CHAPTER 1010: CHAPTER 268: LISTS FROM ALL SIDES, PRELUDE TO THE GRAND COMPETITION (5600)_3

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[We don’t need rankings, Cun Yao (Qi Luoyang’s courtesy name), not even tasks matter, these are things for the people below to handle. What you need to do is protect yourself. The Divine Talisman granted by the ancestor must be placed in the Divine Sea, so it can protect you at all times. The modular magic treasure you’re carrying has been distributed among your teammates; individually it is just a Magic Artifact, aligning with the competition standards, but when needed, it can combine into a top-tier magic treasure. Together with the Divine Talisman, even a Golden Core True Lord won’t be able to break through it immediately, enough to wait for the ancestor to make a move... Remember, what you need is merely existence...]

A lengthy message reached Qi Luoyang’s chip. A lazy young man lay in the luxurious cabin of a private airship, rolled his eyes and skimmed through the message, internally grumbling: "Wasn’t it because last time when I made a round at the Kun Demons’ side, I almost got trapped by the Golden Horn Guard protecting the Main Sacrificial Lotus? They couldn’t stop me anyway, so why worry so much."

"That An Xuan next door has fought with those Purple Mansion True Realm guys several times, and each time it’s real fighting, while I can only spar with acquaintances. If there’s even a bit of danger during expedition, the trump cards come out. I really don’t understand if I’m cultivating or being cultivated."

Helplessly turning his head, the lazy young man looked out the window at the gloomy Fiend Cloud and the gray-black land speeding by: "The city is dead silent, and it’s even more hair-raising inside the Cave Heaven. In contrast, the Wilderness is full of vitality as people strive to survive. I wonder where exactly An Xuan comes from in the Wilderness. Perhaps, people like him, who rise from practical combat, are better suited to walk on the Great Dao."

"But it’s indeed the first time my family has been so nervous, telling me to do nothing, just to stay aside. It seems like this time something very dangerous will happen at the Four Cities Competition, but they can’t tell me for confidentiality..."

Thinking of this, he became energetic instead: "That sounds interesting. I have to see what big event it is that makes them so nervous at home!"

The list was scanned through.

"The last one, our Luofu’s Chen Yunfei. A Cave Heaven Bloodline, directly related to the Primordial Spirit, offspring of the ruling Dao Embryo, ten times more affluent than Qi Luoyang, because his family’s Heavenly Lord Ancestor is still alive, while Qi Luoyang’s family’s Dao Embryo Ancestor has fallen during the Great Catastrophe, leaving only the legacy of the Dao Embryo. Among all the people I know, he has the strongest background."

Upon seeing this, An Jing raised his eyebrows and looked at Nian Quan: "Is it actually worth befriending someone born with a golden spoon like this? If the faction is a dynasty, he would essentially be a prince of a vassal lord, not considering the reticent Primordial Spirit Venerable. As the heir to the ruling Dao Embryo, he could even be akin to an emperor or crown prince."

"That’s what makes it interesting."

Nian Quan smiled mysteriously: "You may take a look at who the apparent organizer of this charitable organization is."

An Jing looked at the end of the document: "Xuanye City Shou Bai Charity Foundation... Chen Yunfei? Is it really him? He’s doing charity?"

"Not him. Where would he find the time to manage this? It’s definitely something his family set up for him, probably to accumulate virtues, making it easier for him to overcome future tribulations." Nian Quan shook his head: "Big companies doing charity is just for that, collecting wishes and virtues, refining magic treasures and artifacts. Not just anyone can do this industry; only Cave Heaven People can engage in charity and win hearts."

But as he spoke, Nian Quan’s tone became serious: "However, An Jing, this charity organization actually uses a full fifty percent of its funds genuinely on supporting slum youths’ cultivation and renovating rundown neighborhoods—that’s fifty percent, half, and I don’t believe it if nobody speaks up about it."

"Regardless, this Chen Yunfei truly deserves attention."

...

A poorly dressed young man emerged from the depths of the Wilderness, surrounded by a group of imposing, well-equipped Magic Guards. It seemed that he had been adventuring and allowing himself in the Wilderness all along, only being escorted back as the Four Cities Competition was about to begin.

"That Wilderness tribe from the River Valley Department helped me a lot. They want to move to the safe zone, and I think it’s possible, Executor."

Despite his messy hair, the young man didn’t mind and casually instructed: "Isn’t a new town going to be built over there at Horse Head Mountain? Arrange for the new immigrants and insert our people."

"Young master, I understand you want to cultivate your own influence, but these small tribes don’t need to be subdued or made loyal."

At the side, a Ghost Cultivator manager materialized at the young man’s side, advising: "Although they indeed helped you, you also helped them eliminate the harmful monsters and demons occupying the surroundings. Once they know your true identity, they will definitely cling shamelessly, seeking benefits. It’s all just transactions; these people aren’t as simple as you think."

"Do as I say."

The young man calmly ordered, and the Ghost Cultivator steward, whose role was merely to remind, withdrew into the chip after receiving the command.

Despite the steward’s reminders, the young man understood very well. Compared to these tribes that had assisted him, there were more people who attempted to harm and consume him, an isolated cultivator. People of the Wilderness, indeed, just as the rumors say, are cunning, cruel, dangerous, greedy, without limits, full of lies, capricious, and lack foresight.

Even the very tribe he expressed a desire to support—because they saw his strength—had curbed their schemes. They are essentially no different from those other greedy and dangerous tribes.

The young man had even discovered numerous non-tribe-member corpses buried in the land surrounding this tribe.

Clearly, they were definitely not good people.

He should have, like others, gradually scorned, even ignored these Wilderness tribes, more heinous than those in the Demon Dao.

But because he was too clever, he helplessly saw more truth and reality, unable to think like ordinary people.

"Why, after all, are they so cruel?"

"Lack of resources. But why lack resources?"

"Surviving just barely in the barren Wilderness with no life, thus becoming as cruel as wild beasts."

"Why can they only live in the Wilderness, not in the safe zone?"

"Expanding the safe zone requires opening wars, constructing Great Formations, too many resources are needed, various forces interfere, and monsters and demons are exceedingly dangerous."

"Leaving aside everything else, are resources truly insufficient?"

Chen Yunfei didn’t have an answer to this question. He just loved to think from a young age. Though he temporarily couldn’t find an answer, with his talent and background, one day, he would learn the truth.

Closed the list.

An Jing saw that many more names appeared after that list, some rising from commonality, others as geniuses from small middle-class families.

"These people will all have doubts."

Nian Quan said earnestly: "So answers are needed."

"An Jing, I believe you have those answers... In terms of strength and thought, you have ’answers’ to impart."

"Indeed so."

At this moment, An Jing indeed had a clear goal and plan, he smiled: "But in the end, we still need to meet these guys face to face and... knock them down."

Only by winning can you reason, if you lose everything is meaningless.

But on this matter alone, An Jing had boundless confidence.

Soon.

Under the eyes of various forces, the squad members of various participating teams gathered in Xuanye City and headed to Chonggang Town.

The Four Cities Competition is about to begin.