The Continental Advanced Spirit Master Tournament was not a game. It was a war with rules.
Every four years, the two empires and Spirit Hall sent their best under-25 geniuses to fight in Wuhun City. Officially it was to "promote exchange." Really, it was to count weapons. Which empire had more prodigies? Which sect was rising? Who should Spirit Hall recruit, and who should they cripple?
Xiao Zhan didn't care about the fights. He cared about the audience.
*The pieces on the board:*
1. *Heaven Dou Empire*: Led by Xue Qinghe — the Crown Prince. Except Xue Qinghe wasn't Xue Qinghe. The real one had been replaced years ago by Qian Renxue, the Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden. Wei Lian knew. Now Xiao Zhan knew.
2. *Star Luo Empire*: Led by Dai Mubai. He was Marked, so he was Xiao Zhan's. His team was strong, but their loyalty was to the Star Luo throne, not to him. Not yet.
3. *Spirit Hall*: Led by Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan — the "Golden Generation." All Rank 50+, all under the Pope Bibi Dong's personal tutelage.
4. *The Veil*: Not registered. Didn't exist. But they were there.
Xiao Zhan entered Wuhun City as "Teacher Zhan" again. His team: Liu Feng, two new Veil members posing as students, and Su Yin as "assistant." Ghost Blade was in the sewers. Dugu Bo was "visiting" as an honored guest — a Titled Douluo could go anywhere. Wei Lian stayed in Heaven Dou, running an empire by proxy.
*[Current Influence: 250 + 6 days x 90/day from 2 Titled Douluo = 790]*
*[Mark Slots: 7/6. Next slot at 8]*
He could burn Influence to take Qian Renxue. She was Rank 70. Within his normal 20-level rule now that he was Rank 57. No backlash. But he didn't.
Taking her would alert Bibi Dong instantly. A Titled Douluo at Rank 99 would feel her daughter's soul change. Then she'd come personally. Xiao Zhan wasn't ready for a Rank 99.
So he watched.
Dai Mubai's team fought first. He was brutal. White Tiger martial soul, all claws and roars. He beat Heaven Dou's second team in three minutes. After the match, he looked into the crowd — not at the Star Luo Emperor's box, but at a scribe in gray robes. He nodded, once.
_Orders, Young King?_
_Not yet,_ Xiao Zhan sent back through Mark Voice. _Let them bleed each other first._
The real target wasn't on the stage. It was in the VIP box.
*Ning Fengzhi. Rank 79. Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Martial Soul: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.* The richest man on the continent. His clan didn't have Titled Douluo fighters, but they bankrolled half the empires. Money was power. And his daughter, Ning Rongrong, was on the Heaven Dou team.
Xiao Zhan burned 100 Influence.
*[Influence Burn: No level limit]*
*[Target: Ning Fengzhi - Rank 79]*
*[Backlash: 25% temporary, 4% permanent]*
He collapsed in the crowd. Su Yin caught him, pretending he fainted from heat. No one noticed. Everyone was watching the next match.
*[Mark Successful. 8/6 Slots]*
*[Marked: Ning Fengzhi - Rank 79 - Loyalty: Absolute]*
*[Backlash: Soul Power Rank 57 → 43, permanent loss to Rank 55]*
*[Dynasty Lv.3 Unlocked: Economic Authority. Marked with wealth >10,000,000 gold grant Host 'Treasury Access'. Host may redirect 10% of Marked's liquid assets once per month]*
*[Current Influence: 690]*
When he woke that night, Ning Fengzhi was in his room. The most powerful businessman on the continent, kneeling.
"Young King," Ning Fengzhi said. "Your orders?"
"Fund three things," Xiao Zhan said, voice raspy. "One: a new sect. Call it 'The Monarch Sect.' Register it in Heaven Dou. Make me the Sect Master. Two: buy every orphanage between here and Star Luo. Three: double the price of healing herbs in Spirit Hall territory."
"By when?"
"Start now."