Making Friends

Chen Fan paused, turned around, and looked at the Blazing Sun Sect Master with a half-smile.

"Has Sect Leader Zhao changed his ways? He won't even take a bite of the fat meat that's been delivered to his door?"

"Fellow Daoist is Zhao Qianjue said with a wry smile. "I am both a businessman and a cultivator. I understand the principle of insatiable greed. The Blazing Sun Sect only seeks to form an eternal alliance with the Fire Crow Tribe, to support each other from both inside and outside the main city. What do you think, Fellow Daoist Chen?"

They forsake immediate wealth in exchange for the goodwill of a terrifyingly powerful figure.

That old fox is indeed incredibly shrewd.

Looking at the deep awe and determination in Chen Fan Zhao Qianjue's eyes, Chen Fan's lips curled up slightly, the coldness in his eyes dissipated, and a touch of youthful affability appeared.

"Sect Leader Zhao is generous." Chen Fan reached out and took the jade token, patting it in his palm. "Since you consider me a friend, then from now on, the affairs of the Blazing Sun Sect will be shared equally with the Fire Crow Tribe. You'll certainly get your share of the benefits."

Hearing this promise, Zhao Qianjue's tense back finally relaxed, and he bowed with relief, saying, "Thank you, Brother Chen!"

Without realizing it, the way they addressed each other changed from "fellow Daoist" to "brother" to get closer.

Chen Fan didn't take it to heart. He glanced around at the majestic sect, brimming with spiritual energy, and said calmly, "Go back and send a message to all the clansmen in the Blackstone Mountain old village to pack their valuables."

Wang Dafu was taken aback.

"Chief, where are we moving to?"

Chen Fan kicked aside a charred piece of tile at his feet, leaped onto the dilapidated roof of the palace, and looked down at the entire majestic mountain range.

"Naturally, we moved here. The wind and sand in Blackstone Mountain are too rough, they hurt your face. This place is beautiful with clear water and lush mountains, and there's even a Middle-Grade Fire Vein buried underground. It's perfect for training the children of our clan."

The boy stood atop the ruins, his black hair fluttering in the wind. His words were casual and understated, yet in an instant, he decided the fate of an entire tribe.

With tears welling up in his eyes, Wang Dafu knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"I will obey the leader's decree!"

From a small, uncivilized tribe, they have leaped into the main city—a feat their ancestors could never have dreamed of.

Zhao Qianjue stood below, looking at the young man on the roof of the hall, his expression complex.

After a moment's hesitation, he leaped onto the roof, half a step behind Chen Fan, and whispered, "Brother Chen, by taking control of this mountain gate, the Fire Crow Tribe will have one foot in the main city's ranks. There are some rules I must remind you of in advance."

"Explain."

Chen Fan crossed his arms.

"The Profound Nether Main City covers an area of 30,000 li in circumference, with a vast terrain."

Zhao Qianjue, and he held up a few fingers.

"Aside from the reclusive city lord, the area was originally divided among six major forces: the Blazing Sun Sect, the Black Fiend Gate, the Myriad Sword Pavilion, the Treasure-Gathering Tower, the Heavenly Water Palace, and the Wild Lion Valley."

"Now that the Black Fiend Gate has been destroyed, with your abilities, Brother, the Fire Crow Tribe can easily take its place. The other factions have witnessed the fate of the Wu Sha Sect, and they certainly won't dare to act recklessly anytime soon."

At this point, Zhao Qianjue abruptly paused, his gaze fixed on the towering black tower that pierced the clouds in the very center of the main city, a deep sense of apprehension flashing in his eyes.

"But to rightfully rule this region and control the surrounding spirit mines and markets, one must obtain the official seal and approval of the City Lord's Mansion."

"City Lord?" Chen Fan raised an eyebrow. "What level of cultivation is that old fellow?"

Zhao Qianjue was startled by Chen Fan's nonchalant tone and quickly lowered her voice.

"Be careful what you say! The City Lord was already at the Eighth-Order Peak a hundred years ago, and it is rumored that he even has one foot in the Ninth Tier. He is unfathomable. The Profound Nether Main City has been able to stand firm in the Great Wilderness entirely because of his presence."

Zhao Qianjue turned his head and gave him very serious instructions.

"The full moon is in three days. As is customary, the leaders of each sect will go to the City Lord's Mansion to pay homage and report on their duties. I will accompany you then. You only need to lower your posture in front of the City Lord and act slightly submissive. Just go through the motions, and the matter of inheriting the Black Fiend Gate's lineage will be a sure thing."

In Zhao Qianjue's view, although the young man in front of him was an unparalleled genius with combat power that rivaled the Eighth-Order, he was still a fledgling who had not yet fully developed his abilities when facing the old city lord who had been famous for a hundred years.

Taking a step back opens up a vast expanse; bowing your head is not shameful.

"Be more submissive?"

Chen Fan pondered these three words, his eyes deep and calm.

He lowered his head, slowly rubbing his slightly sore right wrist, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

To make this avatar of a Human Race Martial God bow and kowtow to the native city lord of a Small Thousand World?

Chen Fan gazed into the distance, his gaze piercing through the thick fog and landing on the towering pagoda in the city center.

It's hard to say who is bowing down to whom.

Zhao Qianjue withdrew his gaze, straightened his robes, and solemnly clasped his hands in farewell.

"Brother Chen, I will personally come to greet you at dawn three days from now and take you to the City Lord's Mansion."

"Of course, Sect Leader Zhao, please take care."

Chen Fan stood atop the hall, cupped his hands in greeting, and watched as the Blazing Sun Sect forces orderly withdrew from the mountain gate. Zhao Qianjue, that old fox, acted with great discretion; his disciples kept their eyes fixed straight ahead and didn't manage to steal a single spirit stone.

Seeing that all the outsiders had left, Chen Fan leaped down from the main hall and landed steadily in front of the martial arts arena.

Wang Dafu was directing dozens of Fire Crow Guards to move the spoils of war when he saw Chen Fan come down. He hurriedly ran forward, bending very low.

"Chief, all areas around the mountain gate have been taken over, and the captured supplies, as you instructed, have been piled up in the side hall of the main hall."

Chen Fan patted the short, chubby man on the shoulder and laughed.

"Fatty, you're efficient. Each of the wounded brothers should receive three Baleful Spirit Fruits and rest properly in the best Quiet Chamber. Divide the treasury into three parts: one part for the operation of the Mountain Gate Grand Formation, one part to be sealed and taken back to the old stronghold, and the rest to be distributed among the brothers who contributed to this battle."

"Chief, that's several thousand catties of Red Essence Copper Marrow! Should we distribute it all?"

Wang Dafu's eyelids twitched violently, and his face was contorted with pain.

"Are you keeping them to breed?" Chen Fan rolled his eyes at him. "If your men's knives are dull, how will they defend my home? Get to it now. I need to get into the underground cave in the back mountains before dark."

"Understood!" Wang Dafu felt a surge of excitement, grinned widely, nodded emphatically, and turned to shout as he went.

After finishing his chores, Chen Fan walked alone towards the back mountain.

After passing through several broken stone gates with dilapidated protective barriers, a wave of heat rushed towards us. Descending hundreds of feet down the slope, a lava chamber carved into the center of a crimson rock wall came into view.

Below the secret chamber, magma churned, crimson bubbles bubbled and hissed, and the rich smell of sulfur mingled with the pure spiritual energy of heaven and earth, almost condensing into a visible red glow.

This is the core of the Middle-Grade Fire Vein upon which the Black Fiend Gate relies for its existence.

Around the secret chamber, Wang Dafu had already ordered his men to pile up thousands of Supreme-Grade Fire Crystal Stones and hundreds of boxes of Yin Fiend Spirit Jade, with baskets of Red Essence Copper Marrow arranged on both sides.

Chen Fan glanced around and nodded in satisfaction.

"That old bastard Wu Sha is greedy for pleasure, possessing such a Creation, yet he only knows how to use it to prolong his life, squandering such a precious resource."

Chen Fan lifted his robe and sat cross-legged on the Blackstone directly above the fire vein.

He closed his eyes slightly and focused his mind on his Dantian.