Qin Shilei was not a person who sought attention, yet he made a grand affair of his upcoming appointment as Lord of Junhai City.
Within a day, news of Qin Shilei's impending appointment as Junhai City Lord spread like wildfire throughout the city.
The City Lord's Mansion's recruitment of City Guards was also widely publicized.
In just two days, three thousand City Guards had been recruited, forming a considerable force.
On the third day, the weather was clear and pleasant.
The football stadium was packed with a sea of people. Some had come to watch the spectacle, others to catch a glimpse of their future City Lord, but most were leaders of various factions, eager to understand how the addition of a City Lord would impact their own power.
Amidst the crowd, survivors gathered in small groups, discussing their new City Lord.
"Do you think it's a blessing or a curse to suddenly have a City Lord over us?"
"He immediately wiped out the Tang family upon arrival. He doesn't seem like a benevolent person."
"Perhaps the Tang family offended him. We can't judge a person solely on that."
"Whether he's good or bad, I don't know. All I know is that if it weren't for him, Junhai City would likely have been reduced to ruins by that giant octopus and its sea beasts."
"The apocalypse is already crushing us. I hope this City Lord doesn't add to our burdens with oppression and exploitation."
"Whoosh!" At that moment, a giant eagle soared in from the horizon.
As everyone looked up, two figures, one black and one red, leaped from the eagle's back and rapidly descended towards the center of the football stadium.
"A warm welcome to our City Lord, Qin Shilei, and our Lady of the City, An Qian!" the host's voice boomed at the opportune moment.
"Welcome, welcome! A fervent welcome!" the Rock Solid Regimen and the City Guards roared, clapping their hands vigorously.
"Both the City Lord and the Lady of the City are rare Golden-tier evolvers on Blue Star. For Junhai City to possess such peerless experts, it is a blessing from heaven. Should we not welcome our City Lord and Lady of the City?" the host implored with all his might.
As his words faded, thunderous applause finally erupted from the surroundings.
By then, Qin Shilei and his companion had landed in the sky above the very center of the football stadium.
With a wave of his hand, Qin Shilei summoned the colossal figure of King Kong beneath his feet.
"Roar!" A thunderous roar from King Kong emanated, and a terrifying pressure rapidly spread throughout the entire stadium.
A suffocating sensation gripped everyone.
Under this oppressive force, the Bronze-tier evolvers could not even twitch a finger.
As for the Silver-tier evolvers, they were likewise overwhelmed, their strength reduced to seventy percent of its full capacity.
Qin Shilei slowly descended from mid-air, An Qian standing to his left and right on King Kong's shoulders.
"I, Qin Shilei! From this day forth, I am the Lord of Junhai City."
Qin Shilei's voice echoed across the entire football stadium.
As his words resonated, countless bolts of lightning flickered and weaved across the sky above the stadium.
A colossal phoenix phantom also danced around the two figures.
"City Rise!"
Qin Shilei commanded in a deep voice.
The giant screens within the football stadium instantly switched to a view overlooking the outskirts of Junhai City.
The evolvers present were astonished to see a thick, sturdy city wall slowly rising along the boundaries of Junhai City.
Soon, Junhai City was completely enclosed by towering walls on all four sides.
"From now on, Junhai City is under my protection!"
Qin Shilei's voice reached the ears of the evolvers once more. "Those who dare to invade Junhai City shall be killed!"
With that, he took An Qian's hand, and they ascended into the sky, quickly disappearing from sight.
"It is truly fortunate for Junhai City to have such a City Lord!"
The host's voice rang out again. "City Lord Qin Shilei!"
After a long pause, the crowd finally recovered from the shock of the city wall's erection and chorused, "City Lord Qin Shilei!"
Simultaneously, numerous videos of the events unfolding were captured and disseminated across the national chat channel.
The incident not only caused a profound stir in Junhai City but also sent ripples of shock throughout the entire Great Xia Nation.
Leaders of various bases, large and small, began to pay closer attention to Qin Shilei's movements. Those ambitious individuals harboring a desire for power started to regard Qin Shilei with caution.
Zhao Zhiyuan and the members of the other two major families watched the excited crowd in the football stadium, their faces darkening.
They had not anticipated Qin Shilei orchestrating such a display during his inauguration.
This maneuver would firmly embed the fact of Qin Shilei's lordship in the hearts and minds of the people.
Even though the three great families still held sway in Junhai City, the consensus now was that Qin Shilei was its true master. As Qin Shilei continued to demonstrate his invincible power in the future, his position as City Lord would become even more unassailable.
"It seems we've attracted a wolf!" Lin Hetai said with a bitter expression.
"Not just a wolf, but a dragon," Li Anshi stated grimly.
"Let us form an alliance. We absolutely cannot allow Qin Shilei's influence to expand further, or there will be no place for our three families in Junhai City," Zhao Zhiyuan proposed.
To solidify their alliance, the three families decided to arrange marriages.
Lin Hetai smiled, "Your daughter, Zhao Yueling, would be quite a match for my young master, Lin Shaokun. What do you think, Brother Zhao?"
Zhao Zhiyuan also smiled, "I agree they are a good match. And Li Qingwan is quite suitable for my Yu Long. What do you say, Brother Li?"
Li Anshi nodded, "I also think it's excellent. Your second daughter and my young man would also make a fine couple, Brother Lin. What are your thoughts?"
The three families quickly finalized their marriage arrangements.
While the three families were preparing for their alliances, a joyous occasion also occurred on Qin Shilei's side.
These past few days, Zhao Yueling had been visiting Qin Shilei's compound constantly.
As they spent more time together, she and Jie Mingchen found themselves falling for each other.
Given that they were in an apocalypse, and death could come at any moment, Qin Shilei immediately decided to personally go to the Zhao family to propose.
In the main hall of the Zhao family's residence.
Qin Shilei set down his teacup and stated directly, "Patriarch Zhao, my subordinate Jie Mingchen and your niece, Zhao Yueling, are a match made in heaven. Today, I am here to propose on behalf of my subordinate."
"Uh!" Zhao Zhiyuan's expression turned extremely displeased.
After a moment of hesitation, he finally braced himself and said, "My niece is already betrothed to the Lin family's young master. A woman cannot marry two husbands. I fear I cannot agree to your request, City Lord."
Zhao Yueling, standing nearby, immediately said coldly, "When was I betrothed to Lin Shaokun? My marriage is my own decision. Please do not interfere arbitrarily, Uncle."
Zhao Zhiyuan's eyes darted, and he fabricated, "Your deceased parents arranged it. I was planning to tell you a few days ago but never found the opportunity."
"That's impossible," Zhao Yueling said, full of disbelief. "My parents would never force me to marry anyone. Uncle, I hope you will not speak falsehoods with your eyes open."
"Patriarch Zhao, this is Miss Yueling's marriage. I hope you will not interfere, as it will benefit no one."
At this point, Qin Shilei also interjected coldly.
Zhao Zhiyuan's expression changed again, and then he forced a smile. "That was merely casual talk between my brother and Lin Hetai, and it certainly cannot be considered a betrothal. Since Yueling and Mingchen are in love, I, as her uncle, naturally wish them well. Tomorrow is a good day; I will certainly host a grand wedding for them."