Skinwalker Belle – Chapter 398 – Leave Professional Matters to Professionals

The morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the meeting room of the City Lord’s mansion, and a faint fragrance of green tea lingered in the air.

Long Yi’s face was slightly green, and his gait was a bit stiff. Clearly, the spicy food he’d eaten last night was wreaking havoc on his nether regions.

He plopped down onto the leather sofa, grumbling a few curses about the barbecue stall owner’s heavy hand with the spice.

Lin Fan held a cup of tea in her hand, her fingertips tapping lightly against the rim of the cup as her gaze swept across the three top-tier combatants before her.

“Since everyone’s recovered, let’s get down to business.”

She set down her teacup and gave a subtle nod toward Su Yue, who stood at her side.

Su Yue was dressed in a crisp professional outfit today, clutching a thick stack of documents. Though facing three Rank 8 powerhouses made her calves tremble slightly, the thought of having Lady Lei Li backing her up straightened her spine immediately.

“Seniors, these are Azurewood City’s current defense deployments, material flow reports, and the population expansion plan for the next three months.” Su Yue distributed the documents with brisk, efficient movements.

Long Teng took the file and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Having served as the City Lord of Border Dragon City for over a decade, he considered himself quite experienced in managing a faction’s affairs.

He’d originally thought that while Lei Li might be formidable in strength, managing the trivial matters of a city would ultimately require an old hand like him to steer the ship. This little fox looked so delicate and charming—what could she possibly know about governing a city?

With a hint of scrutiny, Long Teng opened the first page.

The moment he looked, his gaze froze.

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Charts, data graphs, KPI assessment metrics, assembly-line-style material distribution plans…

Dense mountains of data were organized with impeccable clarity, and every decision was followed by detailed risk assessments and contingency plans.

Compared to the crude “tax, conscript, kill” three-step approach common on the Dragon Spirit Continent, the plan before him was almost absurdly meticulous.

Long Teng read faster and faster, until he finally resorted to using his Mental Strength to rapidly scan through the contents.

Ten minutes later, Long Teng closed the folder and let out a long sigh.

“Are young people these days this terrifying?” He looked up at Su Yue, the contempt in his eyes long gone, replaced by genuine recognition. “Even my full-strength City Lord’s advisory team at their peak couldn’t achieve this level of efficiency in coordination and dispatch.”

Su Yue’s cheeks flushed slightly. She instinctively glanced at Lin Fan, and only after seeing the other woman give a subtle nod did she speak modestly: “It’s all thanks to Lady Lei Li’s excellent guidance. I merely carried out the execution.”

“Alright, enough with the mutual back-patting.” Lin Fan cut the moment short, leaning back into her chair. “Brother Long Teng, since you’ve read it, you should understand what I mean. You don’t need to interfere with Azurewood City’s day-to-day management.”

Long Teng let out an awkward chuckle and pushed the file back. “I was originally planning to throw my weight around and offer some pointers, but it seems I was overthinking things. This girl does it better than I do. Professional matters should be left to the professionals.”

“Your task is simple.” Lin Fan raised three fingers. “First, guard Azurewood City. With three great powerhouses like you seated in the city, any tribes or bandits lurking around looking for easy pickings will have to think twice.”

“Second, cultivate.”

Lin Fan’s gaze sharpened as it swept across each of the three in turn.

“Although we’ve formed an alliance, to put it bluntly, given your current state, if the Dragon Emperor himself were to descend, it would just be one slap per person.”

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The words were harsh, but no one refuted them.

Long Yi clenched his fist, knuckles cracking, a trace of unwillingness flashing in his eyes: “Indeed. That old bastard… is absurdly strong.”

“Tell me, what are your plans from here?” Lin Fan asked.

Long Teng spoke first, touching his chest where a searing pain pulsed—the rejection reaction, and also a sign of power fusion.

“I never expected that old thief Long Jingtian’s bones would resonate so perfectly with me.” A fierce glint crossed Long Teng’s eyes. “I have those fifteen years of torment to thank—my body has long adapted to that agony. This eighth-grade Dragon Bone, I’ll need at most a month to fully assimilate it. By then, I won’t just recover my peak strength—I’ll have a chance to break into the mid-eighth grade.”

Lin Fan nodded, then turned his gaze to Long Yan, who sat upright.

“I’m simple.” Long Yan said immediately. “Long Jingtian’s and Long Jingyun’s Crystals are both with me. Once I absorb them, I’ll firmly enter the eighth grade. And…”

He paused, a pride befitting a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon shining in his eyes. “I have a feeling my bloodline can be excavated further. I sense another power within me—it seems it’s not just about transforming.”

“Good.” Lin Fan finally looked at Long Yi. “What about you? The former leader of the uprising, the fierce one who nearly toppled the Dragon Emperor Hall.”

Long Yi was silent for a moment, his playful expression gradually fading, replaced by deep solemnity.

“Some things can only be understood once you reach that level.”

Long Yi stood, walked to the window, and gazed at the bustling construction site outside, his voice low.

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“Back then, I was at the peak of the eighth grade, and Long Zhan was too. In terms of physique and spiritual power, I was even slightly stronger than him. But I still lost—and lost badly.”

“Why?” Su Yue asked curiously.

“Because of Rules.”

Long Yi uttered those two words as if they carried immense weight.

“The chasm between the seventh and eighth grades is the Domain, but the gap between the eighth and ninth grades is a veritable abyss. The main reason is that reaching the ninth grade touches the very essence of the world—the Power of Rules. That old monster, the Dragon Emperor, commands the Rules of Space.”

Lin Fan narrowed his eyes slightly.

Rules of Space?

According to the stele records beneath the Spirit Lake, the Dragon Ancestor Long Hao also commanded the Rules of Space.

Were the Rules of Space common? Or was there some connection between the Dragon Ancestor and the Dragon Emperor?

That remained unknown.

“That year, Long Zhan and I were evenly matched—I could even subtly suppress him. But in the end, the Dragon Emperor intervened.” Long Yi turned back, his expression grave. “Even a sliver of the Rules of Space creates absolute suppression. My attacks never reached him—they were diverted. Meanwhile, his attacks could pierce through space and land directly on me.”

“To win, I must also comprehend Rules and reach the ninth grade.”

Long Yi drew a deep breath, flames of determination blazing in his eyes. “Even if it’s just a fraction. It’s difficult, but I must do it.”

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Lin Fan listened quietly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

The Power of Rules, huh…

She now possessed a Legendary Grade life level, along with the [Omniscient Domain] and [Life Domain], yet she had absolutely no clue about the Rules.

Was Long Xi’s time-dominating talent the manifestation of the Time Rule’s power?

“Then it’s settled.” Lin Fan stood up and clapped her hands. “Long Teng goes into seclusion to fuse with the Dragon Bone, Long Yan absorbs the Crystals, and Long Yi… you go comprehend your Dao. Azurewood City’s resources are at your disposal. I have only one requirement.”

She looked at the three of them and spoke slowly, word by word: “When I return next time, I don’t want to see a bunch of weaklings who still need me to bail them out.”

Long Yi grinned, flashing a row of white teeth: “Don’t worry, Sister Lei Li. Next time we meet, I’ll show you what a real man looks like.”

“I’m off.”

Lin Fan waved her hand without any hesitation, turned around, and walked toward the door.

Su Yue hurriedly followed: “Lady Lei Li, are you leaving right now? Should we prepare some more supplies?”

“No need.” Lin Fan didn’t even look back.

“That place has everything… except peace.”