Chapter 609

Chapter 609: Dark Clouds Pressing Down on the City

As Li Hui waved his hand to summon the blood river, crashing toward the Tian Kui Lantern for the blood sacrifice, thousands of lights appeared above the city lord’s residence. The sound of breaking air echoed all around, and soon the brilliance multiplied as the cultivators from the He Family and Xiahou Family stormed in with furious intent.

“city lord of Mufeng City, Hao Wentong, come out!”

Young Master of the He Family, He Yunlong, rode on the back of a blue-eyed Dosha Beast and pulled out a handful of spirit talisman bonds, shattering them. He coldly stated, “These are the things that confuse people’s minds. The Hao Family is playing a grand game, losing face across the four seas and ten lands. Not only do they compete for benefits with common folk, but they also package and sell taxes. Hmph, are they not aware of their own shame? The entire city reeks of copper. Today, we demand an explanation. city lord of Mufeng City, Hao Wentong, must take an oath in front of the world to retrieve these deceitful, filthy items and kneel to apologize. If you cannot satisfy the He Family and Xiahou Family, don’t blame us for suppressing the Hao Family’s largest city.”

More and more cultivators arrived, blocking out the sun, stretching endlessly.

Hao Yue Lin looked up at the sky, her face pale. She finally understood why Grandpa Jiao said she was not suited to be the city lord. How much pressure must one bear? Today, Mufeng City would surely suffer unimaginable losses. The simultaneous move by the He Family and Xiahou Family indicated that the elder generation of the three main families had colluded, and it seemed the Hao Family was more than likely defeated; otherwise, how would so many cultivators dare move freely in their territory?

“This situation is dire! It turns out that rising a rank among the ten Great Families is so challenging. Luckily I have kept a low profile; if I had participated more, it would be a miracle to survive two hours under the pressures from the He Family and Xiahou Family. No wonder the ancestral hall summoned the clan elders back, leaving no restraining power. They wanted this boy to face the music, providing an outlet for the He and Xiahou Families’ frustrations,” Hao Yue Lin thought, feeling a chill in her heart.

From a luxurious jade carriage above, a booming voice echoed, “What’s this? The Young Master of the Xiahou Family and the Young Master of the He Family have graced us with their presence, and here is a mere city lord of Mufeng City who dares not show his face? This arrogance warrants a death sentence!”

The Xiahou Family not only possessed numerous enterprises in the Nine-Mystic Continent but also controlled vast territories in the Guishui Continent and Yimu Continent, with tremendous underlying resources. Their clan members always looked down on the He and Hao Families. However, the chaos created by the Hao Family in this large city exceeded all limits, causing the family’s overseer to hang himself in guilt.

The overwhelming force had become terrifying, with all chaos tracing back to one person: the previously unknown Young Master of Mufeng City, Hao Wentong.

In just a few months, the Hao Family had achieved what other families had taken hundreds of years to accumulate. They originally thought that by launching the spirit talisman bonds together, they could suppress this extraordinary trend. Who would have thought this boy had a backup plan, with spirit talisman bonds that could be combined into treasure talisman shares? How wicked!

Li Hui could only chuckle at this.

What was a nightmare for the He Family and Xiahou Family was sweet to him; without any hesitation, who would dare go against the heavens? With over two thousand years of insights, was that just a roll of toilet paper? As long as he had the facade of Mufeng City, he could turn the skies over the Nine-Mystic Continent upside down.

The He Family was no longer a significant concern; it was the Xiahou Family that was the gigantic monster.

Half a month ago, Li Hui had sensed the upcoming storm, realizing that the fortune streams of the Hao Family and Xiahou Family were colliding, igniting waves of fire that shocked the world. At that moment, he predicted their urgency, that the Xiahou Family would inevitably make a move to suppress Mufeng City. Now, half a month later, they had indeed arrived with great momentum, their arrogance evident and intolerable.

The sky was filled with shadows, dark clouds causing the residents of the city to feel anxious.

High-level demon cultivators from all sides surveyed the city lord’s residence; not even a fly should have been able to escape. Today, they made their intentions clear: to use their might to crush the newly appointed Young Master of the Hao Family.

Suddenly, a light sigh was heard.

Li Hui casually walked from the main hall of the city lord’s residence into the courtyard. He stood tall, with a face like beautiful jade and an aura of heroic spirit, facing the countless cultivators without even a frown.

“Hao Wentong, your good days are over. Hand over the filthy means of acquiring wealth, and you may save your soul. Resist, and don’t blame us for searching your soul with heavy hands,” the cultivators of the Xiahou Family declared, taking dominance and forcing the He Family to the side; they had already fallen to ninth place and had no voice.

Li Hui lifted his gaze to survey these cultivators, suddenly raising his voice, “In this situation, is there anyone willing to stand with me, the city lord?”

“My lord, we pledge our loyalty unto death.” A mass rolled in from the side door of the city lord’s residence; it was Tie Yixin, followed closely by hundreds of loyal fighters.

This guy might not be genuinely loyal, but the spirit talisman bonds were part of the city lord’s residence’s operations. How could he stay peaceful with the He Family and Xiahou Family at the door? A full family execution would be mild; even neighboring families wouldn’t escape. He understood that these Great Families loved to set an example, so he steeled his heart and led his people into the city lord’s residence.

At the same time, twenty-eight offerings arrived at great speed, with High Offering and Second Offering flanking Li Hui. They were loyal confidants of the former city lord who had pledged allegiance to him.

To Li Hui’s surprise, Hao Yue Lin stepped forward, resolutely stating, “I pledge to live or die with the city lord’s residence. I, Hao Yue Lin, have been scheming to carry on the glory of my great-grandfather’s line. After today, there will be no city lord’s residence left, and thus, no need for me, Hao Yue Lin.”

“You are willing to perish in your prime?” Li Hui looked at Hao Yue Lin.

“Heh!” Hao Yue Lin chuckled bitterly, “Besides Mufeng City, where could I find refuge in this vast world? You wouldn’t understand; this is my home! As a woman, I must protect the family business, endlessly, with all my heart!”

“Good! Starting today, all past grievances are wiped clean!” Li Hui nodded at Hao Yue Lin. At this moment, her willingness to stand tall indicated her determination, and even if they weren’t on the same path, they wouldn’t resort to violence against each other.

Hao Dalong and Luo Shan, leading a dozen loyal fighters, entered the city lord’s residence. Tie Yixin couldn’t escape; they were both part of the city lord’s treasure collection and would certainly face soul-searching by the Xiahou Family.

Originally, the situation seemed quite favorable; who could have imagined it would come to this? He felt regret for being too busy in recent months to enjoy the benefits of great wealth.

“Are these the only ones standing with me?” Li Hui shook his head with a cold smile. The Hao Family needed a Revitalizing Master, but they could throw their so-called master out at any time. This was the cold reality of Great Families; even if he truly was Hao Wentong and had rightfully taken the position of Young Master, he would still be ruthlessly abandoned. How much more so for someone like him, a mere traveler going against the flow of time?

Suddenly, without warning, the cultivators from the Xiahou Family attacked.

"Bang…" Li Hui took three steps back, each step leaving a mark on the ground.

Someone in the air shouted, “Wait, why wasn’t his soul captured? This Hao Wentong is strange. Fellow friends, quickly suppress him!”

Li Hui suffered no injury, raising his arm to point at the speaker, unleashing a killing intent so intense that it left everyone gasping for breath.