Chapter 209: Poaching at Wu Di City!

Huh—

A wave of uproar swept through the scene.

"Passed directly? How many points is that?"

"No idea. All red light—looks like a perfect score?"

"That's Chen Mu from the Town Martial Bureau. He's a top expert on the Hidden Dragon Ranking—no wonder he got all red."

"So jealous~"

"..."

The waiting crowd buzzed with discussion, casting envious and jealous glances at Chen Mu from time to time.

"Thank you."

Chen Mu took the token and offered his thanks.

"Check mine, check mine."

Huang Yuanhe, right behind him in line, immediately handed over his token and stared unblinkingly as it was slid into the slot.

The result: the crystal sphere lit up half white, half red.

"Wait over there."

The Xuanwu Guard in charge of inserting the tokens pulled it out expressionlessly and tossed it back to Huang Yuanhe.

"..." Huang Yuanhe's mouth opened and closed. He sighed, tucked the token away, and walked over to the waiting line.

Though Chen Mu had passed directly, he didn't rush off—he waited on the side as well.

When Xue Ranran's turn came, it was the same mix of white and red light; she had to wait.

The rest of the people were tested one after another.

Very quickly.

Another contestant appeared whose crystal sphere glowed entirely red.

"It's Ma Jiantong!"

"Anyone who can make the Hidden Dragon Ranking really is powerful."

"..."

The crowd murmured.

A moment later, the crystal sphere once again lit up fully red.

This time it was Bo Bo Shanjin!

The young girl who had named herself "Su Jin" was pale-faced, her gaze as cold and resolute as ever.

After Bo Bo Shanjin, Cao Shaozu, Ye Jiuchong, and a cold, aloof youth named "Lin Tuotian" also lit up the crystal sphere fully red.

Like Chen Mu, these people passed directly as well.

Once everyone had been tested.

The scribe recording the scores sorted the list and then handed it to a stern-faced middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man read straight from the list.

"The above personnel advance to the next round of finals."

"Everyone else is eliminated!"

"..." A hush fell.

The next instant, the scene erupted.

Some burst into tears, some looked dazed, some couldn't believe it, and some slumped to the ground.

"No! Impossible!"

A furious voice shouted on the spot, "You're cheating! You're lying! I killed a hundred strange beasts—how could I be eliminated? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"That guy, isn't his name Qi Lilou?" A relieved Huang Yuanhe looked at the shouting Qi Lilou and said gleefully, "Only a hundred kills in three days, and he has the nerve to make a fuss? Cursing people too—truly doesn't know what's good for him."

"You'll get used to it."

Chen Mu looked at Qi Lilou—agitated, frantic and furious, unable to accept his elimination—and the corner of his mouth twitched.

When the rankings came out, both Huang Yuanhe and Xue Ranran had made the top one hundred and advanced to the next round.

Even the taciturn Su Yuanhua had advanced.

But Qi Lilou, son of an elder of the Canal Gang, was eliminated—predictable, really.

The preliminaries were one thing; the elimination rounds tested real combat ability and diligence.

Clearly, Qi Lilou hadn't put in the effort, and his combat ability was average at best.

"Someone like that has clearly been spoiled his whole life." Huang Yuanhe sneered, then turned to Chen Mu and asked curiously, "By the way, Brother Chen, how many strange beasts did you kill in total?"

"Yeah, Senior Brother Chen, tell us." Xue Ranran chimed in.

"I already told you—a bit more than you two." Chen Mu said calmly.

"Pfft~~"

Huang Yuanhe sneered, but in his heart he understood.

"Drag him away and throw him out of the city!"

The stern-faced middle-aged man pointed at the still-shouting Qi Lilou and said coldly, "One more word and I'll shatter your dantian!"

Qi Lilou, "..."

His mouth hung wide open, his voice cut off short. Anger flashed in his eyes, but the next instant it turned to fear. His body trembling, he lowered his head and let the two Xuanwu Guards escort him away.

"Hmph~"

The middle-aged man snorted coldly, turned his gaze to the hundred who had advanced, and spoke.

"The finals will be held three days from now. You may spend these three days sightseeing in the city, resting, or cultivating."

"In short, if you can avoid leaving the city, it is best not to leave."

"Yes!!"

The hundred people answered in unison.

……

……

The finals will be held three days from now.

Rarely having a few days of leisure, Huang Yuanhe enthusiastically invited Chen Mu to stroll through the grand and bustling Wudicheng, to take in the unique scenery of this mighty city of the Eastern Sea.

"Brother Chen, come on, let's go! I heard the market in the east of the city has plenty of novel curios from overseas, and the seafood at the taverns on West Street is second to none! Let's go broaden our horizons!" Huang Yuanhe rubbed his hands together, his face full of anticipation.

Chen Mu shook his head and politely declined, "You all go ahead. I have some confusion regarding my cultivation method; I'd like to spend these few days pondering it further."

Huang Yuanhe was a little disappointed, but he didn't dare press the matter, so he went off to wander on his own.

Chen Mu returned to his room at the inn. He had just sat down by the table, preparing to brew a cup of clear tea, when a polite knock sounded from outside the door.

"Please come in," Chen Mu replied.

Creak—

The door pushed open, and a middle-aged man dressed in the steward attire of Wudicheng, with a steady and dignified bearing, walked in.

He first presented an identity token engraved with the Wudicheng crest, then cupped his hands in a slight smile and said, "Inspector Chen, pardon the intrusion. I am Zhao Guangji, the external affairs steward of Wudicheng."

"Pleased to meet you, Steward Zhao. May I ask what business Steward Zhao has with me?" Chen Mu rose and bowed, his gaze shifting slightly.

Zhao Guangji did not beat around the bush, getting straight to the point: "Inspector Chen is young and accomplished, with extraordinary talent. All of us in Wudicheng admire you immensely. I have come on behalf of the City Lord's residence to sincerely invite Inspector Chen to join our Wudicheng!"

He paused, his tone growing heavier, and threw out an extremely enticing offer: "So long as Inspector Chen nods, Wudicheng can immediately bestow upon you: your choice of one lower-grade mystic weapon, your choice of one true art or secret scripture from the Scripture Pavilion excluding the core inheritance, and you may take a Heavenly Palace realm elder as your master to receive his careful guidance!"

"In addition, a residence in the city's core district, and… should Inspector Chen's family members have any need, Wudicheng can likewise provide corresponding resources and protection."

These terms could not be called anything but generous!

Mystic weapons, true arts, renowned masters, property, aid for one's family… it covered almost every key resource a martial artist's growth required. Especially the personal guidance of a Heavenly Palace realm expert—for any young martial artist, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Hearing this, Chen Mu appropriately showed a trace of surprise on his face. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Steward Zhao, the finals have not yet begun, and the final rankings are unknown. Why is your city in such a hurry, and why do you believe I am worth such an investment?"

"Haha—"

Zhao Guangji laughed heartily, waving his hand: "The final rankings? Those are merely the icing on the cake; to Wudicheng, they are not the key."

"What we value is you, Inspector Chen, as a person! Your potential! Your temperament! Your future!"

"To put it more bluntly—even if Inspector Chen were to announce your withdrawal from the finals right now, Wudicheng's invitation would still stand, and the terms would remain unchanged!"