Stepping out of the room, Bai Yi noticed the waiters in the city lord's house cleaning up after something. The faint scent of blood lingered in the air, suggesting unrest within the residence.
As the waiters caught sight of Bai Yi, their expressions reflected a mix of complex emotions—fear, admiration, fanaticism, and resentment.
Bai Yi recalled the resentful gazes and sent a message to the manager overseeing the waitstaff.
He soon spotted a middle-aged man in a pavilion at the center of the lake. Though he was only a golden-tier individual, the positive emotions of relaxation and happiness radiated from him.
Upon seeing Bai Yi, he bowed respectfully. "Lord Bai Yi."
Straightening up, a sense of familiarity shone in his eyes. Before Bai Yi could speak, he smiled and introduced himself. "I am Jiaguan Difeng, Diane's uncle. I am here at the behest of the city master to invite you to visit the Difeng family. Everyone is eager to meet our heroes of reform."
His demeanor was respectful but not overly obsequious, avoiding any sense of insincerity.
Bai Yi pondered for a moment. While there were still matters to resolve, it wouldn't hurt to accept the invitation. The intercontinental missiles in Dongwu City had cooled down, and 186-A was beginning to recharge and repair. Everything in the city appeared stable.
Bai Yi sensed an overwhelming spiritual power enveloping all of Dongwu City. Luo Ning and Eric were at the Swordsman Academy, safe and sound. Irene, however, seemed a bit weak, dazed in her master's room at the city lord's house, but posed no danger.
"Wait a moment; I need to clarify a few things."
"Of course, Lord Bai Yi. I'll inform my master," Jiaguan nodded, his smile unwavering.
Bai Yi turned and walked toward the courtyard of the city lord's house, heading for the room closest to the Tree of Life.
After planting ten Trees of Life, Irene had insisted on moving closer; the elves had become obsessed with the Tree of Life.
The room was mostly empty except for a few waiters. Of course, they were free to reside wherever they wished.
Bai Yi approached the door and knocked softly.
When invited in, he opened the door and stepped inside.
Inside, Irene sat on a vine swing hanging from the beams, her master seated across from her, explaining something.
"Your Excellency," Mina greeted respectfully. In this era, strength equated to everything, prompting her to adopt a more deferential attitude.
Irene didn't react immediately. She looked up at Bai Yi and said, "Hello, Lord Bai."
Bai Yi ignored her greeting and stepped closer, using his mental strength to assess her condition.
Suddenly, he frowned.
After a moment of contemplation, he decided to use the newly learned [Soul Comfort] skill at its maximum level.
After about ten seconds of concentration, he extended a hand toward Irene.
Buzz!
An almost overwhelming wave of soul energy surged into Irene's body, emanating warmth and healing energy. This caused both Mina and Irene to relax, their worries melting away into smiles.
Bai Yi considered the situation, then gently touched Irene's forehead with his fingertips. An incredibly pure blue energy flowed into her soul, forcibly extracting a dark fog that had been clouding her.
Irene trembled as her peaceful eyes slowly closed, remaining still on the swing.
Bai Yi glanced at Mina, noting her lack of reaction to Irene's state. He felt a twinge of concern. Why does it seem like something is off with them?
However, he pushed aside his doubts and retrieved a vial of the Source of Life from the demon dimension, handing it to Mina. "When she wakes up, feed her this and take good care of her. It's nothing serious."
"Yes, my Lord," Mina replied, accepting the vial. She stood and gently lifted the sleeping Irene, tucking her into bed with a quilt.
Bai Yi canceled the Soul Comfort skill, observing Mina's demeanor with mild curiosity. He then examined the description of the skill.
He recalled the introduction: "Peace is precious; sometimes, violence is unnecessary." Was this implying a method of compliance through force?
With a playful imagination, he envisioned the elderly voice as an immortal sage. Was this truly the method of such an ancient being?
Leaving the room, Bai Yi decided to contact Sabo. "Ask him when he plans to return. We can't afford any reckless actions."
Zero:"According to current traces on the internet, Mr. Sabo has raided resources from 103 cities, including some relics of extraordinary beings. The remaining cities have been secured by soldiers from the parliament, but Sabo's presence lingers as he continues his raids."
Zero:"A message was sent to inquire, and Mr. Sabo responded: 'My dear friend, this opportunity is once in a lifetime. Without it, we only have Dongwu City. I will return when the dust settles.'"
Bai Yi pondered for a moment. "Let him continue. Just ensure it doesn't jeopardize unity."
Zero:"Mr. Sabo replied: 'My Lord, the resources uncovered thus far exceed three times Tobu City's assets, and 90% belong to you. Are you sure you want me to halt?"
Bai Yi paused, contemplating. "Consider the Federation's bottom line; that's what they aimed for this time."
Sabo:"I understand. I'm collecting all ownerless items. Now that the Federation has been restructured, we owe it to Dongwu City. After all, we opened this new era, and you are the hero of the entire Federation. I know where the limits lie."
Bai Yi deliberated but chose not to respond. Given the circumstances, it was acceptable to pause if the parliament voiced concerns.
He dismissed thoughts of Sabo, following Jiaguan out of the city lord's house.
On the streets, various officials were still cleaning up, and blood flowed into the sewers, leaving a lingering, unpleasant odor in the city.
The term "law reform" sounded simple, but over ten million lives had been lost across the Federation, especially during the parliament's clear reform efforts, which accounted for millions of extraordinary deaths.
In comparison, the death toll from the four major battlefields paled in significance to this massive cleanup.
If Bai Yi had not displayed such devastating strength during the battle, and if his knowledge had not held such value, Dongwu City would likely have remained isolated in this transformation.
Such was the nature of things.
As Bai Yi approached the Adventurer's Union, he noted the stark contrast from earlier. The once-bustling space was now eerily quiet, with only a few loyal staff remaining.
Those who had rebelled were gone, leaving behind a shell of what once was.
Fortunately, the Hall of Knowledge remained unaffected; its resources were too valuable to be compromised.
Bai Yi's mental power swept across Dongwu City.
In the outer urban areas, celebrations erupted among civilians, who joyfully honored the victory of the war for the first time.
However, the inner city was much quieter, with only a handful of ordinary staff leading the Finance Department through the mansions.
The second-in-command of the Finance Department had learned a great deal during his time with Sabo. He was now adept at handling money without needing explicit instructions.
Another factor contributing to the inner city's emptiness was the influx of monster corpses being transported in. Dongwu City had no need for such vast quantities of materials.
These corpses were only worth about one-third less than market price, prompting extraordinary beings and merchants to see an opportunity.
Many exchanged their gold coins for monster corpses, transporting these resources across the Federation via teleportation arrays.
This cycle of trade ensured the continued value of federal gold coins. Beyond their inherent worth, they represented the lifeblood of adventurers.
Adventurers hunted for profit, using that profit to acquire treasures brought back by others, which fueled their next hunts. This cyclical economy formed a complete industrial chain.
The teleportation array was not far from the Adventurer's Union, situated in a vast open space against the leftmost wall of the City Lord's Mansion.
Five tower-shaped buildings, reminiscent of the Hall of Knowledge, stood in the open area.
These towers were not small; they contained layers upon layers of space and many distinct areas.
Equipped with numerous devices for processing transactions, they addressed most logistical challenges seamlessly. However, they required the power of time and space.
Only legendary mages could harness substantial amounts of space-time power from the turbulence beyond the eighth tier.
Otherwise, space-time stones were necessary to replace that energy, which explained the high costs associated with teleportation.
Entering the central teleportation array alongside Jiaguan, Bai Yi felt the world around him shift dramatically, as if he were adrift in a sea of stars.
A cold female voice echoed.
"Identity: Jiaguan Difeng, Dongwu City. White Epidemic. The transmission fee has been waived. Please select a transmission tower."
[Available Transmission Towers: Capital City, Xiling City, Nanling City, Beiyuan City, Chaoyang City, Wudu City, Red Lion City]
The names of several cities appeared, encompassing nearly all significant locations.
While magic teleportation arrays were more violent in nature, they were also pricier than alchemical ones, resulting in a greater number of connections through alchemical means.
Magic teleportation arrays were military affairs, while alchemical ones catered to daily needs.
After Jiaguan selected the capital city as their destination, the space around them trembled, and the female voice returned.
"Transmission tower selected: Capital City. Transmission commencing in 321 seconds."
As the countdown progressed, the stars around them began to shift gradually, coalescing into thin lines that induced vertigo.
Bai Yi, however, felt no discomfort. His powerful soul enabled him to maintain perfect control over his body.
With his physical attributes now at a golden level, Bai Yi found his resistance astonishingly high—beyond the capabilities of an ordinary alchemist.
In a moment, the stars ceased their movement, coming to a standstill.
"Current location: Transmission Tower of the Capital. We wish you a pleasant journey."
"This way, please."
Jiaguan smiled and led the way as they exited the tower. A magnificent red dragon awaited them nearby.
Bai Yi recognized the dragon as Tina Anderson, the golden red dragon.
She appeared rounder than before, her initial pride replaced by a warm aura.
Dragons could not be enslaved, yet the Difeng family was immensely wealthy. With sufficient gold coins, they could secure temporary "cooperation" from the dragon.
Even near the capital's transmission tower, the air was thick with the scent of blood. It was unsettling, especially given the recent rebellions. Over four million extraordinary beings had gathered here.
Some individuals would inevitably attempt something reckless amidst this transformation.
"Ms. Tina, this is our guest. I apologize for any inconvenience," Jiaguan said politely to the dragon.
Tina noticed Bai Yi and a flicker of recognition crossed her eyes. After all, she had once intended to claim him as her favored companion.
Now, however, she was devoid of such intentions. With a flap of her wings, she enveloped them in warm energy, lifting them onto her back.
Surrounded by the gazes of onlookers—some fearful—Tina soared into the sky, heading east.
From their elevated vantage point, Bai Yi observed an array of emptied buildings and lands being sold, with many areas freshly cleared.
After navigating around several golden residences, they arrived at the Difeng family's territory.
The dragon didn't land at the entrance but instead soared into the no-fly zone magical barrier. A burst of light enveloped them as they passed seamlessly through the city.
While the Weir family's diameter measured three kilometers, the Difeng family extended to eight kilometers, significantly larger than most counties.
Bai Yi marveled at the expanse, noticing numerous spaceship docking areas, lush extraordinary botanical gardens, and even several beast-breeding facilities.
He recognized many of the plants and creatures, silently marveling at the wealth of a family possessing the soul lord artifact.
Legendary materials—rarely seen elsewhere—were cultivated here like ordinary crops.
In the golden beast garden, he spotted creatures feasting on the leaves of gold-tier plants.
No wonder even the proud dragon willingly accepted a role as a mount.
After a brief flight, the red dragon descended onto a lavish palace alongside Bai Yi. Staff bustled about, carrying various ingredients and materials, exuding a sense of urgency.
Diane and her slightly displeased brother, Yuan Tang, awaited at the entrance, clearly there to greet him.
The dragon bent low, releasing them gently. Afterward, Tina took off, soaring toward the small artificial volcano specially constructed for her.
"Bai Yi, you're finally here!" Diane exclaimed with bright eyes. However, compared to before, she seemed more composed. Grabbing his hand, she turned and said, "Come on, the banquet is about to start! I haven't enjoyed such a lavish feast in ages."
"Cough."
A soft, dissatisfied cough interrupted her. Diane hesitated, instinctively releasing Bai Yi's hand. She then grasped his sleeve and smiled sweetly at Yuan Tang. "There are many people here today. I'll introduce them to you later."
Diane had been sheltered by her brother since childhood; his presence was still formidable in her eyes. While her parents scolded her sparingly, her brother could whisk her away to the study, inviting numerous tutors to keep her occupied.
That experience had left her with lingering apprehension, even into adulthood.
Bai Yi smiled at Yuan Tang, following Diane into the palace while whispering to her.
Given the intense hostilities during the Battle of Dongwu City, Yuan Tang's demeanor remained cautious—after all, there were few stronger than him aside from Helen.
(End of this chapter)