When Jiang Changsheng spoke, Zhang Zehao laughed lightly, dismissively saying, “What, kid, are you trying to play the hero?”
“This is Bright Flame City, under the jurisdiction of Nine Heavens Imperial Sect. You think you can just act however you want?” Jiang Changsheng replied with a frown.
“So you're not from this city, huh? No wonder you don’t recognize me,” Zhang Zehao shook his head and said, “Listen up. My father is Zhang Erhe, the current city lord of Bright Flame City.”
“So what if he’s the city lord? He was appointed by the Nine Heavens Sect to manage the city. It doesn’t belong to him,” Jiang Changsheng said calmly.
“And who are you?” Zhang Zehao sized up Jiang Changsheng.
Usually, when he revealed his background, others would either apologize or back off.
“Nine Heavens Sect inner disciple, Jiang Changsheng,” Jiang Changsheng replied plainly.
“An inner disciple of the Imperial Sect?” Zhang Zehao looked surprised for a moment, but quickly forced a smile.
He smiled at Jiang Changsheng and said, “Ah, so it’s Brother Jiang! A pleasure to meet you, sorry for not treating you better. I’ve reserved a table at Bright Moon Restaurant. Would you honor me by joining?”
“Cut the crap. Why did you steal from him?” Jiang Changsheng waved his hand and pressed.
Zhang Zehao narrowed his eyes and smiled slightly. “Brother Jiang, let me remind you, this is Bright Flame City, not the Nine Heavens Sect. Just because you’re an inner disciple doesn’t mean your words hold weight here. Let’s not make a big deal. Just let this go.”
“I’m going to report this to the sect,” Jiang Changsheng said flatly. “Now return what you took and apologize.”
“You think too highly of yourself,” Zhang Zehao snapped. Then he waved his hand and ordered, “Teach him a lesson.”
As his servants rushed forward, Jiang Changsheng let out a cold snort.
He was at the peak of the Celestial Image Realm, nearly breaking into the World Paragon Realm. These lackeys weren’t even close to his match.
He released a burst of spiritforce and used his Fierce Tiger Fist to knock several servants to the ground.
Then he grabbed Zhang Zehao by the throat and said coldly, “Apologize.”
“S-s-sorry,” Zhang Zehao stammered, trembling all over.
“You’re just a spoiled second-gen brat hiding behind your dad,” Jiang Changsheng scoffed.
He picked up the Northern Ice box, handed it to Xu Yan, and said, “Here, take this.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much!” Xu Yan took it gratefully.
“No problem. Go treat your mother,” Jiang Changsheng replied, waving him off.
Then he tossed Zhang Zehao aside and snapped, “Get lost. If this weren’t Bright Flame City, I’d kill you right now.”
Zhang Zehao nodded frantically and left the shop with his group.
…
“Boss, how much for the Heaven Demon Bow?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Heaven Demon Bow. A relic from the ancient God-Demon Battlefield. Extremely powerful, but only usable by demon races. That’s a major limitation. One merit merit points or a Fusion Heaven level weapon can be exchanged,” the puppet shopkeeper said flatly, flipping through his book.
“A Fusion Heaven level weapon?” Xu Zimo glanced at Jiang Changsheng.
His past self was dirt poor, not to mention high-level weapons, he didn’t even have a decent one. And his cultivation had been too weak to even use them properly.
“Don’t look at me. I’m poorer than you,” Jiang Changsheng quickly said. “At least you’ve got a Mountain Lord as a dad. I’ve got nobody.”
Xu Zimo turned back to the shopkeeper and asked, “Do you have any tasks that can earn 100 points at once?”
“There are two,” the puppet replied while flipping through his book.
“First: hunt down the Twin-Faced Duo from the Northern Region’s Royal Empyrean Sect, reward is 100 merit points. Second: travel to Blue Moon Pool, ten miles away, and slay the green flood dragon to collect its spine, also 100 points.”
Hearing this, Chu Cichao chimed in, “Forget about the Twin-Faced Duo. They’re strong and impossible to track. As for the flood dragon, unless your Nine Heavens Sect’s patriarch comes out of seclusion, there's no chance.”
“Let’s go take a look at Blue Moon Pool,” Xu Zimo said to Jiang Changsheng.
“Just the two of us?” Jiang Changsheng blinked. “You serious? That’s suicide.”
“I said look, not fight. What are you scared of?” Xu Zimo replied calmly.
“Fine. Just look,” Jiang Changsheng nodded helplessly.
“I’d still advise you not to go. That kind of creature isn’t something you guys can handle,” Chu Shanhe said from the side.
Xu Zimo smiled and was about to leave with Jiang Changsheng when the sound of footsteps came from outside.
A group of soldiers surrounded the shop, and Zhang Zehao swaggered in, this time with two others.
One was a middle-aged man in black with a short beard and short hair. His muscles bulged, and his chest was exposed through his robe, he looked fierce and commanding.
The other was an old man, more subdued, with a presence so restrained that it was easy to overlook him entirely.
“Father, he’s the one who said he’d kill me,” Zhang Zehao pointed at Jiang Changsheng and complained.
The middle-aged man stepped forward and nodded slightly. Looking at Jiang Changsheng, he said, “I’m Zhang Erhe. Which of you are disciples of the Nine Heavens Sect?”
“We all are. What’s the problem?” Xu Zimo asked with a frown.
“I just want to ask, what did my son do to offend you? You threatened to kill him. I think you owe me an explanation,” Zhang Erhe said calmly.
“He threw your name around to act like a tyrant in this city. Bright Flame may be under your management, but it belongs to the Nine Heavens Sect, not your family,” Jiang Changsheng replied. “We’re disciples of the sect. We have a duty to keep things in order. You got a problem with that?”
“If you want to uphold justice, I don’t mind. But this can’t be judged by your side alone. Come with me to the City Lord’s mansion and explain it properly,” Zhang Erhe said, waving his hand.
Soldiers poured into the shop.
“Be careful. Don’t touch anything,” Zhang Erhe quickly warned them.
This shop, known as the “Number One Shop Under Heaven,” had a mysterious background. If anything broke, they’d have to pay an equal price.
Even Zhang Erhe didn’t dare act recklessly here. Thankfully, the shopkeeper was just a puppet and wouldn’t interfere unless something was damaged.
Jiang Changsheng frowned and was about to strike, but Xu Zimo stopped him.