Chapter 645: Our Young Master Xu Can Afford the Money

"How?"

As soon as they entered the city, the three waiting companions began to ask eagerly.

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head with a smile, not saying more.

This clearly wasn't the place to talk.

Outside, there were still big shots at the Zhandao level secretly watching them. Given the two "observations" popping up in the information panel, he couldn't just change his expression and chat freely with his junior sisters.

"Let's go, first we'll wander around this Wangcheng!"

With a wave of his hand, Xu Xiaoshou stepped forward.

The people behind him were all quick-witted.

The two great ghost beasts even had experience hiding and surviving, so after a brief thought, they didn't press further and just followed along.

Dongtian Wangcheng was extremely prosperous, truly living up to its name as a "Wangcheng."

Even at the city gate, the buildings were densely packed—some grand and imposing, others glittering with gold and resplendent, all exuding utmost luxury.

In this land where every inch was worth its weight in gold, space was limited, so buildings stretched upward.

The streets bustled with people coming and going, a ceaseless flow.

Even though Xu Xiaoshou's group had an extraordinary air, once they entered, they blended in like everyone else.

Because as far as the eye could see, Lian Ling Shi were everywhere!

There were ordinary people here, too.

But the ordinary folks passing by all looked well-fed and wealthy, traveling in carriages, merchant convoys, and accompanied by numerous Lian Ling Shi guards.

Clearly, anyone entering Dongtian Wangcheng as a mortal had to be extremely affluent.

This discovery surprised Xu Xiaoshou even more.

Glancing again at the information panel:

"Receiving attention, passive value: 32."

"Receiving scrutiny, passive value: 18."

"Receiving fear, passive value: 22."

They were now truly blending in.

Yet, as soon as they entered the city, the information panel started popping up nonstop.

"What a treasure trove!"

Xu Xiaoshou recalled the routine questioning by the white-clad guards at the gate, which included "name," "origin," and "cultivation level."

"Are all the people here Lian Ling Shi?" he asked, turning back, still a bit incredulous.

After traveling for over half a month, Lian Ling Shi were like rare immortals in the mortal world.

Suddenly seeing such a massive group of them outside of Ling Gong, Xu Xiaoshou could hardly believe his eyes.

Xin Gugu nodded as if it were commonplace.

"It's a Wangcheng, nothing like the places you've been before. This is the real world of Lian Ling Shi. For ordinary people to get in, they need status and influence; otherwise, they don't even qualify to set foot here."

"And!"

He seemed to remember something and emphasized, "Wangcheng doesn't ban killing—it's just that fights at the Wangzuo level or above have to go up there."

He pointed to the sky. "Into the domain, or aerial battles."

Mu Zixi was startled: "No ban on killing? Wouldn't that lead to chaos?"

Xin Gugu shook his head: "You're overthinking it. This is a Wangcheng, covering almost ten times the area of other county cities—who could manage it all?"

"Even if they tried, the city lord's mansion and Sheng Shen Hall don't have enough people, so it's mostly divided and ruled."

As he spoke, he looked at the surrounding buildings and explained:

"Once you're in the Wangcheng, you can generally tell the power of a force by the height of their buildings. In any given area, there's usually the tallest building."

"The force that owns that building naturally handles the security for that zone."

"If something happens, the city lord's mansion just needs to coordinate with them."

"In short, in the world of Lian Ling Shi, where's the place without bloodshed?"

"As long as you don't disrupt the normal order of the Wangcheng, you can stir up trouble as you like—basically, no one will interfere. Of course, all of this assumes you haven't messed with the highest force in that area."

"What if you do mess with them?" Xu Xiaoshou suddenly asked.

"Uh."

Xin Gugu paused, thinking of his own task to "act arrogantly," and felt a bit timid. "That wouldn't be good, right?"

Xu Xiaoshou turned to look at him.

Xin Gugu felt helpless and continued: "If you really mess with them, things get serious."

"In that territory, the highest force has the right to execute. As long as the impact isn't too severe, if you harm their people, they can kill you on the spot without repercussions."

"That's one of the special authorities of the managing forces!"

He stressed it heavily, trying to make Xu Xiaoshou realize the gravity.

Xu Xiaoshou fell into thought upon hearing this.

After a while, just as Xin Gugu sighed in relief, Xu Xiaoshou asked again: "What if the impact is very severe?"

Xin Gugu: ???

Is your focus a bit off?

I was trying to tell you that in the Wangcheng, especially with two great ghost beast hosts, we should probably keep a low profile.

Why act out here when you can do it outside?

Even a strong dragon doesn't oppress the local snake.

Here, the local snakes are thicker and tougher than dragons!

Mo Mo spoke calmly from the side: "If the impact is severe, then the city lord's mansion and Sheng Shen Hall would step in. Theoretically, the highest forces report to the city lord's mansion guards."

"If things get even worse, the Sheng Shen Guards, or even the white-clad or red-clad ones, might show up."

"Do you have something in mind?"

Mo Mo tilted her head.

She had witnessed Xu Xiaoshou's growth and knew he wasn't one to stay quiet.

Especially with the intermittent mental communication from the gray fog figure, she had a deeper understanding of what Xu Xiaoshou had done in Bai Ku.

Recalling the past, it wasn't hard to guess his thoughts.

"If you're planning to cause trouble, you should probably stop around the city lord's mansion guard level."

Mo Mo stared straight ahead, not wanting to say more, but the persistent noise in her mind made her add, "Otherwise, it might not end well."

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at her in surprise.

How did you know what I was thinking?

But inwardly, he didn't voice it; he just brushed it off casually: "You're overthinking it. I won't stir up trouble easily—I'm careful with my own life, and I won't drag you all into it..."

While responding, Xu Xiaoshou kept an eye on the nonstop pop-ups in the information panel, his lips nearly splitting from smiling.

"Receiving attention, passive value: 62."

"Receiving attention, passive value: 73."

What a treasure trove!

This is where I, Xu Xiaoshou, belong!

In a place like this, I don't even need to cause trouble—just walk around the streets making a scene, and I'll gain endlessly!

"No trouble, no trouble..."

Xu Xiaoshou muttered like he was in a trance.

He had only a thread of spiritual sense on the information panel before, but now it was all on the road, with his entire focus inwardly counting gains.

Apart from avoiding collisions, he was oblivious to the looks from those around him.

Xin Gugu and the other two exchanged silent glances.

"Receiving suspicion, passive value: 3."

"Receiving curse, passive value: 1, 1, 1, 1..."

After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea,

And after several twists and turns, the tallest building they had seen so far appeared before them.

It was a magnificent structure, glittering with gold like an imperial palace.

Though it looked like a pavilion from the outside, its height...

Xu Xiaoshou estimated at a glance that it had to be forty or fifty stories tall!

In a place where the sky was essentially a battlefield, the higher the building, the greater the risk.

Ordinary forces barely dared to go beyond ten or so stories.

The stronger ones, relying on great arrays, might reach twenty or thirty at most.

Something this audacious, springing up at a corner, was incredibly eye-catching!

"Duojin Merchant Guild..."

Xu Xiaoshou hadn't expected the first local power he encountered in Dongtian Wangcheng to be the familiar Duojin Merchant Guild.

He had seen their branch in Tiansang Jun earlier and even run into the Greedy God there. Who knew fate would bring them together again?

Pausing briefly and thinking for a moment, Xu Xiaoshou came up with an idea.

Just then, Xin Gugu suddenly stepped forward from behind and shouted: "Stop!"

His Wangzuo-level aura burst out, making the surrounding crowd halt and turn their heads.

"Receiving surprise, passive value: 492."

"Receiving speculation, passive value: 333."

"Receiving reverence, passive value: 681."

Xu Xiaoshou was startled and looked ahead.

Xin Gugu wasn't targeting everyone.

He had suddenly darted to the front just to block a sharp-faced, monkey-like figure who looked a bit shady.

"Houtian?"

Xu Xiaoshou was confused again.

He thought it might be like the traditions in Tiansang Cheng, with some trouble coming their way.

But it was just Houtian?

If this was an assassin, it seemed too weak.

"What's going on?"

Xu Xiaoshou frowned.

Glancing at the information panel, he adjusted his tone and patted Xin Gugu on the shoulder: "Good job."

No matter what, this shout was perfect!

Hopefully, a few more like that!

Xin Gugu sent a message: "Someone who's been following us from the city gate with ill intent."

"Ill intent?"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes lit up instantly, and he waved at the person: "Come here."

"Receiving resistance, passive value: 1."

The person looked constipated.

That lanky frame, nearly knocked over by the Wangzuo aura, paired with a face full of wrinkles that could squash a fly, was the picture of distress!

Who knew that after overhearing a few words at the city gate and figuring this group of four were wealthy newcomers, he saw them as easy targets?

As long as he passed on some common intel, it would be worth several months' earnings.

But he never imagined that among these young people, who all seemed to be at Xiantian level on average, one was actually a Wangzuo!

"It's over..."

His heart panicked.

He turned to seek help from his buddies, but all he saw were pitying glances—no buddies in sight!

Not even a single companion!

"Come here!"

Xin Gugu repeated loudly.

The surrounding crowd didn't dare linger. Realizing this Wangzuo wasn't venting at them, people scattered like birds.

Even in Dongtian Wangcheng, a Wangzuo was a big shot, a realm ordinary people couldn't reach.

Though you might encounter one occasionally, meeting and directly confronting were two different things.

"Who are you?"

Xu Xiaoshou smiled at this lost-looking, rogue-dressed individual, full of anticipation.

"G-g-g-great sir... I-I'm just a small..."

"Speak clearly!"

Xin Gugu snapped, and the person nearly knelt.

"Receiving fear, passive value: 322."

This snap clearly scared more than one person.

Xu Xiaoshou smiled even wider.

"Liu Lu... You can call me Xiao Liu, great sir."

Liu Lu was on the verge of tears—one part fear, one part regret.

If he could start over, he'd choose to take the day off and skip this job.

"Xiao Liu?" Xu Xiaoshou furrowed his brow. "From the looks of it, you're not here to cause trouble?"

"How dare I?!"

Liu Lu exclaimed, his pupils dilating.

Cause trouble? In front of a Wangzuo? He wouldn't dare with ten times the courage!

"If you're not causing trouble, why are you following us?"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes darted to Xin Gugu: "Wangcheng doesn't ban killing, right?"

"Yes!"

Xin Gugu barked heavily, his eyes igniting with killing intent.

"Great sir, spare me... I really wasn't here to cause trouble."

Liu Lu pleaded, his knees bending as if to kneel.

But halfway down, he felt something supporting his knees, and his body went limp, slumping down.

Xu Xiaoshou relaxed, withdrawing his Ling Yuan and sending the person back upright.

From this reaction, it was clear he wasn't here for trouble.

He had imagined it might be a disguised assassin, maybe a Wangzuo or Zhandao expert, but that was unrealistic. No need to ask further.

This was probably just someone lurking at the gate to fleece travelers.

"I have money."

Different people have different uses. Xu Xiaoshou reined in his disappointment, dragging the person to a dim corner by the wall, and smiled: "Do you have anything to sell me?"

"I-I-I..."

Liu Lu was speechless.

He stared in shock at this group surrounding him, especially the young man holding him up by the collar like a chick.

This was a wolf in sheep's clothing, not a lamb at all!

"I don't have anything to sell, and I wouldn't dare..."

Liu Lu really cried, his nose sniffling repeatedly.

He had never seen a Wangzuo so lacking in dignity—getting angry over a mere Houtian? It was terrifying!

"If you have nothing to sell, then you have no value."

Xu Xiaoshou's face turned serious.

Xin Gugu timely put on a stern expression.

"Shall I kill him?"

"Receiving fear, passive value: 1."

"Receiving resistance, passive value: 1."

"Receiving plea, passive value: 1."

"No, please..."

After that word, Liu Lu snapped to his senses.

These people knew what he was up to!

They were turning it against him.

—A chance to live!

"Yes!"

He flung away his tears and snot, saying seriously: "I have something to sell! Whatever you want to know, sir, I'll tell you everything I know, without holding back..."

"Shut up. I'll ask, and you'll answer."

Xu Xiaoshou said, annoyed.

"Got it!"

"Receiving expectation, passive value: 1."

"Do you have an organization behind you?" Xu Xiaoshou asked.

Organization?

Liu Lu hadn't even had time to feel relieved before he was stumped.

Were they planning to wipe it out?

"No..."

His voice turned whiny again.

"Why so hesitant?"

Xu Xiaoshou hadn't even gotten angry yet, but Xin Gugu slapped Liu Lu on the shoulder, nearly dislocating it. "If you don't, what about those buddies of yours earlier?"

"I..."

Liu Lu was at a loss for words, choking for a long time before saying: "There is...?"

"Is there?" Xin Gugu shot back.

"Yes!" Liu Lu cried, turning it into an exclamation.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled and got straight to the point: "I want you to spread a message—one that can sweep through the entire Dongtian Wangcheng overnight. Can you do it?"

Message?

Liu Lu experienced the highs and lows—from heaven to hell and back up. He exclaimed in joy: "Yes!"

"What's the price?" Xu Xiaoshou asked.

"Uh..."

Now Liu Lu was stumped again.

He did deal in intelligence.

Usually, he fleeced little rich targets to live comfortably, just getting by.

If he really had to do something big, he could, but it would involve the organization's internals.

What they wanted was a message that could spread across the entire Wangcheng in one night—that meant mobilizing the whole organization, and the cost wouldn't be small.

But...

With the Wangzuo's hand gripping his misaligned bones,

How could he say that?

Liu Lu looked troubled.

"Speak freely."

Glancing at Xu Xiaoshou, Xin Gugu understood and released his grip: "As long as you get it done, our Young Master Xu can afford it!"