Months later.

Han Li and Shi Chuan Kong arrived at a highland area covered in black soil.

The climate here was dry, with frequent gusts of wind blowing, stirring up black sand that filled the sky. Occasionally, towering tornadoes carrying black sand wandered around.

Shi Chuan Kong's expression visibly relaxed upon arriving here.

Seeing this, Han Li also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Since leaving Xionggu City, the two had been traveling non-stop. Because Shi Chuan Kong was quite familiar with this area, they changed routes several times along the way. To avoid being intercepted, they hardly used the teleportation arrays in the towns they passed.

Perhaps this method worked, as the journey had been relatively smooth. They hadn't encountered any pursuit from Shi Chuan Kong's eldest brother's forces, but they also hadn't received any news about his third brother.

After flying for another two months, two massive peaks, each ten thousand feet tall, appeared at the horizon. Between the two peaks sat a black city. It was still too far away, but with Han Li's eyesight, he could vaguely make out that the city was quite large.

This area was considered deep within the Black Soil Plateau, and the surrounding environment was even more harsh. Black hurricanes raged everywhere, stirring up black sand that blotted out the sky and sun. There were even giant rocks as large as small mountains flying around. If not for cultivators above the Nascent Soul stage, ordinary people and even low-level cultivators probably wouldn't be able to stand here.

Of course, this storm was nothing to Han Li and Shi Chuan Kong; they could simply ignore it.

The black city, situated between the two giant peaks, seemed quite peaceful. There was a silence stretching for thousands of miles around it, as if some kind of restriction isolated it from the raging storms outside.

"We've finally arrived." Shi Chuan Kong gazed into the distance, his eyes lighting up slightly as he let out a long breath.

"Is this Nianshan City? The climate here is quite harsh, and the demonic Qi isn't dense. There aren't any geographical advantages like mines nearby. Why would you build a city in a place like this?" Han Li asked, glancing around with puzzlement.

"I didn't build this Nianshan City. It used to be inhabited by a clan called the Shatuo clan. Tens of thousands of years ago, they moved away. I found a way to buy this place and spent a lot of effort transforming it into its current state. The environment isn't great, but if you think about it the other way around, isn't it a natural barrier?" Shi Chuan Kong said with a somewhat smug smile.

"I'm afraid that's not the key, is it? According to my observations along the way, combined with your demonic realm maps, this Nianshan City is also located at the intersection of several large city routes, and it's not too far from the Ten Affliction Mountains. It's quite suitable for doing business," Han Li said with a smile.

"You know me well, Brother Li!" Shi Chuan Kong's eyes lit up, and he laughed heartily.

"Are we just going to go over like this? Although this is your territory, you've been away for so many years. Something might have happened," Han Li said, reminded of something.

"It's fine. I've secretly contacted my confidants in the city. There hasn't been anything unusual, and those people haven't touched Nianshan City yet," Shi Chuan Kong said with a confident smile.

"That's good," Han Li nodded.

While the two were talking, the Darkgod Shuttle continued to fly forward.

The two giant peaks in front of them grew larger rapidly in their line of sight. Up close, the peaks towered into the clouds, quite majestic and spectacular. Although Nianshan City, located between the two peaks, seemed insignificant compared to them, it was, upon closer inspection, a magnificent giant city.

The city walls were hundreds of feet high, and beams of light frequently entered and exited, including various types of flying boats and ships.

On the ground, some land-based giant carts could be seen converging towards Nianshan City from all directions, making it even more lively than Black Weasel City.

Han Li's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise at the sight.

Shi Chuan Kong, looking at the massive city in front of him, felt an excitement he couldn't suppress, along with a hint of pride.

To avoid attracting attention, Shi Chuan Kong slowed down the Darkgod Shuttle and finally arrived at the edge of Nianshan City after a moment.

Looking from the air, the city was filled with tall buildings, and straight streets crisscrossed each other. The streets were crowded with traffic and people, bustling and prosperous, far surpassing Black Weasel City and Xionggu City.

More than a dozen straight, giant jade pillars were suspended in the sky above the city. Black runes were engraved on the pillars, which seemed to be some kind of giant array artifact.

With these dozen pillars as the center, a giant black light curtain opened around them, enveloping the entire city and the surrounding thousands of miles, resisting the surrounding storms and sand.

In the east, west, south, north, southeast, northeast, southwest, and northwest directions of Nianshan City, there were eight giant city gates. All eight gates were open at this time, and the converging flying boats and vehicles gathered at the eight city gates, forming long queues, waiting to enter the city.

"It seems there are only eight entrances, which is still too few. Just entering and exiting the city requires waiting for so long. We need to expand a few more city gates," Shi Chuan Kong muttered, seeing this scene.

Instead of landing to queue, he controlled the Darkgod Shuttle to fly directly into the city from the air.

There were many demonic beings wearing gray armor circling around Nianshan City, seemingly patrolling. Seeing the Darkgod Shuttle approaching, a patrol team immediately came up to meet it.

"Stop! Who goes there? Quickly state your name!" the patrol team leader shouted.

Shi Chuan Kong put away the Darkgod Shuttle and didn't speak, but simply waved his hand.

A purple token appeared in his hand, with two ancient demonic characters written on it, emitting a hazy purple light.

"So you are honored guests from the City Lord's Mansion! My apologies for the disrespect, please enter," the patrol captain's expression changed drastically upon seeing the purple token, and he respectfully bowed.

Then, he took out a black command flag and quickly chanted an incantation before waving it.

A black light shot out from the black command flag and entered the black light curtain in front. A flash of black light appeared on the light curtain, and a several-foot-wide entrance opened silently.

Shi Chuan Kong nodded to the patrol and flew in with Han Li.

There were no flight restrictions in the city, and beams of light flew back and forth in the air. Shi Chuan Kong led Han Li to blend in and moved towards the center of the city.

After a moment, the two landed in front of a tall mansion that occupied a large area.

This place was far from the bustling streets and was very quiet. There were no guards in front of the mansion, only an old man with a plain face, wearing a blue robe, who seemed quite detached from the world, standing here.

"Young Master, I'm relieved that you've arrived safely," the old man in the blue robe immediately stepped forward as Han Li and Shi Chuan Kong landed, his voice somewhat excited.

"Old Qi, it's been a while!" Shi Chuan Kong chuckled and said.

While speaking, he performed a hand gesture, and black light flashed on his body, restoring his original appearance.

"Friend Li, this is Old Qi, an old servant left by my mother. He took care of me since I was a child and can be absolutely trusted. Old Qi, this is Friend Li that I mentioned to you before," Shi Chuan Kong then introduced the two sides.

"So you are Friend Qi, I'm honored to meet you." Han Li did not undo his transformation, quickly assessed Old Qi, a strange light flashed in his eyes, and bowed.

Although the old man was trying his best to hide his aura, Han Li still detected that his cultivation had reached the Grand Unity stage, even higher than his own.

Old Qi's cultivation wasn't what surprised Han Li. What surprised him was that although the old man exuded demonic Qi, the origin of his power was the aura of immortal spiritual power, similar to his own situation.

"Friend Li, thank you for escorting my young master all the way. I thank you here," Old Qi said with a solemn expression and returned the courtesy.

"Friend Qi, you are too polite," Han Li replied with a smile.

"Alright, Old Qi, Friend Li is not an outsider, there's no need to be so formal, it makes people uncomfortable. Brother Li, let's go inside and talk," Shi Chuan Kong also said.

Old Qi nodded and led the two into the mansion.

"It's the Thirteenth Prince!"

"Your Highness the Thirteenth Prince, you've finally returned!"

"Was Your Highness's journey smooth?"

The servants and guards in the mansion immediately flocked over when they saw Shi Chuan Kong, vying to greet him. Shi Chuan Kong also greeted everyone with a smile, responding to their questions one by one, without any airs of a prince.

"Alright, the Prince has just returned and has many things to do, don't all crowd around here," Old Qi said in a deep voice.

Old Qi seemed to have a very high prestige here. Those people dispersed quickly after hearing these words.

"Sorry for the scene, Friend Li," Shi Chuan Kong said, seeing a change in Han Li's expression.

"Not at all, I admire how beloved Stone Fellow Daoist is, how would I laugh," Han Li replied with a smile.

The three continued forward and soon came to a hall where they sat down.

"Old Qi, I have been away from the Holy Region for many years, thank you for managing this Nianshan City for me. I just passed by on the way here, and the number of shops in the city has increased by 10% compared to before, and the population in the city is also more than before. These are all your credit," Shi Chuan Kong said.

"Young Master is too kind. I am just following the plan you made when you left. Although the number of shops and the population have increased compared to before, there are many mixed people, including those who are jealous of the prosperity of Nianshan City and have arranged for their people to enter. I have tried my best to suppress them over the years, but unfortunately the effect is not good. On the surface, the city looks prosperous, but inside, undercurrents have already begun to surge, far inferior to the well-organized manner when Young Master personally took charge," Old Qi said with a look of shame.

"Since they cannot be suppressed, then retreat and bring them in. The entire Nianshan City is in my hands. Since those people have sent these pieces of fat to my mouth, wouldn't I be sorry for them if I didn't swallow them? Old Qi, don't worry, I know about this," Shi Chuan Kong said with a chuckle, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

"Yes, I understand," Old Qi said, the gloomy color on his face swept away as he saw Shi Chuan Kong's expression.

Han Li sat quietly on the side, his heart moved when he saw the scene in front of him.

Shi Chuan Kong's planning and management of the business is much more domineering than fighting against enemies.

"By the way, has there been any news from Third Brother?" Shi Chuan Kong then thought of something and asked quickly.

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