"This is a city secret; I cannot disclose it!"
Xiao Jiancheng gave her a cold look and then ignored her, standing at his post with his eyes straight ahead and his posture ramrod straight!
"Hmph, you big blockhead, you're no fun at all!"
Seeing the four people standing straight as if the sky had fallen, their expressions indifferent, like four pillars standing on either side of the city gate, Ma Xiaoling stamped her foot, feeling utterly bored.
With a small shoulder bag on her back, she strode through the tall city gate, looking around curiously like a country bumpkin entering a grand garden.
What comes into view are rows of public housing, seven-story buildings. Compared to public housing in Hong Kong, the spacing between buildings is much larger, at least allowing sunlight to reach every floor.
These public housing units are much larger than those in Hong Kong, with each unit being nearly 70 square meters and featuring a layout of two bedrooms, two living rooms, one kitchen, and one bathroom.
Ma Xiaoling had read the management manual, which explained that this row of houses belonged to residents of Kowloon City. Anyone over the age of 18 with no criminal record could apply for a unit and live there for life after paying rent on time.
It is reported that a total of 50,000 such public housing units were built in the entire Kowloon Walled City. Although they were built more than 20 years ago, they are of good quality and have no quality problems except for being a bit old.
Ma Xiaoling strolled through the public housing estate with great interest. From this perspective, Kowloon City and Hong Kong outside didn't seem that different, except for one thing.
Almost everyone in Kowloon City is fond of martial arts. Ma Xiaoling saw a primary school doing boxing during recess, with all the students practicing under the guidance of their teacher.
The pedestrians on the street were different from the people in Hong Kong. They had peaceful expressions on their faces, without the impatience of the people in Hong Kong, and they didn't have to rush to work.
Perhaps it was because the city was well-planned that there was no traffic congestion, but the luxury cars that were seen on the road from time to time dispelled Ma Xiaoling's idea that "Kowloon City is poor".
The scenes she witnessed along the way deeply moved Ma Xiaoling.
In the past, Kowloon City was portrayed as a city of sin, inhabited by criminals or their descendants.
The news is all negative, including reports of filth and rampant illegal activities.
However, she doesn't know whether she should feel fortunate or disappointed now.
I was glad I got to visit Kowloon City, and I discovered that it wasn't as bad as the outside world made it out to be.
Disappointingly, she had previously shared the same view as others, but it wasn't until she saw it with her own eyes that she changed her mind and had to admit that she had been deceived.
Just as Ma Xiaoling was lost in thought, they arrived at the City Lord's Mansion.
………………
The City Lord's Mansion.
After mourning Xiao Wujiu, a group of cultivators from the mainland came to the City Lord's Mansion to request an audience with Xiao Ning, the Golden Core Realm senior and Lord of Nine Dragons City.
Director Xiao Yao of Shaocheng greeted them in the reception hall.
The guests and hosts sat down, and a maid served fragrant tea.
"Gentlemen, my father already knows the purpose of your visit. He has made it clear that each disciple's path is entirely up to them, and he will not force them. I hope you can understand!"
Since the last Xiao family meeting, rumors have gradually spread that the Xiao family is going to split up.
Recently, many people have come to persuade Xiao's disciples to settle in their homes.
The Innate True Person Realm is a top-tier figure in the cultivation world, and there are usually only a few of them in major sects. They are all ancient figures and represent the foundation of the sect.
Of course, Xiao Ning's Golden Core realm goes without saying; he is practically no different from an immortal or Buddha on earth, and there is no one else like him in the whole world.
This is why no country in the secular world has any objection to the Xiao family occupying Kowloon City for sixty years.
Although Xiao Ning's name is unknown to ordinary people, he is well-known to the high-ranking officials of various countries.
The situation on the mainland goes without saying.
During the war against the Japanese pirates, nearly a thousand disciples of the Xiao family came out of seclusion, immediately exposing Xiao Ning's name to the eyes of the leaders of various families.
After making inquiries from various sources, they learned of Xiao Ning's terrifying strength and the terrifying power of the Golden Core Realm.
It cannot be hit by guns or cannons, and its destructive power is astonishing, almost no different from a human-shaped self-propelled nuclear bomb.
Who would dare to provoke such a person?
If I kill him instantly, that's fine, but if he doesn't die, I won't dare close my eyes even when I sleep.
Therefore, after this terrifying entity occupied Kowloon City, all the countries simply let it be and allowed it to do as it pleased.
Upon hearing that the disciples of the Xiao family wanted to split up, the political figures of the surrounding countries all had their own agendas and sent envoys to persuade them, offering incredibly tempting conditions to invite the disciples of the Xiao family to settle in their countries.
If you can get your hands on one or two Innate True Persons, how could you possibly not obtain their cultivation methods?
They had a clever plan, but in the end, most of them came up empty-handed.
Now, the leaders of various sects on the mainland have personally come to Xiao Wujiu's door, ostensibly to mourn him, but their true intentions are self-evident.
Upon hearing Ren Xiaoyao's assurance, all the sect leaders nodded in agreement.
"Mr. Ren is right. We have come with sincerity, and naturally we have also sincerely invited you all. We dare not force you!"
"The Taoist priest of Maoshan is right. We sincerely invite you all, based on the principle of voluntariness! Name your conditions, as long as they are reasonable, we will agree!"
The sect leaders echoed their sentiments, their gazes towards the Xiao clan disciples revealing fervent anticipation.
At this moment, the young leader of Maoshan turned his gaze to Lin Fengjiao, who was standing silently to the side, and revealed a pleading look.
"Uncle-Master Lin, will you come back to Maoshan with me this time? Master misses you very much and calls your name day and night!"
This young leader of the Maoshan sect had only recently assumed the position and had never seen Lin Fengjiao's true face before. This was the first time the two had met.