Douluo: Dragon King's Star Devouring Wings

Chapter 630 Dismembering the Tang Clan
On the very night the Thousand-Year Phoenix Feather appeared, the Free Federation, led by Shrek Academy and Tang Sect, announced its unconditional surrender.

Following the mysterious disappearance of the Ancient Phoenix Feather, the nearly year-long war between the New Federation and the Free Federation officially came to an end.

This event is historically known as the 'One Year War'.

The day after Qian Gu Huang Yu returned, he delivered a speech in Mingdu, officially confirming the end of the war.

He also promised to put the country's reconstruction on the agenda and restore the lives of the people to normal as soon as possible.

But at the end of her speech, Qian Gu Huang Yu announced that she would put war against the Xingluo Empire and the Douling Empire on the agenda.

It was this very statement that brought the situation, which had just calmed down, back to its peak.

"Xiaoyu, the civil war has just ended. Why are you preparing to launch an expedition against the Star Luo Empire and the Douling Empire at this time?"

After Qian Gu Huang Yu finished her speech, Bei Gong Li approached her.

Bei Gongli said, "Xiaoyu, if it were before the civil war, we could naturally launch expeditions against the Star Luo Empire and the Douling Empire at any time."

"Back then, we only needed the Poseidon Legion and the Central Legion to wipe out the two empires."

"But now that the war has progressed to this point, none of the Federation's eight legions are at full strength. Some are even practically defunct."

"Moreover, the country is currently in dire need of reconstruction, and the economy is on the verge of collapse, making it unable to support a large-scale foreign war."

To be fair, although the Sun Moon Federation has wasted a lot of national strength due to the civil war, it is not difficult to defeat the Star Luo Empire and the Dou Ling Empire.

After all, the Sun and Moon Federation has an absolute advantage in high-end combat power.

However, the problem is that the goal of the Sun and Moon Federation is not as simple as defeating the Star Luo Empire and the Dou Ling Empire.

They wanted to destroy the Star Luo Empire and the Dou Ling Empire directly, and then use them as their colonies to continuously leech off their wealth.

However, the current situation of the Sun and Moon Federation is simply not able to support this action by the Eternal Phoenix Feather.

Qian Gu Huang Yu smiled and said, "Grandma, I understand this matter. The most urgent task now is to rebuild the country."

"However, given the productivity of Soul Masters, simply rebuilding the country is certainly not enough to support the entire workforce of the Federation."

"After a year of civil war, countless businesses have gone bankrupt, making it impossible for all residents of the country to find jobs."

"There's also the issue of resettling veterans. We can't just run over all the veterans with tanks, can we?"

Bei Gongli said, "So you want to use this to allow the Sun Moon Federation to maintain a large military force, and then have some companies take on the task of manufacturing military weapons?"

Qian Gu Huang Yu nodded slightly. "That's right. Because we are about to launch a war against foreign powers, we don't need to demobilize a large number of soldiers. This avoids an excessive influx of labor into the market."

"Moreover, in order to support the war, a large number of military industrial enterprises are needed to manufacture weapons, which can further alleviate employment pressure."

"Moreover, after a year of civil war, the two sides have really fought to the death. According to what Sister Xue'er told me, many people have developed an irreconcilable hatred for each other."

"But we can't really physically eliminate one side."

"Therefore, I need to reshape the national identity of the entire country through a trial of iron and blood."

"The best way to unite two mortal enemies is to give them a common enemy."

Bei Gongli gave Qian Gu Huang Yu a deep look, not expecting that she had already thought this far ahead so soon after returning.

"Alright, Grandma, let's prepare well for this war. I think this will be the grandest war in nearly ten thousand years," Qian Gu Huang Yu said with a smile.

...

Shrek City, Shrek Academy, Sea God Pavilion.

Originally, Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion was built upon the Golden Ancient Tree. However, because the Golden Ancient Tree was destroyed by the Thousand-Year Phoenix Feather yesterday, Shrek's Sea God Pavilion was also destroyed.

What's called the Sea God Pavilion now is actually just a newly built conference room on Sea God Island.

If yesterday's Poseidon Pavilion was brimming with talent and brimming with vigor, then today's Poseidon Pavilion can only be described as shrouded in gloom and despair.

With the deaths of the two Limit Douluo, Long Yeyue and Chen Xinjie, the Sea God Pavilion was filled with a sorrowful atmosphere.

Moreover, many elders of the Sea God Pavilion also died in yesterday's battle, leaving a large number of positions vacant.

Worse still, after the Free Federation announced its unconditional surrender, all the forces that had previously gathered around Shrek Academy and Tang Sect scattered like birds and beasts.

They mobilized all their geographical, blood, and academic connections to get close to the Spirit Pagoda and the Southern Army, hoping to clear their names of war criminal status.

And now, sitting in the position of the Sea God Pavilion Master is the Sky-Supporting Douluo Yun Ming.

After Long Yeyue's death, Yun Ming naturally became the head of the Sea God Pavilion.

Sitting in the seat he had once dreamed of for the first time, Yun Ming felt no excitement or joy, but rather a deep sorrow.

In his mind, he should ascend the throne of the Sea God Pavilion Master in the presence of his teacher and his teacher's wife.

Instead of being forced into becoming the master of the Sea God Pavilion after both his teacher and his wife had died.

To Yun Ming's left sat Cao Dezhi and Zang Xin, respectively. They were the current sect leader and deputy sect leader of the Tang Clan.

Following them were Yue Tian Douluo Guan Yue, Chi Long Douluo Zhuo Shi, and Chi Long Douluo Feng Wu Yu, then the other elders of the Sea God Pavilion, and some high-ranking members of the Tang Sect.

Now, people from other factions have left Shrek and are eager to distance themselves from them.

Looking at the entire Shrek Academy and Tang Sect, there is only one Limit Douluo, Yun Ming. It can be said that the Shrek-Tang Sect community has entered its weakest period in ten thousand years.

Yun Ming first bowed to everyone present and said, "Today is my first time presiding over a Sea God Pavilion meeting as the Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion. If there is anything I am not good enough, I hope everyone will correct me."

After saying that, Yun Ming continued, "Now, everyone, let's discuss what we should do next?"

Zang Xin said, "According to current intelligence, Qian Gu Huang Yu does not intend to make things difficult for lower-ranking officers and soldiers. In addition, because it is a civil war, both sides are fighting relatively restrained, and there have been no cases of gas warfare or massacres."

"Many officers and soldiers were re-incorporated."

Guan Yue nodded slightly and said, "At least this is good news. In any case, this way our students won't be made to suffer too much."

As one of the few honest people at Shrek Academy, Guan Yue believed that since Shrek Academy was an academy, it should naturally be responsible for its graduates.

Yun Ming nodded slightly. "Yes, at least this way the students won't panic too much."

Yun Ming looked at Zang Xin and asked, "Now that you've finished discussing the grassroots matters, how did Qian Gu Huang Yu deal with those powerful forces?"

Zang Xin wiped away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead and said, "According to the information we have gathered so far, the lightest punishment is without considering rare resources such as soul bones and soul spirits."

"The Phoenix Feather of the Ages took about seventy percent of their total assets." *Hiss—*

As soon as Zang Xin finished speaking, everyone present gasped in surprise.

Although this 70% figure does not include rare resources such as soul bones and soul spirits, they believe that Qian Gu Huang Yu would never be so kind as to forgo soul bones and soul spirits.

It's just that resources like soul bones and soul spirits are not easy to price.

"Qian Gu Huang Yu's appetite is far too great," Zhuo Shi couldn't help but say.

Guan Yue sighed and said, "There's nothing we can do. The defeated have no human rights. If I'm not mistaken, the conditions imposed on us by the Thousand Ancient Phoenix Feather will probably be even harsher, right?"

"Good guess."

A detached voice suddenly rang in everyone's ears, as if it had appeared directly in their hearts.

The next instant, a flash of golden light appeared, and the Thousand-Year Phoenix Feather appeared before Yun Ming and the others.

"Qian Gu Huang Yu, what are you doing here?" Cao Dezhi shouted immediately.

"I'm here to accept your surrender," said Qian Gu Huang Yu calmly.

With just one sentence, Cao Dezhi's momentum weakened, and their defeat was an indisputable fact.

"What do you want?" Yun Ming asked.

Qian Gu Huang Yu said, "Shrek Academy and Tang Sect gathered a group of Soul Masters with the intention of rebelling and splitting the country, and they are sentenced for treason."

"Shrek Academy shall be shut down, all of Shrek Academy's property shall be confiscated, and all of Shrek Academy's teachers shall be sentenced to life imprisonment."

"Shrek Academy students were assigned to other prisons nearby to continue their studies."

Yes, enlightenment in Longchang is also a form of learning, and it's even better than learning in school.

Yun Ming's pupils suddenly contracted. He wasn't dissatisfied with his verdict; rather, when he raised the banner of rebellion against Qian Renxue and joined Long Yeyue and Chen Xinjie in establishing the Free Federation, he was already prepared to die if he failed.

He just didn't expect that Qian Gu Huang Yu would be so ruthless, not only targeting them, the teachers of Shrek Academy, but also planning to shut down the entire Shrek Academy.

"Then... what about the verdict against the Tang Clan?" Cao Dezhi asked, trembling.

Qian Gu Huang Yu looked at Cao Dezhi and said calmly, "After investigation, Tang Sect directly or indirectly controls more than 70% of the soul tool-related enterprises on the market."

"This is a serious violation of the Anti-Monopoly Law. As a result of the judgment, all of Tang Sect's companies and industries related to soul tools will be dismantled, auctioned off, and handed over to other companies for management."

Speaking of this, Qian Gu Huang Yu felt speechless. She just couldn't understand why there were so many Soul Clans in the Sun and Moon Federation.

Why have we remained indifferent for thousands of years, watching the Tang Clan grow stronger and stronger until it almost became an overpowered behemoth?

It can only be said that the Douluo Continent region has an excellent matchmaking system.

Upon hearing this, Cao Dezhi immediately shouted, "You're just being unreasonable! Tang Clan is just a sect, and the entity responsible for enforcing the Anti-Monopoly Law must be a company."

"Besides, to be honest, doesn't the Spirit Pagoda also control all soul-related businesses? Isn't that even more serious than the Tang Sect?"

Qian Gu Huang Yu had anticipated this, and laughed, "The main body responsible for enforcing the Anti-Monopoly Law is indeed the company, not the sect."

"But I remember that Tang Sect has a wholly-owned subsidiary called Xuan Shi Tang Sect Co., Ltd., right?"

"You have completely controlled Xuanshi Tangmen Co., Ltd., so there is no way to explain the difference between you."

"In that case, the Tang Clan is also part of Xuan Shi Tang Clan Co., Ltd., and has been implicated in the execution."

“But the Spirit Pagoda is different. The Spirit Pagoda is just a sect, not a company that can be used as a substitute.”

"The Sun and Moon Federation has the right to protect and respect the sects' own secret techniques and property, so naturally it will not target the Spirit Pagoda."

"However, in order for the Tang Clan to continue to exist even after losing you, the hidden weapon industry will not be abolished."

"You can continue to tinker with hidden weapons like your ancestor Tang San."

Faced with Qian Gu Huang Yu's words, Cao Dezhi was speechless, not because Qian Gu Huang Yu's words made any sense.

Instead, as the only official-level cadre in the world, Qian Gu Huang Yu enjoys the final legal interpretation right.

Simply put, if Qian Gu Huang Yu says the Tang Sect broke the law, then they broke the law. If she says the Spirit Pagoda didn't break the law, then it didn't break the law.

Seeing this, Zang Xin quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Alright, Lao Cao, don't be so impulsive. Since the Tower Master of the Ancient Tower is willing to come, it means he's open to discussion. Otherwise, he could have just sent someone to inform us."

Upon hearing this, Cao Dezhi apologized to Qian Gu Huang Yu and then sat down again.

Qian Gu Huang Yu glanced at Zang Xin in surprise and said, "This is the final ultimatum. The final verdict will not be changed in a single word. But for the sake of the Qi Rong Tong Tian Ju back then, I can give you a week to consider it."

After he finished speaking, another burst of golden light flashed, and the figure of the Thousand Ancient Phoenix Feather disappeared, leaving Yun Ming and Cao Dezhi staring at each other in disbelief.

Yun Ming leaned back in his chair weakly, sighed, and said, "Everyone, let's hear your thoughts. What should we do next?"

"Are we really going to go to jail?" Zhuoshi asked with some worry.

Guan Yue said, "For the sake of our students, perhaps we will ultimately have no choice but to accept Qian Gu Huang Yu's request?"

"Shrek Academy is, after all, an academy. We can't let our students pay for our failures."

"Is this the only way?" Yun Ming sighed, saying helplessly, "But... is Shrek Academy going to end like this?"

On his first day as the Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy, Yun Ming was told that Shrek Academy was about to disappear, and his heart was filled with complicated emotions.

"Hahaha—" Suddenly, Zang Xin burst into laughter.

"Zang Xin, what's wrong with you?" Cao Dezhi said irritably.

Zang Xin laughed and said, "Old Cao, have you forgotten? When we first met Qian Gu Huang Yu at the Ascension Platform, we gave her a Qi Rong Tong Tian Chrysanthemum."

"Sect Leader Ning once told me that Qian Gu Huang Yu is a hypocrite; the fact that she says that means she doesn't intend to destroy us."

"At least Shrek Academy and Tang Sect are not in danger of being destroyed, but they can be spared the death penalty but will not escape punishment. We must be prepared to suffer heavy losses."

Yun Ming raised an eyebrow and said, "Old Zang, what do you mean?"

Zang Xin said, "Isn't the Thousand Ancient Phoenix Feather going to set up some kind of Federal Revitalization Foundation? This is our opportunity. We should not only donate a large sum of money to this foundation."

"We also need to show an attitude of submission, so that we might get Qian Gu Huang Yu to punish us less severely."

(End of this chapter)