That handsome fellow had just called him *Lord Dao*, and now he was being addressed as Huangdi Dao? Could Huangdi Dao truly be his real name?
Niu You Dao nodded slightly and asked, surprised:
"Indeed. How may I help you, Manager?"
The Manager smiled:
"Your humble servant, Chu An Lou, has kept Lord Huangdi Dao waiting for too long. Your room is already prepared. Please follow me."
As soon as he spoke, everyone was utterly astonished. The girl's eyes, in particular, widened like eggs. She wondered if she had misheard?
Black Peony and the others thought to themselves, "This isn't just Niu You Dao, he's a genius!"
However, Niu You Dao said suspiciously:
"It seems no one else has checked in yet?"
The Manager, smiling, said:
"It's nothing. For Lord, we will arrange everything."
The girl couldn't bear it; after all, a million was at stake! She cried out:
"Manager, how can you do this? I was the first to pay and reserve a room. Why does he get to be first?"
A tremor ran through Lady Pei's and the others' hearts. They almost cried out, "This is the Rainbow Inn. This is not a place we can afford to offend."
Lady Pei reached out, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder, and began channeling spiritual power into her. The girl immediately felt a sudden weakness. She no longer dared to speak, realizing herself that she had made a foolish mistake.
The Manager cast a cold look at the girl, then asked Niu You Dao:
"Lord Huangdi Dao, are these your friends?"
Lady Pei understood what the Manager implied. If they were Lord Li's friends, they would be treated as such. If not, their treatment would be quite different. Their heartstrings tightened at the thought.
Niu You Dao nodded:
"Yes, my friends. What of it? Is there a problem?"
"No, no problem at all," the Manager immediately waved his hand and, smiling, explained to the girl:
"Madam simply doesn't know that Lord Huangdi Dao is our honored guest. A different, special room has been prepared for him, not one for ordinary guests."
As soon as he said this, Lady Pei and the others sighed in relief and looked at Niu You Dao with gratitude. At the same time, their interest was piqued. What kind of person was this Lord Li, to be considered an honored guest at the Rainbow Inn?
"An honored guest?" Niu You Dao was bewildered. Pointing to himself, he asked:
"Me? Why am I an honored guest? Could the Manager be mistaken?"
"Mistaken? Absolutely not." The Manager smiled and extended his hand, inviting Niu You Dao forward: "Lord Huangdi Dao, please, I shall escort you to your room."
If he had only uttered that name, they certainly would have still harbored doubts. But given the names of Black Peony and the others were also present, they understood that this was indeed the Huangdi Dao they were thinking of.
"There's no rush for that. Since I am an honored guest, I would like to see the Ice and Snow Palace. These places are unfamiliar to me, so I would like to stroll around and look. I wonder if the Manager could accompany me?" Niu You Dao asked probingly.
The Manager smiled, thinking he was being mistrusted. He nodded:
"Of course! Very well, I shall accompany you. Lord, please wait here for a moment; I shall return immediately." Having said that, the Manager went to the counter and instructed a staff member. He then returned at once.
At that moment, Niu You Dao again pointed to Lady Pei and asked:
"Can my friends also be settled into rooms?"
"Since they are Lord Huangdi Dao's friends, of course!" the Manager replied cheerfully. He summoned a staff member and, pointing to Lady Pei, told him:
"Arrange for Lord Huangdi Dao's friends to be placed in honored guest rooms."
Niu You Dao and the others exited the inn with the Manager. They were going to see the Ice and Snow Palace.
Lady Pei and the others, left behind, didn't know what to do. The staff member had already called them over several times. They were surprised.
What surprised them even more was that the Manager of the Rainbow Inn personally went to accompany them to the Ice and Snow Palace. They all remembered how this Lord Li had immediately pulled out a huge sum of money so they wouldn't bother him. And now this was how it turned out. It meant they had correctly guessed Lord Li's importance.
They didn't understand, who exactly was this Lord Li, Huangdi Dao? Why had they never heard of him under heaven? What power stood behind him?
Generally speaking, several people were very glad they hadn't made any foolish mistakes at the post. For who knew what could have happened if they had provoked anyone's wrath.
Lady Pei and the others were dumbfounded, for now they realized they owed a million. And a million was no small sum. It was an enormous amount!
No, not one, but two! Judging by the Manager's attitude, it wouldn't be difficult for Lord Li to enter the Ice and Snow Palace. Therefore, it seemed they would most likely lose the second bet as well.
Now it was clear why Lord Li had argued with Madam that way. He was clearly confident in his own capabilities.
But most importantly, they clearly understood Lord Li's power. They knew he was not someone from whom you could borrow money and not return it.
"Two million, two million, just like that!"
"Esteemed guests, esteemed guests, please follow me," the staff member patiently called to Lady Pei and the others.
It was difficult to refuse such an offer now, so Lady Pei and the others exchanged glances. And the proud girl suddenly said:
"Let's go, no need to make things difficult for him."
Several people were surprised. Why had their Madam suddenly changed and become more compliant?
On the canyon cliff, Niu You Dao walked side by side with the inn Manager. Along the way, the Manager continually pointed things out to Niu You Dao.
Black Peony and the others followed behind them. Chu An Lou indeed showed off the flawless scenery of the palace. Many people passing by didn't understand who Chu An Lou was personally showing the city to.
"Black Peony, Brother Duan, Brother Lei, Brother Wu!"
Along the way, rogue cultivators occasionally greeted Black Peony and the others. After all, they too were rogue cultivators and had come here seeking opportunities. It was just that they mostly resided in Zhaixing City. However, there were many rogue cultivators who wandered between here and Zhaixing City. Thus, many cultivators here knew each other. They even sometimes went on various ventures together.
The rogue cultivators looked admiringly at the happy quartet. Some even fawned over them. Black Peony and the others understood that look and knew that those people also wished to be in their shoes. Someone constantly approached and greeted them. They wanted to speak more, but Black Peony and the others only returned greetings before moving on. It wasn't that they had become arrogant and proud. It was simply that they were not their own masters now. Lord Dao didn't like it when they spoke with others. Especially now, while they were accompanying the Manager.
However, Black Peony and the others now had a reason to look down on all other rogue cultivators. With such a sum of money in their pockets, they could indeed look down on rogue cultivators.
"Who is that with Chu An Lou?"
When the group had passed, one person immediately asked a rogue cultivator.
"Head Li, I don't know either."
"You don't know? But you just greeted them, didn't you?"
"I only greeted those who were walking behind. They used to be rogue cultivators too. Last year, we saw each other in Zhaixing City; they were no different from me. But now, they've risen in an instant. It seems everyone's destiny is different! Who knows what kind of master they managed to attach themselves to."
Quite a few people were surprised and looked at Chu An Lou and Niu You Dao.
Quite a few shopkeepers also looked at Chu An Lou.
Xiao Tie, the Manager of the Liuxiang Sect's shop, also stood at the door and noticed the group. When he looked at Niu You Dao, he was astonished. Niu You Dao was so similar to the person in the portrait, and behind him were four people, among whom was a dark-haired girl. His eyes immediately bulged.
He approached the crowd that had just been discussing them.
"Who just passed by with Chu An Lou?"
Someone replied:
"We don't know. However, the four people behind are rogue cultivators from Zhaixing City. No one knows what kind of master they have found for themselves."
Xiao Tie watched the departing figures, and his eyes glinted: "That's definitely Niu You Dao!"
There was a Liuxiang Sect shop here, just like in Zhaixing City. And his masters had also sent him a portrait of Niu You Dao. Just now, he had seen a person who looked exactly like the one depicted in the portrait. Recently, his masters had said that Niu You Dao would arrive here and ordered him to kill Niu You Dao at all costs. But until now, he hadn't dared to believe that Niu You Dao would actually come here.
As soon as the news came from his masters, he immediately sent his people to guard the areas near the city. However, a few people were truly too few for such a vast area. Nevertheless, his masters had sent more people to help them.
And now Niu You Dao had appeared here. And Chu An Lou was accompanying him, PERSONALLY. What was going on?
Chu An Lou was a man from a sphere of influence that stood at the pinnacle of power under heaven. And that sphere of influence was certainly no match for the Liuxiang Sect. If the Liuxiang Sect offended them, the Ice and Snow Palace would simply destroy the Liuxiang Sect. Xiao Tie immediately hurried into the shop to send a message to his masters!
Descending the cliffs and crossing the turbulent river, Chu An Lou pointed to a pond from which steam emanated:
"There are quite a few geothermal hot springs here; they are very pleasant to bathe in. For your convenience, Lord, your room has a bath with these very waters. You can try them out later. Please evaluate our baths."