Swallowed Star 2: Land of Origin

Chapter 53: Chapter 50: The Overbearing Lord Luo He

The members of the headquarters of the Six Lords Alliance could vaguely see the figures of Luo Feng, Lord Bai Wu, and Captive Wind Lord through the damaged building, with each of the ordinary members trembling at heart and daring not come closer.

Both Lord Bai Wu and Captive Wind Lord were in utter panic, fearing they would end up the same as Thousand-eye Lord.

"It has nothing to do with us," Lord Bai Wu said urgently.

"That was Thousand-eye Lord's prey; she would never allow us to intervene," Captive Wind Lord added, "and we even advised her, after all, it was the family of an eternal true god; it shouldn't look too ugly. She just wouldn't listen!"

Lord Bai Wu also said, "Most of the eternal true gods within Huyang City know each other; we also need to restrain ourselves a bit in our actions. But Thousand-eye Lord was just mad, acting recklessly and wantonly..."

Luo Feng slightly frowned.

Lord Bai Wu and Captive Wind Lord immediately fell silent.

"The intelligence I understand also said it was Thousand-eye Lord's doings. So you might escape this disaster," Luo Feng said coldly.

Lord Bai Wu and Captive Wind Lord let out a silent sigh of relief. Only when facing Lord Luo He could they feel the suffocating pressure. They did not doubt that if they disagreed, Lord Luo He would crush them to death.

"I killed Thousand-eye Lord who took direct action. Regarding you five, well, I'll just fine you 300,000 Cosmic Sand. Spare your lives," Luo Feng said indifferently.

"300,000 Cosmic Sand?" Lord Bai Wu and Captive Wind Lord looked at each other, and they immediately contacted the other three companions via the transmission token.

They feared Lord Luo He.

But 300,000 Cosmic Sand was indeed a significant fortune; splitting it, each of the five of them had to produce 60,000 Cosmic Sand! They also needed to consume a large amount of resources for cultivation and to purchase inheritances, Secret Treasure Weapons; most of them couldn't afford so much.

"Lord Luo He, we have already contacted the other three companions," Lord Bai Wu said ingratiatingly. "But we ourselves consume a lot of resources and can't produce much Cosmic Sand."

"If you can't produce it, you can go die," Luo Feng said as he looked at them, having no sympathy for the eternal true gods of the Dark Forces.

"No no..." Captive Wind Lord explained, "We can gather some Cosmic Sand by selling Secret Treasure Weapons. In these past twenty-some years, we have never offended a divine monarch. We took no part in the Qifeng family affair; we are quite wronged. Can your divinity perhaps pity us, reducing some of the punishment? 300,000 Cosmic Sand is a great pressure on us."

"You Dark Forces have started reasoning now?" Luo Feng looked at them with a smile that wasn't a smile, "Aren't you always hunting? Indiscriminately selecting numerous preys within your own territories and wantonly killing them—did those preys provoke you?"

Lord Bai Wu and Captive Wind Lord were silent.

"As beings who plunder the masses for their own benefit, none of you who are killed are innocent! It's just that the Land of Origin is everywhere, a small eternal true god like me can't manage it all.

But when you offend me, I can kill or punish you—do you have an objection now?" Luo Feng looked at them, "Since you're bargaining, the price of your lives has now changed; it's become 500,000 Cosmic Sand."

"The five eternal true gods from your Six Lords Alliance, bring out 500,000 Cosmic Sand, and you can live. If not, go die," Luo Feng said leisurely, "I'll give you one day to get ready."

"500,000 Cosmic Sand?" Lord Bai Wu and Captive Wind Lord trembled.

"Any more objections?" Luo Feng looked at them.

"No objections, no objections," Lord Bai Wu and Captive Wind Lord immediately shook their heads, no longer daring to reason.

"Oh, and please relay a message to the three eternal true gods of the Cloud Treasure Pavilion," Luo Feng instructed, "just say they've swallowed the resources of two great families, but seeing as they haven't indulged in massacres, their fine will be the same as your Six Lords Alliance, also 500,000 Cosmic Sand. Give them one day to prepare."

"The fine for Cloud Treasure Pavilion is also 500,000 Cosmic Sand?" Lord Bai Wu and Captive Wind Lord somehow felt much better.

It seems they weren't the only unlucky ones from the Six Lords Alliance.

"We will certainly deliver the message," both Lord Bai Wu responded in unison.

"You only have one day."

After Luo Feng spoke, he gathered the siblings of the Qifeng Family who had been trembling and hiding in the corner and left with Morosa.

Sigh.

Within a few steps, they had already left the headquarters of the Six Lords Alliance and then boarded the Flying Boat and shot through the sky.

Lord Bai Wu and Captive Wind Lord watched the scene in silence.

"Even the City Owner's Mansion bowed down before Lord Luo He in the end. We have no way to resist," Captive Wind Lord sighed deeply.

"Thousand-eye Lord is such a fool. I had always said not to prey on the forces of the eternal true gods—trouble with no end. She wouldn't listen. Her death aside, it has caused each of us to owe 100,000 Cosmic Sand."

"Lord Liu An is also a fool. He made us talk with Lord Luo He, and that talk only increased the price—from 300,000 Cosmic Sand to 500,000 Cosmic Sand," Captive Wind Lord said, gritting his teeth in frustration.

"Since Lord Luo He asked us to deliver the message, we might as well pass it on to the Cloud Treasure Pavilion," Lord Bai Wu immediately took out the transmission token and began to relay the message.

...

The Cloud Treasure Pavilion in Huyang City is garrisoned by three eternal true gods.

With the backing of the Primal Chaos Overlord, even just a branch office in Huyang City was given respect by all parties and was not easily provoked by anyone. Even the forces of Shi Kingdom would not lightly clash with a major power's branch.

"What?" The Pavilion Master and both deputy masters of the Cloud Treasure Pavilion were somewhat dazed upon receiving the message.

"This Lord Luo He has quite the nerve! Demanding us to pay 500,000 Cosmic Sand?"

"Our Cloud Treasure Pavilion was founded by 'Heavenly Treasure Marquis'. He actually dares to bully our Cloud Treasure Pavilion like this?"

All three of them were respected figures in Huyang City; who didn't give them some face?

Although their branch was not as highly positioned as the 'Flame Wind Pavilion branch', they still frequently interacted with the Five Great Families.

"What should we do?" The Pavilion Master asked, surrounded by swirling black mist and a huge, angry eye.

"Lord Luo He is excessive, but we cannot report this matter to the Marquis. Firstly, because it's a matter of us reaping private benefits secretly, the Marquis would severely punish us if he knew.

Secondly, the Cloud Treasure Pavilion has business across most cities in the Yu Kingdom and with countless city affairs adding up, the Marquis really wouldn't bother with such trivial matters," he explained.

Because the Marquis couldn't be bothered and only cared about the final accounts, they dared to reap benefits under the 'Cloud Treasure Pavilion' name.

If they were ordinary eternal true gods who swallowed the assets of two families of Formation Masters, there would be significant backlash. Even a person like Thousand-eye Lord had to rely on 'killing' to coerce the transfer of resources.

But with the name of the Cloud Treasure Pavilion, they could intimidate all parties and quietly clean up their affairs.

Over the long years, they had become very efficient at these kind of operations.

Relying on the income issued by the Cloud Treasure Pavilion was really too meager. This kind of private benefit was where they made their real earnings.

"500,000 Cosmic Sand is just too much," the Pavilion Master said. "I'll go visit Lord Wei. If Lord Wei is willing to help, he should be able to resolve this matter."

The two deputy masters nodded.

"Yes, Lord Wei."

"If Lord Wei is willing to help, this is but a trivial matter."

500,000 cosmic sand, for them, meant having to sell the armor and weapons they wore, practically squandering half of their lives, so naturally, they sought to stall.

The Heavenly Treasure Marquis wouldn't bother with such trifles, and they dared not speak up, so they had to come up with a solution themselves.

After much contemplation, the Five Great Families dared not provoke Lord Luo He and could only hope for Lord Wei's assistance.

"I will go now." The Cloud Treasure Pavilion Master could not afford any delay and immediately visited Lord Wei.

...

Soon after.

The Cloud Treasure Pavilion Master returned.

"How did it go?" Both deputy masters felt uneasy, suspecting that if there had been good news, he might have informed them in advance.

The huge single eye of the Cloud Treasure Pavilion Master showed frustration: "Lord Wei refused, even reprimanded us, and demanded that we obediently hand over 500,000 cosmic sand. She believes that if we don't comply, Lord Luo He might take action."

"Would Luo He dare to kill us?" one deputy master panicked.

"He dares to kill the Five Great Families, what do you think? Alas, the Marquis won't intervene in these disputes among eternal true gods." The Cloud Treasure Pavilion Master shook his head, "Just endure that Luo He. His arrogance will bring about his downfall."

"Killing the Five Great Families, threatening us, such arrogance will backfire eventually." The two deputy masters felt a pang of pain for the cosmic sand.

"The three of us should each take out a portion of the 500,000 cosmic sand," said the Cloud Treasure Pavilion Master.

"When reaping the benefits previously, you took half, and we two shared the remaining half. It should be the same this time; you provide 250,000 cosmic sand, and we two together contribute 250,000," the two deputies, much poorer than the master, stood united.

"I can't produce 250,000 cosmic sand right now."

"You can sell treasures or borrow."

...

"Is Luo He truly asking the Six Lords Alliance for a whole 500,000 cosmic sand?" The Six Lords Alliance too struggled to gather 500,000 cosmic sand.

That day.

Luo Feng's forceful intrusion into the headquarters of the Six Lords Alliance didn't go unnoticed, naturally fermenting within Huyang City. The leaders of the Six Lords Alliance and the Cloud Treasure Pavilion were seeking to sell treasures to raise the necessary cosmic sands, and the news gradually spread.

Killing the Thousand-eye Lord and demanding each of the Six Lords Alliance and Cloud Treasure Pavilion to pay 500,000 cosmic sand?

This news caused various forces within Huyang City to take note, and after quiet decades, Luo He's brash temperament remained unchanged.

"Lord Luo He."

Lord Bai Wu and the Cloud Treasure Pavilion Master jointly visited Luo Feng at the Heavenly Flame Sect!

Luo Feng's temporary residence at the Heavenly Flame Sect was no secret to the eternal true gods of Huyang City.

"Within a day, they arrived." Luo Feng stood up, with Shang Tianyan and Morosa beside him watching.

"We acted rashly and angered your divine highness, we beg for your forgiveness," Lord Bai Wu respectfully offered a jade vial, "Here is 500,000 cosmic sand, all gathered."

"Please quell your anger, divine one." The Cloud Treasure Pavilion Master, not daring to show any arrogance, similarly offered a jade vial, "Here is 500,000 cosmic sand, and we have also properly settled those two families."

Shang Tianyan watched the scene, reflecting inwardly.

Shang Tianyan's disciples and those siblings from the Qifeng Family rescued were all watching from a distance.

The respectful visit of two major powers within Huyang City, handing over 500,000 cosmic sand, dared to show no resentment. The sight was profoundly impactful for the disciples and the Qifeng siblings.

"Alright, you can leave now." Luo Feng took the two jade vials, a sweep of divine power assured him that not a single grain of cosmic sand was missing.

Lord Bai Wu and the Cloud Treasure Pavilion Master bowed and quickly took their leave.

Once they had left, the distant onlookers among the disciples began buzzing with talk.

"Did you see the might of Lord Luo He?" A woman beside Moyu Liuxing exclaimed, "Liuxing, I heard you had a chance to follow Lord Luo He before? Did you give up on that opportunity?"

"I chose not to risk it." Moyu Liuxing smiled at his wife, "Though I gave it up, it was my elder brother who ended up following him and I also met you, senior sister, here at the Heavenly Flame Sect."

The woman smiled gently, expressing regret, "But indeed, you missed a great opportunity." She felt a bit sorry for her husband.

The path of cultivation, she knew well how important a great opportunity could be.

...

Shang Tianyan and Luo Feng walked together within the Heavenly Flame Sect.

"One day's time, one million cosmic sand, and they willingly complied. This has certainly been an eye-opener," Shang Tianyan exclaimed.

"The three eternal true gods who had died, their families will likely face hard times ahead." Luo Feng mentioned, "I know you will look after them, but since I gained wealth because of them, I must show some generosity."

Luo Feng handed a jade vial to Shang Tianyan, "Not much here, just 30,000 cosmic sand—you can use it to care for those three families."

"30,000 cosmic sand is quite a lot, ordinary eternal true gods would not have as much even if they sold all their treasures," Shang Tianyan said, "It's just for settling the families, no need for too much."

"You see to the arrangements." Luo Feng placed the jade vial in Shang Tianyan's hands.

Shang Tianyan no longer refused.

Luo Feng looked toward the distant night sky: "Next I plan to enter seclusion for a while, you should be careful yourself."

The wealth was sufficient for the third time of body refinement.

—

Thanks to the new Alliance Hierarch: Troublesome Life's Vent