Although Cheng Ying had no armed forces under his command, the knowledge in his mind and the resources at his disposal were enough to shake the empire.
And his actions had clearly infringed upon the interests of certain parties…
The Elephant Armored Sect—one of the future Seven Great Sects of the Douluo Continent, though the term hadn't yet been coined at this point—had already established its foothold across the land thanks to their powerful defensive Beast Spirit, the Diamond Mammoth.
For a sect to survive, brute strength wasn't enough. A strong economic foundation was just as essential. Without it, treatment and benefits would decline, and even Soul Masters of the same lineage would splinter and fall apart.
Natural disasters, however, were prime opportunities for profit. Hoarding goods and manipulating supply during a time of scarcity then selling food at outrageous prices was a classic move from merchants during every famine in history.
This was also why many ancient states valued agriculture and suppressed commerce: capital, once it turned predatory, devoured lives without a care for morality.
The Elephant Armored Sect saw this disaster as just such a golden opportunity. Relying on their overwhelming martial might, they had already driven off every competitor in the chaotic disaster region and were preparing to sell their hoarded grain at sky-high prices only to witness a massive relief convoy approaching.
They didn't recognize the potatoes piled on those four-wheeled wagons, but it was obvious they were food.
Hu Yan Zhen, merely fourteen years old and the future sect master of the Elephant Armored Sect, frowned at the sight.
"Didn't we already come to terms with the royal merchants? Where did this relief food come from?"
The current sect master, Hu Yan Chu, also looked displeased.
"Come. Let's go find out. I want to see which blind fool dares to ruin our business at a time like this."
A sect, after all, was a legal armed organization. If they found out who was behind this interference, paying them a personal visit—perhaps with blood—wasn't out of the question.
Hu Yan Chu stepped forward and stopped the convoy. When the guards saw a group of men built like Spartans blocking the road, they immediately halted.
A man jumped down from the lead cart.
"May I ask why Senior Hu Yan Chu has chosen to stop our convoy?" His tone was calm but respectful. Though sects held high status, the empire was still the empire.
Hu Yan Chu didn't bother with niceties.
"I simply want to ask—what is this relief shipment, and who is it from?"
"Oh, that? These are potatoes improved by the Grand Scholar. I hear they mature in just three or four months. Everything on this cart is a donation from the Grand Scholar." The man's tone carried genuine admiration as he spoke.
"The Grand Scholar?" Hu Yan Chu's brow furrowed even deeper.
"That's right. He not only donated the grain, he also loaned ten million Gold Soul Coins for relief efforts, and even dispatched hundreds of workers to help resettle the refugees. Without the Grand Scholar, we couldn't have mobilized this fast."
"Isn't he just that lone shopkeeper?" Hu Yan Zhen sent a private message, his voice full of contempt.
"He's just one man. What's there to be afraid of? The financial loss this time, we can accept. But if we don't reclaim our dignity, won't others think we're pushovers? Sect Master, let's go demand an explanation. If he compensates us, fine. If not… hmph!"
Even at a young age, Hu Yan Zhen understood how vital a sect's reputation was. Being humiliated would make them look weak and easily bullied.
But Hu Yan Chu shook his head.
"This time, I'm afraid we can't do anything to him." He watched the convoy disappear into the distance and added,
"The Grand Scholar is not someone to provoke lightly. His reputation is simply too good—especially after spending ten million to aid the victims. If we touch him, the whole sect could be branded as villains."
"But Sect Master—"
"Say no more. We return to the sect. Sell the food at base prices, right where it is. The loss is negligible to us. And as you said—he's just one man. No attachments. If we push him too far, the losses could be far greater."
Hu Yan Zhen fell silent. He realized he hadn't thought it through. If they really provoked that man, the consequences could indeed be disastrous. Considering how wealthy the Grand Scholar was, if he wanted to retaliate, their sect's fortune might evaporate overnight. Thinking of that terrifying possibility, Hu Yan Zhen could only swallow his anger.
Just then, a loud cry rang out in the distance:
"Shameless profiteers! Hoarding supplies and exploiting disaster victims! Today, I, with my hammer, shall deliver justice on their behalf!"
Already fuming from being indirectly humiliated by Cheng Ying, Hu Yan Zhen was even more enraged now that someone else was publicly calling them out. Especially when they had just decided to back down! He couldn't take it anymore.
With a roar, he released his Diamond Mammoth Martial Soul:
"Insolent brat! Watch your mouth!"
His body glittered with diamond light as he charged the hammer-wielding figure. He had two yellow and one purple soul ring—all focused on enhancing defense. That was his confidence. Among his peers, none could defeat him. Even though the hammer-wielder had two yellow and two purple rings, Hu Yan Zhen wasn't intimidated.
But he had clearly picked the wrong opponent.
The moment his hands clashed with the opponent's hammer, an unstoppable force surged down at him. His own body could take the blow, but the earth beneath his feet could not. With a spray of blood, Hu Yan Zhen was smashed into the ground like a nail—and couldn't get up.
The attacker rested his hammer on his shoulder, wiped his nose with a thumb, and pointed toward the stunned crowd of the Elephant Armored Sect:
"Haotian Sect. Tang Chen. Anyone else want some?"
"Quite bold—but far too arrogant." Hu Yan Chu wasn't one to take insults lightly. As a Soul Douluo, he wasn't afraid of the Haotian Sect either.
With that, the pressure of a Soul Douluo's aura blanketed the scene. Tang Chen nearly dropped to his knees, but he quickly steadied himself by striking the ground with his Clear Sky Hammer. A dark wave of energy radiated out, pushing back just enough pressure for him to remain standing.
"Not bad. The Haotian Sect's produced a real fighter—but this is your limit!" Hu Yan Chu, unwilling to bully a junior outright, casually slapped the hammer with his palm.
The overwhelming gap in power sent Tang Chen flying into a tree before he came to a stop.
"That was just a warning. Don't lash out without knowing the full story. We, the Elephant Armored Sect, aren't the ones hoarding supplies—we came here to punish those merchants! All grain will now be sold at fair prices. If you don't believe us, go see for yourself!"
He lifted Hu Yan Zhen out of the ground and turned to leave. But in his heart, he felt slightly relieved. The appearance of a Haotian Sect disciple might actually work in their favor. If they said they weren't profiteering, no one would believe them. But with a witness from the prestigious Haotian Sect, their reputation could actually rise.
Tang Chen was clearly the upright, justice-driven type. If he saw them selling grain at fair prices, no matter how angry he was, he'd acknowledge it as a good deed.
Propped against the tree, Tang Chen struggled to his feet, leaning on his hammer. He spat out blood and sneered:
"Hmph! Shameless pandering…"