Bibi Dong took the phone and began watching. Right at the start, a gigantic mushroom cloud rose on the screen.
Bibi Dong had seen footage of a thermobaric bomb exploding before. That had produced a mushroom cloud too, but compared to this one, the thermobaric bomb was downright cute.
There was more footage after that, still of mushroom clouds, only even more terrifying. The mushroom clouds rose higher than the clouds in the sky.
Bibi Dong's hands were trembling as she watched. Tang Fan hurriedly took the phone back, afraid she might drop it.
"W-what were those?"
"Humanity's most powerful weapon, the mushroom bomb. Take a look at this."
Holding the phone, Tang Fan showed Bibi Dong the only two pieces of footage of mushroom bombs being used in actual combat.
A single mushroom bomb destroyed an entire city in an instant. Bibi Dong fully believed that such power could blast a god to death.
"Isn't... isn't that a little too cruel?"
"Cruel? Not at all. There are no innocent souls beneath a mushroom bomb. It has to do with a painful chapter of history. If you don't understand it, don't talk nonsense."
Seeing that Tang Fan was genuinely a little angry, Bibi Dong promptly said no more.
"That model was from decades ago. They're even more powerful now. Look at this."
"They can be even more powerful?!"
This was a mushroom bomb test at sea. An island was swallowed up by the explosion in an instant, and the surrounding seawater was vaporized in a flash. The mushroom cloud was thick and enormous, stretching from earth to heaven.
Naturally, the people of Douluo Continent could also see this footage clearly through the sky screen. Ordinary people were scared half to death, and even the three Peerless Douluo, Qian Daoliu, Bo Saixi, and Tang Chen, were trembling slightly.
Bo Saixi in particular immediately imagined Sea God Island taking a hit from a mushroom bomb. The entire island would probably cease to exist.
"High Priestess, c-could that terrifying thing really kill a god?"
Hearing the maid beside her, Bo Saixi's expression changed at once.
"Silence!"
The maid was so frightened that she immediately dropped to her knees, shivering.
Bo Saixi took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
"Gods must not be blasphemed. I don't want to hear that a second time."
"Yes, I understand. I won't dare do it again."
The reason Bo Saixi had flown into such a rage was simple: the same thought had occurred to her, and in her eyes, that was blasphemy against the gods.
She could only use her anger to conceal the panic in her heart.
Tang Fan played the entire video about mushroom bombs, then asked Bibi Dong, "You've seen it all. What do you think?"
"You people are terrifying. You actually made such a frightening weapon. Aren't you afraid of destroying yourselves?"
"It is a terrifying weapon, but it's precisely because we have such a terrifying weapon that we've been able to enjoy so many years of peace."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you know why those in power can start wars whenever they please? Because the people who start wars are often nowhere near the front lines. Even if people die in battle, it won't be their turn, so naturally they have no misgivings.
"But under a mushroom bomb, all beings are equal. When the people who start wars are also threatened with death, they have to think carefully about whether to start one. Understand?"
"You can look at it that way?"
"Of course. If you don't have mushroom bombs, you'll be threatened. So terrifying weapons like mushroom bombs have become the best guardians of peace."
"The most terrifying weapon has actually become a guardian of peace. I never would have expected that. Does every country have such a terrifying weapon?"
"What are you thinking? Naturally, only a few countries possess mushroom bombs. Otherwise, wouldn't the whole world be in chaos?
"Mushroom bombs are only meant to be shown to people, not used."
"Why? If such a powerful weapon can't be used, why make it?"
Bibi Dong didn't understand, and neither did the people of Douluo Continent.
As they saw it, terrifying weapons were made to be used, to destroy one's enemies.
If Xue Ye had a mushroom bomb, he would throw it at Star Luo City or Spirit City without hesitation.
The Star Luo Emperor would do the same: destroy his opponent and swallow up everything they owned.
At Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji didn't understand either.
"Father, why did he say they can only be looked at, not used?"
"I don't know. Perhaps using them has some serious consequences."
Tang Fan didn't keep Bibi Dong guessing. He told her directly what would happen if mushroom bombs were used.
"Using mushroom bombs basically means the end of the world. No one could hope to survive."
"Huh? The end of the world? Isn't that too much of an exaggeration? Can those terrifying weapons really destroy every city?"
"What's truly terrifying about mushroom bombs isn't the power of the explosion. It's the radiation."
"Radiation? What's that?"
"You can think of it as a terrifying poison. Wherever a mushroom bomb has exploded, this poison lingers for over a hundred years, or even several hundred years.
"Even if you don't die after being exposed to that poison, your fertility will drop drastically.
"Land contaminated by the poison can't be used to grow food either. Think about it: what happens when most of the land can't be used to grow food?"
Bibi Dong swallowed, cold sweat beading on her temples.
On Douluo Continent, even Dugu Bo, an expert in the use of poison, felt afraid.
"A poison that can linger for over a hundred years without completely dissipating... what kind of poison is that?
"A weapon that can destroy an entire city is actually poisonous too? Who could withstand that?!"
Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi were shocked once again. As they understood it, poisons were generally vulnerable to fire; flames countered toxins.
Who could have imagined that such a terrifying explosion could leave behind a deadly poison that lingered for over a hundred years?
Qian Daoliu couldn't help saying, "Are the people of that world all a bunch of lunatics? What they've made aren't weapons at all, but instruments of destruction that could wipe out the world."
"No wonder he said they could only be looked at, not used. If a war really broke out with those terrifying weapons..."
Qian Xunji couldn't imagine what that would look like.
Qian Xunji had previously wondered whether he could visit Blue Star, but he had abandoned that idea now.
Anyone else could go if they wanted. He certainly wouldn't.
They were a bunch of lunatics who could make weapons capable of destroying the world. Who knew what they might do to him?
Qian Xunji was worrying needlessly. He could forget about going to Blue Star.
Tang Fan took out a tissue and handed it to Bibi Dong.
"Wipe the sweat off!"
"Oh, thank you!"
"Do you understand now?"
"Mm, I understand. There's a sword hanging over everyone's head, so no one dares move, and that's how there's peace."
"That's more or less it. But there are still quite a few places abroad where wars are being fought. Our peace is protected by our military and our strength."
"Then what about these missiles?"
Bibi Dong pointed at the missile launch vehicles and missile models as she asked Tang Fan.
"Those are for launching mushroom bombs, of course. How could you have bullets without a gun? Guess how fast these missiles can go at top speed."
"No need to guess. I saw it. It says their maximum speed is over Mach 10. That's terrifying. I'm completely convinced it can kill a god now."