Prodigal System in the Flourishing City

Chapter 1727: Chapter 1729: Xin Lifeng

Outside the Qin Feng Secret Realm, on the plaza.

By now quite a few people had already gathered. It wasn’t as packed as when everyone first went in, but it was still bustling and noisy.

These people all had different identities.

Some were sent by various organizations to receive their people, some were relatives and friends waiting for those who’d gone in to stake their lives, and some were merchants waiting for strange new items to come out so they could snatch them up first!

Of course, people from the God Slaying Alliance were definitely here too.

The middle-aged man who had spoken with Lu Xiaobu half a month ago was also present.

The Nascent Soul Stage cultivators looking at the middle-aged man all had somewhat odd expressions. In past years, the middle-aged man wouldn’t show up at this time.

Why had he come this time?

Could it be he was still waiting for that little bastard who deserved a thousand cuts?

No way, would he really care about that kind of thing?

Those Nascent Soul Stage cultivators also remembered that kid who’d treated them like stupid Rabbits to be worked to death.

Seeing the middle-aged man here now, they couldn’t help thinking of all that!

But it was just something to idly think about; they didn’t pay it much mind.

The middle-aged man watched the noisy crowd below with some boredom, using them to pass the time.

He spotted that old servant who had come here half a month ago calling for his Young Master. The mix of hope and despair in the old servant’s eyes did, to some extent, amuse him.

After a while.

The middle-aged man checked the time and felt it was about right.

”Open!”

The middle-aged man spoke a single word.

After that, those Nascent Soul Stage cultivators began to act.

Just like half a month ago, ripples appeared one after another, and finally an entrance formed between the two pillars.

The middle-aged man looked over and immediately frowned—what was going on? Why did they all look like they’d just gone through a great battle? And the numbers were wrong!

Although he usually didn’t come at this time in past years, he still knew the general situation.

The death rate inside the Qin Feng Secret Realm was high, but every time at least a few dozen people would make it out!

But this time... only six?!

And every one of them was in tattered rags.

He knew most of these people at least a little; they had some strength.

People with this level of strength usually cared about their appearance. Unless absolutely necessary, they’d never end up dressed like this!

Unless they no longer had the mind to even think about their appearance!

What on earth had happened?!

While he was thinking this, the others also saw the scene and were just as puzzled as he was—what exactly had happened?

Still, it wasn’t their place to blindly guess; they’d know once the group came out and spoke.

Very soon, Lu Xiaobu’s group of six slowly walked out, and a thick stench of blood washed over everyone.

Mixed into it was the old, stale bloody smell that the Blood Continent had always had, as well as the scent of fresh blood.

Though it wasn’t clear whether it was from people they had killed, or blood they had been splattered with!

”What happened?” the middle-aged man finally asked, directing the question to Yun Hai.

Yun Hai hurriedly cupped his hands in salute. ”Chief Xin!”

Only then did he speak bitterly, ”The blood people revolted!”

”What?!”

The middle-aged man’s expression hardened, and he instantly recalled the Exploration Team’s reports from past years.

Could it be that some blood people had really awakened intelligence?

Thinking that, he also began to look for the Exploration Team members, but found nothing!

”Mei Tingfeng of Yiji Mansion did something—no idea what—and triggered the blood people’s revolt. Then, for this entire half month, we’ve been hunted down by blood people!” Yun Hai explained with a wry smile.

His face was full of the relief of surviving a narrow escape.

And it wasn’t entirely an act. They really had escaped by the skin of their teeth!

”I understand.”

The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes. It was unclear whether he truly believed this explanation. Then his gaze fell on Lu Xiaobu, and he actually gave a small nod.

In the end, his eyes turned toward the Blood Continent visible inside the Secret Realm entrance, deep and unreadable, no one knowing what he was thinking.

After a moment.

”Close the entrance!” the middle-aged man ordered.

The Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, already somewhat flustered after hearing about the blood people uprising, immediately closed the entrance.

Although there might still be people inside, and although the original rule was to keep it open for a full day, at this moment, clearly closing it was the best option!

Once the entrance was closed, the middle-aged man’s gaze once more fell on Yun Hai and the other five.

Then he spoke. ”Don’t leave for the next few days. There are some things that need to be confirmed. Also, you still need to participate in the second round of the trials to determine the slots for entering the core.”

The six all nodded. Then the middle-aged man’s eyes turned to Lu Xiaobu. ”You really did make it out.”

Lu Xiaobu grinned. ”Where’s the wine?”

”It’s ready,” the middle-aged man nodded.

This scene left Yun Hai slightly stunned. He hadn’t expected that this fellow whose name he still didn’t even know would actually have some sort of connection with the usually rather difficult-to-approach Chief Xin.

But clearly neither the middle-aged man nor Lu Xiaobu intended to explain anything to him.

The hasty closure of the Qin Feng Secret Realm left the people who had been waiting on the plaza feeling a bit disappointed.

More than that, of course, was the sadness of seeing their relatives and friends not return.

But that sadness wasn’t overwhelming. After all, those people had chosen a path that was already nine deaths and one life to begin with. Now it had simply turned into ten deaths and no life, which didn’t feel like much of a difference.

Only the old servant from the Hanlong Family, who saw Han Long still alive and showed wild joy, became the most out-of-place emotion on the entire plaza!

The crowd dispersed.

Lu Xiaobu and the middle-aged man headed to a residence in the city.

Judging from the look of it, this should be the middle-aged man’s temporary lodging. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was extremely clean.

”Sit.”

The middle-aged man gestured for Lu Xiaobu to take a seat.

”Thanks.”

Lu Xiaobu didn’t stand on ceremony.

After the maid had poured wine for the two of them, the middle-aged man waved her away.

Only when there was no one else around did the middle-aged man slowly speak, the corners of his mouth lifting with a faint smile. ”I don’t know how I should address you. City Lord Lu? Or Co-Lord Lu?”

This was his way of telling Lu Xiaobu: I already know who you are.

Co-lord of the Four Cities—Lu Xiaobu!

Lu Xiaobu only smiled, not surprised at all. It would have been strange if they couldn’t find this out.

”Just use my name,” Lu Xiaobu said with a smile. ”I don’t know why someone of your status would humble yourself to talk to a little Golden Core Stage cultivator like me. Don’t tell me it’s really just because of those few words I said before going in?”

”That’s one reason, naturally. But of course there’s a more important reason as well.” The middle-aged man chuckled, then added, ”Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. Xin—Xin Lifeng.”

”I’ve heard the name for a long time,” Lu Xiaobu replied with a casual pleasantry, then smiled. ”From the way you’re opening this conversation, it seems you didn’t call me here because of the Qingfeng Secret Realm incident.”

”Of course not.” Xin Lifeng nodded, then clinked his cup against Lu Xiaobu’s.

After they set their cups down, the first thing Xin Lifeng said made Lu Xiaobu’s pupils contract!