Chapter 2203: Chapter 2203: The Divided Southern Region
Because it takes time to accumulate resources, the occupation of the remaining two areas has slowed down.
It’s not that Du You wants to slow down; even the two sisters want to slow down this time. Because of their influence, the Command Center naturally uses a more prudent approach as well.
All the people realized that the Life Empire seems to be focusing more on domestic stability.
Some speculate that the Life Empire wants to assimilate the external powerful entities that joined them first, as these people are used to being free, and it’s not easy to make them listen.
There are also speculations that it might be related to the people’s livelihood, as it hasn’t reached a certain level, so the blessings didn’t cause a qualitative change. However, this kind of reasoning is generally ridiculed.
Because attempts have been made in the past to raise the people’s livelihood of a city to a high level. However, they later found that it was meaningless. Even if the living standards were high, the blessings they received were just slightly better than before. But once their lives were affected, the decline in blessings would be quick.
After enlightening the people, it’s not easy to manage them.
Furthermore, the better the living standards, the more grievances the people generate, which is truly counterproductive.
Otherwise, why do almost all cities not improve the people’s living conditions well and maintain a half-dead state? It’s because they fear those people will bear too much grudge, affecting themselves.
Although they have absolute power to suppress, keeping things stable like regular cities is even better. City lords build cities for their own cultivation, not to create trouble for themselves.
Many are waiting to see the Life Empire make a fool of itself at this moment.
But while they are developing slowly, their offensive has not completely stopped.
Instead, they used another method. The slowed offensive reduced pressure, leading to internal conflict in the southern region. Originally, five of the strongest countries remained in the south.
However, a large number of late-tier eight and peak-tier eight powerhouses have disappeared there. The remaining strongest is only mid-tier eight, representing the most powerful nation.
Now the south doesn’t have five strongest countries, but a total of thirteen.
One of the original five strongest countries has fallen to the lower class due to the absence of a top powerhouse.
Seeing their weakness, the grievances of others, which were originally suppressed, slowly increased. With less external pressure, these countries started to unite against this former strong country.
It’s not even considered a confrontation; verbal pressure suffices. After discussing, they directly issued an ultimatum, demanding that they cede some cities and benefits. But of course, those people were unwilling, so they sought help from their former allied powerful countries. However, relations among them weren’t good because they were originally competitors.
In the end, it’s unclear what they were thinking, but they preferred to give benefits to their original opponents rather than to those pressuring them now. They paid bigger benefits in exchange for support.
And these people felt very dissatisfied because of external interference, as the benefits that were theirs were snatched away.
That’s not all; because these people were also part of the initial oppression, more countries united to seek revenge. Former grievances couldn’t be suppressed any longer.
When external pressure lightened, these people started a commotion. The conflict grew larger, reaching a point where it couldn’t be suppressed. Even situations where tier eight powerhouses fought broke out.
"Ugh, I didn’t expect even at such a dangerous time, they could still cause such a ruckus."
"Then what should we do? I can’t see a future. If this continues, we have no room to develop."
"Why don’t we go to the core area as well? Staying here is pointless." Some people have already seen that there’s no development possibility within this so-called alliance and want to leave this place.
"I’ll go north then; there’s a chance to resist the Life Empire there."
"Still can’t let go of hate? At our level, don’t let hatred blind you."
That person waved their hand, and since things didn’t happen to them, they could preach all they wanted. But personally, they couldn’t let go; their hatred with the Life Empire was irreconcilable.
"I’ll pass. My strength is somewhat weaker; going to the core area means no chance for advancement. Staying here will be easier to advance. I plan to join the Life Empire and will seek them out tomorrow."
"Humph, hope we won’t meet on the battlefield in the future," said the previous person, with a trace of coldness flashing in their eyes.
"If we meet again, we might be enemies. You have good strength, but I’m not weak either."
The two stared at each other, as if sparks ignited in the void.
The people nearby quickly intervened: "Enough, enough, you two don’t fight. We’ll fall into chaos at this rate." They were already somewhat disheartened; without a powerful suppressor, no one would acknowledge anyone else.
With comparable strengths, different ideologies, and experiences, their intended actions often conflicted, leading easily to various disputes. When those disputes would erupt is unknown.
Some hot-tempered individuals would fight at the slightest provocation. If they started fighting here, it would sidetrack what they intended to accomplish.
No one among the upper class of the powerful countries expected that due to their discord, their subordinates became more disappointed and prepared to leave. At this time, spies seemingly found an opportunity. They directly intervened, replaced some departing upper members, then continued to incite division in between, even causing spies to explode into battle first.
Soon after, a massive war broke out in the southern region. What made everyone puzzled was that this war wasn’t against the Life Empire but a chaotic fight among themselves.
Perhaps due to prolonged suppression, the eruption was like a tsunami, overwhelming, and reached a fever pitch in an instant. This battle, even people in the core area and the north couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
Facing a strong enemy and fighting among themselves first; are they just offering themselves up?
Unfortunately, they can’t stop now and can only continue the war.
