Chapter 223

"Yes, we don't want to deal with Sister Hongli." Tang Yu'an said.

"We also know Brother Chi Hao and have a good relationship with him. If possible, we don't want to become enemies with them."

He looked at Xie Chaori and said patiently, "They mentioned you. If you can convince Sister Hongli to join us, then... we can recommend her to the Divine Envoy."

Xie Chaori was stunned. "Recommend her?"

"Well, recommend Sister Hongli to join the Shangshen Association and become an employee like us."

Tang Yu'an said: "Once you become employees, we will be our own people. We can develop the Huangcheng Home and Jufeng Mountain together in the future."

Seeing Xie Chaori's obvious hesitation, he glanced at Zhou Qi's words on the message board and then lowered his voice.

"We have already reported the secret of the center of the deserted city to the Lord God."

Xie Chaori's heart trembled, remembering that he had thought about using this secret to trade with the mysterious businessman in his dream...

But as the two messengers said, when he was rescued, his secret was no longer valuable.

He smiled bitterly and said, "Did you find it there?"

Tang Yu settled it down for a moment, then nodded and said, "We went over to take a look."

Xie Chaori couldn't help but widen his eyes. "You guys are so brave! That's a space crack, and you just... just walked through it like that?"

"As you can see, we are back safely."

Tang Yu'an said, and then changed the subject: "If you can convince Sister Hongli to join us, perhaps we can develop together in the future."

The plane where the giant forest is located is really too big.

He and Zhou Qi stayed there for more than two years and only explored a small corner of the giant forest.

They don't mind sharing with others, but...

"Of course, this requires you to obtain the approval of the Lord God." Tang Yu'an said seriously.

"Do you have a way to get back and forth safely?" Xie Chaori continued to ask.

Tang Yu'an did not answer, but just said: "When your level is higher and you can get access to more secrets, you will naturally know."

"How high a level do I need to reach?" Xie Chaori did not give up.

Tang Yu'an had no choice but to say, "The minimum requirement is to become a branch manager of a grocery store."

Xie Chaori nodded, he pondered and weighed the options in his mind.

He knew that if he did so, he would be betraying Qingmu Castle... However, thinking of what Chi Hao had told him, about the Xie family's cold reaction after learning of his "death", he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Although he had long understood that the family had always been profit-oriented, they would not go to the trouble of sending people to the center of the deserted city to rescue him.

But when it really happens, it's still very painful...

Finally, he looked up at Tang Yu'an again, his eyes becoming firm.

Then let’s just assume that “Xie Chaori” is really dead, he thought.

Now he is Xiang Tianshi of the Shangshen Sect. After escaping death this time, he has become indifferent to family fame and fortune.

Having finally gotten a chance to be reborn, he wants to live for himself.

"Okay, I promise!"

-

Outside the main gate of the deserted city home.

Hongli took a few glances at Gu Zhenfei who was injured by the counterattack, sneered, and then looked away.

Her eyes fell on the sign of the grocery store in the deserted city. If she still couldn't guess that this place was related to the two teenagers, then she wouldn't have to be the manager of Jufeng Town.

only……

Do those two young men actually possess such power?

While Hongli was thinking, the frost on the frozen door suddenly melted away, and under everyone's nervous gaze, the door was opened.

The guards standing beside Hongli subconsciously drew their weapons and took a step forward, but...

The next moment they disappeared from where they were and appeared ten meters away.

Hongli took a quick glance and then calmly looked at the open door, only to see a rather strong man walking out from inside.

He looked a little nervous, but after looking at the crowd of people ten meters away who had no way of getting close to the deserted city home, he quickly regained his composure.

"Master Hongli, our boss invites you in for a chat."

Before Hongli could reply, someone nearby recognized the man and exclaimed in disbelief, "Bashi? You're Bashi? How did you become like this?"

Bashi looked at the guards beside Hongli and said with a grin, "It was indeed me. If you stay in our home for two months, you can become like me!"

Although the guards of Red Carp can definitely eat their fill, it is still different from the residents of the home.

Especially for earth-type ability users like Bashi, he earns a lot of salary, which not only allows him to eat well like other residents, but also allows him to buy meat, eggs and milk.

Of course, it cannot be compared with the long-term nourishment in the fortress, but compared with these guards who can only eat soybeans and wild vegetables, it is more than enough.

Hongli glanced at the guards who were staring with their eyes wide open, then looked at Bashi with a slightly frown.

"Your name is Bashi?"

"Yes, Lord of Hongli Mountain." Bashi quickly restrained his expression and said respectfully.

Hongli didn't embarrass him, but said, "Lead the way."

"Okay, okay, please come in!"

Bashi made way, Hongli gave instructions to the guards, and walked straight ahead.

Li Feng, who was behind him, saw this and couldn't help but asked anxiously, "Hongli, where are you going?"

As he said this, he subconsciously wanted to chase in, but when he stepped within a range of ten meters, he suddenly lost his mind.

When he regained consciousness, he had already turned around and walked out of the range. When he turned around again, Hongli had already entered his home in the deserted city and the door was closed again.

He couldn't help but feel frustrated, but there was nothing he could do. Looking at Gu Zhenfei who was unconscious due to the backlash, he was even more troubled.

Gu Zhenfei is a direct descendant of the Gu family. He came here just to gild his reputation. If anything happens to him, he will have a hard time explaining himself!

On the other side, Hongli had already entered the grocery store in the deserted city.

This room was built later and is specifically used to receive external customers. It is now suitable to receive Hongli.

She looked around the somewhat shabby brick house, and finally looked at Old Li sitting on the chair.

"Are you the boss here?" she asked with some surprise.

"Master Hongli, I'm just the manager of the Desolate City Homestead." Old Li said calmly, "You should know our boss too."

Hongli raised an eyebrow slightly: "Xiao An or Xiao Qi?"

"It seems that you have a good relationship." Old Li's expression softened a little.

Hongli remained noncommittal and returned to the point, "So, what do you want to discuss by inviting me in now?"

"Master of Red Carp Mountain, please be patient..."

As soon as Old Li finished speaking, footsteps were heard at the back door of the grocery store. He smiled and said, "The person you want to talk to is here."

The red carp was already standing there in a daze.

She looked at Xie Chaori who walked in from behind, her eyes wide in disbelief.

"Aren't you dead?"

"Xiaoqi and the others saved me." Xie Chaori said, looking at Old Li and said, "Old Li, can I talk to her alone?"

Old Li nodded and said, "You guys chat."

Then he waved his hand and called everyone else in the room out.

Only Hongli and Xie Chaori were left in the grocery store.

"What on earth is going on?" Hongli waited until everyone had left before speaking. Then, frowning, he asked, "Why has your realm dropped so much?"

"He was just rescued not long ago, and his injuries haven't fully healed yet."

Xie Chaori sat down on the chair, then looked at Hongli and said, "Why is your breath a little weaker?"

He is now at the fourth level and Hongli is at the fifth level, so he cannot feel Hongli's specific strength, but he has come into contact with many strong people and understands what the sixth level strength is like.

Hongli didn't answer, but just looked at him intently. "Are you really Xie Chaori? How did you survive in the center of the deserted city?"

After Chi Hao told her that Xie Chaori was dead, she actually secretly went to the center of the deserted city to look for him. After encountering a group of beasts, she knew that what Chi Hao said was true.

She couldn't imagine that someone could survive in such a dangerous place for so long.

Xie Chaori pretended to be nonchalant and said, "After being injured, the supernatural power backfired and turned me into a stone, so I survived naturally."

"Boss Zhou and Xiao An rescued me and cured my backlash."

Hongli's first reaction was disbelief, but soon she thought of something and her expression changed slightly.

When she was transformed into a fire snake by her supernatural power in the cave, she had a premonition that she might not be able to change back. Later, when she woke up from her coma, she found that her realm had dropped two levels...

Seeing that Hongli didn't say anything, Xie Chaori said, "Does your promise to follow me in the future still count?"

When they were in the fortress, he not only helped the siblings but also rescued them many times.

They not only have a friendship that has been cultivated since childhood, but are also friends for life and death.

Hongli pulled the corner of his mouth, "Didn't you refuse?"

"It's not that I'm refusing. The Xie family is a quagmire..." Xie Chaori muttered, then said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. I'm inviting you again now. How about joining me?"

"Which faction are you joining?" Hongli raised an eyebrow. "The grocery store in the deserted city?"

Xie Chaori grinned, "Shangshen Cult."

Hongli was startled. "Shangshen Sect?"

"That's right, join me in joining the great God of Commerce. Let's build a new business in the God of Commerce Cult!"

Hongli glanced at Xie Chaori for a few times and couldn't help but say, "You've been in the water for too long. Is your brain filled with water?"

"What I said is true!" Xie Chaori whispered, "Besides, Chi Hao is here too."

Hongli was surprised again, "Chihao?"

"Yes." Xie Chaori betrayed Chi Hao without hesitation, "In fact, he joined earlier than me."

"Okay, very good."

Hongli nodded. Although she said yes, there was a hint of gritted teeth in her voice.

"boom--"

At this moment, a loud noise suddenly came from outside the deserted city home.

Hongli hurried out to check. Xie Chaori hesitated for a moment and did not follow him out.

The team that was waiting outside had become a mess, everyone was fleeing in panic, only to see——

A giant lizard about five or six meters long appeared outside the deserted city home.

Its skin is red, and it spews fire from its mouth, indiscriminately attacking everything around it - it is actually a fire giant lizard!

"Gu Zhenfei, calm down! Stay calm!"

Li Feng and several other people from Qingmu Fort did not flee or take action. They were still trying to calm down the giant lizard.

Hongli understood as soon as he heard it.

This giant flaming lizard was what Gu Zhenfei transformed into after being attacked by backlash. The higher the level of the supernatural power, the more likely it is to be attacked by backlash...

She frowned, thinking about how to deal with it, when she saw the giant lizard shake off everyone and then spit out flames in her direction, but -

An invisible barrier suddenly appeared and blocked the flames.

Hongli couldn't help but be stunned.

Although the first attack failed, the fire lizard did not give up. It continued to spit out flames and swing its tail vigorously.

However, no matter how it attacked, it was all blocked by the transparent barrier.

Gu Zhenfei is at least a sixth-level strongman. After the backlash and beast transformation, her strength will be further improved. Even when she is at her peak, she dare not say that she can defeat this fire giant lizard alone.

This transparent barrier actually blocked it completely?

Not to mention Hongli, even Li Feng and the others were stunned where they were. The other guards who saw this scene couldn't help but stand at a safe distance and watch.

“Bang, bang, bang!”

For a moment, the only sound on the scene was the sound of the enraged fire lizard attacking the transparent barrier.

“That’s enough!”

Finally, at some point, a clear young voice was heard.

Everyone looked over and saw a cute and delicate-looking boy flying out from behind the wall of his deserted city home.

The boy is really flying!

He hovered on the roof of the grocery store in the deserted city and pointed his finger at the giant fire lizard.

He clearly didn't say anything, nor did he make any other movements. He just glared and pointed, and the Flame Lizard, which had been so violent just a moment ago, just stopped moving, and then...

It suddenly began to cry and hold its head in its hands.

This is not an exaggeration or an adjective. The fire lizard really held its head with its front paws and cried heart-wrenchingly. It was so sad!

Everyone looked at each other, and became more afraid of the young man on the roof.

Tang Yu'an looked at the effect in front of him and nodded with satisfaction.

After being in contact with Lao Mo for a long time, he naturally learned to "play tricks". He just used his fingers to attract everyone's attention, but in fact he used his eyes to activate the sad marbles.

After the sad marble touched the monitor lizard, he quickly took the marble back.

"Did you bring this giant lizard?" Tang Yu'an looked at Li Feng and others.

The local psychics from Jufeng Town who followed the boss all shook their heads, eager to distance themselves from the matter, especially the guards brought by Hongli.

Because they discovered...

Oh my god, isn’t this young man the owner of the Kyoho Grocery Store?

If they offend him, their family will not be able to buy affordable salt in the future!

Li Feng was about to speak when he saw another figure beside the young man. He glanced at everyone coldly and then flew down from the roof.

The fire lizard, which was originally crying bitterly on the ground, still had tears in its eyes when Zhou Qi approached, but its body instinctively wanted to escape.

Zhou Qi reached out and grabbed its tail.

A red thread-like object lit up inside the giant lizard's body. It kept struggling, but still couldn't control itself. It broke out of the body and was caught in Zhou Qi's hand.

When Tang Yu'an saw this, his heart suddenly rose to his throat.

Fortunately, Zhou Qi did not lose control and swallow the fire spirit insect. Instead, he held it in his palms and made a fist, then put his hands behind his back.

He looked coldly at the fire lizard on the ground.

After losing the fire spirit insect, its body slowly shrank and eventually turned back into Gu Zhenfei's appearance, but he was completely unconscious.

"Take him away and get out of here."

He looked at Li Feng, obviously having figured out who the real boss among this group of people was.

Li Feng witnessed the two young men's methods with his own eyes, and coupled with the strange transparent barrier in the grocery store in the deserted city, he was already terrified.

After weighing it for a moment, he quickly made a decision and chose to temporarily avoid it.

After all, the battle has already begun, and it is impossible to lower your posture and ask for peace in front of your subordinates. That would be throwing the face of Qingmu Fort into the ground.

As long as the green mountains remain, there will be no shortage of firewood!

Li Feng stretched out his hand and Gu Zhenfei on the ground flew over and was caught by Gu Qingtai who was beside him.

"Let's go!" he said harshly.

In this battle, not only did they fail to cause any damage to Huangcheng Home, they also lost a high-end combat force, Gu Zhenfei. Others were also injured by the Fire Giant Lizard. It was really embarrassing!

As Li Feng was leaving and thinking about how to deal with it next, he heard Hongli's voice.

"We're not leaving."

She waved her hand, and the ten guards from Jufeng Town, totaling 60 people, separated from Li Feng's team and came behind Hongli.

Seeing this, Li Feng couldn't help but get furious.

"Hongli, do you want to rebel against Qingmu Castle? Don't you worry about your brother's life?"

Before Hongli could say anything, Xie Chaori, who had been hiding in the grocery store, finally came out.

"Li Feng, when did you have the right to speak here?" He came to Hongli and shouted, "I am from Xie Chaori, and I will not tolerate your dictating!"

Seeing Xie Chaori appear alive in front of him, Li Feng was surprised: "Xie Chaori, you are not dead!"

"I won't die even if you die." Xie Chaori sneered.

Li Feng looked at them, then looked at the deserted city home which had obviously been in operation for some time, and suddenly he felt that he understood.

"Well, your Xie family actually wants to take it all for themselves!"

After thinking he knew the truth, he calmed down and felt much better. The faces of the people who followed him from Qingmu Fort also looked better.

"Just wait for me. I will definitely report this to headquarters. We'll see what happens!"

After Li Feng made his threats, he finally took his men away.

Hongli watched them leave and frowned, "Did he misunderstand something?"

Xie Chaori shrugged.

With the name of the Xie family as its backing, Huangcheng Home should be able to develop stably for a period of time.

Although this would mean that once the news got back, the Xie family would probably be even more ostracized in the fortress, but... so what?

Profits come first, which was what his family taught him.

"Sister Hongli!"

Tang Yu'an took a step from the roof. She looked at Hongli and said happily, "Welcome to join us."

Hongli looked at him and said, "Although I have tried my best to overestimate you, you always manage to exceed my expectations."

After saying that, she looked at Zhou Qi.

She didn't behave as badly as Xie Chaori, but judging from her clenched fists, it could be seen that she was also trying her best to resist the fear in her heart.

Zhou Qi nodded at her, then said to Tang Yu'an: "I'll wait for you on the ninth floor."

Then he returned home first.

After he left, Hongli and Xie Chaori both visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

"So... it was you who saved me before?" Hongli looked at Tang Yu'an and asked seriously.

Tang Yu'an knew what she was talking about. Probably because the fire snake was quite sensitive in Jufeng Mountain, she didn't want her subordinates to know, so she was a little vague.

"Yeah, we went into the cave to hunt mutants, and we ran into you by chance..."

Tang Yu'an didn't say much, "Because you have been in seclusion, I haven't seen you since then."

If you saw it, you might understand how Brother Xiaoqi's swallowing of the spiritual insect could have such a strong impact on the original host.

"Is this Xiaoqi's ability?"

"Yes." Tang Yu'an nodded, "Let's go inside and talk."

He brought Hongli into the deserted city home, and left the 60 guards to be entertained by Old Li.

Only when she actually walked into the home did Hongli find that it was much better than she had imagined. Although it was not as good as a fortress, the mental outlook of the residents was obviously different from other places.

She had never felt that kind of vigorous vitality and harmonious and friendly atmosphere, let alone in the wasteland, even in the fortress.

"Sister Hongli, I'll let Brother Xie show you around later." Tang Yu'an said, "You can stay here tonight."

Hongli nodded, still immersed in shock.

Then, she heard Tang Yu'an say, "We are planning to build a road between Huangcheng and Jufeng Town."

"Road construction?"

"Yes, the current road is too difficult to travel on." Tang Yu'an said, "We plan to build a road that will connect directly from Jufeng Mountain to the deserted city home."

Hongli looked at Tang Yu'an. Although the boy looked innocent, he gave her a feeling that his true intentions were exposed.

She looked at the facilities of the deserted city home, at the residents, and at the envious expressions of the guards she brought with her...

It is conceivable that if this road is really built, how many residents of Jufeng Mountain will migrate to the deserted city!

"This road...I'm afraid it's difficult to build."

"Don't worry, the road construction is fully under the responsibility of our Huangcheng Home." Tang Yu'an said with a smile, "Sister Hongli, you will support us, right?"

Hongli looked at Tang Yu'an. The boy had grown up a lot compared to when they first met.

His smile was still cute and innocent, but why did it give her the feeling of being white and black?

Could she not support it?

Hongli looked at Xie Chaori, and as expected, Xie Chaori was desperately winking at her to get her to agree.

She pursed her lips and looked at the prosperous scene of her deserted home again.

In the end, Hongli nodded.

Perhaps her world is not limited to Jufeng Mountain. If so, then she can indeed seek some changes.

"I'll wait and see," she said.

"Great!" Tang Yu'an said with a smile, "I have already recommended you to the Lord Divine Envoy, and we still need to wait for His reply."

"During this period, you can just stay in your deserted home."

Hongli didn't believe a word about the Shangshen Cult, the God of Commerce, and the God's Messenger, but she didn't say anything, just nodded and thanked him.

Afterwards, Tang Yu'an left to find Zhou Qi.

When he arrived at Room 901, he saw Zhou Qi sitting in the room waiting for him. His right hand was clenched tightly, and a red flame was visible between his fingers.

The fire spirit insect struggled in his hands, trying to break free from his restraints.

"Brother Xiaoqi, are you okay?"

Tang Yu'an approached him nervously, but soon stopped a few steps away because of the intense heat.

"fine."

Zhou Qi's eyes were clear. Perhaps it was because he had already devoured and absorbed a fire spirit insect before, so he was not controlled this time. Instead, he caught the fire spirit insect.

He said to Tang Yu'an, "Can you use the identification skill on it?"

“Let me try!”