The Runaway City Lord

The Taichu Holy Land.

Deep within the Holy Land, pavilions stood tall amidst the clouds.

Ji Lingxuan, clad in moon-white brocade robes, leaned against the railing, overlooking the churning sea of clouds in the mountains below. The Taichu Dao Seal on her forehead glowed with a faint golden light, and her phoenix eyes were filled with contemplation.

She was thinking about Ye Chuan.

His origins, his appearance, and everything that had happened in the past...

"Saint Son, we are still unable to trace that Grandmaster's origins."

A figure quietly appeared behind Ji Lingxuan. It was an intelligence agent of the Taichu Holy Land. He bowed respectfully, his tone heavy.

"We have investigated every reclusive family and ancient sect across the entire Tianxuan Continent, and even scoured ancient texts, yet there is no record of this person. His godlike forging skills seem to have appeared out of thin air, without any trace of a past."

Hearing this, Ji Lingxuan showed no emotion, merely nodding slightly.

She recalled the scene where Ye Chuan effortlessly shattered the Demon Sealing Seal conjured by ten Mahayana Realm protectors. She remembered the eerie banner that devoured a million demons, and the God-Sealing Cauldron that had been shattered and then restored.

Every single one of these events exceeded her expectations.

It gave Ji Lingxuan the illusion that she hadn't quite woken up that day.

"That Grandmaster's cultivation is unfathomable; my Heavenly Eye cannot see through him at all."

Ji Lingxuan spoke slowly, her voice cool and clear like jade striking stone.

"To casually break the combined force of ten Mahayana cultivators, to effortlessly seal the remnant souls of a million demons, and to possess magical artifacts unseen even by the Holy Land—such a figure cannot be a nobody. Could it be... he is not from the Tianxuan Continent?"

The elder beside her shrank his pupils. This guess was too bold, yet it seemed to be the only explanation.

"Saint Son, do you mean... he comes from the Upper Realm? But the passage to the Upper Realm has been sealed for ten thousand years. No cultivator has ever crossed over."

"Nothing in this world is absolute." Ji Lingxuan raised her eyes to the horizon, where stars seemed to twinkle deep within the sea of clouds.

"His manner of speech does not resemble that of a native of Tianxuan. If he truly is a mighty figure from the Upper Realm, then for the Holy Land, this is both an opportunity and a challenge."

She fell silent for a moment. "The restoration of the God-Sealing Cauldron is no longer the main priority. But that Grandmaster... I must personally visit the smithy in Xuanjing City. Firstly, to check the progress of the Cauldron's repair, and secondly... to probe his background once more."

The elder immediately tried to dissuade her. "The Saint Son is of noble status; how can you easily risk yourself? That man's origins are unknown. If he harbors malicious intent..."

"It matters not." Ji Lingxuan interrupted him, her tone carrying an unquestionable authority.

"If he truly wanted to make a move against me, I wouldn't necessarily be safe even within the Holy Land."

"Furthermore, if he really is a mighty figure from the Upper Realm, he wouldn't stoop so low as to attack a mere Holy Land Saint Son."

She turned and walked down from the main hall, her moon-white robes tracing a graceful arc against the sea of clouds. "We depart for Xuanjing City immediately."

Half an hour later, a gilded flying boat departed from the Taichu Holy Land. Carved with patterns of Luan birds and auspicious clouds, and surrounded by a faint golden glow, it broke through the sea of clouds, speeding towards Xuanjing City.

...

Ji Lingxuan was just as ostentatious as the last time. The moment the Holy Land's flying boat appeared above Xuanjing City—the City Lord was dumbfounded.

What? Again?

Th-th-th-this... It hadn't been long since the incident with the God-Sealing Cauldron. The citizens of Xuanjing City hadn't even fully recovered or rested yet.

The City Lord subconsciously reached for his Void-Splitting Seal.

"Looks like it's time to run..."

Better a dead friend than a dead me. The City Lord felt that nothing good ever came from the Holy Land's visits.

At that moment, however, a deep, powerful voice resonated from the bow of the boat, echoing through the city like thunder.

"Where is Zhao Hongyuan, City Lord of Xuanjing? The Saint Son has arrived; come forth and pay your respects immediately!"

Inside the City Lord's Manor, Zhao Hongyuan, who was preparing to flee, froze. His hand trembled, and the Void-Splitting Seal dropped to the ground.

He felt an invisible pressure lock onto him, making even breathing difficult—this was the aura lock of a Mahayana Realm cultivator!

With a mournful face, knowing escape was impossible, he could only brace himself. He straightened his robes, activated his flying artifact, and flew towards the gilded flying boat.

"Zhao Hongyuan, City Lord of Xuanjing, pays respects to the Saint Son!"

Zhao Hongyuan flew beneath the boat and bowed deeply, not daring to lift his head. His voice trembled slightly.

"I was unaware of Your Highness's arrival and failed to welcome you properly. I beg your forgiveness!"

He muttered inwardly: You caused such a huge commotion last time, and now you're back? The fragile frame of Xuanjing City can't handle this kind of torment!

Ji Lingxuan's figure appeared at the edge of the flying boat, her moon-white robes fluttering in the wind. Her phoenix eyes looked down at Zhao Hongyuan as she spoke in a flat tone.

"I have come for the restoration of the God-Sealing Cauldron and require a stay in Xuanjing City for a few days. Arrange a quiet and elegant courtyard for me."

Hearing this, Zhao Hongyuan finally let go of his suspended heart—so they weren't here to cause trouble!

That was easy.

As long as they didn't torment Xuanjing City, anything was fine.

He hurriedly bowed and scraped. "Yes, yes, yes! I will arrange it immediately! There is a Jingxin Garden in the western suburbs of Xuanjing City. The scenery is secluded, and the spiritual energy is abundant. It is most suitable for Your Highness's temporary stay! I will go prepare it right now!"

Ji Lingxuan said nothing.

Zhao Hongyuan paused, remaining bent over, afraid to move.

"Why haven't you gone yet?" Ji Lingxuan asked indifferently.

As if granted a great amnesty, Zhao Hongyuan hurriedly turned and flew off to make arrangements.

The elder beside her spoke up. "Saint Son, the return to the Holy Land is not far..."

Ji Lingxuan said calmly, "Follow me to the smithy."

"Yes." The elder dared not say more.

...

Meanwhile, in the smithy at the other end of Xuanjing City, Ye Chuan was toying with a complete map of the Tianxuan Continent. Hu Li lay beside him, pointing curiously at the markings on the map.

"Boss, where did this map come from?"

"Is everything depicted on it true?"

Seeing little Hu Li's curious look, Ye Chuan simply said, "As for the content... I'll have to verify if it's true myself. However, the Yaoguang Pavilion shouldn't be selling me fake intelligence."

After all, that was how they made a living; they wouldn't go that far.

"Hmm... we have guests." Ye Chuan seemed to sense something and looked towards the door.

"Come, Hu Li, let's welcome them."

"Eh?" Hu Li found it rare for Ye Chuan to actively welcome guests.

Ji Lingxuan landed at the entrance of the smithy. Watching Ye Chuan come out to meet her, she narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly.

"Grandmaster, I trust you have been well. The God-Sealing Cauldron..."

Ye Chuan interrupted her, smiling as he stepped aside to let her in. "The God-Sealing Cauldron is seventy to eighty percent restored. There is something I wish to discuss with you. Come in and sit; I've brewed some spirit tea."

Ji Lingxuan paused, somewhat surprised.

This Grandmaster...

Why did he look a bit shifty, like he was up to no good?

He wasn't like this before.

Had his personality changed?

"Very well." Ji Lingxuan didn't say much more. She simply waved the folding fan in her hand and stepped into Ye Chuan's smithy.