214: Reject Token

His tone shifted, and with a hint of apology, he said:

"Heroes do not care for origins. For the City Lord to possess such Cultivation is truly a blessing for Tianqi. Mo was abrupt just now."

His gaze swept over the Poison Scorpion Cult members below, who were still queuing and shrinking their necks like quails, as well as the surrounding commoners and merchants who dared not breathe loudly. His voice was as gentle as spring water:

"The Chamber of Commerce's 'cloud shuttle' hovering here has disturbed the peace of your city, which weighs heavily on Mo's heart. Furthermore, your city is in a turbulent time, and with the winds and clouds rising in the Southern Frontier, trade routes may be obstructed. Mo is untalented but willing to contribute a modest effort."

He flipped his palm, and a warm, green Jade Talisman carved with the patterns of the Qingyun treasure flag and square-holed gold coins appeared in his palm.

The Jade Talisman emitted soft yet pure spiritual energy fluctuations that rippled outwards, causing the surrounding air to shimmer.

"This is a VIP Token of my Qingyun Chamber of Commerce."

Mo Chenggui's voice carried a convincing sincerity:

"The holder of this token can enjoy many conveniences at various branches of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, mobilize some resources, and use it as a token to seek the Chamber's protection in times of crisis. Meeting City Lord Situ today is a fated encounter, so I shall gift this token to the City Lord. Consider it Mo's apology for disturbing your city and a mark of respect for the City Lord guarding this region and maintaining the stability of the trade routes. I hope the City Lord will not decline."

A VIP Token!

Below the city gate, a series of uncontrollable gasps immediately rang out!

Even those Poison Scorpion Cultists widened their eyes, looking at that small Jade Talisman in disbelief!

The 'VIP Token' of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce!

This was a treasure that countless Cultivators dreamed of!

It represented not just wealth and convenience, but also the potential support of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce!

Especially in the Southern Frontier, which was about to fall into chaos, having this token was no different from having an extra protective talisman!

This Inspector Mo was far too generous!

This was no mere apology; it was clearly throwing down a mountain of gold and extending a weighty olive branch!

Countless gazes instantly focused on Situ Jun, filled with envy, jealousy, and deep scrutiny—would he accept it?

If he accepted, would it mean he had established some connection with the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce? Or perhaps formed an alliance?

Would this previously incredibly powerful City Lord of the Northern Frontier bow his head and show goodwill to this colossus?

On the second floor of the wine shop, a cold light flashed in the eyes of the aloof woman from the Xihua Sect, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the window screen:

"What a Mo Chenggui! First pressing with power, then enticing with profit! This VIP Token is both a gesture of goodwill and a shackle! If he takes it, he becomes entangled in the Chamber's Karma, and his future actions will inevitably be constrained; if he doesn't, he publicly slights the Face of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce! A fine calculation!"

Atop the city walls, the fierce wind whipped Situ Jun's sleeves.

He looked at the VIP Token in Mo Chenggui's hand, which emitted an alluring luster, and then looked up at the other man's impeccable, gentle smile.

He remained silent for a long time.

The air seemed to freeze once again.

Situ Jun slowly raised his hand.

Everyone's hearts leaped into their throats.

Instead of taking the Jade Talisman, he cupped his fists toward Mo Chenggui in the Void Realm with a neither haughty nor humble attitude. His movements were concise and powerful, carrying a soldier-like toughness:

"I appreciate the Inspector's kindness," Situ Jun said.

His voice was not loud, but it pierced through the wind and entered everyone's ears clearly:

"East Lin City has its own laws. Protecting the peace of this region is my duty, and I dare not take credit for it. This token is precious. I, Situ Jun, cannot accept a reward without merit, and even less do I dare to accept such a generous gift for personal gain."

He refused!

He actually refused!

An uproar erupted below the city gate!

Countless people's eyes nearly popped out! That was the VIP Token of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce!

And he just refused it so casually?!

Among the Poison Scorpion Cultists, a hint of schadenfreude even flashed in someone's eyes—this City Lord of the Northern Frontier was truly arrogant beyond measure! He even dared to slight the Face of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce!

On the open ground outside the city gate, the smile on Mo Chenggui's Face finally showed an extremely subtle stagnation. Though it was fleeting, the hint of coldness that flickered deep in his eyes at that moment was as sharp as an ice needle.

He took a deep look at Situ Jun, his gaze as if trying to see right through this stubborn young City Lord.

"City Lord Situ... possesses noble character and integrity. Mo admires you."

Mo Chenggui's voice remained gentle, but beneath that gentleness, there seemed to be an invisible barrier.

"Since that's the case, it wouldn't be right for Mo to force anyone."

He flipped his palm, and the VIP Token disappeared soundlessly. His movements remained elegant, but they lacked the previous feeling of a spring breeze.

"The matters in the Southern Frontier are urgent. Mo still needs to continue his journey. Farewell."

He gave a slight nod to Situ Jun as a goodbye. Then, his gaze swept over the entire city, and that gentle voice rang out clearly once more, but with an invisible proclamation:

"The Qingyun Chamber of Commerce is willing to work with all order-abiding Fellow Daoists in the Southern Frontier to jointly maintain the trade routes and share in this grand event!"

As his words fell, he turned and stepped onto the green light curtain, his figure vanishing into the massive jade cloud shuttle.

Buzz—!

The massive cloud shuttle emitted a low hum, and the inscriptions on both sides of the hull lit up again. Green floating clouds surged, lifting this magnificent war beast as it slowly turned around.

The massive shadow moved, like a dark cloud passing over the city.

Without staying for a moment, the jade cloud shuttle transformed into a brilliant streak of green light, tearing through the sky and racing toward the heart of the Southern Frontier!

Its speed was far greater than when it arrived, as if carrying an imperceptible hint of... indignation?

It wasn't until that massive shadow completely disappeared over the horizon and the suffocating pressure dissipated that everyone at the city gate seemed to come back to life, erupting into a massive clamor mixed with shock, discussion, and lingering fear!

"They're gone! They're really gone!"

"Oh my god... that scared me to death..."

"That City Lord Situ... he... he actually refused the VIP Token?!"

"Madman! He's an absolute madman! That's the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce!"

"What do you know! This is called having backbone! The City Lord of the Northern Frontier is tough!"

"Backbone is worth squat! Having offended the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, he'll have a hard time in the future!"

"Shh! Keep it down! Do you want to die? Didn't you see that god of slaughter is still on the city walls?"

Amidst the waves of clamor, Situ Jun still stood alone on the city walls, his posture like a solitary peak.

He gazed in the direction where the cloud shuttle had disappeared, his eyes as deep as an abyss.

Mo Chenggui's final words about "jointly maintaining the trade routes and sharing in this grand event" were less a proclamation and more a warning—the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce had arrived, and the "order" of the Southern Frontier would be defined with their participation!

And he, Situ Jun, had just refused their "goodwill."

"Qingyun Chamber of Commerce... Mo Chenggui..." Situ Jun muttered to himself, his eyes cold. "What a 'sharing in this grand event'."

He withdrew his gaze and looked down.

Under the scolding of the guards, the Poison Scorpion Cultists were tremblingly undergoing inspection. But at this moment, the look they cast toward the city walls, besides fear, had an added layer of unspeakable complexity—he even dared to slight the Face of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce's Inspector.

Was this City Lord arrogant to the extreme, or powerful enough to be fearless?

Situ Jun stayed no longer. His figure swayed slightly, as if merging into the wind, and instantly disappeared from the city walls.

He had to immediately send word to Wang Cheng, Bai Yu, and the others in the Southern Frontier, telling them to act with caution.

Mo Chenggui, representing the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, was intervening in the Legacy of Daoist Ming Ya in the Southern Frontier, which would surely draw all the powerful figures into the competition... This pool of water was deeper than he had anticipated.

With the arrival and departure of the Qingyun cloud shuttle, the storm in East Lin City had not subsided; instead, it had been drawn into the center of an even more terrifying whirlpool.

Behind the crack of the window on the second floor of the wine shop, the aloof woman from the Xihua Sect also withdrew her gaze. Her fingertips lightly brushed the cinnabar mole between her brows, and her eyes shimmered with a cold and calculating light.

"Zhuang Xian... it seems this 'big brother' of yours is in no small trouble." She whispered, the corners of her mouth curling into a meaningful arc. "This game of chess is getting more and more interesting."