Douluo Continent: Angel Saint Huo Yuhao

Chapter 272 Chamber of Commerce
Given the environment of Mingdu, even the kindest person could not survive here.

The open and covert struggles never ceased, and in just twenty years, three rounds of power changes occurred, with the underground black market also fluctuating amidst these turbulent waves.

Countless level nine soul masters who got involved were killed...

"If we really judge people by your criteria, you can't find many good people in the entire Mingdu... No, your kind should be called saints!"

Ye Guyi looked at Yu Mengdi with amusement. Although the two were the same age, their mental states were like those of different generations. One was a seasoned veteran who had been through many years of hardship, while the other was a model student who had never experienced the harsh realities of society.

"No matter how corrupt the Aodu Chamber of Commerce is, it has not killed innocent people or disrupted social stability. Compared with other forces, it is a rare clean place."

Ye Guyi gave her assessment without any politeness, and then cast a strange glance over Yu Mengdi: "Or perhaps you want to visit the Ordinary Alliance or the Evening Water Alliance?"

"Hmm... never mind then. The Chamber of Commerce is fine."

Yu Mengdi suddenly shivered.

These two places are literally ruthless and cannibalistic; once you're sent in, you'll never get out.

"It's good that you've figured it out..."

Huo Yuhao casually flipped through the intelligence, his thoughts already wandering elsewhere: "However, what you said isn't entirely wrong."

The Aodu Chamber of Commerce is ultimately a smuggling organization that can't be brought to the table. It's impossible for it not to have some dirty deeds behind the scenes. In addition, its structure is loose and there are few strong people at the top. It will take a good deal of reorganization after it is brought under control.

At least, we should weed out those who aren't entirely clean first.

"At this point, purification power alone cannot achieve the goal. Without an evil martial spirit, killing many people will not leave many traces. The more upright the martial spirit, the easier it is for the executioner to hide in the crowd."

Huo Yuhao was unusually troubled.

His years of spiritual practice had almost made him develop a habit of solving everything with violence, and now this troublesome matter had suddenly appeared.

"By the way, your power of destiny should be able to include humans as well, right?"

After some thought, Huo Yuhao's mind turned to the auspicious beast: "If they sincerely worship you..."

"I'm sorry. I can't do it. Don't look for me."

The auspicious beast retorted, retorting with its remaining words: "I carry the destiny of the Stars and possess the identity of a Soul Beast Emperor. If I really want to do something like this, I should at least change my race setting first, right?"

have to.

He knew that things wouldn't always go as planned.

……

"His Royal Highness."

A figure burst into Xu Tianran's study under the cover of night, kneeling on one knee: "This operation concerning the Aodu Chamber of Commerce... has failed. We waited until the scheduled withdrawal time but did not receive a signal, so I took it upon myself to bring the team back."

"Oh?"

Xu Tianran casually responded without paying any attention, his focus remaining on the memorial in his hand.

His elderly father has been ill for so long that he is completely incoherent and the last time he met with the officials was a year ago, so naturally only he can review the memorials.

If the Holy Spirit Church hadn't remained silent out of consideration for their past kindness in taking him in, that old man would have been buried long ago by Xu Tianran, this filial son, and posthumously honored as an emperor.

Of course, evil spirit masters don't care about sentimentality. They are simply afraid that Xu Tianran will ascend the throne too early and consolidate the various forces of the Sun Moon Empire before the war breaks out, thus breaking away from the control of the Holy Spirit Cult.

"Your Highness!"

The figure lowered its head even further, as if waiting for something.

“He’s just an outsider. Father Emperor said ten years ago that the imperial family was too numerous, and the resulting support system was too bloated.” Xu Tianran finally turned his gaze to the lean old man kneeling before him: “Right now, he’s ill, and I can’t openly disobey Father Emperor’s wishes.”

"Yes…"

The old man's beard twitched, and he finally accepted reality with a long sigh.

Although Wang Shaojie was his favored junior, he was insignificant compared to the interests of the clan. Xu Tianran planned to use such people as expendable resources to pry open the black market, and they had no choice but to follow his instructions.

But... the risks involved in going undercover at a mere fourth-level position are self-evident.

When he couldn't get a signal, he realized that his grandchildren were truly not coming back.

"Subordinates retire."

"…slow!"

Xu Tianran suddenly spoke up to stop him, tossing over a letter tucked between the pages of a book: "Send this secret letter to that Xuan Ziwen. I want to see where his heart really lies."

"As ordered!"

The old man's heart skipped a beat.

Kong Deming's name was known to everyone in the Sun and Moon Empire, and his status was extremely high. He was even considered the source of the Sun and Moon Empire's confidence in negotiating cooperation with the Holy Spirit Church.

But this staunch royalist apprentice was unclear about his stance, rejecting any attempts to win him over, and ended up living a lonely life wandering around.

Xu Tianran would never easily let go of someone who has the potential to grow into a top-tier fighter and possesses considerable research capabilities.

"Whether it's coercion or bribery..."

Watching the old man turn and leave, Xu Tianran tapped the table in the empty study, as if victory was assured: "You can't escape!"

……

"The Evening Water Alliance are evil soul masters."

"Wang Shaojie is a traitor."

A middle-aged man, around forty years old, listened quietly to the message coming from the soul-guided device. Although the description on the other end of the receiver was extremely chaotic and disorganized, he remained calm and silent, extracting the key points from the man's frantic report.

He is An Litong, the person in charge of the Aodu Chamber of Commerce.

Having managed to secure support from numerous nobles and the military, and leading the entire merchant guild with a cultivation level of less than nine rings, he naturally possessed his own set of principles for dealing with people.

However, the information that followed left him somewhat bewildered.

"The Holy Spirit Cult? The Limit Douluo? A young man backed by a Limit Douluo?"

An Litong was almost overwhelmed by this series of messages, his eyes widening in confusion: "Xiao Deng... are you sure what he said is true?"

"Absolutely true! I personally experienced the aura emanating from him!"

The host, recalling the scene just now, couldn't help but tremble as he held the receiver: "I suspect there's always been a Limit Douluo—at the very least, a powerhouse who has touched the limit level—guarding him! It's just that I'm not capable enough to discover it."

"... "

Hearing such a guarantee from his trusted subordinate, An Litong completely lost his composure, and the dignity and nobility he had cultivated for many years were shattered by a single piece of news.

If your cultivation level is insufficient, no matter how much wealth you possess or how high your position, it's all meaningless.

Everything is vulnerable in the face of a true powerhouse.

(End of this chapter)