Han Li and Shi Chuan Kong's expressions stiffened slightly upon hearing the words of the black-robed old man.

"Senior, to be honest, we have urgent matters and wish to leave as soon as possible. Is it possible for two people to teleport?" Shi Chuan Kong asked, seemingly prepared for this.

"Two people are naturally fine, but the array activation fee originally shared by three people will now have to be split between two. Moreover, the cost of going to Chuyu City is higher than other places. Do you still want to teleport two people?" the black-robed old man asked, raising an eyebrow.

"This... this expense is naturally painful, but the matter entrusted by the family head is too urgent. If we don't return in time, we'll be in trouble. There's really no choice but to spend a little more money, I suppose?" Shi Chuan Kong pretended to be distressed and looked at Han Li.

Han Li immediately understood and said, "If we're even half a day late, the family head will definitely punish us. It won't just be a matter of spending money then. It hurts, but let's just hope the family head rewards us more when we return, to make up for it."

"Please trouble you, Senior. We don't need to wait for another person. We can teleport immediately," Shi Chuan Kong said, cupping his fist towards the old man.

"Since you're determined, I won't try to dissuade you. Pay the fee and wait near the grand array. After the previous groups have teleported, it will be your turn. Oh, and give me your warrants first. I need to record them," the black-robed old man said.

Hearing this, Shi Chuan Kong stopped Han Li, who was about to take out his warrant, and took out two new warrants, handing them over.

The black-robed old man took the warrants and his expression changed slightly. He quickly stood up, bowing and saying,

"Ah! So you are retainers of Luo Heng Gong. I apologize for my abruptness."

"Senior, you are too kind. We are just minor retainers of the Duke and are not worthy of such a great ceremony," Shi Chuan Kong quickly stepped forward to lift the old man's bowing arm and said.

"Luo Heng Gong's illustrious reputation is known throughout the Holy Region. How could his retainers be ordinary people? Everything I said earlier doesn't count. As soon as this team leaves the array, I will arrange for your teleportation immediately," the black-robed old man said with a look of admiration.

"Then we will trouble you, Senior. But the old rules cannot be changed. Collect the teleportation fee as you normally would," Shi Chuan Kong continued, his smile undiminished.

Seeing that Shi Chuan Kong was so understanding, giving him enough face while not making things difficult for him, the black-robed old man's face immediately beamed with a happy smile, feeling that the distance between himself and that great man had narrowed imperceptibly.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony," the old man said with a smile.

"Who is this Luo Heng Gong? How can he make this old man's attitude change so much?" Han Li wondered inwardly, sending a voice transmission to Shi Chuan Kong.

"This Luo Heng Gong is none other than my third brother," Shi Chuan Kong smiled and replied.

"Your third brother has a title?" Han Li asked through voice transmission.

"That's right. Father has always been very cautious about conferring titles on his offspring, as it requires real military achievements. Of my many brothers and sisters, only a small fraction have titles. Among them, the highest title is held by my eldest brother, Shi Zhanfeng, who is the Cang Ling Wang. Next is my third brother, who is the Luo Heng Gong, followed by my fifth sister, Shi Jingyan, who is the Yu Lin Gong. As for the others, they are at most Marquis," Shi Chuan Kong transmitted.

"Judging from the black-robed old man's words, it seems that your third brother, the Luo Heng Gong, is somewhat special. Is there anything to it?" Han Li asked again.

"Actually, there's nothing particularly special about it. Although they are both at the Duke level, the size of the fiefdom and the status of the title vary. My third brother's Luo Heng Gong is one of the three highest-ranking Dukes, while my fifth sister's Yu Lin Gong is slightly inferior. In addition, my third brother has always valued relationships over personal gain and is fair in rewards and punishments. He has a reputation for virtue within the Holy Region, so there are many who admire him," Shi Chuan Kong replied with a smile.

"I see," Han Li nodded inwardly.

While the two were communicating through voice transmission, the black-robed old man had already made the records and led them to the side of the magic formation.

After giving some instructions to the cultivator holding the array disk, who was responsible for the main formation, he bid farewell and returned to his desk.

Han Li and Shi Chuan Kong waited quietly to the side, watching the points of light light up in the teleportation formation.

Just then, Shi Chuan Kong and Han Li exchanged a look, and their expressions both changed.

"We were indeed followed. That was close..." Shi Chuan Kong murmured.

"Fortunately, it was only two drops of essence blood... but it also shows that Blood Drop Marquis's plan was successful," Han Li said slowly.

"Hehe, that old fool is probably going to find nothing. We'll leave immediately after we arrive in Chuyu City, so he won't be able to catch up," Shi Chuan Kong nodded and said.

"I just don't know how Blood Drop Marquis is doing? After all, the other party is a genuine Grand Luo cultivator," Han Li said with some concern.

After saying this, the two fell silent.

Soon, the light in the teleportation array converged, and the previous three people had been teleported away. The cultivator holding the array disk, after replacing the magic stones needed for the teleportation array, began to rotate the dragon-coiling pillars around the array.

After the formation was adjusted, he beckoned Han Li and Shi Chuan Kong to enter the formation.

Shi Chuan Kong and Han Li calmed their minds slightly and stepped into the formation together, standing in the center of the grand array.

The main array cultivator nodded to the two of them and began to form hand seals, activating the array disk in his hand.

A rumbling sound began to sound above the array, and points of silver starlight began to rise from the ground below, enveloping the two like fireflies on a summer night.

Just as the great array was about to operate, an unexpected change occurred!

With a "bang," the array disk in the hands of the main array cultivator suddenly burst open for no apparent reason.

The teleportation array, which was halfway through its operation, immediately dimmed and stopped.

Immediately afterward, a stream of purple-gold light flashed from outside the teleportation hall, moving at an astonishing speed.

The main array cultivator was about to get angry, but after seeing the appearance of the person, he immediately prostrated himself on the ground and said respectfully,

"This subordinate greets the City Lord."

Everyone else in the hall, except for Han Li and Shi Chuan Kong, prostrated themselves on the ground.

Han Li frowned and looked at the middle-aged man in the purple-gold robe. He saw that his sword-like eyebrows slanted into his temples, his eyes were like copper bells, his nose was high and slightly hooked, his lips were thin like knives, and he exuded an oppressive aura.

"Marquis, can't you just turn a blind eye and pretend you didn't see us?" Shi Chuan Kong asked with a wry smile.

"I already let you go once before. You really shouldn't have come back. I've already been benevolent and righteous enough," Tian Yue Marquis sighed.

"Is there really no room for negotiation?" Shi Chuan Kong asked somewhat unwillingly.

"This Marquis is arresting wanted criminals. All other irrelevant people get out immediately. Guard the outside well for me. No one is allowed to approach. Violators will be killed without mercy," Tian Yue Marquis said coldly.

At the same time, a vast demonic aura rolled out from his body, sweeping towards the crowd with the tyrannical aura of a mid-stage Grand Luo cultivator, immediately scaring those waiting to teleport into a frenzy. They rushed out one after another.

As for the two city lord's mansion cultivators, they retreated with complex expressions. The black-robed old man's eyes were full of panic, and when he looked at Shi Chuan Kong and Han Li, only resentment remained in his eyes.

The crowd scrambled to escape to the front courtyard of the City Lord's Mansion, and then couldn't help but look back.

After waiting for a moment, a loud "boom" was suddenly heard. A purple-black dragon-shaped demonic aura soared into the sky, directly into the clouds, scattering the clouds in the sky.

The teleportation tower below exploded and instantly turned into dust.

The powerful shock wave swept in all directions, reaching the front courtyard almost instantly. A dozen magnificent and exquisite buildings were affected and collapsed one after another.

The guarding cultivators in the front courtyard noticed the abnormality and quickly took action, forming an array to resist each other, so that the entire City Lord's Mansion was not completely destroyed by this powerful aftermath.

Just as the crowd was gathering, Tian Yue Marquis's figure suddenly flew out of the ruins of the teleportation tower. He glanced at the crowd with an unkind expression. Without saying anything, he returned to the garden behind.

The black-robed old man thought he would definitely be held accountable by the City Lord and had resigned himself to death, but in the end, he was safe and sound. He couldn't help but tremble and burst into tears of joy.

…

Time passed in a flash, more than three months later.

Chuyu City, inside the City Lord's Mansion.

Inside a magnificent domed building, in a huge teleportation array, a silver light flashed, and several figures appeared from it. After a short stay, they walked out of the array and headed towards the hall.

Behind a desk at the entrance of the hall sat two white-haired old men. One of them was dressed in a dark green Taoist robe and had a rather immortal appearance, but his expression was somewhat stern as he glared at the few people who came out of the array.

This person was none other than Zhao Gu Zhenren. He had been waiting here for Han Li and Shi Chuan Kong for more than three months.

The people who had just stepped down from the great array felt very uncomfortable with his gaze. They were all angry in their hearts, but they didn't dare to show it, so they had to quicken their pace and leave in a hurry.

Sitting next to Zhao Gu Zhenren was a late-stage Golden Immortal cultivator with golden horns. He was originally responsible for recording the information of people using the formation and collecting teleportation fees, and he had found the past three months to be quite disturbing.

"Senior Zhao Gu, it's been so long. If the people you're waiting for were coming, they should have arrived long ago. I think they probably didn't teleport to Chuyu City, maybe they went to another city," the Golden Immortal old man hesitated for a moment and said.

"Forget it, it seems I've been tricked again," Zhao Gu Zhenren heard this, let out a long breath, and sighed.

The Golden Immortal old man didn't know who Zhao Gu Zhenren was waiting for. Hearing his words at this moment, he was even more confused, but he remained silent, without any intention of asking.

As early as three months ago, the City Lord had instructed him that no matter what Zhao Gu Zhenren wanted to do, he should let him do it, without blocking him, without deliberately providing help, and without asking out of curiosity.

"Thank City Lord Ouyang for me. I'll visit him at the City Lord's Mansion another day," Zhao Gu Zhenren slowly stood up and instructed.

"Don't worry, Senior, I will definitely pass on the message," the Golden Immortal old man quickly got up and said.

Zhao Gu Zhenren glanced at the teleportation array again, flicked his sleeve, and turned to stride out of the hall.