A Business Deal

In early August of the 2618th year of the Douluo Calendar, the Douluo Continent, which had been peaceful for nearly ten years, was once again engulfed in war. →

Just half a month after Ling Yi arrived in ' Heaven Dou City '.

Before Ling Yi could even receive a summons from Emperor Xue Rong in the palace, he was entrusted by Crown Xue Ye to go to the rear of the Heaven Dou Border Army to oversee operations and assist his former comrades, including Earl Ai'er Timosi, in contributing to the border army's logistics.

Of course, this is not free. In exchange, the Green Wood Merchant Association can take care of a portion of the logistical support and procurement for the Heaven Dou Border Army, about 20%.

Don't underestimate 20%. According to Ling Yi's information, even this small percentage was squeezed out only after Xue Ye painstakingly coordinated with various parties.

The forces of the Heaven Dou Border Army, and even the entire military of the Heaven Dou Empire, are deeply intertwined, involving numerous individuals and families. Every border conflict is a feast, with hundreds or even thousands of mouths waving knives and forks, waiting to be devoured!

On the way to the Fasinuo Province of the Heaven Dou Empire, Ling Yi rode on Treading Snow's back, recalling how he was transferred by the Water Wood Duchy, and together with Jiang Yuan, Li Zhishu and others, led an army of ten thousand to the front line of the battle between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire. Scenes flashed before his eyes.

I still remember that Li Zhishu was indignant about some of the dirty deeds of the Heaven Dou Border Army at that time.

Who would have thought that they themselves would one day find themselves in the position of holding knives and forks, sharing fish and meat?

A mocking smile appeared on Ling Yi's lips.

So, it turns out I'm a monster with a powerful background too!

To hate power, to envy power, and to become power.

At this moment, Ling Yi's emotional journey was quite fascinating.

A few days later, in the Fasinuo Province, more than seventy miles east of the Kelo City.

Walking through the familiar camp, before Ling Yi could even feel any sentimentality, he saw several figures hurrying towards him from a distance.

"Ah Yi—!" *N

Before they arrived, their voices preceded them. Ling Yi looked up and saw Ai'er Timosi, Lian Lai'en, Long Long, and others whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

quickening his pace, Ling Yi swiftly approached the group, laughing heartily, "Gentlemen, long time no see! How have you been?"

As they spoke, they met and stood face to face, sizing each other up with smiles in their eyes.

Of course, while Ai'er Timosi and the others were watching Ling Yi, Ling Yi's gaze kept shifting back and forth between Ai'er Timosi and the others.

"Good lad—!"

Ai'er Timosi stepped forward, slapped Ling Yi on the shoulder, and laughed loudly, saying, "I never expected that after leaving the border army, you would actually make such a name for yourself—!"

I vaguely remember the first time we met. It was October of the 2608th year of the Douluo Calendar. At that time, Ling Yi was just a Two-Ring Grand Soul Master, a lowly soldier who was openly and secretly ostracized by the officials of the Water Wood Duchy and ended up serving in the Heaven Dou Border Army.

Now, ten years later, Ling Yi has transformed into the third Divine Craftsman of the Douluo Continent, the vice president of the Blacksmith Association, the vice dean of the Heavenly Craft Advanced Soul Master Academy, the president of the Green Wood Merchant Association, and the city lord of Lingyun City. He is also known as "Seven Apertures Exquisite" because of his skill in social maneuvering and building a wide network of connections.

In addition, according to the latest news, Ling Yi seems to have broken through to the Five-Ring Soul King realm!

The thought of a 27-year-old Five-Ring Soul King filled everyone with envy, except for Long Long, including Ai'er Timosi and the others.

It's important to know that ten years ago, Ai'er Timosi was a level 58 Healing System Soul King. Now, ten years later, his strength is a level 66 Soul Emperor. If we don't consider the level 1 Soul Power boost from the 10,000-year Sixth Soul Ring, he has only increased by seven levels.

Ling Yi, however, broke through three major realms in a row, reaching nearly level thirty!

Faced with such speed, even Long Long, a rising star of the border army, paled in comparison.

Long Long, 33 years old, with the Mutated Martial Soul "Mirage Dragon Eye", is a level 59 Control-Type Battle Spirit Master.

Compared to when Ling Yi rescued her ten years ago, Long Long's Soul Power has increased by seventeen levels, which is quite fast.

Long Long, who is currently only one step away from level 60, is a truly outstanding genius even on the entire Douluo Continent.

It should be noted that Jiang Yuan, as the commander-in-chief sent by the Water Wood Duchy to the front lines of the two empires, was a Soul King of level 52 at the age of 34.

Of course, there is really no comparison between the two.

Jiang Yuan is a genius of the Water Wood Duchy, but the Water Wood Duchy is too small. Even though Jiang Yuan's talent is not much lower than Long Long's, the size and resources of the Water Wood Duchy make it difficult for Jiang Yuan to reach the upper limit of his talent.

With the backing of the Heaven Dou Border Army, Long Long could enjoy various cultivation resources and even the guidance of powerful figures, which Jiang Yuan could not match.

As they reminisced about their time working together, they shared their experiences over the years, and the initial awkwardness quickly dissipated, making them even more familiar with each other than they had been ten years ago.

Over the years, although the two sides have hardly met, Ling Yi has maintained contact with these people in the Heaven Dou Border Army through letters.

Just like a few years ago, when Ling Yi visited Ninth Prince Xue Xing under the name of Ai'er Timosi, he had already informed Ai'er Timosi in advance through their correspondence.

Without Ai'er Timosi's approval and notification, how Ling Yi find out about the intimate relationship between him and Xue Xing?

Even if he finds out on his own, without Ai'er Timosi's tacit approval, if Ling Yi goes to their door under their name, Xue Xing and Ai'er Timosi will eventually discover Ling Yi's scheming behind the scenes, and their impression of him will inevitably be ruined.

The group chatted as they walked back to the main tent. After dismissing their attendants, only Ai'er Timosi, Lian Lai'en, Long Long, and Ling Yi remained in the tent.

"Ahem! Ah Yi, His Highness the Crown Prince already gave you advance notice before your arrival."

Ai'er Timosi first glanced at Lian Lai'en and Long Long, seeing that they both had a "you tell me" attitude, he could only glare at them impatiently, then coughed lightly and said to Ling Yi:

"Now, we'd like to ask what your plans are. Does the Green Wood Merchant Association have enough manpower? Do you need our help?"

"If you encounter any difficulties, don't hesitate to ask us for help; we've known each other for a long time..."

At this point, a hint of awkward embarrassment flashed across Ai'er Timosi's face.

Ling Yi's face showed no change in response, maintaining his usual calm and gentle smile.

"My Lord Earl..."

"Why!"

Before Ling Yi say anything, Ai'er Timosi raised his hand to interrupt, saying with some displeasure, "Didn't I already say that? Why are you still addressing me like that?"

"Uh..." Ling Yi paused for a moment upon hearing this, then chuckled and shook his head, "It's my fault, it's my fault, brother is right to scold me~"

"That's more like it~"

→

Upon hearing Ling Yi change his tune, Ai'er Timosi immediately slapped his thigh and said with a chuckle.

"Okay~"

At that moment, Lian Lai'en spoke up, speaking Ling Yi, "Ah Yi, continue with your thoughts, ignore this fatso."

After saying that, she glared at Ai'er Timosi with annoyance.

Ai'er Timosi gritted his teeth at this, but considering that her husband was Soul Emperor and her father was Soul Saint, he ultimately just gritted his teeth.

"Brother, Sister Lian Lai'en, and Brother Long Long, tell me first, who did His Highness the Crown Prince get that 'two-tenths' from?"

Ling Yi calmly asked a question that made Ai'er Timosi and the other two feel uncomfortable.

About an hour later, the camp fell into a silent stillness.

Ling Yi frowned slightly, tapping the armrest of the chair beneath him with his right index finger as he silently pondered something.

The three people opposite Ai'er Timosi and his companion, looked relieved.

The three of them, who had some connection with Ling Yi, were chosen as representatives for the exchange, and they had always felt a considerable psychological burden.

In the past hour or so, they have laid out the intricate web of interests within the border army to Ling Yi. Now they are naturally much more relaxed, just waiting for Ling Yi's response. The outcome is no longer of much concern to them.

Don't underestimate Ling Yi just because he's currently only a Healing System Soul King. In terms of cultivation level, he's still below Ai'er Timosi, a Healing System Soul Emperor. But that's because Ling Yi has such a powerful network of connections behind him.

Even disregarding the Blacksmith Association and the Heavenly Craft Academy located far away in the Star Luo Empire, Ling Yi's own Green Wood Merchant Association and Lingyun City also openly have a Control System seven-ring Battle Soul Saint, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, Dugu Bo.

Not to mention, according to the latest news from spies planted in Lingyun City by various parties, just last year, a father and son with the surname Chen settled in Lingyun City.

Although the exact strength of this father and son is still unclear, they should be at least Seven-Ring Soul Sage!

Many people can't understand how a mere Lingyun City and a mere Ling Yi could make Soul Saint- level expert willingly join their ranks.

First there was "Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor" Dugu Bo, and then there were two father and sons surnamed Chen.

Dugu Bo is understandable, since he became close friends with Ling Yi when he was still Soul Emperor, and his son Dugu Xin is a big fan of Ling Yi. It's understandable that he would continue to support Ling Yi after breaking through to Soul Saint.

What exactly was the reason that father and son chose to settle in Lingyun City?

Although it's just settling down and doesn't count as joining ' Lingyun City ', what's the difference between this situation and joining?

If possible, 99% of the forces in the Douluo Continent would be willing to offer extremely generous terms, as long as the Soul Saint father and son settle there.

Soul Saint is ultimately a powerful figure who has entered the upper echelons of the Douluo Continent's Martial Soul system.

In this era where Titled Douluo have become legends and Soul Douluo have only appeared briefly, Soul Saint are the face of the continent.

Just like the brothers Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, they only started traveling the continent together after reaching the Soul Saint, gradually making a name for themselves.

Behind those forces that were able to reap the benefits of those "unspoken rules" during the war between the two great empires, there were all sorts of people, from Soul King to Soul Saint. Depending on their strength, some got more and some got less.

But this time, Ling Yi suddenly appeared and insisted on taking 20% of the share, which was like cutting flesh from everyone's body.

If it weren't for the fact that Ling Yi was backed by the Soul Douluo Tie Futu, Yang Shelly by the Breaking Clan, the Speed Clan with its ongoing transactions with the Heavenly Craft Academy, and Tai Tan, the honorary vice president of the Blacksmith Association and patriarch of the Strength Clan, three of the Four Single-Attribute Clans would have direct ties with him. Furthermore, the existence of the Clear Sky Sect couldn't be ignored. Even though the Green Wood Merchant Association and Lingyun City had Dugu Bo backing them, the various forces within the Heaven Dou Border Army would likely not allow Ling Yi to reach the border alive.

He's just Seven-Ring Soul Sage. Among the Heaven Dou Border Army, which of those who take a large share doesn't have a powerful backer?

The top-level members include even Soul Douluo, though they generally don't show their faces.

Since Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen swept through all the older generation of Titled Douluo- level beings, the top-level combat power of the Soul Master World in the Douluo Continent has fallen into a period of transition.

In this situation, almost every Soul Douluo is looking forward to whether they can become the new Titled Douluo.

In addition, although Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect has only become well-known in the Soul Saint level and above circles in the last year or two, Tang Xiao's prestige was established several years ago.

How was it set up?

It was created by using the "Clear Sky Hammer" in his hand!

No one wanted to be the target of the Tang Family brothers' challenge, especially when the chances of being defeated were high.

Although these two brothers are currently only Soul Saint and generally only Battle Soul Saint, they almost never recklessly Battle Soul Douluo, but everyone knows that it won't be long before these two brothers break through to the Soul Douluo realm.

The Soul Douluo on the Douluo Continent today are all people who have personally witnessed the era when Tang Chen dominated the Douluo Continent.

No one wanted to become a stepping stone for the Tang Family brothers, so they all chose to go into seclusion to cultivate, both to truly pursue a breakthrough and to avoid being targeted by the Tang Family brothers.

In this situation, the forces represented by Ling Yi are poised to take a significant bite out of the new rivalry between the two empires, and Soul Douluo will not intervene unless absolutely necessary.

Thus, facing Ling Yi, the city lord of Lingyun City, who has three Soul Saint behind him, the various forces chose to make contact first and see how things went.

As for His Highness the Crown Prince, as long as Ling Yi can reach an agreement, I think His Highness won't care about these minor details.

Of course, if negotiations with Ling Yi fail, they won't do anything; they'll simply hand over their share as instructed by His Highness the Crown Prince.

Those in high positions will certainly not be short of food themselves; Ling Yi's share will definitely be taken from those Soul King and Soul Emperor level forces.

Furthermore, with the two great empires at war, and the battlefield fraught with danger, Ling Yi was merely a Healing System Soul King with no power to even kill a chicken. He could easily be killed in an instant. It was understandable that the various forces of the Heaven Dou Border Army were powerless to help due to their distance.

I imagine His Highness the Crown Prince won't blame them.

As for the three Soul Saint, ' Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor ' Dugu Bo and the Chen Family father and son who settled in ' Lingyun City ', even if they wanted revenge, they should seek it out on the Star Luo Empire's military. What business is it of their friendly forces, the Heaven Dou Border Army?

As various pieces of information swirled in his mind, Ling Yi quickly deduced all the possibilities. His brows gradually smoothed out, and a faint smile returned to the corners of his mouth.

That's more like it!

"If you can't figure this out, Xue Ye, you'll really disappoint me, and this game will be too boring—"

Thinking of this, Ling Yi turned to look at Ai'er Timosi and the other two, and asked with a smile, "The three of you, would you be interested in doing business with the million-strong border army?"

Goodnight everyone~