Chapter 286 Alerting the Snake

The group from the Ice Spirit Kingdom already had plans for the afternoon; they were said to have arranged a sparring session with one of the top-ranked Holy Sanctuaries.

These early arrivals from various Holy Sanctuaries, all brimming with excess energy, some fought fiercely to improve their rankings, while others genuinely sought to spar and hone their skills through exchanges with skilled opponents. With five hundred elites from the 108 Holy Sanctuaries gathered here, it was a heaven-sent opportunity, and anyone with ambition wouldn't want to miss it.

However, Old Wang and his companions had little interest in sparring; they wanted to explore around. Thus, they agreed to meet back at their dormitory later that evening.

Neither side prohibited their disciples from going out, and how could a bunch of young people really stay cooped up in the military camp? Moreover, Dragon City itself was a well-known adventure hub. It was called Dragon City because, according to legend, when the Supreme Saint passed through this place long ago, he slew a peak-level demonic beast here. The blood of the demonic dragon stained the land, turning what was once a vast oasis into a desert.

Afterward, the area became unsuitable for farming, but perhaps due to the influence of the demonic dragon's bloodline, many powerful mutated beasts appeared in the desert, making it a training ground for many adventurers. A supply market formed to cater to these adventurers, who needed a place to rest. Over time, stories of great heroes growing strong began to spread from this market, which gradually evolved into today's Dragon City...

Mo Tong was most interested in such tales; even a casual legend could excite him for half a day. After leaving the meeting hall, Old Wang suggested they take a stroll around Dragon City. Mo Tong immediately gave his enthusiastic approval, while Winnie, by not opposing, clearly showed her eagerness to go. Hei Wu Kai, on the other hand, seemed completely oblivious to the upcoming battle, as if he didn't take the scheduled fight seriously at all.

But there were objections. Kela frowned and said, "I've heard that there are many people from the War Academy in Dragon City. Others might be fine, but Captain, you're on the Nine Gods' bounty list. Going there rashly might be... risky."

"Kela, Kela!" Mo Tong waved his hands and pounded his chest, "Don't worry, whatever happens, I'll handle it! We just need to go, and I guarantee there won't be any trouble."

"It's precisely because of you that I'm worried." Kela shot him an exasperated look; this guy was a classic troublemaker, capable of stirring up trouble even when there was none.

"I agree with that! Feng, maybe we should just stay here..." Fantasi raised his hand, feeling a bit intimidated about going to Dragon City. Now that Rose was being closely watched by the War Academy, going there would be like lambs entering a tiger's den.

Mo Tong glared at him, "What do you mean by agreeing? Fantasi, I tell you, the one I'm least confident about is you. With you around, I'd have to protect one more person in a fight! Everyone worries about whether I can protect everyone, but you staying behind means we can go..."

Everyone was speechless; this guy had no self-awareness, and his self-confidence was truly unparalleled.

"Cough, cough, brothers, as a disciple of the Holy Sanctuary, I may be a slacker, but..." Old Wang puffed out his chest, and Winnie beside him giggled, "Wang Feng, be more confident, remove the 'may.'"

...

Wang Feng glared fiercely at Winnie, "We have Old Black, it's perfect for us to go ahead and warn those guys."

Hei Wu Kai nodded: "I don't really mind; it is quite boring in the fortress."

"Longcheng has the Wudu Sand Wine, which is very unique," Winnie, displaying her expertise as an intelligence specialist, tempted them with a gentle persuasion: "It's made from sand scorpions, colorful spiders, rattlesnakes, centipedes, and drought kings, all soaked and buried in hot sand for several years. One sip and you'll be feeling it!"

Mo Tong's face twisted in disgust; just hearing about scorpions and spiders was revolting. Could that stuff even be drunk?

But Hei Wu Kai's eyes lit up: "Let's go, we have to try it!"

"Four to two, the minority must submit to the majority."

With four votes against two, Old Wang was quite pleased with his leadership.

The Rose has plenty of talent. In this structure, Mo Tong is at most a minor boss, while Old Black is the true ace.

Wang Feng was completely at ease with Old Black. No one in the Blade had likely seen his true strength. Playing with Tai Kun and his group of beastmen, he didn't use soul power, and in the Rose, he didn't take things seriously...

What outsiders knew or guessed was just the surface. When this great god truly unleashed his power, it would be enough to make anyone drink deeply.

Sigh, Old Black is just like me. Besides being handsome, he's both powerful and low-key! What is this called? This is called maturity.

Kela listened, somewhat stunned.

Having Hei Wu Kai around certainly boosted everyone's sense of security. Even after my awakening, I still feel the same way when facing him as before—anyway, I always end up getting beaten down effortlessly...

But hadn't the captain been insisting on keeping a low profile ever since we boarded the magic train? I've been pretty cooperative, but why, as soon as we landed, did he start provoking Zhao Ziyue and then want to warn the other side? Captain, which of your words are true?

The Fortress of Sharpness has war wagons that constantly shuttle between Longcheng. The group took one, and the journey through the sandy terrain, about ten kilometers, took only half an hour. From afar, they could see the solitary city standing amidst the endless yellow sands. It wasn't very large, and the walls weren't high, perhaps three or four meters. Compared to the nearly ten-meter-high fortifications of the Fortress of Sharpness, this was more like a small earthen wall. Some particularly tall races had to bend down to enter the city gates.

The entire city was enveloped in a faint blue glow, seemingly some kind of protective measure. But as they approached, the pale blue covering disappeared, leaving only a slightly bluer sky than elsewhere.

The main streets of the city were simple, with two running horizontally and two vertically, dividing the entire city into a large grid. The streets weren't empty; however, most of the people passing by were from the nearby academies, with few warriors patrolling, making the area seem peaceful.

On both sides of the streets, there were numerous shops selling a variety of goods: sundries, magical potions, beast creatures, weapons, equipment, and all sorts of soul crystals. There were also specialty stores selling peculiar local items, such as the Five Poison Sand Wine that Hei Wu Kai was particularly interested in. This wine wasn't just for connoisseurs; it primarily served to neutralize sand toxins. A little smear on the skin could protect one from many of the toxic creatures near Dragon City, making it quite practical. Most people who saw it would buy some.

The shopkeepers were a diverse group, including humans, beastfolk, and some local natives.

Mo Tong and Winnie were very excited about these unique items. Fantasi was also fine, though he was inwardly nervous, but since they were already here, he didn't mind much. Old Wang, who seemed nonchalant, was actually always on guard.

Before they set out, Dage had provided him with a lot of useful intelligence and analytical advice.

Recently, Dragon City appeared relaxed on the surface but was tense internally.

Both the Blade and the Nine Gods could guess that some spies from other forces had infiltrated, and some had been present even before the city was sealed. Such infiltration was impossible to completely prevent, and they themselves were undoubtedly one of the most interesting targets. Once they arrived, someone was bound to act.

Of course, this was only the surface; the deeper reasons...

Old Wang put his arm around Hei Wu Kai's shoulder, walking with an air of superiority. The cult leaders wouldn't act rashly until the true illusion opened, so Old Wang was counting on the War Academy. He hoped that some reckless individuals would come to provoke them.

Posturing wasn't the goal; Old Wang had his own plans. In these times, if you went out without using your brain, you'd be embarrassed to greet anyone. If his genius mind could be seen through by a few kids, he would have truly wasted his time.

In short, he wasn't afraid of trouble; he was afraid of no trouble! Hei Wu Kai's reputation was far from enough; he needed to become famous, the more famous, the better!

But he couldn't say this outright. These guys weren't good at acting; they needed to grasp the timing and let things unfold naturally...

At this moment, the insight of the Worm Deity Seed proved very powerful, highly sensitive. As soon as they entered the city, Old Wang felt they were being watched. After about half an hour of wandering, he sensed at least ten mysterious informants, unsure whether they were planted by the Nine Gods or the Blade, or if they belonged to some special forces. As for the War Academy, they were openly watching, and almost everyone who passed recognized the Rose. They all glanced at them curiously and observed them, but no one came up to challenge or even speak to them.

Old Wang was a bit speechless. Weren't the Nine Gods known for their recklessness? How come there wasn't even one impulsive punk... If they kept being so cowardly, his trip today would be a waste, and he might as well treat it as a sightseeing tour.

Fantasi was initially nervous, but he gradually got used to it. Old Wang was right; these guys were all sly, absolutely focused on a single strike. Before figuring out the situation, they would only watch and not act...

Everyone pretended to be oblivious, strolling leisurely.

"Ah, this plum soup looks really good, and it’s even iced! It looks so refreshing. Do you want to try some?"

"I don’t want any."

Mo Tong glared, feeling particularly poor lately. Ever since he met Wang Feng, his frog wallet seemed to have never been full again, forcing him to learn how to budget meticulously: "Don’t be stubborn. You clearly want it. Go, buy two bowls quickly! I’ll have a taste too..."

"Kela, Kela, this bracelet looks great. I can get one for Yin Fu. Do you want one? I’ll get you one too!"

"Wang Feng, Wang Feng! Look, that pretty boy from the War Academy is staring at you. He looks like he’s asking for a beating. Aren’t you angry? Go yell at him! If he dares to make a move, I’ll help you beat him up!"

The whole journey was filled with Mo Tong’s excited chatter.

"Just calm down," Hei Wu Kai glanced at him, "Don’t cause trouble."

"I’m just trying to keep everyone entertained..." Mo Tong pouted, then added defiantly after a moment's thought, "What if they come looking for trouble?"

Unfortunately, no one paid him any attention.

"How much for these?" Kela had her eye on a pair of demon-repelling shoes.

Though called demon-repelling shoes, they were clearly not designed specifically for demon hunters. The material was very special, adorned with a small, unknown rune array. In this scorching desert, wearing them felt refreshingly cool, as if they could even increase your speed while running.

"Miss Kada has such excellent taste!" The shop owner was an orc. 'Kada' was a common term of respect among orcs, similar to addressing siblings. He enthusiastically said to Kela, "These demon-repelling shoes are a must-have in the desert. The rune arrays are all crafted by masters, and I only have one pair. Considering we’re of the same race, I’ll give you a deal—1000 euros!"

Earlier, Mo Tong had wanted to gift Kela a bracelet, but she declined. Now, he enthusiastically chimed in, "Kela, you have great taste. This is clearly a high-quality item. I’ll buy it for you for 1000 euros!"

Fantasy listened with tears welling up in his eyes, wishing he could draw a circle right there to curse Mo Tong: Damn, he talks about being a good brother, but he tries to take advantage of me even over a bowl of plum soup, yet he’s so generous with women...

The beastman boss beamed and said, "Alright, I'll wrap it up for you. This handsome young master looks like a man of great virtue and little attachment to wealth. Let me tell you, girl, such good men are rare..."

"Wait a moment." Old Wang couldn't bear to watch any longer; Mo Tong was about to pay the intelligence tax: "One thousand euros? Whose master's rune is this?"

"Ah... It's from a local master here. You might not know him, but let me tell you, he's really amazing..."

"If we don't recognize him, he must not be famous, so what's the point of talking about him?" Old Wang said: "Will you sell it for one hundred?"

"Brother, you can't haggle like that..." The beastman boss patted his chest and said: "Look, if you're serious about buying, I'll give you the cost price, nine hundred and fifty!"

"Ninety!"

"..." The beastman boss chuckled and said: "Let's make it lucky, a fixed price of eight hundred and eighty!"

"Eighty!" Old Wang said lazily: "If you haggle again, I'll offer fifty, you..."

Before he could finish, the beastman boss had already handed over the shoe: "Deal at eighty!"

Old Wang was taken aback, feeling somewhat amused and frustrated. Damn, wealth really limits one's imagination. It seems there's more room for negotiation than I thought: "From the way you talk, I should have started at fifty?"

"Brother, you look like someone who accomplishes big things. Don't quibble over small amounts with us," the beastman boss laughed heartily and said: "I'm not making any profit here, just building a relationship!"

What a swindler... I actually misjudged him. This thing probably costs no more than twenty, and that faint soul force reaction is just mass-produced camouflage. How dare he ask for a thousand? Who says beastmen are honest?

Old Wang turned to Mo Tong, who was standing beside him with his mouth agape: "Aren't you going to buy it for Kela? Pay up!"

After deeply understanding the darkness of the world, Mo Tong happily paid the money. You have to admit, Wang Feng can be quite useful sometimes.

The group continued their stroll. When they were far enough away, the beastman boss still wore that full-of-worldliness smile, nodding slightly towards a corner of the street.

In the dim corner, a disheveled orc vagrant crawled out from a tattered straw mat and sauntered off to a distance.

Such vagrant beast-like individuals can be found in every corner of the world—those who have fallen on hard times or those who have run afoul of the law. They might fall asleep on the streets one night and wake up as corpses the next morning.

There are too many such individuals; no one would bother to give them a second glance, let alone their filthy appearance.

He wandered dejectedly to a small food stall run by a beastkin. Seeing his pitiful state, the stall owner gave him some food. He kept thanking the owner, his hungry stomach rumbling rhythmically, as if it were being controlled by some unseen ventriloquist.

"Did you deliver the goods?"

"Yes, boss."

"Hmm, this way we won't lose track of him," the stall owner smiled and tossed him another half loaf of bread. "The order from above is to ensure Prince Wang Feng's safety. I can't control what happens elsewhere, but in this Dragon City, nothing must go wrong for Prince Wang Feng!"

"Yes, I understand, sir!"

...

He had bought plenty of interesting and useful items, and how could he miss out on a fitting feast? Of course, he planned to enjoy a local specialty in Dragon City that evening.

In the desert, there is a rather unique short-haired rabbit. Its body isn't particularly plump, and the meat is a bit tough, but if you know what you're doing, soaking it in saltwater for two days will make it very tender. It can be grilled, steamed, or braised, and served with fried noodles... There are many ways to prepare it, but the most famous dish is the spicy rabbit head. About the size of a palm, it is drenched in fragrant red oil and sprinkled with black sunflower seeds, making it quite chewy and impossible to stop eating.

"Here's your spicy rabbit head, sir!"

Hei Wu Kai and Old Wang sipped their wine, while the others stared at the plate being served, drooling. Only Mo Tong looked on with wide eyes, saliva dripping, yet also seeming somewhat reluctant: "How can you eat rabbits?"

Old Wang burst into laughter: "Little brother, with your big and burly build, how did you end up with such a girlish heart?"

Mo Tong's face turned slightly red, and he glared at him fiercely. As a proud man of Mahoraga, how could he accept such an insult: "Wang Feng, don't talk nonsense! I just think it's not manly to eat such things!"

"Yes, yes, my junior brother is the manliest of all." Old Wang said with a straight face: "Speaking of which, last time when we three and Yin Fu went to the theater to watch a play..."

Mo Tong's face turned a bit pale at this, it was a lifelong humiliation, even Yin Fu had laughed at him for a long time. He had secretly sworn that he would never again watch those tear-jerking operas, all soft and corrupting sounds that could only erode his brave heart. He quickly tried to cover Wang Feng's mouth: "Wang Feng! No talking!"

"What happened during the play?" Winnie was already gnawing on a rabbit head, but even the supreme delicacy seemed unable to quench the raging fire of gossip in her heart. Kela and Fantasi also looked over with curiosity.

Old Wang chuckled and said: "Don't be nervous, junior brother. We're brothers for life. Come on, call me senior brother once, and I won't say anything..."

"You swear!" Mo Tong's face turned red.

"I swear!" Old Wang held up two fingers.

"Se-nior Brother!"

"Ah, good junior brother, come, have some rabbit head! It's on me, senior brother!"

"Wang Feng, Wang Feng," Winnie licked the red oil from her fingers and asked eagerly: "Tell me quietly, I promise not to tell anyone else!"

"You promised me, Wang Feng..." Mo Tong immediately became nervous.

Fortunately, Old Wang patted Mo Tong's shoulder reassuringly and said: "Tsk, am I the kind of person who betrays my brothers? Don't worry, junior brother, I won't say a word even if they beat me to death!"

Only then did Mo Tong let out a sigh of relief. He glanced at the rabbit heads on the table, swallowed hard, and ultimately held firm to his mental boundary. A man of honor, once he says no, he means no!

Bang!

A nearby table was suddenly slammed.

Everyone looked over and saw a group of strangely dressed people, both humans and beastfolk, quite a mixed bunch, none of them from either academy.

A man slammed his rune sword on the table and shouted at the young waiter who was serving dishes, "Boy, come here!"

The waiter was human, looking to be in his early thirties, with an ordinary appearance. He smiled as he approached, "Sir, what can I do for you?"

"Where's my spicy rabbit head and rabbit noodle soup? We were here first, so why did you serve them first?" The man pointed at Old Wang and his group, his face menacing, "Am I not supposed to have any dignity? Are you looking for a fight?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a rustling sound was heard, and seven or eight people from the opposite table stood up in unison, ready for trouble.

The waiter hurriedly apologized, "Sir, you all arrived around the same time, and our kitchen is a bit slow. Please rest assured, I'll bring your order right away!"

"No way, I want to eat first!" He pointed at the rabbit heads on Rose's table, "Bring it over to me!"

"Sir, that's not how things work..."

"Damn it, you're really asking for it!" The man angrily drew his knife.

Hearing the commotion, the owner of the kitchen rushed out. He looked to be in his sixties or seventies, thin and frail, carrying a bowl of spicy rabbit heads, "Sir, your rabbit heads are ready. Let's talk this out, no need for violence..."

"What about the ones served later?" The man slapped the table with his knife, arrogantly saying, "I want that bowl from their table! I'll count to three, one, two..."

In fact, it wasn't just that table; several others, including a group of students from the War Academy, had their attention diverted from their plates, all staring at Rose's table.

Old Wang yawned lazily. After spending the afternoon trying to 'stir up the snakes' without anyone showing up, now during dinner, someone finally made a move. Truly, they lacked discernment.

Winnie raised her hand, ready to intervene, but was held back by Hei Wu Kai. This girl's destructive power was too widespread; she might end up destroying the place instead of helping. He nodded at Mo Tong, who had been eager to jump in.

Mo Tong was still regretting his earlier comment about the rabbit heads being inedible, feeling frustrated after being teased by Old Wang. He had been looking for an opportunity to showcase his fiery masculinity, but Hei Wu Kai had instructed him not to cause trouble in the afternoon. Now, with Hei Wu Kai's approval, he felt all his burdens lifted. With a loud roar, he leaped up.

"Hey!" Mo Tong shouted as he stood up: "Look over here!"

These few seemed to be nothing more than small-time thugs from Dragon City, usually bullying the lower-class Sand People and Beastfolk with their numbers, taking advantage of the fact that most visitors to this place kept a low profile. They were used to being arrogant in Dragon City, never expecting to encounter someone like Mo Tong who would actually stand up to them.

The group instinctively turned to look at Mo Tong, but before they could even get a clear view, a gust of wind hit their faces, and the sound of an attack was already upon them.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Each one of them took a hit, feeling as if they had been slammed by a modified motorcycle. With bulging eyes, they flew out of the window, not knowing whether they had been punched or kicked, without even a chance to scream.

This was followed by a clattering sound, as the weapons they had placed on the table were all thrown out by Mo Tong in one swift motion.

It was all over in just three seconds, effortlessly.

"Too weak! Not satisfying at all!" Mo Tong pouted, lifting his head proudly. Using the pretense of stretching his joints, he flexed his muscles hard.

Look at this! Look at my lightning-fast decisiveness and destructive power, look at these muscles... no showing off the chest muscles! Hmph, when it comes to a rugged aura, I've always got it down pat. Who dares call me girly now?

Sure enough, the room fell silent instantly. Mo Tong looked around smugly, hoping for some expected reactions, but the people at the other tables simply turned back to their meals, quietly eating without giving Rose another glance.

Huh?

Mo Tong was taken aback.

Where were the flowers? Where was the applause? He had just stood up against the bullies and saved the poor shop owner, and his move was clean and impressive. How could these people have no reaction at all?