Chapter 688: 688

“You’re right. When Blood Alliance crumbled, I was really the strongest in Dragon City, and with Jin Wanhao’s absolute power, there was a huge chance that we could seize the highest authority. But what happens after that?” Lei Zongchao asked faintly, “At that time, Jin Wanhao and I have just gotten free of Blood Alliance’s suppression and torture. All we have is pure strength. We don’t know how to manage a city, much less rebuild a civilization and push it forward.

“But the nine gangs each manage more than one million survivors, and they have a lot of professionals with them who know how to organize and manage large groups. They also provide the necessary, fundamental services for the survivors such as water, electricity, food, and spirit energy. They can even gather the survivors together to fight against zombies and monsters.

“If I took Jin Wanhao’s side and fought against the nine gangs, it would only end with both sides suffering major losses.

“We might succeed, but it would end with thousands of people dead. Even if I have the greatest authority, the path I took to get this authority will be covered in my comrades’ corpses.

“Our pitiful civilization is already badly damaged and dying because of the transmigration, flood, zombies, and monster invasion. We finally got rid of the crazy bastards from Blood Alliance, and all the survivors want to get the chance to catch their breaths. If another war broke out, perhaps peace will never arrive among us. The monsters will become the final victors and trample our home as they please. Even if Jin Wanhao is a good friend who risked his life with me, how can I do something that will only cause grief to our other kin?

“After all, I once used all my strength to swear to Jin Qianxi that I will protect Dragon City, not destroy it!”

“I see.” Meng Chao understood it now, and he could not help but respect the choice Lei Zongchao made in the past.

“Besides, I don’t think that my past self will produce any good results after I gain the highest authority.” Lei Zongchao pointed at his chest and said slowly, “Everyone has a monster in their hearts. It’s easy to win against the monsters in the wild, but much harder to win against the monster in your heart. Usually, we have to use our entire lives to suppress it or at least live with it.

“At that time, I was still too young, and that monster known as ambition was still baring its teeth and was a real monster.

“Honestly, I was afraid. I really didn’t have the confidence to control it.

“If I agreed to Jin Wanhao’s request and became the gang leader of Golden Tooth, then helped Golden Tooth win against the nine gangs to become the sole ruler of Golden Tooth, would my ambition continue growing? Would Golden Tooth then replace the nine gangs and evolve into the sole mega corporation in Dragon City?

“Right now, Dragon City at least has nine mega corporations that are keeping each other in check and holding each other back.

“If Golden Tooth becomes the sole tyrant, do you think that the problems from the nine mega corporations won’t grow in Golden Tooth?”

Meng Chao thought about it, and he had to admit that Lei Zongchao was right.

The chronic problems in the nine mega corporations were structural problems. They would not change based on whether the creators were good or evil.

In truth, the creators of the nine mega corporations were like Lu Siya’s grandfather. They were all famous superheroes.

Just like Lei Zongchao, they saved millions of people and made outstanding contributions to the development of Dragon City.

However, no matter how noble and selfless they were, once they became Deity Realm superhumans, had amazing power, and were the owners of mega corporations, it was hard for them to not consider things based on their own cultivation and the interests of the corporation.

Lei Zongchao managed to see this clearly and rejected the temptation of being an autocrat. This made his image in Meng Chao’s heart become nobler.

“I know that Jin Wanhao won’t forgive me even when he dies, but I won’t regret my decision in the past even if I die.” Lei Zongchao sighed but said firmly, “At the very least, based on the decades of development, the nine mega corporations managed Dragon City really well. Without their hard work, we wouldn’t have invited peace among us so soon, restored order, rebuilt the city, and continuously expanded our living space. In the end, we also won against the monster civilization.

“Compared to the contributions made by the nine mega corporations, the price you mentioned is just something we have to pay for the time being. All the things about the rich being arrogant and being intoxicated by luxuries are just small problems.

“The mega corporations control Dragon City’s fundamental services, such as providing water, electricity, gas, crystal mining, and metal smelting. They also possess strength greater than the regular army. But these are problems left behind by history.

“After all, during that lawless era where everything was in shambles, these public services were set up by the nine gangs.

“When I set up the Survival Committee, I have to let these people retain their vested interests, otherwise, how could the nine gangs be willing to put an end to war, hand over some of their authority, and be willing to obey the rules of the game?

“Be patient, young man, these problems will be solved. When the time is right, the problems left behind by history will be solved.”

Meng Chao pondered over what Lei Zongchao said, and he felt like he was suggesting something.

A thought popped up in his mind, and he braced his courage once more to ask, “Mr. Lei, when do you think that we can stop paying this temporary and tolerable price, or rather, when can we solve these problems left behind by history? Why can’t we do it now?”

Lei Zongchao scooped up a handful of gene concentrate and rubbed his face with it slowly. But a cunning light shone through his fingers. “My young friend, if you’re usually as impatient as you are now, I don’t know how you managed to live until now despite fighting continuously against those cunning abnormal beasts.

“With my status, it’s impossible for me to say some things that overlook the overall situation, because they might affect the unity in Dragon City.

“You should stay calm and think calmly about who is our enemy and who is our friend at the current moment.

“Right now, the monster civilization has just been defeated, but it hasn’t been destroyed. We got rid of the enemies’ main force of power in the wild, but we haven’t figured out the enemies’ nest. We also don’t know just how these biochemical weapons that go completely against the logic of how carbon-based life forms should be made are reproduced, or rather, how they are created.

“Neither do we know just how terrifying of an existence is the mastermind or creator hiding behind the monster civilization.

“Besides, we have the boundless Other World beyond Monster Mountain Range. We don’t know whether there are enemies one hundred times even fiercer than the monster civilization.

“The current Dragon City is a weak patient. It has just stuffed its stomach full, and it’s standing at a crossroads that will decide its fate. Do you think it’s the best time to perform a major surgery to get rid of the tumor in its body?”

The words Lei Zongchao used were rather stern, but his tone was gentle.

He sounded like he was protecting Meng Chao, but at the same time, he was motivating a junior who shared the same ambitions as him.

The gears in Meng Chao’s mind turned, and he said gravely, “I understand. Thank you for the guidance, Master Lei!”

He decided to stop referring to him as Mr. and referred to him as his master instead. It made them sound closer.

Lei Zongchao smiled faintly, and he changed the topic. “I heard that you cleared some of the links for Divine Nine Dragon Seals, and you can use it pretty well now.”

This chapter is scrapped from readlightnovel.org

Meng Chao relaxed. He knew that Lei Zongchao would no longer talk about the mega corporations with him today.

But what he said just now should have made this legendary Battle God pretty satisfied, and he passed his “test”.

Now, he was willing to give Meng Chao a few pointers!

“Who will dare say that they can use Divine Nine Dragon Seals pretty well in front of you, Master Lei?” Meng Chao squashed down his excitement. “But while I was practicing Divine Nine Dragon Seals, I did run into a lot of problems and obstacles. I hope you can provide me with guidance.”

“Alright.” Lei Zongchao did not waste his breath on trivialities, and he did not beat around the bush either. He just said faintly,

“Then, use Divine Nine Dragon Seals and summon your greatest strength to punch me!”

Meng Chao was slightly stunned. But he did not waste his breath any further either.

His eyes instantly turned into two volcanoes that were about to erupt. Burning magma was contained in them, and his demeanor became completely different from before.

The greatest benefit he gained after returning from the apocalypse was that his psychological state was one hundred times stronger than his peers.

It did not matter whether he was facing a fierce monster or the martial arts legend, to change his, his comrades, his home, the city, and the entire civilization’s future, he would do everything and seize every chance he had.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Meng Chao tensed up his muscles, and a layer of dense but firm goosebumps rose on his body. His hair, nostril hair, and hair on his body also stood up like they were conducting electricity.

The burning vigor from Hell’s Blood also shot out of his pores, and they spread out like thousands of red arrows in a radial shape.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

Meng Chao’s spine bulged up and let out loud pops that sounded like firecrackers. Wisps of profound and complicated spirit tattoos rose on his skin, and they shone as if they were alive.

They flowed on his skin slowly, then surged to his limbs based on the lines of the muscles on his back, allowing his arms and legs to instantly become one size larger.

Even if the Black Stars under his feet were incredibly sturdy, they still let out cracking sounds when Meng Chao stomped on them.

The ripples in the air were like layers of waves that gathered together to form a fierce tidal wave.

Meng Chao’s entire right arm released fierce, burning flames.

It was like a hungry, rampaging monster python.

The spirit tattoos crawled down his arm to surround his palm and fingers. Wisps of golden light flowed out from between his fingers to form a small, burning sun in front of his fist!

Meng Chao’s strongest fist technique was Demon Subduing Pole, which was from the old principal from Ninth High School.

But now, due to the great increase in power by Divine Nine Dragon Seals, he successfully turned the starting stance of Celestial Tyrant’s Star Shattering Slash into a violent fist technique.

He had just started practicing this move.

When the rampaging power that was like a fire dragon exploded at the center of his palm, even he could not control it.

He could only let out a loud roar and throw his punch at full force at the bald head that rose on the concentrate.