The City Lord's Mansion.
The training chamber.
A sea of flames roared, scorching the entire room with its blazing heat.
The City Lord stood bare-chested in the flames, slowly swinging a pair of hammers. Each move was simple and clear, yet filled with terrifying power that set space trembling.
Suddenly, he turned toward the training chamber's entrance and asked, "What is it?"
Outside, the middle-aged cultivator from earlier knelt on one knee, holding a letter with blood-red writing on a black background. He reported solemnly, "City Lord, Pei Ling, the Holy Son of the Chongming Sect, has sent someone with a challenge."
At once, the City Lord stopped his training and released the hammers. He reached out, and the challenge letter appeared between his fingers.
He calmly read its contents, his face betraying no surprise. After challenging the emperor of the Liulan Dynasty and defeating him, Pei Ling had come straight to Yanxi City's territory. Clearly, he meant to challenge the City Lord next!
He had been waiting for this challenge for several days!
The City Lord asked, "Who brought the challenge?"
The middle-aged cultivator replied, "A female cultivator from the Innate Religion. Judging by the aura of her cultivation method, she should be Pei Ling's cauldron."
The Innate Religion?
The City Lord was slightly surprised, then quickly understood. Challenging the emperor of the Liulan Dynasty, as well as him, the City Lord of Yanxi, had been Pei Ling's personal decision, not the Chongming Sect's intention.
Otherwise, the person sent to deliver the challenge would have been someone from the Jiu A Li Clan of the Chongming Sect...
It seemed the reports from the Liulan Dynasty were entirely true. Pei Ling had come here for the Great Dao, and no Chongming Sect elder had accompanied him.
After a moment's thought,