Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!

Chapter 1300: Chapter 981: The Deeper the Involvement, the More It Unravels

Without the alliance’s endorsement, the Commerce Association naturally had to yield its power to the City Lord, which Gongxi Yanchang was more than pleased to see and actively responded by assisting in the investigation.

Thus, Du Li, who had been hesitant and worried about parts of the alliance’s commerce association coming to a standstill just a moment ago, was furious with rage and gritting his teeth when he saw the desk piled high with dossiers, with new ones continuously being submitted.

"Very well, this must be heaven’s arrangement, allowing me to seize this opportunity to thoroughly investigate the Demon Realm Alliance." He took several deep breaths to steady himself and thought carefully, for the collective ascension plan could not possibly include all alliance members.

By using the investigation of the Commerce Association’s leader in Carefree City as a pretext, he decided to examine everything thoroughly!

Streamline to the extreme, then use the repaired Distinguishing Heart Realm to check each member, ensuring that those participating in the collective ascension are not individuals unworthy of their positions.

"In troubled times, strong measures must be used; a quick solution is needed to alleviate the burden on the Wilderness World," Du Li said while reviewing the dossiers, discussing with Alliance Leader Lan Shanying far away at the alliance headquarters using the Communication Stone.

The other party, upon hearing about the Commerce Association’s situation in Carefree City, supported the investigation and issued orders to conduct a comprehensive investigation targeting the commerce associations affiliated with the Demon Realm Alliance.

Yan Xuan wasn’t standing by idly either, finding an opportunity to give Du Li a jab, lest the delay be too long and heart demons arise again.

He happened to be at his most frustrated point while reviewing the infuriating dossiers, feeling both angry and pained.

He thought to himself about his worries over the Wilderness World becoming heart demons, while those Demon Cultivators enjoying the fruits of labor occupied prime resources, completely oblivious to cherishing the righteous cultivators’ feathers. What use do I have for these greedy, murderous "Evil Cultivators"?

It might be better to act according to Heavenly Dao, capturing them to feed the remnants of the Power of the Celestial Dao; maybe there would be more strength to distribute during future collective ascensions!

Having made up his mind, Du Li patiently reviewed the countless dossiers concerning the Commerce Association’s bullying of smaller businesses. Once Iron-faced Young Master Gao Yi led his subordinates to Carefree City to await instructions, the interrogation began.

"Chong Yinggui, leader of the Commerce Association in Carefree City, since taking office, has abused his power to trouble shops and receive bribes, with the amount involved reaching over ten billion nine hundred million Spirit Stones, along with numerous properties, houses, Magical Treasures, and Magical Artifacts; he has embezzled and divided alliance assets totaling over thirty billion Spirit Stones with the deputy leader and various stewards, and eighty thousand precious Demon Cores..."

Yan Xuan was the first to gape in astonishment at the nearly uncountable amount of Spirit Stones, his eyes wide like bird eyes, "Geez, this is just a small city commerce association leader, and he can embezzle so many Spirit Stones!"

He flexibly turned his bird neck to look at Du Li and questioned, "My master serves as Enforcer Elder within your alliance, holding a position much higher than this rascal, yet he doesn’t have so many Spirit Stones. Are you daring to give my master a powerless honorary position?"

Du Li:......

Oh, my distinguished ancestor, you know well these are proceeds from embezzlement and bribery, naturally not rightful salary compensation. Mr. Jiang maintains his integrity and does not accept bribes. Otherwise, would there be a shortage of cultivators willing to send money to him?

"A gentleman loves wealth and acquires it rightly, our family’s master does not want this filthy money." Hu Zhile hurriedly explained: "Proceedings not obtained righteously, each Spirit Stone carries a sin and consequence, harmful to well-being, absolutely must not be accepted!"

Listening to her words, Yan Xuan tilted his head in thought, "Hmm, that makes sense. Then what do you plan to do with so many Spirit Stones?"

Du Li sighed and replied truthfully, "A large portion of the bribe money originated from various shops within the city. Those shopkeepers, pressured by Chong Yinggui’s tyranny, could only pay to avoid disaster. Naturally, we must verify and return them one by one.

As for other illicit funds, after compensating and reimbursing the harmed Demon Cultivators, they will be sealed, eventually considering their use in city construction and maintenance. The Commerce Association affects myriad things; there are too many issues to resolve, it must be approached slowly and methodically."

The most crucial point he left unsaid—after interrogating each person, he frustratingly discovered there wasn’t a single clean individual among the few hundred members of the Commerce Association!

Even a junior clerk who had joined the association for barely three months had "by custom" received ten thousand Spirit Stones and over ten rare premium Demon Cores.

"No wonder everyone contends fiercely to join alliance departments, from the Inspection Department to the Commerce Association, all exploiting the Demon Realm Alliance’s influence for personal gain, extracting massive amounts!" Du Li sighed repeatedly; the former sought the Power of the Celestial Dao’s Remnant for ascension opportunities, the latter targeted immense wealth.

During the interrogation process, Du Li even doubted whether the alliance had more than a few non-corrupt Righteous Cultivators.

With such a rabble, once ousted one by one, would there even be enough people to initiate the collective ascension array?

Looking again at Mr. Jiang’s disciples, whether it be Hu Zhile, Yun Mo, Yan Xuan, or Gongxi Jin, without mentioning their Cultivation Realm, just not being greedy surpasses the Demon Realm Alliance by countless times!

Even the elder’s questioning was not for coveting Spirit Stones but for seeking justice for his master. The more he thought, the sadder Du Li felt, unable to restrain a deep sigh.

"Alliance Leader Du, what is causing you to sigh? Is tracking the two abducted children not going smoothly?" Yun Mo remained, wanting to know if they could retrieve the Female Demon Cultivator’s children.

The poor woman had suffered as her husband was brutally killed, her two brothers grievously injured, and the children were nowhere to be found.

He hoped for a good outcome, but the reality was bleak as the children had been abducted for nearly three days; regardless of what the Commerce Association did with them, prospects were dim.