Chapter 1505: The New Tong Continent Great Emperor
After investigations conducted by Tang Shi and Shui Ling, each employing their own methods, Yang Haoran finally understood the full scope of what was happening. It turned out that for the past decade, the high-ranking officials of the Underworld Office had been embroiled in fierce internal strife, even more intense than when he had served as a Guardian there.
The difference lay in the fact that this internal conflict, while extremely severe, was conducted with far greater secrecy than any turmoil Yang Haoran had witnessed during his time in the Underworld Office. Aside from the high-ranking officials themselves, only a select few of their most trusted confidants were privy to even fragments of information, and only those known for their absolute discretion were truly in the know.
Not only was this internal conflict among the Underworld Office's high echelons incredibly secretive, but it had also raged for a prolonged period, spanning over ten years by the present day. That no inkling of it had leaked to the outside world after so long was a testament to the meticulousness of their secrecy.
It was precisely because this clandestine operation was so flawlessly executed that Yang Haoran’s two major intelligence agencies had failed to uncover anything during that entire decade.
Of course, their lack of discovery was certainly partly due to Yang Haoran himself. If he had given the order to thoroughly investigate the matter earlier, they would undoubtedly have found something, and he wouldn't have remained ignorant for so long. Had his two intelligence agencies lacked the necessary capabilities, they wouldn't have succeeded this time either. The fact that they were able to unearth every detail this time proved that their competence in this area was beyond question.
Ten years ago, Yang Haoran’s focus had been on military campaigns, acquiring more believers, and vigorously developing the Great Night Empire. At that time, while he was wary of the Underworld Office and had instructed his two intelligence agencies to secretly monitor their movements, he dared not push too hard to avoid premature exposure of himself and the Great Night Empire. Thus, he had failed to detect the intensifying, yet increasingly covert, internal struggle among the Underworld Office’s high echelons.
During those ten years, while he poured his efforts into expanding the Great Night Empire, he also remained vigilant against potential retaliation from the Underworld Office. He merely instructed his two intelligence agencies to observe every action of the Underworld Office to determine if they were planning to move against the Great Night Empire. The benefit of this approach was that if the Underworld Office did strike, he would know immediately and wouldn't be caught off guard.
At the time, he believed that since the Underworld Office knew of his whereabouts and the existence of the Great Night Empire, they would surely launch a retaliatory strike. Therefore, his entire focus was on preparing for this retaliation, and he hadn't even considered whether the Underworld Office's high-ranking officials were embroiled in infighting. It was only when the anticipated retaliation failed to materialize, and he sensed that something was amiss, that he ordered an investigation into the true state of affairs.
The internal conflict within the Underworld Office over the past decade differed greatly from when Yang Haoran had served as a Guardian. This time, the high-ranking officials were not merely vying for territory or resources; this power struggle was for nothing less than the position of Tong Continent Great Emperor!
The title of a Continent Great Emperor held a fatal allure for any Guardian within the Underworld Office; there wasn't a single Guardian who didn't covet that esteemed position.
It wasn't just the Guardians, even the other four Great Emperors harbored strong desires for the Tong Continent Great Emperor position. While they, already being Great Emperors, could not ascend to the Tong Continent Great Emperor's throne themselves—as it was impossible to simultaneously hold the title of Great Emperor in two different regions—
their inability to take the Tong Continent Great Emperor position didn't mean their trusted confidants couldn't. If they could elevate one of their loyal subordinates to this position, the benefits would be immeasurable. Not only would they gain resources far exceeding those of other Great Emperors, but their status, prestige, and influence would also undergo a monumental transformation.
It was no exaggeration to say that any Great Emperor in the Underworld Office who successfully placed their confidant on the Tong Continent Great Emperor's throne would undoubtedly see their status in the Underworld Office soar far above the others, effectively becoming the true second-in-command, just beneath the Death God!
Of course, this premise was contingent on the confidant remaining loyal. If, after ascending to the Tong Continent Great Emperor's position, the confidant betrayed their former patron, that would be an entirely different matter.
It was precisely because the Tong Continent Great Emperor position was coveted not only by Guardians but also by the other Great Emperors that this struggle became critically important and exceptionally bloody. Furthermore, in their desperate pursuit of the Tong Continent Great Emperor's throne, they had no time to spare for other matters. Even if they appeared to be managing other affairs publicly, it was merely a facade—a token gesture for their own people and a means to mislead their enemies. This was why, despite the Underworld Office being aware of Yang Haoran's whereabouts and the existence of the Great Night Empire, they had not launched a retaliatory strike.
Due to the meticulous secrecy maintained by the Underworld Office's high-ranking officials, Yang Haoran was unable to obtain the detailed process of this internal conflict. Even with the significant sacrifices made by his two intelligence agencies, they couldn't fully unravel it. Yang Haoran did not blame Tang Shi or Shui Ling for this, as he understood their limitations.
It was much like when Luo Yao had ascended to the Jingling Continent Great Emperor position; Yang Haoran had been intensely curious, yet even now, he remained unaware of the precise details of how Luo Yao achieved that position, knowing only a few fragments.
This alone showed just how well the Underworld Office's high-ranking officials maintained secrecy when vying for the Emperor's throne. Since Yang Haoran understood this, he naturally wouldn't force Tang Shi and Shui Ling to uncover every detail. Moreover, even if they did uncover it, he believed it wouldn't be of great significance, as he cared more about the outcome of this internal strife than the process itself.
As for who would ultimately claim the Tong Continent Great Emperor position, there was no definite answer yet. However, now that Yang Haoran was aware of the matter, he would certainly assign personnel to keep a close watch until a result emerged. In the interim, he only needed to bide his time, focusing on developing the Great Night Empire and enhancing its overall strength, as well as his own personal power.
Several months later, the Underworld Office's internal conflict, which had raged for over a decade, finally concluded. However, when Yang Haoran first received the intelligence report on the outcome, his usually unchangeable expression underwent a considerable shift.
Inside his study, Yang Haoran sat in the main seat, leaning back in his chair. His face was grim, his brows knitted tightly, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Before him lay a stack of documents.
These documents were the result of the Underworld Office's internal strife, sent back immediately by his two intelligence agencies. The reason for his significant change in expression was that the outcome was entirely unforeseen and, furthermore, a result he was extremely unwilling to witness.
A new Tong Continent Great Emperor had been born, and it was none other than his arch-nemesis, Huo Laoban!
For Yang Haoran, with the exception of two individuals, anyone ascending to the Tong Continent Great Emperor position would not provoke much emotional fluctuation in him, for he was already an adversary of the Underworld Office, so it mattered little who sat on the throne.
The two exceptions were Xu Meijing and Huo Laoban.
If Xu Meijing were to successfully claim the Tong Continent Great Emperor's position, Yang Haoran’s emotions would undoubtedly fluctuate greatly. He would genuinely be happy for her, because ascending to that position would bring about a monumental change in Xu Meijing's status and standing. Throughout the entire Underworld Office, only the Death God, a True God, could outrank Xu Meijing. Her safety would be greatly assured, so it was only natural for him to feel joy and a significant emotional stir on her behalf.
Conversely, if Huo Laoban claimed the Tong Continent Great Emperor's position, Yang Haoran would find no joy in it. Their animosity ran too deep. While he himself might be safe, Xu Meijing was still in the Underworld Office, and he worried that Huo Laoban might vent his anger on her, making her situation even more precarious. From his current grimacing expression, one could already deduce that the one who had successfully ascended to the Tong Continent Great Emperor position was undoubtedly Huo Laoban!
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