Chapter 327 - 253: The City Lord’s Secrets, a Watermelon Delivery

Chapter 327: Chapter 253: The City Lord’s Secrets, a Watermelon Delivery

’The great battle went more or less as predicted. If I hadn’t forced Huang the Seventeenth Lang into a life-or-death duel, it wouldn’t have reached this point; he would have found a chance to retreat long ago.’

’And if I had encountered him in the wild, I could have also retreated at any time.’

’Still, if I’m being honest, I was at a slight disadvantage because I couldn’t keep up with his speed.’

’If he fled, I couldn’t catch him.’

’If I fled, I’d need to use my Stealth Technique.’

’Otherwise, Huang the Seventeenth Lang would have hounded me relentlessly.’

THUD.

After a few more attempts to struggle, the light faded from Huang the Seventeenth Lang’s eyes. His body went limp, and his knees slammed onto the ground.

Ah Qi waved his paws and praised, "Not bad, not bad at all. To fight a Peak Sixth Grade expert to such a state. You practically exhausted him to death. You’re truly worthy of being the... Elder chosen by the Saintess."

"Yeah, and isn’t Elder Tang still under twenty?"

"The Holy Daughter truly has excellent judgment!"

Hu Li, the other women, and the White Tigers all spoke up.

Just moments ago, they had been discussing it amongst themselves via voice transmission for a long time.

Now, the surprise in their eyes was hard to conceal.

’So it turns out the Holy Daughter wasn’t—or rather, wasn’t *only*—captivated by Elder Tang’s good looks.’

’His combat prowess is actually this incredible.’

After a few modest words, Tang Wen quickly took out the Heart Stone he had prepared earlier.

The Heart Stone was fiery red all over, with something like a flickering flame inside. Yet, holding it, it didn’t feel hot at all. Instead, it was exceptionally cold.

It was as if it had been buried in a glacier for many years.

"A Heart Stone?"

Elder Li came over, shaking his head of straw-like hair.

Tang Wen tossed the stone to him and casually ruffled Li Zi’s hair.

Li Zi immediately hugged his arm, supporting him gently, a look of lingering fear on her face.

"Don’t worry. Old Li, you go and ask him."

"I can ask anything?" A vicious gleam filled Elder Li’s eyes.

Tang Wen said directly, "This is just the beginning of our fight against the Huang Family. Ask about their affairs."

Huang the Seventeenth Lang’s Spiritual Power was depleted, leaving him unable to resist interrogation. It was the perfect time to find a breakthrough against the Huang Family.

Elder Li’s spirits lifted. He gave Tang Wen a deep look. "Before, when you said you’d help me get revenge on the Huang Family, I always thought it was just an excuse. From now on, I’ll do whatever you say!"

After speaking, he turned his head and unleashed another Spiritual Whip on Huang the Seventeenth Lang.

Tang Wen glanced to the side at the Huang Family’s Fifth Grade expert—Huang Shiqi’s mother—whose upper and lower body had been separated. Her internal organs were spilled all over the ground, and she had stopped breathing entirely.

’What a pity.’

’I fought with Huang Shiqi for too long.’

’Otherwise, I might have been able to interrogate this Huang Family Fifth Grade expert.’

’She probably knew more.’

Ah Qi seemed to see through his thoughts and shook his tiger head. "That little stone of yours is useless against a Fifth Grade. Her Spiritual Power has already reached Great Success. I can deplete her spirit, but she can recover it instantly. If I were to destroy her Sea of Consciousness, she would just become an idiot."

Tang Wen nodded. ’So that’s the effect of reaching Great Success in Spiritual Power.’

Huang the Seventeenth Lang was completely limp on the ground. Elder Li shoved the Heart Stone into his hand, and his flaccid body jolted as if electrocuted.

Elder Li asked tentatively, "You’ve been a fugitive for many years. Why didn’t you leave Ganshan City?"

"My mother was protecting me. Why would I leave? Cultivation requires resources too."

This was within their expectations. He then asked another question:

"Tell us all the secrets you know about the Huang Family!"

Huang the Seventeenth Lang’s voice was ethereal, like that of a delirious patient. "Secrets? The Huang Family’s greatest secret is... is the City Lord."

Elder Li looked at Tang Wen, who showed no change in expression. He continued to ask:

"What secret does the City Lord have?"

"Only one who wears the Iron Crown is the City Lord." Huang Shiqi paused. "A Peak of Fifth Grade can wear the Iron Crown. Once they put it on, they become the City Lord."

The five people and seven tigers present all perked up their ears, their expressions showing interest.

Elder Li was hesitant. He looked at the others, unsure if he should continue asking.

It was true he wanted revenge on the Huang Family, but he didn’t want to drag the City Lord of Ganshan City into it.

It might sound contradictory, but it wasn’t, because the City Lord was known for his fairness.

To protect the poor outside the city, he had even taken action to punish the Direct Lineage members of the three great families.

Similar incidents had happened more than once.

Tang Wen had no such reservations and asked curiously, "You mean to say, a Peak of Fifth Grade expert can become a Fourth Grade by wearing the City Lord’s Iron Crown?"

Huang Shiqi replied, "That’s right. At least, that’s what my mother told me."

"What’s the price?" A strange expression appeared on Tang Wen’s face.

’There’s no way to jump an entire grade in power for free.’

’If I’m not mistaken, it’s a price no one would want to bear.’

"There are two prices. First, it consumes one’s lifespan. Putting on the Iron Crown consumes thirty to fifty years of life, and one’s strength will stabilize at the Initial-Stage Fourth Grade. Second, you... change."

At this point, Huang Shiqi’s body twitched a few times. He looked like he couldn’t hold on any longer.

Tang Wen was prepared. He had Li Zi take out a jade-green Potion and drip a drop into his mouth.

This Potion, extracted from the Snake Gallbladder of an Extraordinary Serpent Species, had the effect of Soul Suppressing and soothing Spiritual Power.

Once his body calmed down, Tang Wen continued asking:

"How does a person change after putting on the City Lord’s Iron Crown?"

"You become unlike yourself. You become impartial... you become an impartial City Lord."

The members of the White Tiger Tribe looked astonished.

A chill ran down the spines of Tang Wen and his two companions.

’It not only absorbs your Life Force, but it also changes your personality.’

’No!’

’Perhaps the person’s very soul is replaced.’

The three of them were silent for a long time.

Hu Qi sighed slowly. "No wonder the Holy Beast said there was something very wrong with the City Lord of Ganshan City."

Tang Wen said, "A thing like that has to be considered a Demon artifact. Maybe the Iron Crown itself is alive? Whoever wears it becomes its puppet?"

Thinking the question was for him, Huang Shiqi said, "That’s what the family suspects as well."

"What else do you know about the City Lord’s Iron Crown? And are you sure the Huang Family and the other two great families don’t have any other Fourth Grade experts?"

"Everyone who has worn the City Lord’s Iron Crown has died young, none living past thirty-five. If they fight and use their Fourth Grade power, their lifespan shortens even more."

Huang Shiqi answered the next question in turn: "There are no other Fourth Grades. None at all."

"Once the City Lord’s Iron Crown is on, can it not be taken off?"

"Correct. It can’t be taken off unless you die."

’Good heavens!’

’This Iron Crown isn’t a symbol of the City Lord’s authority! It’s a death sentence!’

Tang Wen asked another question that had been on his mind for a long time: "The Huang Family recruited so many Beastmasters. What are they researching? What’s their progress?"

"Researching... researching how to control the Underground Demons. There’s been no progress. They failed. Those Beastmasters suffered a massive Spiritual Power backlash and all died."

’They died?’

’No wonder I haven’t heard anything for so long.’

Li Zi suddenly asked, "Didn’t you betray the Huang Family long ago? How do you know all this so clearly?"

"The Huang Family wanted me to volunteer to become the City Lord after I reached Fifth Grade."

’I see. Making use of a disposable piece of trash, I guess.’

Huang Shiqi’s responses became noticeably sluggish again, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

It was clear he was on his last legs.

A few more drops of the Potion were administered, barely stabilizing his condition.

Li Zi quickly asked, "The Void Stones! How many does your family have, and who has them?"

"I don’t know how many, but Huang San should have one on him."

After saying this, his pupils dilated. His body stiffened, then went completely still.

"Tsk! He died from Spiritual Power exhaustion." Hu Qi released his control, and Huang the Seventeenth Lang’s breathing slowly ceased.

Tang Wen felt it was a shame, as there were still many questions he hadn’t asked. He sighed, "Finish him off and bury him."

After Elder Li buried both mother and son.

With Hu Qi’s help, Tang Wen and his two companions found the hiding place of Huang Shiqi and his mother.

Inside the vast cave, a large amount of supplies was stored.

Long wooden crates were piled up like a small hill.

"What’s in these?"

Tang Wen casually lifted the lid of one. Inside were rows of steel sabers, their edges still unsharpened.

The group opened a few more crates at random.

Sabers, bows, arrows—they were all weapons.

"Is this an Armory?"

"It seems the Huang Family was well aware that Huang Shiqi was living here."

After cleaning up all traces, Tang Wen’s group quietly returned to the city.

「That night.」

Tang Wen lay in bed, quietly taking stock.

’For now, my defense is sufficient.’

’It’s hard to break through my Fist Gang and Tenfold Shocking Fist.’

’My Flying Locust Stone’s assassination ability is easily blocked by experts.’

’It works for a surprise attack, but its lethality needs more refinement.’

’My Sword Gang isn’t quite there either; it can’t break the defense of a Peak Sixth Grade.’

’In short, my defense and endurance are decent.’

’But my speed and attack power urgently need to be strengthened.’

CLICK, CLICK, CLICK.

Just as he was thinking this, the bolt on his bedroom door began to move silently.

It was pitch black inside and outside the room; no figure could be seen.

Tang Wen calmly extended his Spiritual Power and detected the Childlike Face Lady hiding by the door, like a female thief.

’No, wait. She’s from the Thief Sect, so she *is* a female thief.’

The corners of his mouth curled up. He decided to just close his eyes.

’How considerate.’

’Knowing I’d be hungry tonight, she’s bringing the midnight snack right to my door.’