Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

……

Time flies, and a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

With the dedicated assistance of tens of thousands of technical talents from the Sun Moon Continent and the full support of Bibi Dong at all costs, the Spirit Empire has built the initial framework of the Spirit Guidance Industry at an astonishing speed.

New soul tool workshops sprang up across the empire, and assembly lines began producing various civilian soul tools—from soul tool plows and soul tool irrigation devices that greatly improved farming efficiency, to soul tool trucks that improved transportation conditions, and soul tool lighting and soul tool heating devices that began to enter some households…

The changes are visible to the naked eye.

What excited the people at the bottom of the empire even more was that the empire launched a large-scale "work-study" policy.

Regardless of background, as long as you pass the basic assessment, you can enter the newly established "Soul Guidance Technology Academy" to learn the technology first, and the cost can be repaid in installments after you graduate and find employment.

This opened a door to a brand new future for countless ordinary people without the talent of a Soul Master.

Knowledge changes destiny, technology creates value—this idea began to quietly spread throughout the Martial Soul Empire.

The common people, who were originally terrified of the empire due to its harsh laws and oppressive rule, gradually changed their attitudes after truly enjoying the convenience brought by soul tools and seeing the hope that they could gain respect and wealth through hard work and learning technology.

While it's far from being embraced, at least the fear and resistance that permeated the air have noticeably diminished.

The Martial Soul Empire seems to be on a path unlike any other empire in the past, exhibiting a peculiar vitality focused on internal development and construction.

However, the Spirit Empire's "inward" development was nothing short of a silent torment for the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires, who were watching from the sidelines.

They were on high alert, ready to face the devastating attack from the Spirit Empire's Soul Master Legion, and were even prepared for the loss of their homeland and a bloody battle.

But who could have imagined that after initially consolidating its border forces, the Martial Soul Empire would completely cease its efforts and instead turn its attention to "Soul Guidance Internal Affairs" and "Improvement of People's Livelihoods"?
This made the two emperors and the entire court, who were fully prepared for war, feel as if their long-awaited punch had landed on empty air, leaving them extremely embarrassed and frustrated.

In order to prepare for the anticipated war of annihilation, the two empires have almost exhausted their national strength to the limit in the past few years.

They forcibly conscripted a massive number of laborers and spent huge sums of money to build a series of military fortresses along the border.

They maintain a standing army of over a million, and the daily consumption of food and military pay is astronomical.

All these heavy burdens have ultimately been shifted onto the shoulders of the lower classes, which has long since fueled public resentment and created undercurrents of discontent.

But now, the enemy isn't coming?
They couldn't possibly disband their army; what if the Martial Soul Empire was feigning development while actually waiting for an opportunity to strike?
But if this continues, the enormous military expenditures will be like a wound that keeps bleeding from the two empires, and sooner or later they will be worn down and killed!

What alarmed them even more was that various "rumors" from the Martial Soul Empire began to quietly spread among the people.

The reports described how the Spirit Empire restricted the privileges of nobles and spirit masters, how it vigorously supported commoners, and how it used new technologies to enable ordinary people to live a good life...

Although the credibility of this propaganda is low due to the fact that the Martial Soul Empire initiated the war in recent years, the sheer number of people talking about it is undeniable, and the scenes it depicts precisely resonate with the deepest desires of the impoverished masses struggling under heavy taxes and forced labor. If this continues, will the morale of the people in both empires waver? Will those oppressed commoners transform their dissatisfaction with the current state of their countries into a longing for the "new world" across the river?

If it really comes to that, with morale low and public support turning against them, they might even collapse without a fight!

To attack? To launch a preemptive strike against the Martial Soul Empire, which boasts two unparalleled powerhouses, Xuanming and Bibi Dong? What's the difference between that and suicide?
If they don't fight, the enormous military expenditures will be like a bottomless pit. If this continues, even without the Spirit Empire taking action, the two great empires will be dragged down by themselves! The internal conflicts will inevitably erupt sooner or later!

A dilemma!

Inside the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace and the Star Luo Imperial Palace, the emperors and high-ranking officials of both countries were currently caught in an unprecedented predicament and anxiety. They felt as if they were being roasted over a fire, watching helplessly as their national strength was constantly depleted and the hearts of their people gradually eroded, yet they could find no way to break the deadlock.

The Martial Soul Empire's strategy of "subduing the enemy without fighting," using development and public opinion as a soft weapon, is even more difficult to resist than a direct military attack.

Deep within the imperial palace of the Heavenly Dou Empire.

The palace was filled with a strong smell of medicine. The once spirited Emperor Xueye now had a sallow complexion and was leaning weakly against the dragon bed, his cloudy eyes filled with anxiety and resentment.

Below, led by Crown Prince Xue Beng, Tang Xiao, the sect master of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang San, the Blue Hao King, Yu Xiaogang, the national teacher, and a group of important officials and representatives of soul master families stood solemnly, the atmosphere heavy.

"Cough cough..." Xue Ye coughed a few times with difficulty, his voice hoarse, "My dear ministers... the Martial Soul Empire is currently... holding back its troops and focusing on internal affairs, its intentions are despicable! If this continues, my Heavenly Dou Empire... may collapse without a fight! Grand Preceptor... do you have any good ideas?"

All eyes were on Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang's expression was solemn. He stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the current actions of the Martial Soul Empire are most likely a deception to mislead others!"

His tone was resolute, carrying a confidence based on his past understanding: "When I was young, I spent nearly ten years in Spirit City and Spirit Hall! I know them too well! The Spirit Hall's foundation is built on the privileges of Spirit Masters and the plunder of resources! The Spirit Empire, now built on the Spirit Hall, can never get rid of this deep-rooted problem!"

"Bibi Dong's so-called 'hunting the world' two years ago, using bloody methods to purge the internal forces, seemed powerful and overwhelming, but in reality, it was nothing more than a show for outsiders! If she really used such cruel methods to thoroughly cleanse the country and shake the foundation of her rule, it would be tantamount to digging her own grave! Based on my understanding of Bibi Dong, she may seem crazy, but she is actually very meticulous and would never do such a stupid thing!"

He paused, then continued his analysis: "As for their vigorous development of soul tool technology, it has indeed put enormous pressure on us, and it's also a vicious scheme for them to win over the hearts and minds of the people! According to reports from our spies, this technology originates from an overseas force called the 'Sun Moon Empire'! The Martial Soul Empire has formed some kind of alliance with the Sun Moon Empire!"

"The Sun and Moon Empire?" Xue Ye and his ministers all looked puzzled.

“Yes!” A glint of light flashed in Yu Xiaogang’s eyes. “Your Majesty, I have recently been reading through a large number of ancient books and finally found a few words in a fragment of a scroll from tens of thousands of years ago! The record states that there is indeed another continent outside of Douluo Continent! The two continents had contact in ancient times, but later, for some unknown reason, they completely broke off contact!”

"Although the details are now lost to history, this confirms the existence of the overseas continent!" Yu Xiaogang's tone became impassioned. "If the Spirit Empire can cooperate with the Sun Moon Empire, why can't our Heavenly Dou Empire?! So-called alliances are nothing more than exchanges of interests! The Spirit Empire must have offered the Sun Moon Empire enormous benefits in exchange for technical support!"

"As long as our Heaven Dou Empire can offer a sufficient price, we can also obtain soul tool technology from the Sun Moon Empire! If the Martial Soul Empire wants to wage a protracted war and a war of public opinion, then we will fight to the end! Both empires have profound foundations and vast territories. As long as we can obtain equivalent technology and stabilize our internal affairs, given time, we will not be afraid of the Martial Soul Empire!"

Listening to Yu Xiaogang's analysis, a glimmer of hope rekindled in Emperor Xueye's cloudy eyes. He nodded slightly: "The Grand Preceptor's words are reasonable... But how do we contact the Sun and Moon Empire? And how do we establish cooperation?" (End of Chapter)