Chapter 88: Eastern Suburb Manor

Three days later.

The exchange event organized by the Northern Marquis's Estate was held at the Eastern Suburb Manor.

The Eastern Suburb Manor spanned dozens of miles. Though it was already dusk, the manor was brightly lit, as if it were daytime.

Numerous servants and maids bustled about the manor, attending to the guests.

Li Changsheng arrived with Old Mo, drifting in gracefully.

Seeing the bustling crowd in the manor, Li Changsheng frowned slightly, "Didn't you say this was an exchange event? Why are there so many people here?"

He had assumed the event would be small, with only a few dozen people exchanging items they needed.

But the scene before him was completely different from what he had imagined.

"Young Master, the tension between the Grand General's Estate and the Northern Marquis's Estate has been escalating recently. The Northern Marquis's Estate likely wants to use this event to showcase its influence and connections," Old Mo explained in a low voice, standing beside Li Changsheng.

"As for the exchange event, it probably won't start until after this banquet ends."

"Hmm," Li Changsheng nodded slightly.

Having lived in Pearl City for three years, he had mostly stayed in his residence, refining various items, and rarely ventured out.

In contrast, Old Mo had been managing the Herbal Pavilion in the open, thriving in Pearl City.

Old Mo had injured his origin in the Immortal Realm rift and needed an immortal-grade pill to recover. Over the years, Li Changsheng had refined several seventh-grade healing pills for him, but none had worked.

"Mr. Mo, you're here too?"

"Oh, Manager Mo."

When Li Changsheng and Old Mo entered, many people who were familiar with Old Mo greeted him warmly.

Old Mo nodded slightly in response.

As for Li Changsheng, he was completely ignored. His youthful face made people assume he was a junior brought by Old Mo to gain experience.

In a corner of the manor, several people dressed in luxurious robes watched Old Mo with cold smiles.

"Brother Zou, are you sure Grandmaster Chen is coming?"

Huang Wu, the manager of the Treasure Pavilion, whispered to a thin man beside him.

These people were also major merchants in Pearl City. However, over the past few years, the Herbal Pavilion had risen rapidly, cutting their annual profits by over thirty percent. They had tried to gang up on the Herbal Pavilion before, but their efforts had been easily thwarted.

There were even rumors that the Herbal Pavilion was backed by a Transcendence Tribulation cultivator.

Although the major merchant houses were powerful, they dared not provoke an establishment backed by a Transcendence Tribulation cultivator.

But now, an opportunity had arisen. They had formed an alliance with the Grand General's Estate, which was filled with powerful experts. A Transcendence Tribulation force was nothing in the face of the Grand General's Estate.

Just then, three black-armored knights walked through the gates of the Eastern Suburb Manor.

Seeing the black-armored knights, Huang Wu and the others brightened and hurried over.

"Tiger Commander, you're here? Where's Grandmaster Chen? Didn't the Young General say Grandmaster Chen would come?"

Huang Wu quickly asked the middle-aged black-armored knight leading the group.

"A small Herbal Pavilion requires Grandmaster Chen's personal attention?"

Tiger Commander glanced at Huang Wu and the others, speaking coldly.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Huang Wu wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead and said hurriedly, "Tiger Commander, the Herbal Pavilion is of course nothing. But there might be a Transcendence Tribulation cultivator hidden in the Herbal Pavilion. If we act against them today and Grandmaster Chen isn't here, we might not be able to withstand the fury of a Transcendence Tribulation cultivator."

"A mere Transcendence Tribulation cultivator is nothing in the eyes of our Grand General's Estate," Tiger Commander said without even looking at them. "Take me to the Herbal Pavilion's people!"

"Yes, yes, yes."

Li Changsheng found a corner seat and sat down.

Since no one approached him, he enjoyed the peace and quietly savored the delicacies on the table.

It had to be said, the culinary skills of the spirit chefs in Ming Province were far superior to those he had hired in Misty Valley. The banquet featured dishes made from Golden Core-level demon beasts and above.

These spirit chefs had prepared the demon beasts exceptionally well, making the dishes incredibly flavorful.

"This is the manager of the Herbal Pavilion?"

"A young upstart like him has pushed all of you around? Truly a group of useless fools."

Just as Li Changsheng was fully engrossed in enjoying the food, an unwelcome voice reached his ears.

Li Changsheng turned to see Huang Wu, the manager of the Treasure Pavilion in Pearl City, along with a few familiar faces, following three black-armored knights as they approached him.

The speaker was the middle-aged black-armored knight leading the group, who had the cultivation level of mid-stage Great Ascension.

"Get lost."

Li Changsheng raised his eyelids slightly and spoke indifferently.

If it weren't for the shadowy figure hidden in the Grand General's Estate, these people would have been crushed by him long ago!

"Shut up."

Seeing Li Changsheng's arrogant attitude, Huang Wu's eyes gleamed with delight as he quickly shouted, "Li Changsheng, do you know who you're speaking to?"

"This is Tiger Commander of the Grand General's Estate's Black Armored Cavalry! Kneel and apologize to Tiger Commander now!"

He had dealt with Tiger Commander before and knew the man was petty. Now that the Herbal Pavilion's manager had dared to speak to Tiger Commander like this, he was doomed!

The commotion caught the attention of others in the manor.

Everyone turned to look. After all, this was the Northern Marquis's Estate's manor. Who would dare cause trouble here?

"Isn't that Huang Wu, the manager of the Treasure Pavilion? Does he dare to cause trouble in the Eastern Suburb Manor? Does he not want to run his business in Pearl City anymore?" someone whispered.

But another person immediately retorted, "What do you know? Don't you see the three black-armored knights with him? Only the elite of the Grand General's Estate's Black Armored Cavalry can wear that armor. Huang Wu must have already climbed the high branch of the Grand General's Estate!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted in whispers.

Those who could attend such an event were no ordinary people and knew things that commoners did not.

"Recent clashes between the Northern Marquis's Estate and the Grand General's Estate have left the Northern Marquis's Estate at a disadvantage."

"Who is this young man? Why is he being targeted by so many managers and the Black Armored Cavalry?"

Discussions buzzed all around.

"What a noisy bunch!"

Li Changsheng frowned. All he wanted was to quietly develop, but these small fries kept jumping out to cause trouble.

"Tiger Commander, look…"

Huang Wu quickly spoke.

But before he could finish, Tiger Commander raised his hand to silence him. He looked at Li Changsheng with an air of superiority and said indifferently:

"Li Changsheng, my Young General is merciful and has ordered you to come with me to meet him outside Pearl City!"

"Hurry up and follow me!"

"Get lost," Li Changsheng said indifferently.

"You're asking for death!" Tiger Commander's eyes widened, and his aura erupted like a volcano, pressing down on Li Changsheng.

"Li Changsheng, the Young General's desire to recruit you is an honor!"

"Many people beg for the chance to serve the Young General, but you dare to refuse? If you don't give the Young General face today, there will be no place for you in the entire Southern Li Dynasty!"

As the commander of the Black Armored Cavalry, he held some status in Ming Province.

Moreover, he was here on the Young General's orders. In his eyes, someone like Li Changsheng should have immediately knelt and submitted. Instead, Li Changsheng had dared to act so insolently!

"Heh!"

Li Changsheng let out a mocking laugh and pointed a finger.

Bang!

The Tiger Commander, who had just been speaking, exploded into a cloud of blood mist, splattering those around him.