Chapter 105: Giving a City

Luo Feng stood on the earth, his head brushing the edge of the starry sky, gazing down as the tiny Liuyin Marquis dissolved into the cosmos and vanished.

“My close-combat strength is exceptional, but my ability to trap enemies is weak—Liuyin Marquis could leave whenever he wished, and I couldn’t stop him.” Luo Feng thought; he had only recently entered the Chaos Realm.

This battle led outsiders to believe he was a peak Chaos Realm cultivator focused solely on the physical body path.

But Luo Feng knew well: his physical body was so strong partly because his Perfect Divine Body had reached its ultimate limit, inherently rivaling the peak of the Chaos Realm. Another reason was that he had used his “Formless and Shapeless” ability to comprehend countless transformation arts—transformation arts proved even more effective for him than some body-refining techniques.

The fundamental composition of a Perfect Divine Body at its ultimate limit remains “divine power.”

But transformation arts, at their most basic unit, contain life’s spiritual essence—they have undergone a qualitative transformation! Their shifting forms made the Perfect Divine Body terrifyingly potent.

“Huh.”

Luo Feng instantly shrank back to his normal size and landed within the governor’s mansion.

“Luo He brother, Luo He brother!” Jiang Hou rushed forward, flushed with gratitude, his posture humble, “I never imagined that a humble Chaos State like mine would host a recluse like you—this is truly the fortune of the entire Jiang Chaos State. Earlier, I mistook you for an Eternal True God; I was deeply disrespectful, deeply disrespectful!”

“Jiang Hou, you’re too kind,” Luo Feng said.

In truth, he had met Jiang Hou only a handful of times; their bond was not deep. But during those encounters, Jiang Hou had always been kind. When Liuyin Marquis first attacked, Jiang Hou had even helped try to stop him—Luo Feng held genuine goodwill toward him.

“Luo He brother, I’ve prepared some simple food and wine—let us sit and talk,” Jiang Hou said, already having arranged everything, warmly guiding him.

“Please,” Luo Feng nodded, glancing briefly at Mo Yu Hu and Mo Luo Sa in the distance, giving a slight nod.

Mo Yu Hu was visibly excited.

“My master is this powerful?” Mo Yu Hu’s mind swarmed with thoughts, feeling light-headed, unreal.

“Of course my master is powerful,” Mo Luo Sa remarked.

“Mo Luo Sa Jun, outsiders once thought you were my master’s guardian,” Mo Yu Hu whispered.

“I’m not worthy to be my master’s guardian—I’m merely a servant,” Mo Luo Sa said honestly; his soul was enslaved—he was an absolute servant.

Mo Luo Sa understood clearly.

His master, Luo Feng, was a cultivator who could naturally integrate into major forces of the Origin Continent. But Mo Luo Sa himself had to remain hidden, every action requiring careful thought. In truth… his master was his guardian.

“Boy, seize this opportunity,” Mo Luo Sa said to Mo Yu Hu. “Becoming your master’s only disciple is your great fortune—you must cherish this chance.”

“I understand,” Mo Yu Hu nodded; becoming the sole direct disciple of a peak Chaos Realm being was an immense opportunity—he must speak and act with utmost caution.

Mo Luo Sa watched the scene.

This lucky boy…

His master was no ordinary peak Chaos Realm being.

At this moment, Mo Luo Sa and Mo Yu Hu’s conversation drew envy from distant cultivators.

“Is this the power of Luo He Jun?” General Yue Wu, Mo Li Xiao, Hu Yang’s governor, and other Eternal True Gods felt stunned.

“This being listened to A Luo Ya’s music… and my music made him weep?” Master Meng Hua mused inwardly. “He must have been deeply moved—truly a man of genuine feeling.”

Diao Rong Qi gazed from afar: “This Chaos Realm being, stronger than Liuyin Marquis, once helped me avenge myself.”

For many cultivators, this was likely the first time they had seen such a colossal divine body—Jiang Hou himself felt overwhelming pressure; the psychological impact on ordinary cultivators was unimaginable.

…

Yan Feng Hall.

“Luo He brother is actually a peak Chaos Realm being,” Di Chu Yu sighed. “But it seems he devotes himself entirely to divine body cultivation—other aspects are rather weak.”

"Among Chaos Realm cultivators, dozens on the Origin Continent specialize in divine bodies, but those who can grow as tall as heaven and earth? There are barely any across the entire Origin Continent," the deputy director remarked; as a member of the Yan Feng Ancient Kingdom’s imperial clan, his knowledge was extensive.

Di Chu Yu smiled: “No need to dwell on it. Peak Chaos Realm divine bodies aiming to match heaven and earth are too difficult to achieve. Those focused on divine body cultivation seek greater strength, not height. Take my kingdom’s famed Minghuo Marquis—he specializes in divine body cultivation, yet his form is not large… yet he has reached the Chaos Realm Transcendence level, able to hold his own against ordinary Divine Kings.”

In remote kingdoms, peak Chaos Realm cultivators ranked among the strongest.

But in the two great ancient kingdoms, there existed Chaos Realm cultivators surpassing peak level, reaching unimaginable heights.

If peak Chaos Realm meant touching the threshold of Divine Kinghood,

then Chaos Realm Transcendence beings possessed power fundamentally on the Divine King level.

Yet such beings were exceedingly rare, nearly all confined to the two great ancient kingdoms.

“Luo He’s ability to overpower Liuyin Marquis means he’s stronger—but he didn’t even force Liuyin Marquis to use any of his survival techniques… clearly, his advantage is limited,” Di Chu Yu smiled. “If he becomes my Di Chu clan’s guest minister, with better cultivation resources, I believe he’ll achieve even greater heights.”

Being the first guest minister he invited to the Chaos Realm level, with such potential, Di Chu Yu was delighted.

He knew well: the thirteen imperial branches competed fiercely.

The stronger his allies, the smoother his own path would be.

“If he can advance further, reaching Chaos Realm Transcendence, the help he brings will be immense,” the deputy director said. In Yan Feng Ancient Kingdom, ancient Divine Kings held high status; among Chaos Realm cultivators, only “Chaos Realm Transcendence beings” commanded sufficient prestige.

Among the thirteen imperial branches, the imperial clan’s Chaos Realm cultivators, the disciples of the Emperor’s court, the disciples of Divine King guest ministers, and wandering Chaos Realm cultivators—all competed fiercely. Peak Chaos Realm? They were insignificant. Many peak Chaos Realm beings ultimately chose to leave Yan Feng Ancient Kingdom.

“I’m concerned about one thing,” the deputy director said. “No one has ever heard of such a powerful figure before—now one suddenly emerges as a peak Chaos Realm being…”

“What’s there to worry about?” Di Chu Yu laughed. “He’s probably just a reincarnated Divine King.”

The Origin Continent indeed had some powerful cultivators who had reincarnated.

But to Yan Feng Ancient Kingdom, they were merely tiny ripples in an endless ocean.

In a refined pavilion within Hu Yang City’s governor’s mansion, Luo Feng and Jiang Hou sat facing each other.

“This time, I owe you everything, Luo He brother,” Jiang Hou sighed. “Over this eon, I’ve traveled half the Origin Continent, visiting friends, seeking powerful allies—but I couldn’t secure a single one.”

Luo Feng understood.

Liuyin Marquis was a cruel, tyrannical figure who left no stone unturned. Other peak Chaos Realm cultivators hesitated before opposing him.

Only Luo Feng, arriving via the Reincarnation Passage with no ties to the Origin Continent, acted with greater freedom.

If all of humanity resided here, with family and friends in this land, he too would have hesitated.

!.

“I understand their difficulties—and I couldn’t afford to pay them enough,” Jiang Hou looked at Luo Feng, moved. “This time, I offered only one hundred million cosmic sands—barely anything—and you protected my fief. I don’t know how to thank you. I wish to repay you… but I have nothing of sufficient value.”

Jiang Hou had spent all his resources on his own cultivation; his weapons and treasures were vital to him.

To repay? He truly had no treasure worthy enough.

“After much thought,” Jiang Hou said, looking at Luo Feng, “you’ve been living in Hu Yang City and have defended its people many times—you clearly care for this city. So I’ve decided: I give you Hu Yang City.”

“From now on, Hu Yang City only needs to pay twenty percent of its residence fees to the Divine Kings. The remaining eighty percent—including all resources within the city—belongs entirely to you. All governance of Hu Yang City is yours to decide.”

“Hu Yang City is now your city,” Jiang Hou said, gazing at Luo Feng. “Your great kindness is beyond repayment. Please, accept this city.”

Luo Feng froze.

A city?

Hu Yang City lay within Yu Kingdom’s territory, so twenty percent of residence fees must go to the Divine Kings. The remaining eighty percent—including all city resources—would be his.

“Jiang Hou, I’ll soon leave for Yan Feng Ancient Kingdom—I won’t be able to guard Hu Yang City,” Luo Feng said.

“Luo He brother, with your current reputation… you need only leave a divine power avatar here—who would dare defy you?” Jiang Hou immediately replied. “As for managing the city, your subordinates can handle it.”

“Moreover, I have a personal motive: after you leave Hu Yang City, Liuyin Marquis may grow bold again,” Jiang Hou said, watching Luo Feng. “But if Hu Yang City becomes yours, Liuyin Marquis will never dare return. In truth, I’m using one city to preserve the majority of my fief.”

Luo Feng met Jiang Hou’s hopeful gaze, thought for a moment, then nodded: “Very well. I’ll accept it.”

Hu Yang City was the first city he had resided in upon arriving on the Origin Continent—it held special meaning.

And by stationing himself here, he could indeed make Liuyin Marquis give up.

“Hahaha, thank you, Luo He brother!” Jiang Hou beamed.

His entire fief’s income included three major cities and 189 ordinary cities. Individual ordinary cities yielded less, but collectively, they equaled two major cities.

In truth, he had sacrificed one-fifth of his fief to preserve four-fifths—and bound a peak Chaos Realm cultivator to his side.

Worth every bit!

“With your intervention, this war is over,” Jiang Hou said. “The Xin Ying Sect is now trapped within the city—what do you plan to do with them?”

“What to do with them?” Luo Feng pondered.

“The Xin Ying Sect has two Chaos Realm cultivators who escaped,” Jiang Hou said. “All their core treasures are held by those two. These Xin Ying Eternal True Gods carry no valuable items—they’re not worth your attention.”

“Let me send my men to ransack the Xin Ying Sect—their treasures go to you. As for the sect itself, let them leave. That way, outsiders won’t accuse you of bullying the weak,” Jiang Hou said. “What do you think?”

Chaos Realm cultivators rarely bullied the weak unless provoked.

“Ransack their treasures and let them go?”

Luo Feng shook his head slightly. “When they rampaged and slaughtered in Hu Yang City, they already offended me.”

Jiang Hou froze.

“If they enjoy slaughter and plunder, the Xin Ying Sect has no reason to exist—it should be disbanded,” Luo Feng said. “As for those Eternal True Gods, investigate each one. Those who participated in the massacres in Hu Yang City—kill them all. Those who didn’t—let them go.”

“Disband the Xin Ying Sect?” Jiang Hou exclaimed. “They still have two Chaos Realm cultivators outside—this will make them your sworn enemies.”

“Let them be enemies. What can they do?” Luo Feng glanced at Jiang Hou. “I’m not as patient as Jiuyuan Great Sage.”

(End of Chapter)