"The only regret I have is that I can never truly grasp the mysteries of being a Soul Master. After a lifetime of cultivation, I ended up as a mere Soul Grandmaster. I never truly stepped into the world of Soul Masters; this bit of cultivation is only enough to strengthen my body."
Wei Yang shook his head, looking somewhat disappointed.
"The Prime Minister possesses talent that could govern the heavens and the earth. Although your cultivation aptitude is not high, who in the world of Soul Masters would dare to look down on you?" Dai Mingzong replied.
"Within the borders of Star Luo, whether they are Grand Generals of the military or the various Soul Master Clans—even Soul Douluo powerhouses must obey the Prime Minister's orders. Throughout history, how many people have been like you?"
"Your Majesty overpraises me. I do not know how many people in this world wish to kill this old man. If Your Majesty had not sent the Nether Guards to protect me in the shadows, my head would have been separated from my shoulders long ago."
Noticing that a trace of worry had lingered in Dai Mingzong's eyes for many days, Wei Yang asked, "Is Your Majesty still troubled by the forced retreat at the walls of Suotuo City that day?"
Upon hearing those words, a flash of anger flickered in Dai Mingzong's eyes.
Years ago, after the Star Luo Reforms were completed, the national power surged.
After wiping out the Kingdoms and Duchies within the Empire and heavily damaging the invading alien races, he had intended to lead his army north. He planned to strike directly at Heaven Dou and merge the two Great Empires into one.
The Heaven Dou Empire was filled with numerous nobles and fragmented by the power of its Kingdoms. Aside from not having the external threat, it was not much stronger than Star Luo had been before the reforms.
It would have been nearly impossible for them to resist.
However, just as the Star Luo army arrived at the city gates, the Pope of Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji, led six Elders to the battlefield personally. Using the excuse that a war between the two Great Empires would devastate the common people, he forced a retreat.
Otherwise, Spirit Hall would have assisted the Heaven Dou army in resisting the Star Luo forces.
Though Heaven Dou was weak, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse.
They were not comparable to the previous Kingdoms and Duchies, and they were supported by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School—one of the Upper Three Sects. If Spirit Hall were added to the mix, even a strong Star Luo could not emerge victorious.
He had no choice but to retreat.
He was naturally furious about this, but there was nothing he could do.
After a long silence, he suddenly asked, "Prime Minister, can Star Luo unify the world?"
"Whether we can or cannot is not important; whether we want to or do not want to is the key," Wei Yang said slowly, emphasizing each word.
"How could I not want to? Unifying the world is the lifelong ambition of this Emperor. However, Spirit Hall obstructs us at every turn. What can be done?"
Wei Yang slowly put away the pieces on the chessboard while speaking: "Your Majesty, the reason Spirit Hall prevents our Star Luo from defeating Heaven Dou is obvious. They do not wish to see a massive Empire emerge that rules over the entire human region of the continent."
"Because once such an Empire is formed, the Lord of the Empire would never allow a massive Soul Master organization like Spirit Hall, whose influence spans the entire continent, to continue existing."
"Therefore, even though unification is beneficial for humanity in the long run, Spirit Hall will inevitably stop it to preserve its own legacy."
"Though I have an army of millions, Spirit Hall controls nearly half of the continent's Soul Masters; they are not to be underestimated. More importantly, Spirit Hall possesses a large number of top-tier Soul Master Experts," Dai Mingzong said solemnly.
"Although Star Luo has undergone reforms, concentrating Soul Master in the hands of the Empire and returning power completely to the Imperial Family—no longer constrained by the Kingdoms—we still cannot compare to Spirit Hall in terms of high-level powerhouses."
"Does the Prime Minister have a brilliant plan?"
Wei Yang did not answer immediately. Instead, he asked a question: "Your Majesty, what do you believe is the strongest aspect of Spirit Hall?"
"Naturally, it is Spirit Hall's powerful strength. Not to mention those old fossils in the Consecration Hall, the Elder Hall alone has several Titled Douluo. The Judgment Hall has even more experts, and Spirit Hall branches are scattered all over the continent."
"None of the current Sects can compare to them."
Dai Mingzong answered naturally, somewhat confused as to why Wei Yang would ask this.
"As a Soul Master organization, Spirit Hall is indeed powerful to the extreme. Its overall strength far exceeds the Seven Sects."
"Although in ancient times, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan once suppressed Spirit Hall during its peak, they declined along with the Dragon Clan. Now, they can only sit at the bottom of the Upper Three Sects."
"With the rise of that Clear Sky Douluo over a decade ago, the Clear Sky Sect also once suppressed Spirit Hall."
"But with the disappearance of that Clear Sky Douluo, they too declined. Today, the former Number One Sect in the World has been forced by Spirit Hall to seal their mountain for self-preservation, possessing the title but not the reality of being the world's strongest.
"Over these nearly ten thousand years, although there were periods where brilliant geniuses appeared in the Soul Master world—like that Dragon King Douluo of ancient times."
"Or that Clear Sky Douluo years ago—who suppressed an era and led their forces to stand above Spirit Hall, once such figures die or disappear, Spirit Hall always returns to the pinnacle of the continent as time passes."
"This..." Hearing Wei Yang's words, Dai Mingzong suddenly realized something and fell into deep thought.
"The reason," Wei Yang continued.
"Lies in Spirit Hall's operational model and the Six-Winged Angel legacy of the Pope's lineage. The inheritance of the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul ensures that every generation of Spirit Hall's Popes is a powerhouse. Even the weaker ones among them are stronger than most Titled Douluo."
"Furthermore, besides the clans within Spirit Hall and the powerhouses who joined midway, just the few powerful Soul Master clans that have always followed the Six-Winged Angel Clan ensures that Spirit Hall always possesses a group of top-tier experts.
"With this core of top powerhouses, Spirit Hall fully utilizes its advantage of controlling a vast number of Soul Masters. Their branches are everywhere. Every year, they awaken Martial Souls for commoners near these branches, absorbing children with cultivation potential."
"The continent's territory is boundless and the population is vast, providing a steady stream of fresh blood to Spirit Hall. From this, they can cultivate a massive number of Soul Master Experts. Spirit Hall's talent pool is therefore inexhaustible."
"Moreover, Spirit Hall is dedicated to striking down the Evil Soul Master lineage. Even if they aren't Evil Soul Masters, many notorious criminals on the continent are on the Judgment Hall's wanted list."
"It can be said that not just in the world of Soul Masters, but throughout the entire continent, Spirit Hall enjoys a prestigious reputation. If we say Star Luo and Heaven Dou are the official authorities of the secular world, then Spirit Hall is the official authority of the Soul Master world."
Wei Yang flicked his sleeve and continued: "Under these circumstances, even if there comes a day where our Star Luo's strength completely surpasses Spirit Hall—even if Spirit Hall and Heaven Dou join forces and we manage to eliminate them—Your Majesty, have you considered the consequences?
"Once we truly set out to destroy Spirit Hall, we would be acting without a righteous cause. Spirit Hall is the orthodox authority of the Soul Master world. At that time, it would surely trigger massive resistance."
"Powerhouses from all over the Soul Master world would undoubtedly assist Spirit Hall. Our Star Luo would fall into a dilemma, and Heaven Dou might even take the opportunity to unite various forces to destroy us."
"The top-tier combat power represented by the Six-Winged Angel legacy, the operational model of Spirit Hall, and the influence gained through their actions—these three combined create a perfect union."
"They have forged a sense of legitimacy for Spirit Hall within the Soul Master world. In my view, this is Spirit Hall's greatest strength. As long as Spirit Hall maintains the combination of these three factors, they have no weaknesses and can flourish indefinitely."
"Even if one were to forcibly destroy Spirit Hall with raw power, they would not gain the recognition of the Soul Master world. The disadvantages would far outweigh the benefits."