Chapter 1695

These words attracted everyone's attention. Everyone turned to look at this uninvited guest with dissatisfaction on their faces.

The twelve people present were all experts on the rankings. Although their current rankings weren't very high, they were all existences with enormous potential. Given some time, let alone a mere fifty-four, they would be able to pull down even the twenty-fourth or fourteenth-ranked experts.

This subordinate of the 09th ranked expert had an arrogant demeanor and a tone that made people very unhappy.

"What did you just say?" Zi Chen stared at the other party.

Being stared at by Zi Chen made this Jiuchong, who was used to seeing big scenes, feel somewhat nervous. However, he forced himself to focus and said, "My lord is calling for you. He has something to discuss. He's ranked fifty-fourth on the Marshal Rankings."

As if worried that his previous words didn't carry enough weight, Jiuchong emphasized.

"Fifty-fourth is much higher than seventy-eighth. It seems that there's a need to raise my ranking."

Upon hearing Zi Chen's mutterings, the arrogant Jiuchong's expression changed greatly.

He wasn't sure if Zi Chen had the strength to challenge his lord, but since he dared to say such a thing, even if he didn't attack, it was clear that he was dissatisfied with his lord.

Before coming here, His Lordship had instructed him not to provoke Zi Chen.

The reason why he dared to speak with such an attitude was because he had seen the current situation. Zi Chen and the Five Great Clans would not rest until one of them was dead. Other than the Wang Clan, the other Four Great Clans all had powerhouses on the list serving them.

Now, he was representing the fifty-fourth ranked in recruiting Zi Chen. Zi Chen should be very willing to cooperate because he couldn't make any more enemies.

However, the reality was the exact opposite. Zi Chen was still acting tough and even wanted to raise his ranking. It was clear that he didn't care about his lord at all.

This development had far exceeded his expectations. For a moment, Jiuchong didn't know what to do.

It seemed that it was too late to lower his attitude now.

Just as he was caught between a rock and a hard place, a voice came from nearby. "Greetings, Lord Zi Chen. My lord invites Lord Zi Chen as a guest."

Compared to before, this voice was much more polite.

Zi Chen looked at the newcomer and asked, "Your family's lord is also on the list."

"Yes, my lord is ranked 84th, but before I came, my lord said that ranking doesn't mean anything. I hope that Lord Zi Chen will do me the honor." The person who came was very polite, very respectful, and even very humble.

As for the arrogant Ninth Layer, his entire body was drenched in cold sweat.

He knew the fellow beside him. Usually, he relied on his master's ranking and acted very arrogantly. His eyes grew on top of his head and did not put anyone in his eyes, including himself.

But today, in front of Zi Chen, he had lowered his status, and even lowered his status in front of his master.

The sticky sweat on his body made him extremely uncomfortable, but he didn't dare to move at all. Only then did he realize that he had been wrong from the start.

Even Zi Chen, who was in this situation, was not afraid of anyone.

Just like Long Fei back then, he was a lone wolf. However, no one dared to provoke him.

This was the attitude of the number one expert.

Sure enough, one after another came to pass on the message. But today, they, who were usually high and mighty, were all very humble.

Compared to the others, he was like a fool. He didn't see the situation and still hoped to use his master's identity to suppress Zi Chen.

One had to know that in this respectful crowd, there was also a powerhouse who represented the 76st place.

In just a few minutes, more than a dozen powerhouses on the list came over and invited Zi Chen over for a chat.

Looking at the dozen or so ninth layer cultivators with humble attitudes, Man Shi curled his lips and said, "Aren't the powerhouses on the ranking all high and mighty, mysterious existences? What are they doing? Now, so many of them have suddenly appeared. What are their intentions?"

Everyone half-bowed and waited for Zi Chen's reply, including the arrogant Ninth Layer. But at this moment, he had already put down all his arrogance and lowered his posture.

Zi Chen's gaze swept across the crowd. Zi Chen's face revealed an expression that was not a smile. After a while, he said, "Go back and tell your master that if he really wants to see me, he should come personally. As for the invitation, forget it."

"Huh …?"

Hearing this, everyone was stunned and raised their heads. Some of them even revealed some anger in their eyes, thinking that Zi Chen didn't know what was good for him.

They had already lowered their posture according to the instructions. But not only did Zi Chen reject them, he even asked their master to come personally.

Who did he think he was? The number one powerhouse?

One had to know that the powerhouses behind all the cultivators present were ranked far higher than Zi Chen.

Among them, the one who represented the 76st place was the most angry. Because in his opinion, even if all 67 powerhouses on the list were to come at him together, they might not be a match for his master.

And Zi Chen's actions were indeed overboard.

"Hehe, my little friend, you're right. If you want to see him, you have to come personally. Such an invitation is too insincere." An old voice rang out.

No one dared to get angry at Zi Chen. But, that didn't mean that they were all good-natured. The moment they heard this foreign voice, their faces were filled with anger. They turned around to check out which ignorant and reckless fella dared to butt in here.

But the moment they turned around and caught sight of the old man's face, their hearts skipped a beat. Their eyes widened in disbelief as they looked at the old man who was walking over. Snapping out of their stupor, they bowed respectfully, "Greetings, sir."

The old man who had arrived was Zang Yongsi, ranked 66th on the Marshal Ranking. He was truly a mysterious existence.

No one had expected that a powerful being on the Marshal Ranking would come personally at this moment.

Zang Yongsi waved his hand casually and said with some dissatisfaction, "I've just settled some matters. To think that you guys would take advantage of the loophole. Alright, there's nothing for you guys to do here. Disperse. If you really want to see Zi Chen, go back and tell your masters to come personally."

Everyone nodded repeatedly. Without another word, they turned around and left.

Zang Yongsi came before Zi Chen and sized up the group. After a while, he clicked his tongue and sighed, "Not bad, not bad at all. The younger generation will surpass us in time. It seems that us old fellows will have to give way to the Marshal Ranking soon."

Zi Chen smiled faintly, "You flatter me."

Zang Yongsi asked, "Are you done with your matters?"

Zi Chen said, "I still have to go to the city gate to pick up someone."

"I'll go with you." Zang Yongsi had clearly come to find Zi Chen for something, so he followed Zi Chen.

… …

… …

Zi Chen stood at the city gate with 66 powerful beings on the Marshal Ranking. When the other cultivators and guards saw them, they all retreated to the sides.

They looked at the group with reverence and fanaticism.

These were all powerful beings on the Marshal Ranking.

They had never seen so many powerful beings on the Marshal Ranking gathered together.

Standing beside Zi Chen, Zang Yongsi could already guess who Zi Chen was waiting for.

Thinking of the legend about that person, he shook his head.

Not long after, a person appeared at the end of their line of sight. It was an old man in a white robe. His face was ruddy and he seemed to be in good spirits.

When he approached, the crowd saw the old man's face clearly, which triggered a series of exclamations.

The old man was Schenker, the manager of Schenker's Little Store.

Almost all the cultivators who had stayed in the Sevenfold Cities knew about Old Man Schenker and Schenker's Little Store.

They didn't expect that a group of more than a dozen powerful beings on the Marshal Ranking outside the city would be Schenker, the ordinary-looking old man.

Schenker stood at the city gate and looked up at the tall city wall, his eyes full of emotions.

The last time he left this place seemed to be tens of thousands of years ago. He thought that he would never be able to set foot in this city again. He didn't expect that today he would have an opportunity.

"Old man, welcome to the Ninefold City." Zi Chen looked at Schenker in front of him.

Schenker put away his emotions and his eyes fell on Zi Chen. He praised, "Good boy, you did a good job."

Although Schenker tried to suppress it, he still couldn't hide his excitement.

As expected, Schenker shouted, "Everyone, I'm back. I, Schenker, am back."

Schenker's voice echoed in the city. Many people were confused. Was it so difficult to come to this city?

No one knew what it was like when Schenker left this city. Over the years, for some reason, he could only stay in the Sevenfold Cities and even Schenker's Little Store.

"Schenker, welcome back," Zang Yongsi, who was beside Zi Chen, said.

"Thank you."

Schenker was back. He was welcomed back by more than a dozen powerful beings on the Marshal Ranking. The news spread out in an instant.

For those years, Schenker had broken the rules, but some forces in the city chose to remain silent.

Schenker was with Zi Chen. At this moment, who would be stupid enough to make trouble for himself?

After entering the city and looking at the familiar environment, Schenker's excitement gradually turned into disappointment.

The Ninefold City hadn't changed. The things were still the same, but the people were gone.

Those aggressive guys back then were either dead or gone. None of them could be seen.

For a moment, Schenker felt a sense of loneliness that he had never felt before.

"What are you going to do next? Or what do you want us to do?" Zi Chen knew that Schenker had something on his mind. He also had stories and even enemies.

Schenker had taken good care of him all the way. Now that he had the ability, Zi Chen didn't mind doing something excessive for Schenker.

Schenker felt lost. He shook his head and said, "Forget it. It's all in the past."

Soon, Schenker sorted out his mood and said, "You'd better calculate how much benefit I can get this time. Remember, it's fifty-fifty. Don't go back on your word."

Seeing that Schenker's mood had returned, Zi Chen patted his chest and said, "I, Zi Chen, certainly keep my word. It's just that this time I've gained a lot, so it'll take me a few days to calculate. Old man, you'd better be mentally prepared. Don't pass out from joy when the time comes."

"Look at you. I've seen all kinds of big scenes."

Next, Man Shi and the others settled down to familiarize themselves with the power after the breakthrough.

Zi Chen, Schenker, and Zang Yongsi came to a tavern.