Mingdu, Sun Moon Federation Parliament Building.
From the enormous dome overhead, the light of Soul Guidance Lamps spilled down, illuminating the circular assembly hall. Federation council members stood on either side. Representatives of the War God Temple, senior officials of the Spirit Pagoda, and powerful attendees from the major army corps were all present. Oppressive undercurrents filled the air, and every gaze rested on the person at the center of the hall.
"Today, I stand here to run for the office of Sun Moon Federation Councilor, not for empty fame, not for power, but solely for the future of the billions of living beings here today."
"The Federation today may appear prosperous and stable, but beneath the surface, dark currents surge." Qian Gu Fenfeng spoke with conviction. "Internally, factions abound, their powers and responsibilities tangled together; uneven resource distribution and disparate rates of development have left us stumbling forward."
His expression was impassioned. "And external threats have never receded. The Abyss Plane watches us like a tiger eyeing its prey, and human civilization as a whole has always walked the knife-edge between crisis and survival."
"Yet voices of disunity have emerged within the Federation. Outwardly, they parade their moral righteousness, but in truth, they are the worms eating away at the Federation. The people of Sun Moon have suffered at their hands for far too long!"
"As the saying goes, troubled times call for forceful measures. To divert internal contradictions among the people, we need a powerful organization to raise its arm and rally the masses, dare to lead the way, formulate a Five-Year Plan, put the Federation in order, conquer the Dou Ling Empire within six months, conquer Star Dou within two years, and lead the people to their first victory!"
Late at night, Mingdu blazed with light, lamps glowing in countless homes. An old man stared intently at the live broadcast on his television screen, the ringing, righteous speech deafening.
"I will lead Sun Moon in ending this chaos and lead the people in washing away the humiliation of ten thousand years ago with blood! I guarantee here and now: under my leadership, I, Qian Gu Fenfeng, will secure a bright future for the toiling masses and contribute to the unification of Sun Moon!"
"Wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever the rivers reach, all shall be our land!"
"Thank you!"
His campaign speech had just ended, its echoes still lingering through the magnificent hall. Qian Gu Fenfeng surveyed the assembly. The council members slowly turned their gazes toward the holographic screen, and voting began.
Of the 108 council members present, nearly half had already sided with the Qiangu Family. With four Limit Douluos in a single family, the Qiangu Family could now be called the foremost family on the continent, and it held complete control over the Spirit Pagoda's leadership. The Phoenix Family had become its in-laws, and cooperation between the two families was growing ever closer. The number of Spirit Envoy seats had also been expanded to twelve, held by:
Qiangu Qingfeng, Quasi-God, Purgatory Douluo.
Yuanen Zhentian, Quasi-God, Titan Douluo.
Yuanen Tiandang, Quasi-God, Tiandang Douluo.
Han Tianyi, Quasi-God, Illusory Brain Douluo.
Qian Chenyue, Quasi-God, Heavenly Fallen Douluo.
Leng Yaozhu, level 99 Limit Douluo, titled Heavenly Phoenix.
Leng Yulai, level 98 Super Douluo, titled Dark Phoenix.
Li Mengjie, level 98 Super Douluo, titled Witch.
Xu Shengqun, level 98 Super Douluo, titled Heavenly Sage.
Wang Hongchen, level 98 Super Douluo, titled Dust-Forgetting.
Yi Hongchen, level 98 Super Douluo, titled Dust-Remembering.
Yu Mengxian, level 97 Super Douluo, titled Divinity.
After a long while, voting ended, and the numbers on the holographic screen suspended in midair finally froze.
The elderly man presiding over the session picked up the soul-guidance amplification microphone, his resonant voice ringing throughout the assembly hall. "Of 108 votes cast, 81 are in favor, exceeding half the total! In accordance with the laws of the Sun Moon Federation, congratulations to Qian Gu Fenfeng on his election as Federation Council Chair for this term!"
Boom!
The entire assembly hall erupted.
Applause rose in waves, mingled with the stifled gasps of some council members. The Peace Faction and Shrek's powerful elite wore ugly expressions, while the Spirit Pagoda's senior officials and the military representatives rose as one, their eyes filled with approval.
Qian Gu Fenfeng strode onto the dais in formal Federation attire, his back straight. An aura honed through countless life-and-death battles spread silently from him. Though he released not a trace of Soul Power, its pressure still sent a chill through the hearts of many of the powerful figures present.
The council members on either side rose in succession to pay their respects. Some supported him from the heart, while others merely bowed their heads because the tide of events left them no choice.
He walked to the Council Chair's seat, the symbol of the Federation's highest secular authority, turned around, and raised a hand to signal for silence.
The clamor quickly faded, leaving the vast assembly hall so silent that not even a crow or sparrow could be heard.
"Thank you for your support, council members." Qian Gu Fenfeng's voice was steady, carried into every corner by the Amplifying Soul Tool. "In holding the office of Councilor, I seek neither personal power nor rank, only stability for the Federation. Internally, I will reconcile factional disputes and balance the development of Soul Guidance Technology and Soul Masters; externally, I will make every effort to prepare for war, resist the Abyss Plane's invasion, and protect the billions of living beings on Douluo Star. Here, I swear that I will never fail the Federation or its people!"
As his brief address ended, he gave a slight nod, then slowly sat down.
The soul-guidance light spilling from the dome enveloped him.
From that moment on, the Sun Moon Federation's power lay in his grasp, and Mingdu's balance of power had changed completely.
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