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Facing an exorbitant fine, Zang Xin wasn't unable to accept it, but the Federation wanted to open up the underground to deal with the source of the explosion, and Zang Xin's heart was filled with only darkness.
The Federation didn't know what was underground, but how could he not know?
That was the underground headquarters of the Tang Sect, built by Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect together, taking a full three thousand years and countless resources. The sixteen giant armories were the true foundation of the Tang Sect!
Once exposed to the public, all of the Tang Sect's efforts over thousands of years would be for naught.
"What, Brother Zang Xin, do you have any objections to our work?"
Seeing Zang Xin's ashen face, Yu Guanzhi narrowed his eyes and intensified his attack: "This concerns the survival of the entire Heaven Dou City. The lives and safety of tens of millions of people are in our hands. Does the Tang Sect, which caused all of this, want to shirk responsibility?"
"There were not many casualties on the surface, but the casualties underground have already exceeded six digits, and property losses are unprecedented. How will you explain this to the people of the entire Federation!"
"Minister Mo, what is your opinion?"
Minister Mo Wu, who was presiding, was called upon, his face full of compassion, and he said: "Sect Leader Zang, this is an unprecedented tragedy. I am to blame and will most likely be dismissed to appease the public; no matter who the future Minister of Heaven Dou City is, this major case must be resolved."
This was a serious matter; even if he was a core member of the Dove Faction, he would not be spared. If the Tang Sect was not made to bear its due responsibility, it would be a devastating blow to his personal reputation and that of the Dove Faction.
This was also Feng Zaixing's goal. Last time, it was to unite various parties to divide the staunch Shrek faction in the council. This time, it became the entire council jointly pressuring the Tang Sect to bear responsibility. After all, the facts were clear: if it was the Tang Sect's responsibility, Feng Zaixing would never let the Tang Sect escape. Even if Mo Wu wanted to help his sugar daddy, the Tang Sect, he would have to consider whether he could keep his position and whether the Dove Faction could still speak loudly in the council in the future.
Even if the Federation President were here, if the matter wasn't handled well, he would definitely be overthrown! The impeachment shouts would blow up his ancestral grave. Zang Xin felt despair, clutching his hair and saying bitterly: "Of course not, the Tang Sect will definitely provide an explanation; but I must say, this was truly an accident, an accident no one wanted to happen—"
He had retrieved the surveillance footage from the underground headquarters. The final scene in the footage showed an accident in the first laboratory of the research institute. The out-of-control energy instantly vaporized the research institute, leaving no trace of the researchers.
Immediately after, several armories near the research institute were affected, and the Soul Engineer shells and mechs that were being produced or had already been produced were detonated, causing an even more terrifying chain explosion.
Heaven help them, the Tang Sect was the biggest victim of this mistake! The headquarters, built with painstaking effort, and seventy percent of the Tang Sect's resources and Soul Engineer weapon reserves, had all turned to ashes.
The casualties among Spirit Masters were even more terrifying. Currently, twelve Titled Douluo were missing. Zang Xin could only pray that they were merely out of contact and not turned to dust. As for the nearly two thousand Spirit Masters and tens of thousands of elite workers in the headquarters, the thought alone made him burn with anxiety.
"Accident? Zang Xin, stop spouting nonsense! Our Spirit Pagoda lost an entire Sky Pillar. Who could have suffered greater losses than us!"
Qiangu Dongfeng slammed the table and stood up, his face full of genuine fury, and roared: "This Spirit Pagoda was built for countless years to reach its current scale. If you shirk responsibility, the Spirit Pagoda will retaliate against the Tang Sect by any means necessary, including war!"
"We will expose to all Spirit Masters on the continent that your Tang Sect secretly hollowed out the ground of Heaven Dou City for terrifying experiments, causing this horrific catastrophe!"
"Don't think we don't know what you're doing. Our Spirit Pagoda's engineers and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy have already detected radiation components from various Class 9 fixed-projectile Soul Engineer shells, which means you were manufacturing large-scale weapons of mass destruction underground!
The evidence is irrefutable!"
Yu Guanzhi's eyes blazed with Killing Intent as he sharply looked at Mo Wu and shouted: "Minister Mo, hasn't your Dove Faction always advocated slowing down or even suspending some Soul Engineer technology research, especially the development of such large-scale weapons? What do you have to say about these things!"
"Will you report to the council yourself, or shall we expose these matters to the council? If you don't report, can I understand that your Dove Faction's peaceful and environmental claims are merely empty words, and how will the Dove Faction face the scrutiny of the world!"
Qiangu Dongfeng immediately followed up: "Exactly! This Pagoda will immediately announce this matter to the entire continent, the whole story, allowing no one to quibble! Above the council, no one is allowed to escape!"
Mo Wu closed his eyes in pain: "The Dove Faction's stance remains firm, no need for everyone to worry—"
He knew that today's events would be another heavy blow to the Dove Faction. The Tang Sect, which supported the Dove Faction, was secretly engaging in actions completely contrary to the Dove Faction's Claim , wasn't this a huge joke?
Even cutting ties was too late; the Dove Faction and Shrek Tang Sect were too deeply intertwined.
Zhuo Shi roared with wide eyes: "The Tang Sect's research is all for maintaining planetary peace; you cannot arbitrarily accuse us!"
"Hahahahaha, old man, translate for me, what does 'maintaining planetary peace' mean?"
Luan Hongchen spoke, laughing uproariously, his face filled with endless mockery and resentment.
Zhuo Shi's face twitched, "Maintaining planetary peace is—"
"I said, you translate, what does 'maintaining planetary peace' mean!"
Luan Hongchen abruptly stopped laughing, grabbed the table, and stood up, his eyes fixed on Zhuo Shi, every word imbued with a raging inferno.
"I ask you, what the f*ck does it mean, maintaining planetary peace!"
Zhuo Shi's Aura weakened. He felt as if Luan Hongchen was about to fight to the death: "It means—"
"It means you sold advanced weapons to those two continents, letting them fight the Federation, hindering the Federation's unification plan, and causing the Federation to consume resources for thousands of years in internal strife!"
Luan Hongchen pointed in the direction of the Star Luo Continent and cursed wildly, appearing insane. The tragic events of his ancestors made him reckless, and his spittle splattered on Zhuo Shi's face.
"I have never heard of arms dealers who manufacture weapons maintaining peace. It's a well-known secret that the Tang Sect supplied weapons to those two continents. Your 'peace' is helping them fight the Federation! I've said all the dirty things you dared not say before, what can you do to me!"
"Today you blew up Heaven Dou City, destroyed the Spirit Pagoda. In the future, will you also blow up Mingdu again, repeating the actions of ten thousand years ago!"
Luan Hongchen's frenzied voice echoed endlessly, and the negotiation hall was silent. Everyone's thoughts turned to the records of the destruction of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy ten thousand years ago.
Zang Xin fell back in despair. He knew that from today onwards, the Tang Sect's reputation would plummet into the dust. The Hawk Faction had already sounded the horn of attack, and war might no longer be distant.
Seeing that the time was right, Yu Guanzhi threw out a comprehensive document and said coldly: "The Tang Sect does not have enough liquid funds to offset with other resources. Heaven Dou City must be evacuated in the shortest possible time, Brother Zang Xin?"
"I understand that, but I, uh—"
Zang Xin sighed deeply, quickly read the document to ensure that the other party was not taking advantage of their misfortune but merely seeking normal compensation, then hesitated for a long time before finally taking out a pen and signing his name.
Document name: "Tang Sect Apology Letter and Compensation Plan." If the compensation amount cannot be implemented by the deadline, the Federation has the right to forcibly deal with the Tang Sect's real estate.
After signing, Zang Xin felt deeply that the Tang Sect's ten-thousand-year foundation would be ruined in his generation. Their generation would be ashamed to face Huo Yuhao, the Lord of Revival, and the first Sect Leader.
While the negotiations were in full swing, Feng Zaixing, who had provided the negotiation plan, was not idle. He took his companions and found a Titled Douluo of the Tang Sect.
"Senior, we are here to redeem the ice and fire token from back then. Please take us to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
Feng Zaixing smiled and stopped Zhao Song, the Hall Master of the Tang Sect's Power Hall, showing him the ice and fire token Zang Xin had given him back then.
A surge of towering anger shot from Zhao Song's heart to the top of his head. He immediately wanted to slap him across the face.
But he dared not. A leisurely old man drinking wine stood not far away. He was a Quasi-God even stronger than Zang Xin.
Beside him, Kong Yao looked up at the sky, as if observing how big the sun was today.
"Everyone, could you grant us a little more time? I have too many things to do right now, you see this—"
Zhao Song's face showed a smile uglier than a cry.
Feng Zaixing smiled faintly without speaking. Le Zhengyang walked up, put a hand on his shoulder, and said with an unreserved smile, "No problem, you just need to show us the way. We'll send you back once we get there."
Zhao Song's smile completely froze. "I still need to ask the Vice Sect Leader for instructions—"
"Ask for what? He's swamped with things right now, are you really going to bother him? Let's go, let's go, we'll talk when we get back."
Le Zhengyang, with a mischievous grin, pulled Zhao Song along, looking like an old bandit who had successfully pulled off a trick.
Feng Zaixing smiled slightly and waved to the people behind him: "Let's go, let's witness the legendary Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!"
Raid the home while they're away!