If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

Chapter 730 Title: The Power of a Single Sword Shocks the City Gate

The light suddenly dimmed at the gate of the City of Ten Thousand Beasts.

The massive skeletal vault blocked out the sunlight, with only a few beams of light piercing through the gaps in the bones and slanting onto the bluestone pavement.

The air was filled with a musty, stale smell.

It was the stench of blood accumulated over the years, mixed with the smell of rotting corpses, and it was somewhat pungent.

Although the bandits of Black Wind Stronghold had been shouting fiercely, once they entered the city gate, their steps unconsciously slowed down.

It's too oppressive here.

The towering city walls on both sides are fossilized leg bones of some giant beast, covered with scratch marks, exuding a wild and desolate sense of history.

"Stop!"

A loud shout, like a thunderclap, rolled through the narrow passage.

The voice was deep and resonant, carrying an inner force that made one's eardrums ache.

The crowd that was surging forward suddenly stopped.

Dozens of city guards clad in black iron armor strode out from the shadows on either side of the city gate.

The halberds in their hands gleamed coldly as they pressed down in a cross pattern, blocking their path.

The man in the lead was a burly man with a face full of scars.

He was extremely tall, a full head taller than the people around him, and wore a heavy suit of mountain-patterned armor with several dark red bloodstains on his cloak.

He was carrying a large, gleaming sword with a nicked blade, clearly a weapon that had been steeped in blood.

This man was none other than Wang Meng, the commander of the city guards of Ten Thousand Beasts City.

A master of the True Essence Realm.

In this remote region, those at the True Essence Realm are absolute overlords, powerful enough to roam freely.

Wang Meng glared with his bull-like eyes, his gaze like two awls, sweeping over Zhou Yang and the bandits behind him.

Finally, his gaze settled on Zhou Yang's slightly thin cloth clothes.

"Where did this stray dog ​​come from, daring to bark at the gates of Beast City?"

Wang Meng spat.

pat.

Thick phlegm fell onto the bluestone slab, emitting a plume of white smoke and corroding a deep pit.

"Were you the ones shouting and yelling outside just now?"

He slung the demon-headed broadsword over his shoulder, his muscles straining against the iron armor, making it creak and groan.

"Do you know the rules at this city gate? If you want to get in, each person must leave behind a hand, or, leave behind a head."

The bandits behind him began to stir.

Some people gripped their broken weapons tightly, while others instinctively shrank back.

The pressure from the True Essence Realm was like a huge rock pressing on one's chest, making it hard to breathe.

Zhou Yang sat on the white bone horse, without moving.

He didn't even look directly at Wang Meng, but instead looked down at Ma Zong.

"Both hands must be kept."

Zhou Yang said it casually.

The sound wasn't loud, but it could be heard clearly in the deathly silent city gate.

Wang Meng was stunned for a moment.

Then, as if he had heard the funniest joke, he threw his head back and burst into laughter.

The laughter shook the dust off the city gate.

"Fine! Fine, you'll keep both hands!"

The laughter stopped abruptly.

Wang Meng's face instantly darkened, and his eyes became extremely fierce.

"Since you don't want to live, then I'll grant your wish!"

boom!

A violent aura erupted from him.

Dust on the surrounding ground was swirled up by the airflow, forming a small whirlwind.

This is the strength of the True Essence Realm.

Without even lifting a finger, their mere presence is enough to crush the hearts of ordinary people.

Wang Meng took a step forward, and the bluestone slab beneath his feet cracked open like a spider web.

He shot towards Zhou Yang like a cannonball, accompanied by a whistling sound.

The demon-headed broadsword was raised high, its blade gleaming with a faint bloody light.

This is his signature move, the Blood Fiend Blade.

With a single slash, blood filled the sky.

The wind from the blade scraped against my face, stinging like it was being cut by a knife.

The bandits in the front row were so frightened that they sat down on the ground with a look of despair on their faces.

Qin Shuang stood behind Zhou Yang, her hand resting on the embroidered spring knife at her waist.

Her eyes narrowed, and she was about to draw her sword.

"Need not."

Zhou Yang's voice came through, calm as if he were asking what to eat tonight.

Qin Shuang's fingers paused for a moment.

She watched Zhou Yang's retreating figure.

The figure remained upright, not even the hem of his clothes fluttering in the violent wind of the blade.

Nearly.

Wang Meng's ghost-head broadsword was already above his head.

The nauseating smell of blood assaulted my nostrils.

A sinister smile appeared on Wang Meng's face.

In his eyes, this arrogant young man in front of him was already a dead man.

Even if someone has some talent, they are nothing in the face of absolute power.

"die!"

He roared, gripped the knife with both hands, and, using the momentum of his downward thrust, slashed down fiercely.

This strike was enough to cleave both man and horse in two.

Zhou Yang finally moved.

He neither turned his horse to flee nor raised his sword to parry.

He simply raised his right hand slightly and grasped the sword hanging at his waist.

The scabbard was simple and unassuming, wrapped with strips of cloth.

Click.

With a push of the thumb, the sword was drawn three inches from its sheath.

Clang—!

A clear and melodious dragon's roar suddenly rang out.

The sound didn't resemble the friction of metal; it was more like the low growl of a sleeping dragon.

The air inside the city gate tunnel instantly became hot and dry.

Wang Meng felt his hand tremble.

The feeling was strange, like an electric current running down the handle of the knife to my arm.

But once he made that move, he was already in a bind and couldn't back down.

"Playing tricks!"

Wang Meng roared, but gritted his teeth and continued to chop.

Just as the blade was only three inches from Zhou Yang's head.

Zhou Yang drew his sword.

fast.

So fast that the sword's shadow was invisible.

A dazzling golden light burst forth in the dimly lit city gate.

It was like a blazing sun rising from the ground.

Dragon Spine Blazing Sword.

On the sword, the crimson scale patterns seemed to come alive, flowing with scorching magma.

Zhou Yang flicked his wrist slightly.

With a casual wave of his hand.

There are no fancy moves, just the simplest slash.

scoff.

The sound of air being torn apart.

A crescent-shaped golden sword aura flew out from the sword's edge.

This sword energy was not static; it was like a burning flame, its edges constantly emitting light.

It met the powerful, heavy ghost-headed broadsword head ...

There was no loud clang of metal clashing as I had imagined.

There was only a soft sound.

It was like a hot knife cutting into butter.

Wang Meng's ghost-head broadsword, which had been forged for many years, broke in two the moment it came into contact with the golden sword energy.

The upper half of the blade flew out and crashed into the bone wall with a clang, sending up a string of sparks.

The sword energy continued its momentum undiminished.

It swept across Wang Meng's body with a devastating force.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

Wang Meng remained frozen in mid-air, his sword still raised in a downward slashing motion.

His eyes widened as he stared intently at Zhou Yang.

That was fear.

The fear reached its extreme.

next second.

A line of blood appeared between his eyebrows and extended all the way to his groin.

laugh--

A burnt smell filled the air.

That was the smell of a wound being instantly burned by high temperature.

Wang Meng's left side slowly slid down.

No blood gushed out.

Because the flesh and blood at the wound site were instantly solidified and carbonized by the high temperature of the sword energy.

The incision was as smooth as a mirror, and even the bone marrow was charred.

puff.

The two halves of the body crashed heavily to the ground.

Along with the heavy mountain-patterned armor, it was smashed to pieces.

The city gate fell silent.

A deathly silence.

Even the wind stopped.

The dozens of city guards who were just moments ago so arrogant and domineering now seemed to have been frozen in place.

They looked at the two charred corpses on the ground, then at Zhou Yang, who was standing on horseback, slowly sheathing his sword.

He made gurgling sounds in his throat, but couldn't utter a complete sentence.

too strong.

Is this the True Essence Realm?

Before that sword strike, a True Essence Realm cultivator was like a paper doll, easily shattered.

The people queuing to enter the city were so frightened that they didn't dare to breathe.

Someone dropped their basket, and the fruit inside rolled all over the ground, but no one picked it up.

Some people's legs went weak and they collapsed to the ground, their pants soaked.

That's because they were scared to death.

Zhou Yang didn't even glance at the corpse on the ground.

With a flick of his wrist, the Dragon Spine Sword returned to its sheath.

Click.

This soft sound, though heard in the silent city gate, sounded like a heavy hammer blow to everyone's hearts.

He raised his head and glanced at the stunned city guards.

"Who else wants to spare my hand?"

Zhou Yang's voice was very calm.

There was no murderous intent, no anger.

It's like asking, "Who else wants to buy my goods?"

But it was precisely this ordinariness that sent a chill down the spines of the city guards.

It was a fear that surged from the depths of one's soul.

Crackle, crackle.

A sound of weapons hitting the ground.

First, a city guard let go, and his halberd fell onto the stone slab.

Then came the second, and the third.

Before long, all the city guards dropped their weapons.

They retreated in unison, all the way to the base of the wall, pressed against the cold, bone-like surface, wishing they could squeeze themselves into a crack in the wall.

No one dared to speak.

No one even dared to look Zhou Yang in the eye.

The young man standing on the white bone horse was, in their eyes, a god of death in human skin.

Zhou Yang ignored these small fry.

He gently squeezed the horse's belly.

The white-boned horse strode forward, its hooves striking the bluestone slabs with a crisp sound.

Da, da, da.

He walked over calmly and unhurriedly.

The horse's hooves passed by Wang Meng's corpse without even stopping.

Qin Shuang followed behind, and her eyes flickered as she passed the two corpses.

The wound was smooth and charred.

One blow kills.

Even though she was used to seeing countless experts in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, this kind of method still shocked her.

The power that erupted just now even surpassed that of an ordinary peak True Essence Realm cultivator.

Just how many cards is Zhou Yang hiding this week?

She shook her head and spurred her horse to follow.

The bandits of Black Wind Stronghold finally came to their senses.

They stared at their leader's towering figure, their eyes practically overflowing with fervor.

That sword strike was so damn cool!

That's the True Essence Realm!

The important figures they would normally kowtow to were utterly powerless against their leader, unable to even withstand a single sword strike.

"Our boss is awesome!"

Someone shouted out.

Immediately afterwards, the entire Black Wind Stronghold team erupted in cheers.

"Our boss is awesome!"

"Follow the boss, and you'll live the high life!"

"Kill! Charge in!"

The bandits straightened their backs, their noses in the air, like victorious roosters, and swaggered into the city.

As they passed by the trembling city guards, someone deliberately spat.

"What are you looking at! Haven't you ever seen someone kill someone before?"

The city guards lowered their heads, daring not to speak out against their anger.

They could only let the bandits swagger into the city.

Outside the city gate, the caravans and individual travelers who had been observing were now looking at each other in bewilderment.

"What...who is this deity?"

An old businessman wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his voice trembling.

"I don't know, I've never seen such ruthless methods before."

"That sword...did it just make a dragon's roar?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! Don't risk your life!"

The crowd buzzed with discussion, their eyes filled with awe as they looked in the direction Zhou Yang had disappeared.

Zhou Yang rode his horse through the long city gate.

Suddenly, everything became clear.

The streets of Beast City are wide and chaotic.

The buildings on both sides are mostly constructed of wood and animal bones, with a rough and barbaric style.

The streets were packed with people.

There were hunters dressed in animal skins, mysterious merchants in cloaks, and strangely shaped alien races.

The noise, the hawking, and the roars of wild animals blended together.

It is full of wild vitality.

Zhou Yang reined in his horse and stopped at the intersection.

He took a deep breath.

Although the air still smelled of that unpleasant fishy odor, he detected a more alluring scent.

That's the smell of money.

This is the City of Ten Thousand Beasts.

A place where, as long as you have the ability, you can turn your life into money.

"Lord Qin."

Zhou Yang turned to look at Qin Shuang.

Qin Shuang rode over, her beautiful face still expressionless, only her eyes softened a little.

"What's wrong?"

"How much was that sword strike worth?"

Zhou Yang suddenly asked a strange question.

Qin Shuang was taken aback, then rolled her eyes at him in annoyance.

"If this sword can deter all the villains in the city, it will be worth a fortune."

"Ten thousand gold pieces..."

Zhou Yang stroked his chin, seemingly lost in thought.

"Looks like my swordsmanship has gone up in price again."

As he spoke, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

That smile carried three parts shrewdness and seven parts wickedness.

The sunlight shone on his face, giving his originally pale skin a faint golden-red hue.

In the distance, a towering black tower stands in the center of the city.

At the top of the tower, a giant eye slowly opened, seemingly watching this group of uninvited guests.

Zhou Yang looked up at the black tower.

His gaze sharpened slightly.

"The real show is just beginning."

He spoke softly, flicking his riding whip.

Snapped!

The white-boned horse neighed and carried the evil god, who wanted to sell his life for a good price, into the mortal world.

Chapter 732 The City Lord's "Invitation"

The sword is sheathed.

A soft "click" sounded particularly jarring in the deathly silent city gate.

Zhou Yang looked down at the city guard leader, who lay slumped on the ground, as if he were looking at a dead man. The leader clutched his neck, which had been slashed by the sword energy, and blood seeped from between his fingers, staining the blue bricks on the ground mottled and uneven.

The city guards around them were trembling, their spears shaking like leaves, and no one dared to take a step forward. That sword strike had been too fast; they hadn't even realized how their leader had fallen.

"Didn't you hear me?"

Zhou Yang sat on the back of the white bone horse, leaning slightly forward. His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears.

"I said, I won't pay the city entry tax."

He patted the horse's neck, and the white-boned horse snorted, exhaling a blast of cold air.

"Not only will I not pay, but the hundreds of brothers behind me won't pay either. From now on, I can enter and leave this Beast City whenever I want. If anyone feels itchy and wants to take money, feel free to reach out."

As he spoke, a half-smile curved his lips, and his fingers rested lightly on the hilt of the sword.

"I wouldn't mind chopping off his hand and using it as a snack with his drinks."

The city guard leader finally recovered from the excruciating pain and terror, scrambling backward, his face ashen. He was a far cry from the menacing tax-collecting figure he had been moments before.

"No... I wouldn't dare!"

"Hero, spare my life! I was blind and didn't recognize your greatness!"

Seeing this, the other city guards dared not block the way anymore. They threw their spears aside, and some even moved the roadblocks themselves. Their movements were so uniform that they were afraid of being chopped off by the sword if they were a step too slow.

Zhou Yang gave a soft snort, not even glancing at them again, and flicked the reins.

"Walk."

The white-boned horse strode confidently into the city, its hooves clattering on the bluestone pavement.

Behind them, the bandits of Black Wind Stronghold puffed out their chests, their arrogance a stark contrast to their timid demeanor in the swamp. Er Mazi led the way, carrying a large, ghost-headed dagger, baring his teeth at the people and merchants on either side, scaring passersby into scurrying away as if avoiding a plague.

Upon entering the city, the hustle and bustle immediately envelops you.

This City of Ten Thousand Beasts truly lives up to its reputation as the largest den of iniquity within a hundred miles. The streets are wide enough for eight carriages to run side by side, the road surface is paved with thick stone slabs, and shops line both sides with wine flags fluttering in the breeze.

The air was filled with a mixture of smells.

The aroma of roasted meat, the cloying sweetness of cheap grease, and the stench of decay that lingers in the sewers. Even more pungent is a faint, unmistakable, gamey odor, a unique smell of Beast City.

The people walking on the street were a diverse bunch.

Mercenaries in leather armor carrying long swords huddled together in twos and threes, chatting and gossiping; traveling merchants with long robes covering their faces hurried along, acting furtively; and even several burly barbarian men with animal teeth around their necks and bare torsos carrying huge animal bones passed by.

The cries of vendors hawking their wares rose and fell along both sides of the street.

"A freshly skinned tiger! Decades of cultivation!"

"Hemostatic herb! Extremely nourishing!"

Zhou Yang, mounted on his horse, didn't linger on the bustling activity for long. His gaze was more focused on scanning the buildings on both sides of the street, the locations of the high walls and courtyards, and the routes of the city guards' patrols.

He was doing the accounting.

They calculated the profits of the city and how to pocket those profits.

This place is chaotic, and that's good. Chaos creates opportunities, and it creates loopholes to exploit.

"Boss, it's really lively here."

Er Mazi came closer, looking completely naive and drooling, "Look at that woman, her legs are so white..."

"Shut your mouth."

Zhou Yang didn't turn around, coldly tossing out, "Look where you're going. This is Beast City, not Black Wind Stronghold. If you dare cause me trouble, I'll throw you to the stray dogs on the street for dinner."

Er Mazi shrank his neck, chuckled, and quickly stepped aside.

Qin Shuang rode her blue-maned horse alongside Zhou Yang. She was dressed in a blue robe, completely covered up, and wore a veiled hat, obscuring her face. Yet, her figure and demeanor still drew attention on the street.

She didn't speak, but silently observed her surroundings.

She knew what Zhou Yang was looking at.

Even when this man arrives in an unfamiliar place, his first reaction is never to admire the scenery, but to look for a hunting ground.

The group walked along the main street for a while, but Zhou Yang didn't rush to find a place to stay.

He needed an opportunity, a chance to quickly infiltrate the upper echelons of Beast City. Simply killing a few city guards wouldn't be enough; that would only instill fear in them, not allow him to integrate into the local customs.

Sometimes, fear is less useful than taking advantage of it.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out on the street ahead.

The originally crowded people parted to both sides like a tide, revealing a path.

A group of people dressed in bright clothes walked over.

The leader was a middle-aged man dressed in a dark red brocade robe, with a warm jade pendant hanging from his waist. He held a folding fan in his hand and wore a friendly, prosperous smile. Behind him followed a dozen or so burly guards, each with a steady demeanor, clearly skilled in martial arts.

This man doesn't look like the kind of city guard leader who only collects taxes.

Zhou Yang reined in his horse.

When the middle-aged man saw Zhou Yang, his smile deepened. He bowed respectfully from afar, his steps unhurried, stopping just three zhang in front of Zhou Yang's horse.

Maintaining a distance that is neither too close nor too far demonstrates respect without making the person appear overly humble.

"This must be Master Zhou, right?"

The voice of a middle-aged person is mellow and pleasant to listen to, making people feel comfortable.

"I am Zhao, the steward, here on the orders of the city lord to welcome Master Zhou into the city."

Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow.

They came so quickly.

It seems there are quite a few spies planted in the city lord's mansion. What happened at the city gate just now has probably already reached the ears of that "Mad Lion".

"A raging lion?"

Zhou Yang tapped his fingers lightly on the hilt of his sword, looking at Deacon Zhao with a half-smile. "Your city lord's information network is certainly impressive. He found out the moment I stepped inside?"

Deacon Zhao was not embarrassed and maintained his polite smile.

"Although the City of Ten Thousand Beasts is large, there has never been a case of killing the head of the city guards at the city gate. It's hard for anyone not to know about Master Zhou's actions."

His words were barbed, but his tone was soft and gentle, without a trace of anger.

"The city lord said that what happened before is what happened before. Rules are rules, but people are flexible. Since Master Zhou has this strength, he is a distinguished guest of Ten Thousand Beasts City. Those low-class rules from before naturally don't count."

As he spoke, Deacon Zhao took out an exquisite sandalwood box from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"This is a small token of the City Lord's Mansion's appreciation, a welcome feast for Lord Zhou and everyone."

Zhou Yang didn't answer.

He stared at the box, then glanced at Deacon Zhao's smiling face, which resembled that of Maitreya Buddha.

"Just tell me, what does your city lord want?"

Zhou Yang believed in equivalent exchange.

There are no free lunches in the world, only traps. Since the city lord of this Beast City is called "Mad Lion," he must be a meat-eater. For him to send someone to deliver things in such a humble manner is definitely not for the purpose of making friends.

Deacon Zhao's smile deepened.

"Master Zhou is straightforward."

"The City Lord has heard of Lord Zhou's heroic deeds at Black Wind Stronghold and is deeply impressed. Tomorrow is the 'Hundred Beasts Feast,' held every three years in Beast City, where all the major and minor forces in the city will gather. The City Lord hopes that Lord Zhou can also do us the honor of visiting our residence."

"A feast of a hundred beasts?"

Zhou Yang touched his chin.

This name doesn't sound like a peaceful gathering.

"I'm not going."

Zhou Yang refused without even thinking, saying, "I just arrived in the city, I'm exhausted, and I want to sleep."

The refusal was swift and decisive, without giving any face whatsoever.

Deacon Zhao was taken aback for a moment, seemingly not expecting this person to act so unpredictably. But he reacted quickly, his smile remaining unchanged, he simply bowed slightly.

"Master Zhou, this Feast of a Hundred Beasts is no ordinary meal."

He lowered his voice and spoke in a mysterious tone.

"This banquet will not only feature fine wine and delicacies, but also a major business deal. The contracting rights for the city's largest mines and hunting grounds will be redistributed at the banquet. The city lord said that only the strong are qualified to get a share. Now that Master Zhou has come to Beast City, doesn't he want to truly settle down here?"

Zhou Yang's fingers stopped.

A mine. A hunting ground.

These two words hit him right where it hurt.

What he lacks most right now is resources. Resources that can be exchanged for money, lifespan, and power. Relying solely on raiding those few small mountain strongholds is limited and simply not enough to fill the gaps in his system.

To survive in this world, and to live better, you have to climb upstream.

This City of Ten Thousand Beasts is a huge gold mine, and this so-called Feast of a Hundred Beasts might be the key to unlocking the treasure.

Zhou Yang raised his eyelids and re-examined this Deacon Zhao.

That old fox really knows how to manipulate people.

"Redistribute?"

Zhou Yang smiled, leaned forward, and stared into Deacon Zhao's eyes.

"How will it be divided? Whoever has the bigger fist gets the most?"

Deacon Zhao closed his folding fan and gently tapped his palm.

"That's natural. However, sometimes being strong is one thing, but being able to get along with others is another. If Master Zhou goes, then he'll be a friend acknowledged by the City Lord's Mansion. If Master Zhou doesn't go..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but just smiled meaningfully.

The meaning is quite clear.

If you go, we can sit down and discuss the distribution of profits. If you don't go, then you're an outsider. In Beast City, if you're not on the same page as the City Lord's Mansion, life won't be easy.

This is both an attempt to win them over and a threat.

Zhou Yang touched the stubble on his chin.

In truth, he had already made up his mind. Since he couldn't avoid this situation, he might as well jump right in. Whether it was a trap or a gathering of heroes, as long as there was profit to be made, he would brave any danger, even mountains of knives and seas of fire.

He has no other skills, but he's incredibly lucky.

Moreover, he also wanted to see whether the "Mad Lion" of the City of Ten Thousand Beasts was a real lion or just a paper tiger.

"Since the city lord is being so kind, it would be ungrateful of me not to go."

Zhou Yang reached out and took the sandalwood box.

I opened it and took a look.

Inside was a gold-leaf plaque with the three large characters "Hundred Beasts Feast" written on it in a flamboyant style, and a bright red seal. Beneath the plaque was a thumb-sized, crimson bead, radiating a faint warmth.

Fire Cloud Pearl.

Second-grade spiritual material.

This single purchase involved items worth several hundred taels of silver or more.

Zhou Yang closed the lid, casually tucked it into his pocket, and his expression softened considerably.

"Please thank the city lord for me. I will definitely attend the Hundred Beasts Feast in three days."

When Deacon Zhao saw that Zhou Yang had accepted the gifts, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Once the gift is accepted, the matter is considered half settled.

"Master Zhou is straightforward!"

He cupped his hands in greeting again. "I wonder where Master Zhou plans to stay tonight? The City Lord's Mansion has a villa in the west of the city that has been vacant for a long time. If Master Zhou doesn't mind, I will have it cleaned up for Master Zhou and his brothers to rest in."

Zhou Yang glanced at him.

This isn't out of kindness; it's clearly an attempt to monitor them all.

But this was exactly what Zhou Yang wanted.

He was already worried about not being able to control the situation after arriving in the city, being unfamiliar with the place and its people. Since the other party had offered to be his "nanny," why should he refuse?

Living closer to the city lord's mansion would also allow me to keep an eye on that old fox's movements.

"Okay."

Zhou Yang nodded, his tone matter-of-fact, "Then I'll have to trouble Deacon Zhao. Also, my hundreds of brothers are picky eaters, so don't be too stingy with the food."

"That's natural, that's natural."

Deacon Zhao grinned so hard his face was creased with wrinkles, "I'll make sure all the brothers are satisfied."

As he spoke, he turned to the side and made a "please" gesture.

"Master Zhou, please."

Zhou Yang waved his hand, and the bandit group behind him continued their march.

Watching Zhou Yang's departing figure, Deacon Zhao's smile slowly faded, and a barely perceptible cold light flashed deep in his eyes.

This week, Yang is a formidable character.

But he is also a destabilizing factor.

The city lord is right. These kinds of people either need to be used for our purposes, or…

He sighed softly, shook his head, and turned to follow.

……

The villa is indeed quite nice.

Although not luxurious, it was spacious enough to comfortably house several hundred people. Deacon Zhao was very accommodating; before long, he had several carts of fine wine and meat delivered, along with bundles of new clothes.

The bandits of Black Wind Stronghold had never seen anything like this before. They cheered and jumped for joy, grabbing their wine jars and starting to drink.

Zhou Yang sat in the main seat of the main hall, playing with the Fire Cloud Pearl in his hand.

The bead was warm, like holding a piece of red-hot coal, but he felt very comfortable.

"Are you really going?"

Qin Shuang sat opposite him, holding a cup of tea in her hand, and gently blew on the tea foam.

She removed her veil, revealing a cool and stunningly beautiful face.

"It's not a question of whether or not to go."

Zhou Yang threw the Fire Cloud Pearl onto the table, making a crisp "smack" sound.

"This is your admission ticket."

He pointed to the gold foil scroll.

"The Beast City pie is too big for that Mad Lion to handle alone, or he might be looking for a few people to help him guard it. Either way, it's an opportunity for us."

Zhou Yang leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and his eyes gleamed with calculation.

"These next few days, make sure the brothers keep their mouths shut and don't go out causing trouble. At the same time, have someone find out which forces are involved in this Hundred Beasts Feast, especially the background of that Mad Lion."

"I need to know exactly how much that lion weighs."

Qin Shuang nodded and put down her teacup.

"I see."

She looked at Zhou Yang, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just sighed softly.

Be careful.

Zhou Yang smiled, grabbed a chicken leg from the table, and took a bite.

"Don't worry, I'm tough."

He chewed on his meat, his gaze passing through the hall and looking out at the gradually darkening sky.

The night in Beast City has only just begun.

This feast of a hundred beasts is probably not a simple meal.

But it's okay.

Zhou Yang's greatest skill in life is turning chaos into a gamble, and then winning all the chips into his own pocket.

"Er Mazi!"

He shouted outside.

"Boss!"

Er Mazi ran in, his face greasy, a bone dangling from his mouth.

"Bring those few underlings in; I have some instructions."

Zhou Yang wiped the oil off his hands, his eyes sharpening.

Since we're going to get involved, we need to make some preparations first.

Since I'm not familiar with the rules of this City of Ten Thousand Beasts, I'll have to set my own set of rules for Zhou Yang.

Chapter 733 Title: Provocation at the Feast of a Hundred Beasts

The City Lord's Mansion in the City of Ten Thousand Beasts.

The vermilion gate was wide open, and two rows of armored guards, holding long halberds, stood like two rows of cast iron statues.

The mansion was brightly lit and bustling with activity.

The air was filled with the aroma of roasting meat, mixed with the spiciness of strong liquor, and a faint, almost imperceptible, gamey smell of wild animals. This aroma wasn't unpleasant; rather, it exuded a primal and rugged charm.

Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang handed over the invitation and entered with their heads held high.

They changed their outfits. Zhou Yang wore a dark, fitted outfit with cloud patterns embroidered in gold thread on the cuffs and collar, seemingly understated yet exquisitely detailed. Qin Shuang, on the other hand, wore a silver-white long dress, the hem adorned with frost flower patterns outlined in silver thread. Already possessing a cool and aloof air, this attire made her appear even more like a fairy from the Moon Palace, fallen into this mundane world.

As soon as you enter, everyone's eyes will inevitably turn to you.

Especially when their gazes fell upon Qin Shuang, those eyes held a mixture of amazement, greed, and, of course, a great deal of inquiry.

The City of Beasts has no shortage of beauties, but it lacks beauties with Qin Shuang's temperament. She is like a snow lotus on a cliff, pure and clean, yet carrying a chilling aura, making those rough men who are used to picking wildflowers both tempted and unsure of where to begin.

"Hmph." A cold snort came from the side.

Zhou Yang looked in the direction of the voice and saw a burly man with a full beard, dressed in the uniform of the Iron Fist Sect. He was whispering to his companion, his eyes darting over Qin Shuang without any attempt to hide it.

Zhou Yang didn't say anything, but his lips twitched slightly.

He took Qin Shuang's arm, feeling the cool touch against it. Qin Shuang glanced at him, but didn't pull away, letting him hold her like that.

The two found a corner spot and sat down.

The view here is excellent, offering a panoramic view of most of the banquet hall.

The city lord, Mad Lion, sat in the main seat. He was a middle-aged man, burly and with some gray hair, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. He wasn't wearing any fancy robes, just simple leather armor, with a thick-backed broadsword hanging at his waist.

He held his wine bowl, occasionally exchanging a few words with the person next to him, but mostly drinking in silence, like a lurking lion, seemingly lazy, but actually ready to strike at any moment.

Zhou Yang's gaze swept across the entire room.

The Iron Fist Sect members occupied several tables; each one was burly and had a very loud voice, occasionally bursting into a rough laugh. This was a long-established force in the city, with deep roots.

On the other side, several people dressed in black sat quietly, all wearing masks, like a venomous mercenary group. They did not communicate with outsiders, and their aura was cold and sinister, like a group of venomous snakes lurking in the shadows.

There were also some scattered powerful figures who gathered in twos and threes, testing each other and flattering one another.

This is the ecosystem of Beast City. A jungle where the strong prey on the weak.

"Zhou Yang".

A voice rang out.

Zhou Yang looked up and realized that the Mad Lion City Lord was already standing in front of him.

"Lord of the City," Zhou Yang stood up, neither humble nor arrogant.

The mad lion's gaze lingered on him for a second, then shifted to Qin Shuang, lingering for two more seconds. Without further ado, he said directly, "Black Wind Stronghold, I've heard of it. You've got guts."

That's half a compliment.

He added, "The City of Ten Thousand Beasts isn't a big place, and there's only one rule: the strong rule. Since you're here, you have to live according to the rules."

Zhou Yang smiled: "Don't worry, City Lord. We Black Wind Stronghold may not have much else, but we are the most disciplined."

He paused, then added, "Of course, these are our own rules."

Mad Lion's gaze sharpened. He stared at Zhou Yang, seemingly trying to discern something from his expression. But Zhou Yang remained calm, returning his gaze.

After a moment, Mad Lion nodded: "Alright. Do as you please."

He turned and walked back to the head of the table, without any unnecessary pleasantries. He neither welcomed nor rejected Zhou Yang. He positioned Zhou Yang as a rising power, a potential opponent to be observed, or a pawn.

Qin Shuang whispered, "This city lord is very difficult to deal with."

"That's what makes it interesting." Zhou Yang poured two glasses of wine, handing one to Qin Shuang. "Don't overthink it, we're here to eat."

The wine was fruit wine, sweet and without much of a kick. Qin Shuang took a sip, but her brow remained furrowed. She didn't like things that were so sweet.

Just then, a commotion came from the doorway.

"Young Master Wang is here!"

"Quickly, quickly, stand up and greet them!"

Everyone at the Iron Fist Sect table stood up, their faces plastered with fawning smiles.

A young man dressed in a purple brocade robe swaggered in, surrounded by a group of people. He had a pale face, narrow eyes, and thin lips, giving him a sinister air. He carried a folding fan and walked with an awkward arrogance.

This is Wang Teng, the young master of the Iron Fist Sect.

Wang Teng swaggered to the head of the table and bowed to Kuang Shi, saying, "Uncle Lion, I've arrived."

Mad Lion didn't even lift his eyelids, he just grunted "hmm".

Wang Teng didn't feel embarrassed at all. He turned around and began to scan the entire room. His gaze swept over everyone's faces like he was picking vegetables at a market. Finally, his eyes settled on Qin Shuang.

He slammed the fan back into his hand with a "whoosh".

"Yo." He drawled out the sound, took a step, and walked straight toward Zhou Yang's table.

The Iron Fist Clan members also gathered around, their faces beaming with excited smiles as they watched the spectacle unfold.

Zhou Yang remained seated, only picking up his wine glass.

Qin Shuang's brows furrowed, and a chill emanated from her.

Wang Teng walked to the table and stopped. He circled the table, his gaze brazenly scrutinizing Qin Shuang from head to toe, as if appraising a piece of merchandise.

"This beauty, I've never seen her before," Wang Teng asked with a grin. "Are you new here? Which faction are you from? Which big boss are you following? Why not come with me, Wang? I guarantee you'll live the high life."

His words were extremely flippant, and a burst of laughter erupted around him.

Zhou Yang's expression remained unchanged. He stared at Wang Teng quietly, as if watching a monkey jumping around.

Qin Shuang coldly said, "Get out."

There is only one word.

But this word, like a piece of ice, hit Wang Teng directly in the face.

Wang Teng's smile froze. In the City of Ten Thousand Beasts, he had never suffered such humiliation, especially being publicly reprimanded by a woman.

His face darkened, and he was about to lash out.

Zhou Yang spoke up.

He held up his wine glass and gave Wang Teng a friendly smile: "Brother, have you had too much to drink? My wife doesn't like people staring at her like that."

Wang Teng was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "Madam? You? A country bumpkin who just crawled out of the mud, dares to call this beautiful lady 'Madam'?"

He leaned closer, pointing his finger at Zhou Yang's nose: "Do you know who I am? Wang Teng of the Iron Fist Sect! Give me some face, let her have a drink with me, and we'll call it even. Otherwise, I'll make sure you and your so-called Black Wind Stronghold disappear from Ten Thousand Beasts City tomorrow!"

His voice was loud, and the entire banquet hall fell silent.

All eyes were on this spot.

Lord Mad Lion City raised his eyelids, looked around, then picked up his wine bowl again, looking like he was ready to watch a show.

Zhou Yang was still smiling.

"So you're the young master of the Iron Fist Sect." He nodded, as if just remembering. "I've heard so much about you."

He raised his wine glass: "Since Young Master Wang is in such high spirits, then I'll toast you."

Before he could finish speaking...

He suddenly flicked his wrist.

"Bang!"

The bronze wine cup, filled with fruit wine, transformed into a black shadow, carrying a strong gust of wind, and smashed hard into Wang Teng's face.

Wine splashes everywhere!

Before Wang Teng could even react, everything went black, his nose stung, and a warm stream flowed down his nose.

He covered his face, staggered back two steps, and released his grip, his hands covered in blood. The shards of the wine glass had cut his nose and cheek.

"You...you dare hit me?"

Wang Teng's voice changed, filled with disbelief.

The entire banquet hall was deathly silent.

No one expected that this newcomer, Zhou Yang, would start fighting without saying a word.

Zhou Yang slowly stood up and clapped his hands as if he had just brushed away a little dust.

He looked at Wang Teng, who was covering his face, and spoke calmly, but with a chilling edge.

"First, watch your eyes and your mouth."

"Secondly, you dare to touch my people?"

He took a step forward.

A powerful aura erupted instantly.

The surrounding tables and chairs creaked under the oppressive aura, and the Iron Fist Sect disciples who were nearby felt a tightness in their chests, making it difficult to breathe.

Wang Teng was forced to retreat repeatedly by this imposing aura, and the Iron Fist Sect disciples behind him also turned pale.

"Rebellion! Rebellion!"

A thunderous roar rang out.

The leader of the Iron Fist Sect, a burly man nearly nine feet tall, suddenly stood up. His first step shook the ground. Looking at his son, whose face was covered in blood, his eyes instantly turned bloodshot, like a raging bull.

"Kid! You're asking for trouble!"

His bones cracked and popped, and black energy emanated from his fists, emitting a chilling, fishy stench.

He walked towards Zhou Yang step by step, each step making the air in the entire hall heavier.

Zhou Yang didn't look at him.

He simply turned his head and smiled at Qin Shuang beside him. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire hall.

"See, I told you, I'm just here for a meal."

There are always some flies buzzing around.

He turned back to face the charging Iron Fist Sect Master, his smile vanishing.

Instead, a chilling murderous intent filled the air.

Chapter 734 Title: The Legend of the Celestial Envoy

The air in the main hall seemed frozen, so heavy that it was hard to breathe.

The Iron Fist Sect Master's enormous fists were still emitting black smoke, and the stench was as strong as that of a dead wild boar rotting in the summer. With each step he took, the blue bricks beneath his feet emitted a dull thud, like a sledgehammer striking the foundation.

Zhou Yang maintained his lazy posture, one hand in his pocket, his body leaning slightly back. His gaze towards the other person was calm, as if he were watching a trivial joke.

The surrounding guests had already dispersed, consciously stepping back several steps to make way for the two people.

"This kid's gone mad."

"The Iron Gate Master is a half-step Nascent Soul cultivator. In the Ten Thousand Beasts City area, besides the City Lord, who can withstand a single punch from him?"

"I think he's just being desperate and wants to find a way to die here. But then again, judging from his appearance, he probably left his brain in the carriage."

Whispers quietly spread through the crowd, like a chilling wind that sent shivers down the spines of those around them. In their eyes, Zhou Yang was nothing more than a lucky barbarian who had led a band of bandits into the city. In this rigidly hierarchical martial arts world, the half-step Condensation Realm represented absolute dominance.

Qin Shuang stood behind Zhou Yang, her brows slightly furrowed. She didn't speak, but her hand quietly rested on the hilt of the sword at her waist. She knew Zhou Yang was capable, but this blatant provocation made her feel like he was playing with fire.

The Iron Fist Sect Master stopped three steps away from Zhou Yang.

His calloused fists clenched tightly, the knuckles cracking. He let out a cold laugh, the sound like fingernails scraping against a sheet of iron, utterly unpleasant.

"Kid, you probably don't know this, but in this City of Ten Thousand Beasts, I don't need a reason to kill you."

Zhou Yang chuckled softly and tilted his head.

"Reasons? You want to talk to me about reasons?" He spoke lightly, as if chatting with a neighbor. "I came here to eat, and you insist on playing the role of a doorman. Isn't that inappropriate?"

Upon hearing this, a low gasp rippled through the crowd.

The muscles on the Iron Fist Sect Master's face twitched violently. Without another word, he suddenly slumped his right shoulder, exerted force from his waist and hips, and shifted his center of gravity forward in an instant.

boom!

The blue bricks on the ground shattered instantly, shards flying everywhere. His fist, carrying a dark, metallic stench, was like a heavy iron hammer, aimed straight at Zhou Yang's temple.

The wind pressure formed instantly, causing the hems of Zhou Yang's clothes to flutter loudly.

However, Zhou Yang did not dodge.

A split second before his fist touched his skin, Zhou Yang's figure shifted half an inch to the side as if blown away by the wind. The punch grazed past his ear, and the gust of wind it generated shattered the screen behind him into pieces.

The Iron Fist Sect Master was stunned.

Not only did he miss, but he also felt absolutely no resistance from his opponent. It felt like hitting a ball of cotton, or rather, his opponent had instantly found a fatal flaw in his attack trajectory and easily bypassed it.

"Too slow," Zhou Yang whispered in his ear.

Just then, in a corner of the crowd, a bulky man in a brocade robe coughed softly.

He was the president of the largest merchant guild in Beast City, surnamed Zhao, and considered a well-informed person in the city. He was whispering to his attendants, his voice very soft, but in the deathly silent hall, it reached Zhou Yang's ears.

"Never mind how they fight, we need to finalize the gift list quickly." Chairman Zhao lowered his voice, looking somewhat nervous. "I heard that the 'Celestial Envoy' has already patrolled the vicinity. City Lord Mad Lion is currently extremely busy and would like to offer up the entire city. If we are slow, we may not even be able to see the Celestial Envoy."

Celestial Messenger.

These two words were like a thunderclap, exploding suddenly in Zhou Yang's mind.

Zhou Yang's pupils contracted sharply in that instant, and his previous nonchalant expression vanished, replaced by a deep solemnity.

Before he descended to the mortal realm, he mentioned in those tattered scrolls that the only thing that could guide him to find his way home, or rather, to find the clue to that so-called "higher dimension," was the celestial messenger who patrolled the four directions.

These beings do not belong to the power system of this world. They are like passing gods. Although they do not interfere in the struggles of the mortal world, they possess secret techniques that transcend boundaries.

If the celestial envoy is indeed in this city, then this meal is not just a matter of saving face, but a matter of whether he can obtain that crucial "ticket".

At this moment, the Iron Fist Sect Master realized he was being underestimated. He let out a roar and his figure shot up again. This time, it was no longer a single punch, but a dense rain of fists. Each strike carried the sound of air being torn apart, pressing Zhou Yang firmly into the corner.

At that moment, Zhou Yang completely ignored the opponent's attack.

His eyes were fixed on Chairman Zhao's direction, his mind racing.

In this world, resources and power are always progressive. To meet a celestial envoy, one cannot rely on flattery, because celestial envoys do not care about the flattery of mortals; nor can one rely on forceful intrusion, because the other party's strength is most likely beyond the scope of one's current understanding.

The only way is to become an "interesting" variable, or to possess something that interests the fairy.

Zhou Yang's movements quickened at this moment.

He no longer simply dodged, but instead precisely tapped the opponent's wrist bone with his knuckles through the gap in the opponent's fist.

Snapped!

A soft sound.

The Iron Fist Sect Master felt a tingling sensation in his right arm, and his previously unstoppable attack suddenly lost its rhythm. He was horrified to discover that his aura had momentarily stagnated after that single finger strike.

Zhou Yang took a step back, returning to his lazy demeanor, but the light in his eyes had changed.

He glanced at Chairman Zhao, who was about to leave in the distance, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Since the Lord of Mad Lion City is trying to curry favor, then going through the Lord, or through these merchants who want to curry favor with the Immortal Envoy, might be the best entry point.

"Boss?" Qin Shuang stepped forward and asked in a low voice. She noticed the intense emotional fluctuation in Zhou Yang, a kind of fluctuation that was rarely seen in him.

Zhou Yang did not answer immediately. He took a deep breath, feeling the bloody smell and lust for power that permeated the hall.

"Shuang'er, I want to try something different," Zhou Yang said softly.

He turned to look at the Iron Fist Sect Master, who was still furious, and suddenly spoke, his voice loud and clear throughout the entire arena.

"Master Iron, fighting is so boring. I know what you want, and I know what you're afraid of."

The Iron Fist Sect Master was stunned, his fist frozen in mid-air.

Zhou Yang lightly patted the dust off his clothes, his eyes sweeping over the other person with a playful look.

"I know you've been helping the city lord collect some kind of 'medicinal herb' lately, and the collection progress is far from ideal, right? If you can point me in the right direction now, or put in a good word for me with the city lord, I can tell you which pit deep in the swamp it is in."

These words plunged the entire hall into deathly silence once again.

The Iron Fist Sect Master's eyes widened instantly in utter shock, because apart from himself and the City Lord, no one else in the city knew about this.

Zhou Yang sneered inwardly.

He doesn't need to actually know where the medicinal herbs are; he just needs to insert a needle into the vital point that the other person cares about most.

In the game of power, information is the key. He has now successfully turned a top adversary into a stepping stone by posing as "the one who has the secrets."

His goal was not to defeat the Iron Fist Sect Master, but to use this man to quickly enter the inner circle of City Lord Mad Lion.

Only in that way could he obtain the ticket to the truth before the celestial messenger left the city.

Zhou Yang lowered his head slightly, looking at his fingertips, silently calculating his remaining lifespan.

For this infiltration and potential conflict, he may need to burn through more of his lifespan to deduce the other party's psychology.

But it doesn't matter; he's always been used to paying extra for these kinds of deals.

"What, not going to say anything?" Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow, his tone becoming flippant. "Looks like you prefer to settle things with your fists. But let me warn you, I have a bad temper. If we can't reach an agreement, I'll tell the city lord your secret directly, saying that you've misappropriated medicinal herbs."

This is pure nonsense, but for someone who walks the edge of power, such speculation is the most terrifying threat in itself.

The Iron Fist Sect Master's expression changed from anger to gloom, and finally to an extremely complex compromise.

He slowly withdrew his fist, the black aura dissipated, and a hint of apprehension flashed in his eyes.

"How do you want to talk?"

Zhou Yang smiled.

He looked up at the top of the hall, as if he could see the distant black tower through the roof.

"It's simple. I want the city lord to personally invite me to dinner, and it has to be in front of the celestial envoy."

He uttered the last few words softly, his voice so low that only he could hear them, but his eyes were like those of an eagle eyeing its prey, locked on the unseen target.