"What? None of you dare?"
The old man let out a cold shout, his expression somewhat displeased.
"Lord Taishu, this Ye Xuan has awakened the Divine Dragon Soul. According to my intel, he can easily slay an expert at the 4th Layer of the Earth Spirit Realm. The strongest cultivator in our One-Star Cities is only at the 5th Layer. If we go alone, I’m afraid..."
Lord Taishu sneered. "Just a moment ago, you were all filled with righteous indignation, clamoring to kill that brat. What, now you’re all afraid of death?"
"It’s not that we fear death. It’s just that if we make a move and fail, how will the world view us? Those ants in the Three-Star Main Towns will think that City Lords are not insurmountable."
"Then you all strike together. You should be confident now, right?"
"Lord Taishu, by ’together,’ do you mean all the Sub-City Lords of the One-Star Cities?"
"Exactly. By attacking together, you can also unleash the Chaotic Heaven Domain, vastly increasing your strength."
"Good! Then we will definitely take Ye Xuan’s head!"
"That boy won’t live past half a month!"
Only then did the One-Star City Lords smile.
One hundred and eight Sub-Cities: sixty One-Star Cities, thirty Two-Star Cities, and eighteen Three-Star Cities. Out of the sixty One-Star Cities, excluding those taken away by the Main City Lord, there were fifty people available to be mobilized.
Fifty Earth Spirit Realm experts striking together—who had ever seen such a spectacle? Furthermore, every City Lord had cultivated the Chaotic Heaven Trigram Technique. Eradicating Ye Xuan was not an impossibility.
"I hope you keep your word and don’t disgrace the name of a City. Additionally, after killing Ye Xuan, quickly transport his corpse to the Main City. Remember this well: his corpse is more important than your lives."
The people of the Main City clearly knew that the Divine Dragon Essence Blood could be refined from Ye Xuan’s corpse. Even if this was just a legend, the Main City Lord had to try. Successfully condensing Dragon Blood would be a monumental achievement.
"Understood! Once everyone is assembled, we will immediately hunt down Ye Xuan. We will definitely kill him within half a month."
"Alright, dismissed."
Lord Taishu spoke again. With those final words, he turned and left, a young man following close behind him.
"Grandfather, can I go kill that Ye Xuan?" The young man’s eyes flashed with a sharp light.
Lord Taishu asked in confusion, "Why?"
"As long as I am here, there can be no second demon like me. Additionally, I want to see for myself just how strong a Divine Beast Soul really is."
Lord Taishu said flatly, "There is no need to see it. Witnessing it might affect your Dao heart. Someone will naturally kill him; you do not need to worry about it."
He understood better than anyone that once someone witnessed towering mountains and vast oceans, they would realize their own insignificance. That sense of disparity could cause a genius to permanently crumble.
"Grandfather, but I..."
"I said you are not permitted to go. This is an order. You are the future of the Taishu Family. All resources have been prioritized for you. We cannot afford for you to have any accidents."
"Alright, Grandfather. Then where are you going now? Are you going to stay in Bifang City for a while?"
"Stay? I don’t have the time. I still have to head south to check on that treacherous land."
The young man’s expression changed. "Grandfather, you’re going to that treacherous land too? It’s too dangerous! I heard that four One-Star City Lords have already died there."
"I know it’s perilous, but I have no choice. The Tuoba Family issued the order; how can I refuse?"
The surname Tuoba was something no one in a City dared to provoke. After all, it was one of the Eight Great Clans, which represented the eight Main Cities.
"Grandfather, is Lord Tuoba also trapped inside?"
"Yes. This newly surfaced treacherous land is far trickier than we imagined. Fortunately, Lord Tuoba hasn’t fallen. If a Main City Lord were to perish, it would be the first time in history."
The history of each of the eight Main Cities was as long as that of the Moyue Kingdom itself. Throughout history, there had never been an incident where a Main City Lord died. This was because they represented the strongest combat power outside of the royal family. Any one of them could sweep across the world.
"Grandfather, please be careful."
"Don’t worry. If anything happens to me, you will become the City Lord, and the Elders will all support you. All resources will be at your disposal. With your talent, surpassing me will not be difficult."
"Grandfather, don’t say such things. You will be fine."
"Alright, I’m leaving. Are you heading to Chasing Moon City?"
"Yes, it’s not far from here. Since you won’t let me go with them to kill Ye Xuan, I’ll go see Liu Yan."
The old man nodded, then added, "That woman’s heart still isn’t with you. Why not stop waiting? When I return, we’ll directly discuss the exact date for the wedding."
"Grandfather, there’s no need to rush. I want to win her heart first."
"Your desire to conquer is quite strong indeed. But do you know what you must first obtain to win a woman’s heart?"
"What?"
"To win a woman’s heart, you must first win her... vagina."
The old man chuckled and patted the young man’s shoulder before his body completely vanished.
The young man shook his head with a bitter smile. "Grandfather, I understand what you’re saying. But if the order is reversed, the feeling just isn’t the same."
...
At the Ye Family, upon the town walls.
After listening to Gongsun Po’s explanation, Gongsun Xin’s expression shifted several times. Looking at Ye Xuan, he spoke with utmost gravity, "Ye Xuan, do you know how difficult your future path will be? Why were you so impulsive?"
"Uncle Xin, how can you say that too? But I don’t regret killing Sun Zhenwu. If I hadn’t, the million cultivators would never have retreated. If Sun Zhenwu had given the order, even with my awakened Dragon Soul, I wouldn’t have been able to protect my clansmen.
"Alright, Uncle Xin, we are preparing to leave. After I’m gone, you can settle into the Three-Star Main Town. The Sun Family shouldn’t pose much of a threat to you anymore."
Saying this, Ye Xuan leaped off the town walls. It was time to leave.
"Xuan’Er, you’re leaving? Mother will go with you." Gongsun Yanran arrived at Ye Xuan’s side.
"Mother, aren’t you going to look after the Gongsun Family anymore?"
"Your eldest uncle is back. With him here, I am at ease. From now on, I will stay by your side. Even if it means death, I will die together with you."
"Mother, what’s all this talk of dying? Do you really think that killing a City Lord means certain death? Then I will create a miracle where I kill a City Lord and still live. How does that sound?"
There was a bright light in Ye Xuan’s eyes. Even though he would be leading his clansmen on the run, he suddenly felt a sense of freedom. Without the town walls holding him back, it was as if he had broken out of an iron cage.
In the past, he had always acted with hesitation, afraid of implicating the Ye Family. But now that he had completely torn all face with a City, no one would be able to dictate his actions anymore. From now on, whichever City came to kill him, he would plunder that City’s resources. Whoever dared touch the Ye Family would have their entire clan annihilated.
"Xuan’Er..." Gongsun Yanran didn’t say anything more; she was deeply moved by Ye Xuan’s high-spirited resolve.
"Senior, are you here?" Ye Xuan called out to his surroundings.
Not long after, the storyteller appeared by his side.