At that moment, Chen Hui and the many soldiers all brightened up, for the one standing in the middle of the road, blocking their path, was a graceful and beautiful woman.
She was truly beautiful — so beautiful that a single glance made one's heartbeat quicken. Her fair skin, her sweet face, her stunning figure — she was the kind of woman every man could dream of.
But although this woman was gorgeous enough, the aura she carried was far from simple. The fact that she dared to stand alone before an army of a thousand was proof enough of her boldness — and that she had not come with friendly intentions.
"Miss, may I ask your name? You're waiting for us here — is there something you need?" Chen Hui was, after all, a seasoned city lord, and his years of experience told him this beautiful woman had likely come to cause trouble. So he simply halted his troops and spoke up.
"My name is Su Rou. I'm an Inner Sect Elder of the Azure Dragon Sect. I've been waiting here for City Lord Chen because there is indeed something I'd like your help with," Su Rouge said with a bewitching smile.
"I never expected someone so young to already be an elder of the Azure Dragon Sect. I'm truly impressed," Chen Hui replied with a smile. "Please, don't hesitate to speak your mind, miss."
"I know City Lord Chen is here for the Dark Iron Mine in Kaoshan Town. But that mine was discovered by the Chu Family of Kaoshan Town, and it's currently under their management. I have some ties with the Chu Family, so I'm hoping City Lord Chen can give me face and stay out of the Dark Iron Mine matter," Su Rou replied, her tone reasonably polite.
Upon hearing this, Chen Hui's expression didn't change in the slightest. He smiled calmly. "Miss Su Rou, I'm afraid what you're saying is incorrect. Kaoshan is within my jurisdiction, so the people of Kaoshan are under my control, and the resources of Kaoshan are under my control as well."
"Setting aside the fact that the Dark Iron Mine is a massive fortune I cannot simply hand over — I don't even know you, miss, and I have no reason to give you face. This is an internal affair of my Purple Gold City. Forget about you — even the sect master of your Azure Dragon Sect has no authority to interfere."
"What a big tone, City Lord Chen! You say my Azure Dragon Sect has no right to interfere with your Purple Gold City? Well, Su Rou here is going to interfere today. Let's see who among you can pass through here without my permission!"
Suddenly, Su Rou extended a finger and pointed at the road ahead. An invisible burst of energy erupted from her fingertip, punching a deep hole straight through the ground before her.
"Boom!"
Then Su Rou swept her arm, and as dust flew everywhere, a deep trench appeared across the road, cutting the thoroughfare clean in two.
"What an arrogant girl! Let's see how you plan to stop us!"
At Su Rou's display, the soldiers of Purple Gold City were furious beyond measure. They spurred their warhorses and released layer upon layer of Yuan Force, charging toward Su Rou with terrifying momentum.
"Rumble, rumble, rumble!"
Galloping hooves thundered as Yuan Force swirled around them. Under the trampling of iron hooves and Yuan Force, the ground beneath them roared and began to tremble violently. The sheer force of the charge was truly terrifying.
Yet Su Rou's expression didn't change in the slightest at the soldiers' charge. She simply watched with a smile — until the army was about to cross the line she had drawn. Only then did her expression shift ever so slightly.
Her snow-white skirt fluttered wildly, and from her slender body, layer upon layer of visible gas radiated outward.
The gas was incredibly powerful. As it swept through, the Yuan Martial realm soldiers were sent tumbling from their horses, blown back by raw force.