Haiyuan City, a relatively underdeveloped coastal city in the Xingluo Empire, had undergone earth-shattering changes compared to the past.
Every street and alley was now dotted with many uniquely styled and distinctly different buildings. These structures combined innovative design concepts with soul-tech elements, giving the city a remarkably distinctive look.
At the same time, an abundance of practical soul devices had quietly appeared throughout the city. They were scattered like stars in every corner, bringing unprecedented convenience to the lives of its residents.
Soul lamps lined the streets, emitting bright yet gentle light that illuminated the entire city as brightly as day, even in the darkest nights.
Several newly opened soul-tech stores were bustling with activity, displaying a dazzling variety of affordable daily-use soul devices that left people dazzled.
From convenient commuter bikes to soul-tech air conditioners that brought warmth during cold winters, and even soul-tech washing machines that automatically cleaned clothes — each item fascinated the citizens of Haiyuan City.
In truth, these soul devices had long been widespread in the Riyue Empire. But in the Xingluo Empire and similar nations like Tianhun and Douling, traditional soul masters had held a long-standing prejudice against soul devices, deeming them inferior and unworthy of serious regard.
As a result, most people from the former Douluo Three Kingdoms had only heard tales of the miraculous effects of soul devices but had never seen them firsthand.
However, the people of Haiyuan City exhibited a strong openness to acceptance. With tireless promotion from the City Lord's Mansion, these once unfamiliar soul devices rapidly became popular throughout the city.
Although some conservative noble clans stubbornly clung to traditional views, scoffing at soul devices and refusing to use them, under the firm hand of Chang Li, they dared not openly oppose the new trend.
After all, in Haiyuan City, the decrees issued by the City Lord's Mansion carried absolute authority; no one dared to defy them.
Anyone bold enough to raise objections might as well ask the razor-sharp sword wielded by Jingliu whether it agreed.
The constraints of traditional thinking restricted the older generation of noble families to a certain extent.
But the younger generation was entirely different: open-minded, curious, and eager for new things, they embraced the new soul devices with remarkable speed.
Coupled with the pressure exerted by the City Lord's Mansion, the elders could only reluctantly turn a blind eye and allow the youth to fully enjoy the convenience brought by these soul devices.
Thus, in just eight short years since Lu Jingming became the City Lord of Haiyuan City, the city had undergone a complete transformation.
The city's area had expanded significantly, with majestic buildings soaring over a hundred meters high. New tram tracks crisscrossed the streets, and soul-tech trams shuttled back and forth along the rails, greatly facilitating the citizens' travel.
Haiyuan City's rapid modernization acted like a giant magnet, attracting throngs of merchants from all over.
Many soul master families, impressed by the city's prosperity, even voluntarily relocated here to settle down.
Much of this change owed to the newly added fleet of soul-tech warships.
These advanced vessels sailed regularly into the turbulent seas with ease, not only capturing precious sea soul beasts but also bringing back abundant, fresh seafood.
The rich marine harvests brought by these soul-tech warships not only met the needs of the city's residents but also generated immense economic value, steadily increasing Haiyuan City's wealth.
In the past, frequent invasions by sea soul beasts had been a persistent nightmare haunting the people of Haiyuan City.
But now, everything had changed drastically. Each incursion was no longer a terrifying disaster but rather a grand celebration.
Because it meant more soul beast materials would flood the market.
In maintaining city order, the City Lord's elite guard—the Golden Guard—played a vital role.
This force consisted of five hundred members, all soul masters rigorously selected and trained.
Clad in the most advanced soul-tech armor and equipped with a variety of powerful soul devices, they maintained order throughout Haiyuan City.
Whether it was sea soul beasts rampaging ashore or soul masters breaking laws within the city, none could escape the Golden Guard's judgment.
Though the Golden Guard had been established only two years prior, it had already become a renowned and respected force throughout Haiyuan City.
They had no idea how many rebellious and unruly soul masters they had subdued. Among their feats, there were even three members of the Golden Guard who had effortlessly suppressed a Soul King—an astonishing achievement.
It's important to understand that on Douluo Continent, soul masters were already exceedingly rare, and Soul King-level experts were even more exceptional. In many smaller cities, a Soul King was qualified to serve as the city lord, which speaks volumes about their status and respect.
Although the three Golden Guard members who subdued that Soul King were among only five commander-level experts in the entire Golden Guard, it was still remarkable that within just two years of its establishment, the Golden Guard boasted five Soul King-level commanders. For a remote city like Haiyuan, this was an astounding accomplishment.
After all, cultivating and maintaining soul masters required a tremendous amount of resources—especially for high-ranking soul masters, whose needs were incalculable.
Within the Golden Guard, there was a strict and clear hierarchy: ordinary members possessed the strength of Great Soul Masters; squad leaders were Soul Lords; company commanders were Soul Ancestors; and above them were the Soul King-level commanders.
At the very top, the Grand Commander of the entire Golden Guard was none other than Jingliu, the openly acknowledged strongest figure in Haiyuan City—the Snow Moon Douluo.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that with such a disciplined and powerful Golden Guard, Haiyuan City's order was unparalleled across the Xingluo Empire.
Every outsider who came to Haiyuan dared not act recklessly or break the law.
After all, over the past two years, many strong contenders who coveted Haiyuan City's wealth and resources had met with failure.
The city's many charms—from its soul-tech warships that could sail far into the sea unhindered by sea soul beasts, to the abundant and versatile soul devices, to the rare and precious treasures harvested from the ocean—inevitably stirred the greed of some ill-intentioned people.
However, these dark attempts to disrupt Haiyuan City's peace ultimately failed to cause any real harm to this vibrant city.
Although the Golden Guard could not yet compare to the soul master legions of the major empires, nor to the Soul Tutor armies of the Riyue Empire, those who coveted Haiyuan were not formidable forces anyway.
Not to mention, the city was guarded by Jingliu—such a powerful presence stationed firmly in Haiyuan.
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