The Black Book: Seven Deadly Sins-Chapter 42: Being Able to Survive is Already Amazing

Looking at the overgrown wasteland around, Liu Heng's eyes were full of heartache. With a little work, this land could be excellent rice fields!

Upon hearing this, Zhu Haomiao nodded thoughtfully, recalling some statistics from the present world.

During the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom war, Dai Qing's population sharply reduced from 400 million to 240 million, a loss of nearly 40% of the population, a full 160 million people!

However, this figure is disputed, as the statistics included many who fled and migrated as deaths.

Yet even conservatively estimated, the population loss during this period was around 50 million to 100 million, and the bloody brutality was shocking.

Needless to say, the total deaths in World War I and World War II combined were less than 100 million people worldwide!

Dai Qing, by itself, caused military losses equivalent to those of the Allies and Allies!

Of course, during the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, those who died directly in the war were only a small portion; the vast majority perished from secondary disasters.

Because that period was rife with natural disasters—blizzards, severe droughts, floods, locusts, plagues, earthquakes, one after another.

Moreover, the frenzied Taiping Army and Qing Army, mad for victory, not only failed to provide disaster relief but further exploited the common people mercilessly, forcing countless to death...

In this magical version of the world, in addition to natural and man-made calamities, supernatural disasters add to the chaos, no wonder it's become a wasteland where not a chicken crow is heard for a thousand miles.

By the way, during this time, the British and French took the opportunity to create two major events, giving Dai Qing a small imperialism shock.

Even more magically, amidst such internal and external troubles, Dai Qing somehow survived?!

Of course, it didn't completely survive; in another ten or twenty years, what's doomed will still perish!

Zhu Haomiao sniffed disdainfully, observing along the way, discovering that as they approached the Huai River, the population density finally began to increase.

Traveling until the sun was setting in the west, a small town along the Yangtze River appeared on the horizon, prompting a team of people to cheer excitedly.

"Master, at Wuming Town we can change to waterway travel, and if quick, reach Shanghai in a day or two."

"Hmm."

Zhu Haomiao nodded noncommittally, watching this group of men skillfully arrive at the pier, hiring a few porters to load cargo onto the boat.

Once settled onboard, the large merchant ship slowly moved downriver, soon leaving the pier behind.

When Zhu Haomiao awoke the next day, he found the ship sailing in a wide river.

"Mr. Zhu, we've entered the Yangtze River. If all goes well, we should reach Shanghai this afternoon."

Seeing Zhu Haomiao step onto the deck, Liu Heng hurried over to report.

At that moment, Zhu Haomiao clearly felt the ship turning, deviating from the central river channel.

"Are we docking?"

Hearing the youth's query, Liu Heng shook his head in confusion, craning his neck to observe the river, identifying the issue.

"Not docking, giving way—Master, look over there."

Following Liu Heng's pointed direction, a towering ship was chugging upstream, black smoke billowing, the conspicuous Union Flag fluttering atop its mast. All riverboats upon seeing it retreated to clear the path.

"That's a Westerner's ironclad warship; they are accustomed to dominating the Yangtze, often ramming any vessel that obstructs them, and it's best to stay far away when you see them."

"Ram and sink? Such arrogance? Doesn't anyone control them?"

At this, Liu Heng gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"Who dares? Who can?"

"If you get rammed, they demand compensation, claiming their warship was damaged..."

"Last year, a shipping company got rammed, lost a ship, and dozens of men, yet the government ruled that they owed three thousand taels of silver. Where's the justice in that?"

Hearing Liu Heng's sorrowful yet bitter whisper, Zhu Haomiao glanced at the imperious, passing ironclad warship, its Union Flag flapping haughtily on the mast, feeling an inexplicable sentiment and involuntarily chuckled.

Who would have thought, decades later, two world wars would crumble this mighty Sun Never Sets Empire...

History truly is fascinating... Perhaps in this magical version of the world, I could expedite her fall, aiding her and the proud Gallia to quickly achieve the disgrace of the Five Permanent powers...

Just then, Zhu Haomiao suddenly locked eyes with a figure on the deck of the ironclad warship, a mutual gaze across the distance, both seeing the gleaming metal on each other's chest.

Only one was a noble purple-gold, the other a dull black iron.

"Brother, did you notice something?"

On the ironclad warship, a beautiful blonde girl sensed her brother's gaze shift, curiously following his sight, yet found nothing.

"I saw a child of the Dragon."

"This is within China, isn't it normal for dragons to be born here?"

"He bears the Black Iron Dragon Emblem."

Upon hearing this, the blonde girl widened her eyes in disbelief.

"Black iron? Amateur level? Has China completed the Permanent Gate? Are they starting to open it to ordinary people? Wasn't it predicted that international development on this plane wouldn't begin until after the Ascension Competition?"

Listening to his curious sister, the young man cast a deep look at her and shook his head.

"He should be a contestant in this year's competition."

"Huh?"

The blonde girl glimpsed at her own golden badge on her chest, furrowing her brows tightly.

Isn't it said that China's contestants are all strong players?

How can an amateur be among them?

Is it someone using backdoor protection to get gilded?

Does such a person deserve to compete on the same stage with us?

Sensing his sister's dissatisfaction, the young man patted her head, hesitated for a long time, and earnestly advised.

"Tia, this Ascension Competition is completely different from before. You..."

Another silence ensued, the young man feeling heartache for the monsters his sister might face, looked at her with concern.

"Stay strong."

However, her brother's counsel baffled Tia, stay strong for what?

"Brother, you have such little faith in me? After all, I'm a Master! A 17-year-old Master! I'm in the top tier across Europe!"

Tia patted the golden badge on her chest, full of discontent.

The young man tousled his sister's blonde hair, wanting to say more but constrained by confidentiality rules, had to give a subtle warning.

"Be wary of those entering the Illusion Realm with a Black Iron Body, some monsters have come in this time... very terrifying monsters..."

Listening to her brother's ghostly whispers left chills down Tia's spine, yet his next words ignited her anger anew.

"In any case, relax, don't pressure yourself too much, and never doubt yourself. Surviving is an achievement; your goal this time is just to live one day at a time..."