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Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a year had passed.
With the dedicated assistance of tens of thousands of technical talents from the Sun Moon Continent, and Bibi Dong's unwavering, no-expense-spared support, the Spirit Empire rapidly established the preliminary framework for its spirit tool industry.
Brand new spirit tool workshops sprang up across the Empire, and assembly lines began producing various civilian spirit tools—from spirit plows and spirit irrigators that greatly improved farming efficiency, to spirit freight trucks that enhanced transportation, and even spirit lighting and spirit heating devices that started to enter some households... The changes were visible to the naked eye.
What was even more exhilarating for the Empire's common people was the large-scale "work-study" policy introduced by the Empire.
Regardless of their background, as long as they passed a basic assessment, they could enter the newly established "spirit tool Technology Academy" to study. They would learn the technology first, and the fees could be repaid in installments after they found employment upon graduation.
This opened a door to a new future for countless ordinary people without Spirit Master talent.
The idea that knowledge changes destiny and technology creates value began to quietly spread throughout the Spirit Empire.
The common folk, who had previously feared the Empire like tigers due to its harsh laws and high-pressure rule, gradually changed their attitudes after genuinely enjoying the convenience brought by spirit tools and seeing the hope of gaining respect and prosperity through diligent study of technology.
While far from reaching the point of adoration, at least the pervasive fear and resistance in the air had significantly diminished.
The Spirit Empire seemed to be treading a path different from any previous Empire, displaying a peculiar vitality focused on internal construction and development.
However, this "introverted" development of the Spirit Empire was nothing short of a silent torment for the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Two Great Empires, who were watching from across the river.
They had originally tensed their nerves, ready for battle, anticipating a thunderous strike from the Spirit Empire's Spirit Master legions, and had even prepared for the loss of territory and a bloody struggle.
But who could have imagined that after initially consolidating its border forces, the Spirit Empire would completely cease its advance and instead turn to what they called "spirit tool internal affairs" and "improving people's livelihoods"?
This left the two Emperors, who had fully prepared for war, and their entire court of civil and military officials feeling as if their long-prepared punch had landed in empty air—awkward and incredibly frustrated.
To counter the anticipated war of annihilation, the Two Great Empires had almost overdrawn their national strength to the limit in recent years.
They forcibly conscripted massive numbers of laborers and spent enormous sums to construct continuous military fortresses along their borders.
They maintained a standing army of over a million, with daily expenditures on provisions and military pay reaching astronomical figures.
All these heavy burdens were ultimately shifted onto the common people, already stirring widespread resentment and brewing undercurrents of unrest.
But now, the enemy isn't coming?
They couldn't possibly disband their vast armies; what if the Spirit Empire was feigning development, while actually biding its time?
Yet, if they continued to maintain this state, the enormous military expenses would be like constantly bleeding wounds on the two Empires, eventually draining them to death!
What made them even more alarmed was that various "rumors" from the Spirit Empire began to quietly spread among the populace.
These messages described how the Spirit Empire restricted the privileges of nobles and Spirit Masters, vigorously supported commoners, and enabled ordinary people to live good lives through new technologies... Although the credibility of this propaganda was low due to the Spirit Empire's previous aggression, the sheer number of people spreading it, and the vision it painted, precisely struck at the deepest desires of the common people struggling under heavy taxes and forced labor.
If this continued, would the morale of the Two Great Empires' populace waver? Would the oppressed commoners turn their dissatisfaction with the domestic situation into yearning for that "new World" across the river?
If it truly came to that, with the military's morale shattered and the people's hearts alienated, they might even collapse without a fight!
Fight? To actively attack the Spirit Empire, which possesses two peerless powerhouses, Xuan Ming and Bibi Dong? How is that different from suicide?
Don't fight? The enormous military expenses are like a bottomless pit. If this continues, the Two Great Empires will be dragged down to death without the Spirit Empire even needing to act! Domestic conflicts will thoroughly erupt sooner or later!
Between a rock and a hard place!
Inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace and the Star Luo Imperial Palace, the Emperors and their chief ministers of both nations were currently trapped in an unprecedented predicament and anxiety. They felt as if they were being roasted over a fire, watching their national strength continuously deplete and the people's support gradually erode, yet unable to find any solution to break the deadlock.
This move by the Spirit Empire, to "subdue the enemy without fighting" by using the soft blade of development and public opinion, was even more difficult to counter than a direct military assault.
Heaven Dou Empire, deep within the Imperial Palace.
The bedchamber was filled with a strong medicinal scent. The once spirited Emperor Xue Ye now leaned weakly on the imperial bed, his complexion sallow and his breathing faint, his cloudy eyes filled with anxiety and unwillingness.
Below, Crown Prince Xue Beng led Sect Master Tang Xiao of the Clear Sky Sect, King Lan Hao Tang San, Imperial Advisor Yu Xiaogang, along with a host of important ministers and representatives from Spirit Master families, standing solemnly. The atmosphere was heavy.
"Cough, cough..." Xue Ye coughed with difficulty, his voice hoarse, "My dear ministers... the Spirit Empire now... remains inactive, focusing solely on internal affairs. Their intentions are nefarious! If this continues, my Heaven Dou Empire... may collapse without a fight! Imperial Advisor... do you have a good plan?"
All eyes turned to Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang's expression was grave. He stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, what the Spirit Empire is doing now is, in all likelihood, a facade to deceive others!"
His tone was firm, carrying a confidence based on past knowledge: "When I was young, I spent nearly ten years in Spirit City, in Spirit Hall! I know them too well! The Foundation of Spirit Hall is built upon Spirit Master privilege and the plunder of resources! The Spirit Empire, now established on the basis of Spirit Hall, can absolutely not escape these deeply ingrained ills!"
"Bibi Dong's so-called 'hunt across the World' two years ago, using bloody means to purge the interior, seemed like a thunderous strike, but in reality, it was merely a superficial show for outsiders! If such cruel methods were truly used for a thorough cleansing, shaking the Foundation of their rule, it would be tantamount to digging their own grave! From my understanding of Bibi Dong, she may seem insane, but she is actually meticulous in her thinking and would never do such a foolish thing!"
He paused, then continued his analysis: "As for their vigorous development of spirit tool technology, it indeed brings us immense pressure and is a poisonous scheme to win over the people's hearts! According to reports from our spies, these technologies originate from an overseas power called the 'Sun Moon Empire'! The Spirit Empire has already formed some kind of alliance with the Sun Moon Empire!"
"Sun Moon Empire?" Xue Ye and the ministers all looked puzzled.
"Yes!" A glint flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes. "I have recently perused numerous ancient texts and finally found a few scattered words in an Incomplete Manual from tens of thousands of years ago! It stated that beyond the Douluo Continent, another continent indeed exists! The two continents once had interactions in ancient times, but later, for unknown reasons, they were completely severed!"
"Although the details are no longer verifiable, this confirms the existence of an overseas continent!" Yu Xiaogang's tone became impassioned. "Since the Spirit Empire can cooperate with the Sun Moon Empire, why can't our Heaven Dou Empire?! So-called alliances are nothing more than exchanges of interests! The Spirit Empire must have promised the Sun Moon Empire immense benefits to gain their technical support!"
"As long as our Heaven Dou Empire can offer a sufficient price, we can also obtain spirit tool technology from the Sun Moon Empire! If the Spirit Empire wants a protracted war, a war of public opinion, then we will accompany them to the end! The Two Great Empires have profound heritage and vast territories. As long as we can acquire equivalent technology and stabilize our internal affairs, given time, we will surely not fear their Spirit Empire!"
Emperor Xue Ye listened to Yu Xiaogang's analysis, and a glimmer of hope rekindled in his cloudy eyes. He nodded slightly: "Imperial Advisor makes sense... But how do we contact the Sun Moon Empire? And how do we establish cooperation?"