The commoners had indeed glimpsed a ray of hope through the sky screen, but this was the Douluo Continent, after all. The empire and the nobles had ruled for too long, and that little bit of hope alone could never make them rise up in rebellion.
At least the commoners of the Douluo Continent still had one hope to cling to: their children might awaken Innate Soul Power and become Soul Masters, changing their fortunes.
Tang Fan shook his head, looking regretful. "Spirit Hall actually had a chance to establish a relatively equal era. Unfortunately, it never did."
"What do you mean?"
"Let me ask you this: why can the nobles of the Douluo Continent bully commoners as they please?"
"Well..."
"Because the rules favor them, and they used the power in their hands to make those rules. They can even use that power to grant themselves the privilege of breaking the rules.
"Spirit Hall could have used Soul Masters from the lower classes as a foundation to build another set of rules, protecting commoners and curbing the nobles. But it didn't.
"Like I asked you before, how long has it been since you went back to your hometown?
"Many of Spirit Hall's commoner Soul Masters have forgotten their original purpose and even become a different kind of noble. To some extent, that was also why Spirit Hall ultimately fell."
Bibi Dong lowered her head at his words. Just as Tang Fan had said, her status as Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden had made her feel high and mighty, and she had forgotten her original purpose.
"Then... can it still be changed?"
"All I can say is that it would be very difficult. After all, deep-rooted ills are hard to cure.
"I've imagined how good it would be if Spirit Hall's Soul Masters could protect their own hometowns.
"Spirit Hall could then weave those commoner Soul Masters into a net to catch the commoner class when they fall, letting them see clearly how good Spirit Hall is to them.
"Finally, it could use religious faith in the Angel God as a bond to unite the commoner class and thereby curb noble privileges."
Bibi Dong's eyes lit up. "Isn't that a great idea? At most, those imperial nobles would be unhappy, but Spirit Hall doesn't care about the empire's approval anyway."
On the Douluo Continent, in the imperial palaces of the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Emperor and Xue Ye both looked grim when they heard Tang Fan's idea for Spirit Hall.
If Spirit Hall really pulled it off as Tang Fan had suggested, who would have the final say-Spirit Hall or the emperors?
Qian Xunji's eyes lit up. "Father, what do you think? That kid really does have ideas."
Qian Daoliu said nothing. He had keenly noticed that something was wrong with Tang Fan's expression on the sky screen. He did not look pleased with himself for coming up with a good idea.
"Bibi Dong, you're still thinking about this too simply."
"What do you mean?"
"What do you think is the most unfathomable thing in this world?"
"What is it?"
Tang Fan now understood a little why Yu Xiaogang had been able to fool Bibi Dong into falling for him. Bibi Dong at this point really was somewhat of a naive innocent.
"The human heart, of course! What I just described was an ideal situation, but in reality, most Soul Masters from the lower classes are no idealists.
"Without a good education in values or firm ideals and convictions, they're very easily corrupted.
"And what those nobles do best is corrupt people's hearts.
"If you don't believe me, go back and investigate the Spirit Hall Branches in the medium and large cities. See whether their deacons and bishops are close to the local nobles.
"On the contrary, the Spirit Hall Branches in those remote little cities are better able to stay true to their original purpose.
"After all, they're the ones who actually have to travel through remote villages to awaken those children's Martial Souls.
"I have to say, awakening Martial Souls for commoner children alone earned Spirit Hall a huge wave of goodwill from readers."
Seeing this, the Star Luo Emperor and Xue Ye both relaxed.
"I was worrying too much. For the local nobles, winning over a few commoner Soul Masters who haven't seen much of the world couldn't be easier."
Was that something to be proud of? Didn't it show that the empire's nobles were all rotten to the core?
The two emperors sitting on their thrones, however, never thought of that.
At Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu said to Qian Xunji, "Ji'er, go and investigate whether it's as he said, whether the bishops and deacons of those branches have been won over and corrupted by the imperial nobles."
"Yes, Father. I'll send people to investigate right away."
In truth, there was no need to investigate at all. It was like lice on a bald head-plain as day.
Tang Fan and Bibi Dong walked out of the hot pot restaurant. "Come on, I'll take you around the mall. Tell me if there's anything you want to buy."
"Won't that cost you too much?"
Tang Fan took a Gold Soul Coin from his pocket, one he had previously poured out of Bibi Dong's pouch.
"This Gold Soul Coin is worth quite a bit where we are, too. So you could say you've already paid. No need to stand on ceremony with me."
"Really? That's good, then."
When they reached the mall downstairs, the dazzling array of clothes left them spoiled for choice.
Tang Fan and Bibi Dong entered a shop, and a salesclerk immediately came over to greet them warmly.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Help her pick something out."
"Of course, sir. Your girlfriend is so pretty. Are you two cosplaying?"
Bibi Dong blushed a little. Tang Fan did not explain; there was no need to explain so much to a stranger.
Meanwhile, the nobles on the Douluo Continent felt displeased when they saw a crowd of commoners picking out such beautiful clothes.
"A bunch of lowly commoners, and they think they're fit to wear such splendid clothes? They have no sense of propriety."
"Lowly commoners should be wearing rags and working in the fields. The sight of them sullies my eyes."
Of course, some noblewomen had also taken notice of the modern clothing designs.
"Someone, have a batch made in the styles shown on the sky screen."
Quite a few people followed the trend. Before long, modern outfits would probably become fashionable in the Douluo Continent's noble circles.
Back with Tang Fan, Bibi Dong tried on several outfits the salesclerk recommended: dresses, gowns, and even qipaos...
Every one of them suited Bibi Dong, and Tang Fan enjoyed the feast for his eyes.
"Tang Fan, do I look good?"
"You look good. Sure enough, a beautiful person looks good in anything."
Bibi Dong's face turned slightly red again.
"Sir, your girlfriend really is a born clothes hanger. Even movie stars can't compare to a girl this beautiful."
The salesclerk had a way with words, though of course she also wanted to make the sale and earn a commission.
"Hehe, wrap up all the clothes she just tried on for us."
"Certainly! Please wait a moment..."
After buying the clothes, Bibi Dong found a corner and stuffed them into her Storage Soul Tool.
She could use neither her Martial Soul nor her Soul Power, yet her Storage Soul Tool alone still worked. It was rather strange.
"Tang Fan, where are we going next?"
"I said earlier that I'd take you to the military exhibition hall this afternoon. What do you think?"
"Sure! You'll have to tell me all about it."
"No problem."