Chapter 30: The City Lord Challenges
"Crack, crack!"
Xiao Tian stretched lazily, his body emitting a series of popping sounds like fried beans. He then retracted the Copper Thunder Body and stood up.
"Qing Tan, let's head back to the Ironwood Estate now," Xiao Tian said.
"Okay... Brother Xiao Tian, can you put on some clothes first?" Qing Tan turned around and immediately covered her eyes.
The scene she saw brought her a greater shock than seeing Xiao Tian cultivate. After all, she had seen everything this time.
"Oh!" Xiao Tian, reminded by Qing Tan, realized that his clothes had been completely destroyed by the thunder energy. Embarrassed, he wished he could find a hole to crawl into.
Soon, Xiao Tian was fully dressed.
"Ahem!" He cleared his throat and said to Qing Tan, "Alright, let's go back now."
Speaking, Xiao Tian activated the key and summoned the portal. Since Qing Tan had already seen everything, he wasn't afraid of revealing the portal to her.
"Brother Xiao Tian, what is this?" Qing Tan turned around, curiously observing the portal that appeared out of thin air.
"This is the portal that will take us directly back to the Ironwood Estate," Xiao Tian explained as he led Qing Tan through it.
"Really?" Qing Tan was initially skeptical, but as they walked through, they indeed arrived at the Ironwood Estate.
"What a magical portal!" Qing Tan, having just begun her cultivation journey, had never seen anything so wondrous.
"Alright, let's head to the Yangyuan Stone Mine now!" Xiao Tian lifted Qing Tan and flew towards the base of the mountain.
Upon arriving at the mine, Lin Zhentian approached them. "Young master, during your absence, we received a message from the Wan Gold Chamber of Commerce. The City Lord of Flame City wants to meet you."
"Okay, I got it," Xiao Tian nodded.
He wasn't surprised that the City Lord wanted to see him. After all, he had killed the leader of one of Flame City's three major forces and let the Wan Gold Chamber of Commerce swallow up the Blood Wolf Gang. If the City Lord didn't intervene, that would indeed be strange.
Recently, the Wan Gold Chamber of Commerce had become the center of attention in Flame City. This was because they had taken over the Blood Wolf Gang, one of the city's three major forces. According to Wan Gold Chamber's leader, Xia Wanjin, there was a powerful backer behind them, a figure of the Creation Third Realm.
The news caused a stir throughout Flame City. This meant the Wan Gold Chamber of Commerce might become an entity surpassing the City Lord's Mansion. However, after the City Lord's call to meet, the atmosphere shifted again. People speculated whether Xia Wanjin was bluffing or if the backer was hesitant to show up.
Soon after, another announcement came from the Wan Gold Chamber of Commerce: their backer intended to host a banquet for all the city's forces, including the City Lord's Mansion. This development excited everyone, as it was seen as a potential decisive moment to determine Flame City's dominant force.
In the evening, a grand mansion of the Wan Gold Chamber of Commerce was brightly lit and bustling with guests. It was as lively as a market.
"Patriarch Sun has arrived!"
"Master Ma of the Martial Arts Hall has arrived!"
"Wei Tong, Master of the Blood Clothes Gate, has arrived!"
...
"Master Yan of the Symbol Master Association has arrived!"
With each announcement, all of Flame City's significant forces gathered in the mansion's spacious hall, resembling a large square. The hall was lively, with everyone mingling and chatting with their acquaintances. However, beneath the surface, there was a tense undercurrent as everyone awaited the City Lord's arrival.
"City Lord Shi has arrived!"
As the announcement rang out, the hall fell into an eerie silence. Everyone respectfully and fearfully looked towards the entrance. A middle-aged man in a brocade robe, with a handsome face, entered the hall, accompanied by a graceful figure.
"Greetings, City Lord!" Everyone saluted immediately. This was a powerful figure of the Shaping Realm, worthy of such respect.
"Rise," City Lord Shi said calmly, then looked at Xia Wanjin. "Xia Wanjin, where is the person backing you?"
Everyone's eyes turned to Xia Wanjin, eager to see who this mysterious backer was.
"Haha, I heard City Lord Shi was looking for me. What can I do for you?" A voice suddenly rang out, and a streak of light appeared in the sky. The light descended before the hall, revealing a handsome young man.
"So young!"
"Not only young but also very handsome!"
"Could he be the one backing Xia Wanjin?"
"That can't be right. How can someone so young be a Creation Third Realm expert?"
"He just flew here, a technique only Creation Third Realm experts possess!"
Seeing Xiao Tian, the crowd buzzed with discussion. They had expected an old, cunning elder, not a harmless-looking, handsome young man.
"Huh? It's him?" Master Yan recognized Xiao Tian and was surprised. He hadn't expected the powerful expert to be the person he once wanted as an apprentice.
City Lord Shi looked at Xiao Tian. "Are you the one backing the Wan Gold Chamber of Commerce?"
"Yes," Xiao Tian nodded.
City Lord Shi said, "In that case, you owe me an explanation. After all, Yue Shan was one of Flame City's people."
Xiao Tian, with his hands behind his back, said arrogantly, "You alone are not enough to make me explain anything."
"Haha!" City Lord Shi laughed. "If that's the case, let's settle this the warrior's way!"
With that, he took a step forward, releasing a formidable aura that swept through the hall. He leaped into the air, and a long jade sword appeared in his hand. The sword, resembling a short spear, glowed with a jade light and exuded a sharp aura, clearly a spiritual treasure.
"The Jade Breaker Sword! The City Lord is using the Jade Breaker Sword!"
"Since the City Lord reached the Shaping Realm, it's been years since we've seen him use it."
"No matter how talented this young man is, he's going to lose today."
The crowd below didn't have much faith in Xiao Tian's chances.
(End of Chapter)