After handing over the Spirit Liquid, Lin Bai received the Identity Token and, together with Ban Ye and a few others, walked into Black Water City.

Lin Bai smiled bitterly: "Uncle Ban Ye, does Black Water City really require so much Spirit Liquid every month?"

Ban Ye nodded: "Yes, it’s quite a considerable income!"

Lin Bai asked: "So where does all this Spirit Liquid go?"

Ban Ye laughed: "Most of it is divided among the powerful clans in the city!"

Lin Bai frowned.

Ban Ye said: "Brother Lin Bai, there are power structures in Black Water City too!"

"First off, there’s the City Lord, who is the most powerful in Black Water City, with great strength, responsible for managing everything within Black Water City, like waging wars and leading defenses against other cities!"

"Besides the City Lord, there are also the Eight Great Clans in Black Water City!"

"The Tang Family is one of the Eight Great Clans, but they have fallen on hard times in recent years and are now at the bottom of the Eight Clans."

"The current City Lord of Black Water City is from the Zhao Family, one of the Eight Great Clans!"

"Brother Lin Bai, do you know, for the position of City Lord, the Eight Great Clans fought fiercely to the point of breaking heads and bleeding?"

Ban Ye said with a wry smile.

Lin Bai curiously asked: "Why is that? Is there such a great benefit to becoming the City Lord?"

Ban Ye smiled: "Of course there is. In Black Water City, being the City Lord is akin to being an Emperor, with absolute power. The other Seven Great Clans must comply with the City Lord’s words!"

"With such great power, naturally, one would think about their own family!"

"Therefore, over the years, because the current City Lord is from the Zhao Family, the Zhao Family’s influence has grown stronger!"

"To say nothing else, just the Spirit Liquid distributed to each of the clans every month, the Zhao Family takes thirty percent!" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"The Zhao Family alone takes thirty percent!"

"While the other seven families share the remaining thirty percent!"

"The remaining twenty percent is divided among the city’s other minor families; another twenty percent is used for maintaining the city’s Magic Circle or recruiting strong ones!"

Listening to Ban Ye’s explanation, Lin Bai smiled slightly: "From what Uncle Ban Ye said, becoming City Lord indeed has a significant allure, for the Zhao Family to monopolize thirty percent of the Spirit Liquid share!"

"And the other seven families share the remaining thirty percent!"

"This is not at the same level at all!"

Lin Bai said with a laugh.

Ban Ye said: "Indeed, the most crucial thing is, a few years back, there was a battle between Black Water City and Houtu City, and the current City Lord was severely injured. It’s said that the Zhao Family spent a lot of resources but to no avail!"

"It is said... the current City Lord should not die!"

"And the other Seven Great Clans are eager and ready to nominate their strong ones for the position of City Lord!"

"So, I guess it won’t be long before, if the news of the City Lord’s critical condition spreads, the other Seven Great Clans will make moves!"

Ban Ye said calmly.

Lin Bai laughed: "If it were me, I also wouldn’t want a Zhao Family Warrior to become City Lord again. This position must be fought for!"

"If lost, originally, it means submitting, and there’s no significant difference!"

"If won, having one’s family Warrior become the City Lord ensures several centuries of stable growth for one’s family!"

"This deal can never lose!"

Lin Bai nodded and said.

Ban Ye also nodded with a smile: "We’re here; up ahead is the Tang Family!"

Lin Bai looked up. At the end of the street was a continuous palace complex, built extravagantly luxurious, clearly the residence of the city’s dominant figures.

Ban Ye said: "Sons and daughters on the road, you’ve had a tiring journey; go back and rest first. I’ll take Brother Lin Bai to complete the Guest Official assessment!"

The young men and women had long been exhausted, and upon hearing Ban Ye’s words and seeing that they had arrived home, they dragged their weary bodies inside.

Lin Bai looked at the young men and women and said: "Are these the younger generation of the Tang Family? If the Tang Family’s younger generation is like this, it looks like it won’t be long before the Tang Family can no longer survive in Black Water City."

Ban Ye shook his head and said: "Indeed! Over the years, the Tang Family has not produced many geniuses, the only standout Tianjiao being the present... Tang Yuezhi!"

"Besides Tang Yue, the current younger generation of the Tang Family practically has no outstanding Tianjiao to show for!"

"Enough about that, let’s go, Brother Lin Bai, I’ll take you to participate in the Guest Official assessment."

Ban Ye said.

"Alright!" Lin Bai followed Ban Ye and left.

To stay in Black Water City, Lin Bai must have an identity, and he needs a place to stay.

At this moment chatting amiably with Uncle Ban Ye, becoming a Guest Official of the Tang Family, Lin Bai finds nothing wrong with it!

Soon, Lin Bai followed Ban Ye as they shuttled back and forth within the grand courtyards of the Tang Family, arriving at a palace with a plaque above the door reading "Guest Quarters."

On the spot, Ban Ye took Lin Bai inside.

"Ban Ye, you’re back. I heard you got a plum task, taking some kids out to play?"

"This plum task is good; you got to play and earned Spirit Liquid."

Just as they walked into the Guest Quarters, a middle-aged fat man inside said to Ban Ye with a smile.

Ban Ye shook his head and said: "Dead Fatty, don’t mention it, I was almost scared to death, I originally thought it was a plum task, but these kids insisted on going to see Earth Snake Forest, I nearly didn’t make it back!"

This middle-aged fat man was surprised: "Damn, you’re crazy, taking them to Earth Snake Forest!"

Ban Ye helplessly said: "That group of little ancestors, you know them, can I resist their demands?"

The middle-aged fat man clicked his tongue and said: "As long as you returned safely! This time, you came to the Guest Quarters for something?"

Ban Ye smiled: "This is Brother Lin Bai, who wants to join the Tang Family as a Guest Official. I’m bringing him to complete the Guest Official assessment!"

"Brother Lin Bai, this is my good friend, you can call him Fatty, that’s what we all call him!"

Lin Bai cupped his fists: "Lin Bai greets Uncle Fatty!"

Uncle Fatty frowned at Lin Bai and said to Ban Ye in a low voice: "Ban Ye, what’s going on with you? Why invite him to be a Guest Official? This kid looks younger than my son, can he qualify as a Guest Official?"

"Can he pass the assessment?"

Ban Ye now whispered: "Fatty, don’t underestimate him, although he’s young, his Sword Skills are heaven-reaching!"

"I advise you, don’t provoke him, otherwise, you’ll be harshly beaten by him!"

Ban Ye said with a smile.

Thinking of the scene in Earth Snake Forest, where Lin Bai, with a sword in hand, caused chaos, Ban Ye’s heart was filled with fear.

Even in the end, the Snake King of Earth Snake Forest sent gifts to apologize!

This kind of power is simply astonishing!

Uncle Fatty said: "Alright, since you recommended him, then let him try, but Brother Lin Bai, I must remind you, not everyone can be a Guest Official of the Tang Family, you must have the strength to pass the assessment!"

"During the assessment, neither Ban Ye nor I can help you!"

Lin Bai nodded and smiled: "I understand, I will definitely do my best!"