Facing the City Lord

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The City Lord's Mansion.

"In that case, I won't press you."

With that, Ye Zong's expression grew serious again.

"Kid, there's another important matter I need to ask you about. According to my investigation, you aren't from Glory City, are you? Can you tell me where you came from?"

Xiao Tianhao nodded. He had long expected the City Lord's Mansion to investigate his origins.

"I'm indeed not from Glory City. I can't say exactly where I came from, but I can tell you that the place where I lived is very far from Glory City," he replied to Ye Zong.

"Could you be from the Netherworld?" Ye Zong asked, venturing a guess.

Hearing that familiar place mentioned, Xiao Tianhao thought to himself.

It looks like Lord Ye Mo has already explored the Netherworld.

"I didn't expect you to know about the Netherworld too, City Lord! But I'm not from there."

Listening to Xiao Tianhao, Ye Zong couldn't help sighing. "If my father hadn't stumbled upon that mysterious world while exploring the Sacred Ancestor Mountain Range, I would have thought Glory City was the only human settlement left on the entire Holy Spirit Continent.

"To hear that you aren't from the Netherworld surprises me! It seems this world is far larger than I imagined. I really have been a frog at the bottom of a well."

Xiao Tianhao didn't mock him for thinking that way. Glory City was constantly surrounded by Demon Beasts, and there were few powerful experts within its walls. Only the handful of experts at Black Gold rank or above could venture out to explore the Sacred Ancestor Mountain Range.

But Black Gold experts were already Glory City's strongest fighting force. They couldn't simply leave at will. Losing even one would be a crippling blow to Glory City.

The ancient texts of the former empires had either been destroyed in the flames of war or survived with no one left who could translate them. Naturally, that had led to the current situation.

In Glory City, practically everyone believed theirs was humanity's last city.

If he hadn't transmigrated, he probably would have thought just like the residents here.

Xiao Tianhao answered Ye Zong solemnly. "City Lord, humanity is far more resilient than you imagine. There are traces of human activity in many places across the Holy Spirit Continent.

"For instance, the Poisonous Forest, Blood Moon Swamp, Sacred Spirit Bay, Heavenly Marsh Mountains, and Northern Snowfield. There are even traces of humanity in places I don't know about."

Ye Zong was somewhat startled, but soon regained his composure. "Very well. If you're unwilling to reveal your origins, let's leave it at that... By the way, does your master come from the same place as you?"

"Yes, that's right. My master does come from the same place as me," Xiao Tianhao replied.

Ye Zong nodded, lowering his head in thought.

Ye Zong raised his head and said solemnly, "Demon Beasts run rampant outside Glory City, and the Dark Guild watches like a tiger waiting to pounce. We desperately need talents like you right now.

"I hope you'll stay in the City Lord's Mansion under our protection, just like Nie Li. Whatever you need, we'll do our best to provide it."

Xiao Tianhao was touched, but he still politely declined. "I'm deeply grateful for your kindness, City Lord. But living in the City Lord's Mansion would be inconvenient in many ways. I'm accustomed to coming and going alone, free to act as I please. I hope you'll understand."

Ye Zong said sternly, "Kid, this is no joking matter. Even the city isn't completely safe now. Spies from the Dark Guild have probably already infiltrated it. If they learn of your talent for cultivation, they'll likely try to snuff you out in the cradle.

"Besides, you offended the Sacred Family earlier, and that family bears grudges. Danger lurks everywhere for you outside. You can't be willful about this."

Xiao Tianhao merely smiled confidently. "I have faith in my strength. How about... you spar with me, City Lord?"

"Fine. If you're that confident, come on." With that, Ye Zong left the study first and headed toward the courtyard.

Xiao Tianhao followed him.

The courtyard of the City Lord's Mansion.

"You can attack first!" Standing in the middle of the courtyard, Ye Zong extended one hand, gesturing for Xiao Tianhao to make the first move.

Without releasing his Demon Spirit, Xiao Tianhao charged straight forward.

Although he hadn't merged with his Demon Spirit, he regularly tempered his body. His strength was already no weaker than that of a Black Gold Demon Spirit Master.

Reaching Ye Zong, he drove a punch straight at him.

The fearsome fist hurtled toward Ye Zong, carrying a fierce rush of wind.

Ye Zong quickly threw a punch to block it. Their fists collided, and he was blasted two or three meters back. Steadying himself, he stared at Xiao Tianhao in shock.

Is this kid really still at Gold rank? His strength is almost on par with mine, and I'm at the peak of Black Gold.

"What incredible strength. Kid, I'm going to get serious now." With that, he merged with his Black-Scaled Earth Dragon Demon Spirit.

A thick layer of black scales began covering Ye Zong's body, with fiery red showing through the gaps. His hands turned into dragon claws, and a dragon tail four or five meters long emerged behind him. A powerful aura radiated from his body, making the surrounding trees sway.

The corner of Xiao Tianhao's mouth curled upward, and he too merged with his Demon Spirit.

He instantly merged with the Violet Lightning Saint Spirit Flood Dragon Demon Spirit!

An aura even more powerful than Ye Zong's spread from his body. Although the Violet Lightning Saint Spirit Flood Dragon Demon Spirit appeared to be merely a flood dragon, its bloodline was already no weaker than a true dragon's. In fact, it was considerably stronger than that of an ordinary true dragon.

Ye Zong instantly felt bloodline suppression emanating from Xiao Tianhao.

His expression changed again, shock surging through his heart.

His Demon Spirit ranked among the best of the lesser dragons. He had only managed to hunt it down after tremendous effort, yet Xiao Tianhao's Demon Spirit was actually suppressing it. He could probably only bring out seventy or eighty percent of his strength now.

Having completed his merger, Xiao Tianhao charged at him like a bolt of lightning.

Ye Zong's pupils contracted sharply. His dragon tail slammed against the ground, and amid flying fragments of stone, he lunged forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.

His dragon claw swept toward Xiao Tianhao's shoulder, wreathed in scorching currents of air. The crimson markings between his scales lit up, and sparks actually dripped from his claw tips.

Xiao Tianhao planted his foot and abruptly shifted three feet sideways. The instant he dodged the claw's wind, his right dragon claw struck his opponent's tail. Violet lightning leaped from his fingertips, bursting against the tail scales with sharp crackles.

Pain shot through Ye Zong. He swept the tip of his tail sideways, but Xiao Tianhao ducked beneath it, driving his elbow, covered in blue-violet dragon scales, into the scaled armor beneath Ye Zong's ribs.

Bang! His scales shuddered. Ye Zong grunted and used the momentum to leap backward, opening his mouth to spew a pillar of dark red flame.

Violet lightning surged around Xiao Tianhao. He slashed fiercely forward with a dragon claw, cleaving the pillar of flame apart by sheer force, and appeared before Ye Zong.

Clenching his right dragon claw into a fist, he smashed it toward Ye Zong's chest, lightning flashing around it. Ye Zong hastily raised a claw to block. The shock wave from their collision sent the stone table in the courtyard's corner flying.

Clang! Sparks burst where their dragon claws met. Ye Zong was driven back step after step, only steadying himself by anchoring his dragon tail firmly into the ground.

Xiao Tianhao didn't pursue him. Violet lightning gathered into an arc at his fingertips, and he smiled. "City Lord, try taking this move too."

The violet arc darted forward like a nimble snake. Ye Zong's pupils contracted sharply, and he crossed his dragon claws in front of himself.

The arc struck his scaled armor and exploded. Countless fine threads of electricity wormed into the gaps between his scales. His entire body shuddered, and even his dragon tail curled up.

Xiao Tianhao withdrew his attack and stood still, the violet lightning gradually fading from his fingertips. "City Lord, shall we continue?"

Ye Zong looked at his slightly trembling dragon claws, blue-violet electrical marks still lingering on their scales. With a wry smile, he shook his head. "Enough. You little brat... you've hidden your strength far too well."

Ye Zong withdrew his Demon Spirit and looked at Xiao Tianhao.

"Your strength is already no weaker than mine. There really is no need for you to stay in the City Lord's Mansion."

"But the Dark Guild and the Sacred Family are full of schemes. You still need to be extra careful."

Xiao Tianhao also withdrew his Demon Spirit and nodded solemnly to Ye Zong.

"Don't call me City Lord anymore. Just call me Uncle Ye!" Ye Zong said, a smile returning to his face.

"All right, Uncle Ye," Xiao Tianhao said without standing on ceremony.

Inside the study.

By now, both men had changed into fresh clothes.

Ye Zong looked at Xiao Tianhao, a trace of regret flashing in his eyes. "Kid, if you encounter any difficulties in the future, just say the word. The City Lord's Mansion will spare no effort to help you."

Xiao Tianhao rose and bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Uncle Ye. If I really need anything, I certainly won't hesitate to ask."

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