Chapter 2463: No-Budget Business

A Breeze Across the Nine Provinces

Qin Feng waited in Kunli City. He took the unconscious Bobo from Kunli and then glanced at Lu Ye, nodding slightly.

“We’ll head back now,” Qin Feng said to Kunli.

Kunli waved his hand. “Go on, go on. You don’t need to worry about things here.” Although Kunli City suffered considerable losses in this battle, its foundation remained, so it wasn't a major problem.

Qin Feng nodded and led Lu Ye towards the Central Hall.

A moment later, their figures appeared in the Hehe Realm.

With their mission complete, Lu Ye originally intended to return directly to Yuanxi City. However, Qin Feng called out, “Xiao Ye, come back to the Battle Arena with me first. I have something to tell you.”

Lu Ye paused, then realized that “Xiao Ye” was meant for him. No one had ever called him that before.

After another half-day, in Qin Feng’s private room, Lu Ye, who had been waiting for a while, saw him walk in and sit opposite him.

“How is Bobo?” he couldn't help but ask.

“His injuries have been treated, nothing serious. He just needs some time to recover,” Qin Feng replied. “I owe you a great thanks for this matter.”

“You’re too kind, Arena Master.”

Sensing Lu Ye’s deliberate distance, Qin Feng didn’t mind. He had climbed to his current position step by step from the bottom, and naturally understood that sometimes a strong person’s goodwill isn’t easily accepted.

“I told you before that if you helped me with this, I’d give you a benefit. Would you like to hear about it?”

“I’d be glad to!”

Qin Feng explained simply, and Lu Ye gradually showed an intrigued expression.

A short while later, he left the Battle Arena, passed through the massive hall, and returned to Yuanxi City.

He had only been away for two days, and Yuanxi City was still the same. Yuanxi and Fan Wu were still building the Dao Pool, which seemed like it wouldn’t be finished anytime soon. The few people Fan Wu brought were assisting, while You Die and the original Harmonizers seemed idle, each cultivating on their own.

Lu Ye strolled around the Dao Pool. Although he had some interest in it, he didn’t have high hopes. The Dao Pool in a Heaven-level Harmonized City could only produce a limited number of Dao Fish. Only when the city’s grade increased beyond Harmonized City would the Dao Pool's function become more significant.

Moreover, relying on Dao Fish from the Dao Pool for cultivation was, relatively speaking, less efficient than his own diligent practice.

Returning to the Grand Commander’s Residence, Lu Ye activated the residence’s restrictions to prevent You Die from disturbing him again.

He drew his Panshan Blade, resting it across his knees. As Dao power surged, the delightful sound of Liao resonated again.

Lu Ye just couldn’t understand how Liao, without flesh or blood, could feel such pleasure during the nurturing process.

Time flowed on. A large amount of Dao power continuously infused into the Panshan Blade. The golden leaves on the Talent Tree gradually diminished, and the power of the Panshan Blade steadily increased.

This method of nurturing a Dao weapon, regardless of Dao power consumption, was highly efficient. The only drawback was the significant cost.

However, Lu Ye was currently eager to discover the new limits of the Panshan Blade, so he didn’t need to worry about such costs.

Suddenly, two months passed.

On this day, the restrictions showed signs of being touched, indicating that someone was looking for him.

After a brief check, Lu Ye paused his nurturing of the Panshan Blade and stepped out of the residence.

Yuanxi was waiting outside. Seeing him appear, she beckoned, “Grand Commander, come with me to do some business.”

Lu Ye was surprised and asked as he followed, “What kind of business?”

Through their interactions over this period, he naturally knew that Yuanxi had significant connections in the inner realm. After all, even Kunli seemed to be quite wary of her. But what kind of business would she specifically bring him along for?

“A profitable business with no capital!” Yuanxi’s eyebrows danced. “But it requires your special ability, Grand Commander.”

Lu Ye blinked, vaguely realizing what she meant.

Yuanxi suddenly lowered her voice. “But rest assured, your special ability is known only to Heaven, Earth, you, and me. No third person will ever hear about it from me.”

“I trust you, City Lord,” Lu Ye nodded.

Yuanxi’s character was trustworthy. The main reason was that Yuanxi was present when Lu Ye first used that miraculous ability, and she was also with him during the second verification. So, Yuanxi was aware of the entire matter from beginning to end.

Given her strength, if she had any other intentions, Lu Ye would be powerless to resist. However, she was determined to build Yuanxi City into a force surpassing the ten major Harmonized Cities, which necessarily required her to leverage Lu Ye’s ability.

Therefore, even from her own perspective, she would never allow this secret to be known by others.

Following Yuanxi through the Central Hall to the Hehe Realm, they waited for a moment before someone immediately greeted them, bowing with a smile. “Is this Fellow Daoist Yuanxi?”

Yuanxi nodded.

The speaker then glanced at Lu Ye, who stood beside her. “And this is…”

Yuanxi said, “He’s one of my subordinates, accompanying me this time. Is that a problem?”

The speaker quickly replied, “Since he is with Fellow Daoist, of course, there’s no problem!” After a brief exchange, the cultivator led Yuanxi and Lu Ye back to their Harmonized City.

In the Central Hall, Yuanxi received an enthusiastic welcome upon her arrival. Lu Ye observed and confirmed that their host was the City Lord of this Harmonized City, whose strength seemed quite formidable.

He could vaguely sense that this Harmonized City was most likely a Desolate-grade Harmonized City, a level higher than the current Yuanxi City.

Not only did the City Lord personally greet them, but all the Harmonizers in the city also appeared.

Yuanxi and this City Lord seemed to have known each other for a long time, but Lu Ye noticed that their interaction didn’t suggest a deep friendship. In fact, the City Lord’s attitude towards Yuanxi seemed somewhat humble and respectful.

They offered to host a welcoming banquet for Yuanxi, but she refused. Yuanxi, appearing brisk and efficient, stated directly, “I don’t have much time. Let’s get started.”

The City Lord quickly nodded. “Everything is prepared. As Fellow Daoist wishes.”

A moment later, at the foremost edge of the Harmonized City, Lu Ye and Yuanxi stood side by side, gazing at a massive battle unfolding ahead.

This was a siege involving three Desolate-grade Harmonized Cities. Besides this Harmonized City, another allied Harmonized City participated in the attack, making it two against one, targeting another Harmonized City of the same grade.

Their side had been well-prepared, so after Yuanxi arrived, they could immediately unleash their full power.

Unlike Yuanxi City’s previous attacks on Flowing Light and Sinking Frost, this grand battle was an arduous and fierce offense and defense from the very beginning.

The besieged Harmonized City did not actively engage in combat but fully activated its protective formation, resisting the invading enemy.

Under such full-strength defense, even one against two, there wouldn't be much risk in the short term.

Lu Ye sat cross-legged, quietly cultivating while observing the battle. Initially, he watched with considerable interest, but gradually, he found it incredibly dull, as all three warring parties were extremely cautious.

It was nothing like the thrilling and perilous battles Yuanxi City had experienced before.

Lu Ye knew perfectly well that in fact, most siege battles in the inner realm were like this. It was truly rare for someone like Yuanxi to single-handedly face several enemy Harmonizers.

“Too slow!” Yuanxi also grew impatient. Since the battle began, she and Lu Ye had been waiting here for several days. In these past few days, fewer than ten cultivators from the three warring parties had suffered casualties, and all of them were Harmonizers.

“Why don’t you help them out, City Lord?” Lu Ye suggested.

Yuanxi pouted. “I’m not the one attacking the city, why should I help?”

Lu Ye pondered briefly. “You could ask them for more money!”

Yuanxi’s disdainful expression vanished, replaced by delight. “Good idea!”

With that, she flashed out, heading straight for the battlefield.

Lu Ye wasn’t sure how Yuanxi negotiated with the two City Lords, but soon after, he felt Yuanxi’s formidable aura erupt from that side.

With Yuanxi’s powerful addition, the situation quickly changed.

In just under half a day, the protective formation of the besieged Harmonized City became precarious. After another hour or two, the formation shattered with a roar.

Without the obstruction of the formation, numerous cultivators charged straight into the city. The city’s cultivators scattered in a panic.

Lu Ye had already quietly moved closer, plunging into the crowd amidst the chaos.

He wasn’t offering free effort to others; killing enemies also benefited him, not to mention the spoils of war, there was also a chance to obtain Star Abyss Coins.

Due to Liao, he now had an almost obsessive attachment to Star Abyss Coins.

The battle, though not a complete massacre, was an overwhelming victory in the face of absolute numerical superiority. Even the Harmonizers of the besieged Harmonized City suffered heavy casualties.

After the fighting ended, Yuanxi led Lu Ye directly into the Central Hall. With a wave of her hand, an umbrella-like treasure was unleashed, spinning rapidly to form a phantom that suddenly expanded, enveloping the entire hall.

This was undoubtedly Yuanxi’s method to block external prying, ensuring Lu Ye’s special ability remained unknown to others.

“Lord, when the protective formation of this Harmonized City was breached, why didn’t the City Lord destroy the Harmonized Orb, choosing to perish with it?” Lu Ye asked.

Last time, the Harmonized Orb of Sinking Frost City was saved thanks to Fan Wu, which was why Yuanxi accepted him and allowed him to bring a few people into Yuanxi City.

What about this time?

Yuanxi replied, “The City Lord saw the situation was dire and still hoped the Harmonized Orb would give him a power boost for escape. How could he destroy it prematurely?”

“He escaped?”

“You could say we intentionally let him run. Sometimes, it’s not suitable to exterminate everything. If there’s truly no hope at all, this Harmonized Orb couldn't be saved.”

Lu Ye understood. Attacks between Harmonized Cities, unless there was personal vendetta, were mostly for the Harmonized Orbs.

Therefore, whether the City Lord of a Harmonized City was killed or not didn’t really matter. Of course, if one truly had the ability to completely eliminate the enemy while preserving the Harmonized Orb, no one would hold back.

But if faced with a choice between killing and preserving the Harmonized Orb, the vast majority of City Lords would choose the latter.

First day of the month, customary request for guaranteed monthly votes.