Concession

As the Four Great Martial Arts Schools united, the atmosphere in Laiyang City grew increasingly tense.

The day after the Four Great Martial Arts Schools announced their alliance, the four masters, along with their elites, arrived at the City Lord's Mansion.

Seeing the menacing crowd, Steward Qian realized something was wrong. He quickly returned to the secret chamber in the backyard to summon the City Lord, who was in seclusion consolidating his realm.

Inside the main hall, the masters were waiting. They knew that if a satisfactory outcome wasn't reached today, Laiyang City would run with blood!

As the masters grew impatient, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in the center of the hall.

Seeing the figure, who, though aged, still stood with a straight back, everyone present was startled.

"Hahaha, it's too kind of you all to visit my humble abode!" City Lord Huang Ling said cheerfully, as if entertaining old friends.

Chang Yuchun, the master of the Kaishan Martial Arts School, immediately stood up and cupped his hands in greeting. "We apologize for the sudden intrusion, City Lord! We beg for your understanding!"

Chang Yuchun's opening words made everyone else's faces turn grim. This guy was clearly treating them as Huang Ling's subordinates!

Showing weakness from the start undoubtedly made the subsequent negotiations more difficult.

But there was no choice; the arrow was already on the string and had to be loosed.

Zhang Yunlong and the others cast malicious glances at Chang Yuchun and the high-ranking members of the Kaishan Martial Arts School, then said without politeness:

"City Lord, we are here today. Bring out whatever tricks you have. No one here is a fool; it's time to bring things out into the open!"

Zhao Yingxiong, the hot-tempered master of the Thunderclap Martial Arts School, was even more direct.

"Show us your skills. Let's fight it out openly and honestly. If you lose, you can do as you please!"

"Exactly. The prosperity of Laiyang City depends on us. Since the City Lord doesn't cherish it, then we have nothing more to say!"

Zhang Longyun echoed.

Only Chang Yuchun and his Kaishan Martial Arts School stood silently in a corner, like frightened turtles.

In Chang Yuchun's eyes, remaining neutral might allow him to play both sides and find a sliver of hope.

However, he was unaware that both the City Lord's Mansion and the other martial arts schools held his behavior in utter contempt. If they had the chance in the future, they would eliminate the Kaishan Martial Arts School at the first opportunity.

"Heh, since that's the case, then this City Lord will get straight to the point!" Huang Ling knew it was time for a showdown. If they couldn't agree, a fight would ensue; if they could, then all would be well!

"I am indeed aware of what has been happening these past few days, and my goal is singular – from now on, there will only be one voice in Laiyang City!"

"Who agrees? Who opposes!"

Huang Ling unleashed the aura of an Innate expert and scanned the room. The immense pressure made everyone present feel as if they were carrying a massive boulder!

Cold sweat poured down, and some people involuntarily took a few steps back. Almost no one could meet Huang Ling's gaze directly.

Zhang Longyun and the other masters' veins bulged as they fully activated the Qi and Blood within their bodies, stubbornly resisting Huang Ling's pressure.

Zhang Longyun spoke first: "City Lord, aren't you being a bit too overbearing? To claim all of Laiyang City with a single statement, aren't you afraid of the wind snatching your tongue!"

"Exactly, exactly! Although the City Lord has broken through to the Innate realm, I've also heard that Innate experts can be surrounded and killed by Qi and Blood martial artists. In that case, Innate experts aren't invincible!"

"That's right. Combined, our Four Great Martial Arts Schools have nearly a hundred Viscera Tempering martial artists. We don't believe the City Lord can truly defeat us all!"

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With Zhang Longyun leading the way, the others also broke free from Huang Ling's pressure.

Seeing the situation, Huang Ling's expression turned somewhat grim. Although he didn't want to admit it, some of their words were indeed true.

With his current strength, he couldn't defeat all the experts present. After all, he was only the weakest Innate. Once his Innate True Qi was depleted, he would be no different from an ordinary Viscera Tempering martial artist!

If he were to forcefully attack, it might indeed lead to a mutual destruction!

Thinking this, Huang Ling frowned deeply. However, he suddenly noticed Chang Yuchun and his group, who had been the quietest from beginning to end, and his eyes lit up slightly.

Huang Ling glanced at the agitated crowd and, feigning helplessness, promised them he would abandon the idea of monopolizing Laiyang City.

However, the martial arts schools would have to pay thirty percent of their income from now on!

This way, the City Lord's Mansion's foundation would grow stronger, while the Four Great Martial Arts Schools' foundations would weaken. Unless the Four Great Martial Arts Schools could also produce an Innate martial artist, the situation might change.

Although resigned, Zhang Longyun and the others agreed to this demand. Circumstances were more powerful than people; they couldn't truly fight the City Lord's Mansion to the death!

Moreover, they still held hope. After all, several of them were at the peak of Viscera Tempering and practiced first-rate cultivation methods. If they had the opportunity, they might still break through to the Innate realm.

As martial artists, self-confidence and self-reliance were the most basic qualities.

After reaching a reconciliation, order in Laiyang City quickly returned to normal, as if the previous martial artist clashes were just an illusion.

The major powers in the city also resumed their normal operations. However, gradually, some people began to notice that the Kaishan Martial Arts School was becoming increasingly close to the City Lord's Mansion!

But this was all in the future.

At least for now, everything was still in its nascent stages.

A week after Laiyang City regained its peace, Shen Fan stood alone under a tree, practicing the Startling Swan Art.

After another week of arduous training, during which Shen Fan did not get distracted by other cultivation methods, his Startling Swan Art progressed very rapidly.

He had gone from minor accomplishment to nearly touching the threshold of great accomplishment. Once he broke through, he would become the youngest Blood Condensation martial artist in Laiyang City!

"Soon, if not tomorrow, then the day after. Once I break through, I'll finally have the power to protect myself!"

Shen Fan breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Although peace had returned to the city, he knew that such peace wouldn't last long.

Wolves and wolves can coexist peacefully, but wolves and sheep never can. This is their nature, unchangeable.

After Zhang Longyun returned, he immediately entered secluded cultivation, seemingly determined to not stop until he broke through to the Innate realm.

The impact of the Martial Arts School's head was evident, and a cultivation craze quickly swept through the Martial Arts School. However, problems soon followed.

Bowing to the City Lord's Mansion meant handing over thirty percent of their income. This would also mean reducing the Martial Arts School's internal expenses by thirty percent just to maintain basic operations!

As a result, the disciples' treatment plummeted. Previously, each disciple could easily receive a few taels of silver every month and had Medicinal Cuisine to nourish them daily. But with the Martial Arts School's income decreasing...

The Medicinal Cuisine was gone, and the basic monthly allowance was also gone. If disciples wanted to purchase Cultivation Methods or improve their cultivation speed, they would have to earn money themselves!

This was a huge blow to many, but Shen Fan was not among them. He still had several hundred taels in savings.

As for Medicinal Cuisine, to be honest, since he broke through to Bone Forging, its effect on him had become negligible.

Only more powerful Elixirs could improve his cultivation speed!