Chapter 19: Diao Rong Qi

Inside the Fire Realm Eatery, a secluded little pavilion.

“These past two days, many factions in Hu Yang City have come to visit Brother Luo He,” said Shang Tianyan, sitting opposite Luo Feng, while Su Zhi stood by, respectfully serving food and fine wine; the servant Mo Luo Sa could only wait outside the pavilion.

Luo Feng sighed, “Many factions went straight to my cave to pay their respects. Even when I went to Meng Hua Pavilion, factions were waiting there. That’s why I came here—to this little eatery, at least it’s quiet!”

“Hah! When you forced the Blood Python Society to bow and pay compensation, you already became one of the very top few in Hu Yang City,” Shang Tianyan laughed. “Countless Eternal True Gods envy you. Us ordinary Eternal True Gods? Our influence pales in comparison to yours, Brother Luo He.”

Among Eternal True Gods, the gaps are enormous.

Differences in divine body strength, weapons, secret treasures, armor, secret techniques, law realm levels, bloodline Tianfu , willpower… all these factors create absurdly vast disparities.

“If I’m not mistaken, the City Lord’s Office has already upgraded your rating to Class-A,” Shang said.

“Class-A?” Luo Feng asked curiously.

“An Eternal True God so powerful that even a Hu Yang Legion can’t handle him is usually Class-A. At that level, the City Lord’s Office won’t act lightly,” Shang explained.

Luo Feng mused, “A Hu Yang Legion is led by a top-tier Eternal True God, supported by ten thousand Void True Gods and tens of millions of elite True Gods, all channeling their power through the legion’s mechanical secret treasure. When unified, its power reaches a fraction of a Chaos Realm’s might.”

“With your strength, Brother Luo He, even if you can’t stand toe-to-toe, you can still exploit your advantages and avoid your weaknesses, leaving a Hu Yang Legion helpless,” Shang Tianyan chuckled. “You don’t even use weapons or secret treasures—you grabbed the True God Heart of Vice-Chairman Lai Mo with one hand. Anyone can see that when you unleash your full power, even if you’re slightly weaker than a Hu Yang Legion, you can still outmaneuver it with your secret techniques.”

Luo Feng smiled but said nothing.

A Hu Yang Legion is strong head-on? When you add up all the Eternal True Gods, Void True Gods, and countless True Gods, their divine power quantity and purity still fall far short of mine! The only thing better than my ‘Shi Wu Wings’ is that legion’s mechanical secret treasure.

In a direct clash, it’s not that I can’t afford the cost—it’s that a Hu Yang Legion couldn’t withstand it!

“Your smile says you don’t take a Hu Yang Legion seriously,” Shang Tianyan raised his cup. “Let’s drink to that.”

“Drink,” Luo Feng laughed, raising his cup.

“But Brother Luo He, don’t underestimate the City Lord’s Office. The Hu Yang Ten Legions, the Hu Yang Guards… they’re just surface-level deterrents,” Shang said. “This city, built and refined over endless eons, is one of their true pillars. If pushed too far, even Chaos Dominators or Divine Kings might break through the void to arrive!”

“I’m not foolish enough to provoke the City Lord’s Office,” Luo Feng knew this well.

“The entire Nine Jiang Chaos Region is the fief of the Nine Jiang Marquis. What status does he hold? He won’t come to Hu Yang City unless something monumental happens,” Shang said. “So as long as you don’t challenge the City Lord’s authority, you needn’t fear a Chaos Dominator’s arrival. But remember one thing…”

Shang Tianyan’s expression grew grave.

“Brother Shang, speak,” Luo Feng said.

“Never get involved in the conflict between the Food Nation and the Yu Nation,” Shang Tianyan whispered. “This is the most terrifying vortex in Hu Yang City. Once pulled in, even the strongest individual may be crushed to dust.”

“The conflict between the Food Nation and the Yu Nation?” Luo Feng asked.

“Since its founding, the Food Nation has continuously expanded and seized neighboring lands. Now that it borders my Yu Nation, clashes are frequent,” Shang said. “Hu Yang City, as a major border metropolis, has seen constant covert conflicts. For example, the Zan Yun Trading Guild is a Food Nation guild.”

Luo Feng nodded. “The Zan Yun Trading Guild’s chairman visited my cave yesterday. I didn’t pay him much attention.”

Because he was from the Food Nation, Luo Feng had no desire to form close ties.

“Good you ignored him,” Shang Tianyan said. “As a major border city, normal trade is permitted by the Yu Nation. Zan Yun Trading Guild appears lawful, but the Food Nation has long secretly sent a group of Eternal True Gods into the city.”

“As long as the Food Nation wishes, they can instantly dispatch even stronger forces,” Shang said. “This is Hu Yang City’s greatest threat.”

“One day, when the two divine nations go to war, it’s normal for this place to be reduced to dust.”

Shang Tianyan sighed, lifting his cup.

He had spent most of his life in Hu Yang City and naturally didn’t want to see it reduced to ruins.

“We can’t do anything about the conflict between the two divine nations. We’ll just go with the flow,” Luo Feng said, drinking with him. He truly liked Shang Tianyan as a friend—his character was bold and open, and when Luo Feng asked about cultivation of the body, Shang never hid anything.

Shang Tianyan, one of Hu Yang City’s top two alchemists, was far superior in crafting. Luo Feng, studying the ‘Chaos Great Strength Diagram’ without a master, naturally encountered confusion. To Shang, a few words revealed the key.

If Luo Feng had persisted alone, his solid foundation in laws would eventually let him understand—but it would take far longer and lead him down many wrong paths.

Shang’s willingness to guide him, Luo Feng deeply appreciated.

As they ate, drank, and chatted, though they gained intelligence on Hu Yang City, talking with Shang Tianyan gave Luo Feng deeper insight into the city’s various factions.

“I must say, this eatery has its own unique flavor,” Shang Tianyan remarked as he rose to leave.

“I like it too. Their roasted meat has real punch,” Luo Feng said. His Perfect Divine Body was too powerful—ordinary delicacies barely stirred him, too bland.

They walked out together, and outside, Mo Luo Sa immediately hid the wine jars.

At that moment, Luo Feng and Shang Tianyan saw a woman with a fluffy tail ahead, accompanied by a bodyguard. “That’s Diao Rong Qi of the Diao Rong Clan—daughter of Diao Rong Yan,” Shang Tianyan introduced.

“Greetings, Uncle Shang,” Diao Rong Qi smiled and bowed.

“You came to visit Brother Luo He?” Shang Tianyan grinned. “How did you find this place?”

Diao Rong Qi quickly explained, “I heard about your incident at Meng Hua Pavilion and wanted to pay my respects. Later, from my bodyguard, I learned you might come to the Fire Realm Eatery.”

Luo Feng watched with interest—the bodyguard beside her was Su Yun, the young True God from the tribe he had once saved.

“My Lord,” Su Yun hurriedly explained, “I live with Brother Su Zhi. While chatting, I accidentally learned you had visited the Fire Realm Eatery.”

“How convenient,” Luo Feng looked at the woman with the fluffy tail. “Why are you here?”

“To become your disciple!”

Diao Rong Qi’s eyes sparkled. “I wish to become your disciple, My Lord.”

“Your father is an Eternal True God. You want to become my disciple?” Luo Feng looked at her.

“My father excels in alchemy, not combat,” Diao Rong Qi bowed respectfully. “I offer five thousand Cosmic Sands—only ask that you accept me as your disciple.”

!.

Luo Feng shook his head, turning to Shang Tianyan. “Brother Shang, let’s go.”

Shang Tianyan didn’t persuade. Taking a disciple was a serious matter. He and Luo Feng flew away together.

“My Lord!” Diao Rong Qi cried urgently. “Please give me a chance. Give me a trial!”

“Become my master’s disciple? How presumptuous!” Mo Luo Sa glanced at Diao Rong Qi, then followed Luo Feng away.

Diao Rong Qi stood still, thought for a moment, then turned to leave. “Su Yun, stay at the Fire Realm Eatery. If you spot Brother Luo He, notify me immediately.”

“Yes,” the bodyguard Su Yun replied respectfully, watching his young lady depart.

“Su Yun,” Su Zhi walked over. “How could you casually spread news of the Lord’s whereabouts?”

Su Yun looked at his brother. “My lady wishes to visit the Lord, and she means no harm. Why can’t I tell her?”

“We run an eatery—we protect our guests’ secrets,” Su Zhi said. “I’m your brother, so I’m telling you privately. You didn’t even consult me before telling your lady?”

Su Yun snorted. “The Lord didn’t punish me. Now you, my own brother, are scolding me?”

“The Lord is lenient and didn’t punish you—but what if you meet someone with a bad temper? You’re finished!” Su Zhi exclaimed. “In Hu Yang City, especially with matters involving Eternal True Gods, you can never be too careful!”

“If we’re always cautious, when will we ever break through?” Su Yun said coldly. “When opportunity comes, you seize it! Because of this tip, I’ve already received a secret technique as a reward!”

Su Zhi froze.

They had come from their tribe to Hu Yang City. After confirming their bloodline, they sought to buy suitable secret techniques. But good ones suited to them were far too expensive.

“Su Yun already got a secret technique?” Su Zhi’s emotions were complicated.

On one hand, he was truly happy for his brother. On the other, he felt the growing gap between them—he was still a trainee, laboriously saving Chaos Crystals to buy a technique, and it would take him far longer still.

“The clan chief said: be cautious in Hu Yang City. Don’t rush. My lifespan is long—I can afford to wait,” Su Zhi suppressed his emotions.

…

Blood Python Society Headquarters.

“These past two days, the most famous person in Hu Yang City is that Luo He,” Vice-Chairman Mu Lin shook his head. “Whenever Luo He is mentioned, so are we, the Blood Python Society.”

“Can you shut up?” Vice-Chairman Lai Mo snapped.

“I don’t care about these rumors,” Chairman Mu Yang frowned. “I care that we paid twenty thousand Cosmic Sands. I’m broke now—every single Cosmic Sand matters to me.”

The two vice-chairmen exchanged glances.

“We’re both empty,” Mu Lin quickly said.

“Chairman, I’ve already lent you everything I could borrow. This time you paid 18,000 Cosmic Sands for me—so you still owe me 5,000,” Lai Mo said.

Both vice-chairmen were puzzled. The chairman, Mu Yang, who controlled most of the Blood Python Society’s resources, was always poor! They’d both been drained dry by him!

(End of Chapter)