Sun Huawen’s mind finally cleared a little. He suddenly realized that Li Xiaofei’s appearance looked somewhat familiar.
Isn’t he the very same young man depicted in the twin statues at Central Plaza? Isn’t he supposed to be dead? How is he standing here, alive and well?
The moment he figured it out, a wave of terror surged through Sun Huawen’s heart. He scrambled to his feet, his face contorted in fear, and stammered, “M-my lords, I... I was wrong! Please, have mercy!”
Zhu Kunyu was known for his fiery temper. When he heard Sun Huawen sputtering, he immediately lashed out with a kick, sending the latter sprawling. He cursed furiously, “You worthless scum! Doing something while claiming to represent the Police Department? I swear, I’ll skin you alive today!”
Of all the people he could have offended, he just had to offend Li Xiaofei. This was the same man who had nearly wiped out every single foreign Saint in Haijing City.
Li Xiaofei added coldly, “Old Zhu, dig deeper into this. Find out who’s behind them. Who gave them the audacity to embezzle civilian supplies and oppress the poor. Who allowed them to destroy public trust ? Wipe out their entire operation. I even suspect that foreign forces may be involved and conspiring to overthrow Haijing City.”
Huang Fulai and Zhu Kunyu’s hearts trembled. They could tell that Li Xiaofei was truly enraged. He was determined to cleanse Haijing City’s government ranks of all corruption.
However, the way he addressed Zhu Kunyu as Old Zhu made both of them sigh in relief. It meant that Li Xiaofei had not completely lost faith in them. To be honest, even high-ranking officials like the city leader, despite their power and status, still felt a certain apprehension when facing a legendary figure like Li Xiaofei.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Streaks of light flashed across the sky. One after another, several martial experts tore through the air as they landed. Li Buyi, Long Zhengfei, and Chi Chunshui, three high-ranking members of Jingwu Sect, arrived with anxious expressions.
In addition, several other powerful figures followed, including the beautiful housekeeper from Grinding Blade Hall. The moment they saw Li Xiaofei, their faces lit up with joy.
“Sect Master, it really is you!”
“I knew it! I dreamed of magpies chirping just last night. Turns out, it was a sign that you’d return today!”
“Greetings, Sect Master!”
Long Zhengfei and the others, along with several strong members of Jingwu Sect, immediately stepped forward, greeting Li Xiaofei with respectful excitement.
As time passed and the wars grew ever more brutal, Li Xiaofei’s contributions to this city became increasingly undeniable. Huang Fulai, Long Zhengfei, and the others realized just how extraordinary Li Xiaofei truly was.
A man like him could never be just an ordinary Dragon Group envoy. Or, to put it more accurately, his future would not be limited to a mere Dragon Group expert. He was far more likely to ascend to the rank of Grand Commander.
Someday, he would undoubtedly become a legendary grandmaster. At last, a smile appeared on Li Xiaofei’s face as he greeted the crowd and introduced Bai Longfei and his family to them. Though Bai Longfei’s strength was unremarkable, the fact that he was Li Xiaofei’s friend meant that no one in Haijing City would dare to cross him.
On the sidelines, Zhou Ding and Sun Huawen were nearly scared to death. Two city leaders, the three great elders of Jingwu Sect, the top experts of the city, and even the famed mistress of Grinding Blade Hall were all treating this young man with the utmost respect.
They hadn’t just kicked a steel plate. They had slammed headfirst into a nuclear warhead. There was no saving them now. All they could do was wait for death.
"Haha! Now that Sect Master Li has returned, our city’s defenses are secured! This is nothing short of divine intervention!" Long Zhengfei’s booming voice rang out, his excitement overflowing.
The crowd’s spirits surged as well. Indeed. Li Xiaofei’s arrival was like a shot of adrenaline. This was undoubtedly great news for Haijing City. They could hold out for much longer now.
"Everyone, there is something I need to tell you," Li Xiaofei said. "The war is over."
At his words, the crowd froze.
Chi Chunshui’s voice trembled as he asked, "Could it be that... Xiajing City... we... lost?"
In an instant, everyone's expressions darkened.
Has the worst finally come to pass?
Perhaps it was inevitable. After all, Great Xia had already created a miracle by holding out for so long. They had not just resisted the entire world but even the Star Council itself. Now that the war had ended, Great Xia must have lost. They would have to cede territory and pay reparations.
The air grew thick with despair. Even Little Du Juan, sensing the suffocating tension, walked over and slipped her hand in Li Xiaofei’s.
Li Xiaofei couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
These people... did they have so little faith?
Raising his voice, he declared, "Who said we lost? We won! From this moment on, we no longer have to fear the beast tide laying siege to our city, nor will we have to worry about threats from the Yiggs Union!"
Everyone turned to him in shock, their gazes filled with disbelief.
Li Xiaofei gave them a brief summary of the victory in Xiajing City before continuing, "From now on, there is only one voice on this planet: Great Xia! Any foreign race that wishes to survive must submit to us. As for the Star Council... since they chose to side with the Yiggs Union, they will have to pay the price for that decision."
It was like the crowd had been struck by lightning. No one moved as time stretched.
At last, Huang Fulai swallowed hard, his lips trembling as he asked, "Are... are you telling the truth?"
The moment he spoke, every single person locked their eyes onto Li Xiaofei. It was the same expression as a lovestruck young man awaiting his goddess’s answer after a heartfelt confession. Their hearts were lodged in their throats, desperate for hope.
"Absolutely true." Li Xiaofei reaffirmed his words with unwavering certainty.
Half an hour later, a wave of thunderous cheers erupted throughout Haijing City. The city’s loudspeakers and communication systems had immediately broadcasted the national war report, informing every citizen of the monumental victory in Xiajing City.
Haijing’s military wasted no time. With Li Xiaofei’s support, they launched a decisive counterattack. The star beasts and the Yiggs coalition forces outside the city were utterly crushed, their forces collapsing like brittle deadwood. The siege was finally broken.
The same scene played out in every remaining base city across Great Xia that had not yet fallen. The joy of victory swept across the land like a hurricane, surging over every province like spring rain soaking the fertile earth.
At this moment, Li Xiaofei had already returned to Xiajing City. He stood before the Cemetery of the Ancestors. Liu Shaji, Li Lan, and the others had fallen into deep slumber once again. However, Little Aunt was waiting for him.
"One piece of good news, one piece of bad news," said Little Aunt. Her mood was evidently light, as she made a rare joke. "Which one do you want to hear first?"
Li Xiaofei replied, "The bad news."
"The existence of a Primal God on Earth has been exposed. The news has already spread beyond our world. The Star Council headquarters and Eden have caught wind of it, and those so-called gods with greedy ambitions will come to seize it," she said.
Li Xiaofei sighed. "I expected as much... What’s the good news?"
Little Aunt smiled faintly and said, "The good news is, you can leave this world now. I’ve found a way."