Giant Spirit City's Invitation

Wang Dafu's smile vanished, and he turned around, grabbed one of his attendants, and handed him over in the street.

Outside the city gate, a bronze chariot was parked beside the old moat road.

Twelve guards stood with their hands on their swords, not in Battle Formation. A Mountain Pattern Banner was planted beside the carriage, and an old man in a gray robe stood at the foot of the flagpole.

Eighth-Order Late Stage.

His breathing was controlled very steadily.

The old man first looked at Chen Fan, then at the two people behind him. When his gaze fell on Flame Venerable's brow, his sleeve twitched slightly, then returned to normal.

The general guarding the city presented the gift book to them.

"According to the Intercity Meeting Protocol, we request that the envoy be invited..."

The old man in the gray robe raised his hand and stopped him.

He then personally removed the ceremonial flag, handed it to the guard beside him, and took three steps forward.

"Yue Heng of Giant Spirit City, on the orders of the City Lord, has come to pay homage to the Lord of the Fire Crows."

He bowed respectfully.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, I apologize for the intrusion."

Wang Dafu opened his mouth, but all the words of apology he had prepared along the way stuck in his throat.

Yue Heng merely nodded in greeting to the Profound Nether City Lord and the Flame Venerable before turning his attention back to Chen Fan.

He clearly distinguishes who is in charge and who is subordinate.

Chen Fan glanced sideways.

Wang Dafu immediately leaned closer and lowered his voice. "He asked if Red Rock City had changed owners, so I assumed..."

"I'll listen to the rest next time."

"Yes, yes."

Chen Fan raised his hand to lead the way.

"Fellow Daoist Yue, let's go into town and talk."

The bronze chariot passed through the city gate, but before it had even left the long street, a middle-aged man in a brown brocade robe suddenly blocked its way, holding up an old book with both hands.

"We beg the Giant Spirit Envoy to uphold justice!"

Several more people walked out from the street, and when they saw Yue Heng stop, they all straightened their clothes.

The middle-aged man in the brocade robe knelt down.

"I am the steward of the Red Rock Du Clan. The Blood Oath Pact clearly states that no property in any city may be forcibly seized. The Fire Crow Tribe has just ordered the opening of the granaries, and even wants to seal up the granaries that my Du clan has guarded for many years. This is clearly an attempt to seize private property under the guise of war!"

Yue Heng did not accept the scroll.

"The city granary, or the Du family's private granary?"

The steward paused.

"Throughout history, the Du family has been responsible for managing the business, and there are many accounts involved..."

I ask about belonging.

Several people stopped walking on the street.

Sweat beaded on the steward's forehead as he slowly lowered the book in his hand.

Chen Fan reached out and took the scroll of the covenant, turned two pages, and handed it to Wang Dafu, who arrived shortly after.

"Take them to have their accounts checked. The Du family's own farmland and grain reserves were verified and will be kept as before."

Just as the steward breathed a sigh of relief, Chen Fan added, "Not a single grain stored in the city granary is allowed to be transferred. Whoever signs off on a transfer will have to make up the difference with their own private granary."

"But those old scores..."

If you can't find the account, find the person who handled it.

Chen Fan pointed to the ruins at the end of the street.

"They're still hungry. We'll investigate and distribute the supplies today."

Two soldiers stepped forward and took the key from the steward's waist. The steward turned to look at Yue Heng, his lips moving several times.

Yue Heng stepped back.

"My purpose in coming here is not to determine the ownership of Red Rock City, nor will I handle the grain accounts on behalf of your city."

Several people who were about to step forward immediately retreated.

Chen Fan watched this scene and then looked away.

First, withdraw the ceremonial entourage, then clarify the internal affairs. The more courteous this envoy is, the more troublesome the matters to be discussed will likely become.

Inside the side hall, tea had just been served when Chen Fan dismissed the servants.

The Profound Nether City Lord and the Flame Venerable stood guard outside the palace.

Yue Heng glanced at the closed palace doors, but before he could speak, Chen Fan had already pushed a teacup in front of him.

"We've done our proper duty. Now, what's the matter?"

Yue Heng smiled, took out a dark blue invitation from his sleeve, and placed it on the table with both hands.

The seal is pressed against the mountain-like patterns.

"My city lord wishes to invite you to a face-to-face meeting."

What should we talk about?

"I was only responsible for delivering the message; I truly do not know the details. The city lord instructed that this matter should not be discussed through the communication artifact, nor should it be relayed by others."

Chen Fan did not take it immediately.

"Does he know what happened in Red Rock City?"

"Know."

"You also know I won't return the city?"

Yue Heng paused in his act of serving tea.

"The city lord said that the ability to contain the impending explosion of the earth's veins and save the city's inhabitants from being burned alive demonstrates a level of skill and discretion that makes him worthy of our request."

Chen Fan placed his fingers on the invitation.

"What is your city lord's cultivation level?"

Yue Heng put down his teacup.

"Ninth Tier."

The candlelight inside the hall flickered.

He added, "It wasn't a temporary breakthrough achieved through formations, nor was it a forced boost of aura using secret techniques. The city lord has already condensed his own Law Domain and crossed that threshold."

Chen Fan raised his eyelids.

This is different from the Profound Nether City Lord.

Half-Step Ninth Tier cultivator is still relying on momentum, but a true Ninth Tier can bring an entire world under their own rules. When an avatar encounters such an opponent, it can no longer be assessed using the previous fighting methods.

Where shall we meet?

"Giant Spirit City, Mountain-Viewing Terrace."

"When?"

"We will depart in three days. I will wait outside the city to guide you there."

"You're going to lead troops?"

"Only one fellow Daoist is requested. Accomplices may rest within the city; no soldiers will be stationed at the Mountain-Viewing Terrace."

Chen Fan opened the invitation.

There were no orders, no covenants, no reprisals; only the time, the place, and a signature.

"Good."

Yue Heng stood up and bowed again.

"I await your arrival."

After seeing the envoy off, Chen Fan did not immediately summon anyone.

He took out Beast-Skin Map from his bosom and laid it next to the invitation.

When he received the letter, the mountain pattern on it looked somewhat familiar to him.

Now the two objects were side by side. He wiped away a dark red bloodstain from the corner of the map, revealing the incomplete old print underneath.

Three mountain ridges, one missing peak.

Although the strokes are different, their directions are about 70% similar.

Chen Fan slowly pushed the invitation closer.

In the center of the animal hide, the previously dormant crimson vortex contracted inward by another inch.

This time, he did not release his Divine Thought.

The sound of wheels receding into the distance could be heard outside the palace.

Chen Fan pressed down on the invitation and looked at the mountain pattern.

"I had just pulled out the map when someone showed up at the door..."

His fingertip rested on the seal.

"It might not be that simple!"

Chen Fan put the tattered animal hide map into his pocket, then placed the dark blue invitation with mountain patterns on the table.

The old seals on the fragmented map are almost identical to the mountain patterns of Giant Spirit City.

This sudden invitation was clearly not for any kind of ridiculous Blood Oath Pact.

What that Ninth Tier giant was plotting was most likely the secret of the Guixu at the very bottom of the Red Rock City Treasury.

He knew it was a trap, but he had to go.

The original body severed its Essence-Blood Clone to create an avatar to enter the Great Wilderness, all for the purpose of comprehending the Great Dao of Life and Death in the mortal world. If it were to fear a mere Ninth Tier native, this avatar would lose its meaning.

"Xuanming, Flame Venerable, get in here."

Chen Fan spoke, his voice penetrating the palace doors.

The palace doors opened silently, and two Half-Step Ninth Tier old monsters entered the palace with bowed heads and eyes lowered. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, and they immediately knelt on the ground.

Chen Fan raised his hand and made two virtual taps in the air.

Two strands of gray-white Daoist Life-and-Death Dao Resonance, entered the Sea of Consciousness.

Violent convulsions instantly swept through their bodies. Flame Venerable let out a low groan, his face deathly pale, while the Profound Nether City Lord was drenched in cold sweat and dared not utter a sound.

"The Slave Mark has been recast."

Chen Fan looked down at them, his eyes calm and cold.

"While I am away from the city, Wang Dafu will oversee all city affairs. You two are responsible for guarding the inner city's great formation. If you harbor even the slightest disloyalty, the death energy within your Sea of Consciousness will ignite your Divine Souls and burn you to ashes."

"We obey your command! We would never dare to have any disloyal thoughts!"

The two men lay prostrate on the ground, trembling.