon Empire's tricks naturally couldn't escape the intelligence network of the Spirit Hall Empire, much less the attention of Tian Yue, who was stationed at the front lines closely monitoring the enemy's movements.

When the detailed report was presented to her, Tian Yue made no attempt to hide her contempt and scoffed, "A bunch of trash!"

She tossed the report onto the table casually, her eyes sharp.

Why didn't you do this sooner?

For the past few centuries, the common people have been treated like cattle and horses, exploited and extorted, without ever thinking about improving the overall national strength and foundation, only knowing how to maintain their ridiculous aristocratic privileges.