Stirring The Pot

Upon receiving Luo Feng's message, Morosa and Mo Yu Qingyan quickly rushed back to the residence.

"Master, your seclusion was too short this time," Morosa returned first, landing nearby with a hint of dissatisfaction. The carefree days of leisure had ended too soon.

Luo Feng glanced at him. "The duration of seclusion varies. Do you still have enough Universe Sand?"

"Master knows me well," Morosa grinned sheepishly. "I'm nearly out."

"Use it sparingly." Luo Feng tossed him a black jade bottle.

Morosa took the bottle and sensed that it contained over a hundred Universe Sand and several piles of Chaos Crystals. His smile grew wider. "Master, you're truly generous. There's no one kinder in all of Huyang City."

"Alright, alright, enough flattery," Luo Feng chuckled.

He had prohibited Morosa from causing trouble, so with no income, Luo Feng had to give him some pocket money.

At that moment, Mo Yu Qingyan also returned, piloting a small flying boat. After putting it away, he quickly approached Luo Feng and respectfully saluted. "Master."

"You seem to have been enjoying yourself during this time," Morosa said from the side. "Quite a few forces have approached me, and I'm sure many have tried to connect with you as well."

"Yes," Mo Yu Qingyan replied respectfully. "While Master was in seclusion, some forces in Huyang City, unable to visit you, reached out to me. I refused most, but I accepted gifts from thirteen major forces, totaling around 300 Universe Sand."

After all, he was just a servant, so each force's gifts weren't too valuable, but considering Luo Feng's status, these major forces wouldn't offer anything less than ten Universe Sand.

"If Mo Yu Qingyan received so much, I imagine you got even more, Morosa," Luo Feng looked at him. "Yet you just said you're almost out."

Morosa grinned sheepishly. He had accepted the gifts but had refused to assist with any requests. "You know, Master, living expenses in Huyang City are high."

"Did they ask you for any favors when they gave you gifts?" Luo Feng asked.

"No," Morosa replied. "I just gave them a contact mark. If they have something to report, they can reach out to me, and I can relay it to you."

"I didn't promise anything either, just provided a way to contact me," Mo Yu Qingyan added. "However, my brother's master, the Eternal True God Zhu You from the Zhu family, asked me to pass on a message inviting you to a banquet."

Luo Feng nodded. "The Zhu family is indeed the largest native family in Huyang City. It wouldn't hurt to meet them."

"Shall I inform Zhu You, the Eternal True God?" Mo Yu Qingyan asked.

"Yes," Luo Feng nodded.

Mo Yu Qingyan immediately used the transmission device to contact him and quickly reported, "Master, Zhu You invites you to meet tonight at the Dream Flower Pavilion."

"It's been a while since I visited Dream Flower Pavilion," Luo Feng nodded. "Accept the invitation."

...

While Luo Feng ended his seclusion, Gao Wushui was visiting his master, Mo Li Xiao, of the Mo Li family.

"How is your understanding of the 'Three-Sword Sky-Splitting Beast' coming along?" Mo Li Xiao asked, looking at his favourite disciple.

"The 'Three-Sword Sky-Splitting Beast' is indeed an Eternal-level mechanical treasure. I've studied it thoroughly and can barely execute all of its techniques," Gao Wushui replied.

Mo Li Xiao nodded in approval. "Your willpower is extraordinary, and you're skilled in formations. You've only recently become an Eternal True God, yet you've fully mastered the 'Three-Sword Sky-Splitting Beast.' I knew I didn't misjudge you!"

"Master, as a newly promoted Eternal True God, I've been elevated to one of the ten commanders of the Huyang Guard, but many Eternal True Gods are unhappy about it," Gao Wushui said quietly.

The ten generals of the Huyang Army and the ten commanders of the Huyang Guard were all capable of commanding legion-class mechanical treasures. Since Mo Li Xiao himself commanded one of these legions, there were only nineteen coveted positions.

Strength equaled power, which also meant access to resources. The competition for these nineteen positions was fierce.

The five great families alone had over a hundred Eternal True Gods, including those who were allied with them. The competition was intense. Gao Wushui, as a newly promoted Eternal True God, taking one of these positions naturally caused dissatisfaction among others.

"Ignore those fools," Mo Li Xiao said indifferently. "Legion-class mechanical treasures depend on who commands them! For instance, I can suppress the combined forces of the other nine legions."

"When you were a Void True God, your willpower was already at the peak of the Eternal True God level! You're also skilled in formations... You're naturally suited to command mechanical treasures. Once you've gained more experience, I'll find an opportunity to let you command one of the ten legions of Huyang."

"Command a Huyang legion?" Gao Wushui was surprised and felt the pressure.

"The ten legions of Huyang are far more important than the Huyang Guard. The difficulty of controlling legion-class mechanical treasures is also much higher. You'll need to gain enough experience, and it's best if your willpower can break through to the Chaos Master level. That way, even the City Lord's mansion won't oppose you commanding a legion," Mo Li Xiao explained.

"I understand," Gao Wushui nodded.

When he was a Void True God, his willpower had already reached the peak of the Eternal True God level. He was determined and eager to break through to the Chaos Master level.

"Go on," Mo Li Xiao nodded.

Among the many subordinates and disciples Mo Li Xiao had trained, Gao Wushui was the most suited to command mechanical treasures, which is why he invested so much in him.

Gao Wushui respectfully took his leave.

As he walked through a garden in the Mo Li family's residence, Mo Li Feiyun and Diao Rongqi, who had been waiting, stopped him.

"Senior Brother Gao Wu," Mo Li Feiyun called out.

Gao Wushui had no choice but to stop, feeling somewhat troubled.

He had become an Eternal True God, but he had never experienced romantic feelings. Given the bloodline cultivation system, most living beings on the Origin Continent were flesh-based and capable of reproduction.

However, beings on the Origin Continent had very long lifespans. True Gods lived for 30,000 epochs, and after becoming Void True Gods, they had infinite lifespans.

They didn't need to eat or drink, as they could survive by absorbing the power of the world. Many cultivators had no desire for a partner.

Gao Wushui was one of them.

For him, cultivation was filled with endless joy. Why would he need a wife?

"Feiyun," Gao Wushui could only smile and reply. He didn't want to neglect Mo Li Feiyun because of the gratitude he felt towards his master's nurturing.

"We happened to run into you, Senior Brother Gao Wu. How about we go out and have some fun together?" Mo Li Feiyun said, her heart focused entirely on Gao Wushui.

"Commander Gao Wu, Feiyun mentions your name almost every day," Diao Rongqi teased. "I think you should move into the Mo Li family residence. That way, you can see each other every day."

"Yes, yes, move into our residence. We already have over ten Eternal True Gods living here, so there's plenty of room," Mo Li Feiyun added.

Just as Gao Wushui was about to speak, a young man from the Mo Li family flew over from the distance, scrutinizing Gao Wushui. "Commander Gao Wushui!"

"Young Master Mo Li Lian," Gao Wushui greeted with a smile.

"Mo Li Lian, what are you doing here?" Mo Li Feiyun asked, annoyed.

Mo Li Lian sneered.

The Mo Li family was vast, and Mo Li Lian was one of the young talents who had received personal guidance from Mo Li Xiao, making him one of the family's promising Eternal True Gods.

However, Gao Wushui was Mo Li Xiao's most favored disciple.

Mo Li Lian had always viewed Gao Wushui as a rival, but now that Gao Wushui had become an Eternal True God first and had been promoted to one of the ten commanders of the Huyang Guard, Mo Li Lian was naturally envious and jealous.

"Commander Gao Wushui despises evil, and I greatly admire that," Mo Li Lian said, flipping his hand to produce a golden stone. "This memory stone contains evidence of the crimes of Mei Wuqi from the Mei Wu family. Mei Wuqi's evil deeds... even the dark forces can't compare to him. I wonder how Commander Gao Wushui will handle this heinous criminal?"

"Mo Li Lian!" Mo Li Feiyun scolded angrily. "Mei Wuqi is an Eternal True God of the Mei Wu family, one of the five great families. If there's to be a trial, it will be by the five great families, not the Huyang Guard."

"According to the laws of the Yu Kingdom, the Huyang Guard is responsible for handling illegal activities in Huyang City. I want to see if Gao Wushui truly despises evil," Mo Li Lian sneered.

Gao Wushui took the memory stone, and with a thought, his divine power probed its contents, causing his expression to change slightly.

"Are these crimes real?" Gao Wushui asked Mo Li Lian. "You say that when the ordinary city of Fangjiu was breached by a horde of beasts, with countless casualties among its residents, Mei Wuqi captured billions of True Gods and took them into his 'City of Sin'?"

There were three large cities and 189 ordinary cities in Jiujiang Chaos State.

In ordinary cities, Eternal True Gods were scarce, making them much less secure.

"If you had been around longer, you would have learned this eventually," Mo Li Lian shook his head. "Mei Wuqi loved to show off and often brought many members of the five great families into his treasure, the 'City of Sin.' Many members of the five great families witnessed it firsthand! The billions of True Gods from Fangjiu City are just a portion of the 'sinful citizens' in the City of Sin."

"Of course, most of the citizens he captured have already been tortured and played with to death," Mo Li Lian sneered. "Now that you know about this monstrous criminal, Commander Gao Wushui, what are you going to do?"

Gao Wushui said nothing and turned to leave.

"Despises evil? I want to see how he handles Mei Wuqi of the Mei Wu family," Mo Li Lian watched him leave, full of disdain.

"Mo Li Lian, what are you trying to do?" Mo Li Feiyun couldn't believe it.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm stirring up trouble, provoking a conflict between Gao Wushui and Mei Wuqi!" Mo Li Lian replied. "It doesn't matter which one suffers. I'll enjoy it either way."

"I'm telling Father about this," Mo Li Feiyun warned.

"Go ahead."

Mo Li Lian turned and walked away.

...

Night fell.

Luo Feng, accompanied by Morosa and Mo Yu Qingyan, arrived at Dream Flower Pavilion.

"Luo He, my friend," Zhu You was already waiting.

"You arrived early, Zhu You," Luo Feng greeted.

"Haha, the opportunity to host you is rare, so of course, I came early. The feast is all set. Please," Zhu You laughed. His hair was like small snakes, his face covered in green patterns, but his smile was bright.

Luo Feng and Zhu You flew together, with their attendants and servants following behind.

"My Zhu family has been rooted in Huyang City for over a million eras, passing down through generations. There are few secrets in Huyang City that my Zhu family doesn't know," Zhu You said with a smile. "In terms of information, Yan Feng Pavilion, the City Lord's Mansion, and the forces of the Food Kingdom... at least in Huyang City, they all fall short of my Zhu family."

Luo Feng nodded, believing this to be true.

The Zhu family was vast, having infiltrated all sectors of Huyang City, including the Huyang Army and the Huyang Guard, where many Zhu family experts were stationed.

"The Zhu family's reputation is well-known. Who in Huyang City doesn't know it?" Luo Feng said.

"Luo He God-King, Zhu You God-King," the owner of Dream Flower Pavilion personally came to greet them. In Huyang City, she couldn't afford to offend either of them.

"Would you like the owner of Dream Flower Pavilion to play some music?" Zhu You didn't even look at the pavilion owner but smiled at Luo Feng. "If you wish to listen, I'm sure the owner will oblige."

"It's up to Luo He God-King, whether or not we listen," the pavilion owner smiled gently.

With Zhu You's orders, the pavilion owner couldn't refuse.

"No need. Let Arroya play instead," Luo Feng said.

The pavilion owner was momentarily stunned, then smiled. "Luo He God-King, you seem to have a special fondness for Arroya."

"Your illusions are too powerful for me," Luo Feng joked.

"Then let's have Arroya join us," Zhu You said, leading Luo Feng further inside.

The pavilion owner silently observed.

Though Zhu You appeared very friendly toward Luo Feng, he was in charge of many affairs for the Zhu family. Even the City Lord's Mansion and the forces of the Food Kingdom had to give him some respect, and the eighteen major dark forces dared not oppose the Zhu family.

"Since the last time, Luo He hasn't wanted to listen to my illusionary music," the pavilion owner felt a bit disappointed. Compared to Shang Tianyan and Sang Shuiyun, she was more interested in influencing Luo He.