Chapter 297: Chapter 298: Refusal for Protection
Zhu Minglang was irritated by the finger-pointing and cursing of others.

Although he wasn’t so childish as to count the stars, the fact was that last night, Zhu Minglang had indeed spent the entire night talking with Li Yunzi until dawn without any success—this was a fact!

That old uncle, what was he pretending to understand!

He was inexplicably labeled as licentious.

That’s not right at all!

If he and his lady were to indulge in a night of passion, it would be with dignity. How could that be considered licentious? Obviously, it’s the women of the Godly Mortal Academy who have extremely unhealthy minds!!

“Are you Zhu Minglang?” the man in the peacock gown scrutinized closely.

“A month has passed; it’s time to return the City Lord’s Seal,” Zhu Minglang repeated.

You don’t want to hand it over? You’ll have to anyway!

If someone was looking for trouble, Zhu Minglang was more than willing to indulge them.

The most satisfying thing in life wasn’t just the significant improvement of one’s strength but encountering someone who was asking for trouble at just the right time after the improvement, providing a perfect opportunity to show off.

His dragons had their fangs well sharpened.

“The grand competition of powers of Imperial City, I’ve heard you, Zhu Minglang, made quite the impression,” said the man in the peacock gown.

What members of a power care about is naturally the competition between powers.

In the grand competition of powers, Zhu Minglang had indeed shone brightly, and different powers spread across the continent naturally came to hear of the individual known as Zhu Minglang.

“I thought my little achievements were completely unknown on the Supreme Court Courtyard Continent,” Zhu Minglang remarked.

“I’ve heard that you alone have defeated many chief and top-tier disciples from the Royal Family, Purple Sect Clan, Haoqi Martial School, Miao Mountain Sword Sect,” continued the man in the peacock gown.

“Oh, that’s nothing…” Zhu Minglang feigned modesty, but then his tone shifted, “In addition to them, there were the Azure Dragon Palace, Pu Family, your Godly Mortal Academy, and hundreds of big disciples, the most outstanding disciples, and the most most excellent disciples, whose names and powers I can’t even recall. I, for one, don’t like bullying the weak—I’m used to taking on a hundred at a time.”

After Zhu Minglang finished speaking, the faces of the five from the Divine Method Academy turned green!

The dignity of the powers was what they cared about most since they didn’t involve themselves in mundane conflicts or power struggles.

Who is the strongest cultivator?

Which power stands above the rest?

Indeed, the vast majority of cultivators see themselves as demigods, one day destined to enter the paths of immortals and gods, set apart from all the mortals of the world.

And among cultivators, contests would decide who is victorious—who is everything.

The Godly Mortal Academy hadn’t performed very impressively in the grand competition of powers, a thorn in their side!

“It’s just sparring among disciples, what’s there to be proud of!” said another member from the Godly Mortal Academy disdainfully from behind the man in the peacock gown.

“I’m not proud, just stating some facts. If you think stating facts means I’m showing off, then you care about the title more than I do. If you hadn’t mentioned it, why would I? Throughout my life, Zhu Minglang, I’ve done many earth-shattering things. Dominating a grand competition of powers is really nothing worth mentioning,” Zhu Minglang spoke calmly.

A gust of wind swept across the ground, lifting the dust into the air, blowing towards the numerous onlookers gathered at the city gate to watch the commotion.

There were ordinary citizens, and there were cultivators, speechless one by one, looking at this new City Lord Zhu, suddenly feeling an urge to stand with the Godly Mortal Academy and jointly give Zhu Minglang a good beating!

“The City Lord’s Seal will not be given out so easily. If you really want to take it, you must pass the test of our Godly Mortal Academy. Rulers, power holders, all need it!” said the man in the Peacock Gown then.

“I don’t accept,” Zhu Minglang flatly refused.

“You don’t have a say in this!” the woman with stern brows snapped angrily.

“The item was ours to begin with, merely in your custody for the time being. Now that the owner wants to take it back, you are intentionally making things difficult? Do you really think I, Zhu Minglang am easy to bully? I will wait another week, after one week, if the City Lord’s Seal is not produced, I will personally visit your Godly Mortal Academy’s residence to pay my respects, and then do not blame me, Zhu Minglang, for showing no mercy!” Zhu Minglang declared.

“We are here to inspect, and not only are you uncooperative, you question us with hostility. You’ve got some nerve! Are you not afraid that the Orderer will strip you of everything?” the woman with the horizontal brows shouted loudly.

Zhu Minglang, upon hearing this, found it amusing instead.

Firstly, they were not Orderers and had no right to inspect anything in the first place.

Secondly, inspect what?

Zhu Minglang had Runyu City’s documents, guaranteed authentic, and as for the ownership of Runyu City, Li Yunzi had already had Commander Cheng submit it to the Imperial Court. Moreover, Li Yunzi held the national seal!

The deeds to Runyu City land, the documents of ownership, and the submissions to the Imperial Court, these had made the current situation of Runyu City unequivocally clear.

Now the Godly Mortal Academy was coming over to “inspect,” obviously, they did not want to provide the promised wartime protection to Runyu City.

And they did not want to surrender the City Lord’s Seal, either.

Having understood the attitude of the Godly Mortal Academy, Zhu Minglang had no need to play nice with these few who came to question him.

It wasn’t as if Runyu City would instantly perish without the protection of the Godly Mortal Academy.

If they wanted to start a war with Runyu City in advance, they should just bring it on. The troops of a few small countries, no matter how large in number, Zhu Minglang might not even consider them a threat.

“What are you laughing at!” said the man in the Peacock Gown.

“Since you know I am Zhu Minglang, don’t try to intimidate me with the name of the Orderer. So there’s no need to beat around the bush, just state the true purpose of your Godly Mortal Academy’s visit today,” Zhu Minglang responded.

“Heh, very well. First, our Godly Mortal Academy will not protect you. We do not allow Runyu City to belong to a country led by an inferior mortal. Second, the City Lord’s Seal belongs to us, Godly Mortal Academy. If you pay us a tribute of two million gold every month, we can permit you to become the manager, the ruler, of this city,” the man in the Peacock Gown stated.

Two million gold??

Hu Chongming and Hu Bailing were both stupefied.

In this world, who charges the rulers taxes??

Power holders generally only lay claim to some resources they need, never have they taxed the rulers themselves!

It feels like, the Godly Mortal Academy is the darkest and most evil force looming over Runyu City!

“If you do not wish to protect Runyu City, we will find another power to take up residency. Thus, from now on, we reclaim all the Spiritual Lands, Spiritual Mountains, and Spirit Veins on the land of Runyu City. If your Godly Mortal Academy sets foot here again, don’t blame me for treating you like robbers!” Zhu Minglang said.

“How laughable, the Spirit Veins of this land have always belonged to our Godly Mortal Academy, and you say you reclaim them?”

“Runyu City is mine; every blade of grass and every tree, every bird and beast on the land of Runyu City, belong to me, let alone the Spirit Veins. I’m actually very thankful that you have come all this way to bring me these gifts. If there is nothing else, you can leave now. I need to carefully consider which power will become the next resident over Runyu City…”