Although Cheng Yang didn't command soldiers or armies, his knowledge was powerful enough to shake the foundations of an empire.
His new methods, especially the introduction of improved crops, had stirred the economy like a storm.
And whenever someone changed the flow of wealth, others inevitably suffered.
Among those displeased was the Elephant Armored Sect, a rising power that would one day be counted among the Seven Great Sects of Douluo.
They weren't officially recognized yet, but their might was already well known.
Their core bloodline spirit, the Diamond Mammoth, gave them nearly impenetrable defense and overwhelming strength.
Like every sect seeking a foothold in the chaotic mainland, they relied not just on power, but on wealth.
Armies and spirit masters needed food, and food needed coin.
And when a famine struck, that coin could multiply a hundredfold.
The famine sweeping across the region was a tragedy for many, but a business opportunity for some.
Merchants hoarded food, waiting for prices to skyrocket.
Every famine followed the same cruel rhythm.
The ancients had always said "emphasize farming, suppress commerce", yet few remembered why, because unchecked greed devoured lives.
The Elephant Sect had moved quickly, driving out competitors and securing full control of the disaster zone's grain market.
They were ready to sell their hoarded food at sky-high prices when a massive relief convoy rolled in from the empire.
Hundreds of carts laden with strange brown tubers trundled through the muddy roads.
The air was filled with the scent of raw earth and hope.
Fourteen-year-old Hu Yanzhen, the future Sect Master of the Elephant Armored Sect, stood beside his father, frowning.
"Didn't the Sect already strike a deal with the royal merchants? Where did the empire suddenly get so much food?"
The current Sect Master, Hu Yanchu, scowled as well.
"Go. Stop them. I want to see who dares ruin our business."
The sect's disciples, their massive frames like moving boulders, marched forward.
Even without spirit rings released, their aura alone made travelers step aside.
The lead cart driver quickly ordered his men to halt.
A middle-aged man in official robes jumped down and respectfully cupped his hands.
"Sect Master Hu Yanchu, what brings you here? Why block our convoy?"
His voice was steady, though there was tension beneath it.
Hu Yanchu crossed his arms.
"No need for pretense. I want to know what this so-called relief food is, and who sent it."
"Oh, this?" The man smiled, glancing at the carts.
"These are potatoes, improved by the Great Sage. They mature in only three to four months and yield far more than wheat. Every one of these carts holds his gift to the famine victims."
"Great Sage?" Hu Yanchu's brows furrowed.
"Yes," the man said earnestly.
"The Great Sage not only donated food, but also loaned ten million gold soul coins for disaster relief. He even sent his own people to help resettle the refugees, for free! Without him, we wouldn't have reached this region in time."
Hu Yanzhen's fists clenched.
"You mean that shopkeeper? That lone fellow everyone calls a genius? So it's him ruining our trade."
He sneered.
"One man. What are we afraid of? Even if we can't touch him, letting this pass unpunished will make us look weak."
Hu Yanchu's gaze stayed fixed on the retreating convoy. His expression softened slightly.
"No, Yanzhen. This time, we do nothing. The Great Sage's name carries weight across the empire. People call him a benefactor. If we touch him now, it'll be our sect branded as heartless profiteers."
"But Father!"
"Enough." Hu Yanchu's tone brooked no argument.
"We'll sell our grain at a fair price. This loss is tolerable. And remember, he may be alone, but men like that have a way of turning small conflicts into disasters. Cross him, and the loss could be far greater."
Yanzhen bit his lip, silent. His pride burned, but even he knew his father was right.
Still, as the convoy disappeared down the dusty road, he swore to himself that one day, the name Hu Yanzhen would not have to swallow such humiliation.
Hu Yanzhen fell silent after his father's words, frustration simmering in his chest.
He hadn't thought it through. If they really picked a fight with the so-called Great Sage, the sect would likely lose more than it gained.
The man's influence was already spreading through the empire like wildfire.
Crossing him now would be foolish.
He clenched his fists, jaw tight.
Tch… even if I hate it, I have to swallow this humiliation.
Just as the atmosphere began to cool, a thunderous roar split the air from not far away.
"Shameless profiteers! Hoarders of grain! You ignore the lives of the people! Today, I, Tang Chen, will use my hammer to judge you!"
Both Hu Yanchu and Hu Yanzhen froze for a heartbeat.
Hu Yanzhen's expression darkened instantly.
As if being humiliated once wasn't enough! His spirit power flared, and he bellowed,
"The arrogant little thief, how dare you spout nonsense about my sect!"
Diamond-like light erupted around his body as his Diamond Mammoth Spirit manifested.
His massive form gleamed with a crystalline sheen, the ground cracking beneath his feet as he charged forward.
The young attacker, a fiery-eyed boy wielding a massive black hammer, met him head-on. His spirit rings flashed: two yellow, two purple.
The Clear Sky Hammer shone with a brutal, condensed power.
Hu Yanzhen grinned coldly.
"Four rings? Impressive, but still too green to face me."
His confidence came from his defense, two yellow and one purple, all for endurance.
Among his peers, none could breach it.
But he had underestimated this opponent.
Their weapons clashed with a deafening crash that sent a shockwave rippling through the clearing.
The earth trembled.
Hu Yanzhen felt an overwhelming force surge through his arms, a strength that seemed to crush mountains.
His defense held for half a breath before his legs buckled, and his body was driven straight into the dirt like a stake hammered into the ground.
Blood splattered from his lips.
The hammer-wielding youth lifted his weapon and rested it on his shoulder.
He gave a small, almost cocky grin, wiping his nose with his thumb.
"Haotian Sect, Tang Chen! Who else dares challenge me?"
Hu Yanchu's face turned stormy. Even as he helped his son struggle up from the crater, his voice was calm but cold.
"How bold. You Haotian brats have learned arrogance early."
The air thickened as his Contra-level spirit power burst forth, pressing on everyone present like the weight of a mountain.
Tang Chen's knees nearly buckled, his body trembling under the crushing pressure, but he gritted his teeth and swung his Clear Sky Hammer again.
Black ripples of power burst outward, cutting through some of the oppressive force.
Hu Yanchu narrowed his eyes, a trace of respect flickering there.
"Not bad. You've got guts. But you're still too young."
He raised his palm. Spirit energy gathered like a roaring wave before he slammed it forward.
Tang Chen barely had time to brace himself, the next instant, he was hurled through the air like a ragdoll, slamming into a tree trunk with a bone-rattling crack.
The impact left a crater in the bark and blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Hu Yanchu lowered his hand, his voice calm but firm.
"Consider this a lesson. Don't strike without understanding the situation. Our Elephant Armored Sect isn't hoarding grain, we're suppressing profiteers. Every sack of food we sell will be at a fair price. If you doubt it, go see for yourself."
He turned and pulled Hu Yanzhen from the ground.
"We're done here."
As they walked away, Hu Yanchu's expression softened slightly.
"Sometimes, boy, an enemy's anger can serve as our proof. Let them see justice in our actions, that will strengthen our name more than any gold."
Hu Yanzhen said nothing, though he couldn't help glancing back once.
Pride and frustration warred inside him.
Meanwhile, Tang Chen coughed harshly, clutching his ribs as he forced himself to stand.
He spat a mouthful of blood and glared at their retreating backs.
"Bah… slick words to buy people's hearts," he muttered under his breath, tightening his grip on the Clear Sky Hammer.
"But next time, I'll hit harder."
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