Haiyuan City, this once relatively backward coastal city of the Star Luo Empire, had undergone tremendous changes compared to its past.
In the streets and alleys, many strangely shaped, uniquely styled buildings had appeared.These structures blended novel design concepts with soul tool technology elements, making them distinctive.
At the same time, without anyone realizing it, a large number of convenient and practical soul tools had quietly emerged throughout the city. They dotted every corner like stars, bringing unprecedented convenience to the lives of the residents.
Along the streets, soul tool lamps emitted bright yet soft light, illuminating the entire city as if it were day, even on the darkest nights.
Several newly opened soul tool shops were bustling with activity. The stores displayed a dazzling array of affordable daily-use soul tools, from bicycles for easy travel to soul tool air conditioners that provided warmth in cold winters, and even soul tool washing machines that automatically cleaned clothes—each item brought a sense of novelty to the people of Haiyuan City.
In reality, these soul tools were already widely popularized in the Sun Moon Empire. However, in the Star Luo Empire and similar nations like Heaven Dou and Spirit Empire, traditional Soul Masters had long held prejudices against soul tools, considering them unorthodox and unworthy of serious attention.
Therefore, the people of the original three Douluo nations had mostly only heard of the miraculous effects of soul tools but had never seen them in person.
However, the people of Haiyuan City showed a strong capacity for acceptance. Under the tireless efforts of the City Lord's Mansion, these previously unfamiliar soul tools quickly became widespread throughout the city.
Although some conservative aristocratic clans and sects clung to traditional beliefs, scoffing at soul tools and refusing to use them, under Chang Li's firm hand, they dared not openly oppose.
After all, in Haiyuan City, the decrees issued by the City Lord's Mansion held absolute authority; no one dared to defy them. If anyone dared to raise an objection, they might first want to ask if the incredibly sharp sword in Jingliu's hand would agree.
The shackles of traditional thinking, to some extent, limited the views of the older generation within those aristocratic clans and sects. However, the younger generation was completely different.
They were open-minded, full of curiosity and desire for new things, and quickly adapted to them. Coupled with the pressure exerted by the City Lord's Mansion, the older generation could only reluctantly turn a blind eye, allowing the young people to fully enjoy the convenient life brought by soul tools.
Thus, in just eight short years since Lu Jingming took office as Haiyuan City Lord, the city had been completely transformed.
The city's area had not only expanded significantly, but some magnificent buildings, reaching hundreds of meters tall, had also been erected.
On the streets, new tram tracks crisscrossed, and soul tool trams shuttled back and forth along the tracks, providing immense convenience for citizens' travel.
Haiyuan City's rapid changes, like a huge magnet, attracted a large number of merchants from various places. Many Soul Master families were even moved by the prosperity and actively relocated to Haiyuan City to settle.
All these changes were largely thanks to the newly added soul tool warships in Haiyuan City. These advanced warships could regularly set sail, navigating the turbulent seas as if walking on flat ground.
They could not only capture valuable sea soul beasts but also bring back large quantities of fresh sea fish and other seafood.
The abundant seafood brought back by the soul tool warships not only met the living needs of the city's residents but also created immense economic value, allowing Haiyuan City's wealth to accumulate day by day.
Once, the frequent incursions of sea soul beasts were a lingering nightmare for the people of Haiyuan City.
But now, the situation had completely changed. Every invasion of sea soul beasts was no longer a terrifying disaster for the people of Haiyuan City but rather a grand carnival. Because it meant more soul beast materials would flood the market.
In terms of maintaining urban order, the City Lord's personal guard—the Golden Guard played a crucial role. This force comprised five hundred members, each a Soul Master who had undergone rigorous selection and training.
They wore the most advanced soul tool armor and were equipped with various powerful soul tools to maintain order throughout Haiyuan City. Whether it was sea soul beasts rampaging ashore or Soul Masters committing crimes within the city, none could escape the Golden Guard's judgment.
The Golden Guard had only been established for two short years but was already famous in Haiyuan City. They had suppressed countless unruly and defiant Soul Masters, including the astonishing feat of three Golden Guard members easily subduing a Soul King.
It is worth noting that on the Douluo Continent, the number of Soul Masters is already quite rare, and Soul King level experts are even rarer. In many smaller cities, a Soul King level expert is even qualified to serve as the City Lord, demonstrating their revered status.
Although the three Golden Guard members who successfully subdued that Soul King were three of the only five Commander-level experts within the entire Golden Guard, even so, the Golden Guard, after only two years of establishment, already boasted five Soul King level commanders.
This was undoubtedly an astonishing achievement for Haiyuan City, located on the frontier. After all, cultivating and supporting Soul Masters requires vast resources, especially high-level Soul Masters, for whom the necessary resources are immeasurable.
Within the Golden Guard, there was a strict and clear hierarchy: ordinary Golden Guard members reached the Grandmaster level, squad leaders were Soul Elders, captains were Soul Ancestors, and above them were the Soul King-level Commanders.
The Grand Commander overseeing the entire Golden Guard was Haiyuan City's overt strongest expert—Snow Moon Douluo Jingliu.
It is no exaggeration to say that with such a disciplined and powerful Golden Guard, the order in Haiyuan City could be considered the best in the Star Luo Empire.
All outsiders who came to Haiyuan City dared not act recklessly or violate laws. After all, in the past two years, many powerful individuals who coveted Haiyuan City's wealth and resources had met their downfall here.
The various charms displayed by this city, whether it was the soul tool warships capable of long-distance voyages and fearless of sea soul beast incursions, or the diverse and multi-functional soul tools, or the rare heavenly treasures obtained from the ocean, inevitably aroused the greed of ill-intentioned individuals.
However, these attempts to disrupt the peace of Haiyuan City ultimately could not cause any substantial impact on this vibrant city.
Although the Golden Guard was still no match for the Soul Master legions of the major empires, much less the Soul Engineer legions of the Sun Moon Empire, those coveting Haiyuan City were not powerful forces.
Not to mention, there was also Jingliu, a powerful combat force, stationed in Haiyuan City.
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