Chapter 298: The Undying True Spirit and Soul Embers (Part 2)

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To be honest, upon learning about the existence of the Undying True Spirit, Tang San began to doubt who he really was... Was he a soul traversing with the True Spirit, or just external memories?

Unable to comprehend...

Therefore, Tang San temporarily shelved this question and refrained from pondering further.

However, he was also unclear about how to find his own True Spirit. Even within that starry sky world, he could only observe that after a soul aged and died, it would emit that Undying True Spirit.

Then, the Undying True Spirit would directly vanish into the void, leaving no trace, making it impossible to investigate further. He could only determine simply that the Undying True Spirit could be observed through the starry sky world and was impervious to any known means of destruction or capture.

Upon learning this information, Bibi Dong also sighed lightly and inquired about the black substance left behind by a soul after death: "What is that black substance left behind after a soul dies?"

"I call it: Soul Embers," Tang San named it and proceeded to discuss its discovered effects after experiments, "This kind of ember appears deep black, seemingly not something good. However, in reality, it can strengthen a person's soul, enhancing the outer shell beyond the Undying True Spirit, without any side effects."

"The manifested effect is that it can make one's spiritual power stronger."

"Moreover, it can even enhance the spiritual essence of martial souls. Although it hasn't been tested yet, based on my conjecture, there is an affinity between humans and martial souls. Strengthening the spiritual essence of martial souls could facilitate better communication between them and humans, likely allowing individuals born without innate soul power to acquire it."

"But I'm not sure if excessively strong spiritual essence of martial souls might take over and control human will. After all, on the continent, many soul masters' personalities are influenced by their martial souls."

On this point, Bibi Dong agreed, especially since Tang San's "Primary and Secondary Theory of Humans and Martial Souls" cited numerous examples of personalities being affected by martial souls, resulting in fiery temperaments, aloofness, silence, or even lecherous behavior.

Moreover, since Soul Embers could enhance soul strength, using them directly on the soul was sufficient; there was no need to overly enhance the spiritual essence of martial souls.

As for whether this could be considered devouring souls...

Bibi Dong remarked that she had even devoured real people, so what harm was there in consuming remnants of souls?

Furthermore, just as vegetables needed fertilizer to grow luxuriantly, why not utilize souls that naturally dissipate into the world?

Moreover, in Bibi Dong's view, Tang San was too kind. Rather than directly annihilating souls, he allowed them to naturally die while enjoying life as they did before—

["After your soul enjoys all the bliss it didn't experience in life, once your soul dies, the True Spirit reincarnates, and the Soul Embers belong to me—it's just an equal exchange."]

["It's only natural!"]

["How many people in the world really care about how their deceased loved ones' souls will be treated?"]

"So, why not just crush the soul?" Bibi Dong's spiritual power connected with the Soul Embers Tang San had passed through the Blue Silver Network, instantly feeling a profound joy emanating from within. With the enhancement of her soul, her spiritual power became more condensed and enriched... This feeling of growing stronger made her unable to stop!

At this moment, how she wished Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul could cover the entire Douluo Continent!

With so many deaths each day, if they could utilize all those souls, how powerful would their souls become with Tang San's?!

It was simply unimaginable!

Perhaps, in just a few years, the two of them could rely on the might of their souls to fear no gods in the divine realm!

However, Tang San shattered Bibi Dong's fantasy, saying, "Only souls that die naturally can leave behind Soul Embers. I've experimented with the souls of fallen beings judged by the Spirit. Directly shattering their souls apart not only lets the Undying True Spirit escape, but also leaves no Soul Embers behind—the soul fragments simply disperse."

"Is that so?" Bibi Dong was somewhat disappointed, thinking they could obtain Soul Embers on a large scale to continuously strengthen souls.

"There's no need to be so pessimistic either. We have time in the future to slowly research why natural soul death leaves behind Soul Embers, using the souls of those who have committed great sins in their lifetime for experiments." Tang San's eyes gleamed, "Those who have done evil in life shouldn't just be left to die without consequences. Even after death, their souls should face corresponding punishment, all for the sake of our research contributions."

The Four Titled Douluos, Chrysanthemum, Devil Bear, and Ghost Leopard, all shuddered, sensing the hidden "madness" deep within Tang San's heart.

But Bibi Dong was full of admiration, "Well said. For those guilty of heinous crimes, mere death is not enough to quell public anger. We need more ruthless methods to make them pay the appropriate price."

Chrysanthemum Douluo: "..." The Pope really is relentless against evil.

Consequently, in the following period, Bibi Dong issued a directive to all major branches: Any criminals to be executed were to be sent to the Spirit Hall in Spirit City. The Enforcement Hall of the Spirit City's Spirit Hall would then judge their crimes for the entire continent, presenting irrefutable evidence, and broadcast their executions live in front of the entire continent!

The purpose of this was not only to send these criminals' souls into the starry sky world but also to publicize the fairness and justice of the Spirit Hall across the continent, aiming to consolidate public opinion.

Furthermore, the Spirit Hall even suggested to the two great empires that they should, during the trials of criminals, similarly broadcast evidence of their crimes and the judicial process of imperial officials to the entire continent. This would allow the continent's people to know exactly what crimes the criminals had committed and what punishment they would receive.

This would also increase the trust of the people within the two great empires.

On the side of the Tian Dou Empire,

Prince Xue Qinghe knew that while publicly, the Sprit was considering the two great empires' interests, privately, they were stirring up distrust among the people of the two great empires toward their rulers.

Good and evil were contrasted.

The Spriit Hall's actions would undoubtedly win them a great deal of public support, whereas if imperial officials of the two great empires did not allow the people to understand the specifics during criminal trials, it would likely lead to significant distrust.

"Tang San, you really know how to stir things up," Xue Qinghe sighed. Since Emperor Xue Ye delegated authority that snowy night, she had been constantly busy. She even reduced the dosage of poison she administered to Emperor Xue Ye, fearing his premature death, leaving all the heavy burdens on her shoulders alone.

Being an emperor was truly no easy task.

More importantly, she could not cater to the Spirit Hall now. After all, the Tian Dou Empire could not openly conduct trials of criminals like the Spirit, nor could they present absolute evidence.

After all, the interests among nobles were intertwined, making it difficult to eradicate them completely. Once made public, various doubts were likely to arise.

Unlike the Spirit Hall, which, although interconnected by interests among major families, never sheltered the fallen, each branch was almost independent and autonomous, with less tightly woven networks of interests compared to the two great empires, which were more enlightened.

Moreover, currently, the Pope's palace was actively rectifying the phenomena of concealing dirt and grime within various major branches, presenting a much cleaner picture in Spirit City.

The entire influence of the Spirit Hall was growing stronger day by day!

"Father Emperor." Xue Qinghe found the Emperor Xue Ye in the royal garden, admiring flowers with his concubines, seeking advice from him. Seeing his leisurely posture, she involuntarily clenched her fists—looks like she needed to increase the dosage.

"Qinghe, are you here to see your father for something?" Emperor Xue Ye immediately understood that she must have come up with an excuse to reminisce and find him to handle affairs together.

He was already half-retired!

However, he could never completely relax when it came to the Tian Dou Empire.

"Well, Father Emperor, the Spirit Hall has now suggested publicly trying criminals. Should we adopt this?" Xue Qinghe threw out the question.

Although she now managed the affairs of the Tian Dou Empire, if she didn't handle this well, the people might blame her. It was better to let Emperor Xue Ye take the blame.

Emperor Xue Ye remained silent for a moment before asking, "Has the Spirit Hall sent someone personally?"

"They haven't. They just mentioned it during the live broadcast of the trials of the fallen, but I'm worried that if we don't handle it well, it might disappoint the people of the Empire," Xue Qinghe said with a worried expression.