Chapter 305 : Invitations from All Sides

Chapter 305: Invitations from All Sides

Rainlan City, the core area of the inner city, inside an ordinary cave dwelling.

A slightly plump man with deep blue skin sat there. He had a pair of soft tentacles and wore glasses, smiling as he watched a battle recording within an intelligence report.

“Tienheavenly Crane, you actually lost to a newly promoted Elder.” The plump man looked at the Heavenly Crane Elder beside him with a smile.

“I lost fair and square!” Heavenly Crane Elder laughed self-deprecatingly, then looked at the plump man. “Workshop Master, are you interested in competing with him?”

The plump man simply smiled.

He was the Master of the Trick Workshop.

“There’s nothing worth competing over. His accumulation of realm foundations is still rather shallow—he’s only relying on external means.” The Master of the Trick Workshop shook his head. At least regarding the final claw Luo Feng displayed, the Master of the Trick Workshop was confident he could suppress it.

The core reason Heavenly Crane Elder had been willing to join the Trick Workshop was precisely because of its master. The Master of the Trick Workshop cultivated two Paths simultaneously, and he was even attempting to fuse those two Paths into one.

“Even within the Dark Holy Realm, there are quite a few cultivators who cultivate two or three Paths at the same time. But those who can fuse different ‘Paths’ into one are extremely rare.”

“Among the top twenty figures in Rainlan City, when it comes to potential, the Master of the Trick Workshop ranks first.”

Heavenly Crane Elder knew his own potential was limited and had even been forced to choose the Bloodline Path. Naturally, he needed a powerful backer, and the one he chose was the Master of the Trick Workshop.

“Heavenly Crane.”

After carefully reviewing all of Luo Feng’s detailed intelligence, the Master of the Trick Workshop finally spoke with a smile. “Prepare one hundred million Primordial Crystals and send them to Luo Feng through your subordinates. Treat it as compensation from you.”

“Compensation?” Heavenly Crane Elder could not help but say, “We’re both Elders—why should I compensate him? Besides, the one I have in Rainlan City is only a clone. Why should I try to curry favor with him?”

Elders generally possessed clone techniques and naturally had their own pride. Admitting defeat outside the East City Gate had already made Heavenly Crane Elder feel extremely embarrassed. And now compensation?

“Just listen to me.” The Master of the Trick Workshop gave the order.

Since Heavenly Crane Elder had chosen to follow him, he had to follow his rules.

If Heavenly Crane Elder refused to listen, the Master of the Trick Workshop would simply distance himself from him.

Heavenly Crane Elder hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. “Alright! I’ll arrange the compensation immediately!”

“Workshop Master, treating him with such courtesy… I don’t quite understand.” Heavenly Crane Elder looked at the Master of the Trick Workshop.

“Look at the intelligence. He has only been in Rainlan City for a little over a thousand eras.” The Master of the Trick Workshop pointed to the detailed report floating before him. “At the beginning, he was suspected to be Early-Stage God Emperor. Yet in just a little over a thousand eras, he’s already able to suppress you. What kind of cultivation speed is that?”

“Workshop Master! The report also says ‘suspected Early-Stage God Emperor.’” Heavenly Crane Elder rebutted. “When he first arrived in Rainlan City, there was no way to accurately verify his strength. Members of the Insect Nest once tried to steal from him but still failed, so his true strength remained unclear. Later, Luo Feng openly made a move and single-handedly wiped out our raiding team. At that time it could be confirmed that he was far stronger than ordinary Mid-Stage God Emperor Seekers.”

“In my opinion, when he first arrived in Rainlan City, his true strength should already have been at the Mid-Stage God Emperor Seeker level. After obtaining Rainlan City’s resources, he then broke through the bottleneck and stepped into Late-Stage God Emperor.”

The Master of the Trick Workshop gently shook his head. “I don’t care about speculation. I only look at facts.”

“The fact is… when this Luo Feng first arrived in Rainlan City, he was even sharing a residence with Emperor Qing. In the city he also purchased only the cheapest materials. Clearly he was very poor.” The Master of the Trick Workshop continued, “Yet in just over a thousand eras, he became a Late-Stage God Emperor Seeker. Think about it—how long did it take you and me, and how many billions of Primordial Crystals did we spend, before we reached Late-Stage God Emperor?”

Heavenly Crane Elder froze.

How much had he sacrificed to reach Late-Stage God Emperor?

“Even if he reaches the Half-Primordial Level, so what?” Heavenly Crane Elder said. “Our foundation lies in the Dark Holy Realm.”

“Stop asking. You’ll understand in the future.” The Master of the Trick Workshop replied.

“Yes, then I’ll go arrange the compensation immediately.” Heavenly Crane Elder stood up.

The Master of the Trick Workshop watched him leave.

Soon after—

A ripple of invisible fluctuations appeared, and a phantom figure emerged in midair before him. It was a man radiating endless scorching heat.

“Hall Master Wei Yang,” the Master of the Trick Workshop greeted.

Hall Master Wei Yang’s face looked like a sculpted statue, his eyes deep and expressionless. He was an extremely domineering Half-Primordial Seeker who had honed himself in the Dark Holy Realm for countless years before placing a clone in the Jiugang Holy Realm to establish a foothold.

After his arrival, he had even suppressed the city’s founder, Hall Master Yuan Xiang, becoming the most powerful Hall Master in Rainlan City. Among the three Hall Masters, he obtained the greatest share of resources and benefits in the city.

“I heard that your Trick Workshop’s Heavenly Crane Elder lost to someone called Luo Feng?” Hall Master Wei Yang looked at the Master of the Trick Workshop and rarely showed a smile. With his pride, very few people in the city were worthy of his attention—and the Master of the Trick Workshop was clearly one of them.

“This Luo Feng possesses extraordinary potential. Even if he goes to the Dark Holy Realm in the future, he might still leave behind a clone in Rainlan City,” the Master of the Trick Workshop said. “In the future, Rainlan City might very well be ruled by him.”

“Oh?”

Hall Master Wei Yang’s phantom smiled. “You think so highly of him?”

The Master of the Trick Workshop did not elaborate further.

“Rainlan City is jointly controlled by the three Hall Masters. If he is strong enough, then at worst the three Hall Masters will simply become four.” Hall Master Wei Yang said with a smile. “But right now, his strength is still far from sufficient.”

“It seems the Hall Master has already thought things through clearly.” The Master of the Trick Workshop nodded.

“Brother Yuan,” Hall Master Wei Yang said, “With your talent, your strength should have caught up with mine long ago. You cultivate two Paths simultaneously, yet you still refuse to break through? The next expedition is about to begin—are you still not participating?”

“I’m not participating.” The Master of the Trick Workshop smiled slightly.

Hall Master Wei Yang nodded.

The two of them had been friends even back in the Dark Holy Realm.

Soon the communication ended.

“Luo Feng?”

The Master of the Trick Workshop pondered.

When he founded the Trick Workshop, he had never been a benevolent person at heart. His “Path of the Trick Realm” was filled with darkness and vicious ferocity.

“And yet… he actually made my ‘Heart of the Trick Realm’ feel fear?” the Master of the Trick Workshop murmured softly. While watching the battle recording, the Heart of the Trick Realm condensed within his body had trembled, instinctively fearing Luo Feng.

“In the Dark Holy Realm, there are indeed cultivators who cultivate two Paths simultaneously and elevate both Paths to the Half-Primordial Level,” the Master of the Trick Workshop reflected. “Yet even they cannot break free from the cage.”

“There is a legend in the Dark Holy Realm: cultivating two Paths simultaneously is still not enough. Only by fusing the two Paths into one can a qualitative transformation occur—and only then might one break free from the cage.”

“I have cultivated until today, yet my ‘Path of the Trick Realm’ has only reached Early-Stage God Emperor.” The Master of the Trick Workshop shook his head lightly.

He had first raised both Paths he cultivated to Late-Stage God Emperor before deciding to attempt the path of fusion. But fusion at that stage was incredibly difficult. After endless years, the fused Path of the Trick Realm had only reached Early-Stage God Emperor.

He had even slowed down the progress of the other two Paths, worried that his direction might be wrong.

“The fusion path has broader prospects. Even at merely Early-Stage God Emperor… it already rivals ordinary Late-Stage God Emperor paths. If the fusion path could reach the Half-Primordial Level, it might truly have the hope of breaking free from the cage.” The Master of the Trick Workshop naturally had ambition—and patience.

“As for this Luo Feng… I’ll observe him more carefully.” The Master of the Trick Workshop did not wish to become enemies, but he also did not want to get too close.

…

In the core district of Rainlan City stood a cave dwelling. Judging by its size, it was only several times larger than Emperor Qing’s dwelling.

“This is the cave dwelling I just rented.” Luo Feng brought Emperor Qing, Emperor Ming, and Emperor Fu to tour the new residence.

“The energy supply here is far too vast.” Emperor Qing sensed the energy in the air—even the energy in midair had condensed into mist. “It should be enough for even Half-Primordial Level cultivators to absorb at full capacity.”

Emperor Ming and Emperor Fu were also somewhat excited.

“I never imagined I could live in the core region of Rainlan City.” Emperor Fu could not help sighing. Any random cave dwelling here had an absurdly expensive rent.

“How much is the rent here?” Emperor Ming asked curiously.

“Five thousand Primordial Crystals per era,” Luo Feng said, feeling some pain himself. There was no helping it—this was already among the smaller cave dwellings in the core area.

“Five thousand Primordial Crystals per era? In just ten thousand eras, simply living here would cost fifty million Primordial Crystals?” Emperor Ming and Emperor Fu were stunned. Housing expenses were continuous—without sufficient strength, no one dared rent such an expensive place.

Luo Feng had no choice.

As his strength increased, the speed at which he absorbed energy grew faster and faster. Naturally he needed a better cave dwelling. This one could at least ensure sufficient energy supply even after his Path of Life and Death reached Mid-Stage God Emperor.

“Hm?” Luo Feng suddenly sensed someone knocking.

He had just moved in, and someone was already knocking?

“I’ll go take a look.” Emperor Fu volunteered and walked toward the courtyard gate.

He opened the door and saw an old man standing outside. The old man’s aura was restrained, but the faint trace leaking out still made Emperor Fu’s heart tremble.

“Little friend Emperor Fu?” The old man immediately recognized him and warmly said, “I have come under my Pavilion Master’s orders to deliver an invitation to God Emperor Luo Feng. My Pavilion Master will personally come to visit tomorrow.”

Emperor Fu accepted the invitation card, and the old man departed with a smile.

“An invitation?” Emperor Fu quickly delivered it to Luo Feng.

Luo Feng opened it. The message was brief. The Yun Dan Tower intended to hire Luo Feng as its guardian, and the specific conditions would be discussed when the Yun Dan Tower Master personally visited tomorrow.

“This is already the third party today that wants to hire me.” Luo Feng said with a smile as he looked at the invitation.

“Brother Luo Feng’s strength ranks among the top even among Elders! The forces in Rainlan City aren’t fools. Some forces with weaker foundations will definitely want to recruit Brother Luo Feng.” Emperor Qing laughed. “Brother Luo Feng, you should compare several offers and see who provides the best terms.”

Luo Feng nodded.

Rainlan City appeared relatively safe, but in reality dangers still existed. For example, some Low-Rank Primordial Lifeforms could infiltrate the city. And cultivators themselves might also launch secret attacks.

Thus, the larger the business, the more powerful guardians it required.

Even Rainlan City itself required sufficient military strength. Otherwise, even with the city’s protection, it might not withstand the siege of Low-Rank Primordial Lifeform tribes.

…

On the very first day Luo Feng moved into his new cave dwelling, he received twelve invitations in total. Some came from major forces, while others came from minor ones.

The most prestigious invitation came from one of Rainlan City’s founders—one of the three Hall Masters, Hall Master Yuan Xiang. He sent a subordinate with a letter inviting Luo Feng to visit his cave dwelling for a discussion.

The weaker invitations came from ordinary Elders, whose strength was not even comparable to Heavenly Crane Elder. Yet these ordinary Elders were even more willing to pay a great price to win Luo Feng over.

Besides the twelve invitations, Luo Feng also received compensation from Heavenly Crane Elder.

The compensation was a full one hundred million Primordial Crystals, which greatly surprised Luo Feng.

“This Heavenly Crane Elder is a Source World Expert. I can’t threaten him at all. Yet he actually sent compensation?” Luo Feng looked at the cloth bag in his hand—the bag containing one hundred million Primordial Crystals.