"Still not enough?"
A confident smile curved Tang Tian's lips.
"If you think that's not enough, City Lord, what about this?"
Hum-!
The air suddenly trembled.
A brilliant yellow ring abruptly rose beneath Tang Tian's feet.
Its radiance far surpassed that of an ordinary hundred-year soul ring, even carrying a trace of deep, shadowy light.
"My first soul ring, from four-hundred-and-twenty-year-old Blue Silver Grass."
"With this added to the equation, is it enough?"
Tang Tian spoke calmly.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh-!
Several thick stalks of Blue Silver Grass instantly burst from the earth!
But these were nothing like the delicate little blue grasses people remembered.
What appeared before everyone now were works of art seemingly carved from crystal!
They were deep azure throughout, with golden patterns flowing across their leaves.
Their main stems were as thick and powerful as pythons, emanating a heart-pounding aura!
Especially that oncoming surge of vitality and oppressive power.
It made everyone feel they were truly extraordinary!
[Inside the Sea of Consciousness]
[Little Blue (excited)]
[See that? That city lord's eyes are practically popping out!]
[Master, aren't I making you look good?]
Little Blue was extremely excited, deliberately controlling several vines to strike an exceptionally graceful yet powerful pose in the air.
Her leaves trembled slightly, exuding a proud, coy air of "I'm so strong-hurry up and praise me."
She had been very displeased when the city lord said Tang Tian's talent wasn't enough.
Now that she had emerged to represent her master and hold her head high, she immediately felt refreshed.
Meanwhile, Little Iron Hammer, hovering in a corner, rolled over in displeasure.
"Tch... all flash and no substance."
"Aren't those just a few lousy weeds? What's there to show off?"
"If I stepped in, there'd be no need for any nonsense. One swing, and that so-called city lord would've been on his knees calling me Great-Aunt!"
"Stupid master, isn't my hammer hard enough?"
"I won't accept this! I want to eat deep sea sunken silver! I want to get stronger! I want to take back center stage!"
City Lord Xiao looked at those stalks whipping up gusts before him.
At the Blue Silver Grass that even gave him a faint sense of danger.
He was utterly numb.
This... you're telling me this is Blue Silver Grass?!
This is fucking Blue Silver Grass?!
And that soul ring...
As a city lord, although his talent was mediocre, he had seen a great deal.
Four hundred years?
That was absolutely the limit for a first soul ring!
And that oppressive aura...
Even the second soul rings of some newly advanced Soul Grandmasters were only at this level, weren't they?
Has the world already gone this insane?
City Lord Xiao roared wildly inside.
He stared at the crystalline Blue Silver Grass, which looked capable of slicing through gold and jade, and sank deep into thought.
If this didn't count as a genius, then everyone in the world was trash.
One hundred gold soul coins?
What a joke!
If he could win over a monster like this...
Forget one hundred-even a thousand gold soul coins would be worth it!
A subtle change came over the atmosphere.
The fury vanished from City Lord Xiao's eyes.
In its place came shock, admiration, and a hint of shrewdness.
And at that moment.
Xiao Chenyu, who had been standing to one side in a stunned daze.
Upon seeing this, suddenly started thinking at lightning speed.
He saw the change in his father's expression.
He also recalled the "way out" Tang Tian had just offered.
If he didn't ride this slope down now, when would he?
Xiao Chenyu abruptly puffed out his chest.
He forced an "everything is under control" expression onto his face.
He declared loudly:
"Hmph! Dad, now you understand, right?"
"I didn't want you to know because I wanted to surprise you!"
"I recognized Boss Tang's potential, so I took out my private savings to invest in him!"
"But you just wouldn't listen to me and insisted on bringing people here!"
"Now look what happened! The flood washed into the Dragon King's temple-family failed to recognize family!"
Xiao Chenyu was a quick-witted fellow too.
In an instant, he repackaged himself from a "clown" into a "young judge of talent with an eye for hidden pearls."
After all, he could never forget that sense of helplessness when Tang Tian had taught him a lesson that day.
As far as he could tell.
Tang Tian seemed even stronger!
Even if the guards his father had brought had slightly higher soul power, whether they could beat the current Tang Tian was still a question.
If his father insisted on fighting to save face, only to end up strung up and hammered by Tang Tian too...
How would he show his face in Nuoding City afterward?
With his father's authority dragged through the dirt, he could forget being the young city lord.
Dad, oh Dad, your son is doing this with the best of intentions!
I'm saving your face!
If City Lord Xiao knew what Xiao Chenyu was thinking at that moment.
He would surely have been so furious that he shouted, "You've turned the natural order upside down!" on the spot!
But now, after hearing his son's words, City Lord Xiao.
Wasn't angry; instead, he went with the current and nodded.
He had changed his mind too.
Since he had a way out and his dignity was intact, it was time to discuss benefits.
City Lord Xiao's expression changed.
He instantly put on a warm, approachable smile.
He even took two steps forward:
"Hahaha! Good! Wonderful!"
"Since such a genius has emerged in our Nuoding City."
"Then I, Xiao, have failed in my duties as city lord to have nearly let such talent go unrecognized!"
"Though Chenyu is usually mischievous, his judgment this time was truly excellent. He takes after me!"
As he spoke.
City Lord Xiao actually took another, even finer purse straight from inside his clothes and held it out to Tang Tian.
"Young student Tang Tian, since those previous hundred gold coins were Chenyu's investment, consider them a token of his goodwill."
"And here are another hundred gold soul coins, sponsored personally by this city lord!"
"A special reward for a young genius like you!"
Tang Tian paused, then smiled.
This City Lord Xiao was a smart man who knew how to play his cards.
"Thank you, City Lord. Then it would be discourteous of me to refuse."
Tang Tian accepted the purse and tucked it into his clothes.
Seeing Tang Tian accept the money, City Lord Xiao felt greatly reassured and then asked:
"I hear you come from the countryside?"
"May I ask which village nurtured such an outstanding talent as yourself?"
"Holy Soul Village," Tang Tian answered.
"Holy Soul Village..."
"The Holy Soul Village that once produced a Soul Saint. Then you must take that senior Soul Saint as your example and work hard!"
City Lord Xiao nodded and announced on the spot:
"Good! Starting this year, Holy Soul Village will receive priority support from our Nuoding City!"
"From now on, Holy Soul Village's annual quota of work-study students entering the junior Soul Master Academy will be doubled!"
"The village's subsidies will also increase!"
"In addition, I will personally award your village chief a medal for [Excellence in Nurturing Talent] and a cash prize!"
Upon hearing those words.
The last trace of Tang Tian's desire to fight dissipated.
He really had felt it was a pity earlier: he had just improved so much, yet hadn't had time to find someone to practice on.
The city lord and his group had originally looked like decent punching bags.
But now, it seemed.
As a six-year-old child.
It was better to be a little more composed.
After all, bringing tangible benefits to Grandpa Old Jack and the village meant more than having a fight.
It certainly wasn't because of the money that he had changed his mind!
"Thank you, City Lord."
Tang Tian cupped his hands.
Tang San's eyes lit up beside him too.
He knew Grandpa Old Jack's greatest wish was for the village to produce soul masters and earn the city's recognition.
Grandpa Old Jack would surely be delighted to hear this news; perhaps even his mustache would curl upward.
Amid this peaceful atmosphere, with everyone happy.
Yu Xiaogang, who had been left out, ignored, and even humiliated all along.
Now felt as sick inside as though he had swallowed a dead fly.
The script wasn't supposed to go like this!
Before you continue