In front of ten Level Six peak life form puppets, those who had just instigated trouble seemed like elementary school students. They wanted to resist with all their might, but their resistance was so feeble that they could only watch helplessly as their pants were pulled down. Naturally, along with the pants went their dignity.

"Dare to lead a revolt against me on my turf? Do you all think I, Zhang Menglong, am made of clay?" Zhang Menglong watched with a joy, "The more you resist, the more excited I get, hahaha!"

Zhang Menglong took out his phone and clicked away, giving them a close-up, "I'll post you online later for everyone to see your indomitable and majestic posture!"

"Don't you think the director is getting more and more perverse? Back on Earth, he could still hold back a bit. Now he's completely letting himself go."

"Look, look, he shamelessly keeps laughing!"

"Shh! Keep it down, don't let the director hear you. Do you want to be hung naked on the city wall too?"

"What are you whispering about?" Zhang Menglong's gaze darted sharply at them.

"Ahem, ahem, nothing, just saying you're handsome!"

"Yes, yes, we're wondering when we can buy your photography album."

"You have insight," Zhang Menglong snapped away, "Feels like something's missing."

"Oh! Got it!" Zhang Menglong slapped his thigh and pulled out an unknown plant from himself, "Stick these into their rear!"

...

"Eek! Just watching is painful!"

"That thing looks like Devil's Vine; its stems have barbs, pulling it out later would be life-threatening!"

"Barbs? That's Giant Stem Grass; once stimulated, its stem diameter expands over four times the normal size!"

...

"Now, everyone remaining, are you willing to pay the protection fee?" Zhang Menglong grinned dangerously at the remaining people, "I think this city's wall can hang a few thousand people, don't you think?"

The idea of shooting the messenger is well understood by them. Zhang Menglong's intention was crystal clear; this was pure intimidation! A hundred billion Cosmic Coins is a lot, but barely within their tolerance range. Better than being hung naked, right?

Those left looked at each other helplessly; while many had fearless bravery, the thought of being hung naked on the wall and having close-ups posted online left their staunch pride in tatters.

"Ahem, cough! I think Mr. Zhang should collect this fee of 100 billion Cosmic Coins; it's not expensive."

"Yeah, see, Mr. Zhang must have consumed a lot of Energy Barytes initiating this city's defense system. He's saving us with high costs, we can't be ungrateful!"

"You folks love freeloading. Doing this kind of thing, can you sleep well at night? If I were you, I wouldn't be able to sleep!"

They seemed resolute earlier, now these treasure hunters turned obedient meekly.

"What happened to you all? Where's your spirit? Anyway, I think this is proper, Mr. Zhang, put out your Yu Hengtong payment code, I'll transfer directly!"

"Hmph, you lot, would you sell out your conscience over a bit of money? Anyway, I think I should pay," another treasure hunter took out his wristwatch, "Mr. Zhang, my Yu Hengtong account is empty; can I use my Starlight credit? I still have a few hundred billion Cosmic Coins in credit."

"Cough, cough! Honestly, it's not really protection fees, just an assembly fund for peace, and Mr. Zhang doesn't have to come off like a villain."

"Wait, did I say it's 100 billion Cosmic Coins?" Zhang Menglong had no grasp of knowing when to quit. He had only three principles: grab hard, deceive hard, and trap hard. Seemed like 100 billion Cosmic Coins couldn't hurt them deeply enough.

"Mr. Zhang, you said it's 100 billion Cosmic Coins per person, everyone heard it!"

"100 billion Cosmic Coins was the earlier price," Zhang Menglong said, "But when someone questioned me just now, nobody stood by me, and you looked unwilling. So now, the protection fee price has risen to 200 billion Cosmic Coins. If you don't pay, I'll immediately throw you out of the city."

Ten puppets stepped forward. Zhang Menglong had just installed fresh Energy Barytes on them. Even at maximum combat power, they can fight for years. Mere one or two million Level Five peak life forms? Frankly, ten puppets gave them too much face.

"You can't do this! This is daylight robbery!" Just a little questioning, and the protection fee doubles. Who could stand such a thing? Their money didn't grow on trees. Although Level Five peak life forms hold high status, gathering a few hundred billion Cosmic Coins isn't easy.

"Yes, this is daylight robbery, what can you do about it?" Zhang Menglong shrugged, "If you don't want to, you're welcome to leave, I won't trouble you, I might even sing 'A Thousand Miles Away' for you."

"You!" Faced with Zhang Menglong's unreasonable demands, everyone felt helpless.

Leaving the city sounded easy, but it was as good as sending oneself off.

"Oh, by the way, you questioned me again just now, so I now decide on a super-duper hike. 400 billion Cosmic Coins should be more suitable."

"You…" Someone was about to speak but was immediately held back by others around.

"Dare speak up? Believe it or not, another word and he'll hike the protection fee to 800 billion Cosmic Coins?"

"This fool, why not just quietly pay? He pissed off this Ritian Sect guy, now everyone must pay an extra 300 billion Cosmic Coins because of them."

"Hmm, looks like everyone agrees with this pricing," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Okay, scan the code, 400 billion Cosmic Coins per person. Mark your info when transferring, my Artificial Intelligence will verify every single one."

"Dear user, your Cosmic Bank account received: 400 billion Cosmic Coins!"

...

A series of notification sounds kept chiming in. Zhang Menglong's face lit up with a smile. 2 million people; that's 800 stars in Cosmic Coins, more than enough to cover his costs, and he even makes a hefty profit.

Of course, not everyone could produce 400 billion Cosmic Coins in cash. Zhang Menglong wasn't so rigid; whether it's cash, Energy Barytes, precious pharmaceuticals, mineral materials, or other fixed assets, Zhang Menglong accepted all.

With each protection fee receipt, the Fire of Fate atop Zhang Menglong's head burned more brightly, soon turning orange, edging toward red.

As for those who paid the protection fee, most had heads turning green, with a few barely holding onto yellow due to some prior gains.

"Those with yellow on their heads come here!" Zhang Menglong shouted at them.

Thousands of treasure hunters nervously approached Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Zhang, we've paid the protection fee, and… do you have further orders?"

"Not much," Zhang Menglong replied, "I'm Aquarius, a bit compulsive, everyone's head is green, but you few still have yellow, it bothers me."