Chapter 19: Diao Rongqi's Visit

Chapter Eighteen

Inside the Fire Realm Eatery, within a secluded small building.

"Over the past two days, many factions in Huyang City have visited Brother Luo He, haven't they?" Shang Tianyan and Luo Feng sat opposite each other. Suo Zi was serving them, respectfully bringing food and fine wine, while the servant Mo Luosa waited outside the small building.

Luo Feng sighed, "Quite a few factions came directly to my cave mansion to visit. When I went to the Dream Blossom Pavilion, there were also factions waiting there. That's why I've been hiding in this Fire Realm Eatery; this small eatery is at least quiet enough!"

"Haha, when you forced the Blood Python Association to bow down and pay compensation, you already became one of the top few in Huyang City," Shang Tianyan chuckled. "Countless Eternal True Gods must envy you. Ordinary Eternal True Gods like us can't compare to your influence, Brother Luo He."

Even among Eternal True Gods, there are vast differences.

The strength of their divine bodies, the disparity in their weapons, secret treasures, and armor, variations in secret techniques, differences in law realms, distinct bloodline talents, and disparities in will – all these factors contribute to incredibly vast differences.

"If I'm not mistaken, the City Lord's Mansion has likely upgraded your rating to Class A," Shang Tianyan said.

"Class A?" Luo Feng asked curiously.

"An Eternal True God that even a Huyang Legion cannot handle is generally classified as Class A. At this level, the City Lord's Mansion won't easily make a move," Shang Tianyan explained.

Luo Feng pondered, "A Huyang Legion is commanded by a top-tier Eternal True God, with tens of thousands of Void True Gods and millions of elite True Gods collectively wielding legionary mechanical secret treasures. When their power merges, the destructive force unleashed already possesses some Chaos Realm might."

"Given your strength, Brother Luo He, even if you can't directly resist, you can surely leverage your strengths and avoid weaknesses, rendering a Huyang Legion helpless," Shang Tianyan chuckled. "You captured Vice-President Laimo's True God Heart with a single hand, without even using a weapon or secret treasure. Anyone can see that once you unleash your full power, even if there's a gap between you and a Huyang Legion, you can still maneuver using various secret techniques."

Luo Feng simply smiled without saying much.

Was the Huyang Legion truly strong in a direct confrontation? All their Eternal True Gods, Void True Gods, and countless True Gods combined couldn't match his divine power in terms of quantity or purity! Only their legionary mechanical secret treasure was slightly stronger than his 'Wu Qi Wings'.

In a head-on clash, it wasn't that he couldn't outlast them; it was that a Huyang Legion couldn't withstand the prolonged attrition.

"That smile tells me you're not overly concerned about a Huyang Legion," Shang Tianyan said, raising his cup. "To that, we must drink."

"Cheers," Luo Feng said, smiling as he drank.

"However, Brother Luo He, don't underestimate the City Lord's Mansion because of this. The Ten Huyang Legions and the Huyang Guards are merely surface deterrents," Shang Tianyan continued. "This massive city, built and refined over endless ages, is one of their true foundations. If truly pushed, a Chaos Master, or even a God-King, might tear through space and arrive!"

"I'm not so foolish as to provoke the City Lord's Mansion," Luo Feng acknowledged, fully aware of this.

"Of course, the entire Nine Jiang Chaos State is the fiefdom of 'Marquis Nine Jiang.' What sort of status does Marquis Nine Jiang hold? Unless it's an absolutely monumental event, he won't rush to Huyang City," Shang Tianyan explained. "So as long as you don't challenge the City Lord's Mansion's dominion, there's no need to worry about attracting a Chaos Master. However, there's one thing you absolutely must remember..."

Shang Tianyan's expression grew much more serious.

"Please tell me, Brother Shang," Luo Feng said.

"Never get involved in the conflict between the Food Nation and the Yu Nation," Shang Tianyan whispered. "That is the most terrifying vortex in Huyang City. Once you're drawn in, no matter how strong you are individually, you could be crushed to pieces."

"The conflict between the Food Nation and the Yu Nation?" Luo Feng inquired curiously.

"Since its establishment, the Food Nation has been continuously expanding and encroaching on its neighbors. It now borders our Yu Nation, so conflicts are naturally frequent," Shang Tianyan stated. "As a large border city, Huyang City has never ceased to have underlying conflicts. For example, the Zanyun Merchant Association is a Food Nation's merchant guild."

Luo Feng nodded, "The president of the Zanyun Merchant Association visited my cave mansion yesterday, but I didn't pay him much attention."

Precisely because the other party was from the Food Nation, Luo Feng was unwilling to form too deep an association.

"It's good that you didn't engage much," Shang Tianyan said. "After all, it's a large border city, and the Yu Nation has no reason to prohibit normal trade. On the surface, the Zanyun Merchant Association is very proper, but the Food Nation has secretly dispatched a group of Eternal True Gods into the city a long time ago."

"As long as the Food Nation wishes, they can dispatch even stronger forces at any time," Shang Tianyan said. "This is also Huyang City's greatest peril."

"Should the two divine nations ever go to war, it would be entirely normal for this place to be pulverized into dust."

Shang Tianyan sighed, picking up his wine cup.

Having lived most of his life in Huyang City, he naturally didn't wish to see it reduced to ruins.

"We can do nothing about the conflict between the two divine nations, so let's simply go with the flow," Luo Feng said, joining him in drinking. He genuinely liked Shang Tianyan as a friend; he was straightforward, and when Luo Feng asked about his dilemmas regarding body refinement, Shang Tianyan never held back.

As one of the foremost artifact refiners in Huyang City, Shang Tianyan was far superior to him in that craft. Luo Feng had encountered some confusion while deciphering the 'Chaos Might Diagram' without a master's guidance. For Shang Tianyan, a few words were enough to pinpoint the key.

Had Luo Feng delved into the research by himself, he could have still comprehended it, given his solid foundation in laws, but it would have taken much longer and involved some detours.

Luo Feng valued Shang Tianyan's willingness to offer guidance.

As they ate, drank, and chatted, Luo Feng gained not only specific information about Huyang City but also a deeper understanding of its various factions through his conversation with Shang Tianyan.

"I must say, this eatery has a unique charm," Shang Tianyan remarked admiringly as he rose to leave.

"I like it here too; their roasted meat has enough bite," Luo Feng said. His perfect divine body was so powerful that ordinary delicacies offered too little stimulation, tasting somewhat bland to him.

As they spoke, the two walked out of the small building. Outside, Mo Luosa immediately hid a wine jar.

At that moment, Luo Feng and Shang Tianyan both saw a woman with a fluffy tail ahead, accompanied by a guard at her side.

"This is Diao Rongqi of the Diao Rong family, Diao Rong Yan's daughter," Shang Tianyan introduced.

"Greetings, Uncle Shang," Diao Rongqi said, bowing with a smile.

"Are you here to visit Brother Luo He?" Shang Tianyan asked with a smile. "How did you find this place?"

Diao Rongqi quickly explained, "Upon hearing of Senior Luo He's incident at the Dream Blossom Pavilion, I very much wanted to visit. Later, I learned from my guard that Senior Luo He might come to the Fire Realm Eatery."

Luo Feng watched with interest. The guard beside the woman was precisely Suo Yun, the young True God from the tribal team he had rescued earlier.

"Senior," Suo Yun quickly and respectfully explained, "My brother Suo Zi and I live together, and during a conversation, I unexpectedly learned that Senior had visited the Fire Realm Eatery."

"Quite a coincidence," Luo Feng said, looking at Diao Rongqi, the woman with the fluffy tail. "Why have you come to see me?"

"To seek apprenticeship!"

Diao Rongqi's eyes shone brightly. "I wish to become your disciple, Senior."

"Your father is an Eternal True God. Why would you seek me as your master?" Luo Feng asked, looking at her.

"My father excels at alchemy, not combat," Diao Rongqi replied with a respectful bow. "I am willing to offer five thousand Universe Sands, hoping only to become your disciple, Senior."

Luo Feng shook his head and looked at Shang Tianyan. "Brother Shang, let's go."

Shang Tianyan didn't try to persuade him; after all, taking on a disciple was a very serious matter. He flew away with Luo Feng.

"Senior!" Diao Rongqi called out urgently. "Please, give me a chance, a chance to prove myself!"

"Become my master's disciple? What a beautiful dream!" Mo Luosa scoffed, glancing at Diao Rongqi before following Luo Feng away.

Diao Rongqi stood her ground for a moment, then turned and walked away, instructing, "Suo Yun, you remain at the Fire Realm Eatery. Notify me immediately if you see Senior Luo He."

"Yes," the guard Suo Yun respectfully replied, watching his mistress depart.

"Suo Yun," Suo Zi said, walking over. "How could you casually spread the news of Senior's presence here?"

Guard Suo Yun looked at his brother. "My mistress wishes to visit Senior, and there's no ill intent. Why couldn't I tell her?"

"We run an eatery; we must protect our esteemed guests' secrets," Suo Zi explained. "I only told you privately because you're my brother. You didn't even say a word to me before telling your mistress?"

Suo Yun scoffed, "Senior didn't blame me, yet you, my brother, are blaming me."

"Senior has a good temper, which is why he didn't blame you, but if you had encountered someone with a bad temper, you would have been finished!" Suo Zi exclaimed urgently. "In Huyang City, especially when it involves Eternal True Gods, you can never be too cautious!"

"If we're cautious everywhere, when will we ever make a breakthrough?" Suo Yun retorted coldly. "When an opportunity arises, you have to seize it! Because of this piece of information, I've already been granted a secret technique!"

Suo Zi froze.

They had come from their tribe to Huyang City, and after ascertaining their bloodline, they had been seeking ways to acquire suitable secret techniques. However, good techniques tailored to them were simply too expensive.

"Suo Yun has already obtained a secret technique?" Suo Zi's mood became complicated.

On one hand, he was genuinely happy for his brother, but on the other, he felt the growing gap between them. He was still an apprentice, painstakingly accumulating Chaos Crystals to buy a secret technique, a process he knew would take a very, very long time.

"The Clan Elder said we must be cautious in Huyang City. No rush, my lifespan is still very long; I don't lack this bit of time," Suo Zi suppressed his emotions.

Blood Python Association Headquarters.

"Over the past two days, Luo He has been the most famous person in all of Huyang City," Vice-President Mu Lin said, shaking his head. "Whenever Luo He is mentioned, our Blood Python Association comes up."

"Can you just shut up?" Vice-President Laimo snapped irritably.

"I don't care about the gossip," President Mu Yang said, frowning. "What I care about is the twenty thousand Universe Sands we paid in compensation. I'm so poor now; every single Universe Sand is precious to me."

Vice-President Mu Lin and Vice-President Laimo exchanged glances.

"We're both out of funds," Vice-President Mu Lin quickly added.

"President, I've already lent you everything I could. This time, you paid eighteen thousand Universe Sands for me, so technically, you still owe me five thousand Universe Sands," Vice-President Laimo pointed out.

The two vice-presidents were somewhat puzzled. President Mu Yang, who possessed most of the Blood Python Association's resources, was always poor! He had borrowed so much from them that they were now afraid.