The Underground Forces of Ming Capital

Ming Capital did not have an entry system for outsiders like Shrek City did, so in terms of population alone, Ming Capital far surpassed Shrek City.

Such a massive population had naturally led to Ming Capital's ever-expanding boundaries.

"I really never expected our Ming Capital to have a place like this."

Looking at the buildings around them, which were even worse than the shantytowns from his previous life, Xu Tianming could not help but furrow his brow.

Everyone here wore numb expressions. Their ragged clothes could not even conceal their already emaciated bodies.

When they looked at outsiders, their wolfish eyes clearly held a trace of wariness.

Yet whenever Xu Tianming met their gazes, they would quickly look away in fear.

"This is the outermost area of Ming Capital. It is generally where commoners who cannot become Spirit Masters or Soul Engineers and lack any useful skills live."

Zhang Tiezhu was clearly already accustomed to the scene before him.

"These people have no source of income, so they can only gather on the outskirts of Ming Capital and engage in gray-market work."

Xu Tianming opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he could not utter a single word.

Even in his previous life, although Xu Tianming had been an orphan, he had merely lived a harder life. He had never gone without a full meal.

But the sight before him made him understand that Douluo Continent was ultimately a cruel world where strength reigned supreme.

Spirit Masters, nobles, and even the lofty God Kings all weighed upon these ordinary people, who had long since been starved to the bone.

"Our Sun Moon Empire is considered one of the better ones."

Seeing the pity on Xu Tianming's face, Zhang Tiezhu could not help but sigh.

"Thanks to the development of Soul Tools, the commoners of our Sun Moon Empire live fairly well."

"The neighboring Three Douluo Kingdoms still have slaves even now."

Xu Tianming nodded silently. Everything before him had struck him far too deeply.

"It is precisely because this place is such a mixed bag that it has become Ming Capital's famous Four-No-Control Zone."

As Zhang Tiezhu led Xu Tianming deeper into the slums with practiced ease, he explained.

"Four-No-Control Zone?"

Putting away the somewhat heavy expression on his face, Xu Tianming knew that there were some matters he simply could not resolve at present.

"What are the four things not controlled?"

Xu Tianming had spent too little time in Ming Capital and did not know much about its affairs.

"The first of the four is that the authorities do not control it."

Zhang Tiezhu raised one finger and suddenly sneered.

"Whether selling or buying rare metals and high-level Soul Tools, those are all businesses that can get your head chopped off."

"It is precisely because the authorities find this place too difficult to manage that it became a black market trading ground."

"As for the other three, they refer to Ming Capital's three largest underground forces."

At this point, Zhang Tiezhu raised two more fingers.

"The three major forces are the Xishui Alliance, the Pingfan Alliance, and the Aodu Chamber of Commerce."

"The Pingfan Alliance controls the entire sex industry of Ming Capital, while the Aodu Chamber of Commerce controls numerous assassins and thieves, specializing in shady work that cannot be brought into the light."

"What about the Xishui Alliance?"

Xu Tianming vaguely remembered that the Xishui Alliance was secretly controlled by the Holy Spirit Cult.

"Unlike those two old-established underground forces, the Xishui Alliance is a new force that has only risen in recent years."

A grave look flashed across Zhang Tiezhu's face.

"They dabble in everything from illegal drugs and arms trading to human trafficking."

"And it is said that the Xishui Alliance is filled with powerful experts, including several Title Douluo-level powerhouses."

Title Douluo were absolutely among the continent's most formidable combatants, even in this era of rapidly developing Soul Tools.

It was no wonder Zhang Tiezhu looked so grave. An underground force with Title Douluo was no small matter.

Xu Tianran has probably already begun cooperating with the Holy Spirit Cult, hasn't he?

Although the Shrek left behind by the Tang God King is a cancer upon the continent, the Holy Spirit Cult is even worse than Shrek!

Shrek's people were merely hypocritical and disgusting, but the Holy Spirit Cult could not even be called human. They were nothing more than a swarm of vermin!

The two passed through a somewhat dim passage. As the space before them suddenly opened up, countless noisy sounds instantly flooded Xu Tianming's ears.

Before Xu Tianming lay an extremely bustling street, completely unlike the lifeless slums outside.

"Let's take a look first. There are plenty of inferior goods here to make up the numbers, but there are also genuine treasures."

Zhang Tiezhu smiled, then led Xu Tianming onto the street.

Mu Jin platforms made of bluestone lined both sides of the street, and all kinds of items were placed upon them.

Rare metals, Secret Method Spirit Bones, high-level Soul Tools.

However, most of the Mu Jin platforms held nothing at all. Only the people behind them called out their wares.

"A thousand-year Evil Eye Tyrant skull..."

"A hundred-year Blood Ginseng..."

"A level-six defensive Soul Tool..."

Seeing Xu Tianming's puzzled expression, Zhang Tiezhu explained from beside him:

"This is a black market, after all. Although the three major underground forces jointly keep it in check, one should never flaunt one's wealth."

"If you take a fancy to something they are calling out, you have to go to their designated location to exchange money and goods at the same time."

Xu Tianming's eyes widened as he could not help asking, "What if the seller tries to rob the buyer?"

"If the seller can rob the buyer, then naturally the buyer can rob the seller. Those are the trading rules of the black market."

Zhang Tiezhu answered without even turning his head.

"...Fine. That is very black market."

Other than nodding, what else could Xu Tianming say?

"Hm?"

Just as Xu Tianming passed a certain stall, Electrolux, who had been quietly residing in his sea of consciousness, suddenly let out a soft sound.

"What is it, Elder Yi?"

Xu Tianming stopped almost instantly. Though his expression remained unchanged, he asked Electrolux in his heart.

"This stall... seems to carry the feeling of a divine artifact?"

Electrolux fell silent for a moment before speaking in an uncertain tone.

"A divine artifact?"

Xu Tianming's eyes immediately lit up.

His gaze swiftly fell upon the stall before him and its owner.

The stall owner was a somewhat scruffy middle-aged man with only one arm.

The stall displayed nothing but incomplete, rust-covered weapon fragments, and there did not seem to be anything valuable among them.

"What, did you spot something you like?"

Zhang Tiezhu also noticed Xu Tianming's unusual behavior and moved closer to ask.

As for the stall owner, he merely cast the two of them an indifferent glance. He did not greet them just because they had stopped in front of his stall.

"I've recently been researching how to use Forging Technique to repair damaged Soul Tools."

Xu Tianming made up an excuse casually, but his gaze continued sweeping over the various metal fragments on the stall.

"So I wanted to buy some metal fragments for research."