Soon, Lin Chen had cleared out all of De Fort's lackeys.

Finally, he left Della behind.

Della's face was extremely unsightly at this moment.

He couldn't understand how Lin Chen could cripple and ruin Desla with a single skill!

In truth, Lin Chen had indeed taken advantage of the situation.

De Fort's people were aware of Lin Chen's level and strength from the day before.

They never imagined that in just one day, Lin Chen would advance by leaps and bounds to such an extent.

Therefore, Desla didn't even summon his pets.

Nor did he have any pets possessing him.

But what about Lin Chen?

Three pets possessed him, more than doubling his attribute bonuses.

And that wasn't all!

There was also the crucial soul cultivation.

After Desla was defeated by Lin Chen, he was surprised that Lin Chen was actually a Divine Disciple Realm cultivator… Actually, Desla misunderstood.

Or perhaps it wasn't a misunderstanding.

After all, Desla was human.

He wasn't a demon beast.

Humans, to some extent, cared about face.

He naturally assumed that in order for Lin Chen to cripple him with one strike, given Lin Chen's level and strength, he must have cultivated his soul to the Divine Disciple Realm.

Otherwise, wouldn't he seem too useless?

"You've actually broken through to the Divine Disciple Realm!"

Della looked at Lin Chen with a terrified expression.

"I'm not in the Divine Disciple Realm. It's just that your family's retainer is too useless."

Lin Chen didn't give him any face at all. Besides, Desla was already gone, his soul devoured by Lin Chen. What face did he need?

Useless was useless.

"Lin Chen, if you kill me, then my father will definitely use the entire strength of De Fort to fight a deadly battle with your Tianyue City!" Della, in his panic, actually didn't forget to threaten Lin Chen.

"So, you're threatening me?" Lin Chen's face turned cold.

"Lin Chen, I…"

Della stood up.

Everyone looked at him, wondering if this young master of De Fort had any trump cards.

But the next moment, Della directly plopped down and knelt in front of Lin Chen.

"I, Della, the Fourth Young Master of De Fort, surrender! Lin Chen, according to the Dragon Spirit Kingdom's custom, in all internal strife, if one side surrenders, they cannot be completely exterminated… You, you can't kill me."

This time, Della's tone was much softer.

His attitude and appearance of begging for mercy were fully displayed.

Lin Chen knew about the Dragon Spirit Kingdom's custom that Della mentioned.

Because…

It was exactly the same as in the *New World* online game era.

If someone violated this custom, then the consequences would depend on how capable you were.

If you could grease all the right palms, then violating it wouldn't matter.

But if you didn't have the ability to do so, the result might be… the entire Dragon Spirit Kingdom would attack you.

How to deal with Della?

To be honest, he couldn't be killed right now.

On the one hand, there was the Dragon Spirit Kingdom's management.

On the other hand, killing him wouldn't be as effective as keeping him alive… Lin Chen would never let Della go. Even if he didn't kill him, he would capture him, suppress his cultivation,

Even directly cripple him.

Then he would imprison him and wait for De Fort's people to come and negotiate.

As long as Della was alive, he believed De Fort wouldn't dare to easily fight a deadly battle with Tianyue City.

Soon, Lin Chen made a decision.

He stepped forward and stomped on Della's thigh.

"Agh!" Della screamed.

"Take him back and lock him up first!"

Lin Chen gestured to Zhang Chunlin and said in a deep voice to Della, "I accept your surrender. Since you mentioned the custom, then we'll act according to it. Have your father go to the Provincial Governor. If this matter is to be mediated, the Provincial Governor must come forward. Moreover, your ransom can't be low!"

Della hugged his broken thigh, covered in sweat, but he kept nodding.

At this time, how could he dare to say half a word of disagreement?

"Everyone, continue leveling up!"

With one sentence, Lin Chen dismissed those watching the excitement, then turned to Zhang Chunlin and instructed, "Don't heal his thigh for now. With his level, his leg won't be ruined. In the future, if he's not honest, directly cripple his cultivation… Also, have him write a letter to Marquis Demiller. After you finish your work, come to the City Lord's mansion to find me. There's something to discuss."

Of course, there was something to discuss.

After all, such a big thing had happened.

Lin Chen's actions tonight were equivalent to not compromising.

Even declaring war on De Fort.

A large country couldn't possibly have no internal conflicts. Especially in this country with various dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, barons, various large families, including the Four Great Trading Companies, the Ten Major Cities, etc…

The power structure could be said to be extremely complex.

Naturally, there would inevitably be some internal friction.

Therefore, the royal family, including officials at all levels, often played a role in mediating various conflicts. But generally, they would wait until both sides had fought to a stalemate, either one side being crushed or both sides being evenly matched, with great consumption of strength, and no desire to continue consuming, before they would stand up.

But Lin Chen was now requesting the Provincial Governor, Jin Qiang, to come forward.

Would Jin Qiang come forward?

After all, the conflict between De Fort and Tianyue City had only just begun!

Lin Chen's move was a test of Jin Qiang.

At the same time, it was also a test of the attitude of the entire Dragon Spirit Kingdom's nobles towards Tianyue City.

He wanted to see where the tolerance level of these invaders was towards these original residents.

And where the bottom line was!

But Lin Chen was going to start arranging things now.

What if De Fort really attacked?

Lin Chen couldn't possibly entrust his own life and death, as well as the survival of Tianyue City, to a Jin Qiang he had only met twice, hoping that Jin Qiang could really mediate the conflict and help Tianyue City.

Even if Jin Qiang had this ability, what reason would he use to do it?

Relying on others was ultimately not as good as relying on yourself!

This was also the reason why Lin Chen didn't hesitate at all when killing Desla and De Fort's lackeys, but he didn't kill Della… Leaving Tianyue City a way out.

Then, it was the preparation for war.

Inside the City Lord's mansion's conference hall at night, Lin Chen sat in the main seat, with Zhang Chunlin, Bai Shuyi, and Ling Xiaoya to his left, and Liu Mengyao, Kong Yan, and Kong Lin to his right.

Why were Kong Yan and Kong Lin also here?

This was of course Lin Chen's request.

If they were really going to war with De Fort, then they had to drag the Light Saintess Clan into the water!

"Everyone knows the situation. Right now, our survival is facing a challenge. It's not a monster siege, but something even more terrible… Such a powerful enemy from a large family in the Dragon Spirit Kingdom is definitely something we can't handle alone."

Lin Chen looked at Liu Mengyao and said, "I hope the Light Saintess Clan can help us."

Why was he talking to Liu Mengyao?

Naturally, it was to ask Liu Mengyao to speak on his behalf.

After all, Kong Yan, Kong Lin, and all the women of the Light Saintess Clan listened to Liu Mengyao.

But with such a big matter, Kong Yan wouldn't give Liu Mengyao a chance to speak. She coughed, and Kong Lin stood up first. She said to Liu Mengyao, "Divine Mind Master, we can't participate in the Dragon Spirit Kingdom's internal strife. It's against the rules."

"But, they're all my people…"

Liu Mengyao frowned and asked, "High Priestess, is there no other way?"

Kong Yan shook her head slightly.

At this time, Lin Chen spoke, "High Priestess, and Clan Leader, we only need the Light Saintess Clan to help guarantee the safety of the mines. We don't need you to help defend the city, and… we'll arrange for people to help you build your territory well. Do you think this is okay?"

"What reason do we have to guard the mines?" Kong Yan asked.

At this time, Bai Shuyi said with a smile, "It's very simple. The mines belong to Tianyue City, Tianyue City belongs to Lin Chen, so the mines belong to Lin Chen. And your Divine Mind Master is Lin Chen's lover, which is also the same as being his wife. Now Lin Chen is temporarily giving the mines to your Divine Mind Master, so if someone invades the mines, wouldn't that be infringing on the interests of your Light Saintess Clan?"

In front of so many people, especially with a few strangers present, Liu Mengyao blushed slightly after being exposed for her relationship with Lin Chen, but she still nodded and said, "Yes, his mines are the same as mine!"

Kong Yan and Kong Lin exchanged a glance upon hearing this. Their expressions underwent a very wonderful change, and finally, as if they had reached a consensus, they nodded together slightly.

"If that's the case, then we can agree to the City Lord's request. Once De Fort and Tianyue City go to war, the mines will be guarded by our Light Saintess Clan." Kong Lin stood up to express her position.

"Alright, thank you, High Priestess and Clan Leader… And thank you, Mengyao!"

Lin Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

With the promise of the Light Saintess Clan, plus Kong Yan's Divine Envoy Realm strength and Kong Lin's Divine Disciple Realm strength, as well as many elites from the Light Saintess Clan, he believed De Fort wouldn't be able to do anything to the gold mine and soul ore mountain.

Next was the defense of Tianyue City.

But Lin Chen didn't continue discussing this matter. He saw Ling Xiaoya constantly pouting, afraid that she would mess things up, so he simply said, "Everyone, go back now, perform your duties, and arrange the alert well… Chunlin, you stay behind. I want to take you to see someone."

After saying that, Lin Chen specially looked at Ling Xiaoya.

She was an Electric Law user.

Moreover, after the battle of Ice and Snow City, she had leveled up to level 120.

In terms of strength, she was only second to Bai Shuyi.

Therefore, Lin Chen had also let her attend the meeting.

As a result, Bai Shuyi's words about Liu Mengyao and Lin Chen being lovers made the little girl very unhappy. Lin Chen's look was naturally a warning to her not to speak nonsense and to leave quickly.

In the end, only Zhang Chunlin stayed behind.

"Boss, who are we going to see? From the looks of it, this person seems very important!" Zhang Chunlin asked.

"A merchant."

Lin Chen nodded and explained, "You're most familiar with merchants, and you're best at commercial negotiations, so I'll have to rely on you later… All I can tell you is that he's very rich and he wants Tianyue City's market very much."

"Understood."

Zhang Chunlin grinned and said, "Boss, I'm good at this. Just watch me later!"

While speaking, the two arrived at the City Lord's mansion's reception room.

Winter was already waiting here.

However, he wasn't just waiting idly.

After Lin Chen and Zhang Chunlin came in, a black-robed old man next to Winter whispered a few words into his ear.

Winter revealed a surprised expression after hearing this, and then laughed, "It seems that this City Lord is a very decisive and determined person!"

"Chairman, should we withdraw? This place is likely to become chaotic."

The old man spoke again.

"No!"

Winter laughed, "On the contrary, I think this is an opportunity for us to make a fortune, Wen Zhong."

(End of chapter)