Chapter 53

"Miss Qiandance, we are willing to share your worries." The viscounts said in unison.

"With the assistance of the viscounts, I believe this time we can defeat the Feng family and secure the position of the East Gate Guardian." Huo Qiandance’s gaze swept over everyone’s faces. "I am sure you all know that I and three others are competing for the position of city lord. The marquis will gradually transfer his power to us, but whether we can obtain this power depends on our methods and strength. In the last battle for the West Gate Guardian, the Feng family already had an advantage. If we lose this battle for the East Gate Guardian, the Feng family will control both the east and west exits, which will have a very negative impact on our future actions. Therefore, we cannot lose this time."

"Miss Qiandance, will this battle for the East Gate Guardian be the same as the last one for the West Gate, a flag-grabbing contest?" A viscount who had participated in the last battle for the West Gate asked.

"Indeed, it will still be a flag-grabbing contest. We can send ten people to participate. At that time, the marquis’s knight regiment will guard the East Gate. The side that can first rush to the top of the gate tower and seize the flag will obtain the position of the East Gate Guardian." Huo Qiandance smiled. "However, this time is different. I have made a decision. Whoever among you helps me seize the flag will become the East Gate Guardian."

"Is Miss Qiandance serious?" The viscounts all looked surprised and delighted.

Originally, even if they won the position of the city guardian, the guardian would be a trusted person sent by the Huo family. They did not expect Huo Qiandance to directly tell them that the person who seizes the flag can become the guardian.

The position of the city guardian in Fenghua City still holds considerable power. Because the Hurricane Abyss often has Undeads rushing out to attack Fenghua City, the city’s defense forces are always strong. The four city gates, East, West, South, and North, each have a garrison of 500 barons and no less than five viscounts. Obtaining the position of the city guardian is equivalent to having a powerful army.

"Which of us will Miss Qiandance choose to participate?" The viscounts all rubbed their hands, hoping Huo Qiandance would select them.

"Seizing the flag is a significant matter, and it should be done by the capable. I have placed ten tokens on the top of the Xiehua Tower in the annex. You can set out now. Those who obtain the tokens can represent the Huo family in the battle for the East Gate Guardian." As soon as Huo Qiandance finished speaking, several viscounts rushed out of the hall.

The remaining viscounts also bowed to Huo Qiandance and rushed out of the hall.

"Is the Masked Viscount not interested in participating in the battle for the city guardian?" Huo Qiandance saw someone still sitting at the table drinking and, upon closer inspection, recognized the Masked Viscount. She asked in surprise.

"Finishing this pot of wine is not too late." Bai Cangdong poured himself a drink and replied casually.

"Although you have mastered the 'Eight Steps of Heaven,' which gives you a natural advantage on the rooftop, do not underestimate the other viscounts." Huo Qiandance was somewhat displeased with Bai Cangdong’s arrogance.

"I have never underestimated those viscounts." Bai Cangdong said calmly.

This statement slightly reduced Huo Qiandance’s dislike, but the next words made her lips twitch and her face turn black.

"I have never put any viscount in my heart." Bai Cangdong finished his drink, threw the empty bottle aside, and left the hall in large strides.

Bai Cangdong’s arrogance was mainly to attract Huo Qiandance’s attention and was also related to his upcoming plan.

The Xiehua Tower has six floors, nearly thirty meters high, and is an octagonal building. When Bai Cangdong arrived at the tower, many viscounts had already climbed to the top, and ten viscounts had already obtained the tokens. Those who did not get the tokens jumped down from the tower, dejected.

"I told you not to underestimate the other viscounts." Huo Qiandance said as she came to Bai Cangdong’s side.

Bai Cangdong did not respond, leaped from the ground, and in a few jumps reached the top of the tower. He immediately reached for the token in one of the viscounts’ hands.

"What are you doing?" The viscount was startled and quickly tried to protect the token.

A burst of light erupted from the two hands that collided, one golden and one green, clearly distinct.

Crack!

The viscount’s hand was directly shattered, and he retreated with a wail. Bai Cangdong had already grabbed the token and leaped down from the tower to Huo Qiandance’s side.

"Here is the token." Bai Cangdong casually threw the token to Huo Qiandance and turned to leave.

The viscounts were all intimidated by Bai Cangdong, and even Huo Qiandance did not stop him.

"Golden Life Light, that person has actually achieved a Golden Life Plate!" After Bai Cangdong left, someone said with a strange look.

Most of the viscounts had achieved Bronze Life Plates, a few had Silver Life Plates, but none had a Golden Life Plate.

Just the appearance of the Golden Life Light made the other viscounts lose their desire to compete with Bai Cangdong, which was why no one came to the viscount’s aid when his token was stolen.

"The Masked Viscount’s strength is indeed astonishing, but his character is too arrogant and violent." Huo Qiandance looked at the token and frowned slightly.

"Miss Qiandance, does the Masked Viscount’s actions violate the rules?" A viscount came to Huo Qiandance and asked.

"Although his methods were improper, he did indeed obtain the token by strength. This battle for the East Gate Guardian is crucial, and strength is the most important." Although Huo Qiandance did not like Bai Cangdong’s style, for the position of the East Gate Guardian, she would definitely let him participate in the flag-grabbing contest: "Find a physician to take good care of Viscount Shishan."

Bai Cangdong returned to his room and looked at his hands in surprise. Although he had intended to hurt someone to establish his authority, he did not expect to break a viscount’s hand so easily.

He had just been promoted to viscount, and only one of the squares on his Life Plate had lit up, representing one unit of Life Light. To increase the amount of Life Light, he needed to practice the Longevity Art.

The Life Plate has 360 squares, meaning the maximum amount of Life Light can be cultivated to 360 squares.

In fact, not all Life Plates have 360 squares. A Golden Life Plate has 360 squares, a Silver Life Plate has 180 squares, and a Bronze Life Plate has only 90 squares.

Having more squares does not necessarily mean being a powerful expert. Cultivating Life Light is extremely difficult. Cultivating to 90 squares is already rare, and cultivating to 180 squares is even rarer. Cultivating to 360 squares, the maximum, has almost never been heard of.

Even the city lord of Fenghua City, who had already been promoted to marquis, had only cultivated his Life Light to 240 squares.

Bai Cangdong activated the "Baiye Sutra," and the Golden Life Plate slowly rotated. A golden light flowed through his meridians and returned to the Life Plate.

After several cycles, the golden Life Light gradually turned milky white, like a viscous liquid flowing continuously between his body and the Life Plate.

Bronze, Silver, and Gold are the basic colors of Life Light. If one practices some special Longevity Arts, the characteristics and color of the Life Light can change, such as with Bai Cangdong’s "Baiye Sutra."

Of course, most viscounts practicing ordinary Longevity Arts do not have this effect. Bai Cangdong still did not understand what level the "Baiye Sutra" was.

The night passed with the operation of the "Baiye Sutra." After stopping the operation, the white Life Light returned to its golden color, and the second square was almost completely lit, with only a small part still dark.

"If I continue to practice at this speed, won’t it take only a little over a year for me to cultivate all 360 squares to perfection?" Bai Cangdong thought to himself, but he knew that cultivating Life Light to perfection would not be that easy.

"Viscount, Miss Qiandance invites you to the Hundred Flowers Garden for tea." A maid knocked on Bai Cangdong’s door early in the morning.

Bai Cangdong followed the maid to the garden and saw Huo Qiandance, dressed in plain clothes, kneeling at a tea table, focusing on making tea.

Bai Cangdong had never seen such tea sets and did not understand the complex movements and techniques, but he could feel the beauty of it.

Without disturbing Huo Qiandance, Bai Cangdong sat cross-legged at the tea table and watched her make tea.

Making tea is a profound art. Bai Cangdong did not know how to make or drink tea. When Huo Qiandance served him a small cup of tea after a dozen complex procedures, he drank it in one gulp and did not feel anything special.

Huo Qiandance could not help but frown slightly, but it quickly disappeared. She smiled and said, "It seems the Masked Viscount is a straightforward person. Drinking tea, a delicate art, is not suitable for you."

"Yes, I am just a rough person. If there is anything, please let me know, Miss Qiandance." Bai Cangdong said.

"May I have the honor of knowing your real name?" Huo Qiandance suddenly asked.

In the Light Stairs, real names are not important. Only close friends and family call each other by their real names to show intimacy.

"My real name has not been used for a long time. You can just call me Masked." Bai Cangdong said.

"Alright, Masked, why did you enter the Huo family?" Huo Qiandance stared at Bai Cangdong intently.

"I did not have to enter the Huo family. For me, whether it’s the Huo family, the Feng family, or any other family, as long as I have the opportunity to fight other viscounts, that is enough." Bai Cangdong said calmly.

"I don’t understand what you mean." Huo Qiandance was puzzled.

"My goal is to be promoted to marquis. Everything else is unimportant to me. I came here because I heard that the five heirs of Fenghua City are competing for the position of city lord, and there are many opportunities for me to fight other viscounts, which will help me hone my martial skills."

This time, Huo Qiandance understood, but she did not really believe it. In this world, who doesn’t want to be promoted? However, humans have emotions and desires. Truly abandoning everything to fight for promotion is something Huo Qiandance had never seen.