Forty Millenniums of Cultivation, page 1601
It was a rather nice move. The people from the South Spirit Planet couldn't have been more grateful to the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors and the reformists. After thanking the merchants, they promised that they would spread the news to other colonized planets around the South Spirit Planet, letting everyone know how "benevolent" the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors was and that it was the four Kurfürst families who did not give them a chance of living.
Knowing that Little Bear would return in full loads, Li Yao and Li Jialing were both reassured.
Saying goodbye to the girl, they left the port and officially entered the Seven Seas Grand Market.
The Seven Seas Grand Market was divided into the internal district and the external district. Since "absolute freedom" was honored, the examination wasn't too thorough. Nobody cared about who they were or why they were here. The guards of the Business Alliance merely checked their weapons roughly to make sure that there was no massively destructive magical equipment. The guards even turned a blind eye to their fake names and their obvious masks. They were given two cards that had dynamic passwords for trades and let through.
Li Yao and Li Jialing found themselves in the middle of a bunch of mercenaries, merchants, assassins, and loose prisoners. Almost everybody was wearing a brilliant mask and a long robe with a hood that covered their entire body. They squeezed into the giant transparent capsules inside the vacuum tube.
From the bottom of the transparent tubes, certain thick fluids bubbled up and enshrouded all the passengers.
Hum!
As the passengers were entirely submerged in the thick fluids, everybody simply felt a minor quake on their eardrums, before the light around them were pulled into colorful lines.
They rushed toward the depths of the Seven Seas Grand Market like lightning. After a journey of only a dozen minutes, the port and the space were already left far behind, and they entered into the bright stomach of the beast of money that never slept.
When Li Yao and Li Jialing finally broke free from the thick fluids inside the transparent capsules, they found that their bodies were dry and comfortable, and even their hair was not drenched by the fluids.
Before they could be amazed by that, they had already been astounded by the glamorous views made of ten thousand colors in front of them.
It was the most prosperous market that the two of them had ever seen. Every inch of space as far as their eyes could reach was crammed with signs in fancy styles and huge noises. Below the signs were the adventurers from the entire Imperium in the most bizarre clothes and shapes. Even Li Jialing's style that looked like a cheetah was not eye-catching at all in the crowd, because there were people a hundred times more peculiar than him.
All in all, if the "Fist Dragon City", the establishment outside of the Star Glory Federation, were a hundred times larger and more chaotic, it would almost be what the Seven Seas Grand Market looked like.
Even though the army of the four families was pressing close and the life-and-death battle was about to begin, there was still not much tension in the Seven Seas Grand Market. The horse races and the balls were still on, and the city was still ablaze with lights.
The public broadcast, which echoed in the enclosed space now and then, was the only thing that reminded people that it was the time of war.
"Money is freedom, money is life, money is everything! The four Kurfürst families are trying to steal the money that we have accumulated through hard work for a hundred years and kill each and every one of us! Citizens at the edge of the Imperium, summon your courage and defend your money. Money is sacred and inviolable!
"Breaking news! Breaking news! The nine Sector Masters of the Southern Sky Sectors have recently signed the 'Cooperative Protection Agreement of the Southern Sky Sectors', replying to the four Kurfürst families' demand for them to march that they will not obey the illegitimate order! All the starships of the nine Southern Sky Sectors have exited the coalition fleet of the four families, and they will be neutral in the battle in the next phase!"
"Explosive news! Explosive news just now! General Yun Zhengxin, the highest commander of the fourth battle area of the expedition army just announced that, in light of the chaos in the Imperium, to be prepared for the next round of counterattack from the Covenant Alliance, all the fleets in the four battle area of the expedition army will receive the command of Lei Chenghu, Marquess Liaohai, together. He will also send the most excellent, patriotic soldiers to the capital to discuss the issues of a joint cabinet with the 'Reform Committee of the Council of Elders' together with Lei Chenghu's Astounding Thunder Fleet. The astonishing news has triggered a chain reaction in other battle areas. In the future Imperium, the real, pure, righteous, and patriotic soldiers will certainly play a bigger role!"
Chapter 2521: I Have Special Skills |
Li Jialing listened attentively for a while. Then he pulled Li Yao's sleeve and said in excitement, "Brother Yao, did you hear it? The situation seems to be in favor of the reformists. Many more forces in the expedition army and the peripheral worlds of the Imperium are inclined to the reformists now!"
"Such fake news is only for entertainment. Don't take it too seriously."
Li Yao scorned, "Merchants are best at bragging. When they have a tiny boat, they dare to pretend that it is a main-force warship. As long as you believe half of a hundred sentences they say to you, you may be sold by them without you knowing!"
Li Jialing was slightly stunned. "Is it… fake?"
"It's certainly not entirely true. This is just meant to stabilize the market and boost the morale."
Li Yao said, "I've heard a thing or two about the nine Southern Sky Sectors. They are just nine barren, developing worlds at the edge of the Imperium. In terms of military forces, resources, or experts, are they even close to the four families?
"Even if the nine Southern Sky Sectors intend to keep neutral, they will only cheer for other people without doing any real work at best. How would they dare to compete with the four Kurfürst families openly? Wouldn't it be like a slap in the face of the four Kurfürsten if they claim that they will not follow the 'illegitimate order'? Those Sector Masters are certainly not bold enough to do so.
"As for the second news, all the fleets in the fourth battle area of the expedition army are pledging loyalty to Lei Chenghu, Marquess Liaohai? Huh. In terms of prestige, connections, and combat ability of the fleet, Lei Chenghu is indeed the toughest general in the expedition army. He deserves to be the highest commander of the expedition army.
"Besides, the expedition army's stance is rather obscure. Most of the soldiers in the expedition army are from the peripheral worlds of the Imperium although they receive the command of the four families. But right now, the expedition army is the real neutral one here, neither helping the peripheral worlds nor helping the four families. It is obvious that they intend to claim all the advantages in the end.
"However, I do not believe that the fourth battle area of the expedition army has openly declared loyalty to Lei Chenghu. The most crucial thing here is resources. The reformists have only occupied the Empyreal Terminus Sector. It is impossible to supply the expedition army with only the resources of the capital. The peripheral worlds where the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors is at are too far away from the newly-recovered territory. However abundant resources the Seven Seas Grand Market have, it is barely possible to ship them to the frontline and meet the astronomical consumption of the expedition army every day.
"The result is that the battle areas of the expedition army still count on the supplies from the four families to sustain themselves. Their necks have been tied up by the supplies and logistics. How can they break up with the four families easily?"
Tilting his head, Li Jialing thought for a while and said in disappointment, "It does seem the case. The Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors is rather shameless to make up such lies!"
"It may be too far to call them lies. There is something behind them."
Li Yao thought for a moment and said, "I believe that the warlords of the nine Southern Sky Sectors and the leaders of the expedition army must've secretly reached out to the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors or even reached agreements with them. That's why the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors is bold enough to release such 'fake news' first. Whether or not it is true, the morale of the four families will be affected, and the four families' relationship with other forces will be weakened.
"Speaking of which, 'God of War' Lei Chenghu's movements are rather mysterious. He was pinned into the heartland of the four families like a nail in the beginning. By logic, the four families should pluck the nail in their heartland before they start any massive military operation. However, I did not hear that the Astounding Thunder Fleet encountered any major battle…
"Is Lei Chenghu aware of Blackstar the Great's secret or not? If he does, what's his attitude? What is the veteran who has been fighting wars for two hundred years thinking?"
Li Yao was deep in thought.
His impression of Lei Chenghu was not bad. While the guy was a cold, heartless, model Immortal Cultivator, he was also a respectable opponent who deserved to be fought with strength, unlike the selfish "false Immortal Cultivators" of the four families, who were scumbags like sticky slugs.
The former reminded Li Yao of "Iron Commander Zhou Hengdao", the soldier of iron and blood from the Star Glory Federation. He respected the man even in a life-and-death battle.
As for the latter, Li Yao would consider it a stain to his boots even if he stepped on them.
In Li Yao's plan, Lei Chenghu was a part that was as critical as Jin Yuyan. However, the stubborn Immortal Cultivator was certainly not as easily persuaded as Jin Yuyan might be. Chances were that he would even ardently worship and support Blackstar the Great. So, he needed to make thorough plans…
Li Jialing jabbed him with his elbow and asked, "Brother Yao, let's leave Lei Chenghu behind for now. How exactly are we going to approach Jin Yuyan?"
Li Yao narrowed his eyes and looked around. Pointing at a splendid and crowded building ahead, he said, "Do you see it? It's 'Commodity Market', the center of the Seven Seas Grand Market'."
Li Yao told Li Jialing that the Seven Seas Grand Market was divided into the internal district and the external district. The internal district was for the staff of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors and the VIPs. Jin Yuyan usually lived and worked in the internal district.
With Li Yao and Li Jialing's skills, it was not difficult to get a VIP card. However, going into the internal district required thorough safety checks. Not only was massive-destruction magical equipment forbidden, but even the Cosmos Rings would also be locked tightly. Their identities would also be investigated. It could be quite troublesome.
Li Yao estimated that the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors must've been deeply infiltrated by Blackstar the Great's secret spies, and Wuying Qi's guys must be lurking in the critical posts around Jin Yuyan, who had received orders to kill Jin Yuyan in advance should anything go wrong.
Li Yao was reluctant to place Jin Yuyan in unnecessary danger or to let Wuying Qi know that he had come to the Seven Seas Grand Market. Therefore, he couldn't openly enter the internal district and request to meet Jin Yuyan.
Zuo Tianying, the manager of the Blue Sky Market, gave Li Yao a channel through which he could talk to Jin Yuyan in secret. However, after much deliberation, Li Yao still abandoned the means of communication in the end, because Zuo Tianying was merely a common manager, and it was rather suspicious how "secret" the channel under his control was.
One couldn't be too prudent about Blackstar the Great's methods. Chances were that he had monitored every communication channel around Jin Yuyan, and the first syllable that Li Yao spoke to Jin Yuyan would be heard by Wuying Qi who was thousands of lightyears away.
The safest approach was still to sneak to Jin Yuyan's side so that the two of them could have a face-to-face talk after blocking the soundwaves with rune arrays.
Through Zuo Tianying, Li Yao learned that, while Jin Yuyan usually worked in the internal district, he would come to the "Commodity Market" in the external district every other day in the last few months.
The so-called commodities referred to the trades whose total amount was above fifty million free coins. It was the foundation that supported the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors. Jin Yuyan would show up every other day to host part of the trades and to talk with his old friends. Even if he did nothing, it would still hold the confidence of the market as a sign that he would live and die with the Seven Seas Grand Market.
With a great war coming near, confidence was more precious than marrow crystals. Unless a very serious crisis took place, Jin Yuyan would certainly not break the norm.
After making clear of that, the rest would be very simple. All Li Yao needed to do was to sneak into the Commodity Market and approach Jin Yuyan without alarming anyone. Then, he would have a chance to communicate with the director of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors from close up!
"That explains a lot. I got it now!"
Li Jialing stood on tiptoe and vigorously searched around.
Li Yao found it odd. "Hey, what are you doing? Don't act like you are a thief, alright? The Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors is loose on the outside but tense on the inside. The security examination just now may be sloppy, but there are in fact many plain-clothes policemen on the road and a lot of surveillance cameras that can even see your nose hair. What are you doing exactly?"
"Found them!"
Li Jialing said excitedly, "Brother Yao, a hundred and fifty meters to the east, there is an entrance to a ventilation tube. Forty meters to the south of our back, there is a manhole leading to a gutter. In the mall on our left, the public toilet is also a valuable point of breakthrough. Just go without worries! I'll scout for you!"
Li Yao: "… You little idiot, what are you thinking, and who do you think your Brother Yao is? I am now an extraordinary expert above the Divinity Transformation Stage, only one step away from the Divinity Branching Stage, who is magnificent enough to behead a warship in one attack! Ventilation tube? I didn't crawl into a ventilation tube even when I encountered Blackstar the Great. Now that we have come to such a poor market, with only a couple of battle-type experts in the Divinity Transformation Stage at best, you are asking me to crawl into a ventilation tube? That is too humiliating!"
Li Jialing coughed and lowered his head in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Brother Yao. I thought that it was your favorite!"
Li Yao sniffed heavily. "Even if I'm fond of crawling into ventilation tubes to eavesdrop and snoop and everything, you should know that your Brother Yao is now in a different level from before, and it is too lame to crawl into the ventilation tubes physically. As a matter of fact, I have grasped the special skills of separating the soul from the body and crawling the ventilation tubes with the soul. Where are the entrances that you found a moment ago? Point them out to me again."
"Huh?"
Li Jialing was dumbfounded. "Are you really going to crawl into the ventilation tubes?"
"Not me. Somebody is there in advance."
Li Yao sneered and said, "Trust me. All the weak parts around the 'Commodity Market' have been long infiltrated. There must be at least five groups of spies and assassins who are ambushing in the most secret places, preparing to kill Jin Yuyan.
"Even if I play the old trick and enter the 'Commodity Market' through a certain ventilation tube, it will only be the buttock of one of the assassins that I will see."
Chapter 2522: A Game of Assassins! |
"Assassins?"
Li Jialing asked in surprise, "What assassins?"
"The assassins from the four families, of course!"
Li Yao sniffed and said, "After everything we talked about when we were still on board, you should know how deeply infiltrated the 'coalition fleet of the four families' is, right? Such a 'coalition fleet' where everybody has his own plans has absolutely no or even negative combat ability!
"It's impossible that the leaders of the four families do not know the mess. There are too many uncertain factors until the mess is sorted out. Chances are that certain people in the coalition fleet will intentionally make the fleet fail for their own interests. It is the reason why the main troops of the four families haven't shown up in the Seven Seas Space Zone.
"But the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors has their own weaknesses too. They are seriously short of military forces after all. They are sustaining themselves with strong 'confidence'. That's why they are bragging about the bulls*it such as the Southern Sky Sectors became independent and the expedition army was betraying. The thing about 'confidence' is that it's like a soap bubble. It's just as easy to blow it up as it is to make it big.
"As long as a serious accident takes place in the Seven Seas Grand Market, the morale of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors will significantly be struck. As long as the free coin cannot be exchanged for a few days, people's confidence in the free coin, the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors, and the reformists will be gone, and the splendid soap bubble will explode.
"If the coalition fleet of the four families presses the charge by then, they will truly be 'united' and 'unstoppable'.
"How can the people's confidence in the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors be reduced to the minimum? Isn't it the most direct approach to assassinate the director of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors?"
Slightly stunned, Li Jialing nodded his head quickly and said, "You do have a point. Right now, the four families' control over the Immortal Cultivators at the bottom level is extremely weak. There are sympathizers with the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors and holders of tremendous free coins even within each fleet. It will be easy to be caught in chaos if those people are led into a head-on battle.
