Chapter 2247 - 2282: The Royal Family of the Central Plains

Chapter 2247: Chapter 2282: The Royal Family of the Central Plains

"Zheng Tianren?"

The commander of Taiwang Palace looked at Zheng Tianren, casually clasping his hands, and said indifferently, "You are an elder of the Zheng Family; you can’t control us in Black Water City. Those from the Northern Wastelands must hand over their Black Obsidian, that’s the rule here. Since Elder Zheng Tianren is here, we’ll give you some face. You can hand over half of the Black Obsidian."

The reduced price still costs 1.5 billion. It’s not that Zhong Zhiyong can’t take out these Black Obsidians, but the problem is their overbearing attitude. If he and Crimson Flame weren’t in the Sixth Level Realm of the Divine Realm, they would endure it. But now, they are being bullied so severely by someone in the Fifth Level Realm, naturally, they’re displeased.

Zheng Tianren, with his white hair and beard, looked very old. With a mocking face, he said, "Is Tai Hong of Taiwang Palace deliberately slapping the face of our Du Family? Tai Hong, don’t go too far. Leave some room for maneuver, so we can meet again in the future."

Tai Hong sneered coldly, "Are you handing over the Black Obsidian or not? If you don’t, I’ll start arresting people."

"Do you think you can?" Finally, Crimson Flame could not suppress his anger, and a violent aura burst forth from him. In an instant, he enveloped the surrounding area, submerging Tai Hong.

The strong have dignity and pride. If Tai Hong were stronger, he would endure it, but he’s merely in the Fifth Level Realm, and Crimson Flame could crush him with ease; how dare he be so arrogant?

"Hmph!"

A cold, chilling snort suddenly echoed, sounding like thunder exploding next to Crimson Flame’s ear. The murderous aura around Crimson Flame weakened, his face turned pale, and blood slowly trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"Soul-type Martial Skills!"

Zhong Zhiyong’s eyes narrowed. To be able to injure Crimson Flame with just a snort, that person’s realm must be higher than Crimson Flame’s, and it was even soul-type martial skills.

"Tai Qing!" Zheng Tianren’s face turned grim, and he growled in a low voice, "Don’t go overboard."

The mysterious strong person didn’t appear, but a cold voice arrived: "If you don’t give the Black Obsidian, arrest them all. Dare to resist capture, execute them immediately!"

"Alright, alright, alright!"

Enraged, Zheng Tianren trembled all over, his ring glowing as he tossed a ring to Tai Hong, then said, "The people of our Zheng Family will remember today’s events. After today, we will repay in full. Let’s go."

Zheng Tianren gave a signal to Zhong Zhiyong and Spirit Flame, and Zhong Zhiyong hurriedly stepped forward to support Ding Fan as they headed towards the outside of the square, where two carriages were waiting. Everyone boarded the carriages, heading straight out of the city.

Once outside the city, Ding Fan finally stopped vomiting, closed his eyes, and rested for a while; he appeared to be much better.

"Buzz, buzz!"

After leaving the city, Zheng Tianren took out a Super Airship, boarded it with the four people, and flew directly southward.

"I’m sorry, Young Master Ding, for letting you all suffer!"

Zheng Tianren, in the cabin with a guilty expression, said, "Black Water Island is under the control of Taiwang Palace, which is on the same level as our Zheng Family; we are both Sixth-level Forces. However, the palace master of Taiwang Palace is slightly more powerful than our family patriarch. Recently, they have a genius disciple who reached the peak of the Sixth Level of the Divine Realm at the age of forty and might break into the Seventh Level at any time, which is why they are so arrogant and overbearing..."

Ding Fan forced a smile and said, "This has nothing to do with Minister Zheng. Zhong Zhiyong, give the Black Obsidian back to Minister Zheng."

"No need, Young Master Ding, you’re teasing me!"

Zheng Tianren waved his hands continuously, saying, "Zheng Tianxing is my cousin, he told me to take good care of you. I’ve already let Young Master Ding suffer, which is my fault, consider this bit of Black Obsidian my apology. Moreover, these Black Obsidians are just a drop in the ocean for our Zheng Family, so you don’t need to be courteous with me."

Zheng Tianren was very sincere, and Ding Fan couldn’t refuse his goodwill. He widened his eyes and looked at the young man beside Zheng Tianren, asking, "Who is this?"

"Oh, this is my grandson, Zheng Da!"

Zheng Tianxing introduced to Ding Fan and glared at Zheng Da, saying, "Zheng Da, why don’t you pay your respects to Young Master Ding."

Zheng Da stood up lazily and said, "Zheng Da greets Young Master Ding."

"Yes, hello, Young Master Zheng."

Ding Fan nodded slightly; Zheng Da obviously looked down on him, probably seeing that his realm was too low, unlike a grand young master?

Master Ding didn’t mind at all. He looked at Zheng Tianren and said, "Duke Zheng, where are we going now? And... can you give me a map of the Central Plains?"

"No problem,"

The ring of Zheng Tianren glowed as he handed over a map. He explained, "We are currently on Black Water Island, heading towards Han City in the Central Plains. Han City is our Zheng family’s headquarters. Young Master can first rest and enjoy a few days in Han City, then I’ll take you to Linglong City, the largest city in the eastern Central Plains. There, you can take the super airship of the Spirit Dragon Corporation to Flying Cloud City. Once you reach Flying Cloud City, you only need to take a super airship one more time to get to Sirius City."

Ding Fan scanned several maps to get a rough understanding of the Central Plains’ layout. Linglong City is the major city in the eastern Central Plains, while Flying Cloud City is the main city in the northeast part of the Central Plains. These places are all major cities occupied by the royal family.

Ding Fan whispered, "Duke Zheng, isn’t there a rumor that the Zheng family is one of the four major powers in the eastern Central Plains? Is Linglong City also one of those powers?"

Zheng Da’s mouth showed a hint of sarcasm as Zheng Tianren replied with a bitter smile, "Young Master Ding, you may not know, but the four powers are just rumors. It’s more appropriate to call them four minor powers. The dominant force in the eastern Central Plains is the Spirit Hall, which is a Level Eight family. Our Du Family is only a Level Six family. How can we compete with the Spirit Dragon Hall?"

Zheng Tianren pointed at the map and explained, "The entire eastern Central Plains is the territory of the Spirit Dragon Hall, which is the royal family. Our Zheng family, Taiwang Palace, He Family, and Nether Hall are the Four Great Powers under the Spirit Dragon Hall. Hence, the talk of the four major powers. The Spirit Dragon Hall is the supreme ruler of the eastern Central Plains, and our Four Great Powers are at most Four Viceroys."

Ding Fan learned some things about the Central Plains. Zhong Zhiyong also knew some things here before, but Crimson Flame asked in confusion, "Does the East have no Level Seven families or forces?"

"There used to be!"

"Hundreds of years ago, there were two Level Seven families, but a war broke out between the two families," said Zheng Tianren, "Eventually, one family was destroyed, and the other was severely damaged, relegating them to a Level Six family, which is now the Taiwang Palace."

Ding Fan was shocked and asked, "Doesn’t the Spirit Dragon Hall care about such things?"

"Haha!"

Zheng Tianren laughed, gently stroking his beard, and said, "Young Master Ding, you might not understand the Central Plains. The eleven royal families in the Central Plains are dominant forces. As long as you don’t provoke them, they won’t care about the skirmishes of lower-level families. Even if external forces attack their subordinate forces, they won’t mind, as long as it doesn’t go against their interests, harm civilians, or break the rules, they don’t care about anything."

"Hmm..."

Ding Fan and Crimson Flame looked at each other, both silent. If they don’t mind battles between their subordinates, it’s one thing, but even if external forces come to attack their subordinates, they don’t care?

Just like if Xu Guotao came to attack Skull Island, the Herr Family might not care, but if the Zhong Family came to attack Skull Island and Moon Mist Island, the Herr Family would definitely step in. If the Herr Family doesn’t care, who will listen to their command?

"It seems the Central Plains is even more chaotic than imagined..."

Ding Fan sighed. It seems using a Teleportation Array is still safe. The problem is, where can he get so much Black Obsidian?

Black Water Island isn’t very far from the Central Plains. It takes only a few hours, but after entering the Central Plains, it still takes some time to reach Han City, at least half a day’s journey.

After listening to Zheng Tianren’s introduction, Ding Fan now had a general understanding of the Central Plains. However, at this stage, he had no other option but to first go to Han City, and then to Linglong City to take the large super airship.

Ding Fan gave Zheng Tianren some instructions. His identity must not be revealed, not even to the internal members of the Zheng family. From here to Sirius City is unknown how far, and if his identity leaks, those old enemies of Ding Aohuang in Sirius will definitely come to trouble him.

Zheng Tianren understood this matter and promised Ding Fan that, besides himself and Zheng Da, only important figures in the Zheng family would know Ding Fan’s identity; no one else would know. They would quietly head to Han City and then leave quietly.

Another three hours passed, and a vast continent appeared ahead. Upon entering this continent, Ding Fan suddenly felt the air was at least twice as fresh as in the Northern Wastelands.

"Huh?"

Ding Fan came outside the cabin, looking ahead, and closed his eyes to feel for a moment. After a while, he opened his eyes and asked Zheng Tianren, "Elder Zheng, the spiritual energy here in the Central Plains seems to be much denser than in the Northern Wastelands, doesn’t it?"

"Indeed!"

Zheng Tianren nodded to Ding Fan and said, "The spiritual energy here is more than twice what it is in the Northern Wastelands, and the space here is also more stable, by more than threefold. In the Central Plains, all cultivators’ speeds will slow down. If you don’t believe it, you can try it yourself."

"Oh, is that true?"

Ding Fan was very curious. His whole body turned into a shadow on the deck and began cultivating. He used his Shadowless Divine Skill, his body turning into a series of afterimages, and in an instant, the deck was filled with people.

"It really is like this!"

Ding Fan quickly stopped as his afterimages vanished one by one. It seemed to him that his speed had slowed by two or three times, which felt quite strange to him.