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...The results of the initial peace talks, along with detailed meeting minutes, were swiftly sent to Heaven Dou City by the Heaven Dou delegation as an urgent confidential document, to be reported to Emperor Xue Ye, who was confined to his sickbed.
According to normal diplomatic procedures, if His Majesty the Emperor was dissatisfied with the outcome of these negotiations, believing that the expected goals had not been met, the delegation would prepare for the next round of negotiations based on new instructions.
However, everyone knew that this was merely a formality.
The attitude of the Spirit Empire was unequivocally clear, even carrying an air of condescending finality.
Sitting at the negotiating table again, the other party would certainly not change their core stance; it would simply be a repetition of this process, or minor adjustments to some trivial details, with no impact on the overall situation.
During the period of waiting for a reply from Heaven Dou City, the Heaven Dou delegation began their true, hidden objective for this trip.
Led by Tang San and the three Education Committee members, they formally proposed to the Spirit Empire that they wished to closely observe and understand the Spirit Empire's spirit tool technology, claiming to have immense curiosity about such novelties.
This request was well within Bibi Dong's expectations. She didn't mind it; in fact, she welcomed it.
Showcasing the advanced and powerful spirit tool technology was, in itself, an invisible deterrent, allowing the Heaven Dou Empire to more clearly recognize the insurmountable chasm between the two sides.
Thus, Bibi Dong ordered Prime Minister Ning Fengzhi to personally accompany them, and had the newly promoted level ninety-nine Grand Imperial Advisor from the Sun Moon Empire personally lead the reception and explanation, to show "great importance" to the Heaven Dou delegation's "thirst for knowledge."
When Tang San and the three Education Committee members, guided by Ning Fengzhi and the Sun Moon Imperial Advisor, stepped into the Spirit Empire's core spirit tool Research Institute and some publicly displayed spirit tool testing grounds, they felt their worldview was impacted like never before.
They saw spirit tool communication arrays capable of ultra-long-distance instant communication, fixed-mount spirit cannons of immense power capable of threatening Spirit Saints and even Spirit Douluo, personal spirit tool propulsion devices capable of short-distance flight, spirit tool farm implements for large-scale agricultural cultivation, and precise spirit tool medical equipment... The principles, efficacy, and the industrial System behind these spirit tools completely exceeded their scope of understanding, as if they came from another, more advanced World, severely disconnected from the Douluo Continent era they were familiar with, which primarily relied on individual martial prowess and cold weapons.
The three Education Committee members, having lived for decades and considering themselves well-informed, were now dumbfounded, muttering, "This... this is simply a miracle..."
Tang San's expression was even more solemn. His proud Tang Sect Hidden Weapons seemed so primitive and meager in the face of these systematized, scaled, and astonishingly powerful spirit tools.
For the first time, he clearly realized that the strength of an individual, on some level, might truly be unable to contend with a highly developed technological System.
The shock and disbelief of the Heaven Dou delegation members, in the eyes of the Sun Moon Empire's Spirit Masters responsible for demonstrations and explanations, became a source of great psychological satisfaction and pleasure.
Ever since following Xuan Ming to the Douluo Continent, they had discovered that this place was simply a paradise for Spirit Masters!
Even the most ordinary Level Three Spirit Master here could enjoy far greater courtesy and respect than in the Sun Moon Empire, gaining valuable research resources and practical opportunities.
What excited them even more was that, judging from the subtle hints revealed by the Spirit Empire's high-ranking officials, the Empire was actively planning to open stable maritime routes connecting the two continents, intending to establish long-term trade and exchanges with the Sun Moon Empire.
This meant that the generous treatment and development opportunities they received here were not fleeting; in the future, they might even be able to bring their families to settle and live on this new continent full of opportunities.
This stable expectation for the future and broad prospects made these Spirit Masters from the Sun Moon Empire full of drive, with an unprecedented enthusiasm for research and development.
After all, in the Sun Moon Empire, the spirit tool industry had become saturated after years of development, with fierce competition.
On the Douluo Continent side, it was almost an uncultivated fertile land, where any capable Spirit Master could find a place to use their talents, gaining important positions and promotions.
Such an opportunity was rare, occurring only once in a thousand years.
After the visit, Tang San and the three Education Committee members returned to the embassy with heavy hearts and profound shock.
They needed time to digest everything they had seen today, and also to re-evaluate the true challenges facing the Heaven Dou Empire.
What the Spirit Empire displayed was not just a military advantage, but a dimension-reducing technological and institutional advantage that represented the future direction.
Inside the Supreme Pontiff Palace, Sun Moon Empire Imperial Advisor Xu Hong respectfully reported to Xuan Ming on the recent visit of the Heaven Dou delegation.
"Your Eminence, the Heaven Dou delegation, especially the three Education Committee members, were speechless with shock upon seeing the spirit tools in our institute. Their reaction was no different from that of the natives we first encountered when we arrived at the Spirit Empire," Xu Hong said with a hint of undisguised superiority in his tone, then changed the subject, "As for that Tang San whom you specifically mentioned..."
He paused slightly, organizing his words: "This child is indeed extraordinary. As you instructed, I probed him multiple times and gifted him some basic books on spirit tool principles and structures. In subsequent interactions, I discovered that this child possesses an almost instinctive keen insight and comprehension for spirit tools, or rather, for all precise mechanisms and energy circuits. This... is a talent, an extremely rare Spirit Master talent."
Xu Hong's tone even carried a hint of regret: "If he were in my Sun Moon Empire, with this child's Spirit Master talent, supplemented by such spirit tool talent, given time, his achievements would be immeasurable. I won't hide it from Your Eminence, I even developed an appreciation for his talent, and was quite tempted to take him as a Disciple and teach him diligently."
Xuan Ming sat by the window, his fingers gently tapping the armrest. After listening to Xu Hong's report, he said indifferently, "If you want to take him, go ahead and try. But he most likely won't accept."
Xu Hong heard this and was somewhat curious: "Oh? Could it be that this child already has a master? I wonder what kind of expert his master is, to be able to teach such a Disciple?"
He was indeed curious about the person who could cultivate a talent like Tang San.
Xuan Ming glanced at him and casually said, "His teacher is Yu Xiaogang. As for the specific situation, you can investigate it yourself. That fellow is now the Imperial Advisor of the Heaven Dou Empire, well, just like you, an Imperial Advisor."
A flicker of surprise, then understanding, flashed in Xu Hong's eyes.
He understood Xuan Ming's meaning. An Imperial Advisor of an Empire holds a respected position, and Tang San, as his Disciple, was indeed unlikely to easily switch allegiances.
"If you're interested, you can personally visit the Heaven Dou Empire and meet this Yu Xiaogang," Xuan Ming said casually.
Xu Hong bowed and responded, "Yes, this subordinate understands."
He would remember this matter; perhaps in the future, he could truly go and see who this "Imperial Advisor" was, who could teach a Genius like Tang San.
However, a hint of confusion remained in his heart, and he couldn't help but ask, "Your Eminence, please forgive this subordinate's presumption, but you seem... particularly concerned about this child?"
He was naturally referring to Tang San. Given Xuan Ming's status and strength, he shouldn't, in theory, be so invested in a young Spirit Master.
Xuan Ming's gaze drifted outside the hall: "It's not that I care that much. I'm just a little curious to see if he'll return to his old ways."