Landing as a Guest

"Jinyin Yuanbao, come here," Zhou Hao called softly.

Zhou Yuanbao and Mu Jinyin immediately knew what to do. Zhou Yuanbao shrank down and coiled around Zhou Hao's wrist as an ornament, while Mu Jinyin turned into a little chick and used Zhou Hao's hair as a nest.

The two of them were a little too eye-catching. Shrinking down would be better. When he did not know what was outside, keeping a low profile could never be wrong.

Once Zhou Hao had everything ready, he went to the coffin, clenched his left hand into a fist, and pressed the Spirit-Womb Ring on his ring finger into the groove.

When the Spirit-Womb Ring fit the groove perfectly, the patterns on the coffin lit up one by one, while the formation markings of the Teleportation Array on the ceiling lit up in sync.

Once every formation marking of the Teleportation Array had lit up, a beam of light shot out and landed on Zhou Hao.

The next moment, with a whoosh, Zhou Hao's figure vanished completely from the secret chamber.

After Zhou Hao disappeared, everything in the secret chamber fell silent again. The Teleportation Array on the ceiling vanished as well, and the chamber returned to being the same ordinary secret chamber as before.

Shilpo Mountain Stronghold

At the center of the stronghold stood a circular arena built of bluestone slabs. It appeared to be around twelve meters in diameter, an enormous arena, though not particularly large for cultivators like them.

Two people stood on the arena, three meters apart and facing each other from afar, while cries and shouts rose and fell around them.

It went something like this:

"Second Boss, go! Beat this coward to death!"

"Third Boss, go! Defeat the Second Boss and seize the right to call the shots!"

The atmosphere was incredibly heated. It felt as though the supporters on both sides would start fighting at the slightest disagreement. The area beneath the stage was chaotic, while the stage itself presented a harmonious scene. Well... not all that harmonious.

"Xu Shan, stirring up a stronghold war right now will benefit no one," Third Boss Ma Hongyun said gravely.

Second Boss Xu Shan was a burly man with a booming voice. "Hmph, I don't care. They must give us an explanation for Big Brother's death."

Ma Hongyun sighed. "This cannot be rushed. We need to take a long-term view. Do you think I don't want to avenge Big Brother?"

"You simply don't." Xu Shan snorted coldly, planted his feet in a horse stance, and shouted, "Words are useless. By the rules, the winner calls the shots."

"Calm down." Ma Hongyun tried to persuade him earnestly.

But Xu Shan clearly had no intention of listening to him ramble any further. He kicked off the ground, his body shooting forward like a cannonball.

Ma Hongyun was about to meet him in battle when a faint spatial ripple suddenly appeared in the air.

With a buzz.

Zhou Hao abruptly appeared in midair and drifted lightly down between Xu Shan and Ma Hongyun. Mu Jinyin, perched on his head, half-opened his eyes and surveyed the surroundings. Seeing no dangerous figures, he ignored them, closed his eyes, and continued sleeping.

The sudden turn of events forced Xu Shan to brake sharply and stop his charge. He immediately roared at Zhou Hao, "Who the hell are you? Get lost!"

Idiot. Ma Hongyun cursed inwardly.

Just from Zhou Hao appearing out of thin air, he knew this man was not someone they could afford to provoke. Then he looked at Zhou Hao's clothes. Good heavens, with that bearing, it was not merely that he could not be provoked—he absolutely must not be provoked!

Only a big fool like Xu Shan would shout at someone like that.

Following the source of the voice, Zhou Hao looked toward Xu Shan. After glancing around, he realized, "Oh, you're having an arena match! Then carry on. I'm just passing through."

He was about to turn and leave when his steps suddenly stopped. Turning back to Xu Shan, he said, "Adults shouldn't go around shouting at people the moment they see them. It's rude."

"Then I'll show you what manners are." Xu Shan knocked his fists together, then charged at Zhou Hao like a wild bull.

Zhou Hao raised an eyebrow slightly. He had not expected to run into someone looking for a fight the moment he came out.

But to be honest, he was a little eager to try. After cultivating for so long, aside from one battle in an illusionary realm, he had never fought in actual combat.

This battle had come at just the right time, stirring his excitement.

Zhou Hao gathered his thoughts, because Xu Shan had already reached him. But Xu Shan was merely in the Mystic Body Realm, and the gap between his strength and Zhou Hao's was far too great.

As a result, Xu Shan's movements looked especially slow in Zhou Hao's eyes.

Zhou Hao reached out, grabbed him, and swung clockwise, throwing Xu Shan off the arena and slamming him viciously into the ground.

Clap, clap.

Zhou Hao dusted off his hands. It had been even easier than he had imagined.

Ma Hongyun stood nearby, dumbfounded. This had to be at least the Spirit Profound Realm!

A shiver ran through him, and he hurried forward, calling respectfully and fawningly, "My lord."

A Young Master like this was obviously either wealthy or noble. If he could build a good relationship with him, soaring to the heavens would no longer be a dream.

Zhou Hao glanced at him, thought for a moment, then asked, "This place is?"

Seeing so many people here, he figured they could quickly help him understand this world.

"Shilpo Mountain Stronghold," Ma Hongyun replied with a smile.

His tone was full of flattery.

A stronghold?

Zhou Hao raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you people do?"

"Uh..." A trace of cold sweat seeped from Ma Hongyun's forehead as he gave a dry laugh. "We... we... we collect tolls."

"Robbery?" Zhou Hao exposed him mercilessly.

The constipated expression on Ma Hongyun's face told him they had not been doing anything good.

Ma Hongyun hurriedly explained, "No, we only collect a little protection fee to escort travelers or merchant caravans! Hehe, really."

Afraid that Zhou Hao would not believe him, he even emphasized it at the end.

Zhou Hao fell into thought.

Ma Hongyun waited anxiously at Zhou Hao's side. Seeing Zhou Hao remain silent, his heart nearly leaped into his throat.

After a while, Zhou Hao finally spoke. "Can I stay here for a few days?"

He planned to learn about this world within the stronghold. Having just arrived, understanding it was the most important thing.

Ma Hongyun froze for a moment at his words, then immediately nodded. "Of course, of course you can. You are most welcome. I'll have someone arrange accommodations for you right away."

He immediately found a disciple of the stronghold and had him prepare the best lodging for Zhou Hao.

Zhou Hao looked around and discovered that none of the people here had particularly high cultivation. The strongest were only in the Mystic Body Realm, like Xu Shan and Ma Hongyun.

From the looks of it, the overall cultivation level in the surrounding area should not be high. Otherwise, two Mystic Body Realm cultivators could not possibly be stationed in a stronghold.

At last, he fixed his gaze on Xu Shan and asked, "Still want to fight? I can accompany you."

Xu Shan shook his head and gritted his teeth. "No."

Though he was unconvinced, the gap in strength was too great. Fighting Zhou Hao would be no different from asking for a one-sided beating. He was a little slow-witted, but he was not stupid.

Zhou Hao secretly found it a pity. He had missed another chance to fight. He had been rather fired up just now.

Afterward, under Ma Hongyun's guidance, he arrived at the room where he would be staying.

This was the best room in Shilpo Mountain Stronghold. It had everything one could need, and had originally been reserved for receiving distinguished guests.

Now, Zhou Hao was that distinguished guest.

"If you need anything, my lord, feel free to give your orders. I'll take my leave first." Ma Hongyun chuckled ingratiatingly.

Zhou Hao nodded slightly and waved his hand. "If you have things to do, go handle them. Don't mind me."

He was only borrowing a place to stay.

"Understood." Ma Hongyun withdrew respectfully, then went straight to find Xu Shan.

After all, Zhou Hao, whose strength was unfathomable, had suddenly descended upon them. Naturally, they had to discuss how to deal with it together.