297: Chapter 297: Would I lie to you?

City Lord's Mansion, Main Hall.

Xiao Ran sat in the main seat, the position where City Lord Li Qingge used to sit.

The chair was massive, carved from sandalwood, with the pattern of the Sword Qi Great Wall engraved on the backrest.

He leaned back against the chair, his hands resting on the armrests, his gaze sweeping across the main hall.

Dozens of people stood within the hall.

There were the Void Refinement Stage Cultivators he had brought back, the original Guest Elders and managers of the City Lord's Mansion, and representatives from various Families.

Elder Gu stood by his side, whispering an introduction to the situation of the City Lord's Mansion.

"The City Lord's Mansion directly controls three thousand Cultivators, including twelve Void Refinement Stage Guest Elders, fifty Spirit Severing Stage retainers, and the rest are Disciples ranging from the Golden Core Stage to the Nascent Soul."

"The City Defense Army consists of twelve thousand soldiers, under the command of City Defense Commander Zhao Tieshan."

"The Patrol Guard has three thousand personnel, managed by three captains."

"Additionally, there are departments for intelligence, finance, diplomacy, and so on…"

Xiao Ran listened and nodded.

His gaze fell upon a burly middle-aged man—City Defense Commander Zhao Tieshan.

A Void Refinement Stage Middle Stage Cultivator, and City Lord Li Qingge's trusted aide.

Zhao Tieshan's expression was grim; his fists were clenched so tightly they creaked, his eyes filled with unwillingness and anger.

"Commander Zhao," Xiao Ran said.

Zhao Tieshan stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said: "I am here."

His voice was harsh, as if he were gritting his teeth.

Xiao Ran looked at him and said calmly: "Commander Zhao, do you have an objection to me becoming the City Lord?"

Zhao Tieshan remained silent for a moment, then raised his head to look directly into Xiao Ran's eyes.

"City Lord, I dare to ask—did City Lord Li Qingge truly fall within the ruins? Where is his body?"

The atmosphere in the main hall suddenly became tense.

Everyone looked at Xiao Ran, waiting for his answer.

Xiao Ran was neither angry nor flustered.

He took a Jade Slip from his Storage Ring and tossed it to Zhao Tieshan.

"This is a recording of City Lord Li Qingge before he passed away. See for yourself."

Zhao Tieshan caught the Jade Slip and probed it with his Divine Sense.

Inside the Jade Slip, City Lord Li Qingge was covered in blood, leaning against a stone wall, his breathing weak.

Behind him was a collapsed Stone Chamber, with corpses scattered everywhere.

His voice was hoarse, carrying his final strength.

"I… City Lord Li Qingge, in the name of the City Lord of the Sword Qi Great Wall, pass the position of City Lord to Xiao Ran."

"All those belonging to my City Lord's Mansion must obey his orders."

"Those who disobey shall be expelled from the Sword Qi Great Wall."

The recording ended.

Zhao Tieshan's expression shifted repeatedly, from anger to shock, and from shock to helplessness.

He took a deep breath and knelt on one knee.

"I obey your command."

Seeing Zhao Tieshan kneel, the others followed suit.

In the main hall, everyone shouted in unison: "Greetings to the new City Lord!"

Xiao Ran leaned back against the chair, his hands resting on the armrests, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

"Rise!"

The crowd stood up.

Xiao Ran's gaze swept across the hall, and then he transmitted a message to summon his former subordinates.

After all, now that he had risen to power, how could he not look after the brothers who had followed him back then?

Moments later, several figures were led in.

Xiao Ran's gaze fell upon several familiar faces.

Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing, Finance Manager Shen Qing, Deputy Commander Tie Xiong, Captain Leng Yue, Captain Zhao Wuji, and Patrol Captain Bai Qiushui.

They were the core team Xiao Ran had brought from the Eternal Night Demon Sect, and also the people he trusted most in the Sword Qi Great Wall.

"Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing," Xiao Ran began.

Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing quickly stepped forward and knelt on one knee: "I am here."

"From today on, you will serve as the Domestic Manager of the City Lord's Mansion. You will be responsible for all daily affairs of the City Lord's Mansion."

Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing was stunned.

Domestic Manager? That was the chief steward of the City Lord's Mansion, a position previously held by Elder Gu.

As a mere Golden Core Stage Cultivator, how could she shoulder such a responsibility?

"My Lord, I… my cultivation is too low…"

Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing's voice was trembling.

Xiao Ran waved his hand: "Low cultivation is not a problem, as long as you have a sharp mind."

"You have followed me for so long, I trust your work. Elder Gu will assist you."

Elder Gu also stepped forward and bowed: "This old man will certainly do his utmost to assist Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing."

Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing took a deep breath and nodded heavily.

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Xiao Ran then looked at Finance Manager Shen Qing: "Finance Manager Shen Qing, you will serve as the Finance Manager of the City Lord's Mansion."

"You managed the accounts of the Guixu Pavilion well; the finances of the City Lord's Mansion will also be entrusted to you."

Finance Manager Shen Qing quickly knelt: "Your subordinate obeys!"

Xiao Ran looked at Deputy Commander Tie Xiong, Captain Leng Yue, and Captain Zhao Wuji: "The three of you, join the City Defense Army."

"Deputy Commander Tie Xiong will serve as Deputy Commander, while Captain Leng Yue and Captain Zhao Wuji will serve as captains."

The three of them responded in unison.

Xiao Ran looked at Patrol Captain Bai Qiushui: "Patrol Captain Bai Qiushui, you will serve as the captain of the First Division of the Patrol Guard."

"The security of the East City is entrusted to you."

Patrol Captain Bai Qiushui nodded: "Understood."

Xiao Ran appointed over a dozen positions in one go, firmly grasping the core power of the City Lord's Mansion in his hands.

Some of the old staff of the City Lord's Mansion were retained, some were reassigned, and some were promoted in title but demoted in power; none dared to oppose him.

Night fell.

Xiao Ran stood at the highest point of the City Lord's Mansion, overlooking the entire Sword Qi Great Wall.

The lights of thousands of homes twinkled like stars.

The golden Sword Intent on the Great Wall flowed endlessly in the night sky, like a lamp that would never be extinguished.

Through the Soul Link, Li Changsheng's voice came through.

"Xiao Ran, how are things on your end?"

Xiao Ran laughed: "I've become the City Lord. The Sword Qi Great Wall is now mine."

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment, then sighed.

"Damn you… I'm still Cultivating inside the law seed, and you've already become a City Lord. Your progress is just too fast."

Xiao Ran laughed heartily: "Fast? Wait until you reach the Body Integration Stage, then come out and help me."

"The Sword Qi Great Wall, the Ten Thousand Demon Plains, and the entire Far North Land will all be ours."

Li Changsheng also laughed.

"Alright, wait until I come out."

"Our brothers will join forces and slaughter our way back to the Northern Territory."

The two cut the link.

Xiao Ran stood on the city wall, looking at the distant Wilderness Lands.

The night wind blew, carrying a hint of chill.

From today on, he is the master of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Next, he wants to take the entire Far North Land into his possession.

Late at night, in the study of the City Lord's Mansion.

Xiao Ran sat behind the desk, which was piled high with scrolls and Jade Slips.

These were confidential documents of the City Lord's Mansion, recording all information regarding the military strength, finances, diplomacy, and intelligence of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Elder Gu stood by his side, patiently explaining.

"City Lord, the Sword Qi Great Wall currently has about three hundred thousand permanent Cultivators, with countless transient ones."

"The annual tax revenue is about one hundred million Spirit Stones, mainly from shop rents, trade tariffs, and deductions from Monster Hunting Team contribution points."

"Expenditures are mainly for City Defense Army salaries, wall maintenance, and rewards for the Monster Hunting Team, totaling about eighty million Spirit Stones annually."

"The surplus of twenty million is deposited into the City Lord's Mansion treasury."

Xiao Ran nodded: "How much stock is in the treasury?"

Elder Gu thought for a moment: "About three hundred million Spirit Stones, plus various Medicinal Pills, Magic Treasures, and Materials, with a total value of about five hundred million."

Xiao Ran's eyes lit up. Five hundred million Spirit Stones, more than he had imagined.

That old thing, City Lord Li Qingge, had saved up quite a fortune.

"What about the movements of the Yao Race?" Xiao Ran asked.

Elder Gu pulled one from a pile of scrolls and handed it to Xiao Ran.

"This is news that has just arrived from the intelligence agency. The Old Ancestors of the six great Yao Race clans have all fallen, and each clan is in chaos."

"The Golden Lion Clan, Nine-Headed Snake Clan, Five-Colored Phoenix Clan, Thunder Qilin Clan, Mystic Ice Chilong Clan, and Heaven-Swallowing Sparrow Clan are all fighting for the position of new Clan Chief."

"In the short term, they have no power to invade the Sword Qi Great Wall."

Xiao Ran nodded with satisfaction.

This was exactly the result he wanted.

"Continue to monitor them. Report to me immediately if there is any movement."

"Yes."

Elder Gu hesitated for a moment, then whispered.

"City Lord, there is one more thing."

"How should we handle the Zhao Family, Sword Sect, Luoxia Sect, and other factions…?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ran stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night scenery outside.

"Tell them that I will hold a banquet at the City Lord's Mansion tomorrow and invite the Sect Heads of all major factions to attend."

Elder Gu felt a chill in his heart.

The words were spoken lightly, but the meaning was clear: for those who did not come, Xiao Ran would take action.

A Hongmen Banquet.

"This old man will go and deliver the message immediately."