368: Chapter 368 You want me to be the city lord?

Three top-tier big shots from the rankings stared at Chen You in unison, holding their breath.

It was as if they were waiting for some terrifying prophecy capable of overturning the status quo of the Source Realm.

Chen You looked at their tense faces and sighed silently in his heart.

Something big?

Yes, something big was indeed about to happen.

A high-dimensional female psycho just tried to trick me out of my cultivation technique and even wanted an online relationship for Dual Cultivation.

Would you guys even believe me if I told you?

"It's nothing," Chen You said flatly. "Aren't online games always like this? System self-checks; it's normal to drop a few frames occasionally."

"Don't you guys usually clear your memory?"

The three of them were stunned.

System self-check? Clearing memory?

What kind of profound law terminology was this?

Salos wanted to press further, but Chen You didn't give him the chance.

"If there's some blessing ritual to do, hurry up. Let's finish this early."

Chen You didn't want to dwell on this issue; the more he said, the more likely he was to make a mistake.

What followed was the familiar routine. In less than ten minutes, the final boss fell. Chen You didn't even bother looking at the loot and exited the dungeon immediately.

There were still a few hours until the guild boss battle at eight in the evening.

Chen You glanced at the quest panel.

The main quest [Cangxing City's Revival] had been completed.

"Time to turn in the quest and feel out Sander's thoughts while I'm at it."

Chen You rode the Big White Rabbit again, heading towards the City Lord's Mansion.

Entering the City Lord's Mansion without hindrance, Chen You had just passed through the front hall when he heard a series of dull thuds from the backyard.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Accompanying the thuds were powerful shouts full of vigor.

"because of!"

"because of!"

Chen You's mouth twitched slightly as he quickened his pace toward the backyard.

The sight before him plunged him into a five-second silence.

The dark-skinned, robustly built female City Lord, James Sander, was currently bare-chested (wrapped in a thick hide chest-wrap), frantically slamming into a massive obsidian block in the center of the yard.

With her left shoulder lowered and her right foot pushing off the ground, she repeatedly slammed her shoulder into the obsidian in an extremely awkward yet explosive posture.

Each impact left a white mark on the stone.

"City Lord," Chen You spoke up, interrupting her.

Sander stopped her movements and turned around. When she saw it was Chen You, her eyes immediately lit up.

"Chen! You've come at just the right time!" Sander strode over and slapped Chen You's shoulder without reservation, making his health bar shudder.

"This supreme combat technique you taught me called 'Iron Mountain Lean' is practically tailor-made for me!" Sander pointed at the obsidian block, her face full of excitement.

"I can feel my physical strength breaking through its bottleneck! And paired with that 'because of' mantra, my explosive power at the moment of impact increases by another thirty percent!"

Chen You rubbed the bridge of his nose. "As long as you're happy. I'm here to turn in the quest."

He took several documents stamped with the merchant guild's seal from his backpack and handed them over.

"The trade routes in the Northern Snowfields have been cleared, and the caravans have resumed operations."

Sander took the documents, glanced at them briefly, and tossed them onto a stone table.

[Ding! Main Quest "Cangxing City's Revival" has been completed.]

[Rewards Obtained: EXP +50,000, Cangxing City Reputation +1,000.]

"Good job, Chen." Sander's expression suddenly turned serious.

She strode in front of Chen You and pulled out a roll of yellowed parchment from somewhere. "But there are still many things waiting for us in Cangxing City."

"Although the trade routes are restored, the city's management system has fallen into paralysis due to long-term energy depletion."

"Now, we need someone with immense prestige and strength to act as the acting city lord and oversee the relevant matters."

The system notification sounded at the same time:

[Ding! Main Quest Triggered: acting city lord.]

[Quest Description: Over the next 24 hours, manage Cangxing City as the acting city lord. Handle emergency government affairs, reinforce fortifications, and prepare for the upcoming 'Winter Festival'.]

[Quest Rewards: EXP +800,000, Cangxing City Reputation +5,000.]

[Note: You cannot leave the vicinity of Cangxing City during the quest; otherwise, it will be considered a failure.]

Chen You stared at the keywords "24 hours" and "cannot leave," his eyes widening like brass bells.

"Wait, how long did you say?"

"Just one day, my friend." Sander slapped Chen You's shoulder with incredible force.

"During this day, I need to go into secluded meditation to comprehend the combat technique you taught me. The city's safety is entirely in your hands!"

"In my hands my foot!" Chen You almost jumped. "In five hours I have a cross-national... no, a cross-guild brawl to fight, and you want me to squat here for a day painting walls?"

Sander looked bewildered. "A brawl? In the face of the Source Realm's honor, building our home is the top priority! Do you really have the heart to watch the people of Cangxing City shivering in the winter cold?"

Chen You looked at Sander's face, which was practically screaming "moral kidnapping." He took a deep breath and decisively chose—the power of money.

An extremely radiant (and hypocritical) smile spread across his face.

"City Lord Sander, look, while my strength is decent, managing a city really isn't my forte."

"It would be so embarrassing if I managed to make Cangxing City collapse."

Sander said solemnly, "No, I believe in your potential..."

"I'll pay five thousand gold coins." Chen You held up a finger.

Sander's words came to a screeching halt, her Adam's apple bobbing violently. "This isn't a matter of money; it's a matter of responsibility..."

"Ten thousand gold coins." Chen You increased the bid expressionlessly.

Sander's eyes instantly turned bloodshot.

"Friend... you are testing my professional ethics." Her voice began to tremble.

"Twenty thousand gold coins."

Sander He slapped his thigh suddenly.， The force was so great that it knocked over the stone bench next to it.。 Sander slapped her thigh so hard that the stone stool next to her was knocked over.

She spun around, turning her back to Chen You, her voice filled with painful struggle.

"The ancestors of Cangxing City are watching me from the heavens... I cannot..."

"Thirty thousand. If you won't do it, I'm leaving." Chen You interrupted her casting animation and turned to walk away.

"Wait!"

A gust of wild wind whistled past.

With agility completely unbefitting her size, Sander performed a sliding tackle to block Chen You. She gripped his hands tightly, her gaze lingering and full of sincerity.

"My ancestors just sent me a dream! They said that flexibility is the primary law of survival!"

Chen You's mouth twitched.

Sander leaned in closer and lowered her voice. "Chen, we're life-and-death friends; I can't screw you over."

"A day is indeed too long. How about this: let's compromise and just go through the motions! Two and a half hours! Just two and a half hours!"

"Two and a half hours?" Chen You's brow arched slightly.

"Yes!" Sander spoke rapidly, terrified that Chen You might back out.

"You just need to sit on the throne in the City Lord's Hall, stamp a few urgent government documents, and show your face."

"I'll dump all the remaining trivial matters onto the adjutant! I definitely won't delay your brawl!"