Douluo Continent: Little Huo Niang Taken Away by Di Tian

In the past few days, the city of Ming has been completely dark after nightfall.

Every household closed their doors and locked their windows. The only sound on the empty streets was the echoing hoofbeats of the patrolling imperial guards, which sent chills down people's spines.

The imperial purge came swiftly and ruthlessly—on the very day Xu Tianran was imprisoned, his faction of officials was uprooted like autumn leaves swept away by the wind.

Overnight, edicts ordering the confiscation of property were posted all over Zhuque Street. Those who had once fawned over the powerful were now silent, fearing that their names would also be written into that long list of "remnants of the Holy Spirit Cult".

The Ming capital above ground was as desolate as winter, while the underground world was a scene of frenzied slaughter and conquest.

With Ye Xishui's death, the Xishui Alliance instantly became leaderless.

With no leader, the Aodu Chamber of Commerce, which had been entrenched in Mingdu for many years, pounced like a hungry wolf, swallowing up all of the Xishui Alliance's underground businesses, including casinos, assassinations, smuggling, and human trafficking...

In this bloody reshuffling, the most fortunate person was none other than Shangguan Weier, the leader of the Ordinary Alliance.

She still remembers that night a few months ago when she defied all opposition and took the initiative to submit her pledge of allegiance to the Spirit Pagoda.

At the time, many elders in the alliance criticized her for being weak and for kneeling down too quickly, but Shangguan Weier withstood the pressure and did not waver.

In retrospect, that move saved the entire Ordinary Alliance.

It was precisely because of the powerful Spirit Pagoda behind them that An Litong of the Aodu Chamber of Commerce was willing to sit down and negotiate calmly, rather than resorting to violence like when he annexed the Xishui Alliance.

Shangguan Weier made a large sum of money through her underground businesses, cashed out, and left unscathed.

Meanwhile, An Litong, the president of the Aodu Chamber of Commerce, was sitting in a secret room on the top floor of the chamber.

The tea in front of him had long since gone cold, but his fingers were still tapping the table unconsciously as he replayed the scene of Xu Tianyuan's visit yesterday in his mind.

The newly appointed Imperial Marshal entered his study alone, without any attendants.

Xu Tianyuan didn't even sit down; he just stood there, his tone calm yet unquestionable:

"From this day forward, the dark business of Mingdu will be controlled by the Empire. The Aodu Chamber of Commerce will be the Empire's black glove."

An Litong stood up almost instinctively, both out of awe and because of the overwhelming sense of pressure that came from the Title Douluo level.

To become the empire's black glove.

This means that the Aodu Chamber of Commerce will henceforth monopolize the entire underground world of the Sun and Moon Empire, and wealth and power will flood in like a tide, with every gold coin in Mingdu flowing through its fingers.

But this also meant that they were now inextricably linked to the empire.

They step in when the empire needs underhanded tactics; they become expendable pawns when the empire needs to whitewash its image.

Opportunity and danger are like two sides of a knife, sharp enough to cut people.

An Litong picked up the cup of cold tea, drank it all in one gulp, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

"Black gloves..." he repeated the three words in a low voice, a smile or a bitter expression tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Outside the window, the night in Mingdu remained deep.

But beneath this city, everything has changed.

……

Outside Mingdu, at the Great Battle Arena.

This colossal structure, built specifically for this year's Continental Soul Master Tournament, was reopened just days after the finals concluded. An unprecedented solemnity enveloped the entire arena.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone on the huge arena in the center, illuminating every seam clearly.

Kong Deming stood in the center of the arena, dressed in a prince's ceremonial robe, his silver hair fluttering slightly in the wind.

Beside him, a stately-designed image-recording soul tool was already in place, its mirror-like screen reflecting the outline of the sky.

The audience seats were packed, but the scene was completely different from what it had been a few days earlier.

The strongest individuals from various countries sat in the front row. Behind them were Soul Masters from the Heavenly Soul, Battle Spirit, and Star Luo kingdoms.

Further on were the contestants from various countries in this year's Soul Master Competition. Huo Yutong... Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen... Vina... Xu Jiujiu... These young people still had the afterglow of the competition on their faces, but at this moment they were all eerily quiet.

On one side of the audience seats sat a group of "special" spectators. These were soul beasts, including Di Tian, ​​Xie Di, Bi Ji, Zi Ji, and Yao Ling Wang, who retained some of their soul beast characteristics and attended the event as "allies".

They held their breath and sat quietly there, side by side with the humans.

In the past, this would have been unthinkable. But today, nobody finds it strange.

"My name is Kong Deming." Kong Deming's voice resounded throughout the venue through the soul-guided loudspeaker, clear and steady. "Prince of the Sun Moon Empire, Level 9 Soul Master, Guardian Douluo, Silver Moon Douluo—and will also become the Regent after the new emperor ascends the throne."

The entire room fell silent.

"Today, I will preside over this assembly on behalf of His Majesty, who is gravely ill. Next—" He turned to the side, placing his palm on the recording device, "I will play the image of the edict left behind by His Majesty."

The soul guide device was activated, and with a buzzing sound, a beam of light was projected into the air.

The screen lit up, revealing Xu Mu's pale and gaunt face.

He leaned against the dragon bed, with Xu Tianzhen standing beside him, her eyes brimming with tears.

In the video, Xu Mu's voice is hoarse, yet every word carries immense weight:

"Gentlemen..."

"Previously, the relevant departments submitted a memorial requesting an increase of thirty coins in tax levied on each person..."

"The Holy Spirit Cult leader colluded with the corrupt officials of various nations, working together in cahoots... Its leader, Zhongli Wu, was promised the position of Imperial Preceptor by the Crown Prince, and its Supreme Leader, Ye Xishui, was appointed as the Guardian Douluo by the Crown Prince..."

"..."

"Because I have consulted with Confucius, I hereby proclaim to all virtuous men throughout the land that we shall gather in the capital—to eradicate the Holy Spirit Cult!"

"Since I ascended the throne, my actions have been largely arrogant and rebellious, causing immense suffering to the people. Now—I deeply regret it."

"From this day forward, all actions that harm the people or waste the nation's resources are hereby abolished!"

After the video finished playing, the screen slowly dimmed, and Kong Mingde restarted the recording mode.

The entire arena fell into a long silence.

In the contestants' stands, some clenched their fists. They remembered the conspiracy orchestrated by the Holy Spirit Cult in the Soul Master Competition, and the innocent Soul Masters who had been harmed by the evil Soul Masters.

The Soul Masters of the Three Kingdoms looked at each other, their eyes filled with both shock and relief. This undercurrent that had lasted for months was finally brought into the light.

Kong Deming turned around, faced the entire audience, and his voice suddenly rose in pitch:

"In this battle to eradicate the Holy Spirit Cult, righteous warriors from all nations fought side by side with the army of soul beasts! It was a war of united humans and beasts, a war of justice!"

"We have successfully eradicated the Holy Spirit Cult—its supreme leader Ye Xishui, leader Zhong Liwu, and other ringleaders have all been executed! But—" His gaze slowly swept across the human and spirit beast sections of the audience, his voice pausing slightly, "some humans and beasts also sacrificed their lives for it. We will forever remember them. They—are all heroes!"

He took a deep breath, his tone softening, carrying a weighty quality unique to the elderly, born of experience:

"Finally, our Sun Moon Empire takes full responsibility for what happened to the contestants during this Soul Master Competition. Every contestant will receive compensation and relief from the Empire. This is a promise, and also atonement."

After speaking, Kong Deming slowly took a step back, turning to the side to give up the center of the arena.

"under--"

His voice echoed through the arena, like the tolling of a bell heralding a new era:

"Please welcome the Sea God Pavilion Master—Mu En! and the Beast God—Di Tian!"