Rutgers awoke the next morning. Chen Feng left Aihart and Lailai to look after him, while the remaining seven pressed onward. After all, no matter where they traveled, they could use the Free Teleportation Array for rapid transit back and forth.

Three days later, Chen Feng and his group reached the small island. If they hadn't known about the teleportation array beforehand, they would never have guessed it was hidden deep within the island itself!

After entering the island's interior via a secret method, they discovered the array was indeed quite substantial. Chen Feng even had a vague recollection; it seemed similar to the magic circle he had passed through when captured by the Vice Lord of the Ziyuan Demon Territory.

Long Xiaojiang, Judy, and Ling Feng, however, were far more familiar with this magic array.

After replenishing the necessary energy crystals, Chen Feng and the others stepped onto the continent's largest teleportation array, vanishing in a flash of light.

When he opened his eyes again, he was in another location. Chen Feng didn't even need to look; he knew they had arrived on the continent belonging to the Four Great Empires.

The concentration of Yuan Qi here was exactly half that of the Purple Cloud Continent!

The teleportation array was located on a remote, secluded islet, extraordinarily hidden.

Chen Feng and his group left the islet and headed in the correct direction. After two days of flying, they finally sighted the mainland. Upon reaching it, they realized they were in the Kote Empire, one of the Four Great Empires.

The Kote Empire lay at the southernmost edge of the continent, facing the sea, while the Luqi Empire occupied the north. When the three empires of Kote, Fenlai, and Tony had previously jointly attacked the Luqi Empire, it was precisely because the first two countries were not adjacent that they betrayed the alliance and defected to Luqi.

Setting foot in the Kote Empire, Drulut fully recovered as Aihart and Bens arrived via the Free Teleportation Array. The other end of that array was concealed in a hidden spot beneath the coast of the Purple Cloud Continent.

The twelve were reunited, all excited to head to a nearby city in the Kote Empire for a meal.

Flying along, they quickly approached a town. Inscribed above the gate were three large characters: "Luoxia Town."

"This place looks rather dilapidated, but the name has a certain charm!" Mary exclaimed in admiration.

"What charm? Vulgar and crude!" Jin Ling retorted with a curl of her lip.

"You're the one who lacks charm, calling a town's name vulgar and crude!" Xiaohu interjected.

"You think you're so charming? You're just a silly little child!" Jin Ling shot back angrily.

"And how old do you think you are? Just a clumsy little girl!" Xiaohu was not one to yield.

Xiaohu and Jin Ling were like destined rivals; they couldn't stand each other. Lately, they bickered constantly—it was practically impossible for them to go even a single day without arguing a dozen times.

"Alright, stop arguing!" Chen Feng shook his head. "Let's just enter the city!"

"Hmph!" "Hmph!"

Xiaohu and Jin Ling both snorted and glared at each other one last time.

"Hey, you lot!" A shout echoed from the side of the group.

Turning back, they saw a city guard patrolling outside the gate.

"What are you looking at? I'm talking to you!" the guard yelled loudly.

Chen Feng noticed the man's rude address but chose not to dwell on it. After all, the gap in cultivation between them was vast; in the guard's eyes, they were little more than ants, and one shouldn't bother arguing with ants, no matter how arrogant they seemed.

"What is it?" Chen Feng walked up slowly, his tone even.

"What is it?" The soldier thrust his palm out, rubbing two fingers together. "Don't you understand?"

"The entrance fee, right!" Long Xiaojiang quickly supplied. He remembered these matters clearly, as his acquaintance with Chen Feng had begun over an inability to pay such a fee.

"Three copper coins per person. You total... one, two, three... twelve people in total, so that'll be thirty-six copper coins, which is one silver coin!" the soldier said languidly. (The currency conversion for this continent was established earlier: 100 coins = 1 silver coin, 1 silver coin = 1 gold coin, 1 gold coin = 1 Purple Gold coin.)

"What?" Jin Ling roared. "Three copper coins each means thirty-six for the twelve of us, doesn't it? Why are you demanding one whole silver coin? Can't you even calculate?"

The soldier had initially intended to fleece a group of youngsters, preferring to pick on those who seemed soft targets. In his view, a group of youths around twenty years old would surely pay up when confronted.

However, Jin Ling’s shout made him lose face instantly. He bristled with anger. "I suspect you people are spies from the Fenlai Empire! I require you to come with me now to assist in the investigation. If you resist, I have the right to execute you on the spot!"

Hearing this "bold" soldier speak, everyone nearly burst out laughing. A city guard who wasn't even a Third-Tier Fighter daring to threaten a group of Saint Domain powerhouses! Wasn't he courting death?

Chen Feng preferred not to cause trouble; squabbling with such a person felt beneath him. He stepped forward and casually tossed a silver coin over. "Here."

The soldier caught the coin and examined it closely. Seeing it was genuine, a greedy glint flashed in his eyes.

"May we enter the city now?"

"Enter the city? What city? Brothers, these people are spies sent by the Fenlai Empire! Everyone, move! Grab them!" The soldier suddenly roared. The dozen or so guards stationed at the gate immediately surrounded Chen Feng and the others, spears in hand.

Chen Feng shook his head, realizing the man had become greedy after seeing the silver coin he casually tossed. But if this greed was directed at them, it could only be described as seeking death, or perhaps, seeking a thrill.

"Move aside, and I won't pursue this matter," Chen Feng stated calmly.

"Oh, aren't you a tough little thing? Acting all superior in front of me! Do you even know who my brother-in-law is?" The first soldier pointed at Chen Feng and spoke in a grating, sarcastic tone.

" Crack! " " Aaaah... "

Before the soldier could finish speaking, his vision went dark as his finger was snapped.

"I don't care about your brother-in-law or your cousin-in-law. I simply dislike being pointed at," Chen Feng remarked calmly, as if performing a trivial action.

The surrounding guards saw their comrade injured and started to advance. Chen Feng swept his gaze over them and let out a low roar.

" Scram! "

This single shout erupted like thunder, leaving the dozen or so soldiers dizzy. They staggered, and blood trickled from their mouths and noses. If Chen Feng hadn't shown restraint, this single exertion would have instantly shattered their organs and ended their lives on the spot.

Rumble!

Just then, a squadron of armored cavalry thundered out from the main street inside the gate. Leading them was a young knight in golden armor, no older than ten, yet radiating remarkable valor.

This group maintained their speed until they were less than five meters from the city gate, where they abruptly halted. The horses stopped simultaneously without any sign of panic—truly an imposing display of control.

"What happened?" the leading golden-armored knight demanded, his face stern and expressionless.

"My brother-... Reporting to Lord Xiler..." The soldier with the broken finger seemed to have found a savior. He scrambled up, tears and snot streaming down his face. "These people's origins are unknown. When I demanded they cooperate with the investigation, they not only broke my finger but also injured several of us!" Although he sensed something strange about Chen Feng's low roar and vaguely suspected the young man possessed high cultivation, seeing the "power" he usually relied upon immediately replaced his fear with hatred.

"Hmm?" The golden-armored knight, addressed as Lord Xiler, shot a sharp gaze towards Chen Feng and his group. After just one look, he gasped in shock.

He couldn't see through a single one of the twelve!

He himself was a Fifth-Tier Cavalry Master (equivalent to a Fifth-Tier Fighter). In Luoxia City, he might not be number one, but he was certainly an influential figure and discerning about people.

When his gaze landed upon the three individuals in the rear, his heart jolted, and he leaped directly off his horse. These three gave him the exact same feeling as when he encountered Marshal Dida of the Empire—perhaps even possessing a greater aura! Marshal Dida was a Dou Zun powerhouse! Their presence felt more imposing than his... Who exactly were these people? Regardless, they had to be masters! he thought.

The three he was looking at were Aihart, Bens, and Mary. They were still at the peak of the Ninth-Tier Dou Zun strength, having not yet advanced, so their control over their power was much less refined than the others. The mere aura of a Ninth-Tier Dou Zun felt like an insurmountable mountain to a mere Fifth-Tier Cavalry Master, pressing down on him with immense pressure.

Conversely, Chen Feng and the others had reached the Saint Domain and returned to simplicity; their every movement already conformed to the Way of Heaven and Earth. Therefore, despite their higher cultivation, he couldn't discern their level. Especially Chen Feng—if he hadn't shown anger, anyone would assume he was an ordinary person.

The soldier saw Xiler dismount, mistakenly believing he was there to exact vengeance for him, and wildly pointed at Chen Feng. "My brother-in-law, that's the one who broke my finger! You must see justice done for your subordinate!"

"What brother-in-law, cousin-in-law?" Xiler, hearing this, was terribly startled. To shout such things in the presence of such profound cultivators was simply asking for trouble! He spun around and delivered a heavy slap to the soldier.

This time, he put his full strength into it. The soldier's face immediately twisted, all his teeth knocked out, and the sheer momentum sent him flying, crashing against the base of the city wall.

"Damn it, don't you have eyes! No manners at all!" Xiler roared, quickly distancing himself from the soldier before approaching Aihart and the others, bowing deeply. "Luoxia City Defense Commander Xiler pays his respects to you noble sirs!"

The dozen or so soldiers who had surrounded Chen Feng were stunned rigid when they saw their commander bowing so subserviently. The "brother-in-law" victims, already battered, gaped as if they had swallowed a dozen rotten eggs.

Aihart and the others felt awkward seeing him grovel before the three of them. They glanced at Chen Feng, and seeing he wasn't angry, they finally relaxed. On this journey, they had grown immensely respectful of Chen Feng, already considering him their leader in their hearts. The fact that this commander chose to bow to the three of them, who had the lowest cultivation, instead of their actual leader made them feel profoundly uncomfortable.

"Let's go," Chen Feng knew what they were thinking. He shook his head and spoke quietly, walking toward the city gate first. Dealing with such petty characters only invited more trouble the more attention he paid them.

Xiler then noticed the unassuming Chen Feng, a flicker of confusion crossing his mind. Why would a Dou Zun powerhouse obey a young man with no discernible cultivation? Or perhaps... did I misread them? Three Dou Zun powerhouses appearing at once? And I've never heard of them?

He grew suspicious and unsure how to proceed, but suddenly a thought struck him. He hurried to follow, catching up to Chen Feng and calling out, "Lord... Sir!"

By convention, cultivators only addressed true powerhouses as "Sir." This young man’s cultivation seemed low; in the past, Xiler wouldn't have given such a person a second glance. But seeing three Dou Zun experts deferring to him, he reluctantly offered the title.

Chen Feng naturally understood his meaning and stated coldly, "If you intend to apologize, it's unnecessary. We don't have that much time!"

Hearing this, Xiler cursed inwardly: If it weren't for those three, I wouldn't even glance at you! Truly arrogant... But he dared not voice the thought, forcefully suppressing his anger as he asked, "Are you perhaps honored guests invited by the City Lord?"

"No," Chen Feng continued walking without stopping.

Xiler felt a renewed surge of anger at Chen Feng's dismissive attitude but knew it wasn't the time to show it. Just as he was about to press further, he felt a sharp pressure on his shoulder, met by a small hand patting him. "Hey, what honored guests? Is there a feast to attend?" Xiaohu's large eyes were brimming with excitement.

Xiaohu's build was slender, similar to an ordinary person. When Xiler saw him casually slap his shoulder, he felt immediate revulsion. He was a person of status, a Fifth-Tier Cavalry Master; being treated so casually by a commoner was degrading. Moreover... the first thing the youth asked about was eating—what strong cultivator craved mere culinary pleasures?

However, seeing Aihart and the others remain utterly unconcerned, Xiler gritted his teeth and swallowed the insult, carefully modulating his voice to mask his anger. "If you are the City Lord's honored guests, a banquet is certainly inevitable. The City Lord has specially prepared a lavish feast to welcome you!" His tone was clear: the City Lord prepared this feast for honored guests; if they were not guests, they should leave immediately.

Xiaohu, oblivious to the subtle implication, became instantly energized upon hearing "lavish feast." He tugged Chen Feng's arm. "Boss, let's not eat elsewhere. Since they've already prepared something, how about we go eat?"

For the first time, Jin Ling didn't object to Xiaohu; instead, she chimed in. "We haven't eaten anything decent in ages! I'm getting sick of dry rations!"

When Xiler heard the word "dry rations," his heart seized violently.

Rations were only eaten under two circumstances: during military campaigns or when one was utterly destitute. Who would eat dry rations if they had money? These twelve youths were clearly not on a military campaign, so they must be the latter. Realizing this, a wave of indignant anger surged through him: These beggars! Do they think the City Lord's Manor is a charity organization?