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Zou Yun suddenly raised this question.
Su Yu was a Soul Emperor-level powerhouse, and real combat for someone at his level would undoubtedly be extremely dangerous. Naturally, Zou Yun wasn't eager to witness such danger firsthand. What piqued his curiosity, however, were Su Yu's spirit rings and abilities.
More importantly, he was intrigued by the battle style of Su Yu's Blue Silver Grass martial soul.
Based on Su Yu's previous descriptions, his martial soul had offensive capabilities. This mutated life-attribute Blue Silver Grass didn't seem to limit him to being just a support-type Soul Master.
"Opportunities like this don't come often."
"Hehe, but this time, I might finally get to see you in action," Zou Yun said with a laugh.
Transportation missions for merchant caravans were typically safe. Even for cross-national trades, as long as both sides greased the right palms, there were rarely any issues.
The real trouble arose during one-way transports.
Between two empires, bribes could be arranged on both sides. But when one side was a soul beast habitat instead of a human territory, things became much more complicated.
Ice Frost Town, located on the outskirts of the extreme north, was part of the Northern Territory. While the Northern Territory was technically under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Soul Empire, it operated in a semi-autonomous state.
This kind of "gray zone" was exactly the sort of area merchant caravans wanted to avoid.
Unfortunately, it was also an area they couldn't ignore.
The towns near the extreme north had a massive demand for basic living supplies, with prices significantly higher than in the mainland.
Transporting goods from the mainland to the Northern Territory was, in two words—insanely profitable.
Driven by such profits, any capable merchant caravan would inevitably choose this trade route.
Furthermore, the products from regions like Ice Frost Town fetched even higher prices in the mainland. Items bought for a single gold soul coin in the north could be sold for 20, or even 50, gold soul coins in the mainland.
Faced with such profit margins, it was no surprise that some people were willing to take the risk.
Of course, the amount of money you could make depended on your strength.
Raiding merchant caravans wasn't without cost.
A caravan guarded by Soul Ancestors carried the risk of severe injury or even death for attackers. If the loot wasn't substantial, the raid wouldn't be worth it.
After all, for most bandits, their survival depended on having enough manpower and strength to fend off future challenges.
That said, even bandits needed to eat. Much like bribing border officials between two nations, merchants passing through soul beast territories often had to pay a "toll."
If a caravan's cargo value far exceeded its defensive capability, it would inevitably be looted.
As for scenarios where Soul Emperors led teams to raid caravans guarded by Soul Ancestors? There wouldn't be any real resistance. And over time, minor profits would accumulate into substantial gains.
However, the towns around Ice Frost Town relied on these merchant caravans for survival.
If raiding became rampant, who would dare continue trading here?
The Marquis of the Northern Border, representing the Heavenly Soul Empire, wouldn't allow such a situation to develop.
Why not eradicate all the rule-abiding bandits, then?
For one, it wasn't realistic. For another, there were certain matters the Marquis of the Northern Border couldn't openly handle.
In the end, all parties—local authorities, bandits, merchants—reached a tacit understanding.
The rule was simple: Earn as much as your strength allows.
Not satisfied with your earnings?
Then you'll have to risk your life and make more trips.
This time, the Kuangyun Escort Team had Su Yu accompanying them, allowing them to transport goods valued at Soul Emperor level.
The profits from this trip would be ten times higher than any previous journey.
Of course, the Kuangyun Escort Team had its own reputation to uphold. Transporting such high-value goods meant they would also need to showcase their strength.
This was precisely why Zou Yun hinted that they might witness Su Yu in action during this journey.
Su Yu remained silent.
At first glance, the long-established rules governing this region were fascinating, born from centuries of unspoken agreements. However, Su Yu couldn't deny the harm such arrangements posed to societal progress.
At its core, this system thrived on illicit gains.
No matter how deeply entrenched it was in tradition, it was still built on unjust wealth.
Su Yu wasn't entirely sure how fair and just the federated system in this fantasy world could be.
However, based on the original story's portrayal of the world millennia into the future, it seemed capable of achieving a relatively commendable level of equity. While soul masters still held a significantly higher status than ordinary people, this was a world of survival of the fittest. Reaching a point where soul masters were restrained by laws and couldn't arbitrarily harm commoners was already an exceptional achievement.
Su Yu didn't pretend to carry the burdens of every commoner or to be a selfless hero who served the nation and its people.
But if an opportunity arose that could benefit the continent, didn't conflict with his path, and wouldn't impede his cultivation, why not go along with it?
More importantly, Su Yu had started to feel a growing need for belief, a sense of purpose.
Actions like these would not only align with his goals but also bring him significant benefits. It wasn't just about convenience anymore—if the opportunity arose, he would feel compelled to act.
---
*Northern Territory, Heavenly Soul Empire*
The Marquis of the Northern Border, Beiming Yuan, was a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse with immense strength. Leading the Northern Border Army, he defended the edge of the extreme north, keeping the soul beasts of the region in check.
His Sky-Piercing Spear was renowned for its peerless killing power, and it was rumored that his strength could rival that of an average Titled Douluo.
Under the Marquis, three great generals served as his most trusted subordinates.
Zou Yun provided Su Yu with a detailed overview of the Northern Territory's power structure.
"Beyond the Marquis's estate, the main forces in the Northern Territory are the Frost Town and the bandits.
While these two forces can't compare to the official authority of the Marquis, they shouldn't be underestimated.
The bandits are the least organized, operating in scattered groups with no unified leadership. They're nothing more than parasitic bloodsuckers in this dark region.
The strongest of these groups, known as the Three Great Gangs of the Northern Territory, each boast Soul Emperor-level powerhouses at their core. The leader of the largest gang has reportedly reached Rank 69 and wields a terrifying Coiling Dragon Staff.
Aside from the bandits, there's Frost Town."
Su Yu was particularly curious why Frost Town was considered a major independent force in the Northern Territory.
"Heh, Frost Town is right on the edge of the extreme north. Its environment is harsh and survival is difficult. For most people, it's an inhospitable wasteland. But for a brief visit, its breathtaking natural beauty is unparalleled. However, staying for an extended period? You'd better have some serious strength," Zou Yun explained, his familiarity with the region evident.
"Though Frost Town is a harsh environment, it's also the best mimicry training ground for most ice-attribute soul masters.
Many powerful ice-attribute soul masters choose to retreat to Frost Town, leveraging the icy environment to cultivate their soul power.
It's said that Frost Town is home to reclusive Soul Saints, and possibly even Soul Douluo-level masters.
What's more, in an icy setting like that, these ice-attribute soul masters can unleash far greater power than ordinary soul masters.
Even the Marquis's estate exempts Frost Town from taxation and provides it with essential supplies."
Su Yu nodded in understanding.
In this case, the bandits were the least of their concerns. The true threats in the Northern Territory were the Marquis of the Northern Border and Frost Town.
This was because only these two forces had powerhouses above the Soul Emperor level.
However, for Su Yu, after listening to Zou Yun's explanation, the only real danger in his mind became the extreme northern region.
After all, with the enhancement from his mid-tier battle armor, Su Yu was confident that his strength had reached the level of a Soul Douluo.
The Marquis of the Northern Border was also a Soul Douluo.
Could Su Yu battle above his level?
Well, that was a Soul Douluo too.
For Su Yu, matching a Soul Douluo in strength and not falling short of the Marquis wasn't difficult at all.
It was always best for Su Yu to keep a conservative estimate of his own strength.
When he said he had the strength of a Soul Douluo, that meant he could unleash the full potential of a Soul Douluo's abilities.
---
The caravan continued its journey north.
The large caravan, with its nearly hundred carriages carrying abundant supplies and a team of over a hundred people, was impossible to ignore.
In the entire Northern Territory, such a caravan was a rare sight.
Soon, the convoy escorted by the Kuangyun Guard was intercepted.
"Kuangyun Guard? If I remember correctly, their strongest member is just a Soul Ancestor, right?"
"Heh, has the Kuangyun Guard overestimated themselves?"
Transporting goods with a force two ranks lower than the required level? They must have a death wish.
This was the second largest gang in the Northern Territory—the Whale Shark Gang!
"It's the Whale Shark Gang."
Zou Yun's expression turned serious.
"The leader of the Whale Shark Gang, Lang Tian, is a 68th-level Soul Emperor. His martial soul is the Bloodthirsty Mad Shark, and all of his soul rings are perfectly matched. His strength is formidable. It's said that he once escaped from the pursuit of Tianxing, one of the Marquis's three great generals, who possessed Soul Saint-level strength."
"Show your Soul Emperor strength, and even the three great gangs won't dare openly defy certain rules."
"Especially Lang Tian from the Whale Shark Gang. He was nearly killed by Tianxing during that chase because he almost broke a taboo."
"Even though he escaped, he was severely injured and took more than a year to recover. It's said that because of this injury, the Whale Shark Gang's influence greatly diminished."
---
Amid the blizzard, a dozen men blocked the caravan's path. The leader, a middle-aged man with a vicious scar on his left cheek, stood at the front.
"Kuangyun Guard? Send someone who can speak with us."
The harsh cold wind carried rough voices infused with soul power.
"Little Su, it's your turn," Zou Yun said.
Su Yu nodded and slowly stepped forward.
He released his Soul Emperor-level soul power, exerting pressure on the Whale Shark Gang.
After a month of cultivation in the Ice Fire Dual Eyes, Su Yu's cultivation had risen another level, reaching Rank 68, and he was on the verge of breaking through to Rank 69.
His Soul Power, cultivated through the most refined martial soul, was life-attribute and was already comparable to a top-tier Soul Saint.
Lang Tian's expression shifted slightly.
This person was strong.
Very strong.
The pressure from Su Yu's soul power was even more terrifying than when he faced Tianxing.
Zou Yun, feeling the overwhelming soul power emanating from Su Yu, swallowed nervously.
"My heavens, this is the power of a Soul Emperor?"
He muttered to himself, still finding it hard to believe.
"Old Kuang, is a Soul Emperor really this strong?"
At this moment, Feng Kuang's expression also became serious. Feeling the pressure of Su Yu's soul power, he said, his words slow and deliberate, "His strength is at least at the level of a Soul Saint."
It was one thing to reach the Soul Emperor rank at the age of fifteen, but to possess such terrifying strength—this kind of talent was truly beyond belief.
As expected, comparing people could really be frustrating.
"Leave!"
Su Yu's voice was indifferent, carrying the weight of divine authority, accompanied by a rumbling thunderclap.
His words were wrapped in soul power, with the thunderous energy of the Hell Vine, an ancient ten-thousand-year-old destructive force, mixed in. This aura sent a chill down Lang Tian's spine.
This was even more terrifying than a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast.
Lang Tian had once witnessed a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast from afar, and its horrifying presence still haunted him.
Yet the aura of the man before him was even more terrifying.
That sense of destruction—everything obliterated.
Even without a direct attack, just the release of this aura made Lang Tian feel as though he were being physically harmed.
"Leave!"
Lang Tian dared not speak further and quickly signaled for his men to retreat.
Su Yu's soul power gradually receded, no longer as overwhelming as the earlier display that had repelled a Soul Emperor.
Now, standing before them was a fifteen-year-old handsome young man.
No one would believe that this was the same person from just moments ago.
"Y-you're... you're not a life attribute soul master?"
Zou Yun stammered slightly.
After the overwhelming, destructive aura that seemed intent on annihilating everything, you're telling me you're a life-attribute soul master?
Zou Yun couldn't help but wonder how Su Yu used his life-attribute Blue Silver Grass in battle.
His mind was still occupied by the scene of soul skills that seemed to annihilate the world, far removed from anything related to life attributes.
He couldn't shake off that image.
There was no way he could believe Su Yu's story of his Blue Silver Grass undergoing a life-attribute mutation.
This was clearly a mutation toward destruction.
The people in the caravan looked at Su Yu with awe in their eyes. This was the respect reserved for a true powerhouse.
A young boy, only fifteen, yet so formidable.
The guards in the convoy stared with wide eyes.
They had spent over a month at the headquarters, and this seemingly harmless fifteen-year-old boy was actually a peerless powerhouse?
Now that Su Yu had returned to the team, they looked at him with astonishment.
The journey was smooth.
Su Yu demonstrated his terrifying strength, using only soul power to pressure and command with a single word to send the Whale Shark Gang fleeing.
This news quickly spread, and no bandit dared to target the caravan under the protection of the Crazy Transport Guard.
The information even reached the ears of the Northern Lord in no time.
At the Northern Lord's residence:
"Oh? A fifteen-year-old soul master?"
Bei Mingyuan was surprised when he heard what Tianxing had said.
A fifteen-year-old who could send Lang Tian running with just a word?
"Wait, you said Lang Tian was stopping which caravan?"
"The Crazy Transport Guard," Tianxing replied.
Bei Mingyuan sneered, "This Lang Tian is really a fool. The other two gangs didn't make a move, but he rushed in the fastest."
As for Feng Kuang, Bei Mingyuan knew him well.
Although it was said that something had happened to him, he was still a member of the Body Sect, and that sect was not someone you could provoke.
"Lord, does the Crazy Transport Guard have something special?"
"Nothing special," Bei Mingyuan replied, not intending to elaborate. However, thinking that Lang Tian had made such a foolish mistake, he decided to remind his people, "Feng Kuang used to be a disciple of the Body Sect."
The Body Sect!
Tianxing's heart trembled.
He didn't even need to know Feng Kuang's previous position—just knowing that he came from the Body Sect was enough to make Tianxing realize that the Crazy Transport Guard wasn't someone to be trifled with.
The Body Sect was a mysterious existence to most, but those with a certain level of soul power had probably heard of it.
By the time someone reached Soul Douluo, they were likely fully aware of the Body Sect's existence.
In the Heavenly Soul Empire, even most Soul Saints were familiar with it.
That sect was fiercely protective of its own.
They were the type to take revenge with no hesitation and pridefully do so.
And the key was that they weren't like Shrek, who portrayed themselves as righteous and made excuses.
The Body Sect was just brutally domineering—if you hurt one of theirs, they would come after you, no questions asked.
"So, does this mean the boy is likely from the Body Sect?"
The information stated that Su Yu had a fierce aura but no visible martial soul.
Now it seemed that it wasn't that his martial soul was hidden, but that his martial soul might indeed be related to the Body Sect, and those around him hadn't recognized it at the time.
(End of Chapter)