Chapter 107: The New Huyang City

The ancient city of Huyang finally regained its calm after the battle between two peak Chaos Realm experts.

"It's a pity. My weapons and all the Cosmic Sand I accumulated have been taken.""At least we're alive.""Let's leave quickly."

That night, a large number of Eternal True Gods, Void True Gods, and True Gods from the Heart Shadow Sect were released. Many Eternal True Gods of the sect had been carrying large mechanical security devices and other items, as well as inherited artifacts. Now, everything had been confiscated, leaving them without even a single weapon. However, disciples at the Void True God and True God levels were not troubled.

"The Heart Shadow Sect is gone. Marquis Liuyin and the two ancestors don't care about us. Where do we go now?""With our strength, where can't we go?""Huyang City is on the border between two countries. Who knows when another conflict might break out? I'd rather go to an ordinary city.""Brother Yufang, let's go together."

The Eternal True Gods were still quite confident. After all, they had once been disciples of a major sect. Even without weapons or treasures, their secret techniques were still formidable. Many of them began to leave Huyang City and head for surrounding cities. "Great Sage Luohe despises evil and dislikes dark forces, so his Huyang City is still suitable for peaceful living." Some Eternal True Gods also chose not to travel further. Many Void True Gods and True Gods from the Heart Shadow Sect, being weaker, were even more reluctant to embark on long journeys. Many preferred to remain in Huyang City. "Great Sage Luohe didn't confiscate our treasures; he's truly benevolent." These Void True Gods and True Gods held Luo Feng in very high regard. Over eighty percent of the released Eternal True Gods from the Heart Shadow Sect departed, but most of the lower and middle-ranking members chose to stay in Huyang City, intent on settling there. This significantly increased the number of strong cultivators in Huyang City.

"Huyang City will be lively from now on."

From the city lord's mansion wall, Luo Feng gazed at the calm city under the night sky. This was now his city.

"Master," Moluocha appeared beside him. "All the Heart Shadow Sect's treasures have been confiscated and are under my personal management. They have all been inventoried."

"How is it?" Luo Feng asked.

"They're all here." Moluocha handed Luo Feng a black jade bottle, which contained all the treasures and assets.

Luo Feng took it and began to examine its contents.

"The Heart Shadow Sect's main wealth was stored in the Dark Hall of the Yanfeng Guildhall, managed separately by the two Chaos Realm experts. Usually, the sect master had to apply for even small disbursements from them," Moluocha explained. "What we managed to confiscate were mainly the Heart Shadow Sect's physical assets."

Luo Feng wasn't surprised. With two Chaos Realm experts involved, the Heart Shadow Sect's true core treasures would certainly be hidden by them.

"The assets we confiscated belonged to thousands of Eternal True Gods from the Heart Shadow Sect, and likely included what they plundered from Huyang City. It's difficult to distinguish them now, but there's a total of over 2.9 billion Cosmic Sand, along with approximately 3.7 billion Cosmic Sand worth of weapons and treasures, including that Yanfeng Ancient Kingdom warship, the sect's guardian artifact, and numerous large secret treasures, all valued accordingly."

Luo Feng nodded. The total was just over six billion Cosmic Sand. It was possible that the accumulated wealth of either of the Heart Shadow Sect's two Chaos Realm ancestors surpassed this amount. For instance, Marquis Liuyin's single weapon was worth five billion, and what he spent on his own cultivation was likely far more.

"Regarding their sect's inheritances, not to mention the minor ones, there are 122 types of Chaos-level inheritances and five types of God-King-level inheritances. However, these five God-King-level inheritances only contain parts for cultivation up to the Chaos Realm," Moluocha said. "According to the interrogations, the subsequent parts of these inheritances are in the hands of the Heart Shadow Sect's two Chaos Realm experts."

Luo Feng had already found the five God-King-level inheritances in the black jade bottle. He permeated them with his divine power and scanned through them. All of them abruptly ended after the Chaos Realm cultivation. There were no subsequent parts at all.

"It's truly difficult to obtain a God-King-level inheritance that suits me," Luo Feng sighed inwardly. Any power strictly controlled its inheritances. Wanting a top-tier inheritance? One had to pay a price. Becoming a guest elder of the Yanfeng Ancient Kingdom sounded good, but one could guess with eyes closed that any inheritance would come with a cost. Even Emperor Chuyu, a Chaos Realm expert of royal lineage, had to contend for resources. As a guest elder, Luo Feng would likely have to pay an even greater price.

"As a guest elder, at least I'll have the chance to contend for resources and inheritances." Luo Feng understood this. Without becoming a guest elder, he wouldn't even have the opportunity.

That night.

The vast majority of the descendants of Huyang City's original five ruling families were resentful, as Great Sage Luohe had become the city's new master. Their days of idleness and indulgence were over.

"The Yanfeng Guildhall has arranged flying vessels to escort our families away. Everyone, prepare quickly." Many members of the Meiwu clan were unwilling, but the operational order of the entire Yu Kingdom's high command was decided by God-Kings and Chaos Realm experts. Marquis Jiujiang, the lord of the fiefdom, had voluntarily given Huyang City to Luohe! The Yu Kingdom's lord and others were also pleased to see this. These branches of great clans didn't even have the right to object.

"How will the ancestral land arrange things for us? Will they send us to other large cities?""There are only so many large cities in the Yu Kingdom; there's no place for settlement. We can only return to the ancestral land first.""Return to the ancestral land and follow the arrangements."

As ruling families, many of their members had held important positions in Huyang City. Even those without official roles received a significant amount of Chaos Crystals every epoch. Now, all of that was gone.

The Yanfeng Guildhall arranged flying vessels and escorted the five families away that very night.

"Father," Moli Meng looked at his father, Moli Xiao.

"From now on, follow the city lord diligently," Moli Xiao said with a smile. "If I could, I would want to follow the city lord myself. But I have my duties, and the royal capital's orders, which I must obey."

Previously in Huyang City, the city lord managed various affairs, while Moli Xiao was responsible for military matters. Both of them were truly capable. Since the Yu Kingdom's royal capital had withdrawn its own management and fully delegated authority to Luo Feng, it naturally transferred Moli Xiao and others away. Moli Xiao was not like those useless family members; he was very useful.

"I'm taking most of the family's younger members with me, leaving only a few for you. You must take good care of them," Moli Xiao instructed.

"Don't worry, Father," Moli Meng nodded. His father also left him three Eternal True Gods from the family as helpers.

Moli Xiao smiled and nodded. This time, Luo Feng personally invited Moli Meng to stay! Moli Meng had previously been responsible for many city affairs, was very familiar with city management, and was capable. As for Moli Xiao? Luo Feng was less concerned, because in the future, Huyang City wouldn't need military deterrence!

City Lord's Mansion.

Luo Feng looked at Moli Meng and Moyu Hu, smiling slightly. "From now on, you two will be Huyang City's deputy city lords. You can discuss and resolve most matters yourselves, and report to me only if you can't find a solution."

"Yes, City Lord!" Moli Meng and Moyu Hu were both very excited. Previously, Huyang City was jointly managed by the leaders of the five great families, and Moli Meng's authority was not as great as it was now! Moreover, he was now following a peak Chaos Realm expert. Moli Meng clearly knew he had encountered a great opportunity. Moyu Hu was even more thrilled. He had previously served under Moli Meng and was also very familiar with many city management affairs.

"I never imagined that I, Moyu Hu, would become a deputy city lord of Huyang City." Moyu Hu felt that the day he encountered City Lord Luohe in the wilderness was truly a turning point in his destiny.

Luo Feng nodded. He didn't have the energy to manage the city himself, but he also wouldn't place his trust solely in one party.

"First, I'll lay down two rules for the future," Luo Feng stated.

Moli Meng and Moyu Hu immediately listened intently.

"One, there will be no dark forces in Huyang City from now on," Luo Feng declared.

Moli Meng and Moyu Hu, being familiar with city affairs, immediately understood the far-reaching impact of this rule! Many ordinary merchants' profits were almost entirely confiscated by dark forces. Sometimes, even after arduous work, they would incur losses. Without dark forces, Huyang City's commerce would surely flourish. For cultivators seeking a peaceful life, the city's appeal would also greatly increase.

"Two, Huyang City will no longer need the Huyang Legion," Luo Feng announced. "The Huyang Guards will remain. They will be responsible for maintaining order within the city." The Huyang Legion was for deterring enemies and dealing with powerful adversaries. His own city didn't need a legion.

"These are the two main points. As for other detailed management plans, you two should discuss them first and then submit them to me," Luo Feng instructed. "My requirement is that the city lord's mansion management should be as streamlined as possible."

"Understood," Moli Meng and Moyu Hu responded.

"City Lord, during this war, there was a slight loss of citizens in Huyang City. The current population should be around 500 billion," Moli Meng reported. "The quarterly residence fees amount to approximately 50 million Cosmic Sand, and the income from the Chaos Ruins every epoch is about 6 million Cosmic Sand. Twenty percent of the residence fees are remitted to the royal capital, and the rest is needed to maintain the city's operations. What can be offered to the City Lord each quarter should be around 30 million Cosmic Sand," Moli Meng explained.

Luo Feng understood. It didn't seem like much, but this income was recurring every epoch! Over a thousand epochs, it would amount to a full 30 billion Cosmic Sand. Of course, typical Chaos Realm experts would cultivate numerous descendants over long periods, and the cultivation expenses for a vast number of descendants would accumulate to be enormous. His own family, being in the original universe region, was generally weak, and most of his family members couldn't even become "immortals." In contrast, the descendants of great clans on the Origin Continent started as True Gods! When accumulated, there were often thousands of Void True Gods, and Eternal True Gods were common. Their continuous expenses each quarter were also substantial.

"Even the Yanfeng Ancient Kingdom's royal family doesn't dare to openly provide unlimited resources; their clan members still have to compete for them," Luo Feng mused to himself. "Perhaps some ancient beings deliberately reincarnate to escape the immense burden of their clans. Sometimes, when a family proliferates to a certain extent, it can become a hindrance to ancient beings."

"City Lord," Moyu Hu respectfully said, "some cultivators who have joined the City Lord's Mansion also wish to obtain cultivation inheritances."

"As long as they accumulate enough merit, they will have the opportunity to exchange for inheritances," Luo Feng nodded. The most crucial reason cultivators follow powerful individuals is for inheritances. Without them, self-discovery is hundreds or thousands of times harder.

"You two may go. Please organize a management plan for Huyang City," Luo Feng instructed.

"Yes, City Lord!" The two ambitious deputy city lords immediately bowed and withdrew.

Moluocha, who had been standing by, now spoke, "Master, Moli Meng's family has several Eternal True Gods, and familiar Eternal True Gods like Gao Wushui have also pledged allegiance. Their faction is quite strong, while Moyu Hu's is relatively weaker."

"You're mistaken," Luo Feng chuckled. "A large portion of the Zhu family has already returned tonight and is currently with Moyu Liefeng."

After all, Moyu Liefeng was Zhu You's direct disciple. Given their master-disciple relationship, the Zhu family had pledged allegiance to the Moyu family immediately.

Moluocha understood. Even though Luo Feng trusted both Moyu Hu and Moli Meng, he still arranged for them to keep each other in check.

Huyang City gradually established a new order. The Eternal True Gods and Void True Gods who had been plundered by the Heart Shadow Sect were pleasantly surprised to find that the dark forces had completely vanished, and their fixed assets were being returned by the City Lord's Mansion.

"Life will be easier now," many ordinary merchants felt incredibly relieved. The former Black Butcher, thanks to Luo Feng, had been freed from much extortion. Now, merchants throughout Huyang City no longer feared dark forces, and commerce flourished even more than before.

"Huyang City has become even better than before." Gao Wushui, leading a contingent of Huyang Guards, gazed at the bustling city with a smile. "With a Chaos Realm expert in charge, more and more ordinary True Gods are coming to Huyang City."

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Luo Feng, accompanied by a servant and a disciple, had already reunited with Emperor Chuyu and his group.

"It seems your two deputy city lords are managing Huyang City quite well," Emperor Chuyu remarked with a smile. "From now on, whether Huyang City can become even better depends on your strength, Brother Luohe. The more powerful you become, the more prosperous this city will be."

Luo Feng looked at the city and smiled, "It will certainly become more prosperous."

"Let's go."

Emperor Chuyu immediately used a spatial-temporal treasure to connect with the distant Yanfeng Ancient Kingdom.

"Buzz!"

The void ahead twisted, and a spatial-temporal tunnel appeared. Emperor Chuyu, accompanied by the deputy pavilion master, and Luo Feng, accompanied by Moluocha and Moyu Qingyan, all five of them flew into the spatial-temporal tunnel together.

(End of this volume)

Author's note: Huyang City was Luo Feng's first stop on the Origin Continent. Now that the Huyang City storyline concludes, the major plotline following Luo Feng's ascension to the Chaos Realm will officially begin.

Tomato will take a one-day break tomorrow to prepare properly for the upcoming plot.