"That kind of weapon evened the gap between ordinary people and Soul Master, and Blood Burning Art gave ordinary people the power to resist. From the first bullet that penetrated Soul Master's Soul Power body protection, from the first miner's burning life to defeat Soul Master, the era of Soul Master supremacy and hereditary nobles has ended."
"This is a drastic change of the times and a torrent of history. Don't say we can't stop it, even Spirit Hall can't stop it. All we can do is adapt to it, otherwise we will be crushed to pieces by it."
"Civilians don't care where they come from. They will follow whoever treats them well and whoever brings them hope."
Everyone Jiujiu was speechless. They could understand but not accept it.
But they did not realize that the so-called consciousness of family, country, and nation has no such concept at all under a completely solidified class system.
You suppress us every day and look down on us, and you still want us to fight you to the death?
Before we had no power, so we could only work hard for you without complaint. Now that I have the power to fuck you, do I still listen to you?
Xue Qinghe's lips moved, and his voice was a little dry. "So, do we have to sacrifice the rights passed down by our ancestors and watch those mud-legged people climb to the same height as us?"
All eyes are focused on Ning Fengzhi.
This is the most unwilling question in all of their minds.
They are born aristocrats, they are Soul Master, they are superior people.
Why should the inheritance built by our ancestors with their blood and sweat be given to those who once stepped on their feet?
Ning Fengzhi looked at everyone's unwilling eyes and nodded slowly. "Yes, we must sacrifice some rights and interests."
"But the sacrifice is not to allow the common people to climb up, but to allow us to survive." He paused and said in an extremely solemn tone, "Everyone, think about those small sects that were bloodbathed and those nobles who were hanged on the city gates. Compared with them, we only sacrificed a little power to squeeze the common people and a little extra wealth. This is already a blessing."
"As long as the green hills are still there, there is no need to worry about running out of firewood. As long as our people are still there, our Martial Soul is still there, and our heritage is still there, there will always be a chance to turn around."
A middle-aged sect leader wearing a gray robe sighed, his face full of bitterness. "We all understand what Sect Master Ning said. However, without the mine slaves, without the tenant farmers, without those hired workers who beat and scold them casually, how will we make a living in the future? We can't just sit back and have nothing, right?"
He is the head of a mid-level sect, and the sect's income almost entirely depends on the three iron mines and thousands of acres of land under his name.
Once the eight-hour work system and the minimum wage standard are implemented, his profits will shrink by at least 70%. From now on, let alone raising disciples, even the daily expenses of the sect will become a problem.
As soon as these words came out, everyone looked sad.
Yes, their wealth and status are based on squeezing the bottom class.
Now that the road to exploitation is blocked, how can we make money in the future? How can we maintain the operation of our sect and family?
Yu Yuanzhen said irritably, "That's right! We, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, rely entirely on the dozens of mines under our name. If we pay wages to those mine slaves and only let them work eight hours a day, we will drink the northwest wind!"
"We Clear Sky Sect are not much better." Clear Sky Sect Second Elder said with a grimace.
"It's even harder for us Star Luo Empire." Star Luo Empire's military marshal shook his head, "Most of the empire's revenue comes from agricultural taxes and mining taxes. Now that agricultural taxes can't be raised, mining taxes have also been reduced by more than half. We still have to support so many troops. How will we live in the future?"
For a moment, everyone looked gloomy.
In other words, our quality of life has not changed much, but our income has become less and still a large amount. Doesn't this mean cutting off our flesh?
Yu Yuanzhen It's still the same sentence. "We can't really just watch those mud-legged people ride on our heads, right? I, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, have been here for thousands of years and have never suffered from this kind of cowardice!"
"Otherwise, what else can we do?" Clear Sky Sect Second Elder sighed with bitterness on his face, "Spirit Hall is determined to implement these rules. If we dare to object, we will be the first to be pushed out and used as targets. When the time comes, Black Fire Army will not need to take action, Spirit Hall will destroy us first."
Just when everyone was sighing and unable to do anything, a fat middle-aged man wearing a brocade robe squeezed out from behind the crowd.
He was playing with an emerald green jade abacus in his hand, with a shrewd smile on his face, and he bowed his hands to everyone. "My sect masters and your highnesses, please be patient."
Everyone followed the sound and recognized him as Qian Tong, the master of the Treasure Gathering Sect.
Treasure Gathering Sect is not a big sect, it can be said to be the best of the small sects. Martial Soul is also a cornucopia of treasure troves and calculations with little combat effectiveness. However, nearly 30% of the entire Douluo Continent's banks, pawn shops, and grain shops are owned by their family.
When it comes to making money, even Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would give him three points.
"Sect Master Qian, if you have anything to say, just say it." Xue Qinghe nodded slightly, with a hint of expectation in his tone, "Do you have any good ideas?"
"I can't talk about a solution, I just saw a huge business opportunity." Qian Tong grinned, showing two golden front teeth. He shook the jade abacus in his hand and clicked it a few times. "In my opinion, this is not only not a bad thing, but a golden opportunity for us!"
"Business opportunity?"
Yu Yuanzhen frowned and said in a rough voice, "Fat Qian, don't talk sarcastically here! We are almost drinking the northwest wind, where are the business opportunities?"
"Sect Master Yu Don't worry, listen to me slowly." Qian Tong was not angry, still smiling, "Do you think it was really the most profitable business for us to buy out the lives of those mining slaves and tenant farmers in the past?"
He didn't wait for everyone to answer, and said to himself, "In the past, we spent five gold coins to buy a mining slave, feed him, house him, take care of his illness and injuries, and pay to bury him when he dies. A mining slave can work for up to twenty years, and if he can't work anymore, he will be a loser. And they hate us in their hearts. They work as slaves, run away and even rebel when there is a chance. Not only do we have to spend money to support them, but we also have to spend money to hire people to watch them. How risky is it?"
"But it's different now." Qian Tong's eyes lit up, and his calculations became louder, "Spirit Hall doesn't want an eight-hour working day? Doesn't it want the minimum wage? Okay, we all do it! We don't buy out their lives, we rent them monthly!"
"Monthly rent? What the hell?"
"Sect Leader Qian, what does this mean?"
Everyone looked at each other with confusion on their faces.
"Yes, monthly rent!"
Qian Tong chuckled and continued, "We hire them to work and pay them on a daily or monthly basis. If they do well, they will be paid more. If they do not do well, they will be paid less, or even fired. From now on, their life, old age, illness and death will have nothing to do with us! We will pay for them when they are sick, and we will find a place to bury them when they die. How much cost have we saved?"