Long Ziyun accepted Thunder Leopard's invitation almost without hesitation, agreeing to join the Axis Cult with crisp decisiveness.
This decision was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up layers of ripples in the hearts of Wind Blows Snow and Yan Luo, which would not settle for a long time.
Wind Blows Snow's slender fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of his celadon teacup, his gaze as deep as water.
He had always been known among the three City Lords for planning before acting, and at this moment, an intense internal struggle was raging within him.
To them, as Spirit Emperor-level powerhouses, this contract could be said to have no binding force; after all, in the eyes of the strong, it was merely a piece of paper.
But the problem was that Thunder Leopard, who was making the contract with them, was also a Spirit Emperor-level existence and possessed deeply intertwined connections.
If he were branded with the label of being treacherous, and with Thunder Leopard's maneuvering to let this news reach the Emperor's ears, his position as City Lord would likely be difficult to secure.
After all, in the current times where Spirit Emperors, while not common, were not exactly rare, replacing a City Lord was not a difficult task for the royal family.
Moreover, the Emperor was no tyrant but cared quite a bit about public opinion, and he most detested the behavior of subjects breaking their word; furthermore, they were not indispensable powerhouses like Titled Douluo.
Thinking of this, Wind Blows Snow could not help but slightly frown.
His gaze inadvertently swept over Long Ziyun, only to see this usually shrewd City Lord sipping tea leisurely, as if the major decision just made was merely agreeing to an ordinary banquet.
This unusual composure only deepened the doubts in Wind Blows Snow's heart.
Meanwhile, Yan Luo's rugged brows were tightly locked, his knotted muscles slightly tensed due to deep thought.
He had never been good at these convoluted schemes, and having come in such a rush this time without bringing his military advisor, he felt even more out of his depth.
His fingers tapped unconsciously on the tabletop, emitting dull sounds.
However, the fact that Long Ziyun, a person who never suffered a loss, had agreed so readily, coupled with his curiosity about that mysterious Sect capable of healing severed limbs, finally made him make up his mind.
Yan Luo unconsciously touched an old scar on his left arm, a memento left from a fierce battle many years ago that still throbbed with pain during combat.
If he could truly find a way to heal it...
"I agree!" Yan Luo's resounding voice broke the silence like a thunderclap. He slapped his large, fan-like hand heavily against his chest, making a dull thud. "Old Yan here doesn't believe in this nonsense. Whatever Long Ziyun can do, I can do just the same. But I'll say this upfront," he said, his tiger-like eyes wide as he stared directly at Thunder Leopard, "the share that should be given to me, not a single cent can be missing!"
This was a massive gamble, with his entire fortune at stake; the slightest carelessness would result in a total loss.
When Yan Luo's words fell, he could feel his heartbeat racing like a war drum.
But if he won the bet, and the Axis Cult could truly bring rich returns as Thunder Leopard had claimed, the prospects were truly tantalizing.
He seemed to already see the scene of Savage City becoming increasingly prosperous under his leadership.
Thunder Leopard's face blossomed with a joyful smile, and he said repeatedly, "Certainly, certainly, City Lord Yan, please rest assured."
He turned to Wind Blows Snow, who was still pondering, his tone carrying just the right amount of respect, "Then, City Lord Feng, what are your thoughts?"
Wind Blows Snow shook his head gently, his fingertips tracing an elegant arc along the rim of his teacup.
He had his own plans—a little-known Sect could easily be infiltrated by sending trusted aides to uncover its secrets, and then he could join forces with other City Lords or powerful figures to obtain what he needed. Why must he lower himself to others and be controlled?
Over the years, he had used his own strategies and the trusted aides he had cultivated to plan a secret intelligence network; why would he need to take risks at this moment?
This reaction was already within Thunder Leopard's expectations.
He knew deeply that Wind Blows Snow was meticulous and never did anything without absolute certainty.
A trace of understanding flashed in Thunder Leopard's eyes, which then turned into deeper contemplation.
Thunder Leopard sighed softly, his tone filled with a touch of helpless sincerity: "It seems I must change my approach to negotiate with City Lord Feng."
Wind Blows Snow became alert instantly, the Aura around his body suddenly becoming sharp, and the water in the teacup rippled without wind: "Thunder Leopard, what do you mean by that? Are you planning to take action?"
Although he had not brought any attendants on this trip, he and Thunder Leopard were both Spirit Emperors, and he was a Control-type Spirit Emperor known for being tricky and difficult to deal with; even if he were not a match, escaping should not be a problem.
He was ready to activate his Martial Soul at any moment to deal with any sudden situation.
"It's a misunderstanding." Thunder Leopard waved his hands repeatedly, a sincere smile on his face, "How could I, Thunder Leopard, be such an unreasonable person? My meaning is, why don't we have a fair spar, with City Lord Long and City Lord Yan acting as witnesses?"
He paused, and after the Aura around Wind Blows Snow eased slightly, he continued: "I am willing to offer a soul ascension pill and that Level 5 flying spirit tool of mine as the wager."
As soon as these words were spoken, even Long Ziyun, who had been watching from the sidelines, could not help but raise an eyebrow.
"If I fail to defeat you within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn," Thunder Leopard's voice was clear and firm, "these two items will all belong to you. But if you lose, you must sign the contract to join the Axis Cult, fulfill the same obligations as City Lord Long and the others, and you must not have any disloyal intentions—especially acts like betraying the Cult or leaking secrets."
Thunder Leopard's gaze suddenly became sharp, his voice deepened, and every word carried the unique pressure of a Spirit Emperor: "If you violate this, no matter if you flee to the ends of the earth, I, Thunder Leopard, will hunt you down to the end!"
Wind Blows Snow stared at the imposing Thunder Leopard, knowing that if he did not agree, today would likely not end well.
Moreover, the conditions proposed by the other party were truly tempting—a soul ascension pill could help improve Soul Power and assist him in breaking through to Spirit Saint, and Thunder Leopard's Level 5 flying spirit tool was priceless, a high-quality product produced by the Sun Moon Empire, rumored to be no slower than a flying-type Spirit Emperor of the same level when fully activated.
As a Control-type Spirit Emperor, although he was not good at frontal attacks, with his tricky and ever-changing control methods, let alone one incense stick's time, he might even be able to hold out for two.
His mind had already begun to calculate countermeasures...
After weighing the pros and cons, Wind Blows Snow felt that his chances of winning were quite high, and a calm smile could not help but appear on his face, with an expression of "the advantage is mine": "Fine, I agree."
He rose elegantly, his robes brushing lightly, "I only hope that at that time, City Lord Lei will not be unable to accept defeat and be reluctant to part with those treasures."
Thunder Leopard's lips curled slightly, and a glint of a successful scheme flashed in his eyes: "Hmph, I actually think that the one who won't be able to accept defeat then will be you."
"Please follow me to the backyard sparring arena." Thunder Leopard rose to invite him and walked out of the hall first.
"Please." Wind Blows Snow adjusted his robes and replied calmly, his gait naturally carrying an air of elegance.
Long Ziyun and Yan Luo exchanged a glance, both seeing a look of anticipation in the other's eyes.
This contest between Spirit Emperors was destined to be extraordinary.
Outside the hall, the setting sun was perfect, stretching the figures of the four men long.
From afar, the sound of footsteps of the patrolling guards of the Thunder Mansion could be faintly heard, adding a bit more of a stern and murderous Aura.
Wind Blows Snow looked up at the sky, his lips curling into a faint, almost imperceptible arc.
This gamble, he was determined to win.