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After the day of martial soul awakening ended, Qin Xu rarely left the palace.

Besides focusing on cultivation, he also began familiarizing himself with the Black Dragon Duchy's conditions and affairs of state.

The Black Dragon Duchy lay in the northwestern corner of the original Douluo Continent. To its north were the North Sea and the Far North Ice Plains; to its west, it faced the Sun Moon Empire across the North Sea and the Mingluo Mountain Range. To its south lay the Heavenly West Province of the Heaven Dou Empire, and to its east, the empire's Heavenly North Province. Its southeastern border adjoined the empire's Imperial Capital Region, giving it a total area of approximately 2.7 million square kilometers.

On the vast Douluo Continent, such an area was not particularly large—it was the standard size of a province. Back when it had been the Heaven Dou Empire's Xihe Province, it had ranked only in the lower-middle range among the empire's nine great provinces.

In the final census taken before the Black Dragon Duchy's founding, Xihe Province had a population of approximately one hundred million. Its registered soul masters, including Soul Scholars, numbered fewer than a million, accounting for less than one percent of the population. No one could say just how much that figure had been padded.

As a duchy, the Black Dragon Duchy enjoyed an extremely high degree of autonomy. Apart from nominally belonging to the Heaven Dou Empire, paying annual taxes, and lacking independent diplomatic authority, it was practically no different from an independent country. At the very least, it was on par with the independent duchies and kingdoms in the continent's history, if not beyond them.

Historically, the duchies and kingdoms of the Heaven Dou Empire had never controlled the empire's armies, yet the Black Dragon Duchy genuinely commanded an elite army of the Heaven Dou Empire.

The Black Dragon Legion had formerly been the Heaven Dou Empire's Northern Legion. After the Black Dragon Duchy was established, the entire formation had been reorganized as the Black Dragon Legion. This was an elite army numbering 150,000, with nearly thirty thousand soul masters alone!

This was the fruit of the Qin Family's many years of control over the Northern Legion.

Besides the Black Dragon Legion, the Black Dragon Duchy also possessed an army composed entirely of soul masters, called the Black Armor Guards. Once the Black Dragon Duke's private household troops, they had originally numbered only one thousand. After the duchy's founding, they had expanded to five thousand, every one of them a soul master with at least one Soul Ring.

This was also one of the reasons the Heaven Dou Emperor paid such close attention to the Qin Family.

They truly had the power to rebel!

Overall, the existence of the Black Dragon Legion and the Black Armor Guards placed the Black Dragon Duchy fifth alongside the continent's four countries. Although it was still an insignificant small fry compared with the other four countries and Shrek Academy, it at least had a ticket to the table.

The future would be even better.

Every day, apart from cultivating, Qin Xu followed Qin Tianji to the military camps of the Black Dragon Legion or the Black Armor Guards to visit the officers and soldiers. Though it was exhausting, he never tired of it. These people were all part of his foundation.

This routine would continue for a month, until he entered the Soul Master Academy to study.

One day, Qin Xu had a rare half-day of leisure, so he brought Zhang Lexuan along, planning to stroll around Yongdu City.

"Your Highness, shall I prepare a carriage?" Ge Nie, the palace steward, hurried over upon learning that Qin Xu wished to leave the palace.

"Grandpa Ge, there's no need for all that trouble. Sister Lexuan and I intend to dress the white dragon as a fish and make an incognito visit," Qin Xu said with a smile. "Just come along with us."

"As you command," Ge Nie replied.

Ge Nie, the palace steward, was a Soul Douluo and had once been the captain of the previous duke Qin Zhu's personal guards. He had played an indispensable role in ensuring Qin Xu survived the Heaven Dou Rebellion five years ago, so Qin Xu was very close to him. After all, he was a loyal retainer who had protected him even in the direst straits. Calling him Qin Xu's Zhao Yun would be no exaggeration.

The three left the palace and entered Yongdu City.

As the capital of the Black Dragon Duchy, Yongdu City had long been known as "the fifth city under heaven." It was the largest city in the northern Douluo Continent, even more prosperous and flourishing than Lingdou City, the capital of the Dou Ling Empire, which also lay in the continent's north.

The so-called "fifth city under heaven" came from a ranking of the continent's cities devised by a group of busybodies. First under heaven was naturally Shrek Academy's Shrek City. Second, third, and fourth were respectively Mingdu of the Sun Moon Empire, Heaven Dou City of the Heaven Dou Empire, and Star Luo City of the Star Luo Empire. Next came Yongdu City.

As "the fifth city under heaven," Yongdu City was most famous for its horse market. It had the largest, longest-running horse market on the entire continent, with the greatest number of horses and the highest-quality stock. Moreover, the headquarters of the continent's largest horse supplier, the Dragon Horse Commerce Association, stood in Yongdu City's East District.

The Dragon Horse Commerce Association was one of the three great commerce associations of the Douluo Continent, monopolizing nearly seventy percent of its horse trade. From warhorses to packhorses, from expensive, rare soul beast horses to cheap, ordinary horses, it stocked everything and covered every category. Its signature Hornscale Horses were popular across the continent, while its most expensive Dragon Vein Horses were exclusive mounts for nobles.

The owner behind the Dragon Horse Commerce Association was none other than the Black Dragon Qin Family.

In fact, the Qin Family's ancestors had first made their fortune by raising and selling horses. At the time, however, their horses had only enjoyed some influence in the continent's northwest. It was not until around the founding of the Heaven Dou Empire that the Qin Family's horse business had truly spread throughout the continent and even formed a monopoly. Indeed, the greatest credit still belonged to the Black Dragon Douluo, Qin Fei!

With his far-reaching vision, Qin Fei had first secured the Dan Mountain Grassland, the finest horse-breeding land in the continent's north. Then he had mastered the techniques for breeding and taming Hornscale Horses, which were soul beasts. Finally, he had even produced Dragon Vein Horses with dragon bloodlines, dealing the continent's other horse traders a decisive killing blow.

By now, the Qin Family not only monopolized the civilian horse market but also held half the military horse market—not just in the Douluo Three Kingdoms, but in the Sun Moon Empire as well. Had every country not maintained its own military stud farms, the Qin Family would truly have unified the continent through the horse market.

Besides horses, the Dragon Horse Commerce Association was involved in and exerted deep control over every horse-related product, such as carriages and tack. It could be said that wherever horses were used on the continent, traces of the Dragon Horse Commerce Association could be found.

Through this, the Qin Family had amassed enormous wealth. In terms of riches alone, probably only the Sun Moon Imperial Family and the Heavenly Soul Royal Family could rival it on the continent.

Dragon Horse Avenue, named for the Dragon Horse Commerce Association's headquarters located there, was one of Yongdu City's most prosperous areas. Along this avenue, not only the Dragon Horse Commerce Association but also other leading commerce associations on the continent, such as the White Lotus Merchant Association and the Glazed Tile Commerce Association, had opened shops. Their goods encompassed practically everything currently available on the market.

"Sister Lexuan, let's look around the Glazed Tile Commerce Association first," Qin Xu said, pointing at a magnificent building. An enormous nine-story pagoda emblem stood atop it, and the entire building was decorated with the utmost extravagance. Even in the sunlight, it glittered so brightly that it dazzled the eyes.

"Sure," Zhang Lexuan replied.

"Welcome to the Glazed Tile Commerce Association!" two tall, voluptuous greeters called out, bowing at the waist as their lanterns swayed.

Qin Xu and his two companions walked straight into the commerce association. The moment they entered the main hall, a dignified, elegant staff member approached with a radiant smile. "Welcome to the Glazed Tile Commerce Association. Would our three honored guests like a guide?"

Her gaze fell on the three of them, a smile on her face. As professionally trained lobby guides, they were required to learn not to judge people by their appearance. They had to smile at every guest who entered the commerce association, especially in a major city like Yongdu City, where soul masters and nobles could be found everywhere.

"The VIP section," Qin Xu said.

"Of course. Please follow me." The guide immediately led them to the VIP section on the third floor, then said, "I won't disturb you any further. May all three honored guests find what they desire and return with their arms full!"

The Glazed Tile Commerce Association belonged to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and was renowned for its all-encompassing selection of goods. People said that as long as one had money, one could buy anything there. That was, of course, an exaggeration, but it still revealed the Glazed Tile Commerce Association's business philosophy: they really did sell everything.

However, as one of the continent's leading commerce associations, the Glazed Tile Commerce Association was naturally more than a middleman that sold everything. It also had its own distinctive, exclusive products: gemstones—or, more accurately, a rare-mineral industry with gemstones as its hallmark.

"Sister Lexuan, this necklace is really pretty. Would you like to try it on?" Qin Xu and Zhang Lexuan stopped before a display case. Seeing the gemstone necklace inside, with its mingling purple and gold, Qin Xu immediately spoke to her.

"Young master, your eye and taste are truly superb!" A salesperson appeared instantly, her face brimming with enthusiasm. After offering that compliment, she explained excitedly, "This Heart of the Bright Moon is a gemstone necklace personally designed and crafted by a master artisan of our Glazed Tile Commerce Association. It suits this young lady's bearing perfectly!

"Miss, would you like to try it on and see how it looks?"

"Certainly." Seeing the anticipation on Qin Xu's face, Zhang Lexuan agreed with a smile.

"Wonderful. I'll take it out for you right away." The salesperson's smile grew even brighter. She hurriedly opened the display case, carefully took out the Heart of the Bright Moon, and presented it to Qin Xu and Zhang Lexuan.

Meanwhile, another salesperson appeared before Qin Xu and Zhang Lexuan with a mirror, her timing impeccable.

"Sister Lexuan, I'll put it on for you," Qin Xu said, picking up the necklace.

"All right!" Zhang Lexuan agreed with a beaming smile, then bent down, lowering her jade-smooth neck to a height that made it easy for Qin Xu to fasten the necklace.

Although Qin Xu was very mature mentally, he was only six years old, after all, and just 130 centimeters tall. Compared with Zhang Lexuan, who was already fifteen and nearly 170 centimeters tall, he was still at something of a disadvantage.

The Heart of the Bright Moon truly suited Zhang Lexuan. Once she wore it, it added a touch of nobility and maturity to her bearing. The purple gemstones lent elegance, while the golden gemstones added splendor, making her already breathtaking beauty even more dazzling.

"So beautiful," Qin Xu could not help exclaiming.

"Yes, truly beautiful! Miss, with the Heart of the Bright Moon around your neck, you look absolutely flawless, beyond reproach!" the first salesperson hurriedly agreed, her face filled with envy. The other salesperson holding the mirror also nodded repeatedly in approval.

"Haha!" Zhang Lexuan chuckled, her smile as gentle and lovely as the bright moon.

"We'll take it!" With a grand wave of his hand, Qin Xu made the decision outright. Hearing him, Ge Nie immediately stepped forward to pay. Qin Xu paid no attention to the price, naturally taking Zhang Lexuan's delicate hand and leaving the display case.

Seeing this, the two salespeople waved with broad smiles. "Thank you both for your patronage. Take care!"

After buying the Heart of the Bright Moon, Qin Xu and Zhang Lexuan saw nothing else that interested them, so they simply wandered hand in hand. Ge Nie followed silently behind them, playing the part of a competent butler.

"The Glazed Tile Commerce Association's gemstone jewelry is the only thing here worth looking at. The other goods are all pretty ordinary. Nothing novel," Qin Xu complained.

"Hehe." Zhang Lexuan chuckled and said, "Little Brother Xu, your standards are too high. Didn't we just see plenty of Soul Tools, spiritual herbs, medicinal pills, and even Soul Bones? Those are treasures you rarely get to see elsewhere!"

"I suppose that's true." Qin Xu thought for a moment, then nodded. "When you stand too high, it really is hard to see the scenery below!"

Although Yongdu City's Glazed Tile Commerce Association was not the headquarters in Heaven Dou City, it did indeed have quite a few fine items. Its prized treasure, for instance, was a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone. To Qin Xu, that truly was rather ordinary, but to the vast majority of soul masters, it was unquestionably a fine treasure.

"Little Brother Xu, why don't we visit the White Lotus Merchant Association? They should have quite a few novel goods there," Zhang Lexuan suggested.

"Sure!" Qin Xu immediately agreed.