All-out: Starting with the Awakening Special Operations Unit, search, attack, and withdrawal.

In the dead of night, the area around the Huangshan Base City Lord's Mansion, where Lei Xiao was located, was bustling with activity.

The appearance of the top-secret [Clifftop Plague Hospital] secret realm has also led to a large amount of resources being allocated and invested in [Huangshan Base City] from above.

With the completion of the teleportation tower.

During this period, housing prices in Huangshan Base City have been soaring, attracting many large collectors' associations as well as a large number of top-notch pioneer teams.

These all require Lei Xiao, as the city lord, to handle and receive them.

At the same time, some rules of Huangshan Base City were explained.

Lei Xiao was having a lively conversation with these important figures.

Little did they know that an uninvited guest had silently infiltrated the heavily guarded city lord's mansion.

In front of the pavilion by the artificial lake on one side of the city lord's mansion.

Unable to sleep, Jiang Xingdong was fishing idly here when he unexpectedly encountered a true "willing fish taking the bait" situation, even though he forgot to put on the bait.

"Heh, I only heard from the Thousand Insect Village base city that you, Jiang Long, had defected to the Black Hole Council and joined Mo Miao's ranks. I didn't believe it at first... Now it seems I was truly blind. I even thought you were a promising talent!"

Jiang Xingdong's tone was chilling.

At that moment, on the water in front of him, a figure stood in mid-air like a ghost.

Jiang Long!

However, Jiang Long is no longer at the ninth level of the Energy Gathering Realm, but... the Core Condensation Realm!

"Mo Ling is definitely someone who's willing to go all out!"

Jiang Xingdong sneered.

Jiang Long remained calm in the face of such ridicule and rebuke.

He looked at Jiang Xingdong, his eyes still filled with undisguised respect.

"Lord of the City, I know I have failed your expectations, but... I have no regrets. What I want is power, and I know that better than anyone else!"

"You've sold your conscience, become a beast, a puppet driven by others, and yet you're so proud of it?!" Jiang Xingdong was furious, his eyes filled with disappointment.

"I have even found two source cores suitable for you, the [Sky Dragon's Reverse Scale], but you just..." Jiang Xingdong took a deep breath, his hand gripping the fishing rod trembling.

Upon hearing this...

Jiang Long, who had been calm all along, suddenly had his pupils shrink deeply.

【Sky Dragon's Reverse Scale】, each piece is worth 792 million Source Points.

It is the most precious red-quality collectible in the secret realm [Fishman Ruins] around Huangshan Base City, and it is also the first choice for the source core he once dreamed of.

He never expected that the old city lord who had once thought so highly of him would secretly prepare something for him.

Jiang Long's facial muscles twitched a few times.

He didn't doubt that Jiang Xingdong was lying to him; based on his understanding of Jiang Xingdong, the old man wouldn't stoop to doing such a thing.

"I......"

The purpose of my visit today was to be left speechless by Jiang Xingdong's words.

I just can't say it.

After a long while, Jiang Long finally calmed down his turbulent emotions and took a deep breath.

"Lord of the City, you are looking for something to repair your Source Core, but the entire Pioneers Guild currently has no stock of your Source Core, the Guan Sheng Di Jun Statue. It has been more than a month since your Source Core was broken. If this is delayed any longer, the repair will require more than just one Guan Sheng Di Jun Statue in three months."

"The situation will be even worse then..."

Jiang Xingdong sneered: "Heh, it's a pity you, Captain Jiang, are so concerned. If you hadn't mentioned it, this old man would have almost forgotten who shattered my source core."

Jiang Long: "......."

Jiang Xingdong glanced indifferently at Jiang Long, whose face showed difficulty, and slowly closed his eyes.

It felt as if looking at it even once more would be an insult to myself.

"Go away. Tell your master, Mo Ling, that I have no interest in living like him, cowering like a rat, too ashamed to show my face! A thief is a thief, no matter how loud his banner is, or how pitiful he was before... a thief is a thief!"

"Our Great Xia Dynasty has absolutely no ties with the Black Hole Council!"

Jiang Long panicked: "Lord City Lord, if we miss this chance today, you may never be able to return to the Core Condensation Realm!"

Jiang Xingdong closed his eyes and remained silent.

But his silent, cold expression already spoke volumes about his attitude.

"I will plead with my master for another half a month. Lord City Lord... please consider this carefully. This world is one where the strong rule!"

As Jiang Long spoke, he bowed deeply to Jiang Xingdong.

The next second, the figure, which resembled a shadow, vanished into thin air from the surface of the artificial lake.

Jiang Xingdong slowly opened his eyes and looked at the shimmering water under the bright moon.

In the end, he couldn't hold back and let out a long, sorrowful sigh.

"She could have become a dragon... but she chose to become a jiao (a type of dragon-like creature), sigh..."

He was heartbroken.

Jiang Long was once known as the most talented pioneer in Huangshan Base City, although he was rejected by Yuan Neng University when he first started out because his strength and initial skills were not good enough.

But with sheer grit, he fought his way through the secret realm and carved out a promising future.

Jiang Xingdong has even gone so far as to pull strings to find a "forbidden object" for the other party to fuse with, in order to help them awaken their level two skill.

They even planned to give the other party the source core.

They really treated Jiang Long like a student.

Unfortunately, that battle against Mo Ling, the leader of the Night Raven Society, completely reversed the direction of Jiang Long's inner drive.

"Why......"

Jiang Xingdong could no longer explain the various aspects of the world, and could only let things take their own course.

This old fellow, perhaps it really is time for him to retire and enjoy his later years.

Just as I was thinking, should I change my approach and start arranging a marriage for my student Lei Xiao, since he has no children of his own, so that he can hold his grand-disciple in his arms someday?

The communicator in his arms suddenly rang.

He took it out and looked at it.

It was sent by that girl, Lan Yujing.

"Feed..."

"Lord City Lord! The Pioneers' Guild received an email containing collectibles for you, which you need to sign for in person. I can't find out exactly what it is; it was sent from Xialong Base City..."

Jiang Xingdong's feet seemed to move with the speed of the wind.

When he rushed to the Pioneers Guild in Huangshan Base City without even notifying Lei Xiao, he saw Lan Yujing waiting for him.

"Blue Girl, where's the package? Who sent it?"

Jiang Xingdong himself was unaware of the anxiety and trembling in his voice at that moment.

Lan Yujing noticed that the old city lord seemed a little off, but she still quickly led him to an office on the top floor.

A silver-white encapsulated metal box sits quietly on the table.

Recipient: Jiang Xingdong, City Lord's Mansion, Huangshan Base City, Jiangnan District

"Sending address: Lower level of Xialong Base City, Xuanlong City, Tiangong Academy Pioneer Branch"

Sender: Chu Hong

When Jiang Xingdong saw that the sender was Chu Hong, a warm smile clearly flashed in his eyes.

"Lord City Lord, once you sign for it, you can open it and quickly see what gift Chu Hong sent you back." Lan Yujing was also a little curious.

Jiang Xingdong nodded and inserted his ID card into the card slot on the side of the metal box.

"Ding! Recipient confirmed to have signed for the package!"

"Snap!"

As the metal box opened automatically from both sides, a majestic bronze statue of Guan Yu, the God of War, instantly came into view.

Lan Yujing stared wide-eyed in shock.

Despite harboring some hopes and speculations, when this precious gift was actually placed before him, Jiang Xingdong couldn't hold back the tears of excitement that streamed down his face from his cloudy eyes.

It swept across that aged face, full of wrinkles.

In addition to the statue of Guan Yu, there was also a note in the box.

There is only one simple sentence above.

Wishing you a speedy recovery—your student, Chu Hong

"Ha! Hahahaha! Good! Good, really good..." Upon seeing this scene, Jiang Xingdong burst into tears, but it was tears of joy.

Just a moment ago, he was filled with grief and indignation because Jiang Long, a promising young man, had gone astray.

Turning around, fate unexpectedly sent Chu Hong, another young man whom he also had high hopes for.

"Hahaha, Lan girl, did you see that? That brat Chu Hong has admitted that I'm his teacher! Hahahaha!"

Jiang Xingdong laughed heartily.

It was as if all the frustration and discomfort of this period of time were released in laughter with such a short sentence.

However, at that moment...

Lan Yujing frowned slightly, looking at Jiang Xingdong with some confusion.

"Um, Lord City Lord... if I remember correctly, Chu Hong applied to the Dragon Roar Sacred Academy, right? What's his address...?"

Jiang Xingdong was taken aback.

Only then did he see the mailing address; it wasn't the Dragon Roar Holy Academy, but the Heavenly Craft Academy located in the lower level of Suspended Dragon City.

His face suddenly stiffened.

Yes, didn't Chu apply to the Dragon Roar Holy Academy?

In an instant, his mind went blank as if a bomb had exploded. Something he had overlooked because he hadn't been to Xialong Base City for a long time caused his expression to change drastically.

"You villains! Those damned scumbags from the Heavenly Craftsmen! They're the future of our Fierce Attack faction!"

PS: Bonus chapter rules for today: If the number of requests for more chapters reaches 2700, or 15 new five-star reviews are added, an extra chapter will be added.