75: How much is your life worth?

At the city gate, the silence was absolute.

The Bloodline pressure originating from the Primordial Dragon God came and went like an invisible tide.

But the lingering aftermath made the hearts of everyone present feel as if they were being tightly clutched by a cold, large hand.

Wei Tong, the City Guard Commandant at the Soul Transformation Middle Stage, knelt rigidly on the ground.

He didn't want to kneel.

It was his body and his Divine Soul instinctively expressing the most primal submission and fear toward that incomprehensible, higher-level life form.

The dozen or so Golden Core Stage City Guards behind him were even more paralyzed on the ground, while the Azure-Eyed Demonic Wolves beneath them buried their heads in the sand, trembling like chaff.

The Central Continent Cultivators nearby, who had initially been watching the show, were now pale-faced, not daring to even breathe heavily.

The contempt in their eyes when looking at that group of "Eastern Wasteland bumpkins" was completely gone.

All that remained was an overwhelming, thick terror.

"Tsk tsk."

An untimely voice broke the deathly silence.

Wang Duojin swaggered out of the crowd.

The Golden Abacus in his hand clattered loudly.

He walked up to Wei Tong, who was still kneeling, squatted down, and used his fan to pat the man's bloodless Face.

"Sir Officer, you shouldn't do this."

"Business is business, and friendship is friendship. Even if we can't agree, you shouldn't just kneel down."

"If this gets out, people will think my Myriad Dao Divine Sect is bullying others with power."

Wei Tong's lips trembled, unable to utter a single word.

Wang Duojin ignored him and continued calculating on his abacus.

"Let me calculate an account for you."

"You just insulted my Myriad Dao Divine Sect, calling us Mud Legs and Poor Scholars."

"This is called the crime of slandering a Sect's reputation. According to the rules of my Myriad Dao Merchant Guild, the fine is ten million High-Grade Spirit Stones."

"You also attempted to strike my Senior Brother."

"This is called the crime of attempted murder of a Personal Disciple. An aggravated offense, fined thirty million High-Grade Spirit Stones."

"The most intolerable thing!" Wang Duojin's voice suddenly rose.

"You, you delayed our entry into the city! Do you know how many Spirit Stones worth of business I lose in the blink of an eye?"

"Lost work fees, emotional distress fees, fright fees..."

He worked the abacus rapidly, muttering to himself.

"All in all, it's not much."

He held up five fingers.

"Fifty million High-Grade Spirit Stones."

"Are you paying by card or cash?"

"Or, will you use your life as collateral?"

"Pfft!"

Wei Tong could no longer hold on, and a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out.

Fifty million High-Grade Spirit Stones?

If he sold himself, bones and flesh included, he couldn't even afford the fraction!

"What? Too expensive?" Wang Duojin glared.

"I'm telling you, this is already a Broken-Bone Discount because you knelt down so readily!"

Just then.

A magnificent cry of a Luan Bird came from the sky.

A luxurious Carriage, pulled by four extraordinarily majestic Azure Luans and constructed entirely of Warm Jade, slowly descended from the clouds.

Standing atop the Carriage was a middle-aged man in a purple brocade robe with a Face like polished jade.

His aura was deep as the sea; he was clearly a powerhouse at the Late Void Refinement Stage.

As soon as he appeared, the surrounding Cultivators burst into low gasps of surprise.

"It's... it's Steward Li of the City Lord's Mansion!"

"Li Xuanfeng, the Family Head of the Li Family, one of Wanghai City's Three Great Families!"

"Why did he come personally!"

Li Xuanfeng's Carriage stopped above the city gate.

His gaze swept over the mess below, and when he saw Wei Tong kneeling on the ground and the group of arrogant Myriad Dao Divine Sect Disciples, his eyelids twitched violently.

Without hesitation, he flew down from the Carriage and landed in front of Ye Chenfeng.

He didn't tend to his own people first; instead, he bowed deeply to Ye Chenfeng, the youth who only possessed Nascent Soul cultivation.

"I am Li Xuanfeng, General Manager of the Wanghai City Lord's Mansion."

"I was unaware of the arrival of the Esteemed Disciple of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect. Please forgive me for failing to welcome you properly!"

His posture was even lower than Sun Hai's.

Ye Chenfeng glanced at him and remained silent.

Li Xuanfeng's heart instantly sank.

He knew he had arrived too late.

The news that Li Jianyi of the Heavenly Sword Sect had been crippled on the boat had already spread throughout the upper echelons of Wanghai City.

He had thought these 'Crossing-the-River Dragons' from the Eastern Wasteland would merely be arrogant and domineering.

He never expected them to be this tyrannical!

They even dared to force a City Guard Commandant to kneel publicly in the street!

"General... General Manager Li!"

Wei Tong looked like he had seen a savior, scrambling and crawling to grab Li Xuanfeng's thigh.

"Slap!"

A crisp slap sound.

Li Xuanfeng backhanded Wei Tong, directly sending him flying.

"Dog-like trash!"

Killing intent was fully revealed in his eyes.

"Who gave you the courage to offend a Distinguished Guest of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect!"

He turned around and bowed once more to Ye Chenfeng.

"Young Master Ye, this person offended the Superior Sect; his crime is unforgivable!"

"I will immediately cripple his cultivation and throw him into the East Sea to feed the fish!"

"I ask Young Master Ye and all the Esteemed Immortals to please give our Wanghai City a chance to apologize!"

As he spoke, he prepared to strike.

"Wait."

Ye Chenfeng finally spoke.

He wasn't being soft-hearted.

He just felt that killing this Wei Tong would dirty his hands.

"My Junior Brother said he is worth fifty million High-Grade Spirit Stones."

Ye Chenfeng's voice was calm.

"My Myriad Dao Divine Sect always convinces people with reason."

The corner of Li Xuanfeng's mouth twitched violently.

He glanced at the fatty next to him who was still working the abacus.

Convincing people with reason?

I think you convince people with 'profit'!

But he dared not refute it.

He retrieved a purple-gold crystal card from his Storage Ring and handed it over with both hands.

"Young Master Ye, here is one hundred million High-Grade Spirit Stones."

"The extra amount is my personal apology to all of you."

"I urge all Esteemed Immortals to grace us with your presence and enter the city for a chat. The best Immortal Cave in the city, the Tingchao Pavilion, has already been prepared for you."

Wang Duojin's eyes lit up. He snatched the crystal card, swept it with his Divine Sense, and the smile on his Face instantly bloomed like a Chrysanthemum.

"Oh my! General Manager Li is truly too polite!"

"Look at you, being so distant. It's not like we are unreasonable people."

"Since General Manager Li has said so, we will grant you this Face!"

He patted Li Xuanfeng's shoulder, wearing an expression that said, "You're very Sensible."

Li Xuanfeng forced out a smile uglier than a cry.

He waved his hand.

Immediately, two squads of Personal Guards clad in Golden Armor walked out from the city.

They dragged the terrified Wei Tong and the group of City Guards away like dead dogs.

Then, they lined up on both sides, clearing a wide path.

"Young Master Ye, Esteemed Immortals, please!"

Li Xuanfeng personally led the way, bowing.

The Myriad Dao Divine Sect entourage of over a hundred people stepped proudly into this magnificent Central Continent city, under the complex gazes of awe, envy, and fear from the city's Cultivators... Aboard the Carriage.

Li Xuanfeng personally poured tea for Ye Chenfeng and Su Linger.

His demeanor was extremely respectful.

"Young Master Ye, Fairy Su."

"This time, our Wanghai City has been remiss in its hospitality. I beg your pardon."

"To be frank, I only just received news from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion and learned of Young Master Ye's astonishing feat on the Eastern Wasteland hidden dragon ranking."

"Defeating Li Piaoxue with a single sword. The name of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect is now known to everyone in the Central Continent."

Ye Chenfeng picked up his teacup and remained silent.

Su Linger spoke lightly, "General Manager Li is too polite."

"We are new to this Esteemed Place and have no intention of making enemies."

Hearing this, Li Xuanfeng's heart settled slightly.

He tentatively asked, "May I ask, Esteemed Immortals, is your trip to the Central Continent for the 'Myriad Treasure Convention' being held in 'Tiandu Holy City' three months from now?"

"Myriad Treasure Convention?" Wang Duojin became interested.

"Exactly," Li Xuanfeng quickly explained.

"That is a centennial grand event in our Central Continent. At that time, the top powers of the entire Central Continent, and even several other domains, will gather."

"Various Heaven And Earth Treasure, Ancient Divine Weapons, and lost Pill Formulas will be auctioned at the convention."

"It is said that the finale item this time is a piece of 'Immortal Realm Fragment' related to Ascension!"

"Immortal Realm Fragment?"

This time, even a flicker of surprise appeared in Ye Chenfeng's eyes.

Seeing their reactions, Li Xuanfeng knew he had hit the mark.

He knew his words had struck the right chord.

As long as he could connect with this mysterious Myriad Dao Divine Sect.

The status of his Li Family in Wanghai City would surely rise... Meanwhile.

Inside a deep, secluded chamber in the Wanghai City Lord's Mansion.

An old man wearing the City Lord's Official Robe and possessing a sinister Face was looking at a Communication Jade Slip in his hand.

A line of Blood-Red small characters appeared on the Jade Slip.

"Target has entered the city. Li Xuanfeng has made contact."

The old man sneered and crushed the Jade Slip into pieces.

"Myriad Dao Divine Sect?"

"Hmph, a bunch of Weaklings from the Eastern Wasteland dare to show off their power in the Central Continent?"

"That fool Li Xuanfeng really treats them as a Superior Sect."

He stood up and walked to the end of the secret chamber.

There, enshrined, was a bizarre statue of a Demon God with three heads and six arms.

He knelt respectfully before the statue.

"Lord Demon Lord, the fresh and powerful Souls you requested have arrived."

"Their Qi, blood, and Divine Soul will surely become your best Sacrifice..."

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