Chapter 52

The origin of the name Fenghua City is quite interesting, as the city is built right next to the Hurricane Abyss, and within a hundred miles outside the city, the landscape is filled with impatiens trees. Whenever the four seasonal winds blow out from the abyss, they scatter the orange impatiens flowers across the sky, making the city look like it is surrounded by wind and flowers, hence the name Fenghua City.

However, Fenghua City is not as beautiful as its name suggests. Due to its proximity to the Hurricane Abyss, four different strange winds blow out from the abyss each season: the winter wind is icy cold, the spring wind is like a knife cutting through flesh, the summer wind is scorching hot, and the autumn wind is intangible and soul-stirring.

These winds are not considered disasters by the people of Fenghua City; they have long been accustomed to the seasonal winds. The real disaster comes from the undead in the Hurricane Abyss. Within a thousand miles of Fenghua City, the strongest undead is only at the viscount level, and with the Earl of Daolun stationed in Daolun City, Daolun City is as stable as a rock.

However, Fenghua City is different. Not only is there an earl-level undead in the Hurricane Abyss, but there are also many viscount-level undead. The people of Fenghua City must spend a lot of time slaying the undead in the abyss to prevent them from forming large groups and breaking out to destroy Fenghua City. Throughout the history of the First Tier of Light, many cities have been destroyed by the undead, and the people of Fenghua City do not want to become the next chapter in that history.

The earl-level undead must be personally slain by the Earl of Fenghua each time it revives, which is how the city's safety is maintained.

Currently, the people of Fenghua City are in a state of panic because the Earl of Fenghua's lifespan is nearly at its limit, with only about twenty years left. If she cannot break through to a higher rank within this time, she will have to watch her life run out.

With the Earl of Fenghua on the verge of death and no new earl emerging in Fenghua City, a shadow has fallen over the hearts of its residents.

Fortunately, the Earl of Fenghua made a decision early on. Although she has no descendants, she chose five girls with connections to her to be her successors and promised to help one of them advance to the rank of earl. Even after her death, she would ensure that Fenghua City would not be destroyed.

However, the Earl of Fenghua requires these five girls to compete for the single position, and she does not interfere with the methods they use. She needs the strongest successor to ensure the continuity of Fenghua City's legacy.

When Bai Cangdong arrived in Fenghua City, the five girls and their respective factions were already in a heated competition. Each faction was recruiting and strengthening itself while weakening its enemies.

Among the five factions, Fengxian's faction was the strongest. The Feng family is one of the major families in Fenghua City, having followed the Earl of Fenghua since the city's founding, making them one of the city's founding families.

Second is Hu Qianwu of the Ten Thousand Flowers Guild. The Hu family is also a founding family of Fenghua City, though not as powerful as the Feng family. However, due to their control of the Ten Thousand Flowers Guild, they are very wealthy and have recruited many experts and even subjugated many knights.

Lingbo and Mei Yun also have some background, though not as strong as Fengxian and Hu Qianwu, they are not weak.

Among the five girls, the one that confounds everyone the most is Yan Mengyun. It is not because she is mysterious or powerful, but because she is too weak. Her parents, though viscounts, only ascended to that rank about twenty to thirty years ago and have no significant background or influence in Fenghua City. Despite coming from such a family, Yan Mengyun was chosen by the Earl of Fenghua as one of the five successors, which surprised many people in Fenghua City.

If not for the Earl of Fenghua placing her five knights to protect the safety of the five girls, Yan Mengyun would have been eliminated by the other four long ago.

Even with the protection of the knights, Yan Mengyun's situation is still dire. She has suffered repeated defeats in her competition with the other four girls, and her chances of inheriting Fenghua City are almost nil.

After understanding the situation in Fenghua City, Bai Cangdong was even more glad that he did not rashly seek out Yan Mengyun. The other four girls have at least twenty to thirty viscounts supporting them, while Yan Mengyun only has her parents, an aunt, and two of her parents' friends, totaling five viscounts. Even if he joined her, it would be impossible to turn the tide against the other four factions.

"The Hu family is recruiting guests. Those with skills are welcome to try. The treatment and rewards will not disappoint you." Fenghua City is strategically located, and while it bears risks, it also brings great benefits. The Hurricane Abyss produces several special weapons and herbs that are very beneficial to viscounts, so many viscounts from other cities are drawn to Fenghua City.

The Feng and Hu families have been making great efforts to recruit viscounts from other regions to strengthen their own power and crush their opponents.

"What benefits can I get by becoming a guest of your Hu family?" Bai Cangdong, wearing a mask, came to the Hu family's recruitment office.

"Is this friend a viscount or a baron?" The viscount in charge of recruitment looked at Bai Cangdong with a slight frown, as the mask covered his entire face, making it impossible to see his features. Such an unknown person, especially at this sensitive time, made the Hu family wary.

"Viscount." Bai Cangdong slightly pulled down his mask to reveal the viscount mark on his forehead, then put the mask back on.

"May I ask for your title?" The viscount in charge of recruitment asked again.

"Mask." Bai Cangdong answered succinctly, as he had already checked and found that there was indeed a Masked Viscount on the martial power ranking, though the whereabouts of that person were unknown.

The viscount searched for a long time and finally found the Masked Viscount on the martial power ranking, but still hesitated before looking at Bai Cangdong and saying, "May I ask if it is convenient for you to remove your mask so we can see your true face?"

"Inconvenient." Bai Cangdong answered just as succinctly.

"In that case, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to recruit you into our Hu family." The viscount hesitated but ultimately refused Bai Cangdong, preferring to lose a viscount rather than risk an unknown person infiltrating the Hu family at this time.

Bai Cangdong did not say much more and turned to walk towards the Feng family's recruitment office.

"Sir, please wait." A soft female voice reached Bai Cangdong's ears, and a beautifully dressed woman stepped down from a carriage and approached him.

"Miss Qianwu." The viscount in charge of recruitment bowed respectfully to the woman.

Hu Qianwu smiled and slowly walked up to Bai Cangdong, softly asking, "I heard that a Masked Baron from Daolun City can slay viscounts. Is there any connection between him and you?"

"If there is no other Masked Baron, then that person is likely me." Bai Cangdong replied.

"Ah, so you have already advanced to the rank of viscount, which is truly surprising. I've heard that you are proficient in the 'Eight Steps of Heaven' and have reached a divine level. Could you show me a demonstration?" Hu Qianwu's eyes sparkled as she looked at Bai Cangdong.

"No time." Bai Cangdong shook his head and turned to leave.

"Sir, please wait. If you are indeed the Masked Viscount, our Hu family is willing to recruit you as our guest. However, since you are unwilling to reveal your true face, you must provide some proof of your identity." Hu Qianwu called out to Bai Cangdong again.

Bai Cangdong looked at Hu Qianwu without a word, then suddenly leaped into the air and reached for her head.

"Bold!" Hu Qianwu did not move, but the two viscounts beside her rushed forward, their swords simultaneously slashing at Bai Cangdong. The green light on their swords formed sword beams several meters long.

At the moment the sword beams reached him, Bai Cangdong strangely used the force to change direction in mid-air, dodging the two powerful sword beams and continuing to fly towards Hu Qianwu.

The two viscounts reacted quickly, turning their sword beams to attack Bai Cangdong again.

Bai Cangdong, as if walking on flat ground in mid-air, incredibly passed through the layers of sword beams, brushing past Hu Qianwu and landing nearby, holding a crystal-clear jade hairpin in his hand.

"We have failed, please punish us, Miss." The two viscounts, shocked, knelt down before Hu Qianwu.

"You failed to stop a world-renowned genius who has mastered the 'Eight Steps of Heaven' to the sixth step. It is understandable, and the fault is not yours. Please rise." Hu Qianwu turned to Bai Cangdong and bowed slightly, "Welcome to our Hu family."

After successfully infiltrating the Hu family, Bai Cangdong discovered that the Hu family was even stronger than he had imagined. There were already twenty to thirty viscounts like him recruited to live in the Red Flower Manor, and these were not even the core strength of the Hu family.

"Viscount, Miss Qianwu requests your presence in the main hall. All the viscounts have already arrived."

After staying in the Red Flower Manor for two days without seeing Hu Qianwu or the higher-ups of the Hu family, Bai Cangdong was secretly anxious when a maid brought him good news.

When Bai Cangdong entered the main hall, he found that most of the viscounts living in the Red Flower Manor were already there, and Hu Qianwu was seated at the head of the table, nodding to him with a smile as he entered.

Bai Cangdong returned her smile and, guided by the maid, took a seat.

"As the saying goes, 'A thousand days of training for one day of use.' I have gathered everyone today because I have encountered a very troublesome matter and need your help. I wonder if the viscounts are willing to lend me a hand." After all the viscounts had arrived, Hu Qianwu finally got to the point.