Shouzhe Dug a Pit for the Prince

The Heavenly Auspice Sacred Dynasty's territory was extraordinarily vast.

Aside from the various Immortal Dynasties around it that were half-dependent or directly dependent on it, the Sacred Dynasty itself encompassed seven "circuits," forty-nine prefectures, three to four hundred commanderies, more than two thousand counties, and over ten thousand Citadel Cities. As for towns and villages, they were scattered like stars across the sky, too numerous to count.

Among them, Jiangnan Circuit enjoyed an exceptional location. Most of its lands were fertile and well-watered, its climate pleasant, and its Spirit Veins crisscrossed throughout. Though its land area accounted for only fifteen percent of the entire Heavenly Auspice Sacred Dynasty, the Spirit Rice it produced made up thirty-five percent of the dynasty's total output. It was known as the "Heavenly Auspice Granary."

Jiangnan Circuit's circuit capital.

As the capital of Jiangnan Circuit, this was the most prosperous place in all of Jiangnan. In previous years, crowds had flowed endlessly through its streets, and it had bustled with noise and splendor. This year, however, it seemed somewhat bleak.

Especially the East Rice Market of the circuit capital.

This rice market had always been famed for its bulk trade in Spirit Rice and spiritual herbs. Large and small merchants rooted here were as numerous as carp crossing a river, all making their living by purchasing and wholesaling Spirit Rice and spiritual herbs.

Yet this year, it was as though all the purchasers in the Sacred Dynasty had vanished together. The major shops of the once-thriving East Rice Market had become so deserted that sparrows could be caught at their doors.

Fortune Commerce was a typical rice-and-herb trading house. It was not the largest in the East Rice Market, but it was still one of the notable "giants."

The reason was simple. Fortune Commerce had