Chapter 416: All Eyes on the City

"Red Dust, send someone to welcome me."

As Chen Ling deliberately employed his psychic ability, the voice instantly echoed across most of Red Dust Main City. Countless busy figures froze simultaneously, looking up at the sky in confusion.

A golden mountain and a dark figure hung suspended outside the gate of Red Dust Main City, like deities.

"A golden mountain... A Golden Mask??"

Inside an office of a certain syndicate, a figure, seeing the scene through a floor-to-ceiling window, showed a surprised expression.

"Is it the Golden Society?""Yes... By my calculations, they should be arriving this year...""But this year's envoy is quite domineering. He hasn't even entered the city yet and already demands an escort?""Previous envoys have never been so ostentatious... It seems this year's one is a tough nut to crack."

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, a figure dressed as a secretary walked quickly over.

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

"Isn't that obvious? Have you forgotten how the three most powerful syndicates disappeared four years ago?" The chairman scoffed, "The Golden Society's envoy must never be offended; we can only befriend them..."

"Not only must we welcome him, but we must do so with the grandest procession, and be the first to do it! We cannot let those rival syndicates get ahead. If they establish a good relationship with the envoy first, it will be extremely detrimental to us."

The secretary paused for a moment, then subconsciously asked, "Chairman, surely not... The Golden Society's treasures are indeed top-notch, but as one of the Main City's five most prosperous syndicates, do we need to be so humble?"

"Treasures? Do you truly believe an envoy's value lies solely in the treasures they bring?" The chairman said meaningfully, "With the power to easily wipe out three syndicates and alter the Main City's landscape, an envoy's inherent worth far exceeds those treasures."

"But for the past few years, we've tried to curry favor with the envoys every year, yet they've shown no interest... Isn't it pointless?"

The chairman's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the figure still standing outside the city, awaiting an escort.

"Previous envoys indeed weren't interested in such things... However, this year's envoy seems to have an unusual attitude."

"This is Architect Number 016. Target location confirmed. Do we intercept?"

Inside the city wall not far from Chen Ling, a figure emerged from an empty corner, its gaze fixed on the dark-clad figure in mid-air.

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

"What's his status?"

"Nothing unusual. He's still suspended in the air outside the city, with no unnecessary movements."

"His not forcibly entering the Main City tells us he bears no ill will, so there's no need to intercept..."

"But isn't he being too arrogant and overbearing? Previous envoys never acted like this."

"Every year's envoy has a different personality," the voice on the other end of the walkie-talkie continued. "Some are aloof, some are firm, some are humble... It's not surprising to have an arrogant one this year."

"Furthermore, when they come to Red Dust Main City, they always conduct their business and leave within a few days. They have never interfered with the operation of our Fleeting World."

"Let the mortals handle their own affairs... As long as he doesn't provoke us, do not antagonize any envoy. Their power is beyond our imagination."

"...Understood."

Putting away the walkie-talkie, the person took another deep look at Chen Ling, then stepped back and vanished into the corner of the wall, as if they had never been there.

"He, he..."Huang Suyue stared blankly at the figure suspended in mid-air, her mouth agape in shock.

She and Uncle Quan had followed Chen Ling all the way from the Grey Realm. Although Chen Ling had been mysterious just moments ago, they never imagined he would, in the blink of an eye, confront Red Dust Main City with such an imperious demeanor.

And this was precisely what Chen Ling wanted.

Beneath the golden mask, Chen Ling's eyes surveyed the city below, already spotting figures rapidly approaching his location.

Chen Ling knew well that if he entered Red Dust Main City conventionally, with his current cultivation level, it would be impossible to keep the gold safe and intact. He might even damage the Golden Society's mysterious reputation, causing trouble for his seniors the next time they came to sell gold.

Since that was the case... he would have to approach it differently.

Chen Ling's chosen solution was to "act." Since his seniors' previous actions had already established the "absolutely not to be provoked" image in Red Dust Main City, he simply needed to build upon that foundation and perform slightly.

The most crucial part was to make everyone understand he was not to be trifled with, even more so than previous envoys. Only by genuinely instilling fear could he maximize his own safety... The good news was that with the golden mask, which could block spiritual perception, it would be difficult to expose his true strength unless he actively engaged in combat.

Playing the part of a formidable "Golden Society envoy" with only a third-tier cultivation level was a dangerous performance walking on a tightrope. A single slip, a minor flaw, could lead to utter ruin.

But if he succeeded...

Audience Expectation 3Current Expectation 58

As the two lines of notifications appeared, numerous vehicles had already crossed the city, swarming like a beehive towards the city gate. As the vehicles gradually came to a halt, many figures exited their cars and respectfully gathered around the foremost vehicle, opening its door.

Perfectly tailored suit trousers emerged from the car. A middle-aged man with slicked-back hair stepped out, adjusted his tie, and then led dozens of people directly towards the city gate.

"Lu Yuanzheng of the Tripod Deer Syndicate, specially here to welcome the envoy," the middle-aged man said, stopping at the city gate and smiling at Chen Ling in the air.

Chen Ling gave him a cursory glance but said nothing.

Barely ten seconds later, another batch of vehicles rapidly approached. However, since the Tripod Deer Syndicate's cars had completely surrounded the road behind the city gate, they were forced to stop on the outskirts.

Upon seeing the license plates of these vehicles, Lu Yuanzheng of the Tripod Deer Syndicate narrowed his eyes slightly and snorted coldly.

Before the lead vehicle even fully stopped, a dishevelled figure with a long beard hastily scrambled out. Barefoot, he clattered across the hard concrete ground, like an old man rushing out of his home without even putting on his shoes.

"Oh, esteemed Envoy! We've waited a whole year for you, and you've finally arrived!" The old man, accompanied by his people, also rushed to the gate and spoke with deep apologies.

"I am Zong Wen of the Flower Capital Syndicate. I am late to receive you. Please, you must come back with me and sit for a while. I will personally pour you wine to apologize and welcome you!"

Seeing this old man also crowding in, Lu Yuanzheng of the Tripod Deer Syndicate couldn't help but roll his eyes, muttering inwardly:

"Damn it, what an act..."