Infinite Puzzle City

Chapter 658 Meng Po's Mount
You know what, if it weren't mentioned, Xiao Ran would have completely forgotten about it.

The Nine-Lives Flood Dragon was known as the White Emperor's mount. In addition, there were several other creatures, such as the Star-Devouring Steed, the Eight-Legged Earth Dragon, the Six-Winged Golden Insect, and the Golden-Haired Roar.

Among them are also mounts belonging to the Six Heavenly Palace Masters.

These mounts used to commit all sorts of evil deeds, and even the underworld couldn't control them, all because their owners were powerful and influential figures.

As a result, in the City of the Wrongfully Dead, they all became Xiao Ran's stepping stones, and were sentenced to 100,000 years in hell.

Even if time flows quickly in the underworld, these beasts will still stay inside for a very, very long time.

Xiao Ran's actions were, of course, a slap in the face to the masters behind these beasts.

If Xiao Ran were to go to their door seeking help now...

hey-hey……

Guess how nice they'll be to Xiao Ran.

Now Xiao Ran was also starting to worry.

"Then let's not go find the Six Heavens Palace Master. Are there any other powerful figures in Fengdu?" Xiao Ran looked at Chong Shan, Cao Shi, and the others.

"Of course there are, but there aren't many powerful beings who can deal with something like the [Gui]. If you, Senior Brother, were to go to the City of the Wrongfully Dead now, you could ask Master Zhong for help. But in Fengdu..."

Chongshan and the others looked solemn.

For the time being, they really couldn't think of anyone who could help them.

"Grandpa!" At this moment, Cao Shi suddenly slapped his forehead: "I just remembered someone."

"Who?" Xiao Ran asked, glancing sideways.

Cao Shi whispered in Xiao Ran's ear, "This person is very low-key, but we just happened to see him in the city. It's not too late for you to go find him now. This person is called Demon Calamity..."

A calamity lurking in the underworld?

Xiao Ran had never heard of this name before. She looked up at Chong Shan and the others, only to see that they also looked blank. But since Cao Shi and the others spoke with such certainty, Xiao Ran no longer hesitated and decided to go and meet this calamity.

As for Chongshan and the others, Xiao Ran instructed them to inform the ghost merchant Peng Tianju so that they could start preparations as soon as possible and collect goods.

After bidding farewell to Chongshan and the others, Xiao Ran followed Cao Shi and the others to visit this calamity.

The three of them arrived at a pharmacy.

This is the largest pharmacy in Fengdu, selling many rare and precious medicinal herbs from the surrounding area.

Most importantly, the owner of this shop is Yao Huo.

The pharmacy was bustling with people coming and going.

Although ghosts don't get sick, these medicines have their own extraordinary effects.

Xiao Ran walked to the counter, glanced at the piles of medicines on it, and casually scanned them.

A dark, unremarkable dried fruit caught Xiao Ran's attention. She picked it up and held it in her hand, finding it cool and refreshing with a plum fragrance that was quite invigorating.

"Sir, this is called Yinmei, a specialty of Fengdu. It is a top-quality tonic that nourishes the soul. Our Yinmei is of superior quality and reasonably priced. If you buy a lot, the price will be discounted."

The waiter greeted her with a smile and began to introduce her to Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran nodded, but didn't express any interest in the item. Seeing this, the shopkeeper remained calm and continued to introduce other medicinal herbs to Xiao Ran.

"This is the Black Emperor Lotus, which can heal soul wounds..."

"This is Dragon Eye Incense, which has the miraculous effect of aiding in spiritual practice."

The waiter was extremely polite, showing no impatience whatsoever, and certainly not looking down on anyone.

In reality, it's impossible for a dog to look down on someone in Fengdu.

Because those powerless, helpless, and weak spirits who enter Fengdu City often only have one choice: to become a floor tile, a chair, or, at best, a lantern.

Therefore, without some strength, it's impossible to move an inch in Fengdu, and it's not up to the guys to look down on you.

At this moment, Xiao Ran stopped in front of a medicine cabinet, looking at a dark object placed in a jade box, and squinted her eyes curiously.

Upon seeing this, the shopkeeper immediately explained, "This stuff is rare. It's called Ghost Gold. If mortals eat it, they can open their ghost eyes; if the dead eat it, their true souls will remain and linger in the mortal realm..."

"Oh!"

Xiao Ran's brows twitched slightly upon hearing this. He thought of his grandfather and Old Master Zhao Qingming, whose current state might be of some use.

"What's the price of this?"

"Sir, you have a good eye. The ghost gold in this jade box requires 30,000 Yin coins, but if you can pay with underworld money, only 3000 will suffice."

Yin paper money is issued by the underworld, but it is far less valuable than ghost money.

3000 coins are considered quite valuable in the underworld.

You should know that a Hercules mask is only worth 25 underworld coins in the underworld.

Upon hearing the price, Xiao Ran's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at the shopkeeper: "I'll take this, but the price won't do."

"Sir, please name your price."

The waiter stretched out his hand and flicked it, handing over his long sleeve.

In places like pharmacies, the more precious the medicinal materials, the more likely they are to have a price set by each person. Naturally, the price cannot be easily revealed to others, so the "hiding gold in one's sleeve" tactic is a common practice here.

Xiao Ran wasn't familiar with this technique before, but when she bought the Hercules mask, the shopkeeper used the same method. Xiao Ran had used it once and knew how clever it was, so she reached out and made a few gestures in the shopkeeper's sleeve.

The waiter's expression immediately turned strange.

Xiao Ran's offer was too low, and just as he was about to refuse, Xiao Ran quickly grabbed the waiter's hand and said, "I want this price."

Xiao Ran gestured in her sleeve, and the waiter's expression changed slightly: "Sir, this is a matter I cannot make a decision on. Please come upstairs for some tea, and I will go and invite the boss."

"it is good!"

Xiao Ran nodded with a smile, and then followed the waiter up to the guest room on the second floor.

After the waiter left, Cao Shi looked at Xiao Ran curiously; "Sir, who exactly are you...?"

“I’m offering a low price, but the quantity is large. For such a large transaction, the clerk can’t make the decision. Wouldn’t that allow us to meet the boss, Yao Huo, smoothly?”

Since she was asking for a favor, it wouldn't be good to come empty-handed. So Xiao Ran planned to give them a big deal first, so that they could get to know each other better and the matter would be easier to handle.

Upon hearing Xiao Ran's words, Cao Shiwugui immediately exclaimed how brilliant it was.

After waiting for a while, Xiao Ran's brows furrowed, and she heard footsteps outside the door, along with a sense of oppressive pressure that made her heart pound.

"Om!!"

The door to the guest room was pushed open, and the waiter walked in first, followed by a dark-faced man with a full beard. This man had a black face, golden eyes, and a pair of bull horns on his head.

Upon entering, his gaze swept around the room before immediately locking onto Xiao Ran, his eyes flashing with golden light as if he wanted to see right through her.

However, a thought flashed between Xiao Ran's brows, and a pressure also appeared on his body. It was the power of the dragon banner that spread out and suddenly blocked all the golden light.

Upon seeing this, the dark-faced man's face immediately showed surprise. After gesturing for the waiter to leave, he turned around and cursed at Cao Shiwu, "Who do we have here? It's you five little devils! What are you doing here!"

After saying that, he ignored Xiao Ran and sat down casually.

"Hehehe, old brother, we have brought distinguished guests to our door today to congratulate you on your prosperous business. Why are you so impatient and have neglected our distinguished guests?"

The one speaking was Zhang Si, the third of the Five Ghosts.

This guy is glib and keeps calling me "older brother," and seems to be quite familiar with the demons and monsters.

Unexpectedly, Yao Huo glanced at Xiao Ran upon hearing this, pursed his lips, and raised his hand to give Xiao Ran a symbolic bow: "Greetings, Inspector."

The demon's attitude caught Xiao Ran and the others completely off guard.

Xiao Ran glanced at Cao Shi.

Cao Shi immediately understood and moved closer to the demon: "Brother, you are usually so generous and magnanimous, and you have never put on airs even when dealing with us little devils. What's wrong with you today?"

"Snapped!"

Yao Huo slammed his hand on the table, staring coldly at Xiao Ran: "What's wrong!" Yao Huo's anger caused the oppressive aura around him to increase again, making Xiao Ran feel even more pressured. The dragon banner behind him appeared and disappeared. If it weren't for this dragon banner, he probably would have been lying on the ground and unable to stand up by now.

"Your Excellency Inspector, you have quite the power! You punish my old comrades so easily, for ten thousand years! Do you know how they're supposed to live for those ten thousand years?!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ran immediately understood why the other party was so angry; it turned out that the other party and the Nine-Lives Flood Dragon were good brothers.

Hearing this, Xiao Ran frowned.

"Live life as it comes. If they are innocent, I cannot punish them, can I? If you feel that my judgment is unfair, you may petition Youshan or file a complaint with the underworld or Fengdu."

The demon's eyes were wide open, staring intently at Xiao Ran.

Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Xiao Ran didn't want to stay there any longer, after all, they were on different paths and could not work together.

Just as Xiao Ran was about to leave, Cao Shi sighed: "Brother, the Nine-Lives Flood Dragon and the others got what they deserved. It's your sense of justice to stand up for them, but it's also my duty to judge them. We came here to introduce you to a huge business opportunity, so why are you doing this?"

"A huge deal?" Yao Huo sneered, looking at Cao and his group with disdain. "How big?"

Although Cao Shi was a little devil, he was quick-witted. Upon hearing this, he raised his head and laughed, "Is the human world big enough? Or rather, is the Lost City big enough?"

Upon hearing this, Yao Huo's smile froze, and his gaze finally turned to Cao Shi in front of him.

"To be honest, I came here today specifically for this business deal. In the future, your goods can be sold in the Lost City. Even if it doesn't bring in a fortune every day, it will at least be a very profitable business."

"Really!" Yao Huo was immediately moved upon hearing this.

"Sir, you've come here in person, surely not to joke with us. This deal was initiated by you, and we five ghosts are here to transport the goods. Before coming here, we had already ordered 100,000 ghost coins worth of goods. We'll be setting off soon, and once we get these things into the Lost City, we'll make ten times the profit."

The anger on Yao Huo's face vanished instantly, replaced by a solemn expression.

A moment later, he suddenly stood up and walked straight toward Xiao Ran.

This action startled Xiao Ran, but unexpectedly, the demon bowed down to Xiao Ran as if a mountain of gold and a jade pillar had been overturned: "My lord, please forgive me. I had no intention of slandering you, but I was blinded by my own mind and offended you. Please forgive my abruptness."

"That's a really fast change of expression!"

Xiao Ran never expected that the demon's face could change so quickly, like turning the pages of a book.

"Brother, we became friends after fighting, and heroes should cherish each other."

Xiao Ran quickly reached out to help Yao Huo up. Instead of downplaying the conflict, she openly acknowledged the minor incident but then turned it into a way to make friends.

Don't underestimate this change in language.

If Xiao Ran were a normal person, she would have quickly said a few words that it was nothing serious and moved on from the matter. Her attitude would have been different. Even if Yao Huo didn't say it, she would inevitably think about it in her heart.

Since you're asking for something from someone, you need to be careful about how you handle the situation.

"Yes, yes, heroes cherish heroes."

The demon's smile immediately brightened. Xiao Ran invited him to sit beside her and explained to him the general situation of the Amazing Pavilion and the human world.

This also made the Demon Catastrophe see the future potential of the Amazing Pavilion.

"The ghost gold I saw downstairs just now wasn't a gimmick to trick you out, but something I genuinely wanted. If you take that ghost gold outside the Lost City, its price will be more than ten times higher."

Xiao Ran's words were not empty talk.

The effect of Ghost Gold is that it can open the Yin-Yang Eyes in living people.

This alone is enough to tempt many people. A good eye is enough to give many people an advantage in the labyrinth, especially now that the labyrinth is becoming increasingly bizarre and sinister.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Yao Huo was startled when he heard the price increase tenfold.

This is definitely a huge profit.

“Brother, I won’t play games with you. I can consider it an investment for you. We can do business normally, but I’ll give you 10% of the profits from the Jingqi Pavilion business. It’s our own business, and I will definitely not let you suffer any losses.”

One percent is a 10% bonus.

It may not seem like much, but once this deal is finalized, the profits will be substantial. Moreover, as Xiao Ran said, it's his own business, this drug business, so he can profit from both ends, which seems like a good deal no matter how you look at it.

"Oh my, brother, I've only ever heard people say that you're a new broom sweeping clean, but seeing you today, I finally understand what it means to be a young hero. That fool Nine-Lives Dragon is blind and deserves to go to hell and reflect on his actions."

As she spoke, Yao Huo pulled Xiao Ran to have a good drink: "Come on, let's go to Baxianlou. It's my treat. We won't leave until we're drunk tonight."

"Don't!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ran quickly pulled Yao Huo aside and said with a troubled expression, "Brother, to be honest, I came here not just to do business, but more importantly, to ask you for my help."

"Oh!" Upon hearing this, Yao Huo sat down again and looked at Xiao Ran.

"I encountered a little trouble in the Lost City." Xiao Ran recounted his encounter with someone illegally building ghost soldiers and the General [Gui] in the Lost City.

"My skills are shallow, so I can only come here to ask for help." Xiao Ran frankly stated his purpose without any beating around the bush or empty rhetoric.

When facing an existence of the level of demonic calamity, any tricks are futile. It's better to be honest and tell the truth, which saves others trouble and saves you trouble.

Upon hearing Xiao Ran's words, the demon immediately grinned and said, "Hahaha, it's just a small thing. My good brother, you've really come to the right person. Others would find it difficult to deal with, but with me, it's a piece of cake."

As soon as the demon finished speaking, something that looked like a wine cup appeared in his hand.

"This item is called 'Longing for My Lover's Return.' With this, my good brother, let alone tens of thousands of Yin soldiers, even hundreds of thousands or hundreds of thousands of Yin soldiers will surely be routed. As for that 'Gui' thing, it is not worth mentioning."

Xiao Ran took the object, which resembled a wine cup, with some skepticism.

Inside, there was a dark yellow liquid.

"This……"

Seeing this, Xiao Ran couldn't help but wonder if the demon was just fooling him. This thing didn't seem as magical as it claimed.

Seeing Xiao Ran's hesitation, Yao Huo didn't explain further: "Don't worry, my good brother. Once we get to the battlefield, just throw this thing out, and then you can just watch the show."

After saying that, Yao Huo said to Xiao Ran, "I originally wanted to treat you to a good drink, but judging from your words, the military situation is urgent, so I can't keep you any longer. I will prepare the ghost gold you needed earlier, but you don't need to spend any money this time. Just consider it as my investment capital."

"I dare not refuse your kind invitation, elder brother. Please wait a while until my Jingqi Pavilion opens, and I will set up a shrine for you. Please do not refuse my invitation."

Xiao Ran clasped his hands in a fist salute and said.

"Alright, alright, I'll definitely be there to support you and join in the fun."

The demon smiled and nodded in agreement.

He then personally escorted Xiao Ran and the others downstairs.

After bidding farewell to the demon again and again, Xiao Ran did not delay any longer and immediately set off to return.

They summoned another paper boat and asked Cao Shi and the others to lift it and quickly return along the same route.

On the way, Xiao Ran sat on the paper boat and asked curiously, "I haven't asked you yet, this demon looks like it's in the shape of an ox, what is its origin?"

Upon hearing Xiao Ran's question, Zhang Si explained to Xiao Ran, "Sir, you don't know, this demon brother has a powerful background; he is Meng Po's mount."

"Meng Po??"

Xiao Ran was very surprised: "Meng Po has a mount? I've never heard of that."

Mounts are something that not everyone can have.

Whether it's a deity or a ghost, a mount is always a symbol of status.

It's about the big boss's reputation.

This is why the Nine-Lives Flood Dragon and his gang dare to be so arrogant and domineering.

Xiao Ran naturally knew about Meng Po, the soup of oblivion.

But is Meng Po really that influential?
"Hey, sir, you're not from the underworld after all, so you don't know the background of Lady Meng Po."

Cao Shi explained to Xiao Ran, "Although Lady Meng Po's rank in the Underworld is not high, her authority is separate from the Underworld's authority and is not under its jurisdiction. Even the Emperor of Fengdu cannot directly control her. It is said that Lady Meng Po is backed by Lady Houtu."

"Oh……"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ran suddenly realized that if the person on You Mountain was the chairman of the company, then Hou Tu Niangniang was definitely the major shareholder behind the scenes. Meng Po, who was in charge of distributing Meng Po soup to those who were reincarnated, was just like the company's accountant.

(End of this chapter)