Chapter 676

Chapter 676: The Ceremonial Parade

In just over ten days, Mufeng City buzzed with news that shook the Nine-Mystic Continent, and the most frequently heard name in taverns was Hao Wentong.

"A major event! That city lord of Mufeng City has returned."

"Isn’t the city lord of Mufeng City Hao Yue Lin? It’s rare for the ten Great Families to have such a powerful female city lord."

"Hao Yue Lin? Hahaha, she is merely acting as the city lord. The real power behind Mufeng City’s current stature is a man named Hao Wentong from the Hao Family. He was chosen by Hao Yue Lin’s great-grandfather from among millions of Hao Family descendants. Looking back, her great-grandfather truly was a formidable leader with exceptional vision. He selected Hao Wentong when he was very young, earning the Hao Family hundreds of years of fortune—quite impressive!"

Another chimed in, "Hao Wentong? I know him! He is the true city lord of Mufeng City who invented bonds and tax liens six hundred years ago."

"Exactly, just a few months after his return, he made Mufeng City’s finances rise swiftly, shocking the He Family and Xiahou Family. At that time, both families dispatched armies of practitioners, but in just a light-hearted exchange, the ships turned to ashes. Hao Wentong held their practitioners captive for ransom before releasing them. Even more remarkable, after establishing a solid foundation, he vanished for six hundred years, not clinging to power, until the world changed and he returned."

"Hey, that’s all old news. I heard that as soon as City Lord Hao returned, he had a quarrel with his clan sister Hao Yue Lin, destroying many bricks and stones at the city lord’s residence. The guards’ knees were a bloody mess, and many died."

"Untrue! You heard only rumors. I just returned from Mufeng City today and saw City Lord Hao and Hao Yue Lin jointly taking a carriage to inspect. Their relationship is quite good! But that’s not the main point. Mufeng City has announced a major event that shocks the world."

"What news?" Many people rushed to ask.

"Your news is quite slow. Mufeng City has announced the large-scale mining of the Miao Jade veins hidden by the previous city lord and is open to trade with the world, actively purchasing Heavenly Treasures and Earthly Treasures as well as spirit treasures. They are even acquiring spirit treasure fragments, paying directly with high-grade Miao Jade."

"Pfft! I thought it was something major. Isn’t it just mining the Miao Jade veins?"

"Hahaha! This is quite big! Do you know how many superior mining veins there are? Mufeng City has announced a thousand so far, and I heard they plan to release another two thousand. No one knows how many secrets lie beneath the vast expanse of Mountains and Rivers. Right now, the city lord’s residence is frantically hiring. Anyone who goes to mine gets twenty percent of the profits while eighty percent goes to the mining area. I came back just to take my family along and make some extra income."

"Such a great opportunity? No wonder Hao Wentong is making such bold moves on his return. I want to go to Mufeng City too!"

After deliberate promotion and embellishment, a stream of people headed towards Mufeng City. The main road was filled with crowds, and many practitioners hurried over, abandoning their families to arrive quickly.

When they reached the mining area, they found it teeming with people. The taverns in the city set up a few stalls and earned plenty.

Initially anxious due to the invasion of the Demonic Essence World, practitioners heading to Mufeng City didn’t think about their fears. Instead, they dove into mining, fearful of losing out on benefits to others.

Wealthy merchants and small to mid-sized traders took swift actions. In only a few days, Mufeng City was bustling with people. Hao Wentong had a reputation for collecting things, and that hadn’t changed in six hundred years.

Tie Yixin returned to his old profession. He had been bored out of his mind in the Ancient Tomb, but now he was inundated with work. Even though thousands of Tie family descendants came to help, he still felt overwhelmed.

With so many merchants pouring in, and everyone eager for business, the emergence of Mufeng City naturally drew them like bees to honey. Li Hui, the city lord, had changed from his low-profile approach six hundred years ago and paraded around with a lavish entourage. More than thirty Traveling Realm Practitioners accompanied him for protection, while a thousand Profound Law Stage Practitioners formed a line like an army. Who would dare question him when even the attendants beside the city lord were Profound Law Stage practitioners?

The Nine Maangs Practitioners enjoyed this show of bravado; the more ostentatious he was, the more they idolized him. Even if they had to kick up some dust by trailing behind, they wanted to witness the city lord’s grandeur and feel exhilarated, relishing the experience.

Hao Yue Lin kneeled on a huge sedan chair, drawn by thirty-six snow-white dragon rhinoceroses. She didn’t seek speed, just a slow pace—three days around and three days back.

"My lord, are you even listening to me? Six hundred years! I spent six hundred blurry years with little bamboo. Every once in a while, I feel a bone-chilling cold. It’s not six years, not sixty years, but six hundred! How can you not give anyone a break and drag me around like this?"

"Ugh, ugh, you’re making me dizzy! It’s not that I won’t give you a break; it’s just that the Demonic Essence World has invaded, and the Qingfu tribe’s homeland has long hidden deep within the Azure Sky layer. I used demon talismans to track them down; I flew thirty thousand miles along the temporal trajectory, but I was met with countless disturbances that cut off my clues. Calamities have come, and many wicked beings can’t wait to emerge. Many races, like the Qingfu tribe, are choosing to live in seclusion. If you and Tian Zhu want to go back and take a look, you must practice earnestly."

"Ah? That’s possible. The clan has been clamoring to hide for ages." Tianyi, often a little scatterbrained, normally had a mature and charming demeanor, but now her expression seemed too childlike. Li Hui decided to keep a close eye on the Two Spirit Treasures, ensuring they didn’t get sold out and then have to count the money for others.

Suddenly, a paper crane flew swiftly over, unfolding into talismans as it approached. Tie Yixin transmitted a message: "I’ve located the spot where that bronze coffin was taken. It’s not far from our Mufeng City, in the Jin family’s Xumeng Mountain. There’s a ruin occupied by a few emaciated practitioners from a thousand years ago. The bronze coffin should still be at Xumeng Mountain. Should I gather some people to go deal with it?"

"Well done. I’ll go over immediately. You stay here to oversee the situation," Li Hui stood up and declared loudly, "Change direction—we’ll head to the Jin family’s Xumeng Mountain and let them know that the city lord of Mufeng City is visiting."

"Understood!"

The practitioners at his command immediately performed their techniques as the thirty-six dragon rhinoceroses roared, their hefty bodies instantly growing strong, their massive hooves creating clouds as they pounded the ground, "Boom, boom, boom!"

"Let’s go, destination: Xumeng Mountain." The ceremonial parade soared into the sky.

The wind howled, and vibrant colors of light flickered, causing many practitioners flying on their swords to steer clear from a distance.

"Boom, rumble, boom, rumble…" Thunder rolled in the clouds, sounding as if thousands of troops were crossing. The city lord of Mufeng City was taking action, drawing the attention of many. Numerous practitioners followed from a distance.

Li Hui did not hide his movements. After just the time it takes to burn three incense sticks, his magnificent vehicle arrived at Xumeng Mountain’s sky, and he activated Bai Ze’s divine eye for a gentle scan, furrowing his brow.