Golden Corner City.
The second-order Transmission Formation, which might not activate for dozens of years, suddenly flashed with light, and a group of people appeared within the array.
Leading them was a young man in an azure robe, exuding an extraordinary aura.
Following closely behind him were ten individuals—eight n and two won—all of whom appeared notable.
The four Qi Refining cultivators guarding the Transmission Formation were sharp-eyed and imdiately recognized the leader as a True Person.
They quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, True Person!"
None dared to lift their heads.
Though they had only stolen a hurried glance, they clearly saw that this True Person appeared youthful, with features suggesting he wasn’t very old.
Yet longevity among True Persons spans a millennium, making it difficult to discern their age by appearance alone.
"To achieve True Person status, he must be at least two or three hundred years old, right?"
The four cultivators speculated internally.
"Xu Ning of Shiwu City, passing through Golden Corner City, specifically to pay respects to City Lord Ma," Xu Ning suddenly announced.
The four, caught in their thoughts, swiftly responded in affirmation, and two of them stepped forth to escort the True Person, Xu Ning, to the City Lord Mansion.
...
Golden Corner City.
City Lord Mansion.
The City Lord of Golden Corner City, Ma Yizhen, ushered Chen Jichuan to his seat and laughed heartily, "When I first arrived in Golden Corner City over ten years ago, I heard about an extraordinary figure who erged from Shiwu City. I’ve always wanted to witness your brilliance, but my duties kept from leaving. I never thought I’d see you here in Golden Corner City!"
Ma Yizhen acted with enthusiasm.
His words were sincere.
Over a decade ago, after advancing to the second-order, he was appointed as the City Lord of Golden Corner City. The role of City Lord varies in complexity depending on one’s willingness to delegate authority.
Ma Yizhen, disinterested in power, enjoyed leisure amidst his cultivation and thus took a keen interest in curious tales and happenings from other cities.
Because of this.
He had heard of the na "Prison Mountain’s Xu Ning" from afar in Shiwu City.
"Longevity Master."
"Four Extres True Person."
"Mr. Xu’s reputation, even before advancing to the second-order, was already comparable to that of True Persons. And now that you’ve advanced, I suspect countless peers are eagerly awaiting your arrival!"
Ma Yizhen’s words carried a touch of flattery and goodwill.
But Chen Jichuan knew that in the vicinity of Shiwu City, True Persons might be familiar with his na. Yet farther afield, a re Qi Refining cultivator’s reputation seldom reached the ears of second-order True Persons.
Even within the "Fat City" region where Golden Corner City resided, only those like Ma Yizhen, who enjoyed hearing about such tales, would have any knowledge of him.
"City Lord overpraises!"
"I once heard of the City Lord’s great reputation from City Lord Fann Jinren of Shiwu City," Chen Jichuan replied modestly before seamlessly shifting the topic to praise Ma Yizhen.
"The City Lord hails from Silver City, which has produced nurous True Persons over the years—a truly remarkable place!"
"Haha!"
"Silver City is indeed excellent," Ma Yizhen chuckled.
"But Ning City and Shiwu City are equally impressive. Built along the coastline, constantly besieged by oceanic Demon Beasts, their populace is fierce, and the True Persons they’ve produced are all daring and valiant!"
Seeing that Chen Jichuan was approachable, Ma Yizhen grew even more eager.
Having achieved the second-order only when he was already two hundred seventy-so years old and near the end of his lifespan, his potential paled compared to a hundred-year-old True Person like Chen Jichuan. Naturally, he seized the opportunity to foster a connection.
Yet Ma Yizhen also harbored doubts—
"He departed from Shiwu City heading toward Sword City. Using the Transmission Formation across major cities would suffice."
"Why co to my Golden Corner City?"
The answer to his question soon unfolded.
"To be candid, City Lord,"
"I am not originally from Shiwu City. Years ago, I was betrayed and compelled to flee my holand, seeking refuge in the border regions!"
Chen Jichuan sighed deeply, addressing Ma Yizhen.
"This—"
"May I ask, Daoist, where is your holand?"
Ma Yizhen, sensing significant implications, inquired further.
And just as expected—
"Alas!"
"Returning to my old city fills with overwhelming nostalgia; forgive for the sentintality, City Lord," Chen Jichuan responded bitterly.
"A Daoist as full of emotion and sincerity as you is truly admirable."
"Mr. Xu hails from Golden Corner City, and here I am serving as its City Lord—how rare a coincidence!"
Ma Yizhen hadn’t expected such a connection with the hundred-year-old True Person and imdiately probed, "May I ask if those who wronged you back then are still around? If so, I could act on your behalf and capture them for your judgnt."
Golden Corner City had but one True Person—Ma Yizhen himself.
Anyone in the city with a vendetta against Chen Jichuan was within Ma Yizhen’s reach.
Making an ally of such a promising True Person wasn’t an opportunity to squander.
"Thank you, City Lord!"
Chen Jichuan had been waiting for this mont. He retrieved a scroll from his robe and handed it to Ma Yizhen, saying, "The ones who destroyed my family and lineage back then were none other than Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce of East River Square."
Chen Jichuan recounted the past events in detail to Ma Yizhen.
"Despicable!"
"Absolutely despicable!"
Incensed after hearing the story, Ma Yizhen assured Chen Jichuan, "Rest assured, Daoist. I will see to it myself that not a single mber of Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce escapes!"
Without pause,
Ma Yizhen, decisive as ever, prepared to dispatch forces to deal with Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce.
Chen Jichuan took out another docunt from his robe—a contract—and handed it to Ma Yizhen, saying, "Having endured the ruin of my family so many years ago, my grudge remains unrelenting. All I hope for is the opportunity to repay my enemies in kind soday."
Ma Yizhen examined the contract closely.
The docunt stated that Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce had borrowed five hundred thousand Spirit Crystals from Xu Ning, with interest calculated starting eighty-two years ago. Though the interest rate wasn’t high, compounded over decades, the amount had ballooned to a million Spirit Crystals.
The contract bore various official seals from Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce, as well as family marks from its twelve directors and stamps from high-level executives.
The loan terms took up only a quarter of the docunt; the remaining sections were densely covered with these seals.
No doubt about it.
These seals were all counterfeited by Xu Ning, blatantly fraudulent.
But Ma Yizhen didn’t hesitate, instantly understanding Chen Jichuan’s intentions, and laughed, "This promissory note ensures they cannot escape accountability!"
Ma Yizhen acted swiftly.
Upon grasping Chen Jichuan’s plan, he imdiately summoned his confidants, mobilized city guards from various workshops, and used the list provided by Chen Jichuan for targeted arrests.
He also ordered the confiscation and freezing of all Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce’s storefronts and assets.
As Golden Corner City’s City Lord, Ma Yizhen was intimately familiar with the financial status of the chamber.
Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce was known for its imnse wealth. Its assets indeed asured up to the title "rich enough to rival nations," with a total value of about forty to fifty million Spirit Stones.
Considered at fifty million.
Converted into Spirit Crystals, the sum amounted to roughly twenty-five thousand.
However, these were fixed assets; their liquid assets were no more than three to five thousand Spirit Crystals.
And the debt owed to Xu Ning, principal and interest combined, amounted to four tis the total assets and tens of tis their liquid capital.
Even if the chamber sold off everything, there would still be a shortfall of seven to eight hundred thousand Spirit Crystals.
"What a ’Four Extres True Person!’"
"Once he rises to power—"
"It’s vengeance to the death!"
Ma Yizhen felt no pity.
For those who kill, death inevitably cos.
Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce brought calamity upon Xu Ning’s family. Failing to eradicate the survivor, it left a True Person to seek revenge.
"Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce is backed by True Person Ye, Golden Corner City’s third City Lord, who personally established the chamber."
"But this True Person Ye, despite years of cultivation, remains stuck at the Third Layer Heaven, with little prospects, and nearing the end of her life."
"Offending her for Xu Ning is worth it!"
Ma Yizhen delegated tasks promptly.
He then gathered every piece of intelligence on True Person Ye and went directly to the residence where Xu Ning was staying.
...
Golden Corner City.
East River Square.
For cities primarily defending against Demon Beasts, sturdiness was paramount.
Thus, after seventy to eighty years, Golden Corner City had undergone minimal changes.
East River Square was unchanged as well.
Walls, streets, rivers.
All remained the sa.
The only altering factor was its people.
The original Golden Spear Talisman Making Workshop.
Years ago, following the death and exile of the Xu family father and son, within re years, the workshop had been resold.
After several transfers, the property eventually landed in the hands of Wang Yong.
Early on, Wang Yong had been close to Huang Quan, one of the fad "East River Three Masters" of the High-class University back then, and often frequented the Golden Spear Talisman Making Workshop to study talisman making.
Decades passed.
Wang Yong never achieved Qi Refinent, but his talisman-making skills dramatically improved, rivaling the forr "Golden Spear" Xu Jishi.
Over twenty years ago,
Wang Yong acquired the workshop after its ownership changed hands a few tis. He renad it "Wang’s Talisman Making Workshop," a nostalgic gesture.
On this particular day,
Wang Yong was working in his workshop when loud shouting suddenly erupted from the street outside—
"City Lord Mansion business, bystanders move aside!"
"Under orders of the City Lord, investigating Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce!"
"Seal and seize! Anyone who obstructs will be killed on the spot!"
"Gather your companions and follow us imdiately!"
Wang Yong and several apprentices stepped out onto the street, noticing a Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce shop not far away being raided by a squad of guards.
The shopkeeper and workers were all shackled and taken away.
"City Lord Mansion’s people!"
"What has Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce done to offend them?"
"It seems this will be quite a spectacle."
Nearby residents were intrigued or applauded the unfolding events. It wasn’t that Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce was particularly malevolent, but the public’s latent envy of wealth played a significant role.
Moreover, so of Yuanchen’s twelve directors, like Duan Zhengming, were indeed degenerate figures, which tarnished the chamber’s reputation.
At the mont, with Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce seemingly in trouble with the City Lord Mansion, many eagerly watched the drama unfold.
Before long.
Another squad arrived to confiscate all goods and funds from the chamber’s shop.
anwhile, officials posted notices throughout the square and streets.
One notice was a statent from the City Lord Mansion.
The other was the promissory note.
Upon reading the note, citizens saw the creditor listed as "Xu Ning of Shiwu City."
After investigating, news circulated that Xu Ning was a newly ascended True Person from Shiwu City in the south.
"So, the chamber offended a True Person!"
rchants, trade associations, and cultivators doing business in the city breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Soon, curiosity swept through—people wondered what grudge this new True Person held against Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce to pursue revenge imdiately upon ascending.
The inquiries comnced.
But no concrete answers erged.
Most people had no idea and couldn’t uncover information.
So elderly residents of East River Square, upon hearing the na "Xu Ning," vaguely recalled sothing.
But seventy to eighty years had passed.
Those contemporaneous with Xu Jishi and Huang Xuan, who failed to reach Qi Refinent, had passed away one after another.
Surviving elders didn’t necessarily rember the na of a junior like Xu Ning.
As for the younger generation of that ti...
Those familiar with Xu Ning’s na rarely knew the feud between the Xu family and Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce.
Thus, despite extensive inquiries, little ca to light.
Only Wang Yong.
"Xu Ning?"
"Could it be—?"
mories stirred within Wang Yong as the image of a disheveled, despondent hunchbacked youth surfaced in his mind.
He had encountered Chen Jichuan several tis at the Golden Spear Talisman Making Workshop and learned so details from Huang Quan.
So when he saw Yuanchen Chamber of Comrce under siege and heard the na "Xu Ning," then noticed the clearly forged seals on the promissory note—
"It really is him?"
"He truly beca a True Person?"
"And as for Huang Quan..."
Wang Yong’s mind was a maelstrom of emotions as he returned to his talisman workshop, overwheld and unable to calm himself.
...
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