Douluo Continent, Shrek Academy.
Hearing the conversation in the Heavenly Screen, Shrek Academy fell into silence for a moment.
Ma Hongjun forgot to laugh, Oscar's teasing expression froze, and Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment in each other's eyes.
"Unconditionally... given to mortals?"
Ning Rongrong murmured to herself, as the eldest daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she was all too familiar with the rules of resource allocation.
The sect will treat its servants and people within its territory well, but that is a kind of "gift," a means of maintaining its rule and gaining loyalty.
She had never heard of such a "universal" and selfless act of giving.
Is what this old man is saying true?
Ma Hongjun scratched his head, somewhat incredulous, "That god of death, that tyrant... would actually do something like this?"
Tang San slowly exhaled, "It's probably true."
"This old man was also a prisoner, and his words were filled with fear of the mine, but he genuinely admired the decree of the Heavenly Emperor Hao, and it didn't seem like he was faking it."
"But that doesn't make sense."
Xiao Wu frowned, "He was so ruthless to the ancient clans, showing no mercy, killing seven out of ten, practically aiming to exterminate them, yet in the blink of an eye he showed such pity for the lowest-ranking mortals..."
What was he really thinking?
"Could it be that we've all misunderstood him before? Did those ancient clans really commit some heinous act that angered both heaven and man, and that they had to be eliminated?!"
Flender adjusted his glasses, his eyes gleaming behind the lenses:
"So, the annihilation of that ancient clan was probably not a senseless massacre, but rather... they deserved to die?"
Yu Xiaogang nodded slowly and said in a deep voice, "Perhaps, that's really the case..."
"We only saw his ruthless methods against the ancient clans, so we prejudicially assumed he was violent and bloodthirsty."
"But a true tyrant who only knows how to kill will always have his rule accompanied by extreme internal exploitation, and it is impossible for him to implement such costly but almost entirely useless benevolent governance for long."
"Unless... in his eyes, mortals themselves deserve to be treated this way."
"Those ancient clans crossed some kind of bottom line for him, or perhaps their very existence posed a threat to that 'bottom line'."
Instantly, Yu Xiaogang's deduction shocked everyone present.
If that's the case, their perception of the Heavenly Emperor Hao will be completely overturned.
Not only Shrek Academy, but throughout the entire Douluo Continent, countless people who witnessed this scene through the Heavenly Screen were deeply moved.
Especially those ordinary people living at the bottom of society, struggling to make ends meet every day, and suffering exploitation and cold looks from nobles and Soul Master.
The Dou Ling Empire.
In a remote village, several ragged farmers looked up at the blurry image projected onto the Heavenly Screen in the village square.
As he listened to the old man's words, his eyes slowly widened, and then an indescribable sour and hot sensation welled up in his nasal cavity.
Winter clothes... unconditionally provided?
"Will His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor... distribute clothes to people like us?"
An old farmer's rough hands trembled as he stroked his thin, worn-out, patched-up jacket.
His youngest grandson didn't survive the winter because he didn't have warm clothes.
"If only... if only we had a ruler like that here..."
For a moment, the eyes of these ordinary people were filled with longing.
This longing is like a spark...
They didn't understand any profound political maneuvering or conflicts; all they knew was that His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor, so high and mighty that he ruled over a world, would care whether the most humble mortals were cold in winter.
In contrast, the nobles and lords on the Douluo Continent who bullied and treated them like dirt...
Even some so-called "guardian" Soul Master, what are they anyway?
In an instant, a vague yet powerful thought began to take root in countless impoverished villages and dilapidated streets:
if...
If one day, the benevolent and powerful Heavenly Emperor Hao could lead his heavenly army to the Douluo Continent.
Sweep away these bloodthirsty nobles who leech off us, and establish a world like the Shrouding the Heavens World "...
How wonderful that would be!
Of course, they only dared to think about this in the deepest part of their hearts, and it was fleeting, quickly suppressed by the weight of reality.
But the seed has already been sown.
Perhaps if I go to the Shrouding the Heavens World," I can tell the Heavenly Court about the events of "Douluo Continent"?
At the same time, another perspective lit up in the Heavenly Screen.
Inside the Ninefold Heavenly Towers.
Zhu Zhuqing held a blue book in her hand, reading it carefully. "The rules of this Heavenly Court are so strange. I can understand which areas are forbidden zones and which behaviors violate the Heavenly Rules."
"But what about all those rules that forbid bullying ordinary people without cause?"
Zhu Zhuqing sat on the jade stool by the window, silently memorizing the Heavenly Court's rules word by word.
Sometimes they even speak up when they don't understand.
"Clearly a high and mighty immortal..."
As Zhu Zhuqing spoke, she picked up a bright red fruit from the fruit plate next to her.
This was left here by Jiang Wanwan when she came yesterday; she said it was "a common fruit from the mortal realm, good for cleansing the palate."
The fruit was crisp and sweet upon entry. Although it lacked immense spiritual energy, Zhu Zhuqing could clearly feel it with every bite...
A barely perceptible ripple would appear on the Bitter Sea within my body, and the surface of the sea seemed to widen by a tiny fraction.
Although her Soul Power Level remained at level 30 because she never used the meditation method of the Douluo Continent again, the Bitter Sea within her body had quietly expanded from the initial "shallow puddle" to the size of a "pond".
Because she hadn't yet made a move, Zhu Zhuqing wasn't entirely sure just how strong she was...
But she felt that she was at least several times stronger than before.
While thinking, Zhu Zhuqing had already read through the entire Heavenly Court Maid Rules to the last page.
"Phew~"
Zhu Zhuqing closed her eyes and quickly reviewed the key points in her mind, feeling that she had memorized most of them.
Just as I was about to get up and stretch, there was a gentle knock on the door.
" Zhu Zhuqing, are you there?" It was Jiang Wanwan's voice.
Zhu Zhuqing immediately stood up, walked quickly to the door, opened it, and gave a proper bow.
"Greetings, Sister Wanwan."
Today, Jiang Wanwan wore a light blue flowing fairy dress, the hem of which was adorned with tiny starlight. As she moved, it seemed as if ripples were flowing, making her face even more beautiful and otherworldly.
She smiled and gestured for him to sit down, saying, "No need for formalities, please sit down and let's talk."
The two sat down again by the window.
Just as Jiang Wanwan was about to say something, she noticed that Zhu Zhuqing was still wearing the black outfit she had brought from the Douluo Continent.
She seemed thoughtful, then smiled and said, "I have good news."
"Empress Guyue has been busy dealing with matters related to the Primordial Ancient Mine lately and has been unable to spare any time for herself. Therefore, she instructed me to familiarize you with the various affairs as soon as possible so that you can serve His Majesty at an early date."
Zhu Zhuqing's heart skipped a beat, and a mix of nervousness, anticipation, and a hint of excitement welled up inside her.
She composed herself and nodded solemnly. " Zhu Zhuqing understands, and will definitely study diligently to live up to Sister Wanwan's expectations."
After hesitating for a moment, she couldn't suppress her curiosity and asked in a low voice:
"By the way, Sister Wanwan, Heavenly Court really going to wage war against the Primordial Ancient Mine?"