Wind Cloud City used to be a dead city, but now it was flourishing and bustling with activity.
Many cultivators rode on their own Spirit Beasts, moving about in a carefree manner. Many cultivators brought out Spirit Items that they had no use for and gathered to sell them. There were also many people coming and going to do business. The bustling shops on both sides of the official road had customers haggling over prices.
Inns and restaurants were filled to the brim, and it seemed a little crowded.
Amidst such a bustling scene, many warriors did not get into any conflicts. They restrained their spirit beasts as they walked.
This was because there was a ban on fighting in the city. Not everyone dared to challenge the authority of the City Lord's Mansion.
Usually, there were powerful guards patrolling the streets. Each of them had a domineering aura and a strong murderous aura. They seemed especially valiant and intimidating!
Ling Xiao and the others returned to the outskirts of Wind Cloud City. Just as they reached the city gates, they were immediately blocked by the guards.
"Everyone has to pay a hundred low-grade Xuan Crystals to enter the city!" A King Stage guard said.
"Uh … Brother, do you know who I am?" Ling Xiao touched his nose, pointed at himself, and said.
Ling Xiao was a little depressed. He was the City Lord of Wind Cloud City, but he was actually stopped and asked for an entrance fee. If word of this got out, he would probably become a laughing stock.
The guard laughed and said, "I don't care who you are. If you don't pay the entrance fee, then it's better not to enter!"
"How dare you! Do you know that he is the City Lord, Young Master Ling Xiao? How dare you ask him for an entrance fee?" Wu Fu came out from behind and shouted.
The guards all laughed. It seemed like they did not believe that Ling Xiao was their City Lord.
The guard rebuked, "If he is the City Lord, then wouldn't I be the Military Advisor? If you don't have Xuan Crystals, then leave. There are at least eight hundred people like you who pretend to be the City Lord. If you don't leave, then you will have to bear the consequences!"
Ling Xiao was speechless. Yu Lieyan and Wu Meiniang, on the other hand, were all smiles.
When they saw this overbearing man, there were also times when they felt helpless.
Just as Wu Fu was about to lose his temper, an Empyrean level martial artist hurriedly ran over and berated, "Are your dog eyes blind? Why aren't you bowing and letting the City Lord pass after seeing him?!"
After saying that, the man went in front of Ling Xiao, knelt down on one knee, and said respectfully, "Welcome back to the city, City Lord!"
This time, the nearby guards were all dumbfounded. How could they have known that the elegant young master in front of them was really the City Lord?
Suddenly, the dozen or so guards all knelt down and said, "Welcome back to the city, City Lord!"
The guard who intercepted Ling Xiao didn't kneel, but his legs were trembling non-stop.
There was no one here who did not know of the City Lord's prestige.
Now that he had offended the City Lord, would he still have a good ending?
The Empyrean was flustered and exasperated as he shouted, "How dare you! Why haven't you knelt down yet!"
As the City Guard Deacon, he had long seen Ling Xiao's true appearance. When Ling Xiao was fighting outside the city, he had also seen Ling Xiao's heroic appearance from afar. He greatly admired and revered Ling Xiao.
Now, not only did his subordinates not recognize Ling Xiao's identity, they even dared to disrespect Ling Xiao. How could he not be angry?!
"I … I'm sorry, City Lord!" That King-Level guard's legs went soft, and he knelt down heavily towards Ling Xiao and begged for mercy.
Ling Xiao smiled faintly and said, "Forget it, all of you get up. As the saying goes, the ignorant are not guilty. It is a good thing that you are loyal to your duty!"
After saying that, he even patted the guard's shoulder, and then led the few people behind him into the city.
The group of guards were still in a daze. The guard who was patted on the shoulder by Ling Xiao suddenly laughed out loud, "City … City Lord, he … he patted my shoulder, he didn't blame me, haha … City Lord is so good!"
"That's right, I thought that the City Lord would kill you. I didn't expect the City Lord to be so easy to talk to. It really isn't like the rumors, killing one person with one step!"
"Maybe the City Lord is decisive in killing his enemies, but he is very good to his own people!"
"Yes, it should be like this. The City Lord is really young and easy to talk to."
… …
"You bastards, if you still can't recognize the City Lord in the future, I will cripple you!" The Empyrean roared at his subordinates.
"Yes, we will not forget the City Lord's appearance!" The guards replied in unison.
"Well, it's good that you know. The City Lord is indeed a good person!" The Empyrean revealed a simple and honest smile and said sincerely from the bottom of his heart.
Ling Xiao and the others had already walked far away, so he didn't pay much attention to their words.
If Ling Xiao heard this, he would probably curse out loud with a dark face, "Who told you to give out the good person card!"
Although he had always felt that he was a kind and pure person, he did not think that he was a good person!
Generally speaking, good people did not have a good ending!
Yu Lie Yan and Wu Mei Niang finally knew of Ling Xiao's true identity. They were both extremely curious, Ling Xiao actually occupied the city and became the king, instead of joining one of those big powers as a true disciple and working hard to cultivate?
In their minds, a mere City Lord looked impressive, but in reality, it was not as powerful as a true disciple or an elder of a large sect.
In fact, it was mainly because they did not know of Ling Xiao's ambitions.
In the future, they all understood what Ling Xiao had done, and also understood why Ling Xiao lived alone in this place.
"Elder Du, are you satisfied with this place?" Ling Xiao turned to Du Tie and asked.
Du Tie nodded his head lightly and replied, "Although it is slightly inferior to those famous big cities, there is still room for development. Looking at the flow of people here, it won't be a problem for it to develop into a city that is comparable to those big cities in the future."
"Of course I know that. Don't tell me that's all you see?" Ling Xiao asked.
Du Tie was momentarily at a loss, he did not understand what Ling Xiao wanted to ask.
Song Minghua, who was at the side, said, "Young Master Ling is saying that the number of mercenaries coming and going here is extremely large, and the number of weapons they need to buy is definitely especially large. Brother Tie, if you want to restore your prestige, it will definitely be a piece of cake here!"
"Hehe, Big Sister Hua is still the one who sees things clearly. Any alchemist or artificer, when they are engaged in their own profession, refining good pills or forging good weapons, who wouldn't want to use them to their own advantage, spread them out, and become famous everywhere? I believe that Elder Du also does not wish for the weapons that you have forged to not be used by anyone!" Ling Xiao smiled faintly.
"I, Du Tie, was known as the 'Iron Hand' back then. It is impossible for the weapons that I have forged to not be used by anyone!" Du Tie said somewhat indignantly.
"No matter how good the weapons are, if no one buys them, and no one advertises them, it will be useless. Old Du, young master just wants to tell you that the stage of our Wind Cloud City is left for you to display to your heart's content. Don't let him down!" Wu Fu said from the side.
"Young master, you can rest assured. Since I, Du Tie, have followed you, I will definitely do my job well!" Du Tie patted his chest and replied.
"Hehe, that's good. Our Wind Cloud City's weapons will be relying on you, and in terms of pills, we will also have to rely on Elder Wu!" Ling Xiao laughed happily.
Now that he had found a high ranked master in alchemy and artificing, he could temporarily solve the problem of supplying the auction house. He could then relax and cultivate in peace.
Although his current strength could be considered amongst the experts of the central region, he did not think that he was invincible.
As the saying goes, there is no limit to martial arts. If you do not advance, you will fall behind!
He would not be satisfied with the current situation.
Upon returning to the city, Ling Xiao immediately arranged for Wu Fu and Du Tie's residences.
The three of them were all Emperors, and in the large powers, they were also Grand Elders. Ling Xiao would not neglect them.
He had long since marked out many places for the city lord to live in, and at the very back of the city, he had even built a simple and elegant jade building for these big name elders to live in and cultivate in.
At the same time, Ling Xiao once again gathered the elders of the city lord's residence and introduced the three newly recruited elders to them.
When Du Tie and his wife saw this group of people from the city lord's residence, they revealed shocked expressions. How could they have imagined that a mere city would have so many Mystic Emperors and Heavenly Venerables?
In their hearts, their impression of Ling Xiao had improved by quite a few points.
"In the future, Elder Du will be our Wind Cloud City's number one blacksmith. If anyone needs any weapons, feel free to look for him. The prerequisite is that you have to prepare your own materials!" After Ling Xiao finished his introduction, he said very casually.
The others also passionately and respectfully said a few words in agreement before dispersing.
Ling Xiao brought Yu Yanlie and Wu Meiniang to a courtyard that had been built independently.
This courtyard was not small, and there were many rooms. The scenery was also very elegant. There was a small bridge over a flowing river, flower beds and spirit herbs, lush trees, pavilions and phoenix pavilions …
This courtyard was an important place for Ling Xiao's harem. His women all lived here and cultivated in peace.
When they just got close to this place, there was a wave of melodious music that was like clear spring water and hundreds of birds singing.
That soothing and joyful music seemed to be able to wash away everyone's worries and unhappiness.
"What a beautiful sound. The person playing the guqin must be an absolute beauty!" Yu Lieyan could not help but praise.
"Keke, why do you say that?" Ling Xiao smiled faintly and asked in return.
"Do you think I don't know your character?
It would be strange if ordinary women could enter your eyes? "Yu Lieyan rolled her eyes at Ling Xiao and said.
"Are you praising me or praising yourself?" Ling Xiao teased.
"Character!" Yu Lieyan flirtatiously scolded Ling Xiao, her delicate face flushed red.
The three of them passed through the corridor and entered the courtyard. They saw a few absolute beauties sitting quietly in the pavilion, listening to one of them play.
Dong!
When the lingering sound ended, all the women in the pavilion looked at Ling Xiao and the other two.
"Young Master has brought women back again!" A woman in plain white clothes said with some jealousy.
"She looks like an enchantress. Why is Young Master's taste getting worse and worse?" Another woman with shallow dimples on her face chimed in.
Among the women, the charming woman in the middle walked lightly to Ling Xiao. She tidied up Ling Xiao's clothes and said lightly, "You are back!"
"Yes, I made you worry again!" Ling Xiao held her hand gently and said warmly.
At this time, two people shouted in surprise at the same time, "How could it be you!"