Chapter 1 A Meal

Inside an elegant private room at a certain restaurant west of the city.

"Xiao Xiao, what is this?" Hua Jian asked curiously, pointing at a dish on the table.

"Oh~" Su Xiao Xiao replied with a smile, "This is called 'Snow Ape Offering Fruit.' It's a local specialty of Mount Wan Ape. The method is extremely elaborate. It requires using the brain of a snow mountain giant ape, mixed with a secret sauce, smeared on the surface of these snow fruits, and then baked with precise heat..."

"Miss Su..." Ruo Yu put down her chopsticks upon hearing the words "brain," "We met by chance. You're willing to explain the many affairs of this Harem City to us, which is already a great help. And now... you're treating us to such..." She thought for two seconds, choosing an adjective, "...such a luxurious meal... I'm afraid we're not worthy..."

"Ai~ Sister Yu, what are you saying~" Su Xiao Xiao waved her hand in reply, "Don't mention a table of food and drinks, even ten or a hundred tables are, to this..." She seemed to almost let something slip again, and quickly changed her words, "...to this girl, just a drop in the bucket."

"Miss Su..." With Ruo Yu's observational skills, she had naturally long been aware of the other party's abnormalities. Not afraid of ruining the atmosphere, she bluntly stated, "Let me be frank... Based on the things you've told us, plus my own observations, I feel... you're not just any 'ordinary person'..." She paused, "You... should be one of the City Lord's subordinates, right?"

Su Xiao Xiao was visibly stunned upon hearing this, and not even a dog-skin plaster could hide the change in her expression.

Two seconds later, she smiled slightly, looking at Ruo Yu as she replied, "Sister Yu is indeed graceful and intelligent, clever and perceptive..." As she spoke, she raised her hand and peeled off the plaster from her face.

Su Xiao Xiao's face was delicate, pretty, and shapely; in terms of appearance alone, she was in no way inferior to Lin Que in front of the Lian Xian Palace. It was just... she had three red birthmarks on her face, located precisely where she had been sticking the plaster, which inevitably added a few flaws to her bright-as-the-autumn-moon face.

"That's right... This commander is the Harem City Military Supervisor—Su Xiao Xiao." Su Xiao Xiao continued, "I concealed my identity earlier out of necessity. I hope the two ladies will forgive me..."

This Miss Su was the last of Ji Feng Long's three great masters, slightly stronger than Lin Que, and just barely at the Saint Yuan Limit Ninth Cycle realm.

"Necessity?" Hua Jian asked, puzzled, "Could it be you received orders to deal with the two of us?"

"No, no, no... Where did that come from..." Su Xiao Xiao quickly waved her hand to deny it, "This commander does have official duties, but absolutely no intention of harming the two of you."

"Then please explain," Ruo Yu said calmly, looking directly into the other party's eyes.

"Um... It's like this..." Su Xiao Xiao replied, "You two just heard me say that every year on the twelfth of Phoenix Month, the City Lord will tour the city to admire the flowers and scout for beauties." She glanced at Ruo Yu and Hua Jian, "However... this Harem City is very large. It's impossible for the City Lord to see everything in one night..."

"Understood." Hua Jian understood quickly, "On the surface, City Lord Ji only leaves the house to take concubines on the twelfth of Phoenix Month, but in reality, she has people secretly scouting for the harem year-round, and you're one of her secret agents."

"You could say that..." Su Xiao Xiao smiled awkwardly. Hua Jian's wording was a little unpleasant, but the general meaning was correct, "Actually, I only do this job occasionally, and I often get recognized... So today I simply changed into men's clothing..."

"So now... what do you want?" Ruo Yu asked.

Su Xiao Xiao gave a sheepish smile: "Hehe... Since everything has been said, this commander might as well ask directly..." She straightened her expression, and continued, "Do the two ladies have any interest in meeting our City Lord?"

…………

At the same moment, in front of Lian Xian Palace.

The Saint Yuan power stagnating in mid-air had gradually begun to settle, and the battle between the two Saint Yuan Limit masters... was nearing its end.

At this time, Mo Ruo Qiu was covered in wounds and exhausted; while Lin Que, only slightly depleted, had not disturbed her aura in the slightest.

Just as Lu Te had said in the previous text, within the same realm and the same level, each additional cycle doubles the amount of power. Therefore... the outcome of this battle was just a very simple math problem. Someone in the seventh cycle fighting someone in the eighth cycle is like playing *wAr3* with 50% health against 100%, you might not even win if the other side just mindlessly A clicks you...

"Young Master Mo, that's enough." Lin Que stood on the steps of Lian Xian Palace, looking down at Mo Ruo Qiu, "If you continue to fight, you're not seeking battle, but seeking death..."

Lin Que's patience was almost at its limit. If it weren't for the City Lord's orders to avoid harming Mo Ruo Qiu's life as much as possible, Lin Que would have killed this guy long ago.

"Hoo... What's wrong with death..." Mo Ruo Qiu's face was ashen, forcibly urging the little Saint Yuan he had left, and stepped forward once again, "I originally came seeking death... Why do you need to persuade me again?"

"Hmph..." Lin Que said daintily, "You really don't know what's good for you... If I hadn't held back, would you still be able to stand?" She flicked her sleeves, and scolded, "Mo Ruo Qiu! If you don't leave, don't blame me for destroying your foundation, and then having people carry you away!"

Her words were both a threat and a deterrent. To cultivators, the foundation is extremely important. Once the foundation is damaged, no matter how high your aptitude, the speed and limit of your cultivation will be affected... Lin Que uttering these harsh words was undoubtedly to make Mo Ruo Qiu retreat in the face of difficulty.

Unfortunately... Just as she had said, Mo Ruo Qiu was just this "unappreciative." In recent years, Young Master Mo had suffered too many setbacks, and had long become obsessed and crazy. Right now, he was completely stuck in a dead end... so he wouldn't consider any way out.

"Do as you please!" Mo Ruo Qiu shouted, his Saint Yuan suddenly rising.

In the next second, a khaki-colored dragon-shaped energy condensed in mid-air, pouncing straight towards the steps.

"Sigh..." Lin Que sighed, "Why bother..."

Even the two Saint Yuan Limit Third Cycle guards at the door could see that Mo Ruo Qiu's attack looked powerful, but was actually weak on the inside, not even the end of its strength...

Lin Que simply raised her soft hand, and spat out a little Saint Yuan, scattering the dragon shape without a trace.

"It's not over yet!" Mo Ruo Qiu stubbornly refused to give up, letting the blood from the corner of his mouth spill out, still wanting to forcibly urge his Saint Yuan...

But this time, someone nipped his actions in the bud.

"Stop, Young Master Mo." A steady voice rang out.

Along with the voice, a golden light descended from the sky, covering Mo Ruo Qiu and completely suppressing his cultivation.

"Suppressing Yuan Golden Seal?" After all, as a young master of one of the four great families, Mo Ruo Qiu was quite knowledgeable. After being hit, he immediately knew the name of the magic treasure suppressing him.

"It seems Young Master Mo recognizes this magic treasure..." Yin Lou Lan said as he walked over, "Then you should also know... At this moment, your Saint Yuan is almost exhausted, and under the Suppressing Yuan Golden Seal, it's absolutely impossible to gather power to attack."

"Yin Lou Lan..." Mo Ruo Qiu turned his head and muttered the other party's name.

Young Master Mo had known Yin Lou Lan's name a long time ago. Before joining Ji Feng Long's sect, the latter was a famous figure in the martial world. People said, "One Seal Controls the Universe, Double Swords Overturn Lou Lan," referring to him.

Unfortunately... This talented swordsman, who was highly regarded by the righteous path, was ambushed in a duel with the Demon Path Sword Sovereign many years ago. Although he still succeeded in killing the other party completely, his own foundation was also severely damaged.

This episode completely changed Yin Lou Lan's life. If it weren't for this duel, he would probably already be among the Yuan Saints... and wouldn't be relegated to being a security officer in this Harem City...

"Brother Yin, you came at the right time." Lin Que breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Yin Lou Lan, "If you had come any later, I'm afraid..." She looked at Mo Ruo Qiu, "...I wouldn't have had to take action... he would have destroyed his own foundation."

"Sigh..." Yin Lou Lan also sighed deeply upon hearing this, "Why bother..."

"Eh? Who are these two?" During the conversation, Lin Que had already seen Feng Bu Jue and Xu Huai Shang behind Yin Lou Lan, and asked.

"Oh, these two are the guests the City Lord wants to meet." Yin Lou Lan raised his head and replied, "I'll take them to the palace now..."

"What!" Mo Ruo Qiu, who was to the side, was immediately shocked and angry when he heard this, "She's willing to see even these ordinary people with no inner power, but not me?"

As he said this, Feng Bu Jue happened to pass by him... Brother Jue immediately displayed his taunting talent, turned his upper body, held up two fingers, made a victory sign at Mo Ruo Qiu, and uttered a very charming "yeah~"

That expression, that posture... was just like a child in kindergarten getting a little star...

Xu Huai Shang, walking next to Brother Jue, could only support her forehead and shake her head, muttering in her heart: "Big idiot..."

"Who exactly are you? Why is Feng'er willing to see you!" Although Mo Ruo Qiu didn't know why the man in front of him would suddenly say a "yeah" to him, it didn't stop him from shouting out the question in his heart.

In this kind of situation, it would be very inappropriate to let Feng Bu Jue, who had been invited, respond to an uninvited guest like Mo Ruo Qiu, as it would make the host seem rude. Therefore, Yin Lou Lan hurriedly stepped forward, stood in front of Mo Ruo Qiu, and said, "This Feng Alliance Master is a transcendent expert. He and his wife are both honored guests of the City Lord. I hope Young Master Mo will not bother them..."

"What? He's a transcendent expert?" Mo Ruo Qiu sized up Feng Bu Jue from head to toe again, but didn't feel the slightest bit of an expert's aura...

At this time, Yin Lou Lan had already turned around, and said to Brother Jue and Xu Huai Shang, "Uh... This Young Master Mo has some..." He considered the right wording, and then said, "...unfinished business with our City Lord." He paused, "I apologize for the spectacle..." He raised his hand towards the gate of Lian Xian Palace, "Please don't mind him, please..."

"Wait a minute!" Mo Ruo Qiu shouted again, "I'm not convinced! This is impossible!" He shouted loudly, "They can all go in, but I can't? It must be you servants interfering! It must be! Why won't you let me see Feng'er! Why..."

"Shut up!" Suddenly, a stern shout containing Saint Yuan power came from Lian Xian Palace.

It was a woman's voice... Even though she only said two words, and in a scolding tone, the voice still made people feel pleasant and wonderful.

"You... you're finally willing to talk to me..." Mo Ruo Qiu's face was pale, his eyes staring foolishly at the heights, as if his Feng'er had walked in front of him.

But Ji Feng Long didn't want to pay attention to him at all, so she only revealed her voice, not her person: "Brother Yin, please throw Young Master Mo into the sea to let him calm down... What kind of spectacle is it to shout and scream here?"

"As you command." Yin Lou Lan bowed with clasped hands towards the palace gate, and then turned around, putting away the Suppressing Yuan Golden Seal in mid-air.

Mo Ruo Qiu had just regained his ability to move, and before he could do anything, Yin Lou Lan conjured a flying sword out of thin air and dragged him away.

"What are you doing! Let me go!" Mo Ruo Qiu howled like a ghost, completely losing his composure and looking disheveled, "Let me go quickly! Why are you trying to separate us..." But he didn't even get to howl a few sentences before he was dragged flying into the distance...

"Um... He's a stalker, right..." Feng Bu Jue muttered, looking at the receding black figure in the sky.

"This scene seems familiar..." Xu Huai Shang also muttered softly, "But the version I saw was being dragged away by security guards..."

"It's not easy for you either..." Feng Bu Jue continued.

"It's alright..." Xu Huai Shang replied.

"Alliance Master Feng, Miss Lu." On the other side, Ji Feng Long's voice soon rang out again, "The two of you... please."