When a man walked out of the City Lord’s Mansion, Shen Lang felt he looked familiar. After a moment of thought, he remembered who it was.

This was the man from the White Rainbow Sect who had spoken a few words on his behalf back at the Treasure Pavilion in Celestial Phoenix City, trading barbs with Drunken Thousand Cups of Evil Wind Valley.

At the time, Shen Lang had offended members of the Holy Light Sect and Evil Wind Valley. Leng Hui of the Profound Dao Sect and this man from the White Rainbow Sect had joined forces to mock Drunken Thousand Cups. Shen Lang had even exchanged a brief glance with him as he was leaving.

He never expected to run into him here.

With an acquaintance present, Shen Lang felt it wouldn’t be right to take things too far.

With a flip of his wrist, he discreetly used the Tai Chi Diagram to swallow the black and white orb of destructive energy, then floated down to the ground.

"It’s been several months. You’re as impressive as ever, Senior, and your Cultivation has advanced greatly. Congratulations," Shen Lang said politely, cupping his fists toward the man who had just spoken.

He had a rather good impression of this man. Regardless of whether the man had acted for his sake or to help Leng Hui, the fact was that he had stepped forward in that situation, which amounted to looking out for Shen Lang.

Shen Lang held grudges, but he also remembered kindnesses.

A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring.

"HAHAHAHA!"

The middle-aged man from the White Rainbow Sect was in high spirits and burst out laughing.

"I’ve only made some minor gains, nothing compared to you... Ah, I forgot, let me introduce myself. I’m Ye Xingzhe... and this is my Senior Brother, An Fengrui, the City Lord of Illusion Mist City. Just now, Zhang Cheng and the others were talking about you, and I thought the name sounded familiar. I never thought it would actually be you! It’s all a misunderstanding, a total misunderstanding, haha!"

While Ye Xingzhe laughed cheerfully, An Fengrui stood to the side with a livid face, not saying a word.

It was no wonder An Fengrui wore such an expression.

His Illusion Mist City had been peaceful and stable, but then this kid popped up out of nowhere. First, he audaciously inflicted severe injuries on Four White Rainbow Sect disciples, including Zhang Cheng. Then, he forced Zhang Cheng to sign a contract for a massive debt. This was a blatant show of disrespect for the White Rainbow Sect and for him, the City Lord of Illusion Mist City!

And before he could even settle that score, the kid sent a Bone Demon to completely wreck the headquarters of three factions, including the Lone Wolf Mercenary Corps.

Then he had the nerve to come to the City Lord’s Mansion and raise hell, throwing the entire place into chaos!

If not for his apprehension toward the move the man had just displayed in the air, An Fengrui would have personally stepped in and subdued him long ago.

Expecting him to speak to Shen Lang in a pleasant tone was harder than killing him.

While An Fengrui seethed, Shen Lang was quite pleased. He smiled at Zhang Cheng’s group of Four and said, "Well now, I thought City Lord An was gathering experts to level Qingfeng Stronghold because the Bone Demon was causing trouble. As it turns out, were you four the ones fanning the flames here?"

He was still smiling as he began to speak, but by the end, his tone had grown increasingly cold.

Sometimes, when the enmity wasn’t deep, Shen Lang was unwilling to be utterly ruthless or stir up more trouble.

But that was merely unwillingness, not inability.

After suppressing Zhang Cheng’s group with such overwhelming force, if they were even a little bit smart, they wouldn’t dare look for trouble again.

If they still dared to cause trouble, Shen Lang wouldn’t mind ending them with a single strike.

Hearing Shen Lang’s words, which were dripping with killing intent and palpable threats, the four of them shivered and frantically waved their hands.

"No, no, no, we wouldn’t dare cause trouble for you! We were just advising Master An not to act rashly and to prioritize peace," Zhang Cheng said with a pained expression.

"Yes, yes! We were thoroughly beaten and have no complaints. How could we dare to offend you again? We were really trying to persuade Master An. Master Ye can vouch for us! If you don’t believe us, just ask Master Ye!" Yun Jingchu said hurriedly.

An Fengrui’s expression turned even uglier. He had never seen these disciples fear anyone before. A moment ago, they were indeed goading him to attack the mountain, but now, with him standing right beside them, they were so scared they were desperately denying everything!

’Don’t tell me that in their eyes, even I, their martial uncle, can’t handle this kid?’

Right now, experts from nearly every faction in Illusion Mist City had gathered, and a huge crowd was staring with wide eyes!

’This kid is unbelievably arrogant! First, he manipulated the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi to threaten the City Lord’s Mansion, and now he’s threatening my own disciples right in front of me?’

’And I haven’t even settled the score for you injuring them earlier!’

’The absolute height of arrogance!’

’Since when have the people of the White Rainbow Sect been bullied to this degree?’

’If I don’t capture you, the prestige of the City Lord’s Mansion will be utterly destroyed, and I, An Fengrui, will never be able to hold my head high among my martial brothers again!’

’If I don’t teach you a lesson, then I, An Fengrui, will have lived these past decades for nothing!’

An Fengrui’s eyes went cold. Just as he was about to speak, he felt Ye Xingzhe, who was beside him, discreetly reach out from his sleeve, grab his palm, and squeeze it hard.

Then, Ye Xingzhe’s voice echoed in his mind via Divine Thought: "Senior Brother, a moment of impatience can ruin a great plan. There’s a lot I can’t tell you right now, but you must endure! Let me handle this... unless you think you can withstand that last move of his. Otherwise, leave it to me."

An Fengrui felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head, and his mind instantly cleared.

From what Ye Xingzhe had said, he must have met this kid in Celestial Phoenix City and surely knew some of his secrets.

Seeing how serious Ye Xingzhe was, it was possible this kid had a powerful trump card or even a powerful backer.

Besides, that move of Shen Lang’s had been truly powerful, truly terrifying.

’I can’t afford to be careless and ruin everything.’

He thought, ’That was close,’ and gave Ye Xingzhe a grateful look.

He then heard Ye Xingzhe say, "Little Brother, you must have misunderstood. I was also present when they were telling my Senior Brother about the matter with Qingfeng Stronghold, and they certainly didn’t incite us to take action. Of course, after these fellows offended you and got beaten so badly, it’s only natural they’d feel a little resentful, right? HAHAHAHA!"

The man was smooth and worldly. With just a few words and a couple of laughs, he actually managed to make the atmosphere much more harmonious.

A smile returned to Shen Lang’s face. "I was just asking casually. If a Senior like you says so, this junior naturally believes you... Oh, I forgot to mention, I didn’t come here to start a conflict with the City Lord’s Mansion. I just came to make a deal with the City Lord."

"A deal?" An Fengrui, Ye Xingzhe, and the others were all taken aback.

’The issues between us aren’t even resolved, and there’s a horde of experts outside ready to attack Qingfeng Mountain. How can he talk about a deal instead of addressing that?’

Shen Lang glanced at An Fengrui, noting that the man had a clear, handsome face and a refined, scholarly air, giving him an extraordinary bearing.

He mulled it over for a moment before speaking. "A deal is, of course, mutually beneficial, and this one is related to the matter of Qingfeng Stronghold. To be honest, regarding Qingfeng Stronghold, I truly don’t feel I’m in the wrong. My friend was playing Leader at Qingfeng Stronghold like it was a children’s game, and that scoundrel Zhang Cheng incited several factions to attack the mountain. If I hadn’t arrived in time, they would likely have been killed. I only had the Bone Demon raid the bases of the Lone Wolf Mercenary Corps and the other two factions. That was merciful. If I had acted myself, it wouldn’t have been so simple!"

As soon as Shen Lang said this, An Fengrui’s face darkened once more.

Zhang Cheng flinched and ducked behind Ye Xingzhe, not daring to utter a word.

Meanwhile, among the crowd watching from the main gate, the members of the Lone Wolf Mercenary Corps and the other two factions became enraged and started shouting loudly.

If the City Lord’s Mansion guards weren’t controlling the situation, they probably would have charged in to fight Shen Lang to the death.

"Heh, what an arrogant tone, Your Excellency. So, you’re saying this is all the fault of the three factions and the City Lord’s Mansion?"

He had originally intended to let Ye Xingzhe handle it, but An Fengrui finally lost control of his emotions once again.

Ye Xingzhe was startled. By the time he thought to intervene, it was already too late.

An Fengrui continued in a cold voice, "So young and yet you don’t know your place! Don’t you understand the principle of forgiving others when you can? Zhang Cheng and his group were in the wrong, and they’ve already paid the price. The Lone Wolf Mercenary Corps and the other factions were in the wrong, and you’ve already imprisoned their people on Qingfeng Mountain! And after all that, you still sent a Bone Demon down the mountain to raid their bases. Do you still not feel you’ve had your fill of revenge?"

"What do you take the people of Illusion Mist City for? Do you have any respect for the White Rainbow Sect? Do you really think you’re stronger than us?"

Ye Xingzhe sighed and looked up at the sky in resignation.

’I thought I’d managed to ease the tension, but it all fell apart in just a couple of sentences...’

But surprisingly, Shen Lang didn’t get angry. He just gave a faint smile and said, "I can understand City Lord An’s feelings. I didn’t come here to fight today, but to discuss a partnership... However, this is a partnership I wish to discuss with City Lord An in private. I wonder if that would be possible?"

As he spoke, he looked toward An Fengrui, his eyes holding a questioning gaze.

An Fengrui was taken aback. He had been wary of Shen Lang’s technique that stirred the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi and had remained on high alert, expecting a sharp retort. He never imagined that Shen Lang would be even more composed than he was!

"This way, please!"

An Fengrui gestured for him to enter, his movements unhesitating.

Although An Fengrui was incredibly nervous deep down, he still didn’t show the slightest hesitation.

He had every reason to be nervous. He couldn’t see through Shen Lang’s Cultivation at all. The aura from that earlier move had been too terrifying, and either of the two Bone Demons was likely not much weaker than him. If this scoundrel intended to attack him while they were alone, An Fengrui wasn’t confident he could defend himself.

If he invited him in only to be taken advantage of, he would become the biggest laughingstock in Illusion Mist City.

That being said, An Fengrui was also a man whose great skill made him bold. He showed no hesitation as he led Shen Lang inside.

Even Ye Xingzhe didn’t get a chance to say anything.

The two of them walked into the City Lord’s Mansion, one after the other, and sat down in a room.

An Fengrui stared at Shen Lang, his gaze as sharp as a knife. "There is no one else here besides the two of us. You may speak now, Your Excellency. However, if you think a few simple words can make us call off the plan to attack Qingfeng Stronghold, then you are being a bit too naive. Everything is ready, and at this point, even I, the City Lord, may not be able to quell the anger of the crowd outside."

Shen Lang casually glanced around the room and said, "I know that City Lord An’s anger has not yet subsided, so you might not be willing to listen to anything I say. I also understand that reasoning with people is a troublesome affair, so I don’t plan on trying to reason with you."

"Hmm?" A Divine Radiance flared in An Fengrui’s eyes as he focused his mind and went on high alert.

’If you’re not going to reason, does that mean we’re just going to see whose fist is bigger?’

’Did this kid really plot to get me alone just so he could make his move?’

’This is outrageous! To think that I, An Fengrui, was fooled by such a low-level trick!’

An Fengrui shot to his feet. With a flip of his wrist, a cyan short whip that he had prepared beforehand appeared in his hand. He looked as if he were facing a formidable enemy.

Shen Lang was momentarily stunned, then couldn’t help but give a wry smile. "City Lord An, you’ve misunderstood. I just want to show you something. After you’ve seen it, we can talk about the deal."

As he spoke, a white light flashed in Shen Lang’s hand. With a gentle wave, a bizarrely shaped weapon landed with a DING and embedded itself in the stone table between them.