Xiao Man was preparing to return to Zhong Zhou Street when she encountered Qing Ti at the street corner. A man with red hair and red eyes stood beside Qing Ti, and he smiled and nodded at Xiao Man upon seeing her.
"City Lord."
"It's you." Qing Ti felt a headache upon seeing Xiao Man. Ever since this person appeared, the inner city had not known a moment's peace. After finally resolving the matter of the Crimson Tribe, he did not want Xiao Man to cause further trouble. Su Dan Fiction Network.
"Two divine envoys arrived today, saying I can enter Futu City soon."
Qing Ti's heart immediately filled with joy upon hearing this.
"Truly? Who are they?"
"One is in white clothes and white hair, the other in black clothes and black hair. One of them is called Xuan Ling," Xiao Man said with excitement. "City Lord, it seems I will be leaving the inner city soon."
"In that case, I congratulate you in advance." Qing Ti wished Xiao Man would enter Futu City immediately so he could have fewer troubles. However, Futu City was delaying allowing this person entry. The longer this person stayed in the inner city, the more unpredictable things became.
"Likewise, likewise." Xiao Man leaned closer to Qing Ti. "City Lord, this must be the Crimson Tribe leader you've newly selected, right?"
"Nonsense." Qing Ti glanced at Xiao Man. "This is the candidate for the new leader of the Crimson Tribe, not someone I selected."
"I understand, I understand." Xiao Man's "I understand" look made Qing Ti feel particularly uneasy, yet he couldn't lash out. The inner city could not afford more chaos, otherwise, he would surely be punished by the Divine Lord.
"Nangong Yu, before you enter Futu City, do not cause me any more trouble, or no one will be able to protect you."
"City Lord, please rest assured. Lord Xuan Ling said that as long as I cultivate diligently, I will enter Futu City soon. At that time, I will certainly not forget your support."
Xiao Man returned to Zhong Zhou Street and immediately gave orders for everyone to enter Tong Tian Tower to cultivate. Their time was truly running out. The Demon King sending people to investigate meant he had already discovered something. The next time he came, he would surely have proof.
"Junior Brother Nangong, has something happened?"
"Someone from Futu City has arrived." Xiao Man's expression was solemn. "Senior Brother Jiang, it seems we will soon have to fight with our backs to the river."
"How soon is 'soon'?" Jiang Lan had long known a battle was inevitable. In the beginning, he would have been anxious, but now he had accepted the reality. Since it was coming anyway, it was better to face it with composure.
"I don't know, so let's intensify our cultivation." Xiao Man patted Jiang Lan's shoulder. "You are all the cream of the crop of humanity, with extraordinary talent. Your cultivation speed is incomparable to ordinary people. I believe that on the day of the great battle, you will all be able to break through to the Divine Transformation Realm."
"We will not disappoint!"
"From today onwards, you will also enter cultivation. I will guard Zhong Zhou Street." Xiao Man said softly. "I want to see when they will discover the clues."
"You alone..."
"My guarding alone is more useful than all of you guarding. From today onwards, outsiders will no longer know the situation in Zhong Zhou Street."
"If that's the case..."
"Don't worry. Futu City has just sent people to investigate. They will assume it's a ploy I'm using to enter Futu City and won't take it seriously. It will only delay them for a short while."
"We will do our utmost."
"Good, I await your good news."
In the inner city, peace was restored. The Crimson Tribe installed a trusted leader, and the old leader of the Blue Tribe passed away shortly after abdicating. The two tribes, who had been engaged in fierce conflict, had both passed away, yet they hadn't stirred up much of a storm in the inner city.
Zhong Zhou Street was shrouded in thick fog, making it impossible for outsiders to see what was happening inside. Qing Ti also chose not to interfere with Zhong Zhou Street, creating a rare period of tranquility.
Three months passed in the blink of an eye. The dense fog over Zhong Zhou Street had not dissipated. Qing Ti sat on the rooftop of the City Lord's mansion, gazing in the direction of Zhong Zhou Street, feeling that something was amiss.
"Qing Liang, do you feel anything is wrong?"
"The weather has been fair recently, and everything has been peaceful. Nothing seems wrong."
"Don't you think it's too peaceful?"
"My lord, isn't peace a good thing?" Qing Liang asked, confused. "Do you wish for something to happen in the city?"
"For some reason, I've been feeling chest tightness lately, as if a stone is pressing on my heart, making it hard to breathe."
"Do you have a stiff neck?" Qing Liang asked, confused.
Qing Ti glanced at him. "Do I look like I have a stiff neck?"
"No."
"It's too peaceful lately, so peaceful it feels like a storm is brewing. My heart feels heavy, and I have a premonition that something is going to happen."
"The seven tribes are at peace now, and the humans in Zhong Zhou Street are all staying indoors. What could happen?"
"The humans in Zhong Zhou Street are staying indoors..." Qing Ti savored this statement. Xiao Man was not one to sit still. Her keeping the people of Zhong Zhou Street indoors, and the fact that not a single human could be seen in the inner city anymore, as if humanity had vanished overnight from the inner city.
"Qing Liang, don't you find it strange that there are no traces of humans in the Holy Land anymore?" Qing Ti turned his head. "Even if the humans didn't go out before, they would go to the Holy Temple to change medicine or weapons, etc. But now, think about it, how long has it been since we've seen any humans?"
"Didn't we see that Nangong Yu not long ago?"
"Besides her, have you seen anyone else?"
"This... I don't think so."
"Jiang Lan has been managing Zhong Zhou Street. Do you remember the last time you saw him?"
"The last time I saw him was when he led people to attack the Crimson Tribe."
"Yes, we saw him when he led people to attack the Crimson Tribe. Since then, we haven't seen him at all. Not only is he not showing himself, but the people of Zhong Zhou Street also aren't showing themselves. What are they hiding in Zhong Zhou Street for?"
"Fear of the Crimson and Blue Tribes?"
"Both the Crimson and Blue Tribes have new leaders, and the past grievances are considered over. Do they need to be so afraid that they won't come out?" Qing Ti felt something was wrong. There must be another reason. "Besides, they can't hide forever, can they?"
"My lord, perhaps they are in closed-door cultivation in Zhong Zhou Street?" Qing Liang thought for a moment. "Look, they are always bullied by the seven tribes. Perhaps they want to resist, so they are cultivating day and night, just so they are no longer bullied by us."
"What did you say?" Qing Ti straightened up instantly, as if something flashed through his mind, but it was too fast for him to grasp.
"The people of Zhong Zhou Street are in closed-door cultivation."
"Not that sentence, the one after it, 'resist'."
"They are always bullied by the seven tribes. Perhaps they want to resist, so they are cultivating day and night, just so they are no longer bullied by us."
"Right, resist!" Qing Ti finally understood the source of his unease. Xiao Man was leading Zhong Zhou Street in silent resistance. The past few days of hiding in Zhong Zhou Street, and setting up formations, was not to avoid harm from outsiders, but to cover their tracks and do things that couldn't be seen in the light!