Chapter 4972

“City Lord Jie, as you know, it’s impossible to gather those resources in a short time. Please allow me to inform City Lord Niu and have him prepare everything within three days to be delivered to you,” Kai said.

“Of course, we will remain in Feihu City during these three days, but you must guarantee our safety and that of Niu Ben.”

“No problem,” Jie Zhong replied. “As I said, all I want is the territory and the resources. Your lives mean nothing to me.”

After speaking, Jie Zhong extended his hand and shook hands with Kai.

To Jie Zhong, this negotiation had gone far too smoothly…

When Kai exited the room, Bai Yi and Feng Xian immediately approached him.

“Brother, how did it go?” Feng Xian asked.

“The negotiation went smoothly,” Kai replied with a smile.

“That’s great to hear. He didn’t ask for anything outrageous, did he?” Feng Xian asked.

Kai shook his head. “Not really. He just asked for one million immortal coins, a century’s worth of resources from the three southern regions of Rhino City, and, of course, the treasure land…”

“What?” Bai Yi was stunned. “Isn’t that too much? And you agreed?”

“Of course. Even if he wanted all of Rhino City, I’d agree—because I have no intention of actually giving it to him,” Kai said with a faint smile.

“You don’t plan to give it to him?” Bai Yi looked confused.

“Exactly. I just need to stall for time and find the right moment to rescue Niu Ben. I won’t give Feihu City a single thing.”

“But brother,” Feng Xian said, frowning, “we passed so many guarded city checkpoints to get here. Won’t rescuing Niu Ben be incredibly difficult?”

“There are always more solutions than problems. We still have time to figure something out,” Kai replied with optimism.

Just then, the personnel assigned by Jie Zhong arrived to escort Kai and his companions to their quarters. For the next three days, they were only permitted to move about within the City Lord’s Mansion of Feihu City.

After Kai and the others were settled, Xie Zhong stood staring toward the western mountains. His figure slowly faded and disappeared.

When he reappeared, he was already in a small town nestled in the mountains.

The town was occupied by a group of red-robed cultivators. None of them saluted when they saw Xie Zhong, but he didn’t seem surprised.

Xie Zhong then entered a lavishly renovated residence, where a masked man sat. The man’s expression was grim. As Xie Zhong approached, he asked coldly, “Any results?”

“Sir, yes. One million immortal coins, a century’s worth of resources, and the treasure land—Rhino City has agreed to all of it,” Xie Zhong reported, sounding pleased.

“Oh?” The man was clearly surprised. “They agreed that easily?”

“Yes, they agreed very quickly. Everything will be ready within three days,” Xie Zhong nodded.

“Agreeing too quickly never feels right. Don’t let your guard down during these three days,” the man warned.

“I understand,” Xie Zhong replied with a nod.

The man waved his hand, and Xie Zhong turned and left.

After Xie Zhong was gone, the man suddenly coughed violently, and the black scarf covering his face slipped off.

If Kai were here at that moment, he would have immediately recognized the man in front of him.

It was none other than Huo Zhao, the lord of the Eighth Hall of the Temple.

Previously, Huo Zhao’s soul had been summoned by Huo Zhenfeng, the head of the Huo family, using a special token. As a result, Huo Zhao engaged in a prolonged battle with Kai. Kai had summoned the Red Cloud Demon Lord to possess Huo Zhao, beating him so badly that Huo Zhao was forced to flee.

Since then, Huo Zhao had returned, gravely weakened, and in need of vast resources to restore his body.

To achieve that, he led the Eighth Hall to seize control of Feihu City. Now, Xie Zhong—the nominal city lord—was merely a puppet.

It was Huo Zhao who had devised the plan to extort a massive sum of immortal coins and resources from Rhino City.

Kai had been right all along—the true decision-maker wasn’t in the City Lord’s Mansion of Feihu City.