"So this is what you're talking about. At that time, a cultivator came to inform me, and I knew the cultivators from the Wild Wolf Gang had arrived. However, I had an extremely important matter to attend to suddenly, so I left immediately. As for those two Wild Wolf Gang cultivators, they were just rookies and not worth my attention."

At this moment, the scar-faced man spoke with unwavering confidence. It was apparent that he had premeditated his excuse before arriving, and his response was calm and composed, his performance extremely convincing.

"Then what was the important matter for you last night, Mr. Ding Fan?"

Gu Qingqing asked, filled with doubt as she looked at the other party, clearly not convinced by his explanation and determined to get to the bottom of it.

"I'm afraid I cannot disclose that matter."

Upon hearing Gu Qingqing's words, the scar-faced man raised an eyebrow and spoke with a somewhat serious expression.

At this moment, Gu Qingqing and the middle-aged man sitting in the main seat noticed the somewhat annoyed expression on the other's face, making them feel a bit awkward.

Sitting in the main chair was Gu Qingqing's father, Gu Ban, the City Lord. Evidently, he had learned some details about last night's events from his daughter, which left him suspicious of the so-called Ding Fan before him. Everyone knew about the blood feud between Ding Fan and the Wild Wolf Gang cultivators.

Yet for unknown reasons, he fled at that time. And when asked what the matter was, he wouldn't say a word. In the Cultivation World, every cultivator has their own secrets, so this wasn't particularly surprising, but Gu Ban felt something was off.

But looking at the scar-faced man's expression, Gu Ban could see his displeasure. If this person was truly Ding Fan, provoking him would not be wise. Just then, with a smile on his face, Gu Ban said:

"Since Mr. Ding Fan finds it inconvenient to say, it must be very important. It's understandable, understandable."

Gu Ban's smile was a bit stiff as he finished speaking, then gave Gu Qingqing a look, clearly signaling for his daughter to not offend the other party even if they were skeptical, as offending him would do no good for the City Lord Mansion if he indeed was Ding Fan.

"Indeed..."

At this moment, seeing her father's look, Gu Qingqing reluctantly forced a smile toward the scar-faced man and said.

"No problem. So, have you considered our matter?"

At this moment, the scar-faced man heard the other party's words and promptly pressed the issue, as his primary focus was to secure the one hundred Pure Yin Infants and make a quick exit. After all, he knew the Wild Wolf Gang cultivators had arrived, and his time was running out.

Hearing the words, Gu Qingqing and Gu Ban furrowed their brows, apparently aware of the scar-faced man's conditions through Gu Qingqing's earlier account. Nonetheless, Gu Ban found himself at a dilemma. Although he was the City Lord, he never oppressed or exploited his people, always putting their welfare first.

But now the other party demanded one hundred infants, which was utterly atrocious. While the City Lord Mansion faced a grave threat, he was unwilling to commit such an act, despite the looming danger. Should the City Lord Mansion fall to the Wild Wolf Gang, the city's people would suffer, and not just the one hundred infants, but untold numbers could perish.

Gu Ban felt deeply troubled at this moment...

Seeing her father's troubled expression, Gu Qingqing felt equally torn. Was exchanging one hundred infants for the city's peace really worth it?

"Hurry up, I have many other things to attend to. If you don't agree, I'll take my leave."

The scar-faced man pressed relentlessly, evidently spotting the other's hesitance, and hurried them to agree to his demands.

Gu Qingqing and Gu Ban were overcome with urgency upon hearing his words, at a loss for what to do...

It wasn't just Gu Qingqing and Gu Ban who were anxious; even some servants of the City Lord Mansion in the hall felt concerned for their lord and young lady, as the matter was of utmost seriousness...

At this moment, a servant of the City Lord Mansion rushed into the hall, reporting to Gu Ban and the others:

"City Lord, someone outside requests an audience, claiming to know the person who met with the young lady last night."

Upon hearing the servant's report, Gu Qingqing was taken aback. Met last night? Could it be the young prodigy?

"Quick, invite him in."

Gu Qingqing's eyes brimmed with joy, and she immediately commanded.

Observing his daughter's expression, Gu Ban was curious and asked:

"Qingqing, who is it? You know Mr. Ding Fan is still here; is it appropriate to invite him in?"

"Father, this is my savior, and he is not acquainted with Mr. Ding Fan. I hope Mr. Ding Fan doesn't mind."

Gu Qingqing spoke courteously to the scar-faced man.

The scar-faced man, hearing Gu Qingqing's words, looked displeased, yet felt powerless to object and could only shake his head helplessly.

In no time, Ding Fan walked into the council hall.

At this moment, as soon as Ding Fan entered the hall, he noticed the scar-faced man sitting there and couldn't help but feel a bit surprised. He didn't expect this guy to show up so quickly. He was indeed a very greedy person; the cultivators of the Wild Wolf Gang had already arrived, and this guy still wanted to make a big haul before leaving. Truly a greedy fellow.

"Benefactor, please have a seat."

At this moment, Gu Qingqing saw Ding Fan enter and immediately said to Ding Fan with great enthusiasm. Then she introduced Ding Fan to her father:

"Father, this is my lifesaver I mentioned to you last night. This is my father, Benefactor."

At this moment, Gu Qingqing introduced them to each other.

Gu Ban heard his daughter's words and couldn't help but recall what she told him last night about an early Nascent Soul cultivator who killed a late Nascent Soul cultivator with just one sword strike. At the time, Gu Ban found it hard to believe, thinking either his daughter was hiding something or there was something strange about it.

Even though Gu Ban saw Ding Fan now, he still found it hard to believe his daughter's words, as the gap between an early Nascent Soul cultivator and a late Nascent Soul cultivator was significant. It's not just a minor difference; it's huge. Let alone killing with one strike, even being able to defend against a late Nascent Soul cultivator's attack would be impressive.

"Benefactor, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Ding Fan."

At this moment, Gu Qingqing introduced Ding Fan and the scar-faced man to each other.

At this moment, Ding Fan looked at the scar-faced man with a noticeable smile in his eyes. He was genuinely unfamiliar with Ding Fan and immediately said playfully:

"Ding Fan? What a coincidence, I also know a Ding Fan."

At this moment, the scar-faced man heard Ding Fan's words and couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion. Could it be that the other person knew Ding Fan? If that's the case, am I walking right into a trap?

Then the scar-faced man looked at Ding Fan, forcing a calm expression, and said:

"In the Cultivation World, there's no limit to the strange. Having another Ding Fan is no big surprise."

"Haha, yes, indeed..."

At this moment, Ding Fan heard his words and couldn't help but laugh, clearly finding the scar-faced man very interesting. To think such a matter could be handled so calmly, he's quite the actor!

"By the way, I've heard that this Ding Fan is quite formidable. I wonder if you truly have some skills?"

At this moment, Ding Fan looked at the scar-faced man with very cold eyes and asked, clearly about to expose him. Even though his acting was good, after all, he wasn't Ding Fan himself. Watching the display of skills would naturally reveal him.

Gu Qingqing heard Ding Fan's words and couldn't help but agree. She had already been very suspicious of the scar-faced man and had long wanted him to display his skills. She originally went to the Good Fortune Inn last night to test this Ding Fan, but didn't expect to be interrupted by the Wild Wolf Gang's cultivators.

Now, the benefactor was revealing it for her, which was undoubtedly a great help. Gu Qingqing immediately agreed:

"Mr. Ding Fan certainly has great strength. Why not display it to us?"

"Yes, show us and broaden our horizons!"

At this moment, Gu Ban evidently seized the opportunity and also agreed.

The scar-faced man heard their words and couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Clearly, their objective was very clear. They didn't trust him and wanted him to show his skills. If not fully prepared, pretending to be Ding Fan would be courting death!

Then the scar-faced man, with some impatience, said:

"Alright, I'll show you then. Everyone be careful!"

The last word of the scar-faced man was spoken with great emphasis, and suddenly, a strong fluctuation of True Qi appeared on his body, seeming very formidable. The aura looked far surpassing that of an ordinary early Nascent Soul cultivator.

Gu Qingqing was dumbfounded watching this, not expecting his strength to be so formidable. That True Qi fluctuation was beyond what an ordinary early Nascent Soul cultivator could achieve, and even late Nascent Soul cultivators couldn't accomplish it.

Not only was Gu Qingqing shocked, but Gu Ban was also stunned. Today, they truly broadened their horizons, not expecting an early Nascent Soul cultivator to have such a large True Qi fluctuation. If it were a punch from him, it certainly wouldn't be something an ordinary cultivator could handle.

Among the shocked crowd, Ding Fan furrowed his brow. He was quite surprised, not expecting the man to actually display it. This guy is truly versatile. Could it be that he indeed had real strength?

Ding Fan knew that if this were the case, why would the other person need to impersonate him? Before long, Ding Fan noticed the trickery in the situation.

It turned out that Ding Fan had realized that the True Qi fluctuation wasn't from his own True Qi but was released from some unknown type of spirit stone. Ding Fan, possessing exceptional Divine Sense and strong perception, couldn't possibly be fooled by such a small trick!

Seeing this, Ding Fan found it amusing and looked at the scar-faced man before saying:

"Mr. Ding Fan has quite some strength. How about you try hitting me three times? Let me experience Mr. Ding Fan's strength firsthand."

After Ding Fan spoke, Gu Qingqing's face immediately changed. She knew the strength displayed by the scar-faced man was formidable. For the benefactor to let him hit him three times, wasn't that asking for death?