Before the Sea God Legion suffered heavy losses and was still sailing across the ocean, Xia Yi had already put Leng Yulai's plans into action.
As soon as Leng Yulai returned to the Douluo Continent, she immediately established a company called Phoenix Group, aggressively seizing the market and workers abandoned by the Tang Sect.
To raise more funds, Leng Yulai even auctioned off the last set of four-word battle armor that Leng Yaozhu and Xia Yi had created.
Zhenhua had once promised to give two sets of four-word battle armor to Xia Yi and Leng Yaozhu.
One set was given to Qiangu Dongfeng, who in turn passed it on to his grandson, Qiangu Zhangting.
In exchange, Xia Yi's martial soul evolved to the five-tailed form.
Leng Yulai also inherited the legacy of the God of Sin, Medusa.
The remaining set of battle armor was even more precious than the one given to Qiangu Dongfeng because it didn't require self-supplied materials—she could simply obtain it directly from Zhenhua.
While Leng Yulai frantically raised funds at all costs, she also negotiated with the Sun-Moon Federation government.
Because she was willing to take in the displaced workers who had lost their livelihoods and were causing unrest, the Sun-Moon Federation provided significant support.
To secure even greater support, Leng Yulai directly invited the Federation government to take a stake in Phoenix Group.
The Sun-Moon Federation was overjoyed.
Phoenix Group had absorbed a massive workforce, including skilled technicians and laborers. If it were to become another Tang Sect, the consequences would be unimaginable.
But with the Federation holding a stake, they no longer had to worry about Phoenix Group staging a large-scale strike like the Tang Sect.
Additionally, if the Federation became a shareholder, they could claim credit for resolving the Tang Sect strike, turning it into a political win for themselves.
For the Federation, this was an opportunity delivered on a silver platter.
Without hesitation, the government granted Phoenix Group full clearance and urgently transferred technical personnel from various departments to support it.
Leng Yulai had her own reasons for allowing the Federation to hold shares.
First, there was the matter of governmental support.
Without the Federation's backing, it would have been extremely difficult to organize such a vast number of people in a short period.
Second, the Tang Sect was an ancient and prestigious organization.
Despite its sudden decision to lay off all its workers, many of them still hoped to return to their old jobs once the Tang Sect reopened.
Phoenix Group was a new company with an uncertain future.
These former workers had spent years, even decades, in Tang Sect companies, so naturally, they trusted Tang Sect more.
But with the Federation's backing, things were different—Phoenix Group was now a state-controlled enterprise.
With Leng Yaozhu and Leng Yulai's influential status, Phoenix Group's reputation instantly skyrocketed.
Many companies that previously collaborated with Tang Sect now turned to work with Phoenix Group instead.
Through Phoenix Group's efforts, the negative impact of the Tang Sect strike was finally being neutralized.
"Damn that Leng Yulai! She's openly stealing our workers and market!"
At the Tang Sect headquarters in Shrek City, Zang Xin was furious.
His original plan was to temporarily shut down Tang Sect's companies to pressure the Sun-Moon Federation.
Now, things had backfired—rather than forcing the Federation's hand, his Tang Sect businesses were truly at risk of permanent closure.
"Sect Master, we must resume operations. Otherwise, our market and workers will be completely taken by Phoenix Group," a Tang Sect elder advised.
"I publicly declared that our businesses and factories would remain closed until the Spirit Pagoda lifts its sanctions. If we reopen now, wouldn't that make us look like fools?" Zang Xin shook his head.
Truthfully, he wasn't overly concerned about losing a few companies.
Tang Sect's real income came from its underground weapons factories.
What worried Zang Xin more was the Spirit Pagoda's sanctions.
Many Tang Sect disciples had already reached breakthroughs but were unable to purchase soul spirits.
If they couldn't force the Spirit Pagoda to lift its sanctions,
Tang Sect would truly be in peril.
Zang Xin had tried using intermediaries to purchase soul spirits from the Spirit Pagoda.
At first, it worked.
But once the Spirit Pagoda caught on, they immediately issued a new policy:
A soul master could only purchase a soul spirit when they broke through to the next level and when their current soul spirit could no longer provide soul rings. Moreover, they could only purchase one per breakthrough.
For example, a hundred-year soul spirit provided two soul rings. If a soul master purchased a hundred-year soul spirit at rank 10, they could not buy another one until they became a Soul Elder.
Furthermore, even if they reached the required level, they could only purchase one soul spirit at a time. If they chose a thousand-year soul spirit, they would have to wait until they reached Soul Emperor to buy another one.
The Spirit Pagoda didn't prohibit reselling soul spirits to the Tang Sect,
but if you didn't meet the purchasing criteria, you wouldn't even be able to buy one in the first place.
"Do we really have to surrender to the Spirit Pagoda?"
Zang Xin spent an entire month contemplating this dilemma.
He couldn't bring himself to bow down to the Spirit Pagoda.
Finally, today, he received a piece of good news.
Chen Xinjie and the Sea God Legion had suffered severe losses.
It was confirmed that someone within the diplomatic delegation to the Douluo Continent had colluded with the Star Luo Empire, leaking the power system details of the Far Ocean.
When he first heard the news, Zang Xin was terrified.
After all, if such a thing were traced back to them, the consequences would be dire.
But upon calming down, he quickly reassured himself.
Even if Chen Xinjie investigated, what could he do?
He would simply play dumb.
After all, his beloved "Xiao Yueyue" was one of the masterminds behind it.
Zang Xin immediately contacted the Tang Sect's leader in the Star Luo Empire, Smiling Douluo Hu Jie, via soul communicator.
Star Luo Empire—Star Luo Hotel
Since being rejected by Xia Yi, Yali had not spoken to him for an entire month.
She was completely disappointed in him.
Still, she followed him every day, fearing that Yun Ming might suddenly attack.
However, she remained silent the entire time.
Today, she finally received some news.
Leng Yulai had resolved the crisis caused by the Tang Sect strike, restoring order amidst the chaos.
To support the Tang Sect, she had even auctioned off a four-word battle armor.
"I misjudged him. He's not as cold-hearted as I accused him of being. Like Yaozhu, he is kind at heart. He couldn't just stand by while the people of Douluo Continent suffered. He didn't ignore me—he just had a better solution all along," Yali muttered as she paced outside Xia Yi's door.
She wanted to go inside and apologize, but every time she raised her hand to knock, she hesitated.
She deeply regretted her previous harsh words.
Xia Yi had been the victim, yet she had treated him so cruelly.
But rather than retaliating, he had done everything in his power to help the people of Douluo Continent.
"To repay hatred with kindness—what a magnanimous heart. Yali, you judged him unfairly. No wonder he ignores you now."
As Yali struggled with her emotions, a sudden commotion erupted outside Star Luo Hotel.
Drums and gongs rang out.
A royal messenger loudly declared:
"By the decree of His Majesty! In recognition of Master Xia Yi's outstanding performance in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, he is hereby granted the title of Duke of Tianhu! His fief shall extend 3,000 miles west of Tianmu Mountain, with hereditary succession!"
Yali's face changed dramatically.
The Sea God Legion had just suffered a major defeat, and now Xia Yi was being granted a dukedom in the Star Luo Empire—
Along with 3,000 miles of land.
What would the Federation think of this?
"Tianmu Mountain… Isn't that the territory of the Green Skull Organization?"
Realization struck Yali.
"The unyielding threat to our demise still remains."
Hearing the proclamation, Xia Yi's lips curled into a faint smile.