The Strongest Patron?! The Principal Was Stunned by the Treatment!

"My lord, spare us!!"

Under the crushing pressure.

With a great rustle.

The students below the stage, along with the few people on it, all dropped to their knees in unison. They frantically kowtowed toward Lu Chen, who seemed like King Yama descending into the world, crying and begging for mercy.

The sight was so devout, it was as if they were facing a god!

"Sir, this..."

Seeing this, Principal Zhang, who had been pale moments ago, finally snapped back to his senses. Realizing something was wrong, he hurriedly looked at Yu Feng.

Yet Yu Feng remained calm and composed, a faint smile lingering at the corners of his mouth. He gently shook his head, signaling that there was no need to interfere.

Principal Zhang nodded, then stared deeply at this student who had become so unfamiliar that it chilled him to the bone. His heart surged with stormy waves once more.

Worshipping King Yama?!

There had never been anything like this in the entire history of No. 3 Middle School.

Even across all of Jiangdu City, there was probably no second case.

As the head of a school, he naturally wouldn't regard the Underworld Office and Netherworld as evil, crooked paths like ordinary people did.

After all, the Netherworld's Yin Gods were also Orthodox Gods of the Three Realms.

There was nothing improper about worshipping King Yama itself.

It was simply that those who truly dared to do so were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

And judging from the power Lu Chen had displayed just now...

His Divine Service Rating with King Yama probably wasn't much lower than his rating with the Lord God of Wealth.

20%? 30%? Or... even higher?

But no matter which number it was, it was beyond imagination for ordinary people.

"This brat... how had he suddenly become so terrifying?!"

"Get up. Today's matter ends here."

Accompanied by an echo that seemed to come from the depths of the Nine Netherworlds, his voice rolled heavily across the entire venue.

On the high platform, Lu Chen slowly withdrew his divine power, and the phantom image of King Yama manifested through the Yanluo Token's enhancement dissipated as well.

In an instant, everything returned to normal.

He glanced at Song Hao, who had already fainted on the ground. His body kept twitching, and a foul stench wafted from him. Lu Chen instinctively covered his nose with his fingers, too lazy to spare him another look.

He'd thought this guy would at least struggle a little. Who'd have expected him to be scared out of his wits and lose consciousness outright?

Lu Chen had even planned that if Song Hao resisted stubbornly, he'd summon all of the Song Clan's ancestors from the Netherworld.

Of course, he wouldn't summon them for a reunion.

He'd do it so Ox-Head and Horse-Face could give Song Hao's ancestors a good whipping right in front of him!

The Realm of the Living couldn't interfere with the Underworld Office's affairs;

Likewise, the Underworld Office couldn't interfere with the Realm of the Living's affairs.

If a troublesome little ghost like this wasn't dealt with thoroughly, he'd forget the pain once the wound healed and dare to cause trouble again!

But since the man had already fainted, Lu Chen could only abandon that thought.

"Take him away."

Seeing the mess on the stage, Principal Zhang hurriedly directed the medical team to carry Song Hao away for treatment.

"City Lord, leaders, Principal, I acted on impulse and caused everyone trouble."

Lu Chen clasped his hands in salute, offering a slight apology.

"It doesn't matter. You did nothing wrong." Yu Feng stepped forward and patted Lu Chen's shoulder, approval in his eyes. "Little Friend Lu, you've truly hidden your strength well. You keep giving this City Lord surprises. Those who worship King Yama are exceedingly rare. Ordinary people avoid it like the plague, yet you possess such remarkable courage. Then the Netherworld phenomenon at the Zhao Clan Temple the other day was caused by you as well, wasn't it?"

The matter had already spread everywhere, so Lu Chen didn't hide it and nodded in admission.

"You brat, when did you become so formidable?" Principal Zhang truly couldn't suppress his curiosity any longer.

"Why ask such things? The vast world has its own fated connections. Why dig to the root and pry into every detail?"

Yu Feng kicked Principal Zhang's question right back at him.

"Yes, yes, the City Lord's lesson is right." Principal Zhang hurriedly gave an awkward laugh.

After being a teacher for so long, digging to the bottom of things really had become an occupational habit.

Yu Feng looked deeply at Lu Chen and let out a long breath. "Little Friend Lu, the Netherworld's Yin Gods are also Orthodox Gods of the Three Realms. Since you're willing to worship one, then do it without restraint. There's no need to care about other people's opinions."

"Yes, sir. This student will remember that!"

As expected of the City Lord—his vision and breadth of mind far surpassed those of ordinary people.

For a moment, Lu Chen's favorable impression of the City Lord rose a few notches.

"Then have you tested your Divine Service Rating with King Yama?" Yu Feng asked again. "If I remember correctly, Jiangdu City's God Temples don't seem to have testing modules for Netherworld Yin Gods?"

"That's right, there wasn't anywhere to test it. But I've already bought a testing device myself, and I planned to test it later."

"Hah, worshipping the Wealth God really does make one rich and imposing." Yu Feng laughed heartily. Then a thoughtful look flashed through his eyes. He suddenly took a token from his robes and handed it to Lu Chen.

"You suit my tastes quite well, brat. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, bring this token directly to my residence and find me."

"Sir?!"

The moment the token appeared, the senior officials of Jiangdu City behind Yu Feng all changed expressions. They were even more shocked than when they had seen Lu Chen transform into King Yama.

The principal beside him was completely dumbfounded!

A City Lord's Token?

The City Lord had actually given Lu Chen a City Lord's Token?!

Yu Feng raised a hand, stopping the others from speaking, then pushed the token a little farther forward.

"Sir, this is too valuable, isn't it? I..."

Although Lu Chen didn't know exactly how significant the City Lord's Token was, the reactions around him immediately told him that it was no ordinary item. He could even vaguely smell the scent of another "patron."

"Actually..." Yu Feng was about to explain when he suddenly felt his hand grow lighter.

Lu Chen had already taken the token and solemnly said, "Thank you for your generous favor, sir! This student is deeply grateful!"

Yu Feng: "???"

Good brat, so you were only being polite?

He froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. "What a sly little rascal. Alright, it's getting late. You may go."

"Yes, sir!"

Lu Chen's group immediately returned below the stage.

But this time, the surrounding students regarded him with nothing but awe. They didn't even dare approach him, leaving an empty space around him that made him especially conspicuous.

Lu Chen was quite happy with the peace and quiet.

From now on, he probably wouldn't encounter troublesome little ghosts at school anymore.

Onstage, Principal Zhang began his closing remarks. "Quite a few unexpected incidents occurred just now, delaying us for some time. Now, let me emphasize one final point.

Starting today, your missions will be your priority. You don't need to come to school every day. Remember, the Special Class only has twenty spots. First come, first served. Do you all understand?!"

"Understood!!"

"Dismissed!"

With a grand wave of Principal Zhang's hand, the crowd below the stage immediately scattered like a receding tide, practically fleeing the area.

Watching Lu Chen's gradually departing back.

Yu Feng narrowed his eyes slightly. "I never expected No. 3 Middle School to be hiding such a dragon. Tell me, can he complete that mission?"

The people behind him exchanged glances.

"Though this boy is somewhat... strange, Dragon-Tiger County's mission is still an S-rank mission. So many bounty Spirit Cultivators went there brimming with confidence, only to return with broken feathers. In this subordinate's opinion, the chance of success... is minuscule."

"Indeed. Every profession has its specialty. That mission requires worshipping the Four Seas Dragon Kings, which has nothing to do with the two gods he worships. This subordinate... doesn't think highly of his chances either."

Everyone shook their heads.

"Principal Zhang, what do you think?"

"Reporting to the City Lord, this subordinate's thoughts... are similar to those of the others."

Hearing that, Yu Feng's lips curved upward. "Oh? It seems none of you think highly of him. Then how about a wager?"

"A wager?"

Yu Feng flipped his palm. A section of bamboo, crimson from end to end and flowing with fiery radiance, floated in the air, waves of heat rushing toward them.

"That is... Thousand-Year Flame Sun Bamboo!"

A wave of low cries immediately rose from behind him.

"A fifth-rank heavenly treasure! One of the earthly treasures most favored by the Fire Department's deities! Just this single section could raise even an innate deity's Divine Service Rating by at least 5%!"

"Correct." Yu Feng nodded. "This City Lord will use this as the stake and bet that the brat succeeds! If I lose, this Flame Sun Bamboo will be divided among you. If I win, each of you must give me one fourth-rank heavenly treasure. How about it? Do you dare wager?"

What?!

A fifth-rank item against fourth-rank ones?!

Hearing this, everyone immediately smiled in delight. "Sir, do you truly mean that?"

"My word carries the weight of nine tripods. I will never go back on it."

"Fine, I'll bet!"

"I'll bet too!"

"Count me in!"

Watching his subordinates pounce like starving tigers, as though they already regarded the Flame Sun Bamboo as something in their pockets.

"You people..."

Yu Feng shook his head with a laugh. The corner of his eye once more glanced in Lu Chen's departing direction, and he silently thought:

"Brat, I've rarely been in such a mood. Don't make me lose too badly..."