Disorder in Wangbei City

Just then, the office door was pushed open.

The Vice Hall Master said cautiously, "Hall Master, this Gu Changfeng is from the Spirit Hall Academy. He just happened to be passing through our branch hall, so we thought we'd bring him over to take a look."

Watt was very considerate of his junior, immediately changing his demeanor and warmly greeting him, "Junior, which year are you in? Perhaps we've met before at the academy?"

The assistant shopkeeper tactfully left the office, closing the door behind him.

Watt warmly walked over to the teapot and poured Wu Qi a cup of water.

Wu Qi sat on the sofa and shook his head. "We couldn't possibly have met, because I never studied at the Spirit Hall Academy, not even for a single day."

Watt's expression stiffened. He couldn't sense any Soul Power fluctuations from the other person, and his face immediately darkened. He assumed that the other person was a conman who had come here to scam people out of food and drink.

However, Wu Qi's next words dispelled his concerns.

"I heard Chang Kong came here. Did he not misuse the Papal Order?"

This tone clearly indicates that the two are very good friends.

Watt served tea, sat down beside him, and asked, "May I ask who you are?"

Upon learning Wu Qi's identity, Watt was both surprised and delighted. "I never expected you to be the Team Captain of the Seven Treasures Team. I bet not many people outside know that you're a member of the Spirit Hall, right?"

Wu Qi offered no explanation, simply laughing it off.

"Your strength is not weak either; you're already Soul King. According to the rules of the Spirit Hall, your next step is to apply for a transfer to a higher-level Spirit Hall Branch, or to Deacon as a deacon in the Sacred Hall."

Watt shook his head with a wry smile, "I can't even sense your Soul Power fluctuations; your Soul Power Level must be above mine. Indeed, the gap between geniuses is like the difference between clouds and mud."

He paused, then added, "I can't leave yet. You don't know this, but the City Lord Mansion in Wangbei City basically does nothing. The powerful families in the city are amassing wealth everywhere, causing widespread suffering among the people."

"I can just pack up and leave, but even the future Hall Master, no matter how ambitious, couldn't handle these families."

Wu Qi countered, "Brother Hick has already told me about what's going on in the city, so you want to finish dealing with things before being transferred?"

Watt shook his head again. "No. I won't leave unless I get a transfer order from above."

"You should have noticed that the Spirit Hall is no longer the Spirit Hall it once was. Spirit Hall all over the continent are extorting and plundering, some even charging for Martial Soul Awakening. Wangbei City is one of the few exceptions; without my suppression, it would have fallen too."

With the "Elder" of the Qiangu Changkong as his backer, Watt now holds absolute power within the temple. With him around, the original atmosphere can barely be maintained.

But without him, even if the next Hall Master is unwilling to do so, he will not be able to control his Subordinate.

Wu Qi suddenly smiled and said, "You should have realized that the Spirit Hall's 'transformation' is a top-down change."

Bibi Dong only knows how to fight for power and profit, and her control over the lower-level personnel has weakened. She has also started to deduct salaries. It would be strange if these lower-level personnel did not levy exorbitant taxes!

Watt smiled wryly, "For us, the Papal Hall is too far away, an unattainable existence."

"I don't agree with what the higher-ups are doing, but there's nothing I can do to change it. Defending Wangbei City is my only wish."

Wu Qi smiled calmly, "As long as you stay true to yourself, Chang Kong and I will support you."

"By the way, could you arrange a meeting so I can meet those Clan Head?"

These Clan Head will still give face to the Spirit Hall.

But it didn't work.

Watt complained, "These people are all incredibly cunning. Even if you invite them out, they'll just play games, agreeing to everything in words but never carrying it out behind your back."

"If you really have a way to take them down, I can step in. If not, perhaps you should think about it some more?"

"They don't know you, so the success rate of winning them over on the first meeting is very high. Conversely, once they figure out your personality, things will become more difficult."

Wu Qi waved his hand. "No problem, let's get the game started."

The two sides talked for a long time, and finally Watt respectfully saw Wu Qi off.

Before contacting the major families, Wu Qi needed to investigate some things; he couldn't just be clueless.

The Vice Hall Master couldn't help but lean closer to Watt and ask, "Hall Master Excellency, who is that? Even you treat him with such respect?"

Watt glanced at him, worried that the Vice Hall Master would ruin things, and warned, "Stop your little schemes. That person's status in the Spirit Hall is even higher than that of Qiangu Changkong."

"Offend him, and plenty of people will be eager to offer their heads."

Watt's words were exaggerated, but they weren't entirely wrong.

Wu Qi has completed his training in the Slaughter City, and his position within the Spirit Hall is unshakeable.

He is even qualified to compete for the next Pope, should the opportunity arise.

Such an existence is almost certain to break through to the Super Douluo in the future, and it won't take too long.

I just don't know how far he'll ultimately go.

Limit Douluo? Or even higher?

The Vice Hall Master shrank back and quickly relayed the information to the other Deacon to avoid any mishaps.

Wangbei City is a small city, about the same size as Notting City.

Compared to other small cities, commerce here is extremely scarce. You can't even see elderly farmers carrying loads of fruits and vegetables on the streets.

There were many pedestrians on the road, but they all looked listless, clearly worried about making a living.

Before long, Wu Qi sensed the sounds of arguing coming from afar.

"Your Honor, these vegetables are homegrown, not stolen."

Unexpectedly, the officials ignored him and still tried to confiscate the old man's vegetables. At the same time, in order to show magnanimity, the officials said they would not arrest the old man, but would only give him a verbal reprimand.

Isn't this a typical case of collusion between officials and businessmen, and market monopoly?

Has the City Lord Mansion "fallen"?

Not necessarily.

According to Watt, all the previous Wangbei City came here to gain experience and then left when their terms were up.

Since they don't want to establish a deep presence in the city, there's no need for them to engage in this collusion between officials and merchants. Most likely, it's just that the soldiers in charge of the city guards have been bribed by a few powerful families.

Goods from other places are confiscated as soon as they enter the city, while the prices of goods within the city are set however the major families want.

In the past, there were Mountain Bandits, and the major families dared not push people too hard, lest they force good people to become bandits and take over their property.

Now that the Mountain Bandits are gone, the major families' worries have been eliminated at the root, and these people are gradually showing their fangs.

Some things, if you don't see them, you can ignore them; but if you do see them, there's no reason to ignore them!

Just as the officials were about to make their move, Wu Qi grabbed the man's wrist and said calmly, "Heaven is watching what people do. If you commit evil in this life, you will be a slave in the next!"

"Who the hell are you?!" The officer tried to pull his hand away, but couldn't break free.

"What are you guys standing there for? This is a fugitive Mountain Bandits. Let's catch him and claim the reward!"