Chapter 45: The Fish That Slipped Through the Net

Heaven Dou City, the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, is located in the north-central region of the empire. It serves as the political core of the entire nation and stands as one of the two largest cities on the entire continent. Across the Douluo Continent, only the imperial capital of the Star Luo Empire can rival it.

Spirit City is not as vast as these two major cities, for city size is inherently tied to population when statuses are comparable. As the political and economic centers of the two great empires, the imperial capitals rely on massive populations of commoners to sustain every aspect of their existence.

In this world, soul masters are, after all, a minority.

Traveling from Shrek to Heaven Dou City requires first leaving the borders of the Barak Kingdom, and then traversing the entirety of the Sylvanus Kingdom to the north of Barak before entering the imperial capital's sphere of influence. Heading further east brings one to the location of the Heaven Dou imperial capital. The journey is long, spanning nearly two thousand li. From this, the vast territorial expanse of the Heaven Dou Empire is readily apparent.

Although the kingdoms and duchies nominally under the two great empires enjoy considerable autonomy today, the foundational strength of the empires remains. Centered around Heaven Dou City, the three major military regions controlled by the empire are stationed nearby, boasting a combined troop strength exceeding one million and formidable combat power.

In a sense, the Heaven Dou Empire's reluctance to forcefully rein in its subordinate kingdoms has its own logic. Whether it is Heaven Dou or Star Luo, most of the kingdoms and duchies under their banners are situated along their borders. Should war break out, these kingdoms and duchies are inevitably the first to bear the brunt.

Of course, this is also a helpless compromise; what monarch would not wish to control everything through absolute imperial power?

Yet the current geopolitical landscape of the continent simply does not allow for unification.

Aside from internal factors within the two great empires, the formation of the continent's present situation stems most significantly from the covert interference of several major soul master clans and the Spirit Hall.

With its high-end combat strength far surpassing that of the two great empires combined, the Spirit Hall maintains a fragile equilibrium between them.

Zhong Yan journeyed at a leisurely pace, having never properly appreciated the scenery and form of this world. Besides, immortal herbs stored within a spirit tool would not spoil.

The Emperor once said: The journey will reach its destination one day, there is no need to hurry.

By dusk, Zhong Yan consulted his map and found himself approaching a small town situated in the southeast of the Sylvanus Kingdom. He quickened his pace; after all, given the choice between fresh meals and dry rations, who would willingly chew on the latter?

Before long, Zhong Yan, dressed in a simple white robe, stepped into a bustling restaurant. Most of the patrons were travelers and merchant caravans passing through the village, alongside a fair gathering of soul masters.

Despite his simple white attire, the Spirit Hall token hanging at his waist caused the crowd to quiet down instantly, and they consciously cleared a table for him.

Seeing this, Zhong Yan quickly waved his hands to stop them, "No, no, no need to clear a table just for me. Just squeeze me in at one of your tables."

The burly men who had just stood up turned around, offering shy smiles. "If this lord doesn't mind, then let's share the table."

"What lord or no lord? Aren't all of us in the Spirit Hall commoners who came out from various villages? We aren't like those stuck-up nobles who care so much about face. Why be so formal?"

"Hahaha..." Hearing Zhong Yan's words, everyone in the restaurant burst into laughter. The previously subdued atmosphere grew lively once again, yet the gazes directed at Zhong Yan still retained a trace of respect.

Just as Zhong Yan finished ordering two dishes, the waiter unexpectedly approached carrying a plate of cold appetizers and a plate of peanuts. A sharp-eyed man at the table immediately grabbed a flagon of wine from beside his feet and filled a cup for Zhong Yan.

"My lord, these two side dishes are compliments from our proprietor. I hope you won't disdain them."

"How could I? Since the proprietor was so kind as to send them, I'll gladly accept."

"Coming right up!" With that, the waiter flicked his wiping cloth over his shoulder and turned away.

As Zhong Yan chatted with the group, he casually picked up a peanut, rolled it between two fingers, and popped it into his mouth. Behind the counter, the proprietor—who had been calculating account books with a gentle smile—saw this scene, a fleeting flash of cold, sinister light crossing his eyes. It vanished instantly, replaced once more by a beaming, spring-like smile.

After finishing his meal, Zhong Yan found an inn in the small town. When there is a proper bed to sleep in, why sleep outdoors?

Late into the night, a dark shadow materialized outside Zhong Yan's room. A dark red glow flickered across the intruder's body, and within a minute or two, a corresponding dark red radiance lit up on Zhong Yan as well.

Zhong Yan snapped his eyes open, but his once brilliantly golden pupils were now dull and lifeless, laced with faint red bloodshot veins. His movements grew rigid and mechanical as he slowly rose from the bed, pushed the door open, and promptly collapsed, losing consciousness.

The figure in black caught Zhong Yan and vanished into thin air with him.

In the mountain forests outside the small town, within an unremarkable cave—

The figure in black carried Zhong Yan on his back, felt along the ground for a stone, and with a gentle touch, revealed a hidden door beside it.

Flashing through the hidden door with Zhong Yan in tow, he traversed a dark corridor that led into a vast ritual array. The engraved lines of the formation were caked with dark red filth, and the entire secret chamber was thick with a heavy stench of blood.

Throwing Zhong Yan onto the floor, the man walked to the center of the array, drew a small blade, and slit his own wrist. As blood poured from his wrist into the central recess of the formation, the core emitted an eerie glow, and the entire array gradually lit up with a sinister red light.

Seeing the array activate, the wound on the man's wrist healed at an astonishing speed. He then turned around, preparing to bleed Zhong Yan next.

At that exact moment, a cold voice rang out right beside his ear: "Why is this array of yours so trashy? You actually have to bleed yourself just to activate it."

A chill ran down his spine, breaking him out in a cold sweat. He jerked away, spun around, and found himself fixed in the gaze of a pair of brilliantly golden dragon eyes.