A Disciple?

In a secluded small building within the Huojie Dining Hall.

"These past two days, a lot of forces from Huyang City must have been visiting Brother Luo He," Shang Tianyan said, sitting across from Luo Feng. Sizi served them respectfully, bringing food and wine, while the servant Morosa had to wait outside the building.

Luo Feng sighed, "Quite a few forces have visited my residence directly. Even when I went to the Dream Flower Pavilion, there were forces waiting for me there. That's why I came to this Huojie Dining Hall—to find some peace and quiet!"

"Haha, when you forced the Blood Python Society to bow down and pay compensation, you became one of the top elites in Huyang City," Shang Tianyan laughed. "Countless Eternal True Gods are envious. Ordinary Eternal True Gods like me can't even begin to compare to you in influence, Brother Luo He."

The gap between Eternal True Gods is immense.

The strength of the divine body, the quality of weapons, secret treasures, armor, different secret techniques, levels of law comprehension, bloodline abilities, and willpower—all these factors contribute to an enormous disparity.

"If I'm not mistaken, the City Lord's Mansion has likely upgraded your rating to 'A'," Shang Tianyan said.

"'A' rating?" Luo Feng asked, curious.

"An Eternal True God that even a Huyang Army corps cannot defeat is usually rated 'A'. At that level, the City Lord's Mansion won't easily take action against you," Shang Tianyan explained.

Luo Feng pondered, "A Huyang Army corps is led by a top Eternal True God, with over ten thousand Void True Gods and millions of elite True Gods, all operating a military secret treasure together. The combined power can partially reach the might of the Chaos Realm."

"With Brother Luo He's strength, even if you can't directly confront them, you could still outmaneuver them, making a Huyang Army corps helpless," Shang Tianyan laughed. "You caught Vice Leader Lai Mo's True God Heart with a single hand without using any weapons or treasures. Anyone can see that if you go all out, even if there's a gap, you could still contend with a Huyang Army corps using various secret techniques."

Luo Feng smiled, not saying much.

Is the Huyang Army strong? Adding up the divine power of all the Eternal True Gods, Void True Gods, and countless True Gods, their divine power, purity, and quantity are far inferior to his own! The only advantage they have is a military secret treasure stronger than his 'Killer Wu Wings.'

In a head-on confrontation, it wouldn't be him who couldn't afford the consumption—it would be the Huyang Army that couldn't bear the drain!

"Judging by your smile, it seems you're not too concerned about a Huyang Army corps," Shang Tianyan raised his glass. "For that, we should have a drink."

"Let's drink," Luo Feng said, smiling as he drank.

"But Brother Luo He, don't underestimate the City Lord's Mansion because of this. The Ten Great Corps of Huyang, the Huyang Guards… they are just the surface deterrents," Shang Tianyan warned. "This large city, refined and built over countless ages, is one of their true sources of reliance. If pushed to the limit, there might be a Chaos Sovereign or even a Divine King breaking through the void!"

"I'm not foolish enough to provoke the City Lord's Mansion," Luo Feng acknowledged.

"Of course, the entire Jiujian Chaos State is the fief of 'Lord Jiujian'. What kind of status does Lord Jiujian have? He wouldn't come to Huyang City unless something truly monumental happened," Shang Tianyan continued. "So as long as you don't challenge the authority of the City Lord's Mansion, there's no need to worry about provoking a Chaos Sovereign. But remember one crucial thing…"

Shang Tianyan's expression became more serious.

"Please, tell me," Luo Feng said.

"Whatever you do, don't get involved in the conflict between the Shiguo and Yuguo," Shang Tianyan said in a low voice. "It's the most terrifying vortex in Huyang City. Once you get caught up in it, no matter how strong you are, you could be crushed to pieces."

"The conflict between Shiguo and Yuguo?" Luo Feng asked, intrigued.

"Shiguo has been expanding and encroaching on its neighbors since its establishment. Now that it's bordering Yuguo, conflicts are inevitable," Shang Tianyan explained. "As a major border city, Huyang City has been a hotbed of hidden conflict. For example, the Zanyun Merchant Guild is actually a Shiguo guild."

Luo Feng nodded, "The president of Zanyun Merchant Guild visited my residence yesterday, but I didn't pay much attention to him."

Luo Feng wasn't interested in forging deep ties with someone from Shiguo.

"That's the right attitude," Shang Tianyan said. "Being a border city, normal trade isn't forbidden by Yuguo. Zanyun Merchant Guild appears to follow the rules, but Shiguo has already sent several Eternal True Gods into the city in secret."

"If Shiguo desires, they can summon even more powerful forces at any time," Shang Tianyan warned. "This is the greatest threat to Huyang City."

"One day, if the two Divine Kingdoms go to war, it's normal to expect this place to be reduced to ashes."

Shang Tianyan sighed, raising his glass.

Having spent most of his life in Huyang City, he naturally didn't want to see it reduced to ruins.

"The conflict between the two Divine Kingdoms is beyond our control. We can only go with the flow," Luo Feng said as he drank with him. He appreciated Shang Tianyan's friendship—his straightforward personality and the fact that he didn't hold back when Luo Feng asked for advice on refining techniques.

As one of the top refining masters in Huyang City, Shang Tianyan's skill in refining far surpassed Luo Feng's. When Luo Feng had difficulty understanding the "Chaos Power Diagram" without a master's guidance, Shang Tianyan's few words easily pinpointed the key issues.

If Luo Feng had tried to figure it out on his own, he could have done so with his solid foundation in laws, but it would have taken more time and possibly led him down some wrong paths.

Shang Tianyan's willingness to guide him was a gesture Luo Feng deeply appreciated.

As they ate and talked, Luo Feng gained a much deeper understanding of the various forces in Huyang City, thanks to their conversation.

"This dining hall does have a unique charm," Shang Tianyan remarked as they got up to leave.

"I quite like it too. The grilled meat here has just the right amount of toughness," Luo Feng commented. His Perfect Divine Body was so powerful that ordinary food didn't provide enough stimulation, making it seem bland.

As they spoke, they exited the small building, and outside, Morosa quickly hid his wine jug.

At that moment, Luo Feng and Shang Tianyan noticed a woman with a fluffy tail ahead, accompanied by a guard.

"That's Diao Rongqi of the Diao Rong family, the daughter of Diao Rongyan," Shang Tianyan explained.

"Greetings, Uncle Shang," Diao Rongqi said with a smile, bowing.

"Are you here to visit Brother Luo He?" Shang Tianyan asked with a smile. "How did you find this place?"

Diao Rongqi quickly explained, "I heard about Lord Luo He's deeds at the Dream Flower Pavilion and wanted to visit him. Later, my guard told me that Lord Luo He might come to Huojie Dining Hall."

Luo Feng watched with interest as the guard beside the woman turned out to be the young True God named Soyun, whom he had once saved from a tribal group.

"Lord," Soyun quickly explained respectfully, "I live with Brother Sizi, and during our conversations, I learned by chance that Lord Luo He had visited Huojie Dining Hall."

"Quite a coincidence," Luo Feng said, looking at the woman with the fluffy tail. "What brings you to see me?"

"I seek to become your disciple!" Diao Rongqi's eyes shone brightly. "I wish to become your disciple, Lord."

"Your father is an Eternal True God, and you want to become my disciple?" Luo Feng looked at her.

"My father is skilled in alchemy, not in combat," Diao Rongqi said, bowing respectfully. "I'm willing to offer five thousand Universe Sands, just for the chance to become your disciple."

Luo Feng shook his head and turned to Shang Tianyan, "Brother Shang, let's go."

Shang Tianyan didn't try to persuade him; accepting a disciple was a very serious matter. The two of them flew off together.

"Lord," Diao Rongqi called out anxiously, "please give me a chance, a chance to be tested!"

"Becoming my master's disciple? Keep dreaming!" Morosa scoffed, casting a glance at Diao Rongqi before following Luo Feng.

Diao Rongqi stood there for a moment before turning to leave, instructing Soyun, "Stay at Huojie Dining Hall. If you spot Lord Luo He, notify me immediately."

"Yes," Soyun replied respectfully, watching his mistress depart.

"Soyun," Sizi approached, "how could you casually reveal the Lord's whereabouts?"

Soyun looked at his brother and said, "My mistress wanted to visit the Lord, with no ill intentions. Why shouldn't I have told her?"

"We run a dining business here, and it's our duty to protect the secrets of our esteemed guests," Sizi said. "I told you privately because you're my brother. But you should have consulted with me before telling your mistress."

Soyun scoffed, "The Lord didn't blame me, yet you, my brother, are blaming me."

"The Lord has a good temper and didn't get angry, but if you'd run into someone with a worse temper, you'd be done for!" Sizi said urgently. "In Huyang City, especially when it involves Eternal True Gods, you can't be too careful!"

"Being cautious all the time, when will we ever break through?" Soyun retorted coldly. "When opportunity knocks, you have to seize it! Thanks to this information, I've already been granted a secret technique!"

Sizi was stunned.

They had come to Huyang City from the tribe, and after discovering their bloodline, they had been trying to purchase a suitable secret technique. But the good ones were too expensive.

"Soyun already got a secret technique?" Sizi felt a mix of emotions.

On one hand, he was genuinely happy for his brother, but on the other hand, he felt the growing gap between them. He was still working as an apprentice, painstakingly saving up chaos crystals to buy a secret technique. And he could foresee that it would take him a very long time.

"The chief said to be cautious in Huyang City. There's no rush; I have a long life ahead of me. No need to rush," Sizi suppressed his feelings.

...

At the headquarters of the Blood Python Society.

"These past two days, the most talked-about figure in all of Huyang City has been that Luo He," Vice Leader Mulin remarked, shaking his head. "Mention Luo He, and our Blood Python Society will be mentioned too."

"Can you shut up?" Vice Leader Lai Mo growled in annoyance.

"I don't care about the gossip," Leader Mu Yang frowned. "What I care about is the two hundred thousand Universe Sands we had to pay. I'm broke right now, and every single Universe Sand is important to me."

Vice Leaders Mulin and Lai Mo exchanged puzzled glances.

"We have nothing left," Vice Leader Mulin quickly said.

"Leader, I've already borrowed as much as I can from you. This time, you paid the eighteen thousand Universe Sands for me. If we tally it up, you still owe me five thousand Universe Sands," Vice Leader Lai Mo added.

Even the two vice leaders were confused—despite controlling the vast majority of the Blood Python Society's resources, their leader Mu Yang always seemed broke! They were both too afraid to borrow from him anymore!