A visit to the City Lord's Mansion

Xiao Tianhao's residence.

That day, Xiao Tianhao was practicing the demon spirit battle techniques of the demon spirit he had recently integrated with in his courtyard.

Lightning flickered throughout the courtyard, like an electric current darting about.

It flashed here one moment and there the next, yet Xiao Tianhao himself was nowhere to be seen.

At that moment, he was integrated with the Violet Lightning Saint Spirit Flood Dragon demon spirit.

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door. The purple lightning in the courtyard paused, and Xiao Tianhao's figure slowly emerged.

A pair of dragon horns crowned Xiao Tianhao's head. Blue-purple flood dragon scales covered his face and body, leaving only his eyes, nose, and mouth exposed. Thick scales also covered his arms, and his hands had become dragon claws that gleamed with razor-sharp menace. A three-meter-long flood dragon tail had grown from his back, making him look like a half-dragon.

He had grown to five or six meters tall. Purple lightning constantly flickered across the scales covering his body, lending him an overpowering aura.

Could Ning'er and Lan Ruo have come to see me? he wondered.

With that thought, he walked toward the door.

His towering body rapidly shrank, and the traits of his integration with the Violet Lightning Saint Spirit Flood Dragon demon spirit swiftly vanished.

"Who is it?" Xiao Tianhao asked as he opened the door in puzzlement.

A middle-aged man in a splendid brocade robe stood outside, a jade pendant engraved with the City Lord's Mansion's emblem hanging from his waist. Behind him stood two guards dressed in similar attire.

"Young Master Xiao, I am the steward of the City Lord's Mansion. Having heard of your exceptional talent, the city lord specifically sent me to invite you to the mansion for a conversation." The steward bowed slightly, his manner respectful without losing its dignity.

Xiao Tianhao's heart stirred. It seemed his recent activities had caused enough of a stir to draw City Lord Ye Zong's attention. After a moment's thought, he said, "Sorry for the trouble, Steward. Please wait a moment while I gather my things, and then I'll go with you to see the city lord."

He quickly changed his clothes, stored his important belongings in the Profound Space Pearl, and followed the steward toward the City Lord's Mansion.

Along the way, Xiao Tianhao kept wondering why Ye Zong had invited him to the mansion.

Soon, a magnificent estate appeared before him. The City Lord's Mansion occupied an immense area, and its vermilion gates stood more than twice a person's height, their golden studs gleaming in the sunlight.

Two enormous stone lions stood majestically at the entrance, as though guarding the estate's dignity.

Guards stood watch on either side. They greeted the steward's party, then remained upright as javelins at their posts.

Inside the estate lay a broad bluestone avenue, lined with exotic flowers and plants that released wafts of delicate fragrance.

At the end of the avenue, an imposing main building rose at the center. Its sweeping eaves, intricate brackets, carved beams, and painted pillars displayed its lavish splendor.

After passing through several covered corridors, the steward brought Xiao Tianhao to a spacious study.

Inside, a middle-aged man in a black robe stood deep in thought before a huge map of Glory City on the wall. His face was stern, yet carried a touch of scholarly refinement.

This was Ye Zong, the city lord of Glory City.

"My lord, Young Master Xiao is here," the steward said softly.

"Good. You may leave us," Ye Zong instructed without turning around.

Only after the steward withdrew did Ye Zong turn. He regarded Xiao Tianhao expressionlessly as an invisible aura spread out and bore down on him. The entire room seemed to tremble.

Xiao Tianhao stood firm, smiling at City Lord Ye Zong as though that pressure did not exist.

"Well done, lad!" Ye Zong suddenly burst out laughing.

Seeing Ye Zong laugh, Xiao Tianhao cupped his fists and offered the respectful bow of a junior.

"My respects, City Lord."

"You live up to the talent I saw in you. You didn't even react under the pressure of my aura. You're far better than that Nie Li fellow... Have a seat." Ye Zong looked at Xiao Tianhao with satisfaction.

Xiao Tianhao dispensed with the formalities and sat directly in a nearby chair.

Ye Zong's gaze settled on Xiao Tianhao, and a gentle smile appeared on his face. "Tianhao, lad, do you know why I summoned you?"

Xiao Tianhao shook his head to indicate that he did not.

Ye Zong's smile faded, and he looked at him solemnly. "Tianhao, to tell you the truth, President Gu Yan of the Alchemist Association previously reported to me about your cooperation with the association and the pill formulas you gave them. He also mentioned that you had a mysterious master.

"Ever since then, I've had people keeping an eye on you. I also investigated your background. You seem to have appeared suddenly outside Glory City, but I couldn't uncover any specific details."

"After observing you all this time, I've found that you truly have no intention of harming Glory City's interests. Moreover, your cultivation has advanced at an astonishing pace, and your performance in the Sacred Orchid Institute's Year-End Test was outstanding.

"Judging by your current cultivation, you must have already broken through to Gold rank. What a gifted young man. Even my father was nowhere near reaching Gold rank at your age. You've made me very curious." As he finished speaking, a smile returned to Ye Zong's face.

Xiao Tianhao smiled modestly and replied, "You flatter me, City Lord. Lord Ye Mo is Glory City's only Legendary Demon Spirit Master in nearly a century. I've merely had a few fortunate opportunities. I wouldn't dare compare myself to him."

Xiao Tianhao was not an arrogant person, even though his current cultivation was indeed higher than Lord Ye Mo's had been in his youth.

He had only reached this point thanks to a great many fortunate opportunities. Lord Ye Mo, however, had attained Legend rank through his own efforts and protected Glory City for nearly a century. He was an elder worthy of respect.

Of course, Xiao Tianhao did not belittle himself either. Fortuitous opportunities were part of one's growth, after all.

"Hahaha, good, good! I'd thought you might let your talent go to your head and look down on everyone!" Seeing Xiao Tianhao's attitude, Ye Zong grew even more pleased.

"Tianhao, lad, I'd like to betroth Zi Yun to you. Would you be willing?" Ye Zong asked.

"City Lord, that... wouldn't be appropriate, would it? If I remember correctly, Zi Yun already has someone she likes." Xiao Tianhao gave a wry smile and waved his hands.

"Hmph! Just mentioning that makes my blood boil. That bastard Nie Li! I invited him to the City Lord's Mansion out of kindness to keep him safe, but the moment he arrived, he ran into my daughter's bedroom with his upper body bare.

"His cultivation is decent, but his character is not. If Zi Yun hadn't pleaded for him, I'd have thrown him out long ago." Hearing Xiao Tianhao bring up Nie Li filled Ye Zong with anger.

Xiao Tianhao thought to himself.

Was Nie Li really that impatient? To think the same scene from the original story still happened.

He deserved that beating. Who runs straight into someone else's daughter's bedroom the moment he arrives, bare-chested at that? Didn't that make his improper intentions plain?

Still, the most pressing thing was to turn Ye Zong down first. Otherwise, he would end up at odds with Nie Li.

Of course, it was not that he feared Nie Li. When he read the original novel, he had been quite fond of Nie Li and Ye Ziyun as a couple.

So even after transmigrating into the world of Tales of Demons and Gods, he had never considered breaking Nie Li and Ye Ziyun up. That was why he had barely interacted with Ye Ziyun.

"City Lord, Zi Yun and Nie Li already have feelings for each other. I won't come between them," Xiao Tianhao replied, facing Ye Zong.

"Tianhao, Zi Yun inherited her mother's beauty. Even at her young age, she's already bewitched countless people until their souls are turned upside down. Doesn't your heart stir at all?" Compared with Nie Li, Ye Zong still favored Xiao Tianhao.

"Uh, Zi Yun is indeed beautiful. You probably couldn't find many people prettier than her in all of Glory City. But I already have someone I like, so I won't steal someone else's beloved." Xiao Tianhao felt rather awkward at Ye Zong's words.

"You mean that young girl from the Xiao Family, don't you? Ah, forget it. I suppose Zi Yun simply wasn't fated to have this." Ye Zong could not help sighing.

(Do you want to see Ye Ziyun end up with Xiao Tianhao or with Nie Li?)

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