Chapter 417: The Focus of the Whole City

"「Red Dust, someone come welcome me」."

With Chen Ling deliberately using the [Thought] technique, this voice instantly rang through most of the Red Dust main city. Countless busy figures froze simultaneously, looking up at the sky in confusion.

A golden mountain, a black shadow, suspended outside the Red Dust main city gate like a god.

"Golden mountain... golden mask??"

In a consortium's office, a figure saw the scene through the floor-to-ceiling window, his expression shocked.

"Is it the Golden Society?"

"Also... counting the time, they should have come this year..."

"But this year's envoy is so domineering. He hasn't even entered the city, and he wants people to welcome him?"

"Envoys from previous years didn't seem to be this flashy... It seems this year's one is an even tougher nut to crack."

He rubbed his chin with one hand, lost in thought.

At the same time, a figure dressed as a secretary walked over quickly.

"Chairman, what should we do? Should we go welcome him?"

"Isn't that a stupid question? Have you forgotten how the three major consortiums, with their overwhelming power, disappeared four years ago?" The chairman snorted coldly. "The Golden Society's envoy must never be offended; we can only befriend them..."

"We not only have to welcome him, but we must do it with the grandest display and be the first to do so! We can't let those rival consortiums get ahead. If they establish a good relationship with the envoy first, it will be very disadvantageous for us."

The secretary was stunned for a long time and asked subconsciously, "Chairman, isn't that a bit much... The Golden Society's treasures are indeed top-tier, but as one of the five largest consortiums in the main city, do we need to be this humble?"

"Treasures? Do you really think the value of an envoy lies only in the treasures they bring?" The chairman said meaningfully. "Capable of wiping out three major consortiums at will and changing the situation of the main city, the value of the envoy themselves is far above those treasures."

"But in recent years, we've been trying to befriend the envoys every year, but they've had no interest... It's meaningless, right?"

The chairman looked at the figure still standing outside the city, waiting for a welcome, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"The ones from before were indeed not interested in these things... However, this year's envoy's attitude seems unusual."

……

"This is Architect 016, target location confirmed. Should we intercept?"

Inside the city wall not far from Chen Ling, a figure stepped out from an empty corner, locking his gaze on the black-clad figure in the air.

The other side of the walkie-talkie was silent for a moment.

"What's his situation?"

"Nothing much, he's still standing in the air outside the city, without any extra movements."

"He's not forcing his way into the main city, which is telling us he has no malice. No need to intercept..."

"But, isn't he being too arrogant and excessive by doing this? The envoys from the previous times didn't do this?"

"Every year's envoy has a different personality. Some are cold, some are tough, some are humble... It's not strange for an arrogant one to come this year." The voice on the other end of the walkie-talkie continued,

"Besides, they have always only done business when coming to the Red Dust main city and would leave in a few days. They have never affected the operation of our [Floating Life Realm].

Let the people in the mortal world solve mortal matters... As long as he doesn't take the initiative to provoke us, do not make an enemy of any envoy. Their power is beyond what you or I can imagine."

"...Understood."

Putting away the walkie-talkie, the man took another deep look at Chen Ling and stepped back, disappearing into the corner of the wall as if he had never appeared.

……

"He, he..."

Huang Suyu stared blankly at the figure standing in mid-air, her mouth wide open in shock.

She and Uncle Quan had followed Chen Ling all the way from the Gray Realm. Although Chen Ling was very mysterious just now, they never expected that he would turn around and face the Red Dust main city with such a kingly posture.

And this was exactly what Chen Ling wanted.

Beneath the golden mask, Chen Ling's eyes overlooked the city beneath his feet. He could already see some figures approaching here at high speed.

Chen Ling knew very well that if he entered the Red Dust main city using conventional methods, with his current level, it would be impossible to protect the gold, and he might even damage the mysterious image of the "Golden Society," causing trouble for his seniors' next visit to sell gold.

Since that was the case... he could only start from other aspects.

And the solution Chen Ling chose was "acting." Since his seniors' actions in the past had already left the Red Dust main city with the image of "absolutely not to be provoked," he just needed to play along with that.

The most important thing was to let everyone know he wasn't to be trifled with, even more so than the previous envoys. Only by making them truly fear him could he ensure his own safety to the greatest extent... The good news was that with this golden mask capable of blocking spiritual perception, it would be difficult to expose his true strength unless he took the initiative to fight someone.

With the strength of the Third Order, playing the role of a powerful "Golden Society Envoy" was a dangerous performance on a tightrope. A slight slip could lead to total ruin.

But if he succeeded...

【Audience Expectation +3】

【Current Expectation 58%】

As the two prompts floated up, numerous vehicles had passed through the city and arrived at the city gate like a beehive. As the vehicles gradually came to a stop, numerous figures got out and surrounded the car at the very front, respectfully opening the door.

A pair of perfectly tailored suit trousers stepped out of the car. A middle-aged man with a slicked-back hairstyle got out, straightened his tie, and led dozens of people straight toward the city gate.

"Lu Yuanzheng of the Dinglu Consortium, here specifically to welcome the envoy." The middle-aged man stood still at the city gate and said to Chen Ling in the air with a smile.

Chen Ling glanced at him calmly without speaking.

In less than ten seconds, another batch of vehicles approached at high speed, but because the Dinglu Consortium's cars had blocked the road behind the city gate, they were forced to stop on the periphery.

Seeing the license plates of these vehicles, Lu Yuanzheng of the Dinglu Consortium narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly.

Before the lead vehicle had even stopped, a figure with a long beard and disheveled hair hurried out of the car. He ran barefoot across the hard concrete floor, like an old man in such a hurry that he didn't even have time to put on shoes.

"Oh my, Envoy! We've waited a year for you, and you've finally come!" The old man also ran to the gate with his people and said apologetically,

"I am Zong Wen of the Huadu Consortium. I'm late to welcome you. Please, you must come back with me to sit for a while. I will personally pour you wine to apologize and welcome you!"

Seeing this old man also crowding over, Lu Yuanzheng of the Dinglu Consortium couldn't help but roll his eyes, cursing inwardly:

"Damn it, what a show..."