Chapter 180: Bold and Forthright Luo Feng

In the capital of Yuguo, within the royal palace.

Black Butcher and Suo Zhi exchanged glances, both feeling a bit nervous.

“The Ruler is going to Huyang City, and he’s taking us along?” The plump Black Butcher, an Eternal True God, might be considered upper-class in an average city, yet by rights, he shouldn’t be qualified to meet the Ruler.

The Ruler of Yuguo, having established a second-tier nation, was a figure of great renown even on the Origin Continent.

“Even I was chosen?” Suo Zhi was even more stunned—he was the only Void True God among the six attendants chosen for this mission.

“Father…” Yu Shui Tianyu also spoke. She was merely one among the many children of the Ruler of Yuguo.

The fur-covered Ruler of Yuguo stood there, and even though it was only a Divine Power Incarnation, his intangible aura was still terrifying. His gaze swept across the six attendants and finally settled on the master-disciple duo, Black Butcher and Suo Zhi.

“This time, I’m heading to Huyang City to visit Divine King Luo He. I’ve heard that the two of you are somewhat acquainted with him?”

“Divine King Luo He?”

“Senior Luo He became a Divine King?”

Black Butcher and Suo Zhi weren’t well informed; it was only now that they learned Luo He had become a Divine King.

“Your Majesty, Divine King Luo He was quite fond of my eatery back then. He’d often come to support it,” Black Butcher responded dutifully.

“Your Majesty, I left my tribe back then because Divine King Luo He saved our team. That’s how I managed to reach Huyang City. I owe him my life,” Suo Zhi added.

The fur-covered Ruler of Yuguo nodded indifferently. Bringing along a pair of old acquaintances was also a move to help close the distance with Luo Feng.

“Let’s depart.”

With a single command from the Ruler of Yuguo—

Whoosh!

He and the six attendants instantly pierced through space, traveling within the twisted fabric of time-space.

In the blink of an eye, the group emerged from the warped void, appearing within the bounds of Huyang City.

“Luo He…” The Ruler of Yuguo led the group flying leisurely, heading straight toward the City Lord’s Residence.

A tinge of worry was present in the Ruler of Yuguo’s eyes.

“In terms of strength, the Heavenly Kun Ruler and I are roughly equal. But when it comes to the number of friends… the Heavenly Kun Ruler far surpasses me.” At this moment, even the Ruler of Yuguo felt a bit apprehensive. “The Heavenly Kun Ruler has many friends and is even on very good terms with the imperial clan of the Ancient Flame Kingdom. Several Emperors often summon him.”

“This Luo He is, after all, the personal disciple of one of the Ancient Flame Kingdom’s Emperors. He may very well be friends with the Heavenly Kun Ruler.”

The Ruler of Yuguo had no confidence at all in persuading Luo Feng.

He was used to operating alone.

“I still have to try.”

“If I can’t persuade Luo He, I’ll go ask Divine King Suifeng to temporarily stall the Heavenly Kun Ruler—just buy some time.”

If he could stall for one Epoch, he might find a way to escape safely from the Heavenly River.

As it stood, the Heavenly River was an ambush. If he fled in haste, he might fall right into a trap.

And if he couldn’t escape even with one Epoch… then he’d have to pay a huge price—either abandon his true body or negotiate with the Heavenly Kun Ruler and others.

“Father, that’s the City Lord’s Residence up ahead,” Yu Shui Tianyu suddenly reminded him.

The Ruler of Yuguo pushed all thoughts aside and looked toward the towering City Lord’s Residence in front of him.

“Brother Luo He.” The Ruler of Yuguo immediately sent a Causal Transmission Order. “It’s me, Yu Shui.”

A silver-robed figure appeared at the gates of the City Lord’s Residence.

“City Lord.” The guards at the gate immediately saluted with great respect.

“Divine King Luo He?”

Yu Shui Tianyu, Black Butcher, and Suo Zhi all saw the figure. He looked somewhat familiar, yet also unfamiliar.

Now, Luo Feng, dressed in silver robes, gave off an even more subdued aura.

“Greetings, Ruler Yu Shui,” Luo Feng said.

“I’ve long heard of Brother Luo He’s name. Today is the first time I get to meet you,” Ruler Yu Shui said with a smile. In the past, he had tried to recruit Luo Feng as his disciple, but Luo Feng had politely declined and gone to the Chu Capital of the Ancient Flame Kingdom instead.

“There are three old friends as well.” Luo Feng smiled as he looked at Yu Shui Tianyu, Black Butcher, and Suo Zhi—whom he had known since his Eternal True God days.

“Divine King Luo He.” The three greeted him respectfully in unison.

“Ruler Yu Shui, let’s talk inside,” Luo Feng said.

“Alright.” Ruler Yu Shui stepped inside with him and instructed the attendants, “You may explore Huyang City as you like.”

"Yes." The attendants obeyed the command, watching the Ruler of Yuguo and Luo Feng enter. Only then did they relax.

Black Butcher looked at this city, now far more prosperous, with a sense of unfamiliarity. He had once struggled in Huyang City for a long time, painstakingly accumulating resources until he finally broke through to Eternal True God-level.

"Huyang City." Suo Zhi’s emotions were even more complicated. His brother, Suo Yun, was already dead—he had received the news a long time ago.

Back then, the two brothers had dreamed of taking root in Huyang City! But their paths eventually diverged, and Suo Zhi had followed his master to the royal capital. That time, Suo Yun had even come to see him off.

"Black Butcher, you and your master are quite familiar with Huyang City. Find us a place to eat and drink," ordered Yu Shui Tianyu.

"Your Highness, follow me," Black Butcher immediately led the way.

……

Inside the City Lord’s Residence.

Luo Feng and the Ruler of Yuguo sat across from each other.

"According to popular belief, Brother Luo He, after becoming a Divine King, you would swiftly reach invincibility at the First Stage Divine King level." The Ruler of Yuguo looked at Luo Feng. "Now that I see you today, the rumors are indeed true. Your physical body alone is already at the level of Second Stage Divine King."

Though he had only come as an incarnation, his realm remained unchanged, and he naturally sensed the terror in Luo Feng’s incarnation.

"I cultivate the physical body lineage. My techniques are clumsy and not worth mentioning," Luo Feng smiled. "The strength I have today, I must thank you for, Ruler."

"Thank me?" The Ruler of Yuguo was surprised. What did it have to do with him?

"You once sent your daughter, Yu Shui Tianyu, to deliver a leaf from the Void Derivation Mother Tree. It was of great help to my cultivation," Luo Feng said.

That single leaf was not particularly valuable, but it had a deep impact on Luo Feng.

It was precisely because of that leaf that he ventured into the Chaos Layer and gathered some creatures from it, allowing him to begin studying the Transformation Technique early on. Without it, his core combat method might never have been the transformation technique.

"A leaf from the Void Derivation Mother Tree?" The Ruler of Yuguo chuckled, "Brother Luo He, you’re too kind! It’s just a leaf—to help Eternal True Gods enter the Chaos Layer and better comprehend the Laws of Chaos. It’s a mere aid in cultivation for Eternal True Gods—nothing worth mentioning."

"It held extraordinary meaning for me," Luo Feng did not elaborate further.

Back then, he was too poor! That one leaf seemed even more precious—and it had significantly accelerated his progress toward the Chaos Realm.

The Ruler of Yuguo felt much more at ease now. He could sense Luo He’s goodwill.

"Brother Luo He, I’ve come today because of something very important," the Ruler of Yuguo began.

"Please speak freely," Luo Feng personally poured wine for the Ruler.

The Ruler of Yuguo said, "You’re well aware of the situation between Shiguo and Yuguo."

"So long as you’re alive, Ruler, they wouldn’t dare truly destroy Yuguo," Luo Feng replied. The Ruler of Yuguo, after all, was a Second Stage Divine King. If he were truly unburdened, Shiguo would be in serious trouble.

Zuo Shan Ke may have fled and disappeared—Shiguo could ignore him.

But the Ruler of Yuguo held a completely different kind of deterrence.

"They wouldn’t dare destroy Yuguo or wipe out my clan," the Ruler shook his head, his eyes beneath his fur full of resentment. "But they can continuously nibble away at Yuguo—taking ninety percent of its territory, forcing the other Divine Kings of Yuguo to leave one by one."

"Without most of our territory, the Divine Kings and Chaos Realm beings will depart, and my clan won’t have sufficient resources."

Luo Feng nodded.

At the Ruler’s level, perhaps treasures were more valuable.

But for the other four Divine Kings and countless members of the Yu Clan, what they needed was a steady supply of residence fees and rare treasures from the land of Yuguo. Without those, internal conflict was inevitable.

"How many Divine Kings can truly ignore their children and their clans?" the Ruler said.

"Indeed," Luo Feng nodded.

To him, his loved ones, children, and the human race mattered more than his own life.

"That’s why I’m here to ask for your help, Brother Luo He," said the Ruler of Yuguo. "As a dominant power, you’re skilled in the art of Incarnation Techniques. Even the Heavenly Kun Ruler can’t do anything to you. You have the strength to resist Shiguo."

"Of course, I know this request puts you in a difficult position," the Ruler continued. "Once you fully oppose the Heavenly Kun Ruler, you’ll have made a powerful enemy."

"The Heavenly Kun Ruler is formidable, a deeply accumulated Second Stage Divine King. Against him, you’d be at a disadvantage, forced to endure attacks. And he has many allies—several Emperors from the Ancient Flame Kingdom favor him."

"If you don’t wish to get involved, I completely understand."

"He’s definitely not someone to provoke," Luo Feng acknowledged.

The Ruler of Yuguo said, "I have two proposals. One is to invite you to officially join Yuguo as one of our Divine Kings. Naturally, I’d grant you ample fiefs and treasures—we can discuss the details. Then, you’d have every justification to help fend off Shiguo."

"Two, if you’re unwilling to join Yuguo, then treat this as a personal favor. You may name your price. I can grant you a portion of our territory—twenty Chaos States of Yuguo—or offer treasures worth One Hundred Million Merits to enlist your help against Shiguo."

"I understand. Truly opposing Shiguo means long-term resistance. These terms aren’t generous enough."

"If you refuse, it’s perfectly reasonable." The Ruler of Yuguo looked at Luo Feng.

Every inch of land in Yuguo was claimed.

To offer twenty Chaos States, he would have to reclaim fiefs from some Chaos Realm beings or even Divine Kings, which would require substantial compensation. So Luo Feng could only choose either twenty Chaos States or the One Hundred Million Merits worth of treasures—not both.

"Joining Yuguo won’t be necessary," Luo Feng smiled. "How about this—ten Chaos States. You hire me, and I’ll stop Shiguo for you."

The Ruler of Yuguo had been worried, knowing his offer was modest.

"You agreed? Ten Chaos States?" he was incredulous—Luo He had agreed far too readily, even lowering the terms himself?

One must understand: a deeply rooted Divine King like Zuo Shan Ke once established a third-tier nation by himself—typically ruling over around ten Chaos States.

Luo Feng, as a dominant force, was now going to oppose all of Shiguo—and only asked for ten Chaos States. That was truly low.

"That Void Derivation Mother Tree leaf you gave me helped greatly," Luo Feng smiled. "Ten Chaos States—I’ll help you, Ruler. But I get to choose which ones."

"Fine, you may pick freely," the Ruler thought, even if Luo Feng chose the most vital regions, he would find a way to make it work.

"These ten," Luo Feng said.

With a wave of his hand, a map of Yuguo appeared, highlighting the ten Chaos States closest to Huyang City—these were also within the projection range of Luo Feng’s internal world!

"Bordering Chaos States?" The Ruler of Yuguo was deeply moved. The border areas were in the direst straits—some already occupied by Shiguo, others under heavy attack.

"These will do," said Luo Feng. "Also, Jiugang Marquis is a friend of mine. I’m including Jiugang Chaos State in the ten. Please assign him a good fief."

"Don’t worry, everything will be arranged properly." The Ruler of Yuguo looked at Luo Feng, truly moved. "Brother Luo He, you’re so generous to help me—Yuguo will remember this."