Chapter 458 - 440: City Opening Ceremony

Su Yu raised his hand, withdrawing that wisp of aura back into his body, and looked down at Feng Han.

Feng Han was already trembling all over, kneeling on the ground, not daring to move a muscle.

’This seems to have worked surprisingly well.’

Su Yu had tried to summon a sliver of the divine authority within his body before, but he hadn’t felt much himself.

Now, seeing Feng Han’s reaction, he realized he had underestimated this divine authority.

’This is definitely something on the level of a true god. It’s just that the divine authority I obtained has always been sealed within my body.’

’Whether it was Thunder Summoning or Flesh Healing, they were merely attendant divine laws!’

’And even these divine laws have their uses limited by the system. If I were to summon the divine authority itself, something major would definitely happen!’

Su Yu took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.

Although he didn’t know what this divine authority was exactly or what other uses it had, he now had a clear understanding of its level.

’Just a single wisp of its aura can scare an expert at Muscle Forging Realm Perfection into this state. Perhaps I can use it as a powerful form of spiritual pressure!’

"My lord, I swear my life to your service! Feng Han will never betray you!"

Su Yu nodded. It seemed he had successfully intimidated Feng Han. The result was much better than he had expected.

’Hopefully, this guy can get some useful intelligence from the Merciful Saintess. She’s a Divine Storage Realm expert, and she’s putting a lot of pressure on me right now.’

...

「Su Mansion, Front Courtyard.」

A large cauldron was set up in the courtyard. Water boiled inside it, cooking a massive Red-Horned Bull Pomfret.

Mu Ying was at its side with a ladle, surrounded by four or five assistant cooks, all bustling with activity.

By now, the aroma of the Bull Pomfret had filled the courtyard, making the Su Mansion Protectors gathered around swallow their saliva.

"That big fish smells so good. I can feel my Qi and Blood stirring just from the scent."

"Of course! Didn’t you see it? It’s a huge treasure fish. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life."

"I heard from Commander Su Can that this treasure fish is as strong as a Flesh Refining Realm expert. Eating just a piece of its meat can increase your Qi and Blood!"

"Whoa, really? The Patriarch is actually willing to let us eat such an amazing treasure fish!"

Someone exclaimed in a shocked whisper.

"Do you guys still not know what kind of person Lord Su is? Where else would you find such a good master! I’m telling you, after we eat this fish, if anyone doesn’t train hard in their Martial Arts and can’t protect the Su Mansion, everyone will look down on them!"

Everyone nodded emphatically in agreement.

Soon, the treasure fish was ready. Mu Ying served the best parts—the belly and head meat—and had Zhen’Er and a few others bring them to Su Yu.

Su Yu took a bite and found it incredibly delicious, mentally praising Mu Ying’s culinary skills even more. He looked at the group of Protectors who were desperately gulping and said with a smile:

"Alright, dinner is served. Everyone, come and eat."

"Thank you, Lord Su!"

After eating the treasure fish, Su Yu checked his panel. His Breakthrough Points hadn’t increased by much, only 5%.

[Breakthrough Point]: 0 points (Progress: 85%)

Even if he had eaten the entire treasure fish himself, he estimated it would have only increased his progress by another two or three percent. It was better to share it with his men and let them improve their strength.

’It seems that for ordinary treasure fish, I’ll have to rely on quantity.’

He was out of Breakthrough Points again, which left him feeling rather helpless. Now, he could only wait for Zhen’Er to convert the mansion’s silver into more Martial Arts Resources.

’Or for the Qian Family’s fleet to return from the depths of the Black Water River with a new batch of treasure fish.’

...

「Several more days passed, and the day of the Inner City’s opening ceremony arrived.」

Large red lanterns were hung high all along Black Stone Avenue, and the sound of gongs and drums filled the air.

Pang Xuan, the Mansion Master of the Public Security Bureau, led the procession, riding his magnificent black, single-horned Exotic Beast. The creature neighed, its cry echoing down the entire street.

Following closely behind were Su Yu on his Crimson Flame Dragon Scale Horse, Ye Xiaohong on a muscular savage bull, and several other Great Commanders, all riding extraordinary Exotic Beasts as they advanced calmly toward the Inner City.

Further back were representatives from the Inner City’s Martial Arts Hall Alliance, the major families, and other powers, all there to participate in the opening ceremony.

Lining both sides of the street were the Security Guards and the Black Armor Guard, their bearing imposing and their armor immaculate, projecting an aura of power.

Before long, the procession arrived at the gates of the Inner City.

Pang Xuan glanced behind him and nodded in satisfaction. "Everyone, today is a day of extraordinary significance. Black Stone City’s Inner and Outer Cities have been separated for a century, and today, they will finally be reunited."

"Once we enter the Inner City, everyone must abide by the rules. Don’t disgrace the honor of our Outer City!"

RUMBLE...

The winches on either side of the Inner City’s gate were pulled, and the massive gate slowly opened, letting a ray of golden sunlight shine through from within.

"Let’s go!"

Pang Xuan took the lead, guiding the crowd slowly into the Inner City’s gate passage.

As their view opened up ahead, everyone’s eyes lit up. Those who had been to the Inner City before could still suppress their awe upon seeing the continuous stretch of majestic buildings with their vermilion and glazed tiles.

But for the many who were entering the Inner City for the first time, the sight left them dumbfounded.

"Is... is that the Star-Picking Tower? The building we could always see from the Outer City? It’s so tall and magnificent!"

CAW... CAW...

In the distance, a flock of immortal cranes spread their wings and soared high, spiraling up alongside the Star-Picking Tower.

This scene left even more people breathless with amazement, and they couldn’t help but crane their necks to get a better look.

Just then, a party approached from the direction of the Inner City.

The first thing that caught their eye was a terrifying Exotic Beast as large as a small hill. It was three meters tall and about five meters long, its entire body covered in blood-red armor plates.

Its head resembled an elephant’s, but a third eye, tightly shut, was set in its forehead. Four pristine white tusks jutted from its mouth.

Its four pillar-like legs had barbs growing from them, and with every step, the ground trembled and hummed.

This terrifying presence instantly suffocated the people from the Outer City.

Some couldn’t help but retreat repeatedly, not daring to face the terrifying, elephant-like Exotic Beast.

Pang Xuan glanced at the reactions of the people behind him with a sense of helplessness. It wasn’t their fault, though. This giant elephant possessed the terrifying strength of the Divine Storage Realm; even he was no match for it.

The man on the giant elephant’s back was exceptionally burly, clad in golden armor, and carried an astonishingly large golden warhammer. He was none other than the Mansion Master of the Inspection Bureau, Qian Zhiyuan!

"The man riding the giant elephant is Mansion Master Qian. He’s a top-tier expert at Divine Storage Realm Perfection. I’ve heard he’s only one step away from the Grandmaster Realm."

Su Yu looked over in surprise. Hearing the name before, he had imagined Mansion Master Qian to be a more refined and scholarly person, not someone with such a fierce appearance.

"Following behind Mansion Master Qian are several Great Commanders, though they should be called Grand Directors now. They’re on the same level as Mansion Master Pang."

Wang Lingran whispered the introduction to Su Yu from his side.

"That scruffy-bearded man holding a wine gourd and looking completely drunk—don’t you dare underestimate him. That’s Grand Director Gu Duzui!"

Su Yu focused his gaze. The man was riding an ordinary, even somewhat scrawny, Dragon Scale Horse. He had a long spear wrapped in burlap strapped to his back and looked like he hadn’t sobered up yet. He didn’t have the air of an expert at all.

Just as Su Yu was about to extend his Divine Sense toward him, a cold glint flashed in Gu Duzui’s eyes, and he shot a sharp look in Su Yu’s direction.

’Shit!’

Su Yu was alarmed. He immediately retracted his Divine Sense. In that instant, he realized he had collided with another stream of Divine Sense—it had to be Gu Duzui’s!

’The Inner City is full of experts after all. To think I’d run into someone else who has cultivated Divine Sense!’

"Little Brother Su, this Grand Director Gu Duzui is also a Divine Storage Realm expert. Within the Inspection Bureau, other than Mansion Master Qian, probably no one can best him. You must be respectful."

Su Yu nodded, feeling rather helpless. He figured he had probably already been targeted by the man.

’Even if he isn’t certain it was my Divine Sense, that one glance means he probably suspects me.’

However, Su Yu didn’t know if this was a good or bad thing. Generally, when a Martial Artist breaks through to the Muscle Forging Realm, their Divine Sense becomes much stronger.

’The fact that mine can extend outside my body just means my talent for Divine Sense is astonishing.’

’In any case, I’m still a Great Commander of the Public Security Bureau. There’s no need to worry about it too much.’