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

Chapter 1401: Chapter 1026: Qu Luming the Persuader

"Which city lords first betrayed the Demon Realm Alliance and then the new alliance?" Shang Jiuxiao continued the interrogation, "City, name, and betrayal process, preferably with solid evidence, so that more merit can be earned."

The Elder Scholar was reluctant to let other anomalies have the spotlight, so he buried himself in the desk, writing frantically down the names and supporting evidence without missing a single detail.

Jiang Yuan sat nearby, snacking on melon seeds, continuing to listen to the gossip.

"You don’t even have a headquarters, where do you usually hide? And how do you communicate?"

"The relationship between the Commerce Association and the city lords is inherently complex, after all, any city that develops by hunting demon beasts and selling demon cores must have interactions with the Commerce Association."

Lu Chongde answered truthfully, "So having no headquarters does not affect the Commerce Association. They still curl up within various cities, guarding their own small territories, conducting business and earning money as usual.

Now the Demon Realm Alliance has become an empty shell, it’s impossible to go to each city and trouble them.

Moreover, unless they voluntarily step up to provoke, Lan Shanying and Du Li don’t know who betrayed and who didn’t, perhaps they can still fish in troubled waters and curry favor.

But for us cultivators with no fixed industries, it becomes troublesome. This is also the main reason why those vile merchants incite us to seize territories. With no way back to the Demon Realm Alliance and no reliable place to settle, charging forward to occupy a city at least ensures a retreat, even if one doesn’t become the Alliance Leader.

The initial contact was organized and hosted by Cao Yuanwei, who decided on gatherings at the City Lord’s Mansion in Wanbao City every seven days, with communication through Communication Stones in private.

But after the first meeting to select an Alliance Leader, Cao Yuanwei was killed and City Lord Kang Muzi betrayed and withdrew, so we haven’t gathered since."

"A bunch of rabble, can’t accomplish anything," Qian Xiaoyu grumbled a few more words.

Former Sect Leader of Leisure Sect Shen Xingzhi couldn’t help but laugh, "To think the Demon Realm Alliance is even worse off than me, it seems within days, the anomaly army will welcome a batch of new members."

Qi Baijun looked disappointed, "The Alliance Leader and Vice Alliance Hierarch turned out to be such incompetent fools, had I known, why would I have fallen into evil ways? Entering the Demon Realm Alliance with power in hand, wouldn’t that be wonderful?"

Then his expression changed, his tone carried a hint of flattery, he looked at the Elder Scholar and smiled: "Luckily, after all the twists and turns, I serve under the Scholar’s seat, my influence far surpasses before. Instead, the Demon Realm Alliance fell apart like this, wasting so much wealth acquired."

Wealth?!

Lu Chongde suddenly realized, carefully asked, "Can the location of Cao Yuanwei’s stash count as merit?"

Hearing him mention this, Jiang Yuan perked up immediately, "Speak!"

"Cao Yuanwei knew his strength was lacking, even though Wanbao City’s city lord supported him, his realm wasn’t outstanding either. So he was the first to recruit me, wanting me to work for him.

But I’m not foolish, of course I had to find out his background while being trusted.

So I know he hid a stash sixty li west of Wanbao City, in a marshland where only low-level demon beasts roam, but I don’t know the details of what exactly, or how it was hidden. I’ve visited that marshland several times but found nothing suspicious."

The Elder Scholar’s pen stopped immediately, "If nothing is clear, claiming merit by intelligence deception? Can you say anything of value, if not, don’t waste Jiang’s precious time."

"I have a small private stash!" Lu Chongde shouted urgently, "It’s hidden beneath the third locust tree in Lion’s Ditch, concealed with an array, that’s, that’s my last reserves..."

He stammered out some additional irrelevant things, Jiang Yuan received the details recorded by the Elder Scholar, casually tossed it. Ice Flame spread over the polluted paper, purified it clean, then he stored it in the Storage Bag, clicking to leave the instance.

Listening to gossip delayed things a bit, the sky was already bright.

He went to Conch Island to check the new orders from the Floating Market, the orders received by the low-level market were limited, quickly resolved them all; the farm fields and fishery were managed by Automatic Full Sets, no need to worry.

But the Celestial River Ship hadn’t returned, so he couldn’t invest to complete tasks; despite having various rare materials piled in the warehouse, it lacked a few Sea Stones, stuck there indecisively.

"The materials pack rewarded by the system doesn’t contain Sea Stones, acquiring them has only two ways, either go out to sea to fish them up; or feed seagulls..." Jiang Yuan checked the accumulated materials packs, confirming that obtaining a small, system-recognized light blue stone could only wait for the ship to return.

He toured around the island, confirming that all the small tasks were completed, then took out the Elder Scholar’s record to carefully review.

Prioritize sending his own people to excavate the private stash; hand the betrayal list and evidence to Du Li, at least let him know who to vent his anger on.

While organizing, Jiang Yuan sent a message to Qu Luming, dispatching him to contact Mist Dragon.

Firstly, no binding relationship, so letting him stay in the small courtyard is uncomfortable; secondly, completing side tasks early is good for both sides, after all, the ultimate mission goal is to restore Gambling God, not harm him.

[Qu Luming: Received! I’ll head home right away to cozy up to Mountain Master Mist Dragon, then pretend to casually leak secrets. Du Li’s situation is a bit complex, and many times he conspires with Lan Shanying without letting me follow, but looking at the overall situation, he shouldn’t do anything foolish, rest assured, Mr. Jiang!]

Jiang Yuan replied with "Thank you". After finishing the tasks at hand, Du Li also sent a message — remaining fifty-nine demon cultivators from the Demon Realm Alliance are all willing to join Mr. Jiang.