Read Novel Full Chapter 2466: Unranked City
Chapter 2466: Chapter 2466: Unranked City
Ru Li gritted his teeth in hatred, but was left with no choice but to depart from the Tianyin Building branch in resignation.
Making any harsh remarks here would be pointless, and taking action was even less possible, given that he wasn’t even at the Immortal Venerate realm yet. If he dared to act here, it would only provide the opposition with a reason for accusation. Therefore, the only thing Ru Li could do was to immediately return to Hongmeng City to report this matter directly to City Lord Jing Yan.
Inside the upper room of the Tianyin Building branch.
"So, Ru Li has left?" Wu Ling smirked slightly, a disdainful glint in his eyes.
"Hehe, what else could he do if he stayed? Lord Building Owner, I believe the City Lord of Hongmeng City will soon come in person." The manager who had just met Ru Li stood before the Wuling Building Master, saying with a servile smile.
"Humph, they are asking for it! Those who insult me will naturally pay the price!" Wuling Building Master said coldly.
"Lord Building Owner, there are already many people outside discussing the fact that Hongmeng City didn’t make it onto the city ranking. Not making it onto the Tianyin City Ranking does have quite a significant impact on the city." The manager mentioned.
"It was expected. Even if adventurers originally don’t discuss it, various forces will guide the conversation. Do you think those forces will willingly allow Hongmeng City to expand rapidly? They certainly won’t miss any opportunity to undermine Hongmeng City." Wuling Building Master seemed confident and strategic.
"I fear Jing Yan must be anxious." The manager added.
"Whether he’s anxious or not is none of our concern. In Hongmeng City, only the Hongmeng Pill Tower is decent; what else does the city have to show for? Moreover, there’s only one Pill Tower within the city." Wuling Building Master replied with contempt.
...
"Hongmeng City couldn’t make it onto the Tianyin City Ranking?"
"How could it be? The current Hongmeng City is already very powerful! Its permanent population has exceeded one million, and if we count the transient population, it’s probably around three million."
"It’s said that Hongmeng Pill Tower’s daily revenue is tens of billions of Black Crystal Stones and also boasts High Grade Immortal Pills like the nine-star Primordial Spirit Pill. How many points should Hongmeng Pill Tower alone add?"
"Yet, such a city can’t even make it onto the Tianyin One-star City Ranking?"
"Indeed unexpected, but... now it seems certain that Hongmeng City didn’t make it onto the Tianyin City Ranking. Otherwise, it should have appeared on the Tianyin City Ranking list by now."
"..."
Within Hongmeng City, cultivators were abuzz with discussion, with many expressing surprise.
Amidst these discussions, disparaging voices grew increasingly prominent.
"Hongmeng City, with only over thirty years since its founding, wants to make it onto the Tianyin City Ranking? It falls far short!"
"Apart from the Hongmeng Pill Tower being worth mentioning, what else is there in Hongmeng City?"
"To aim for the Tianyin City Ranking with this level of capability is purely dreaming!"
"Haha, it’s so laughable. City Lord Jing Yan is no ordinary person; how could he lack self-awareness entirely? He doesn’t understand the state of his own city, yet allows the branch Building Master from Tianyin Building to assess it, truly courting humiliation!"
The bustling discussions weren’t limited to Hongmeng City.
In Tianji City, Mystic Underworld City, and Windward City, all of which are close to Hongmeng City, the buzz was similarly significant.
Even in cities tens of thousands of miles away, cultivators were talking about it. The momentum seemed to be spreading across the entire Thunder Domain.
In recent decades, Hongmeng City has been gaining prominence, attracting the attention of numerous individuals and forces towards this New City.
Under the intentional guidance of those major forces, a voice grew ever louder.
"Hongmeng City is merely an inconsequential city!"
Hongmeng City, inconsequential!
This voice carried extremely strong penetration power.
The credibility of Tianyin Building was overwhelmingly strong; in Kunling Heaven, there were hardly any cultivators who didn’t recognize the rankings issued by Tianyin Building. A city not on the Tianyin Building’s ranking was considered inconsequential, a generally accepted rule.
Now, Hongmeng City being regarded as inconsequential seemed to be gaining acknowledgment from more and more cultivators and adventurers.
The bustling discussions swept and spread!
...
After two days, Ru Li returned to Hongmeng City to meet City Lord Jing Yan.
"So, Wu Ling dislikes how few Black Crystal Stones we’ve offered." Jing Yan’s eyes glittered with a cold light.
"Yes, judging by their attitude, they hardly care for fifty million Black Crystal Stones. I estimate even five hundred million Black Crystal Stones might not satisfy their appetite. That scoundrel even suggested that you, City Lord, go in person." Ru Li said through gritted teeth.
Before Ru Li’s return, Jing Yan had already heard of those outside rumors.
And now, upon hearing Ru Li’s report, he could finally pinpoint the issue.
"Very well, it seems this Tianyin Building branch Building Master has quite an appetite." Jing Yan said with a chilling tone.
"City Lord, this Wu Ling is excessively unreasonable!" Ru Li exclaimed.
"City Lord, if we let those outside disparage us, it would greatly damage the reputation of Hongmeng City. While it’s true that Hongmeng City is closest to Red Victory Secret Land, it’s not irreplaceable. Several major cities nearby, or even further afield, could serve as adventurer resting places." Chief Bai Han said with a frown.
Jing Yan’s expression turned somber, pondering in silence.
"City Lord, should we transmit a message directly to Tianyin Building Headquarters?" Ru Li asked again.
Jing Yan shook his head and said, "Communicating with Tianyin Building Headquarters might be of little use. Our current issue seems caused by Wu Ling; however, it’s essentially due to our city’s insufficient capability. If Hongmeng City’s conditions were truly strong, would Wu Ling dare to act thus?"
Bai Han and Ru Li remained silent.
City Lord Jing Yan’s statement reflected the reality! Wu Ling dared act in this manner because he exploited a loophole.
If Hongmeng City were truly powerful to a certain extent, Wu Ling indeed wouldn’t dare engage in these small tricks.
However, Jing Yan’s statement didn’t mean he wasn’t angry or resentful towards Wu Ling. It’s just that, given Hongmeng City’s current situation, even if a message reached Tianyin Building Headquarters, they likely wouldn’t react forcefully or punish Wu Ling, the Chief Manager of the Thunder Domain branch.
"City Lord, what should be done now? In the past few days, due to the controversy, Hongmeng City has already lost many adventurers. Some despicable scoundrels are even branding Hongmeng City as inconsequential. These scoundrels are likely henchmen from those major forces, intentionally tarnishing Hongmeng City." Chief Bai Han said angrily.
"Of course... we can’t let this situation progress unchecked!" Jing Yan’s lips tightened, his eyes narrowing.
"Wu Ling will regret this! However, we needn’t act ourselves from Hongmeng City." Jing Yan’s voice dipped low.
He activated his Divine Thought to communicate with Wuxia at the Hongmeng Pill Tower. Shortly after, Wuxia arrived at the City Lord Mansion.
"City Lord, did you summon me?" Wuxia stood before Jing Yan.
In front of outsiders, Wuxia also addressed Jing Yan as City Lord, though privately she simply called him by name.