Chapter 366: The Net
This even involved four Five-tier powerhouses within the Hua-Ya Federation, each of whom had relatives or friends, some close, some distant, who died in Hou Zi's indiscriminate attacks.
Although nearly a decade had passed, hatred, it was clear, possessed a far stronger vitality than love.
Had it not been for the external threat of an even greater enemy, and had the leaders of the three major factions not unanimously agreed to temporarily suppress all conflicts among the nation's Five-tier superhumans, these four might have formed an unprecedented revenge squad. They would have seized this golden opportunity to delve deep into Africa and deliver a fatal blow to the severely wounded Hou Zi.
All along, the human-shaped nuclear bombs of various nations had striven to avoid combat. The destruction wrought by battle was simply too immense, and the consequences often outweighed any gains. Typically, the cost of reconstruction would far exceed any benefits derived from the conflict.
"Killing people and setting fires brings a golden belt"—that adage held true only if one was a lone wolf, with nothing to lose. No matter how much was destroyed, the losses wouldn't fall on their head; everything plundered was pure profit.
But as maintainers of the existing order, as long as that order persisted, they could reap enormous benefits from the system. In such circumstances, going out to kill, seize treasures, and ignite conflict after conflict was utterly counterproductive.
Especially near cities, even a single ripple of an aftershock sweeping through urban areas would instantly result in tens of millions in economic losses – and that was with the spirit energy network system actively mitigating damage. Thus, most of the time, they wandered about in avatars with vastly inferior destructive power, while their true bodies resided mostly in suburban villas.
Even for sparring matches, these literal human-shaped nuclear bombs would always choose desolate areas akin to nuclear testing grounds.
However, most of them were not ascetic cultivators who would simply dig a cave in a remote mountain wilderness to use as their training ground; villas and grand estates were the preferred choice for the majority.
Especially their regularly inhabited pure rooms, every single furnishing was meticulously chosen, without exception, to be beneficial for cultivation. Spirit materials rarely seen in the outside world might here be merely used as decorative accents.
For instance, top-grade spiritual purple coral, each stalk permeated with the blood of many deep-sea hunters. After processing, they had an excellent effect on calming the mind and tranquilizing the spirit. Within these pure rooms, they were arrayed in large quantities as if forming a mystical formation, emitting a captivating purple radiance.
Aside from the specially supplied large pieces of spiritual purple coral, the Contribution Points system could, at best, only be used to redeem scraps and offcuts. Yet, even these, when crafted into jewelry, were priceless and impossible to acquire on the open market.
Wherever there were people, there were classes, and these individuals, without a doubt, were the tiny minority standing at the apex of the pyramid. Behind almost every single one of them, tens of thousands of people existed, depending on them in various forms.
Hundreds of servants maintained the operation of the grand estates; informants, assistants responsible for collecting and processing intelligence; external managers overseeing various industries; and even individuals undergoing secret training, specialized in executing covert missions – together, they virtually formed independent miniature kingdoms.
However, under the premise of a powerful Central Government wielding absolute authority over all, these vast networks, existing as economic conglomerates, still found it difficult to achieve true independence or secession. Thus, they largely chose to integrate into the system, becoming a part of the colossal web that encompassed the entire Hua-Ya Federation.
The same situation was not unique to Huaxia; in the United States, which already possessed a considerable foundation, the speed of capital and power concentration was even faster.
The vast majority of people, throughout their lives, never managed to escape this colossal web. Tracing back the units where they worked, through layers of shareholding and control, they could almost always be linked to some node within the immense network.
And the consumer products used daily, the companies that produced them were naturally no exception. Clothing, food, housing, transportation, and indeed every aspect of life, ultimately pointed back to that very same net.
Therefore, apart from the material wealth consumed by producers, almost all the surplus created by society—after deducting consumption—was channeled through this network, becoming the resources that propelled the powerful at the top to even greater strength.
Undeniably, in such circumstances, the higher one stood on society's pyramid, the exponentially greater the resources they acquired. Under this virtuous cycle, they almost always accelerated faster and faster, making it even harder for latecomers to catch up.
"Wei Wu Ya, what do you mean by bringing up this Li Bida?" After hearing the name, Zhao Fei Yan pondered for a few seconds, his expression suddenly growing displeased.
Li Bida's family had, back then, died due to Zhao Fei Ling’s drunk driving. It was just that Zhao Fei Ling, that notorious wastrel, had committed so many offenses, that it took Zhao Fei Yan a few seconds to recall this old incident from his memory.
"According to the secret reports sent back by the people I dispatched, Li Bida has not only declared himself emperor in Ethiopia, but has also established civilian and military officials of various ranks, truly resembling an ancient Huaxia imperial court."
"But what does this have to do with us?" Many voiced their questions upon hearing this.
"Ahem, ahem!" Wei Wu Ya feigned a cough, but in reality, he unleashed his control, allowing everyone to feel the immense spirit energy surging within him. This was his way of telling them that, while they were all roughly the same age, he was a genuine Five-tier spirit cultivator, and his words were not to be interrupted by just anyone.
After this small interlude, everyone else suddenly became serious, with the exception of two or three individuals whose attitudes remained unchanged.
The disparity in power told them clearly that there were distinct hierarchical differences between people. They could look down upon ordinary individuals, but at the same time, they were merely objects to be looked down upon by those who were stronger.
"After declaring himself emperor, as long as he remains on the land of Ethiopia, he possesses power nearly comparable to a Six-tier powerhouse. And the officials he enfeoffs gain varying degrees of power amplification depending on their rank..."
......
Simultaneously, within Tianqing's Ziliu Sea, the few individuals wielding supreme authority were also holding a secret meeting.
Naturally, the Youth Alliance also had their high-level moles within, so much so that even the contents of these internal meetings could be transmitted out immediately.
"How do you all think we should handle this Li Bida?" Chen Bo, flipping through the records obtained by the intelligence department, quickly sensed something amiss.
"We don't have much time; he must hand over the method! If we lose to that madman, who's to say the entire world won't become his testing ground!" Wen Jian, a staunch supporter of Chen Bo within the meeting, essentially articulated Chen Bo's stance.
"His power within his territory absolutely cannot be underestimated. How much force do we need to dispatch to ensure foolproof success?"
"Secondly, once we obtain the method, whom shall we nominate to become this emperor?!"
Liang Gong, the leader of the Dao Academy faction, and Cheng Mu, the leader of the original faction, intuitively raised their own questions. Whenever they faced Chen Bo's military faction, which sought to dominate, they were always able to cooperate closely.
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