Stallion

Deep Cold Cavern, one thousand meters underground.

Biting cold wind, carrying black baleful energy, howled past. Tang Ping kept his eyes tightly shut, his muscles so tense that they trembled faintly. The cold sweat beading at his temples froze into a thin layer of frost as soon as it appeared.

But he dared not relax his Spiritual Telekinesis for even a moment. He controlled twenty-four Sky-Splitting Swords as they darted nimbly through the cavern. As their blades flashed, they shaved the jagged rock walls smooth. In one corner, freshly cut blocks of stone were piled up, gradually forming a crude stone chamber.

It was a temporary home he had built especially for himself and Luo Xiaoyu.

The last time the two of them had cultivated together in the cavern until they were completely exhausted, they had accidentally rolled down a steep slope. They had nearly been "flayed alive" by the cavern's baleful energy and sharp rocks. Now that they had this stone chamber, at least they had somewhere to shelter from the wind and rain and stay out of danger.

"Good thing the miners can only work up to a hundred meters underground." Tang Ping secretly congratulated himself. Now he was cultivating a thousand meters below the surface, far from other people, and no one had disturbed him so far. It was the perfect place to focus on improving his strength.

The price of that progress was simply too high. The baleful energy was constantly eroding his body, and all kinds of illusory trials kept appearing in his sea of consciousness.

The ordinary illusions were manageable, but whenever he encountered the "beauty trial," Tang Ping couldn't help getting distracted and always ended up failing.

"Haah!" Tang Ping opened his eyes and sighed helplessly. With a thought, he sent all twenty-four flying swords whizzing back into the Sword Box. Looking at the howling cold wind outside the cavern, he consoled himself, "What can I say? I'm just a man with a lot of love to give. It's not my fault."

Just then, his Personal Terminal suddenly beeped. A message had arrived from Lost City's management.

"Trash Without a Dick": "City Lord, the guild suddenly sent someone named Luo Kedi over. He says he's going to be the vice city lord. Do you want to come meet him?"

"Something about that username just doesn't seem right." Tang Ping's mouth twitched. He replied, "Change your username when you get a chance!"

"Of course, my Lord City Lord!" came the instant reply.

Ten minutes later, at the gates of Lost City.

Tang Ping stood dressed in black, his hands clasped behind his back. Behind him stood a thousand NPC guards, ready for battle: one hundred at the peak of Star Rank and nine hundred at the peak of Planetary Level. Every one of them wore Black Iron Armor and carried the bloodthirsty aura of veterans who had seen countless battles. It was obvious they had cost a fortune to hire.

He frowned, baffled. Lost City was remote and impoverished. Apart from Deep Cold Cavern and a mine, there was nothing of value there.

The guild had spent a fortune building the city and hiring guards back then. Now the mine's income only covered the city's operating expenses and the guards' wages. Why would they suddenly send a direct descendant of the Luo Family to be vice city lord?

Had they discovered a treasure in Deep Cold Cavern? Or was this an internal family power struggle, turning even a godforsaken place like this into a "battleground"?

The more Tang Ping thought about it, the more likely the latter seemed.

The direct descendants of major families might claim to "fight without breaking things," but when it came to collateral relatives or outsiders, they often showed no mercy. He might have reached Star Rank, but in front of a behemoth like the Luo Family, he was still insignificant. If he got dragged into their struggle, he might not even know how he died.

"If it comes to it, I'll resign." Tang Ping made up his mind.

With his current resources and rate of cultivation, reaching Universe Level was only a matter of time. By then, as a Universe Level powerhouse with a high-level domain and the potential to become a Domain Lord, he would have a say in the Luo Family. There was no need to take risks now.

As he was thinking, a commotion rose in the distance, mixed with the coquettish voices of women.

"Young master, slow down! Sand's getting in my eyes!"

"My lord, wait for me! My skirt got caught on the camel!"

"Honey, blow on it for me! I got sand in there. This place is so filthy!"

"My husband, do we have any water left? I'm dying of thirst..."

"Come here. I'll wet it for you."

Tang Ping stared at the distance, dumbfounded.

A caravan was slowly approaching from the edge of the desert. Everyone rode identical white camels. At the front was a young master in ancient-style white robes, fanning himself with a folding fan and looking like a complete dandy.

Behind him followed dozens of women. Some were human, some belonged to the Cat-Ear Race, and some to the Winged Human Race. Slender and curvy, their chatter and laughter made the group feel like a "mobile harem."

"Luo Kedi?" Tang Ping suddenly remembered who he was.

The Luo Family's number-one womanizer. He was only in his thirties and had already married over a hundred wives and fathered hundreds of children. He was hailed as the "family allowance scrounger of the century." Supposedly, he spent half his salary on wives and children and pinched pennies to save the other half, even haggling with shopkeepers over a bottle of liquor.

Before Tang Ping could react, the white-robed young master spotted him, snapped his fan shut, and instantly contorted his face into a look of abject misery. He charged toward him, wailing.

"Waaah! Brother Tang Ping! We're in the same boat now! This place is so remote. You're strong, so you've got to look out for me!"

Tang Ping understood. Luo Kedi had lost in the family power struggle and been exiled here. Tang Ping had spent all that time worrying for nothing.

The two hit it off immediately. They found a teahouse and sat down, and the more they talked, the better they got along.

They went from the guild management's habit of deceiving their superiors and hiding the truth, to the direct descendants' power struggles, to complaining that Old Ancestor Luo Hongguo had no eye for talent and hadn't recognized their "once-in-a-generation genius." They kept ranting without end.

After talking for a while, Luo Kedi suddenly changed the subject. "By the way, Brother Tang Ping, how much do you make a month?"

Tang Ping waved a hand casually. "Just a million Silver Blue Coins." After reaching Star Rank, his monthly salary had gone up tenfold. The guild benefits were pretty good, but converted into Black Dragon Coins, it only came to a thousand—not even enough to cover one of his meals. He didn't care about it at all.

To his surprise, Luo Kedi slapped the table and shot to his feet, eyes wide. "What? A million? I only get nine hundred thousand! What gives? We're both Star Rank!"

He pulled out his Personal Terminal right there and contacted the guild management to demand an explanation. He argued with them for half an hour, spraying spittle everywhere, then cheerfully told Tang Ping, "Got it sorted! Now we both make a million!"

Tang Ping looked at his triumphant expression, speechless. Was it really worth making such a fuss over that little bit of money?

Luo Kedi seemed to notice his lack of interest and advised him earnestly, "Brother, don't underestimate those hundred thousand Silver Blue Coins a month! You save it bit by bit, and you have to spend it wisely!

"Do you know what you can get for that money outside Earth? You can marry two young alien women—one gentle and virtuous, the other skilled in song and dance. Each has her own charms!"

He changed his tune, his face full of disdain. "As for the girls on Earth, forget it! Who knows how many men they've had inside them, yet they still dare demand hundreds of thousands in bride price. They think we're suckers!

"Brother, we need to open our eyes to the world!"

Then he suddenly slapped his thigh. "Oh, right! I forgot to introduce you to my younger sisters! Come on, come over and introduce yourselves to Brother Tang Ping!"

Dozens of women immediately gathered around, gazing at Tang Ping expectantly. Luo Kedi scratched his head and smiled awkwardly. "There are too many of them. I can't remember all their names, so bear with me."

Looking at the scene before him, Tang Ping sighed helplessly. He could only take out his Personal Terminal and transfer a thousand Silver Blue Coins to each woman as a meeting gift.

After receiving their gifts, Luo Kedi grew even happier. He patted Tang Ping on the shoulder and said, "Brother Tang Ping, I see you've only got Luo Xiaoyu by your side. That's too lonely! I'll introduce you to a few good ones sometime. I guarantee they'll be gentle and obedient!"

Tang Ping: "..."

He looked at the noisy crowd outside the teahouse, then thought of Lost City as it had been before, quiet and desolate. He suddenly had a feeling that this place would never be peaceful again.

How interesting.