Chapter 472 - 471: The New Era
However, these titles are no longer tied to land, privileges, or hereditary rights. They now merely represent honor and limited benefits or conveniences that can be enjoyed within the League. The old noble class has been entirely eliminated—both physically and institutionally. Instead, a new elite class has emerged, one based on merit and contribution.
The League, wielding unimaginable human and material resources, has transformed the entire planet on an unprecedented scale. Every city from the old era has been replanned and upgraded with technology. Clean and orderly streets, efficient and convenient public facilities, safe and comfortable living environments... The quality of life for the people has improved by leaps and bounds. A stable, prosperous, and just social foundation has been firmly established.
Yet, Lu Jingming knew better than anyone. The fundamental contradiction of the Douluo Continent was never just about class—it was about power. This is a world where the strong prey on the weak. From the moment a soul master awakens their martial soul, they are destined never to be the same species as ordinary humans. As their soul power increases, that gap only grows wider. An Emperor-ranked soul master could slaughter a city unprotected by a powerful guardian without effort. Title Douluos are known as walking nuclear weapons.
In the past, this power was chaotic and unchecked. Feuds between soul masters, sect wars, national conflicts... Powerful individuals could freely impose their will upon the weak. How could this immense force be restrained from upending order itself?
Lu Jingming's answer was not simply suppression, nor did he scatter their power. He understood that power itself breeds desire. When powerful soul masters became bored, empty, or unfulfilled, they caused trouble. Therefore, "they must be given something to do."
Thus, driven by the League's highest will, new and massive industries have sprung up across the globe, growing rapidly like mushrooms after rain. Chief among them is entertainment.
Under the guidance of the League's "Ministry of Culture," all kinds of new entertainment forms have appeared one after another. Web novels based on the legendary heroes of the past feature dramatic rises and falls, captivating countless readers to the point of forgetting meals and sleep. Animation, with its exaggerated and artistic portrayal of dazzling soul skills and bloody battles, has become a craze among teenagers. Movies and TV dramas, performed by real actors using cinematic special effects, intuitively portray love and hatred, familial and patriotic righteousness before everyone's eyes. And among them, music shines as the brightest pearl.
Yet, all of these are mere appetizers. To truly channel the soul masters' surplus energy and destructive impulses, two ultimate entertainments were created.
First is the standardized Soul Master Competition League, established worldwide. From city-level Bronze Leagues all the way up to the legendary World Finals, a complete and mature professional competition system is in place. Countless young soul masters yearning for fame and fortune participate in this fair, open wave of competition. Here, they can use their strength to win glory, money, and applause—without fear of real casualties.
The second and most important, is the Simulated Universe. Constructed by Herta and run on Astral Computers as servers, this vast, fully immersive virtual world has become a "second world" for all mankind. Here, the laws of physics can be rewritten. Here, you can assume any identity you wish. You can become a superhero who saves the world, a demon lord leading an army of the dead, a wealthy corporate magnate, or a lone swordsman wandering the world. Here, you can vent all your negative emotions. Engage in bloody duels in virtual arenas, battling an enemy a hundred times if you wish, or assemble an interstellar fleet to conquer a virtual galaxy. Do whatever you like. The Simulated Universe has become a perfect and massive emotional pressure release valve.
With the Simulated Universe and a variety of entertainment projects available, soul masters found that they simply had no time or energy left to cause trouble in the real world. Fight in reality? Why bother, when you can pilot a hundred-meter-tall mecha and wage planetary battles in the Simulation? Struggle for power and profit in reality? It's just too much hassle. The honor and prizes from winning the competitive leagues are far more tangible and rewarding.
Thus emerged a strange but highly harmonious scene. Even the most aggressive, hot-blooded soul masters—born to seek strength—are now polite, law-abiding, and model citizens to their neighbors and villages. Because everyone knows that breaking the law in the real world means facing consequences that are no joke.
The Haiyuan League's law enforcement force, the Fools, hang over everyone like the Sword of Damocles. These elites are personally selected, trained, and armed by Lu Zhaoming, and are found in every corner of the world. They are the guardians of order and the nightmares of rebels. Once you break the League's laws, no matter how far you run, you cannot escape their pursuit.
The punishments of the League are also filled with the characteristics of the new era. For crimes like malicious murder, treason, or attempts to overthrow the rule of the League, the punishment is simple and brutal: abolition of one's martial soul. Stripping a soul master of all their power at the root is far more painful and deterring than death itself.
For lesser offenses—like instigating fights, causing disturbances, or disrupting public order—the punishment is a more "heartfelt dialogue": confinement. You are locked in a special "quiet room," completely isolated from the outside world, both physically and online. No access to entertainment—no novels, no anime, no music, not even logging into your full-level Simulated Universe account. All you can do is face four empty white walls and study the "Haiyuan League Basic Laws" over and over.
For someone who has tasted this blossoming world and grown used to all its novelties, such isolation is more unbearable than death. Once, a Soul King sentenced to a month's imprisonment cried and clung to the law enforcer's thigh upon release, repenting in tears:
"I was wrong, truly wrong, I'm terrified now. Please, let me be silent for a year if you must, but don't cut off the net. I didn't even have time to use it since I got out yesterday!"
Under this mature and efficient system of "carrots and sticks," the entire Douluo Star enjoys unprecedented, almost utopian harmony and stability. And within this harmonious melody, there is a song—a human voice—that fits as its theme.
She is Robin, the first Empress of the Haiyuan Empire and wife of Lu Jingming. If Lu Jingming built the skeletal structure of this world's order with iron fists and wisdom, then Robin infused it with harmony and soul through her singing. Her naturally gifted voice, aided by holographic projection technology, spreads to every corner of the continent. Every concert she holds is a global event. Whether in human cities, beast-occupied forests, or even the ocean depths, wherever there's a signal, countless fans will put down whatever they're doing to listen quietly.
Her song transcends language and race, with a magical appeal. It soothes people's inner impulses, heals the scars of war, and stirs life's highest emotions. Combined with the power of harmony and her own divinity, her voice subtly elevates the listener's soul and calms their hostility. She has become this era's most precious, unique national idol. Thanks to her songs, many have let go of hatred and chosen forgiveness. Thanks to her songs, countless soul beasts have come to truly understand the meaning of peaceful coexistence with humans. One could say that the Haiyuan League stabilized so quickly largely thanks to Robin's singing.
Of course, in any era, there will always be fools who refuse to see reality and engage in self-righteousness. The forest is wide; all kinds of birds exist. Out of jealousy or a desire for attention, some people inevitably make offensive or slanderous remarks online. For example, an anonymous poster once wrote:
"Robin's songs are nothing but a mind-altering drug used by the rulers to numb the populace."
Another person made a fuss in a forum:
"How can a singer be queen? Let me try it!"
Ordinary fans, cherishing their idol's image, would naturally refute such comments. But what they didn't know was that even before they saw these statements, another, far more efficient and ruthless system had already been set in motion.
…
Astrocomputer, Surveillance Center.
"Alert! Alert! Malicious, offensive remarks detected against 'Tier 1 Protected Target: Empress Robin.'"
"Tracing source… Source locked. User ID: 'Long Aotian,' real name: Wang Erma, age: 22, soul power level: Rank 35 Soul Elder, residence: Room 401, Building 3, Xingfu Community, West District, Star Lou City."
"Arrest warrant automatically issued and sent to 'Fools' Star Lou City First Response Brigade."
"Total process time: 0.017 seconds."
Lu Jingming, playing with his children in Haiyuan City, never even received a personal alert for such incidents. In the system he built, these matters have long since become fully automated daily routines. However, his attitude toward those who slander his wife is clear and uncompromising. He had already given Miku the highest-priority directive: any malicious slander against Robin must be dealt with swiftly and strictly.
So, it often happens that just as a young Wang Erma proudly finishes his post, ready to savor the chaos he's caused—
Knock, knock. (FBI Open up!)
His door is knocked on, right on time. When he angrily opens it, he finds several Fools in black uniforms and cold masks, exuding the aura of strangers. The squad leader, showing an electronic version of the arrest warrant from the Supreme Court, announces in an emotionless, formal tone:
"Mr. Wang Erma, you are suspected of violating Article 13 of the Haiyuan League Cybersecurity Information Management Act and Article 2 of the Royal Honor Protection Law, for openly spreading false and insulting remarks about the Empress online, causing extremely negative social impact. You will face at least one year of detention and a permanent ban from all public speech."
On that same day, all official League media slip a brief news item into an inconspicuous spot:
"Today, a resident of our city, Mr. Wang, was lawfully punished by the relevant authorities for inappropriate online remarks and violating League regulations. The League reminds all citizens once again: the Internet is not above the law. Please access online spaces civilly, speak rationally, and together maintain a harmonious and beautiful spiritual home."
Over time, no one dared to publicly speak ill of Empress Robin anymore. She became a perfect idol, free from negative reviews or criticism. Society was stable, harmonious, prosperous, and fair, yet at the same time, enveloped in an impenetrable Skynet.
This is what Lu Jingming has brought to the Douluo Star—a new world.
….
Huo Yuhao walked the streets of Haiyuan City. He strolled slowly, like a curious tourist newly arrived here. Yet his eyes were not as flamboyant as a tourist's, but deep and calm.
This is Haiyuan City, the capital of the Haiyuan League, a place where the miracle of human civilization rises ten thousand meters above the ground. The air, warm and purified, carried a faint botanical fragrance as it brushed his cheeks. Overhead, a vast domed canopy simulated the rising and setting of the sun and moon, casting a gentle light everywhere. Beside him, gracefully shaped, utterly silent maglev soul-guided vehicles shuttled along preset air lanes in perfect order, coursing through the city like blood through arteries.