Golden Guard

Haiyuan City, this relatively underdeveloped coastal city of the Star Luo Empire, had undergone earth-shaking changes compared to the past.

Many uniquely shaped buildings of vastly different styles had appeared throughout its streets and alleys. Blending novel design concepts with elements of Soul Tool Technology, they possessed a distinctive charm.

At the same time, a large number of convenient and practical Soul Tools had quietly appeared throughout the city at some unknown point. Like stars scattered across the sky, they dotted every corner of the city and brought unprecedented convenience to its residents' lives.

Along both sides of the streets, Soul Guiding Lamps emitted bright yet gentle light. Even on the darkest nights, they illuminated the entire city as brightly as day.

Several newly opened Soul Tool stores bustled with activity. Their displays were filled with all manner of affordable daily-use Soul Tools, dazzling customers with their sheer variety.

From bicycles that made travel easier, to Soul Tool Air Conditioners that provided warmth during cold winters, to Soul Tool washing devices that could automatically clean clothing, every item struck Haiyuan City's people as something entirely novel.

In truth, these Soul Tools had long been widely popularized in the Sun Moon Empire. Yet in the Star Luo Empire, as well as similar nations such as the Heaven Soul Empire and Dou Ling Empire, traditional soul masters had long held prejudices against Soul Tools, believing them to be unorthodox tricks unworthy of the grand stage.

As a result, most people of the Original Three Douluo Kingdoms had only heard of the miraculous effects of Soul Tools and had never seen the real things with their own eyes.

However, the people of Haiyuan City showed remarkable adaptability. With the City Lord's Manor sparing no effort to promote them, these once-unfamiliar Soul Tools quickly became widespread throughout the city.

Although some conservative clans and sects clung to traditional beliefs, sneering at Soul Tools and refusing to use them,

under Chang Li's forceful methods, even if they were dissatisfied, they did not dare openly step forward in opposition.

After all, in Haiyuan City, decrees issued by the City Lord's Manor carried absolute authority. No one dared defy them.

If anyone dared raise an objection, they might as well first ask whether the incomparably sharp sword in Jing Liu's hand would agree.

The shackles of traditional thinking had, to a certain extent, restricted the views of the older generations in those clans and sects.

The younger generation, however, was completely different. Open-minded and filled with curiosity and desire for new things, they accepted innovations at an astonishing speed.

Coupled with the pressure exerted by the City Lord's Manor, the older generation could only helplessly turn a blind eye and let the young people enjoy the convenient lives Soul Tools provided.

Thus, in the mere eight years since Lu Jingming took office as Haiyuan City's City Lord, the city had been completely transformed.

Not only had the city expanded severalfold, but magnificent structures over a hundred meters tall had also risen from the ground. New tram tracks crisscrossed the streets, while Soul Tool Trams traveled back and forth along them, greatly facilitating the citizens' travel.

Haiyuan City's rapid changes acted like a massive magnet, drawing merchants from all over to flock there.

Quite a few soul master families were even moved by the prosperity they witnessed and voluntarily relocated to Haiyuan City to settle down.

These changes were largely thanks to the batch of Soul Tool Battleships newly acquired by Haiyuan City.

These advanced battleships could regularly sail out to sea, traversing the stormy waters as if walking on level ground. Not only could they capture precious Sea Soul Beasts, but they could also return with large quantities of delicious seafood, such as sea fish.

The abundant marine products brought back by the Soul Tool Battleships not only met the daily needs of the city's residents, but also created enormous economic value, allowing Haiyuan City's wealth to accumulate day by day.

In the past, the frequent attacks of Sea Soul Beasts had been a nightmare that the people of Haiyuan City could never shake off.

But now, the situation had changed completely. Every Sea Soul Beast invasion was no longer a terrifying disaster to the people of Haiyuan City. Instead, it had become a grand celebration.

Because it meant that more soul beast materials would flood the market.

As for maintaining the city's order, the City Lord's personal guard—the Golden Guard—played a crucial role.

This force consisted of a total of Five Hundred people, every one of them a soul master who had undergone rigorous selection and training.

They wore the most advanced Soul Guiding Armor and were equipped with all kinds of powerful Soul Tools, maintaining order throughout Haiyuan City.

Whether it was Sea Soul Beasts wreaking havoc after coming ashore or soul masters committing crimes within the city, none could escape the Golden Guard's punishment.

The Golden Guard had only been established for two short years, yet its name had already become renowned throughout Haiyuan City.

No one knew how many unruly and insubordinate soul masters they had suppressed. There had even been an astonishing feat in which three Golden Guard members easily subdued a Soul King.

One had to know that soul masters were already extremely rare on Douluo Continent, while Soul Kings were even scarcer. In many smaller cities, a Soul King-level powerhouse was qualified to serve as City Lord, which was enough to demonstrate their exalted status.

Although the three Golden Guard members who had successfully subdued that Soul King were three of the only five commander-level powerhouses in the entire Golden Guard, even so, for the Golden Guard to possess five Soul King-level commanders after only two years of establishment was undoubtedly an astounding achievement for the remote Haiyuan City.

After all, training and supporting soul masters consumed enormous resources, especially high-level soul masters, whose required resources were beyond estimation.

Within the Golden Guard, there was a strict and clear hierarchy. Ordinary Golden Guard members had reached the Soul Grandmaster level, squad captains were Soul Elders, battalion captains were Soul Ancestors, and above them were Soul King-level commanders.

And the Chief Commander who oversaw the entire Golden Guard was Haiyuan City's publicly acknowledged strongest expert—Snow Moon Douluo Jing Liu.

It was no exaggeration to say that with such a disciplined and powerful Golden Guard, Haiyuan City's order could be called the best in the entire Star Luo Empire.

All outsiders who came to Haiyuan City did not dare act recklessly or break the law here.

After all, over the past two years, there had been no shortage of powerful figures who had stumbled here after coveting Haiyuan City's wealth and resources.

The various charms displayed by this city—whether its Soul Tool Battleships capable of sailing far out to sea without fearing Sea Soul Beast attacks, its wide variety of Soul Tools with different functions, or the rare heavenly treasures obtained from the ocean—inevitably stirred greedy thoughts in some ill-intentioned people.

However, such foul schemes aimed at destroying Haiyuan City's peace ultimately failed to have any substantive impact on this vibrant city.

Although the Golden Guard was still inferior to the soul master legions of the great empires, and even more so to the Soul Engineer legions of the Sun Moon Empire, those who coveted Haiyuan City were not particularly powerful forces.

Not to mention that Haiyuan City still had a powerhouse like Jing Liu standing guard.