392: Chapter 392 An Unexpected Incident Occurred (As Expected)

Chen You stared at Kidd.

He reached into his backpack and pulled out a bag of gold coins, slamming it onto the wooden table with a "thud."

The heavy money bag hit the tabletop, letting out a crisp metallic clinking sound.

The mouth of the bag fell open, revealing a golden glow that instantly illuminated the dim hall of the City Lord's Manor.

"A thousand gold coins," Chen You said flatly. "Just for a set of coordinates. This money is enough for you to renovate this crappy manor from top to bottom."

Kidd's eyes instantly bulged.

He stared fixedly at the pile of gold coins, his Adam's apple bobbing violently as the sound of him swallowing was clearly audible in the silent hall.

His hand reached forward an inch uncontrollably, but then pulled back as if he had been electrocuted.

"My... my lord..." Kidd's voice was trembling, sounding like he was on the verge of tears. "I really can't give it to you."

"System rules are rules. Even if you filled this manor with gold coins, I wouldn't be able to say that string of numbers."

"You have to travel there yourself to reveal the map, or find a special guiding item."

Seeing Kidd's agonized expression—wanting the money but not daring to take it—Chen You knew the dwarf wasn't lying.

The system's restrictions in this regard were indeed rigid.

"Tsk." Chen You clicked his tongue in annoyance and put the money bag back into his backpack.

The golden light on the table vanished instantly. Kidd let out a heartbroken wail and slumped into his chair.

"This crappy game," Chen You couldn't help but mutter under his breath.

"It doesn't even have a coordinate sharing function. Does it really think it's some hardcore Soulslike? Forcing players to travel by foot is practically anti-human."

Complaints aside, the quest still had to be done.

Since he couldn't just teleport there, he had to travel the old-fashioned way.

However, for him, it would only take a few extra minutes.

He could fly, so he didn't need to worry about monsters or traps in the wilderness at all.

Chen You turned to look at Kidd, who was still slumped in his chair.

"Alright, stop playing dead." Chen You kicked the table leg. "I'm leaving."

"You'd better pray that City Lord City Lord Xuan De is as easy to talk to as you say."

"If he dares to make things difficult for me, I'll come back and tear down your manor to build a public toilet."

Kidd jolted upright and nodded repeatedly. "Rest assured, my lord! City Lord City Lord Xuan De is absolutely reliable! I wish you a pleasant journey!"

Chen You pushed open the wooden door of the manor and strode out.

"Come out."

He gave a low shout and tapped his finger in the air.

Poof—!

A miniature version of the Nine Nether Heaven-Devouring Kun appeared.

Skipping the entrance animation made it just that simple and unadorned.

Chen You leaped up, his body rising lightly into the air, and landed steadily in front of the palace on its back.

"Let's go. Time to meet that City Lord City Lord Xuan De." Chen You pointed to the east.

...

About five minutes later, Chen You stood at the west gate of Sanjing City.

It was a massive city built against a mountain.

The architectural style was extremely rugged, constructed entirely of unpolished boulders and thick logs.

Huge bones of unknown beasts were even hung on the city walls.

It was clearly a gathering place for strength-based races.

Chen You smoothed out his moyuan star river robe and stepped into the city.

Just as he entered the city gate, Chen You's footsteps froze.

Orcs who should have been swinging hammers in blacksmith shops were now gathered in small groups on street corners, holding glowing fluorescent stones and frantically practicing winking.

Warriors who should have been wrestling on the training grounds were now lined up in a neat formation.

They were wearing tight leather outfits that were clearly three sizes too small, their muscles bulging out.

To the beat of electronic music, this group of over-two-meter-tall hulks shook their shoulders in unison, turned around sharply, and blew greasy air kisses.

"Fly bravely, Brother! Niuniu will always be with you!"

A few cat-eared beast girls were screaming wildly around the formation, holding wooden signs written in beast blood that read "Xuande Guild Support Group."

Chen You stood there, his head spinning.

This boomerang had hit him hard.

He had created the Voice of Star Source originally just to quickly max out the prosperity of Cangxing City.

Who could have thought that this idol-seeking trend would follow the system's global promotion and reach such a simple, remote main city, causing such a severe cultural mutation.

Chen You rubbed his temples and hurried through the chaotic square, heading straight for the City Lord's Manor.

The City Lord's Manor of Sanjing City was a massive stone hall.

The main doors were wide open, and there wasn't even a guard.

Chen You stepped over the high threshold and walked in.

The light inside the hall was dim, and a wide stone table sat in the center.

Behind the stone table sat an extremely burly figure.

It was a minotaur nearly three meters tall.

His body was covered in coarse black hair, and two thick horns on his head pointed straight toward the ceiling.

He wore a set of heavy black plate armor and sat there like an iron tower.

Most eye-catching was the weapon rack behind him.

Two swords were resting on it.

The moment Chen You saw those two swords, his eyelids twitched.

Could those things even be called swords?

They were over two meters long, half a meter wide at the blade, and as thick as city wall bricks.

They were clearly two sharpened steel door panels!

Were these the legendary "Twin Swords"?

"Who is it?" The minotaur in the main seat looked up sharply, his bell-like eyes fixing on Chen You.

His voice echoed through the hall like muffled thunder.

"City Lord City Lord Xuan De?" Chen You stepped forward, his expression calm.

"That's me." City Lord Xuan De stood up, his massive frame exerting an intense pressure.

He sized up Chen You. "A Cultivator? What brings you to my Sanjing City?"

"I'm not receiving guests right now. The whole city is preparing for that damn idol show!"

At the mention of the show, two streams of white steam snorted from City Lord Xuan De's nostrils, clearly indicating he was furious.

Chen You acted as if he hadn't heard.

With a flick of his wrist, he produced the contract silk.

"My name is Chen You. I'm here for your seal." Chen You spread the silk on the stone table and pointed to the mark left by Kidd, the City Lord of Chuxin City.

"With your seal, Sanjing City will also benefit."

"It's a win-win deal."

City Lord Xuan De looked down at the silk, then at Kidd's mark.

He snorted coldly. "That dwarf Kidd would stamp anything for money."

Despite his words, City Lord Xuan De reached out with a large, hairy hand toward the City Lord's seal at his waist.

Prosperity was a hard currency for main cities. Although he was stubborn, he wasn't stupid.

There was no reason to refuse benefits for nothing.

"I, City Lord Xuan De, have always lived by the code of righteousness. Since it's a win-win, I'll help you out."

City Lord Xuan De pulled out the seal and was about to press it onto the silk.

Wait.

"What did you say your name was?"

City Lord Xuan De's hand stopped in mid-air, the seal less than an inch from the silk.

Chen You frowned slightly but repeated it anyway.

"My name is Chen You."

"You..." City Lord Xuan De's voice dropped, carrying a suppressed rage.

"You're the culprit who started that 'Voice of Star Source'?"

Chen You's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm on the surface.

"I planned it."

"Why? Does the City Lord want to make his debut too?"

"Debut your grandmother's leg!"

City Lord Xuan De was furious.

He slammed his hand onto the stone table.

"Boom!"

City Lord Xuan De pointed out the door and roared.

"Go out and look! Look at what you've done! My Sanjing City has always valued martial arts! The warriors here bleed but never cry!"

"But look at them now!"