Douluo: A Century-old Legend I Am the Second Uncle Chenxin

Chapter 1850 The Seizure of Power: From Soul Emperor to Lord of Bones
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The cave was deathly silent, save for Dou Jing's heavy breathing.

Qin Luguang lit a cigarette first and took a puff: "Dou Jing, since you've decided to speak, then tell me in detail about Barton's experience with the Bone Digging Gang, everything you know."

Dou Jing trembled slightly, raised his head with difficulty, and glanced at Chen Xiaojun with deep fear.

He seemed to have exhausted all his strength, and said hoarsely, "You guessed... and what they said is correct... Barton... Barton is indeed a member of the Golden Crocodile family."

"Twenty-one years ago," he said, lost in memories, his voice fading, "he joined the Bone Digging Team. At that time, he was a level 69 Soul Emperor. His claim for joining the team was that he was a commoner Soul Master, and his purpose in joining the Bone Digging Team was to obtain resources to break through to the Soul Saint level."

"At that time, our main business was mining and Soul Hunting. He was assigned to our Soul Hunting Department and joined my battalion, serving as a fellow deputy captain..."

"The Soul Hunter Division suffered heavy casualties; a slight misstep could mean certain death. On the battlefield, we watched over and helped each other, saving each other's lives..."

"He was daring and hardworking. In about six months, he accumulated enough contributions to exchange for resources and advanced to become a Soul Saint, becoming a captain. In another six months, he became the deputy minister of the Soul Hunting Department."

"It was around that time that I was transferred from the Soul Hunter Division to the Guard Division, so we separated. However, the circle within the group is very small, so we still see each other quite often and keep in touch."

Zhu Yanfeng glanced at Li Wuyai and the others, "It seems you also have a background. In this place called Bone Digging Group, the guards are basically not in much danger."

Dou Jing twitched the corner of his mouth and gave a self-deprecating laugh, "I guess so. Because of his forthright style, he always charged ahead and retreated last, which quickly earned him prestige in the Soul Hunter Division."

"In the following years, his cultivation and status rose step by step. By the time he had been in the group for seven years, he had become a highly respected deputy leader and his cultivation had reached level 78."

Qin Luguang stopped him, saying, "Wait a minute, his cultivation level has increased so quickly?! Level 78?! He's been in the group for seven years, and he's gone from level 69 to 78, a full nine levels higher?! This speed... could it be that he has exceptional innate talent? Or excellent resources?"

Not everyone is like the Chen family, with so many resources, allowing the middle generation to advance one level on average almost every year.

Zhu Yanfeng chimed in, "His foundation looks incredibly solid, his soul power is condensed, and his explosive power is extremely strong... It doesn't seem like he forcibly built it up by taking drugs!"

Dou Jing nodded numbly: "Hmm... Our group's resources are alright, but our alchemy skills are lacking. They usually have some side effects, like pill poisoning, so I don't know if Barton would be useful, but I imagine he wouldn't. As for innate soul power, he claims it's level 7.3, but..."

He paused for a moment, "During this time, he suddenly obtained a 65,000-year-old soul bone, which, after fusion, boosted his level by nearly one level."

Qin Luguang immediately retorted, "Level 7.3 innate soul power? It might be more than that! As for the resources... and that soul bone, it was probably secretly provided to him by the Jin family!"

Zhu Yanfeng hummed in agreement. Suddenly remembering something, he asked with a hint of confusion, "Huh? You just said you became deputy regimental commander in the seventh year? Wasn't there a rumor that he became regimental commander in the fifth year?"

“No,” Dou Jing shook his head slightly, “that was something his subordinates spread after he became the regimental commander.”

Chen Xiaojun interjected, "So, how did he become the leader?"

Dou Jing gave a bitter smile: "It was in the seventh year, the old regimental commander... went out on business and died."

Chen Xiaojun nodded expressionlessly. Zhu Yanfeng pressed, "So he naturally became the regimental commander?"

“No, that’s not it,” Dou Jing denied. “There is another deputy commander who is also very prestigious, on par with him. However, Barton has secured the support of Tang Hengyu, the deputy commander of the Rust Brothers, as well as Hahn, whom he personally promoted, and has also taken control of the Zhicheng Chamber of Commerce.”

"Tang Hengyu?" Zhu Yanfeng confirmed.

“Yes,” Dou Jing said, “At that time, Tang Hengyu had already been internally designated as the next regimental commander of the Brotherhood.”

Qin Luguang asked astutely, "Wasn't Tan Yashuang mentioned?"

Dou Jingdao replied, "Having the support of the Brotherhood is equivalent to having the support of the Sorority."

After listening, Zhu Yanfeng chuckled: "Indeed, he's quite shrewd. He built up a foundation for the leadership position within seven years and also gained external support. No wonder he was able to secure the position."

Qin Luguang added, "It's probably also related to his level 78 cultivation."

Dou Jing pursed his dry, thick lips. "Yes, our group can't be without a Soul Douluo. Besides, the higher-ups were quite treacherous back then. Maybe the old leader and the others were afraid he would break through to the Soul Douluo level."

"Heh, it really is a mess." Qin Luguang's gaze returned to Dou Jing. "You're one of his supporters too, aren't you?"

Dou Jing closed his eyes and nodded wearily: "Yes! By then, he had already established his power, and given our past relationship, choosing to support him was a natural thing to do."

Qin Luguang took a sip and continued to press, "After he took the position of leader, how did the Bone Digging Team change? What is its relationship with the Jin family behind it, or rather, the Spirit Hall? And what about his cultivation progress?"

Dou Jing took a deep breath: "From the very beginning of his tenure, he drastically consolidated his power, including the Soul Hunting Department, the Mining Department, and even the Logistics Department... He firmly grasped control of some key departments and vigorously promoted his cronies..."

"In terms of operations, he reduced the proportion of the high-risk, unstable-return Soul Hunting business, and instead relied on Hahn's Zhicheng Chamber of Commerce to fully expand underground mineral and rare metal trading, and even..."

He paused, then lowered his voice, "...some more 'special trade.' The profits have indeed increased significantly, and everyone in the group has benefited."

Zhu Yanfeng snorted coldly, his tone laced with sarcasm: "'Special'? Ha, human trafficking, huh? That deputy regimental commander who's competing with him will probably 'disappear' soon, won't he?"

“It is…human trafficking.” Dou Jing did not deny it. “In the past, the group did not do much of this business. We only did it occasionally when someone commissioned us to do some low-intensity work.”

"As for that deputy commander, he didn't die immediately. He passed away 'naturally' in an 'accident' five or six years later. Whether it was a natural disaster or a man-made one, no one can verify it now, and it has become a historical mystery."

"As for his cultivation level," Dou Jing continued, stating with a hint of numbness, "after becoming the leader, resources were even more tilted towards him. Three years later, which was his tenth year in the group, he broke through level 80 and advanced to Soul Douluo."

Zhu Yanfeng did a quick calculation: "A ten-year Soul Douluo? Including the level he gained from acquiring the Soul Ring, it's been eleven years since he reached level eighty-five. Judging from this, his aptitude is indeed as he claims, around level seven, not quite level eight, which is in line with the level of an elite disciple of a ninth-grade family."

(End of this chapter)