341: Return to Bone Demon City

What big words! Shen Yunshu felt that the current Liu Xuan possessed an inexplicable confidence, arrogant beyond measure.

Every word he said sounded unreliable, yet she faintly felt as if they were all true.

However, she couldn't possibly invest everything in Liu Xuan based on just this; she didn't have the habit of gambling.

“The rear of the Peach Blossom Sect battlefield may seem calm, but it is actually a mix of dragons and snakes with chaotic order. Be careful not to capsize in a gutter!”

Shen Yunshu gave a word of caution, then stood up to take her leave.

“Revered Master, please wait!”

Liu Xuan spoke up to stop the already rising Shen Yunshu. “Senior Brother Wang will be coming with me to protect my safety. I wanted to let you know.”

“Wang Qiao?” Shen Yunshu turned back and looked at Liu Xuan in surprise. “Nephew Wang just arrived and has no official post. If he is willing, he may naturally leave with you.”

Shen Yunshu couldn't figure out how Liu Xuan had managed to persuade Wang Qiao to follow him, but she didn't ask further.

‘This cheap Disciple of mine is not simple!’

First Xiao Changfeng, now Wang Qiao, and even the Beast Taming Sect—he's just an Early Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, yet he can garner the support of so many Golden Core True Persons.

Shen Yunshu stared at Liu Xuan for a long while before finally turning to leave.

Liu Xuan picked up his spirit tea and drained it in one gulp, then instructed Hu Lingzhao, “Pack up. We’re leaving in a moment.”

“Yes!”

After the ordeal in the Gloomy Mist Valley, Hu Lingzhao no longer thought of killing Yao Beasts for revenge. She obediently went out to gather her people.

Liu Xuan returned to the Tier 3 sword shadow flowing light flying boat. He threw his Incarnation, Wang Qiao, into the core cabin of the flying boat to sleep, claiming to the outside world that he was in seclusion and could be brought out whenever needed.

Xiao Changfeng was controlled by the Puppet Gu, so Liu Xuan didn't plan to take him away, letting him continue to stay with Shen Yunshu as before.

The matter of slaying a Mid Golden Core Stage Yao Beast was too significant; he needed someone to divert attention. Moreover, with Xiao Changfeng staying at the front lines to keep watch, he could send a Divine Soul message directly if something major happened, giving Liu Xuan time to react.

“Husband, we can set off!”

It didn't take long for Hu Lingzhao to arrange everything. Everyone knew they wouldn't be staying here long and had been preparing in advance.

“Mm, let's go!”

The flying boat returned along its original path and soon disappeared into the horizon... a few hours later.

The Tier 3 sword shadow flowing light flying boat stopped above Bone Fiend City, immediately drawing the city's guarding Cultivators to cautiously step forward and inquire.

A Tier 3 flying boat was an existence at the Golden Core level. To the current Bone Fiend City, this was a major figure that had to be handled with care.

“Does Senior wish to enter the city? May I ask for your name so that I may report it to the City Lord?”

Unlike the last time Liu Xuan passed through, this time the flying boat pulled right up to the city's defensive Formation, clearly intending to enter.

Hu Lingzhao made a personal appearance, flying out to face the guard squad. “My husband is the Personal Disciple of the South Courtyard Head, True Lord Haoran. Immortal Master Wang is also on board. Open the city gates at once!”

The Academy Head True Lord’s Personal Disciple!!

An Immortal Master accompanying them!!

The guarding Cultivators were startled and hurriedly bowed, saying, “Please wait a moment, I will report this immediately.”

The leader gave his subordinates a look, then performed a Void-fleeing Technique, flying toward the City Lord's Mansion at maximum speed.

Inside the city.

Upon hearing the report, City Lord Qian Qian was also startled. The Academy Head's Personal Disciple—this title was too grand. What were they doing here?

Qian Qian was a Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivator and merely an Elder of a Golden Core Sect under the Beast Taming Sect's South Courtyard. Because he excelled at cultivating spirit plants and management, he was appointed as the City Lord of Bone Fiend City.

Although he was considered a Beast Taming Sect Disciple, much like how Liu Xuan was also considered an Azure Profound Sect Disciple, he actually had no high-level background.

‘I'll go see first!’

Qian Qian's position as City Lord was appointed by Qin Mo. Immortal Master Qin Mo was also a Disciple of the Academy Head, True Lord Haoran, so he assumed the other party wouldn't make things difficult for him.

Flying to the city's defensive barrier, Qian Qian glanced at the Tier 3 sword shadow flowing light flying boat and frowned slightly.

A flying boat from the Heavenly Sword Sect? After a moment of doubt, he ordered, “Open the city gates and invite Senior into the city.”

The flying boat was a bit strange, but he didn't doubt Liu Xuan's identity. No one would dare to impersonate the Personal Disciple of the Academy Head, True Lord Haoran.

The Formation barrier opened, and the flying boat drove directly into the city, hovering over the city center.

Qian Qian's frown deepened. If this person were here for business, they could have parked in the outskirts. Parking directly over the city center suggested they planned to stay permanently and had no intention of leaving soon.

“City Lord Qian, my husband wishes to see you.”

Once the flying boat was parked, Hu Lingzhao led Qian Qian toward the main hall inside the vessel.

Qian Qian followed Hu Lingzhao onto the flying boat without suspicion. Just as they reached the hall entrance, a Big Black Bear lying there snoring caught his eye.

This is... the Mountain Shaking Sacred Bear?!!

Although he wasn't a Disciple of the South Courtyard's main lineage, he had also cultivated the Heavenly Scripture of Beast Taming and possessed a Life Spirit Beast, making him extremely familiar with Spirit Beasts.

Big Stone's aura was not hidden at all, and he recognized it at a glance—this was the signature Spirit Beast of the Academy Head's lineage.

A Tier 4 Mountain Shaking Sacred Bear as a Life Spirit Beast meant that this person was not just a Personal Disciple of the Academy Head, but a direct descendant with the closest relationship.

Rumor had it there were only five direct descendants valued by the Academy Head: his two daughters, the fifth-ranked Senior Brother, and two students from the Gentlemans Academy, one male and one female.

He heard the fifth Senior Brother was still studying at the Gentlemans Academy, while the two students from the Gentlemans Academy were working under Yunhe and the Eldest Senior Sister Yun Miao respectively.

Thus, this person was likely the student working alongside Yunhe.

Because he was Qin Mo's subordinate, Qian Qian knew a lot of high-level information about the South Courtyard, but it wasn't detailed, leading him to misjudge Liu Xuan's identity.

Inside the hall, Liu Xuan greeted him with a smile. “City Lord Qian, I am Liu Xuan. I've heard much about you!”

“I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!” Qian Qian hurriedly returned the salute and said politely, “You are a superior of the Sect. You may just call me Qian Qian or Fellow Daoist Qian.”

Liu Xuan's manners were polite and lacked any trace of arrogance, which perfectly matched the conduct he had heard about the Gentlemans Academy students. He became even more convinced of his guess.

“That is for the best!” Qian Qian was unexpectedly sensible, so Liu Xuan didn't bother with nonsense and said directly:

“I plan to stay in Bone Fiend City permanently and build a large-scale Artifact Refining Workshop. I hope Fellow Daoist Qian can assist me.”

An Artifact Refining Workshop? You, a Genius Second-generation Immortal, came to this small place to set up an Artifact Refining Workshop?

Though puzzled, Qian Qian didn't show it on his face. He agreed immediately, “Senior Brother Liu, rest assured. As long as it is within my power, I will do exactly as you command!”

His position as City Lord was merely a managerial role. Now that the war hadn't ended and the ownership of Bone Fiend City was undecided, as long as the higher-ups allowed it, whatever Liu Xuan wanted to do had little to do with him.

The higher-ups wanted to develop the city's industries, but the support provided to the city was limited. Since the war situation hadn't stabilized, small businesses were doing well, but large investments were slow to develop.

Because of this, he had been criticized by his superiors several times. Liu Xuan wanting to build a large Artifact Refining Workshop was exactly what he wanted.

If it went well, he would get a share of the credit; if it went poorly, Liu Xuan, the 'tall one,' would be there to take the fall.