Chapter 463: Luo Cheng's Enthusiasm

"I see. As expected of a protagonist."

'Are you mad, Miaomiao?'

"Nah, you did well. Coming out unscratched after fighting him is already a magnificent feat. Anyway, how's Dian Wei?"

'She has just returned. Huang Hansheng ran away... again.'

"A 9th-stage cultivator is tough. Well, as long as Dian Wei is okay, everything will be fine."

Miaomiao communicated with Liu Guang after the skirmish. She, Guo Jia, and Dian Wei had succeeded in fending off Ling Tianlong and Huang Hansheng's joint attack, and Liu Guang was reporting the result to Miaomiao.

This report included Azazel's interference during the battle and their conversation.

'By the way, what is that deity planning? She could have killed Ling Tianlong right there, but she left him alone. I don't know what she's thinking, but I think she's suspicious.'

"There must be some kind of limitations to her. Xu Chu taught me that immortals and deities can't harm mortals unless they are authorized to do so, or they will be cursed by the natural law or something."

'I see...'

"Anyway, tell Dian Wei to continue monitoring Huang Hansheng. Don't worry about the Selection Tournament. If Huang Hansheng somehow becomes one of the participants, we'll summon Dian Wei back, so she can join the tournament, too."

Miaomiao continued to chat and left several instructions to his wife.

After concluding their businesses, Miaomiao gathered all elders and his wives, whom he had planned to use as participants in this Selection Tournament.

Everyone with the cultivation base higher than the 6th-stage gathered in the first division courtyard.

The courtyard was a wide empty field that the first division disciples had been using as their training ground, sparring arena, or skill testing area. But today, many experts used it as a gathering point.

The most trusted elders on Miaomiao's side, such as Jia Shan, Jia Wenhe, Ma Shoucheng, Ma Ping, Pang Lingming, immediately answered his call. These five seniors were listed as the first group of Siren City's representatives.

Zhang Liao, Qu Yi, Zhao Bao, Zhang Jue, and Fogan were the next team that could be used as another reserved team. With Zhao Bao as the leader, this group's strength seemed stronger than the previous party.

The third team belonged to Ma Moxi. This protagonist's best friend, Tang Fan, surprisingly grew a lot stronger under Ma Moxi's guidance. He was now an early 6th-stage cultivator, who mastered the Gold, Earth, and Metal Element Qi!

Next was a dark horse, Pao Luo. His strength was the same as Tang Fan, the early 6th-stage. This furry cultivator somehow became a spirit tamer, and his beast partner was a strange cat-like creature with long ears, who was a part of the beast tribes. Although Miaomiao didn't know what Pao Luo could do, Ma Moxi ensured him that he was stronger than average cultivators at his peers.

Aside from Tang Fan and Pao Luo, Ma Moxi's other team members were Ku'er, a 6th-stage fox girl, and Ma Moxi's second wife, Dong Bai.

Again, Miaomiao didn't know how, but Ma Moxi raised Dong Bai's strength to the 6th-stage as well. She seemed happy to be around the fox girl and Ma Moxi as she always clung to them.

The third team seemed slightly weaker than the first two. However, Miaomiao knew that this party's prowess was no joke since they were protected by Ma Moxi's plot armor.

However, when Miaomiao announced that the three parties would join this Selection Tournament as Siren City's representatives, Ma Moxi frowned. He raised his hand and objected.

"Master, from what I learned, aren't we supposed to gather at least 35 representatives? We control over 35% of Aves Continent, and the letter clearly stated that we need more than 35 fighters. There are only 15 members in the list."

Miaomiao smiled, "Oh, the first three groups will be Siren City's reserve parties. As for the other 20, I and my wives will take part in it."

Everyone counted their fingers as they gazed at Miaomiao's wives, who gathered there as well.

Five girls from the Vampire Team: Ju Chen, Tang Ting, Sun Yun, He Mingzhu, and Liu Guang.

Seven girls from the Succubus Team: Jiang Lan, Pan Xiaofan, Xu Xiuying, Kong Xifeng, Shen Niu, Lai Wen, and Fan Xiu.

Nine Elites from the Core Team: Ju Shoufen, Kang Yan, Ma Xingjuan, Wei Yuan, Mao Xueyan, Mao Dandan, Emerald Hopea, Zhao Yun, and Dian Wei.

Although Dian Wei and Liu Guang weren't here, everyone acknowledged their combat potential. They included them in Miaomiao's fighter list.

With the addition of Miaomiao, 22 fighters were here. They filled in the quota without trouble.

However, a few newcomers wanted to contribute something.

Luo Cheng, the freeloader dwarf that had been taking shelter in Siren City, stepped forward to make himself known. He respectfully cupped his fist.

"Let this old dwarf fight, too."

"Senior Luo Cheng?"

Miaomiao had a complex expression on his face. This elder once worked for his enemy, Xu Xiuying, because of a hostage. But now, he got his daughter back.

But now, things were complicated. Xu Xiuying was currently possessed by White Album and both of them joined Miaomiao as his harem members. Thus, their relationship became awkward.

Fortunately, Luo Cheng was Jia Shan's friend. The latter had been helping this dwarf and his daughter to settling in Siren City, but they never got used to the peaceful environment.

Now, Luo Cheng had enough. He wanted to contribute something, so he and his daughter could become a part of Siren City, not an outsider or freeloaders.

Jia Shan worried about his friend. He patted the back of Luo Cheng, "You don't have to do anything. We have enough fighters."

"I'm too ashamed to be a freeloader all the time. Let me contribute something to the city. At least, let me return the favor for... Lord Mao."

Luo Cheng gazed at Miaomiao with a wry smile on his face. He kept thinking of the day when he met Miaomiao for the first time.

It was unbelievable that the lunatic from 3 years ago had grown so much to the point that he could fight two 8th-stage cultivators and a nascent soul cultivator at the same time in the previous death game. Moreover, Miaomiao already gathered so many experts under his rule and created a magnificent city from scratch.

Miaomiao became a capable warlord without Luo Cheng realizing it!

That was not the only thing that Luo Cheng was impressed with. The dwarf also liked how Miaomiao tamed his crazy nature even though he was still a horndog.

Miaomiao gazed at Luo Cheng and nodded, "If you wish to contribute, then I can't stop you. However-"

He brought out a giant hammer from his inventory. It was a reward for defeating Luo Cheng's clones 100 times at 200% difficulty.

It was also the weapon that Luo Cheng's strongest clones had used.

...

Weapon Name: Luo Ya Hammer

Rank: Heaven-Grade

Owner: Luo Cheng

Affinity: Dwarf Race, Luo Ya's Descendants

This hammer contains the spirit of Deedee, an earth drake spirit. It belonged to Luo Ya, but it was passed down to Luo Cheng after Luo Ya passed away.

Unfortunately, Luo Cheng lost this weapon during his early days when he crossed the Blood Sea to Aves Continent.

Currently, the original weapon has already been destroyed, and the original spirit has perished. This weapon is a clone of the original hammer, and the spirit has been reanimated by your system with the original spirit's latest memory.

...

"This is!!"

Luo Cheng caught the giant hammer and widened his eyes in astonishment.

This heaven-grade hammer was his lost heirloom, which he had received from his parents. He lost it when he had migrated from the Holy Land to this continent as a monster had stolen it.

Inside the heaven-grade hammer, the spirit of an earth drake sent a strand of earth Qi to the dwarf, and Luo Cheng recognized it.

It was the spirit of his parent's dead pet!

He could also hear the spirit's voice.

'Damn brat!! How did you lose this father to that stupid octopus!? I was dragged to the bottom of the ocean and got stuck there for three hundred years! Now that I return, you have some repenting to do!!'

The earth drake was enraged when it sensed the owner. As the system had cloned its memory, the spirit thought that it was the original weapon, and it began scolding its master.

Luo Cheng's lips trembled as he was overwhelmed with emotion. He turned to Miaomiao with wet eyes.

"W-Where did you get this!?"

Miaomiao's eyes shifted while he made up a story on the spot, using what he had learned from the item description, "I found it on the shore, and I kept it with me. I don't know who the previous owner was since I couldn't use it. But I think a blacksmith like you might find it useful."

"..."

Luo Cheng knelt and hugged the hammer. He shed tears and bowed his head to Miaomiao.

The memento of his parents returned to him. Combining with the favor that Miaomiao had showered him so far, Luo Cheng couldn't think of a way to repay the favor anymore.

Luo Song, his daughter, now had a place to call home. Luo Cheng also got to settle down inside the best city in Aves Continent as a guest elder.

He couldn't ask for more, but his pride couldn't take it.

Thus, Luo Cheng came up with a solution to return Miaomiao's kindness.

"This kindness is too much for this old dwarf's heart! I swear with my dao oath! I shall dedicate my life to serve you from now on! Even if you desire my daughter, I shall groom her to be the best chambermaid for you!! She might be small, but her smell is adequate!"

"Wait a fucking minute!" Miaomiao accidentally responded with a punch line.

"Well, that escalated quickly," at the same time, Wei Yuan and Miaomiao's wives, who were influenced by his culture, started using memes.

Although the girls seemed indifferent, some of them glared at Luo Cheng, not wanting him to add a new woman to the yin slave mansion.

Although Miaomiao had never touched Zhu Qiao and the former elders of Silver Phoenix Sect, who had been working as maids and elders of the 10th division, his wives believed that it was a matter of time before the harem members would increase due to the distance and the temptation.

Mao Xueyan and Zhao Yun had already fallen because they lived under the same rooftop. Sooner or later, those women would eventually fall to Miaomiao's D as well!

The girls began sending telepathic voices to Miaomiao's mind, reminding him not to accept any woman from a daughter seller. A dozen voices echoed in his head and annoyed him.

Despite that, he managed to reel this temper. He clapped his hands to stop everyone from making noises.

"Okay, I get it. Luo Cheng, you can join the event, but I'm gonna need to boost your combat prowess a bit."

Miaomiao rubbed his Master Ring, searching for the pills and items that had a high affinity with Luo Cheng. Then, he took out ten bottles of earth, metal, and fire elemental pills, a fire element flintstone, a crate of rare ores from the ITS quarries, a black amethyst blacksmith hammer, and a scroll.

Some of the items were the rewards from killing sparring clones at the max difficulty. The materials were common items from the mines while the hammer was one of Xu Chu and Diaochan's creations. As for the pills, they were the byproducts of Jia Wenhe and Ma Moxi's alchemy skills.

Miaomiao tossed everything in front of Luo Cheng, "Since you swore with your dao oath and made it so dramatic, I can't simply accept it with plain words. These items are welcome gifts from me. Take them and use them to contribute to Siren City. You're a blacksmith, right? I hope that you can utilize your skills or impart your knowledge to the children of this city!"

Luo Cheng checked the items with interest. Although he didn't need the pills, they were still useful for recovering his elemental Qi during combat.

As for the blacksmith hammer, it was better than what he currently had. The black amethyst could absorb and tame the chaotic Qi from the rare materials, and it protected the blacksmith's hands.

The fire element flintstone was made from the fire elemental vein, which contained high purity. It would be useful for forging sky-grade weapons or even heaven-grade artifacts as long as he had enough materials!

As for the scroll, Luo Cheng read the content in shock.

His eyes almost slipped out of the eye sockets as soon as he realized what it was.

It was a cultivation method, which prioritized nurturing one's metal, water, fire, and earth attributes. It also contained a compound element formula for merging the four elements, turning them into a new physique in preparation for the 8th-stage ascension.

Brimstone Soul Physique!

That was not all. At the corner of the scroll, it contained various liquor formulas, which was the most important for a dwarf like him.

Luo Cheng took a deep breath. Passionate flame could be seen inside his pupils.

"I SHALL NOT LET YOU DOWN!! THIS OLD DWARF SHALL FULFILL HIS MAJESTY MAO'S DREAM!! BUT BEFORE THAT, PLEASE EXCUSE ME!!"

The dwarf took the items and sprinted back home as if he couldn't wait to test the new brewery method, leaving the agape people on the courtyard behind.

Wei Yuan, still stunned, approached Miaomiao and whispered, "What did you give him?"

"An immortal-grade cultivation method... and a few liquor recipes."

"And where the fuck did you get that from!?"

"Err... from the memory of a million-year-old dumb dragon that extinguished a planet's core with his tear?"

Miaomiao didn't lie. Cernun actually comprehended so many daos during his imprisonment period.

Brimstone Soul Physique was one of them. Miaomiao simply copied the ideas and put them down on paper. Then, he gave it to Luo Cheng.

"... And the alcohol?" Wei Yuan still didn't buy it.

"That was from ... err... Ma Moxi's brewery techniques."

Ma Moxi, who was nearby, heard the conversation. He looked at Wei Yuan and repeatedly shook his head as he was innocent. However, he and Tang Fan secretly made a few spirit liquor to sell in the city to fund Ma Clan's military.

In a way, Ma Moxi was guilty.

"..."

Later that day, Wei Yuan audited the financial accounts of the Ma Clan and confiscated 100,000 essence cores from Ma Moxi as the latter had evaded taxes and sold illegal spirit liquor... without sharing the precious wines with the housewives.