You're Deceiving Me?
Red Fox Hotel, Rooms 1201 and 1203
Lu Zheng hung up the phone and informed his master that the matter had been successful. His master was overjoyed.
He licked his lips excitedly. What if his master really did become a [Golden Councilor]?
Expensive, incredibly expensive!
Lu Zheng looked towards the Red Fox Hotel in the distance. What he needed to do now was to go there, kill the person, and then go home.
'Thud!'
A soft knock suddenly reached my ears.
The sound seemed to vibrate in the air beside his ears, yet it struck straight to his heart. Lu Zheng was startled, feeling a sense of disorientation and deafness.
Looking around again, they couldn't find the source of the sound.
"Strange," he murmured.
Council Building.
"It's unclear how long this distortion, stemming from a power struggle, will last."
Hu Zhongli said softly:
"Before that, I will teach you how to be a good member of parliament."
Zhou Muneo raised an eyebrow:
"What does this have to do with me? Isn't it going to happen soon that my position will be taken away?"
"Highly probable, but not necessarily."
Hu Zhongli said succinctly:
"If you do well enough, you can naturally continue to sit in your seat as a member of parliament."
Zhou Muneo was even more surprised:
"Don't you want to Golden Councilor again?"
"I really haven't thought about it much." Hu Zhongli lowered his head and said calmly, "I need to focus all my efforts on breaking through to the [Innate Great Realm], so I need to stay away from trivial matters."
"Besides, there's nothing wrong with staying behind the scenes. If you encounter any trouble, I can help you out."
He hadn't finished speaking.
'Thud!!'
A contradictory, complex, and seemingly heavy crisp sound rang in my ears, yet it wasn't just in my ears.
Furthermore, it was raised at the 'spiritual place'.
A look of surprise and doubt appeared on Hu Zhongli's face:
"A Grand Innate Realm expert? Which Grand Innate Realm expert has arrived in the Waiting Area? Why weren't we notified?"
He strode to the window, his brow furrowed. An Innate Great Realm was practically a high-ranking official in the Golden Province.
Some Golden Councilor, several deputy directors of the Investigation Bureau, and military executives
"Could it be a cult?"
Hu Zhongli squinted, but didn't seem particularly worried. He just frowned, seemingly deep in thought.
Red Fox Hotel.
1205.
Cash on delivery.
"Hmm, no problem." The seller looked at the five real remnant souls floating and drifting in the Soul Container, a satisfied look on his face.
He handed forward a plaque wrapped in black cloth, his smile radiant:
"Goodbye, payment settled!"
The seller stepped away, stood in front of the elevator, and gently pressed the button.
The instant he stepped into the elevator.
"Wait."
The voice of a frail young boy came from behind.
Zhang Fusheng had already lifted the black cloth and was examining the plaque with the inscription "[Miro Heavenly Palace]" when his expression darkened.
The seller did not answer, but simply pressed the 'close door' button.
The elevator doors slowly closed, but suddenly stopped just before they were completely sealed.
There was clearly nothing obstructing the view.
But the elevator doors just wouldn't close.
The seller's pupils contracted:
"The money and goods have been settled. What, do you still want to back out?"
While scolding him, he frantically pressed the close button, but the door not only failed to close, but was instead forcibly opened by an unseen and intangible force!
Zhang Fusheng carried the plaque and walked over step by step.
Standing outside the elevator doors.
He sized up the old man selling plaques and said coldly:
"The product doesn't match the description."
Zhang Fusheng opened his phone and clicked on the seller's picture. The background of the picture was blurry, and the plaque of the Miro Heavenly Palace looked ordinary, yet it exuded an indescribable sense of solemnity.
And this piece in my hand?
It lost that sense of 'solemnity'.
It's clearly a fake.
The seller calmly began:
"What's wrong? The lettering and patterns are exactly the same, down to the last detail, young man."
His voice suddenly became sharp:
"If you're trying to find an excuse to take the goods without paying, isn't that a bit too crude? Should we go find the security guards to settle this? If you ask me, you..."
Five fingers, like golden hooks, tapped onto the old man's head.
Where is the genuine product?
"You!" The old man was furious and wanted to fight, but he quickly backed down.
With a burst of strength, the five fingers pierced the skin and embedded themselves into the skull!
As long as the young man continues to exert himself.
His head would be gone.
Cold sweat streamed down his face.
The old man met the boy's calm gaze, his breathing quickening slightly, now absolutely certain—
This guy actually dares to kill someone in the Waiting Area!!
Madman!
Madman!!
A forced smile appeared on the old man's face, as blood trickled down around his head.
"This gentleman."
"Think it through before you answer me," Zhang Fusheng said calmly. "Otherwise, you'll die."
Chen Yuque and Lin Dongxi, who had just woken up from his coma, followed them out. The door to room 1201 was also opened.
Liu Cuihua glanced curiously at the two girls, then looked at the boy named Zhang Fusheng with some worry. Just as she was about to say something,
The old housekeeper took her hand and gently shook his head.
Meanwhile, the elevator.
The old man answered stiffly:
"Someone asked me to sell this plaque. We did sell more than a dozen of them, each for 98 pseudo-souls."
"Where are those people?" Zhang Fusheng asked indifferently.
"Louis Street, Lane 16." The old man dared not lie for a second.
Zhang Fusheng raised an eyebrow. What kind of weird name is that?
He heard the old butler say softly:
"Louis Street is the red-light district within the Waiting Area, and it's relatively chaotic, but only relatively speaking—murder is not allowed in the Waiting Area."
After a pause, the old butler continued:
"As for Lane 16, it's a notorious 'Decapitation Alley' on Louis Street, inhabited by people who make a living through fraud, honey traps, and the like."
"Because of the rule that killing is not allowed in the Waiting Area, those people act with almost no scruples. Every year, quite a few people who come to the Waiting Area for the first time are scammed until they are left with nothing but their underwear."
Zhang Fusheng seemed lost in thought:
"Then why is it called Decapitation Alley?"
"This?" the old butler replied, "A few years ago, those people set a trap and fooled a grandmaster."
"In a fit of rage, the grandmaster snapped the heads off everyone in the alley, and that was the beginning of it."
Zhang Fusheng understood.
He released his grip, and the old man collapsed to the ground, blood still flowing from the five bloody holes in his skull.
The old steward then said:
"Mr. Zhang, you are unfamiliar with the Waiting Area. If you are going to Decapitation Alley, I can show you the way."
"Perfect timing. Airport No. 3, which goes to Chongyang City, is right next to Louis Street. Our flight is tonight anyway."
Zhang Fusheng nodded happily, and with a smile, picked up the trembling old man:
"Let's go for a walk."
"After we've finished shopping, we can head straight to the airport tonight."
If it's something else, then forget it.
However, the plaque of the Miro Heavenly Palace.
Even the renowned Hall of Miraculous Mist is merely one of the many palaces and pavilions within the Miro Heavenly Palace.
Regardless, Zhang Fusheng was determined to find out something.
This could very well be an [Supreme Treasure] that can anchor itself to Different Dimension!
After quickly tidying up and checking out of the hotel, the group left and headed towards the infamous red-light district.
"Made another fortune today."
Chang Youwei a smile:
"I've run into a sucker. He'll pay for the true souls. Five true souls, after changing hands on the Black Market, that's at least 150 remnant souls!"
Beside him, the Old Six chuckled and said:
"These fools are so easy to fool. If we collect a few more souls and exchange them for Cultivation Resources, it'll be time for us to retire."
The girl in the vest rolled her eyes, chewed her bubble gum, and mumbled:
"I think it's about time to stop. If we run into a shrewd buyer who notices something's wrong and comes knocking on our door, we'll be in big trouble."
"Cut."
Chang Youwei disdainfully said:
"So what? Are you going to kill someone in the Waiting Area? The Council Building is just a short distance away; even cults wouldn't dare cause trouble in the Waiting Area!"
The girl kicked away the empty soda can at her feet, watching it roll and bounce until it finally landed in the wet corner of the wall.
She shook her head and said:
"Don't forget why this alley is called Decapitation Alley."
Chang Youwei and Old Six both fell silent for a moment. The former glared at the girl, anger rising on his youthful face.
"Stop jinxing me!"
"We only make small amounts of money; we're not like those people in the back alleys who play the real big games."
As he spoke, the young man, who looked quite young, turned around and looked into the depths of the alley.
Leaning against the wall, hat pulled low, and constantly flicking silver coins, is a 'magician'; sitting on the wet ground, is a 'gambler' simultaneously playing with six or seven decks of cards.
There was also a 'Juggler Master' leading a small monkey.
Those three were not only highly skilled, with their schemes meticulously planned and executed, but they were also formidable Martial Arts Master.
He is the old man in this Decapitation Alley.
"When will we be able to be like those three gentlemen?"
These three individuals have driven hundreds of martial artists to bankruptcy, even forcing them to sell their wives and daughters.
Chang Youwei sighed and stood up, saying:
"I'm going to get something to eat behind the alley, wanna come?"
"Let's go." The girl continued chewing her bubble gum, rubbing her stomach. "I'm a little hungry, let's grab something to eat, then we'll go to the front street and find a couple of perverts to swindle some money."
Three teenagers hummed an unknown tune, walked past the three old men, and went through the large iron gate deep in the alley to the next street.
The next street is a food street, where you can find famous snacks from dozens of cities in the Golden Province.
"Let's eat! Let's eat!" Old Six licked his lips.
Is this Decapitation Alley?
Walking along the sweet and saccharine Louis Street, Zhang Fusheng stopped at the entrance of a quiet alley.
"Yes, that's right." The old butler nodded firmly. "Shall I take you inside?"
"Need not."
Zhang Fusheng, with one hand on the old man's shoulder, ignored the woman flirting in the distance and turned to give the order:
"Wait here for me, I'm going in to ask about something."
Chen Yuque and Little Bean nodded obediently, while Liu Cuihua was still looking around, full of curiosity about this red-light district.
As for the old butler...
He reminded him:
"Mr. Zhang, be careful. The three most formidable swindlers in Decapitation Alley are all Martial Arts Master, and one of them, a monkey trainer, is the second most notorious swindler."
After a pause, the old butler continued:
"It's nothing serious. Killing is not allowed in the Waiting Area. Just be careful not to fall into any traps once you're inside."
"Become."
Zhang Fusheng nodded lightly and led the old man into the narrow alley.
After passing the alley entrance, the space inside was quite spacious, and there were quite a few people coming and going, each of them dressed in somewhat eccentric attire.
The air was filled with the scent of cheap herbs, and the bluestone slabs underfoot were crooked and loose when stepped on.
"Wow? Impressive."
Zhang Fusheng gave a thumbs-up.
He keenly noticed that with each step he took forward, the degree to which the bluestone slabs tilted and loosened was constant.
It seems that some peculiar method was used; every slight loosening or tilting seemed to precisely 'trigger' something.
That extremely subtle, almost imperceptible sense of imbalance, accompanied by an unknown formation, has a slight effect of relaxing the mind and disturbing spiritual perception.
Even the crooked, seemingly randomly written patterns and symbols on the walls on both sides have the effect of disturbing the mind.
It was very subtle and well hidden, but it couldn't escape Zhang Fusheng's current perception.
Mental Accumulation breaks through the millennium barrier.
I seem to have entered a peculiar realm, attaining a status that is not yet clear—something that every person who has cultivated their spirit for a thousand years should possess.
However.
Great Grandmaster typically only live for a little over two hundred years.
After accumulating Shi Zhengyuan only managed to cultivate a single White Bone Lotus Seed, enough to add a century's worth of Mental Accumulation.
"Thousand Year Spirit Refining is probably something Innate Great Realm can accomplish."
This thought flashed through Zhang Fusheng's mind.
He led the old man deeper into the alley.
While sensing the unique vibrations of the bluestone slabs beneath my feet, I also felt the hidden rhythms of every symbol and pattern on the wall.
He is studying.
And they are learning with extremely high efficiency.
A series of gazes fell upon him from the alley, all scrutinizing this complete stranger, this outsider he had never seen before.
Beside the wall, a middle-aged man with his hat pulled low and silver coins flicking between his fingers spoke softly:
"Looking for someone?"
"Yeah, I got scammed," Zhang Fusheng replied casually, patting the old man's shoulder with a smile.
"Where are your companions?"
The old man shrank back and looked around cautiously, then said:
No, not here.
Zhang Fusheng smiled as before and tapped his five fingers on the old man's head once more:
You have one more chance.
The old man was sweating profusely.
The silver coin landed in the magician's hand and stopped bouncing. The middle-aged man looked up, revealing an unremarkable face beneath his brimmed hat.
"Outsider, please leave."
One by one, people in the alley stood up, even the little monkey with a rope around its neck stood up, baring its teeth and breathing on the frail-looking boy.
They are united against external threats.