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Bibi Dong gave Ye Wen a curious glance.
"What are you smiling about?"
"Nothing, I just think I know who needs these supplies."
"From your expression, it seems like someone worth paying attention to. Should we intercept this shipment?" Bibi Dong asked.
Ye Wen calmly shook his head.
Tang Sect hidden weapons were nothing special when you got down to it.
The upper limit of mechanical contraptions was inherently limited unless stronger materials could be found to break through the god-tier ceiling. What truly made Ye Wen wary was the use of technique-based hidden weapons from the Tang Sect.
Names like Guanyin Tears and Bodhi Blood were enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.
But that was for version 1.0 of Douluo.
At this moment, Tang San was absolutely incapable of using Guanyin Tears or Bodhi Blood. Even if he could, the six-character divine armor Ye Wen had painstakingly crafted wasn't just for show—it would be impossible for a single strike to instantly kill a god-tier expert.
"Let them have it. I'm curious to see what kind of trouble this kid can stir up in the end," Ye Wen said with a faint smile.
Knowing all of Tang San's original trump cards, Ye Wen could predict exactly what Tang San was planning just by observing his actions.
However, Ye Wen took another look at the quantities of materials listed on the requisition form. There were many rare metals, but the amounts were quite small—enough to make only one or two hidden weapons at most.
"Better stock up on these materials. I have a feeling this kid won't stop at just one request. It'll save us trouble later," Ye Wen suggested.
Bibi Dong nodded slightly and approved the document.
Out of curiosity, Bibi Dong still wanted to know who this "kid" Ye Wen mentioned was.
Ye Wen didn't hide anything and recounted Tang San's story, including details about his soul transmigration, which originally had no connection to Bibi Dong in this timeline.
Though she had inherited the Rakshasa God seat and cultivated evil power, Bibi Dong harbored an especially strong dislike for both Tang San and the Asura God behind him.
"Talk about a match made in hell—a pair of scum perfectly suited for each other," Bibi Dong sneered.
It was amusing to hear such rhyming sarcasm from the usually aloof beauty. Ye Wen's interest grew, and he began another session of dual cultivation with her.
After all, enhancing strength wasn't something to be ashamed of.
When Tang San saw the rare metals delivered exactly as requested, his eyes gleamed with excitement.
"As expected of a top-tier organization—they can gather such rare metals so quickly. If I were to search for them alone in this backward Douluo Continent, who knows how long it would take?
But the Spirit Hall… heh, let them enjoy themselves for now. Once I conquer the Hell Road, I'll make sure they taste my wrath."
With these thoughts, Tang San once again threw himself into his forging endeavors.
What Tang San didn't know was that during his years of seclusion in the City of Slaughter, the atmosphere on the Douluo Continent had grown increasingly tense.
Among humans, which group had the keenest sense for impending man-made disasters?
Merchants were undoubtedly the representatives.
Especially the big merchants—when they noticed abnormal bulk transactions of goods, they became alert.
In the Seven Treasures City, a merchant had just completed a transaction.
On the Douluo Continent, having some level of strength was essential for survival; otherwise, you were just meat on the bone for others. Even low-status merchants were soul masters. This particular merchant, though only a Soul Venerable, had already begun to sense something amiss.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, the merchant gazed at the bustling Seven Treasures City with growing unease.
"After finishing this deal, I should find a place to lay low. Things are looking unstable on the Tian Dou side.
In the past, only the two empires purchased such large quantities of grain. But in recent years, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect has been continuously stockpiling food. Who knows what they're planning?
Forget it—why worry too much? When the sky falls, there will always be taller people to hold it up. I've already made a fortune these past few years; it's better to cash out early than risk losing everything."
This small merchant was just one example among countless others in the Seven Treasures City.
However, none of these merchants voiced their suspicions to the higher-ups of the Tian Dou Empire.
Everyone understood the delicate relationship between the top three sects and the two empires.
If someone dared to badmouth the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect in front of the Tian Dou Empire, they'd immediately be accused of sowing discord between major powers. Not only would they gain nothing, but their entire family might be implicated—it would be a hilarious tragedy.
As for the lower-ranking officials, some may have understood the situation, but they chose to feign ignorance.
After all, both empires had existed for over two thousand years and were thoroughly corrupt. If not for the dual factors of extraordinary beings and feudal systems suppressing the masses, the two empires would have collapsed long ago.
Night fell—
The Tian Dou Imperial City remained lively, its most prosperous streets ablaze with lights.
The streets were filled with wealthy merchants and nobles dressed in extravagant attire. In this era where commoners had no entertainment and retired early, these elites could freely indulge in the benefits of power.
But none of them noticed that, a kilometer away from the Tian Dou Imperial City, an army had quietly gathered.
This was a force of a thousand soldiers, all clad in pitch-black armor, blending seamlessly into the night.
If a perceptive expert were present, they would discover that this seemingly unremarkable thousand-strong unit consisted of individuals with a minimum cultivation level of Soul Emperor—truly terrifying.
Leading this army was Ye Wen, standing at the forefront.
Most of this force had been drawn from the Spirit Hall, with a portion consisting of Ye Wen's disciples.
Though Ye Wen's disciples were exceptionally talented, their numbers were far fewer compared to the Spirit Hall's widespread influence across the continent.
Ye Wen coldly observed the brightly lit Tian Dou Imperial City in the distance.
The plan was supposed to have started two years ago, but plans often couldn't keep up with changes.
"It's time for a new era to begin. Fengzhi, Yuanzhen, your preparations shouldn't have any issues, right?"
Standing on either side of Ye Wen, Ning Fengzhi and Yu Yuanzhen both bowed and replied,
"Rest assured, Lord."
Though the two-year delay frustrated Ye Wen, it also allowed their resources to accumulate even further. By now, the military of the Tian Dou Empire had been thoroughly infiltrated. Once they captured the Tian Dou Imperial City, they could seize control before dawn.
After giving one final glance at his troops, Ye Wen nodded slightly and retrieved a soul-guided device from his chest.
Pressing a button lightly, Ye Wen declared,
"The operation begins. Deploy the barrier."
"Yes."
The next second, the previously silent and dark night underwent a dramatic transformation.
"Barrier Technique—Six Directions Absolute Seal!!!"
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