Ning Fengzhi was still breathing hard. Looking at the thousand-year-old Thunder Tyrannosaurus being used as a "power bank," he felt as though the worldview he'd held for decades had just been ground into the dirt.
The gap between killing the goose that laid the golden eggs and sustainable development was so vast that even the richest man on the continent felt despair.
"I understand... I finally understand!" An unprecedented light blazed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes. He bowed deeply to Qin Feng, his attitude utterly reverent. "Boss Qin! No... Master! From today onward, I, Ning Fengzhi, will be your most loyal mine manager! Wherever you point, I'll dig!"
Qin Feng didn't comment on the sudden title. He merely nodded.
Just then, the communicator at Ning Fengzhi's waist—the one Qin Feng had "gifted" him—suddenly crackled to life with the Guardian's cold, mechanical voice.
"Reporting, Boss. A message has come in from the city gate."
"Salas, the Spirit Hall's Platinum Bishop, has arrived outside Nuoding City with the other two members of the Golden Generation."
"Their convoy attempted to force its way into the city."
"Our city gate guards stopped them."
As the voice fell silent, the air on the fifth underground level seemed to freeze.
Ning Fengzhi's expression changed. Salas, the Platinum Bishop! He was the Spirit Hall's highest-ranking official in the Heaven Dou Empire, a man of immense power. Even Emperor Xue Ye had to show him considerable deference!
And he'd been stopped outside Nuoding City?
Ning Fengzhi instinctively looked toward Qin Feng, only to find not the slightest hint of surprise on the young man's face. He looked as if he'd just heard some trivial piece of news.
"Understood." Qin Feng replied to the air, then turned to Ning Fengzhi. "Mine manager, you've got a lot of work to do. Get going now. In three days, I want to see the first batch of Vibranium ore appear on the conveyor belt here."
Ning Fengzhi's heart tightened. He didn't dare ask anything else. After bowing respectfully, he hurried into the elevator with Sword and Bone Douluo and Ning Rongrong, who was still completely dazed.
All he wanted now was to finish the job as quickly as possible. He was terrified that, in his new "Master's" eyes, he might be worth less than the lizard currently generating electricity.
Nuoding City, East Gate.
The old, ramshackle wooden city gate had long since been torn down and replaced by a massive, fifteen-meter-high gate made of thick alloy. On either side stood newly built watchtowers, their dark cannon barrels like the mouths of lurking beasts, overlooking the only road into the city.
In front of the gate, a luxurious convoy pulled by eight magnificent Dragon-Patterned Horses had been forcibly stopped.
Two Tyrant Guards stood in the convoy's path, each over two meters tall and encased in silver-gray powered exoskeleton armor. They were as immovable as iron towers.
The strangely shaped black tube-like weapons in their hands radiated menace.
"Outrageous! Do you know whose convoy this is?!"
A Spirit Hall knight wearing standard-issue armor and possessing Soul Power above level sixty rode forward and shouted furiously. He pointed the spear in his hand at the guards' helmets. "You dare stop the carriage of Lord Salas, the Platinum Bishop? Do you want to die?!"
The Soul Emperor's pressure burst forth. Any ordinary person would have fallen to their knees and begged for mercy.
Yet the two guards' Power Armor merely flashed with a barely visible blue light, absorbing the pressure completely.
The red visor on one guard's helmet flickered. Its cold, synthesized voice rang out through an external loudspeaker, carrying clearly across the entire convoy.
"Warning: Under Article One of the Nuoding City Security Regulations, no organization or individual may release Soul Power pressure within the city without authorization."
"First violation: verbal warning. Further violations will result in enforcement measures."
The Soul Emperor knight froze on the spot.
The dozens of Spirit Hall knights behind him exchanged bewildered looks.
The Nuoding City Security Regulations? What the hell was that?
Since when did Nuoding City have laws like these? And that tone—this was no warning. It was a threat!
"A bunch of tin cans! You don't know when to quit!"
Humiliated in front of everyone, the Soul Emperor knight flew into a rage. His Soul Rings lit up, his Martial Soul, the Explosive Fire Lion, possessed him, and flames blazed along his spear. He was about to attack.
"Stop!"
A commanding voice rang out from the most luxurious carriage in the center of the convoy.
A white-gloved hand lifted the curtain. A slightly plump old man with an arrogant expression and a white robe edged in gold slowly stepped down.
It was Salas.
Behind him were a young man and a young woman, one handsome, the other coldly beautiful. They were Xie Yue and Yan, the remaining members of the Golden Generation. On the Pope's orders, they had come to search for the missing Hu Liena.
"They're just gatekeepers. There's no need to lose your temper over them."
Salas's gaze swept over the two guards, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
Though he was curious about their strange armor, he didn't believe such things could make a difference in the face of absolute power.
He straightened his robe, stepped forward, and announced as though it were only natural:
"Salas, Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall."
"I'm here on the Pope's orders to conduct business in Nuoding City."
"Open the gate."
The simple words carried unquestionable authority.
In his mind, once he gave his name, they would fall to their knees in terror and open the gate to welcome him.
But what happened next was beyond anything he'd expected.
The guard didn't kneel. Instead, it took a step forward. A panel on its arm slid open, revealing a small scanning device. A red beam swept over Salas from head to toe.
"Beep—"
"Identity information unrecognized. No record found in database."
The synthesized voice rang out again, colder than before.
"Please present your identification documents. If you do not have valid credentials, proceed to the 'Temporary Resident Registration Office' west of the city gate to complete the entry process."
The whole world seemed to fall silent.
The arrogance on Salas's face froze in place.
The muscles in Xie Yue and Yan's faces twitched.
The dozens of Spirit Hall knights behind them stared wide-eyed, wondering if they'd heard wrong.
Identification?
Entry procedures?
Was the dignified Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall supposed to apply for a temporary residence permit alongside a bunch of commoners?
"You... what did you say?" Salas asked, each word measured, the anger in his voice barely contained.
"Please present your identification documents," the guard repeated without emotion. At the same time, it raised the barrel of the black tube-like weapon in its hand slightly, aiming it at Salas's chest.
"Outrageous!"
"You're asking for death!"
Xie Yue and Yan shouted at the same time, their Soul Power erupting as they charged forward.
Boom! Boom!
The watchtowers on either side of the gate turned in unison, their massive cannons locking onto the two of them. A threat of death, purer and colder than the killing intent of a Titled Douluo, instantly engulfed them.
It was as if someone had thrown a bucket of ice water over them. They stopped dead in their tracks, cold sweat soaking their backs.
Salas's expression had darkened until it seemed ready to drip water.
He glared at the metal guard daring to point a weapon at him and forced the words through clenched teeth. "This face of mine is the best identification the entire Heaven Dou Empire could ask for!"
"Identity recognition failed," the guard replied, simply and decisively. "Warning: Target displays signs of agitation and abnormal Soul Power fluctuations. Step back immediately, or you will be classified as attempting a violent breach and eliminated."
Eliminated!
Salas trembled with rage. He'd spent decades traversing the continent. Never had he endured such humiliation!
Just as he was about to lose control of his anger and order an attack—
"Bzzzt—"
An inconspicuous loudspeaker on the city wall suddenly crackled with static.
Then Qin Feng's voice, lazy and teasing, rang out across both sides of the gate.
"Bishop Salas, is it? Why are you so worked up?"
"You've come all this way. It must've been a long journey."
"But since you're on my turf, you follow my rules."
Qin Feng paused.
"Go get your permit at the office next door. Otherwise, my surveillance system will classify you as an illegal immigrant."
Before you continue