Hypocrite Rankings: Ninth to Third Revealed in Rapid Succession, a Grand Showcase of Douluo's Dark History!

[Hypocrite Rankings: Ninth to Seventh Revealed in Rapid Succession]

The screen split into three sections, playing simultaneously.

Left: the eastern province of the Heaven Dou Empire, at a disaster relief site.

The governor wore a patched old robe and squatted in the mud, holding the hand of a skeletal child with red-rimmed eyes.

"Good people, I will definitely seek justice for you."

The scene shifted.

In a secret chamber, the same governor was draped in gold and silver, toying with a Soul Bone glowing purple.

"Disaster relief funds? What would those mud-legged peasants need so much money for? They should be grateful to be alive. This Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone is what really matters."

The middle screen: the northern border of the Star Luo Empire, after a blizzard.

The provincial governor stood before the ruins, recording an image with a Soul Tool as tears streamed down his face.

"Heaven has no eyes! Three thousand citizens froze to death in the snow. I wish I could take their place."

The scene changed.

At an auction house, the governor raised his placard to bid, grinning from ear to ear.

"Fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins. I want this skull bone. As for those disaster victims? Dead is dead. People die every year anyway."

Right: a certain prefecture in southern Heaven Dou Empire.

The prefect accepted commendations at a celebration banquet, his chest covered in medals.

"I have rendered merit in disaster relief. His Majesty's favor is truly this humble subject's fortune."

The camera pulled back.

The grain piled in the warehouse had gone moldy and worm-ridden. The ledger clearly read: fifty percent of disaster relief grain funds entered the warehouse, thirty percent was sold off, and twenty percent... was offered to superiors.

The three recordings froze at once.

The comments exploded.

[I'm going to puke.]

[Worse than beasts.]

[They even dared embezzle the disaster victims' life-saving money?]

[Buying Soul Bones? Why don't you just die?]

[Three thousand lives, just gone like that?]

Heaven Dou Empire, imperial palace.

Xue Ye smashed the dragon desk with one palm...

"Guards, issue my decree."

"The eastern governor embezzled disaster relief funds. Strip him of office and investigate immediately; confiscate his household and exterminate his clan. The southern prefect shares the same crime and will be dealt with accordingly. Order the Ministry of Justice to close the case within three days and execute them publicly."

The eunuch responsible for delivering the decree trembled as he knelt.

"Your Majesty, the eastern governor was... was recommended by Prince Xue Xing..."

Xue Ye's gaze swept over him, and the eunuch immediately fell silent.

Star Luo Empire, imperial throne hall.

Dai Tianling's face was livid.

"That worthless northern governor, drag him out and slice him to death."

The leader of the shadow guards accepted the order and withdrew.

The comments continued flooding the screen madly.

[Good kill!]

[They should have been killed long ago.]

[How many more of these parasites are there?]

The Light Screen gave no one time to catch their breath.

Bloody red words appeared once more.

[Sixth Place on the Hypocrite Rankings: Prince Xue Xing of the Heaven Dou Empire]

Inside Heaven Dou Palace, Prince Xue Xing's expression changed drastically.

"Impossible. I... This prince has always acted uprightly. What right does the Sky Screen have to—"

Before he could finish, the scene had already unfolded.

The imperial council hall, ten years ago.

Prince Xue Xing spoke passionately before Xue Ye.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is young and inexperienced. He must have a person of high virtue and prestige at his side to assist him. Though this subject is untalented, I am willing to share Your Majesty's burdens."

The scene changed.

In a secret chamber, Prince Xue Xing plotted with Xue Beng.

"That useless Crown Prince will hand the throne over to Spirit Hall sooner or later. You pretend to be a wastrel, and I'll pretend to be a loyal subject. Once the time is right..."

Xue Beng nodded.

"Rest assured, Uncle. Your nephew understands."

The scene shifted again.

A Soul Douluo who had opposed Prince Xue Xing suddenly died at home, bleeding from all seven orifices.

The autopsy report read: cultivation deviation.

The camera zoomed in. A trace of pale blue powder flickered within the deceased's teacup.

Prince Xue Xing wept bitterly at the funeral.

"Elder Zhang devoted himself heart and soul to the nation and its people, only to meet such an end. This prince will certainly seek justice for him."

As he turned to leave, a cold smile curled across his lips.

The comments instantly erupted.

[Holy crap, Xue Xing was the mastermind?]

[Using the protection of the imperial family as a pretext to fight for power?]

[That Soul Douluo was poisoned to death?]

[Xue Beng was pretending all along?]

[The Heaven Dou imperial family runs deep.]

Heaven Dou Palace, Xue Ye abruptly rose to his feet.

"Where are the imperial guards?"

More than a dozen commanders of the Soul Emperor realm knelt on one knee.

"Seal off Prince Xue Xing's residence. Effective immediately, Xue Xing is confined to his manor and stripped of all military and political authority. Anyone who dares resist will be killed without mercy."

Prince Xue Xing collapsed into his chair, his face deathly pale.

"Brother..."

Xue Ye turned his head, his eyes icy.

"From this day onward, there is no brotherly bond between us."

The imperial guards surged into the prince's residence. In less than a quarter hour, the estate was surrounded on all sides.

The court's high ministers posted frantically in the comments.

[Heaven Dou Empire Minister of Revenue: This subject impeaches Prince Xue Xing and requests that Your Majesty punish him severely.]

[Heaven Dou Empire Vice Minister of War: This subject concurs.]

[Heaven Dou Empire Minister of Rites: Prince Xue Xing has brought disaster upon the nation and its people. His entire clan should be executed.]

The Light Screen changed once again.

[Fifth Place on the Hypocrite Rankings: Huyan Zhen, Sect Master of the Elephant Armor Sect]

Elephant Armor Academy, Huyan Zhen's expression changed drastically.

"Oh no..."

Just as he tried to flee, the Light Screen's image had already spread out.

Heaven Dou Empire imperial palace, investiture ceremony.

Huyan Zhen knelt on one knee and accepted the enshrined official token bestowed by Xue Ye.

"This subject will devote himself heart and soul to the Heaven Dou Empire, until death."

The scene shifted.

A secret chamber in a Spirit Hall branch.

Huyan Zhen respectfully handed a secret letter to Bishop Salas.

"Lord Bishop, this contains the Heaven Dou Empire's military deployment maps for the past three months. This subordinate has shown complete loyalty, and I hope Spirit Hall will not forget this subordinate."

Salas accepted the letter with a sneer.

"Don't worry. You won't be denied your benefits."

The comments exploded.

[A double agent?]

[The Elephant Armor Sect belongs to Spirit Hall?]

[Living off Heaven Dou while selling their lives to Spirit Hall?]

[Huyan Zhen, you're disgusting.]

Huyan Zhen typed frantically in the comments.

[Elephant Armor Sect Huyan Zhen: Slander! Spirit Hall threatened and tempted me. This sect master was forced into it!]

Spirit Hall, Pope Hall.

Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at the comments and laughed so hard he swayed like a flower in the wind.

"Your Holiness, shall I add a little something for him?"

Bibi Dong waved a hand.

"Go."

In less than thirty breaths, a secret letter was scanned and uploaded to the Sky Screen.

[Spirit Hall Chrysanthemum Douluo: Everyone, please take a look at Sect Master Huyan's 'being forced into it.']

In the image, Huyan Zhen's handwritten letter was clearly visible.

"...I respectfully request that Spirit Hall grant me three cities as fiefs, along with one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins as operating funds. This subordinate will certainly do his utmost to offer the Heaven Dou Empire's intelligence to Spirit Hall..."

Signed: Huyan Zhen, Sect Master of the Elephant Armor Sect.

The comments froze for three seconds.

[Actively demanding kickbacks?]

[This is what you call being forced into it?]

[Huyan Zhen, have you no shame?]

[Spirit Hall did well.]

Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Ye sneered.

"The Elephant Armor Sect, very good. Issue my decree: effective immediately, revoke the Elephant Armor Sect's enshrined status and cut off all resource supplies. Order the imperial guards to surround Elephant Armor Academy. If Huyan Zhen dares resist, execute him on the spot."

The Light Screen jumped rapidly, giving no one time to react.

[Fourth Place on the Hypocrite Rankings: Sect Master of the Wind Sword Sect]

[Third Place on the Hypocrite Rankings: Leader of the White Tiger Family's Vassals]

The two scenes played simultaneously.

Left: the inner sect of the Wind Sword Sect.

A twelve-year-old boy knelt on the ground, clutching his chest as the light of his martial soul trembled violently.

"Sect Master, this disciple did not suffer a cultivation deviation. This disciple has been wronged..."

The Wind Sword Sect Master's face was cold as he struck the boy's dantian with one palm.

"Your talent is too great, and you are not of the direct line. What use is there in keeping you?"

The boy screamed. His martial soul shattered, and he collapsed to the ground.

Public announcement: this disciple suffered a cultivation deviation during training, causing his martial soul to self-destruct.

Right: a remote village.

The leader of the White Tiger Family's vassals led people into a commoner's home.

"This child awakened a top-tier beast martial soul at six years old? Good. From today onward, he will be the live-in son-in-law of my White Tiger Family."

The child's parents knelt and begged.

"My lord, the child is only six. Please..."

The leader kicked them away.

"You don't know what's good for you. Take him."

The child was forcibly taken away. From then on, his name was changed and his bloodline records were altered.

The comments went completely insane.

[Scum!]

[Worse than beasts.]

[You won't even spare a six-year-old child?]

[The Wind Sword Sect Master deserves to die.]

[The White Tiger Family's bloodline degeneration is real.]

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, main hall.

Ning Fengzhi's expression was grim as a thick stack of account books lay before him.

"Uncle Bone, Uncle Sword, seventy percent of these exposed nobles have commercial dealings with our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Gu Rong frowned.

"Fengzhi, if this isn't handled properly, the sect's reputation..."

Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath.

"Issue an announcement. Effective immediately, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will sever all cooperation with these people. Make all transaction records public and subject them to the scrutiny of everyone in the world."

Chen Xin nodded.

"It can only be this way."

Meanwhile, common soul masters and civilians across the continent flooded the screen with comments.

[Suotuo City soul master: Nobles are all bloodsuckers]

[Nording City civilian: Spirit Hall awakened my son's martial soul for free and even gave us subsidies]

[Heaven Dou City soul master: Spirit Hall is the one truly looking out for commoners]

[Star Luo Empire soul master: Those nobles preach benevolence and righteousness, but behind the scenes, the men are thieves and the women are prostitutes]

Spirit Hall, Pope Hall.

Bibi Dong watched the scrolling comments, a faint smile curling at her lips.

"Interesting. This round of exposure has given me some free publicity."

Ghost Douluo said respectfully,

"Your Holiness is wise. Spirit Hall has long served the common people. This surge in prestige is truly the will of heaven."

Just then, the Light Screen abruptly narrowed.

All the chaotic scenes vanished, replaced by an expanse of pure white.

An ancient scroll slowly unfurled. Two lines of large golden words appeared upon its pristine pages.

[Invincible in Theory, a Master's Name]

Everyone across the continent held their breath.

Shrek Academy. Flender suddenly rose to his feet.

"Xiaogang..."

Yu Xiaogang's face turned deathly pale. His lips trembled, but he could not utter a single word.

Tang San clenched his fists.

"Teacher..."

Heaven Dou Palace. Xue Ye narrowed his eyes.

"Master Yu Xiaogang? Heh, interesting."

Spirit Hall. A fine crack appeared in Bibi Dong's staff with a sharp crack.

"Xiaogang..."

[About to be revealed: The true face of theoretical master Yu Xiaogang]