Zhang Jiao Awakens

Bai Fan's clear voice rang in everyone's ears.

Da Niu was the first to react.

"Boss, you're finally back!"

Masked Bai Fan was tightly surrounded by Da Niu and the others.

"Boss, you have no idea how much we missed you."

"Yeah, Boss. If Brother Da Niu hadn't talked us down, we would've gone to Spirit Hall together to demand justice for you."

Everyone eagerly voiced their joy.

Bai Fan coughed twice. "Da Niu did the right thing. All you do all day is worry about nonsense. What were you going to Spirit Hall for? To throw your lives away?"

"Boss, our lives are yours. Even if we had to die, we'd tear a chunk of flesh off Spirit Hall."

"Utterly foolish. Who taught you that? I've always stressed this: you are the future of our army. No matter what happens, your own lives must come first. This isn't my army, nor is it anyone else's army. It belongs to all of us."

"As long as there is even one person left alive in our ranks, our army still has a future."

The group lowered their heads after Bai Fan's rebuke. No one knew what they were thinking.

Bai Fan turned his gaze to Goudan. "Goudan, what do you think of the name I mentioned just now?"

Goudan was somewhat flattered. "Of course it works. Whatever you say it should be called, Boss."

Bai Fan patted Goudan on the shoulder. "You're doing great. Next, you can continue researching more powerful weapons. As for how to make the AK-47, leave that to the brothers below. Set up an assembly line and mass-produce the AK-47."

"Now that we've returned, it's time to make a move against the two great empires."

Upon hearing that they would be taking action against the empires, everyone's bodies trembled involuntarily, their voices filled with indescribable excitement.

"Finally, we're making our move. I've waited far too long for this day."

"Big Sister, Mother, watch from heaven as I avenge you!"

"Grandpa, I'll definitely destroy this empire that devours people."

Everyone vented the emotions they had long kept suppressed.

Under such unreasonable imperial rule, the conflict was far from limited to abandoning remote regions and allowing Evil Soul Masters to slaughter their people.

The empire's society could not function without ordinary people. Food and taxes were borne by the common folk, while women with even a little beauty had no status whatsoever in this era.

Not to mention the countless sects. Compared to a cultivation world, these sects were certainly no good.

History was written by the victors. At the same time, history books lavishly glorified individuals or nations, while the hardships of those at the bottom were brushed over in a few light words. Or rather, in the victors' eyes, such hardships were not worth mentioning at all.

The common people at the bottom were always caught up in the turmoil of the times. That saying had never come from nowhere.

Bai Fan felt deeply moved. Looking at the villagers around him, each of them revealing their true feelings, he felt a lump rise in his throat. He had once thought that the commoners of Douluo Continent were all like Oscar—perhaps not wealthy, but at least able to survive.

Only after experiencing it himself did he finally see the truth clearly.

Judging from the fact that Oscar had awakened a martial soul and possessed innate full soul power, his family could never have been too destitute. Those who were truly struggling did not even have a chance to be seen. No one cared whether they lived or died.

Perhaps this was the ultimate meaning of Bai Fan's simulated life this time!

Outside the Heavenly Screen.

The rulers of the two empires wore grave expressions.

"Such weapons can actually be mass-produced?"

"But so what? The empire gives you the status of imperial citizens, making you people of the empire, and you still dare try to overthrow it?"

The two rulers issued decrees at the same time.

"From this day forth, everyone within the empire must be registered. Upon reaching adulthood, children in remote areas will be forcibly enlisted in the imperial army to build the empire's reserve of talent."

The two rulers were still quite pleased with their decision. They believed this method would prepare for danger before it arose and prevent the events within the Heavenly Screen from happening.

Little did they know that life was full of vigor, and new ideas would never be erased.

The empire would never learn to lower its proud head, nor would it learn to solve problems at their root.

Inside a thatched hut in a remote region of the Heaven Dou Empire, a group of youths sat together.

"Brothers, Uncle Da Niu on the Heavenly Screen came from our village. Are any of you his descendants?"

"Brother Zhang, are you confused? Many people in our village fled here during the famine. Hardly any of the original villagers are still around."

"Yeah, Brother Zhang. Uncle Da Niu looks neatly dressed and well-off on the Heavenly Screen now, but his life only improved because of Lord Xiao Gang's help. Without Lord Xiao Gang, Uncle Da Niu would've died long ago, much less had descendants."

The boy everyone called Brother Zhang stood up and spoke in a resolute voice. "I, Zhang Jiao, swear here and now that I will establish a nation where Soul Masters and common people live in harmony. I will let every commoner live with dignity!"

Zhang Jiao lowered his head to look at the other children sitting on the ground. "Are you willing to join me in realizing this great vision?"

For a moment, the children hesitated and did not immediately answer Zhang Jiao.

"What are you hesitating for? Now that you can eat your fill, have you begun to slack off? The reason you can eat your fill is because your parents shielded you from the wind and rain. Do you know how much dignity they abandoned just to make a living?"

"Comfort makes people fall. Don't you understand the principle of boiling a frog in warm water? Right now, you can still rely on your parents to humbly earn money so you can eat your fill. But what about later? You have no soul power, no skills, and none of your parents' courage to earn a living."

"In the end, you can only starve to death. Your family lines will end. In less than a hundred years, you will be cast aside by the continent, and the continent will completely become a place reserved for Soul Masters."

After Zhang Jiao finished speaking, he gave everyone a moment to think.

Soon, a bald boy was the first to speak. "Brother Zhang, I'm willing to join you."

"My mother is sick. I saw with my own eyes how my father knelt on the ground and begged people for a few copper coins."

"Those coins were what he was owed in the first place, but those lofty Soul Masters just enjoyed seeing us humbly beg them. I used to only run from reality, but I've made up my mind now. I want to take a gamble with you!"

"I'm willing too," the others said in unison.

Zhang Jiao embraced them. "Good brothers. From now on, we have only one goal: overthrow the empire and win equal rights."

Inside the Heavenly Screen.

Bai Fan led his troops into their first battle.

The muzzles of dozens of AK-47s were aimed at the city gate.

"Fire!"

At Bai Fan's command, dozens of people pulled their triggers at once.

The tightly shut city gate was blasted apart, and battle erupted at once.