Inside the grand hall, the group walked through the living room and entered a bedroom.

The bedroom was lavishly decorated, exuding an aura of nobility. On the bed in the north, an unconscious elderly woman lay, with black mist occasionally emanating from her body.

Beside the bed, an old man with white hair and beard would scatter the black mist every time it appeared to prevent it from drifting around, while simultaneously emanating a powerful aura that sealed the entire bedroom.

"Is this... Soul Devouring Black Mist!?"

As Jiang Chen and the others entered the room, a black mist emerged from the old woman, prompting Ha'er to exclaim involuntarily.

"Yes! It's Soul Devouring Black Mist!" The Empress nodded gently.

"Mother, what is going on?! How could Aunt Sally..." Pu Losi frowned tightly, looking at the Empress in shock.

After glancing at Pu Losi, the Empress turned to Jiang Chen and the others, speaking softly, "This is Si Mo'er's mother, also my dear friend Sally."

"What!?"

"The mother of Duke Si Mo'er!?"

"This..."

Jiang Chen and the others exclaimed in astonishment.

"Mr. Jiang, I know you are investigating Si Mo'er."

The Empress looked at Jiang Chen apologetically and said, "First of all, I apologize for Si Mo'er causing you trouble. But he wasn't really targeting you. Everything he did, including the Feili Group setting up branches in Zhudao City and Zhou Yi District, was actually to get your attention and draw you here!"

"Ah?" Jiang Chen was surprised. His suspicions on the plane were correct; Duke Si Mo'er was indeed putting on an act!

"Mother, why go through so much trouble? If you wanted Mr. Jiang's help, why not just ask him directly?" Pu Losi frowned and asked.

The Empress gently shook her head, "It's not that simple! If Si Mo'er didn't act as if he was targeting Mr. Jiang, and if he hadn't hired assassins to attack Mr. Jiang when he arrived, creating an impression of implicating Qisha, the Soul Devouring Group wouldn't have let Sally live until Mr. Jiang arrived!"

Jiang Chen squinted his eyes, struck by a sudden realization, and exclaimed, "Are there Soul Devouring Group members watching Duke Si Mo'er?"

"Yes!" The Empress nodded lightly.

Jiang Chen frowned and said puzzledly, "But... I didn't sense the aura of Soul Devouring Group members around Duke Si Mo'er!"

"Mr. Jiang can sense the presence of Soul Devouring Group members?" The Empress was taken aback and asked in surprise.

Jiang Chen hesitated briefly and nodded slightly, "Yes, I can sense the presence of Soul Devouring Group and Gene Organization members, provided they have Soul Devouring Power or have been injected with a Gene Potion... Could it be?!"

A flash of insight crossed Jiang Chen's mind again, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Could there be someone around Duke Si Mo'er who hasn't been controlled by a Soul Devour seed or injected with a Gene Potion, yet is loyal to the Soul Devouring Group?!"

"I didn't expect Mr. Jiang to have such an ability; no wonder the Soul Devouring Group considers you a thorn in their side!" The Empress sighed, then nodded, "Yes! The person around Si Mo'er hasn't practiced Soul Devouring Power, nor have they been injected with a Gene Potion."

"Why not eliminate them?" Ha'er asked the Empress, puzzled.

The Empress smiled bitterly, "If we could, we would. The Soul Devouring Group claims that if we eliminate that person, Sally will die immediately. We haven't discovered the connection, so we dare not act rashly, and..."

Her eyes showed a hint of sorrow, and the Empress said solemnly, "That person... Si Mo'er has always wanted to guide them back to the right path, but unfortunately..."

"Could it be Sai Lida?!" Jiang Chen exclaimed in surprise, thinking of Sai Lida's intentions toward the Qiong Gouyu.

"What!?"

"Prince Sai Lida!?"

"Mr. Jiang, that's impossible! Sai Lida is Duke Si Mo'er's only son, the biological grandson of Aunt Sally. How could it be him!"

Everyone exclaimed, with Pu Losi reacting particularly strongly.

"It's him!" The Empress nodded with a heavy heart.

"This..."

Everyone looked at the Empress in astonishment, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"That beast!" Pu Losi roared in anger, then suddenly understood, "I understand now! I understand everything!"

Everyone turned their heads, looking at Pu Losi in confusion.

"Over ten years ago, Si Mo'er approached me and proposed establishing commercial relations with Flame Dragon. At the time, I was delighted and pleased that he had come to his senses. We worked hard in secret for several years, eventually completing the work with major powers. But just when it was about to be implemented, Si Mo'er suddenly changed his mind."

Pu Losi explained softly, then sighed, "He even became more opposed to establishing commercial relations with Flame Dragon. I was very confused and had a big argument with him. Gradually, our relationship deteriorated into the heated confrontation that the outside world sees now!"

"What does establishing commercial relations with Flame Dragon have to do with the Soul Devouring Group?" Ha'er asked, puzzled.

"There is a connection!"

Before Pu Losi could reply, Ya Se spoke softly, "The Soul Devouring Group is most wary of the Flame Dragon!"

"Flame Dragon people have a pride ingrained in their bones. They refuse to accept control from anyone, and what the Soul Devouring Group wants is control."

"If the Y Country's commerce cooperates with Flame Dragon commerce, companies from Flame Dragon will take root in Y Country, which will inevitably weaken the Soul Devouring Group's control over Y Country's commerce. This is something the Soul Devouring Group does not want to see. After all, controlling the economy of a country is akin to controlling that country in a way."

Ya Se's explanation made Ha'er and the others' faces change slightly.

"Exactly!"

This time, Pu Losi also nodded, "Over the years, I have been committed to establishing commercial cooperation with Flame Dragon Kingdom. Despite Si Mo'er's obstruction, I have achieved some progress."

He glanced at Jiang Chen, expressing his gratitude, "Thanks to the efforts of large companies like Jiuzhou Group, development has thrived in Y Country. Now, thinking back, if Si Mo'er had genuinely wanted to stop me, I wouldn't have been able to achieve this level of parity with him. After all, ten years ago, 80% of Y Country's business families supported Si Mo'er!"

"No wonder the Soul Devouring Group chose Flame Dragon as their first major target; there's such a reason behind it!"

Jiang Chen remarked with emotion, feeling a sudden surge of pride.

The Flame Dragon Kingdom isn't only feared by the Soul Devouring Group for its power in the Martial Dao World; even its commerce is a threat to them. This isn't due to a few people but because of the Flame Dragon people's inherent pride and indomitable spirit!

"A major move?!" Ya Se looked at Jiang Chen in astonishment.

"I'll explain later!"

Jiang Chen responded softly, looking up at the Empress with a smile, "Your Majesty, I think you've been played by the Soul Devouring Group!"

"Played!?" The Empress looked at Jiang Chen in surprise.

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