Reincarnated as the Death Spider Queen, sacrificing Bibi Dong at the start.

Chapter 101 What is the purpose of seizing the world?

Chapter 101 What is the purpose of seizing the world?

After hearing Bibi Dong's deafening question, the hall fell into a long silence.

Although everyone here is a Title Douluo, a powerful figure standing at the top of the Soul Master world, each has their own expertise. They have spent most of their lives cultivating Soul Power and researching Soul Skills. They are truly ignorant of politics, governance, and even such grand historical perspectives, and have never even thought about them.

Bibi Dong's depiction of a "unified" future is indeed awe-inspiring, even carrying a sense of mission that stirs the blood.

but----

"Your Holiness the Pope."

Demon Bear Douluo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and cautiously said, "What you say is all correct, and we understand it. This is indeed for the long-term peace and stability of the world."

"But—this task is probably harder than climbing to heaven."

Demon Bear Douluo pointed outside: "Swallow two great empires and establish a new unified empire? What's the reason?"

"Although the two great empires are secretly vying for power and there are constant border clashes, at least on the surface, they are still maintaining peace and there has been no full-scale war."

"If the Spirit Hall were to suddenly launch an attack and forcibly wage war against the two great empires, it would have no moral justification whatsoever."

""

"This will make them seen as invaders and traitors by the people!"

Ghost Leopard Douluo chimed in, "Yes, Your Holiness the Pope."

"More importantly, the Spirit Hall is essentially just a spirit master organization, or rather, a church. We do not have the legal basis to become a country."

"Not to mention whether ordinary people outside would accept it, even our own Spirit Hall's own Spirit Masters probably wouldn't agree with it."

Ghost Leopard Douluo gave a wry smile: "The vast majority of our Spirit Masters come from the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires. Their parents, wives, children, and friends all live there."

"If the Spirit Hall were to suddenly launch a war, turning their guns against their own country and their own homeland—"

"Then, legally and morally, they are committing treason!"

"That'll get you talked about behind your back!"

Righteousness and justification are extremely important in war.

If the army has no legitimate reason to fight, morale will not be stable and there is a risk of mutiny at any time.

Just like Bibi Dong did before.

Whether it was the speech at the Pope's inauguration ceremony before attacking the Clear Sky Sect, or yesterday's criticism of Qian Xunji in front of all the Soul Masters, the essence was to establish a righteous cause for himself.

Bibi Dong placed herself on a moral high ground, making everyone believe that Qian Xunji was a sinner and that she was righteous.

Therefore, Qian Daoliu dared not take action against Bibi Dong, because once he did, it would confirm his guilt, leaving him with no way to defend himself.

The same reason.

In the hearts of hundreds of millions of people on the mainland, the education they received from childhood taught them that they were citizens of the Heavenly Dou Empire or the Star Luo Empire.

This preconceived notion is deeply ingrained.

They were living peacefully, with occasional friction, but overall life was stable. Suddenly, the Spirit Hall jumped out and said they wanted to destroy their country and establish some new empire—

What is that?

rebel!

That was treason, the source of chaos!

At that time, the people of the two great empires will fight to the death, and the spirit masters of the Spirit Hall will be caught in a dilemma.

This battle is unwinnable.

It's not just a matter of strength, but also a matter of public support.

"That's right."

Bibi Dong did not refute Ghost Leopard Douluo's concerns, saying, "Elder Ghost Leopard has hit the nail on the head."

"The essence of war is plunder."

Bibi Dong stood up and slowly paced along the long table. "Why did the two great empires fight? It was to expand their territory, to plunder money, grain, and women."

Why did the people of the Heaven Dou Empire fight to the death against the Star Luo Empire's army? It wasn't because they loved that corrupt emperor so much, but because they knew that once the city fell, they would be lambs to the slaughter.

"Their houses will be burned, their food will be looted, their wives and daughters will be used as playthings, and their heads will be chopped off as military merits."

"If you don't fight with all your might, you're doomed."

"The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen. A prosperous nation may not necessarily bring happiness to its people, but if a nation declines, its people will surely suffer."

"What they are protecting is not the royal family, not the nobles, not the glory called the empire, but their own interests."

"The same principle applies."

"Our Soul Masters are human too, not saints. If we make them risk their lives and shed blood, we have to give them something in return."

"If there were no gold soul coins, no soul bones, no titles, and no women—who would be willing to risk their life to charge into battle?"

"Therefore, we will play according to the traditional method."

"If the Spirit Hall were to wage war, it would have to burn, kill, and loot to maintain the morale of its army. But once it does that, we become the invaders, the robbers."

"At that time, the people of the two great empires will all be soldiers, and they will take a piece of our flesh even if they have to use hoes."

"And the banner of righteousness that we have painstakingly built will be stained black with blood overnight, turning into the biggest joke."

"This is the deadlock."

The elders broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this.

They understand this principle, but how do they break this deadlock? If they don't plunder, morale suffers; if they do plunder, they lose popular support. Throughout history, invaders have never escaped this vicious cycle.

"but----"

Bibi Dong abruptly changed the subject, sitting back down in her chair, interlacing her fingers, and gazing at everyone with a deep, unsettling look: "What if—we don't fight?"

"No war?"

The elders exchanged bewildered glances, and Ghost Leopard Douluo couldn't help but ask, "Your Holiness, didn't you just say you wanted to unify the world? How can you gain the world without fighting? Are you going to persuade the emperors of the two great empires to abdicate with just words?"

"Who says that conquering the world requires seizing cities and territories?" Bibi Dong said calmly.

"The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; the next best is to disrupt their alliances; the next best is to attack their army; and the worst is to besiege their cities."

"Conquering cities and seizing territory is the worst strategy. Only a brainless brute would think of using human lives to achieve that."

Bibi Dong leaned forward, her imposing eyes sweeping across the entire room: "Gentlemen, I will ask you a very fundamental question."

"If the Spirit Hall were to launch a war and seize control of the world, what exactly would its purpose be?"

"Is it to change the master of this world? Is it to kick the Snow Night Emperor or the Star Luo Emperor off the throne and put me on it?"

Everyone was a little confused.

Demon Bear Douluo scratched his head and said cautiously, "This—isn't it true? To seize the world, isn't it all about seizing the supreme power, endless wealth, and unparalleled status of the two great empires? Isn't it all about becoming emperor?"

"If it's just for this—"

Bibi Dong scoffed, her eyes full of disdain: "Then I can tell you very clearly, this is meaningless."

"I have absolutely no interest in that."

These words caused an uproar in the room.

You went to such great lengths, devised such a grand plan, and even risked the fate of the world, and now you say you have no interest in being an emperor?

What are you after?

"Your Holiness the Pope."

Tang Xiao, who had been frowning, interrupted the whispers abruptly, his tone curt and direct: "If His Holiness the Pope is going to say something like 'for the sake of all living beings' or 'for world peace' or other high-sounding words, then there's no need for that."

"We're all sensible people; we can just take these polite words with a grain of salt."

Tang Xiao stared directly at Bibi Dong: "If the Pope doesn't want to be emperor, doesn't want to wield that supreme power, then why would the Spirit Hall bother to seize the world? Why take that risk?"

Bibi Dong was not angry in the face of Tang Xiao's questioning.

Instead, her gaze towards Tang Xiao held a hint of admiration.

"I like Tang Zongzhu's straightforwardness."

"This is not just empty rhetoric, it's the truth."

Bibi Dong stood up, put her hands behind her back, and slowly paced around the hall. "Elders," she said, "let's speak frankly."

"If the Spirit Hall truly conquers the world, even if I were to ascend the throne and become empress, what would happen after that?"

Bibi Dong stopped and looked at the Demon Bear and the Ghost Leopard: "All of you here are already Title Douluo, standing at the pinnacle of strength on the Douluo Continent. You have long since enjoyed wealth, honor, and prestige."

"Then why do you still strive? Why do you still support my expansion?"

"For a higher realm? That's natural."

"But it is equally undeniable that—" Bibi Dong pointed at them, "you did it for your own families, for your own descendants."

"You want to gain more benefits for your families in the new empire, and you want your descendants to enjoy eternal wealth and glory, right?"

The elders remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

This is indeed their core motivation.

"But what about me?"

Bibi Dong turned around, pointed to herself, and revealed an extremely sarcastic smile: "To put it bluntly, I am indeed incomparably powerful and hold absolute authority right now."

"But what about later?"

"I am also a human being; I will grow old and die."

"On the day I pass away a hundred years from now—"

Bibi Dong stared coldly at the crowd: "Whose empire is this, that we've conquered?"

"Whose throne is this?"

The main hall was deathly silent.

Everyone realized that the issue was extremely sensitive, yet unavoidable.

Bibi Dong currently has no children of her own. Even if she finds another man and has a child in the future, according to the traditions of the Spirit Hall, and according to the inertia of that enormous ghost—

"They'll definitely take it back from the Qian family, won't they?"

Bibi Dong sneered, "Qian Daoliu isn't dead yet, the Qian family still has descendants."

"I have painstakingly planned for half my life, bearing the infamy of countless generations, to build this great empire."

"As a result, once I died, this empire changed hands and was taken over by the Qian family."

"It became the private property of his angelic family, the foundation for thousands of generations."

Bibi Dong abruptly flicked her sleeve, her eyes filled with disgust and resolute determination: "Since that's how it is..."

"Why should I bother spending so much time and effort to do their bidding?"

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Between the Sky and You (EA)