The scene behind the massive stone gates of Sanmiao City was exactly as Ye Fang had read in novels—lofty pavilions, spirit birds of cultivators soaring through the clouds, and the lingering fragrance of medicinal herbs. However, this beauty was short-lived.
The roar of the two guards from behind drew the attention of the entire marketplace. They lay sprawled on the ground, but their faces held no fear of defeat—only the arrogance of power and pure malice.
"You! Stop right there!" The first guard spat out a mouthful of blood, retrieved a glowing crimson stone, and smashed it against the ground. A sharp, piercing whistle echoed—an emergency signal.
He laughed like a maniac. "Did you think you could defeat us and breathe a sigh of relief? You have challenged the laws of Sanmiao City! The City Lord's elite protectors—and the Lord himself—will be here any moment. Let's see how much protection those fists of yours provide then!"
The second guard, clutching his shattered arm, snarled in a terrifying voice, "Ignorant brat! You have no idea who the City Lord is. He is at the Peak of the Spiritual Ring Stage! To him, you are nothing more than a mosquito. He will crush you and imprison your soul to suffer for a thousand years!"
Ye Fang paused. The smirk on his face faded slightly—not out of fear, but out of curiosity. He called out in his mind, "Little System! What on earth is this 'Spiritual Ring'? I am only at Qi Refining; is it far beyond that?"
The Little System manifested instantly before his eyes.
"Host, be cautious! According to the cultivation ranks of this world—after Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Golden Core, comes the 'Spiritual Ring'. It is a stage where a cultivator condenses their Qi into a solid ring. A Golden Core practitioner is a mere plaything before such power!"
Ye Fang's eyes widened. "What? Beyond the Golden Core? That means this man can truly cause absolute devastation!"
He looked at the guards, scratching his head. "I see... so he's that powerful? Then I should probably make a run for it. I'm not quite at the level to provoke someone at the Spiritual Ring Stage yet."
But then, a mischievous and bold glint flickered in his eyes. Standing his ground, he rested his chin on his hand. "But wait! I haven't done anything wrong. You're the ones who deserve punishment for harassing these innocent girls. What if I just tell the City Lord the truth—that his guards are acting like thugs in the name of taxes?"
The first guard burst into laughter as if he'd heard the world's greatest joke. "You fool! Are you truly naive or just insane? You are a nameless outsider, a beggar in tattered clothes! And us? We are the City Lord's loyal hounds. Who will believe you? In this world, truth does not speak—power does. And here, the City Lord is the power!"
Ye Fang took a cold breath and recalled the 5 Attack Talismans stored in his system space. He clenched his fists and muttered, "So power is the only thing that speaks? Fine... then today, Sanmiao City will have to listen to mine."
Suddenly, a terrifying pressure descended. The sky changed color—the City Lord had arrived.
Lightning crackled across the heavens as a shadow descended through the clouds. It was City Lord Wang Long. His mere presence made the surrounding air heavy and suffocating. He landed directly on the ground, the earth beneath his feet sinking from the sheer weight of his aura.
Wang Long's eyes held a frigid glint. He scanned the area and barked in a thundering voice, "Who is the insolent fool who dares to shed blood at the gates of my city?"
The two guards, who had been groaning on the ground, felt a surge of life upon seeing their master. They crawled to Wang Long's feet, wailing, "City Lord! Save us! This boy attacked us. We were merely performing our duty, inspecting newcomers, when he began beating us for no reason! He is a dangerous criminal!"
Wang Long turned his head, his sharp gaze locking onto Ye Fang. "So... it is you who dared to strike my protectors within my own domain?"
Ye Fang stood calm. There was no terror or hesitation on his face. He looked directly into Wang Long's eyes and said, "City Lord, what your guards say is an absolute lie. The truth is, I stood against injustice. These guards were harassing these two innocent girls and demanding bribes for entry. Is this the state of security for women under your rule?"
The guards shouted over him, "Lies! All lies! Lord, we are your loyal servants, why would we do such a thing? This boy is slandering us to hide his own guilt!"
Ye Fang replied with a cold smile, "Who is lying will be clear in a moment. City Lord, if you do not believe me, ask these two girls yourself. They are the true witnesses to what happened here."
Wang Long's gaze shifted to the two girls, who had stood silent until now, their faces hidden behind veils and commoner's clothes. A strange silence filled the air. The guards smirked inwardly, certain that these ordinary girls would be too terrified to speak.
But then, the two girls reached up and removed their veils. As their faces were revealed, the tension in the air shifted violently. The guards' faces turned deathly pale, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
The elder girl stepped forward, looking directly at Wang Long, and said in a clear, commanding voice:
"Yes, Father! This young man speaks the absolute truth."
"Father?!" A strangled cry escaped the guards' throats. The ground seemed to vanish beneath them. The "ordinary girls" they had been harassing were actually the daughters of City Lord Wang Long!
The girl looked at the guards with pure loathing. "We went out in disguise to see the state of the city. These two wretched guards not only harassed us but threatened us and demanded bribes. If this young man had not intervened in time, they might have crossed even worse boundaries."
Wang Long's face flushed with a murderous rage. His Spiritual Ring Peak energy began to erupt uncontrollably. He slowly tilted his head toward the two guards, who were now trembling like leaves in a storm.
"So..." Wang Long's voice was like cold iron, "My own protectors were preying upon the honor of my own daughters?"
The guards couldn't even find their voices. They knew their death warrant had just been signed.
Wang Long turned back to Ye Fang. The hatred in his eyes was gone, replaced by profound respect. He took a deep breath and said, "Young man, you have not only protected my daughters but saved the reputation of my city. I, Wang Long, am in your debt."
Ye Fang gave a slight, composed nod. He knew that his journey in Sanmiao City had just taken a very powerful turn. He glanced at the System in his mind. "Well, that's two out of ten settled... and now I've got the City Lord covering my back."