Chapter 132: A City

With a surge of excitement, Liu Feng gathered all the rewards, thinking to himself, "With these ten million medium-grade spirit stones, I am finally a wealthy man."

After accepting the rewards, Liu Feng prepared to step down from the platform.

"Wait, I have one more important item to bestow upon you," the Emperor said, taking a small seal from his person and handing it to Liu Feng.

"Hmm? What is this?" Liu Feng asked, taking the seal in confusion.

The Emperor spoke solemnly, "Liu Feng, this is the administrative seal for a city. To possess it is to possess the city itself."

Stunned, Liu Feng quickly asked, "Your Majesty, why are you giving this to me?"

"I naturally wish for you to become a lord of a city. Do not decline," the Emperor said calmly.

"I fear this is inappropriate, as I have no experience in administration!" Liu Feng quickly protested.

"You may entrust this seal to those closest to you; they can manage the city on your behalf. Now, I must return," the Emperor said before walking off the platform.

"Oh well, I shall take it back and let my father and the others handle it," Liu Feng thought as he pocketed the seal and walked back to Zhao Jun and the others.

Seeing him return, Zhang Liang asked eagerly, "Liu Feng, you must have been rewarded with many fine things, right?"

"Tell us, what were they?" Wang Xing added impatiently.

Liu Feng smiled slightly. "Nothing much—just ten million medium-grade spirit stones, two 'Nirvana Pills,' and a second-tier sword of the Fusion Realm."

"Ten million medium-grade spirit stones? That is the entire fortune of a mid-sized clan!" Zhang Liang exclaimed in shock.

"And those 'Nirvana Pills' are worth two million spirit stones, while the second-tier weapon is worth another million. By my count, you are now sitting on thirteen million medium-grade spirit stones," Wang Xing added, tongue-tied.

"Haha! Liu Feng, you are a rich man now! You must treat us to something delicious later," Zhao Jun laughed.

Liu Feng smiled calmly. "Very well! Since the rewards have been collected, let’s go eat now."

"Great! Let's go!"

"Yes! We must order the most expensive food and wine. Don't try to save money on us, Liu Feng!" Zhao Jun and Zhang Liang chimed in with laughter.

Instead of returning to the Litian Pavilion, the group headed to a different restaurant. They took a table on the second floor and ordered the establishment's most famous dishes and their finest wine. As they ate, they chatted freely.

Liu Feng suddenly recalled the matter of the 'Nirvana Fruit' and asked, "Zhang Liang, Wang Xing, you are both locals here—how much do you know about Tianqiong Mountain?"

At the mention of the mountain, both Zhang Liang and Wang Xing furrowed their brows.

After a moment, Zhang Liang replied, "Tianqiong Mountain lies at the border between the Qingyu Kingdom and the Cangfeng Kingdom. I hear that every year, many people venture inside to search for rare treasures and the legendary 'Nirvana Fruit.'"

"But it is said that in the past few years, over two hundred thousand people have entered the mountain, and not a single one has returned. It is a place of great peril," Wang Xing added.

"That is sinister. Over two hundred thousand people went in, and not one came out? That is truly terrifying," Zhao Jun said, shocked by their account.

"Liu Feng, why do you ask?" Zhao Bochao looked at him with suspicion.

Although shaken by the danger of the mountain, Liu Feng kept his expression calm. He smiled faintly at Zhao Bochao's question. "I only heard that there are many treasures and unimaginable fortunes there, so I was merely curious."

"I advise you to put that curiosity aside, or you will find nothing but a dead end," Zhang Liang said with a grave expression.

"He is right, Brother Liu Feng. It is best not to entertain thoughts of treasure hunting in Tianqiong Mountain. After all, life is more precious than any artifact," Wang Xing added somberly.

Seeing their serious faces, Liu Feng smiled lightly. "Enough, put away those grim faces. I only asked; I never said I was going inside."

*It had better stay that way,* Zhao Bochao thought to himself.

They spent the next two hours reminiscing and discussing recent events over their meal.

"Zhang Liang, Wang Xing, it has been a pleasure meeting you. We should be heading back now; let this last cup of wine be our farewell," Liu Feng said, draining his glass. Zhao Bochao and Zhao Jun did the same.

Zhang Liang felt a pang of reluctance. He had felt an immediate kinship with the three men and had not expected to part ways so soon. He said nothing, simply finishing his wine in silence.

Wang Xing spoke up, "It is our honor to have made friends like you. I hope we shall have the chance to share wine and conversation again in the future." With that, he finished his glass as well.

"Goodbye!"

"Goodbye!"

After settling the bill, the three of them were the first to leave the restaurant.

Zhang Liang watched their retreating figures and sighed, shaking his head.

"There is no banquet that does not come to an end," Wang Xing said to him. "If we miss them, we can always go to Nanzhou City to find them."

"Right!" Zhang Liang felt his spirits lift at Wang Xing's words.

After leaving the restaurant, Liu Feng, Zhao Jun, and Zhao Bochao returned to the Litian Pavilion to settle their room charges before setting off toward Nanzhou City.

The journey was quiet. Four days later, they arrived back at the Zhao residence.

Having received word via Zhao Bochao’s communication talisman, the Zhao family already knew of Liu Feng’s victory in the Four-Kingdom Alliance Tournament. Seeing them return, the family came out to greet them immediately.

"Haha! Well done, Xiaofeng! To stand out among thousands of young elites—I was truly astonished when I heard the news," Zhao Xu said, patting Liu Feng on the shoulder with a hearty laugh.

"Well done, Xiaofeng. You truly did not disappoint us," Liu Yuming and Zhao Jing approached with smiles on their faces.

Zhao Tu stepped forward and said, "Enough, this is not the place for talk. Let us go inside."

"Instruct the kitchen to prepare a feast immediately. We are celebrating the return of Liu Feng and the others," Zhao Heng ordered the steward nearby.

The three men followed the elders into the main assembly hall of the Zhao residence. After everyone was seated, Zhao Jing asked, "Xiaofeng, how was the competition? Was it very dangerous?"

Liu Feng smiled calmly. "Mother, there was danger, of course, but we overcame every obstacle, so it is nothing to worry about."

"I heard the Four-Kingdom Alliance Tournament was filled with young elites. Were there many geniuses?" Zhao Xu asked, looking at the three of them.

Zhao Jun replied, "Grandfather, there were certainly many experts. There were a few exceptional young talents who had already reached the sixth or seventh stage of the Yin-Yang Realm before the age of twenty."

"To be so young and yet stronger than us—that is truly remarkable," Zhao Tu remarked with a sigh.