After instructing Yeting to watch over Zhu Ji, Qian Ye followed the group to the city lord’s manor and was ushered into the study.
The study was in deep tones, and the floor-to-ceiling windows displayed a majestic atmosphere. The view was excellent, overlooking the entire city and extending beyond, even reaching as far as the surging waves of the great river. In truth, the city lord’s manor itself wasn’t particularly high; it only had such an impressive view because the other buildings were so low.
Standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows was a middle-aged man in combat attire, subtly exuding luxury in its details, signaling his unique status. The combat suit also served as a reminder that he was not only the lord of the city but also its most powerful individual.
As Qian Ye entered the study, the middle-aged man turned around, his slightly narrow, phoenix-like eyes scanning Qian Ye from head to toe. A smile then spread across his face. “I never imagined that Mr. Zhao would be so young. I am truly ashamed. At your age, I was still struggling to become a battle general!”
Qian Ye bowed politely. “City Lord Su, you are too kind.”
Up close, one could see that City Lord Su’s face was quite gentle, with neatly trimmed stubble. Though there was nothing particularly extravagant about him, every detail was meticulously attended to, down to the placement of each strand of hair. Such grooming would certainly meet the standards of the imperial court.
Qian Ye had only known that the city lord of Lingang City was named Su Dingqian; everything else was a mystery. Now, facing him, Qian Ye could sense a rather gentle yet unstable force emanating from Su Dingqian, evoking the imagery of water’s ever-changing form, yet also conveying a profound depth. To meld agility and strength, this City Lord Su was clearly no ordinary person.
Su Dingqian gestured to a chair and smiled, “Mr. Zhao, please sit.”
Qian Ye courteously waited for Su Dingqian to sit first before taking his own seat. Then, he asked, “May I ask why City Lord Su has invited me here?”
From the moment they met, Su Dingqian appeared very warm and sincere, clearly genuinely pleased. However, such people were often seasoned, and their true thoughts could not be discerned from their demeanor alone.
Su Dingqian inquired, “Can Mr. Zhao lead an army?”
Taken aback by the direct question, Qian Ye thought for a moment before replying, “Not really.”
Qian Ye was not deliberately hiding anything. Although he came from Red Scorpion, he had never truly led a large army in battle and was not adept at strategizing. In past battles, he relied on brute force to break through.
Undeterred, Su Dingqian replied, “It’s better if you don’t know how to lead an army. To be honest, Lingang City will face turmoil in the near future. If Mr. Zhao is willing to contribute to the defense of the city, I, Su Dingqian, will ensure you are well-rewarded.”
Qian Ye did not immediately respond but instead asked, “Why is City Lord Su being so generous? I am deeply honored.”
Su Dingqian laughed heartily. “Look, I almost forgot. Blood Robe, who secretly works for me, spoke highly of you after meeting you last night. I figured, someone like that should be seen as soon as possible.”
Qian Ye had suspected that Blood Robe, or someone like him, was likely an informant for the city lord, otherwise, he wouldn’t have access to so much confidential information.
Calmly, Qian Ye said, “Thank you, City Lord Su, for your kindness. Since I am staying in Lingang City, it is only right that I contribute. But may I ask, what is the source of the turmoil and who is the enemy? And what, exactly, can I expect to gain from this?”
Satisfied with the questions, Su Dingqian nodded. “The source of the turmoil is not hard to guess. The three major forces around us are preparing for a major conflict, and they’ve chosen the area near Lingang City as their battleground. Clearly, they have ulterior motives. Once the victor emerges, they might turn their attention to us. They’ve long coveted the resources related to the Earth Dragon here.”
As he spoke, Su Dingqian clapped his hands, and a servant brought in a dark red lacquer box. Opening it, he placed it in front of Qian Ye.
Inside, a translucent crystal rested on a red satin lining, with a faint wisp of smoke swirling within. The smoke would sometimes manifest as a beetle, only to dissolve back into mist.
Whenever it transformed into a beetle, Qian Ye felt a cooling sensation in his mind, sharpening his awareness. The mystique of the beetle sealed in the crystal was self-evident, though its exact purpose was unclear.
“City Lord Su, what is this…?”
“This is the main product of Lingang City, the Dream Eater Bug. It only appears when the Earth Dragon is active. Capturing it requires a battle general to seal it in crystal. They say it can replenish soul power and enhance one’s potential. From my experience, the claim of replenishing soul power is too extraordinary to verify, but it does indeed enhance one’s potential. It may even aid in crossing the Divine General’s Threshold.”
Qian Ye was deeply intrigued.
Crossing the Divine General’s Threshold was not his primary concern, but replenishing soul power could be immensely beneficial to Yeting. After her soul had been torn apart, any additional assistance from the Dream Eater Bugs would be invaluable.
Not hiding his interest, Su Dingqian, seeing Qian Ye’s reaction, smiled, closed the lacquer box, and handed it to him. “This Dream Eater Bug is an advance payment. Once the turmoil ends, I will provide two more.”
Unable to refuse such an offer, especially if it could help Yeting, Qian Ye still hesitated. He needed to know more about the enemy and the expected deeds required to earn the reward. He didn’t think simply staying in the city during the turmoil would be enough to receive such a treasure.
“I don’t want to get involved in this war, but it seems inevitable. Our main enemy is the Moonlight White Devil, whose leader has been seeking to uncover the secrets of the Earth Dragon in Lingang City. With me here, I won’t let them succeed,” Su Dingqian declared.
Qian Ye’s expression changed. “They want to investigate the Earth Dragon?”
Having participated in the Blood War and the Floating Land Battle, and having encountered the Heavenly Ghost and the Void Beast Chaos, Qian Ye had a clear idea of what a true Void Beast was. Judging from the tremors, the Earth Dragon beneath the city was likely a Void Beast. Even if it wasn’t as terrifying as Chaos, it was still a formidable Void Beast, capable of crushing numerous battle generals without even noticing.
The Heavenly Ghost, with its iron curtain, nearly covered half the continent. It was said that only the Night Queen and the Eternal Flame personally intervened to drive the Heavenly Ghost back into the void.
The leader of the Moonlight White Devils, no matter how strong, was unlikely to be a Celestial King or even an upper-tier Divine General. Such a power level, challenging a Void Beast, was suicidal.
Seeing Qian Ye’s reaction, Su Dingqian inquired, “What are you thinking, Mr. Zhao?”
Qian Ye replied candidly, “I believe the Moonlight White Devil is courting death by targeting the Earth Dragon.”
Su Dingqian agreed, slapping his thigh. “Exactly! I’ve governed Lingang City for decades and never dared to dig deep, fearing the Earth Dragon. But the Moonlight White Devils are madmen, unpredictable. They’ll do anything.”
Seeing Qian Ye still hesitate, Su Dingqian continued, “If you achieve significant feats in this battle, such as killing at least three named and titled enemies, I will give you the ‘Heartful Sutra,’ which can help cross the Divine General’s Threshold. I will pass on the first chapter to you, provided you swear by your original force not to share it without permission.”
At these words, the room fell silent. The ‘Heartful Sutra’ was one of Su Dingqian’s renowned techniques, second only to the ‘Vast Ocean Chapter.’ It slightly increased the chances of crossing the Divine General’s Threshold, making it a highly coveted skill. Many strong warriors, already on their paths, couldn’t abandon their original force to switch, but the ‘Heartful Sutra’ could be studied concurrently.
Only Su Dingqian’s most trusted inner circle received the ‘Heartful Sutra,’ and even then, only the first chapter. This was one of the reasons Lingang City remained independent from the three major forces.
Now, offering the ‘Heartful Sutra’ directly showed Su Dingqian’s high regard for Qian Ye.
Knowing he couldn’t refuse, Qian Ye stood and bowed. “Thank you, City Lord.”
Pleased, Su Dingqian roared with laughter. “Good! Let’s have a feast and get thoroughly drunk!”
However, the situation was urgent, with frequent military activities outside the city. Under the persuasion of his generals, Su Dingqian decided to postpone the feast until after the battle. He sent Qian Ye back to pack, and since Qian Ye was now committed to fighting for Lingang City, Su Dingqian arranged for a small mansion in the noble district to be prepared for his stay.
Once Qian Ye left, the tall, lean man who had brought him finally spoke up, “City Lord, aren’t you being too generous with this young man? The others might not be happy. A Level 12 battle general doesn’t warrant such attention. Though he’s young and full of potential, he might not be loyal once he grows stronger.”
Su Dingqian chuckled. “You’ve been with me for a long time. When have I ever misjudged a person? This Mr. Zhao is more than just potential.”
The lean man pressed for more, but Su Dingqian waved him off. “Go and fortify the defenses. Remember, don’t provoke Mr. Zhao. Fulfill any requests he makes.”
Reluctantly, the lean man complied, for Su Dingqian’s authority was formidable. Alone, Su Dingqian watched Qian Ye leave, chuckling and stroking his beard. “Even daring to kill the son of the Wolf King, I wonder what else you won’t dare to do.”
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