No one expected that Shu Sheng, the city lord of Poyang City, would appear so suddenly at this moment.
And his arrival felt as if he were a sovereign descending upon the earth, looking down on everything. He gazed at Zhou Longqi and his cohorts as if they were mere clowns, his eyes filled with amusement and faint disdain.
"The city lord? The city lord has appeared! Isn't he afraid of the combined power of the three major gangs? Their alliance seems strong enough to threaten him!"
"Who said they could threaten the city lord? He reached the peak of the Meridian Opening stage ten years ago, and now his strength is immeasurable. Even though Zhou Longqi has also reached the peak of the Meridian Opening stage, someone like him could never be a match for the city lord."
"That's right. Zhou Longqi kills like it's nothing, while the city lord is beloved by the people. How can Zhou Longqi compare? Today, the city lord will surely put an end to Zhou Longqi—if he doesn't kill him outright, he'll at least crush his spirit so thoroughly that Zhou Longqi won't dare act so arrogantly again."
With Shu Sheng's arrival, the patrons of Changhong Inn felt a wave of relief wash over them. If Shu Sheng hadn't shown up, there was a strong chance they would all fall victim to Zhou Longqi, unable to escape their grim fate.
"City lord, thank goodness you're here! Zhou Longqi has gone too far, joining forces with the Flying Swallow and Yunhai gangs to go against you. Please put him in his place and end his rampage," Hong Feiqiu urged, the anger evident in his voice. Zhou Longqi's audacity to kill people on his territory, showing him no respect, and even demanding his allegiance, was a humiliation he could hardly bear.
"Hong Feiqiu, who do you think you are to criticize me?" Zhou Longqi shot Hong Feiqiu a cold glance, dismissing him completely. Though Hong Feiqiu had reached the eighth tier of the Meridian Opening stage, he was no match for Zhou Longqi, who was on a whole different level. Turning to Shu Sheng, Zhou Longqi said, "Shu Sheng, let me tell you frankly—I have the backing of the Guiyuan Sect from Shangrao County. They have endorsed my rule over Poyang City. If you don't willingly step down, I will be forced to use power. Although I may not be able to defeat you alone, with the three of us together, I believe you won't be able to hold your ground."
This revelation caused another wave of shock among the people in the inn.
The Guiyuan Sect was a formidable force, even within Shangrao County, incomparable to ordinary sects, and certainly unmatched by any power in Poyang City.
Hunter Liu, who was now standing amidst the crowd with Liu Qin shielded behind him and Liu Huihui at her side, observed Zhou Longqi's indifferent expression, a slight frown on his face.
He had anticipated that the power dynamics in Poyang City might be unstable, but he hadn't imagined it would be this complex, involving even a renowned force like Guiyuan Sect. Although he knew little about this sect, he had heard enough to understand that if Guiyuan Sect was involved in Poyang City, then this place would soon be engulfed in chaos, making any hope of stability impossible.
"Strength—it all comes down to strength. I must reach the Meridian Opening stage as soon as possible. Otherwise, if any one of them decides to harm us, I won't be able to protect us."