Chapter 209: Holding Back Laughter is the Hardest Thing in the World
After two or three days of preparation, Sang Zhe took Yu Xia out to meet for an appointment at Floating Splendor Commerce.
Since they were about to meet potentially the richest tycoon on the continent, Sang Zhe specially spent a fortune to dress in extravagant clothing, looking like a wealthy young master.
Yu Xia also benefited from this, changing her usual plain attire for a vibrant dress.
However, no matter how well-fitted the dress was, it couldn’t completely hide her impressive curves, leaving quite a bit of eye-catching cleavage exposed.
The two of them walking together resembled a lecherous young master accompanied by his ample-bosomed maid.
After a few days of travel, they finally arrived at Lin Zhou, located in the east of the continent, where the headquarters of Cang Hong Pavilion and Fusa Pavilion stands— the most bustling state city in the world.
“Whoa…”
Upon entering Lin Zhou, Sang Zhe was genuinely stunned by its exaggerated opulence.
Lin Zhou occupied an area so large it could nearly fit three or four normal state cities.
With tens of millions of mundane cultivators in the city, its population was even enough to establish a nation.
Heaven and earth, whether immortal or mundane, regarded Lin Zhou as the center of the continent, creating an unimaginable prosperity and liveliness.
The main roads were lined with various small streets, while water buffaloes and white horses, along with aromatic wooden carts, crisscrossed the streets.
Noble carriages intersected in front of mansions, coming and going endlessly. Carriages with magnificent dragon carvings and those with phoenix beaks adorned with tassels traveled the streets from dawn till dusk.
“This place could be compared to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, or Shenzhen,” Sang Zhe poked his head out of the carriage window, smacking his lips as he mumbled, “I wonder how much the housing prices are per square meter here.”
At that moment, Sang Zhe felt just like when he first entered a big city, looking up at the tall buildings and bright neon lights.
He had originally thought he had achieved a comfortable level of wealth.
But comparing himself in Lin Zhou, he still felt like a poverty-stricken humble class citizen, too embarrassed to speak.
“Yu Ma, have you been to Lin Zhou before?”
“I have,” Yu Xia blinked her beautiful eyes, a hint of nostalgia creeping in, “Decades ago, Lin Zhou was still just a relatively prosperous ordinary state city.”
“Back then, although it was lively, it didn’t have the exaggerated scale or extravagance it has today. The lavish lifestyle wasn’t rampant.”
“Thinking back, it seems like it all started when the industries of Floating Splendor Commerce began to settle in Lin Zhou. In just a decade or two, Lin Zhou expanded almost two or three fold.”
“Lin Zhou today is no longer the same as when I visited before.”
Ah, the inevitable result of industrial clusters.
Sang Zhe hadn’t expected that in the realm of cultivation, he’d get the chance to witness a live geography lesson.
But Sang Zhe wasn’t envious at all.
A city this big wasn’t comfortable to live in.
Better to stick to his own small plot of magical land, living a cozy life.
As the carriage sped along the wide streets, Sang Zhe spotted the towering high-rises in the distance.
“Is that Fusa Pavilion and Cang Hong Pavilion’s headquarters?”
Wow, so imposing!
When the carriage stopped at the building entrance, Sang Zhe looked up at the towering pavilions, feeling an inexplicable wave of insecurity wash over him.
How much could it possibly cost to build such towering structures in Lin Zhou, where every inch of land is priceless?
He couldn’t have really offended such a powerful tycoon, right?
With anxious feelings, Sang Zhe led Yu Xia into the pavilion, searching the spacious lobby for quite some time before finding the reception desk.
“Hello, do you have a reservation?”
“Um, we were invited.”
After handing over the invitation, the cute receptionist immediately changed her expression, quickly turning her back as she lowered her voice into her earpiece, saying:
“Target has appeared, target has appeared, initiate action immediately!”
Sang Zhe: “?”
Wait a minute, is this really a trap?
Even if it’s a trap, at least give me a chance to move my chopsticks! I haven’t even had a bite to eat yet!
Are you gonna tie people up as soon as they step into the door?
Yu Xia furrowed her brows slightly, instinctively shielding Sang Zhe, alert to every move around them.
However, the expected scene of a group of men in black sunglasses surrounding them didn’t materialize.
Instead, two rows of elegantly dressed beauties in tight cheongsams lined up at the entrance, unfurling a red carpet.
At once, soft and melodious voices echoed, enchanting them:
“Warmly welcoming Young Master Sang to Floating Splendor Commerce~”
“……Huh?”
Sang Zhe was momentarily taken aback by such a grand reception, feeling utterly confused.
“Young Master Sang.” The previously mentioned beautiful receptionist bowed respectfully, “Our master has been waiting for you upstairs for quite some time. Please, follow me.”
Sang Zhe gulped nervously and nodded.
——
——
All the way up, Sang Zhe anxiously stared at the two rows of beauties following closely behind him.
Fearing that at any moment they might spring into action, each brandishing an axe to chop him into dumpling filling.
So much so that he didn’t notice Floating Splendor Commerce had even managed to get an elevator!
After taking the elevator all the way to the top floor, the charming receptionist flashed a smile:
“Young Master Sang, please.”
Sang Zhe gazed at the imposing heavy door at the end of the corridor, took a deep breath, and marched over, pushing the door open with determination.
However, the inside looked nothing like he had imagined.
It was an ordinary room. Spacious, clean, and devoid of any extravagant decor.
Only monotonous walls surrounded a simple desk.
Behind the desk sat a chair turned away from Sang Zhe, obscuring the person seated there.
“Master, the esteemed guest has arrived.”
The person in the chair waved their hand, and the line of beauties bowed in unison before retreating, leaving only Sang Zhe and Yu Xia at the door.
Sang Zhe stared intently at that chair.
He knew that only the legendary and mysteriously powerful master of Floating Splendor Commerce could sit in such a place.
The same person whose identity alone could cause Nian Nian to quote a price of a hundred thousand points!
Sang Zhe had fantasized about many identities for this person.
From some unparalleled old monster to a fellow system holder, even imagining aliens, Avatars, Transformers, and Ultraman.
But when the chair slowly turned, Sang Zhe felt his breath hitch in nervous anticipation.
However.
When the chair fully turned around, Sang Zhe realized his imagination had fallen short.
…Sitting in the chair was a Sad Frog.
More precisely, a person wearing a Sad Frog costume, complete with a headpiece.
Sang Zhe: “Guh…”
In that instant.
Sang Zhe nearly recalled every sad moment in his life.
He even desperately pinched his thigh purple to stop himself from laughing out loud.
The grand figure he had envisioned—the transcendental person, the system holder—were all gone.
What remained was a frog.
Staring at him with big, sorrowful eyes.
Tears brimming, looking right at him.
“Hello there. Ribbit.”
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