The Lord of Sunset City

Sunset City. Its towering walls were incomparably sturdy! The soldiers atop them lazily watched the merchants and residents coming and going through the gate, while the gate captain in charge of inspections looked just as idle! Though Sunset City was a frontier city, it bordered no other country and faced no risk of war. Soldiers and residents alike had long grown accustomed to it and saw nothing amiss.

Inside the city, traveling merchants hurried along with their baggage on their backs. Vendors talked at length and shouted themselves hoarse trying to sell their wares! Common folk haggled over cheap goods! Hawkers and peddlers pushed carts and sold drinks! That was probably how life went for most poor folk.

On the main street, a patrol of twenty was making its rounds. At every shop they passed, someone handed over a pouch of money. If anyone dared refuse, the twenty men would surround the storefront. They did nothing else, merely making sure no one could get inside! Their leader was short and somewhat plump, his eyes turned inward toward the space between his brows. A black mole on his chin bore a tuft of white hair. With his head tilted slightly upward, he exposed enormous nostrils, and the corners of his mouth curled up. He strutted along as though he owned the world! His hands were clasped behind his back, and he had insisted on hanging the sword meant for his waist from his belly instead, as if afraid others might not see it. This was the newly appointed city-guard officer. After making a circuit of the street and collecting everything due, he led his men to the city lord's manor!

The street by the city lord's manor was much quieter! Those coming and going were all people of standing! There were no loud shouts or clattering sounds. When the city-guard officer and his men arrived, he dispersed the patrol! Only those holding official posts could enter the manor. The short fat man swaggered through the gates, swaying as he walked as though he recognized no one.

Before anyone saw him, his loud voice rang out: "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law..."

He was the city lord's brother-in-law!

The city lord's manor contained dozens of buildings, all made of Phoenix-nest red ebony. The courtyard held countless rare and precious trees: dragon-blood treasure trees, purple sandalwood trees, weeping mottled-wood trees... Even the white jade paving tiles were inlaid with gems, to say nothing of the roofs, with their glazed tiles and gemstones!!! What a magnificent manor!

In the main hall, the city lord, Mo Cang, was savoring tea! At the sound of that drake-like squawk, he frowned involuntarily, displeased.

He made no reply and continued savoring his tea!

The visitor stepped over the threshold, wearing a fawning, slightly lecherous smile. Paired with that hairy black mole, it made him downright nauseating!

Without looking at him, Mo Cang set down his teacup. "Ma Yuan, what brings you here?"

"Hehe, brother-in-law, I went on patrol today. Our Sunset City really is flourishing and prosperous."

"I see. Is there anything else?"

"I knew I couldn't hide it from you, brother-in-law. Here's the thing: I still have a bunch of brothers in Phoenix Cry Village, and most of them have nothing to do. I was wondering if they could come to Sunset City and help you guard it. Being gate captains would be fine too." The words tumbled out of Ma Yuan's mouth without a moment's thought.

"Gate captains? Ma Yuan, how about I give you my position as city lord?" Mo Cang was so angry he laughed.

"Give me the position of city lord? Brother-in-law, do you mean it?"

Mo Cang waved a hand, and a burst of invisible force sent Ma Yuan flying, slamming him into the courtyard!

"Get lost. This isn't a place you should be."

A squad of guards immediately strode out, picked up Ma Yuan, who was sprawled spread-eagle, and dumped him far from the manor!

"I'm really impressive. I flew so far, and it didn't hurt one bit. Hehe."

Ma Yuan stroked the white hair on his chin. "I ought to go back one of these days and show off to my brothers."

Ma Yuan got up, dusted off his backside, and reached into his robes. Hehe, this was all collected today. Having an official post, however small, really was nice! Hmm? He wondered how much his brother-in-law collected in a day!

I'll know the answer once I become city lord. No need to hurry, no need to hurry!

Inside the manor, Mo Cang was still drinking tea! A figure emerged from behind the screen. Clad entirely in black robes, with not even his face exposed, he spoke in a hoarse voice:

"City Lord Mo, the Wu Kingdom's envoys have arrived."

"Take them to the hidden hall and have them wait. I'll be there shortly."

The old village chief and his party were resting. Days of travel had left them exhausted! By their reckoning, they would reach Phoenix Cry Village in two more days at most!

Xiao Changlin was massaging the old village chief, while Ye's father gulped down water from a waterskin. The other uncles were eating the dried meat they had brought.

"Changlin, take a break! Have some tea. These old bones of mine can hold out for quite a few more years! I won't fall easily before I've led everyone out of the mountains."

Everyone heard him, and their hearts grew heavy! The old village chief had no sons or daughters and had devoted his whole life to the village!

"Old village chief, it's all right. You're still hale and hearty! This massage technique of mine just helps your Qi and blood flow smoothly and eases fatigue."

Ye's father stood up and untied the bundle at his waist. It contained fine grain prepared by Ye's mother, which they had also traded for in Mang Village. The old village chief could no longer chew dried meat!

After eating and drinking, everyone rested briefly, then set off again, carrying the old village chief!

The hidden hall of the city lord's manor.

"City Lord Mo, how have you considered my emperor's proposal?"

"I don't think anyone would refuse the terms the Wu Emperor offered! Why do we cultivate? Naturally, to climb one step higher from the top of a hundred-foot pole. With such a wonderful opportunity right before me, of course I know what choice to make."

"So the agreement is reached?"

"Yes. I only hope the Wu Emperor can send the resources as soon as possible to help me break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm."

"It isn't your place to tell my emperor what to do."

"Yes, yes, yes. This junior spoke out of turn!"

"Hand over the city lord's token. From this moment on, Sunset City falls under the Wu Kingdom's jurisdiction."

The envoy took the token and casually placed a formation talisman. Then he drew out the shadow of the true dragon within the token. The illusory figure of a five-clawed golden dragon appeared in the hidden hall.

"Lord of Sunset City, why have you used the city lord's token?" The voice was vast and resonant!

"To take your true dragon power." The formation talisman flashed, and a Dragon-Trapping Formation appeared, descending to envelop the five-clawed golden dragon!

"The Wu Kingdom's Dragon-Trapping Formation? A mere petty trick. Watch me break your formation!"

The golden dragon coiled through the air, its eyes blazing across the sky! Its enormous head burst through the hidden hall, and its illusory form swelled in the wind. Its hundred-zhang body blotted out the sky and sun, its oppressive might sweeping over Sunset City!

The Wu Kingdom's envoy did not rush. He brought out a token he had carried with him. "We respectfully invite the divine dragon of the Wu Kingdom to descend!"

"Roar!"

A purple five-clawed true dragon appeared, a hundred zhang long, and faced the golden dragon!

The residents of Sunset City saw two illusory true dragons above the city lord's manor and knelt to pray for blessings. They were all ordinary mortals and naturally did not understand what the golden and purple dragons appearing together meant!

There were cultivators in the city as well. Seeing the two illusory true dragons, they could roughly guess the reason! Expecting a great battle soon, they quietly slipped out of the city.

The Wu Kingdom's envoy stepped forward and stood high in the air, facing the golden divine dragon. He was actually at the Core Formation Realm!

The people in the city cried, "It's an immortal! I've seen a legendary immortal!"

The golden divine dragon lowered its head and looked at the people below. "Sunset City is a mortal city. Our battle must not harm its people. Away from Sunset City!"

"As you wish."

The two dragons and the man flew out of Sunset City. The people in the city kowtowed for a long time before getting up. Gathering in groups of three or five, they recounted what they had just seen, too excited to speak coherently.

A great battle was about to erupt. The purple divine dragon and the Wu Kingdom's envoy joined forces against the golden divine dragon. Light shimmered around the golden dragon as it blocked wave after wave of attacks. It opened its jaws, and a beam of black and gold shot out, striking the purple dragon's body!

"Aowoo!" The purple divine dragon's illusory form dimmed somewhat. Treasured light flashed as it repaired the ravaged dragon body!

The Wu Kingdom's envoy summoned his life-bound artifact, the Spirit-Taming Fan. It hung open behind him, blooming with white light as it locked onto the golden divine dragon!

The Spirit-Taming Fan: a mid-grade mystic-rank treasure fan.

"Great Void Palm!" A giant black hand appeared out of thin air, stirring the drifting clouds as it pressed down on the golden divine dragon. Locked in combat with the purple dragon, the golden dragon lashed its tail at the giant black palm!

"Boom!"

An earthshaking explosion erupted. The giant black palm shattered, sending black energy streaming in every direction! The golden divine dragon fared no better. Its body trembled slightly, and light flashed as it countered the eroding force of the giant black palm!

The Wu Kingdom's envoy wore a sinister expression. He turned his hand, and three silver needles shot toward the golden divine dragon. The dragon had no time to dodge.

"Roar..." The golden figure dimmed further. These were Soul-Extinguishing Needles! Soul-extinguishing: as the name suggested, they targeted the soul!

The purple divine dragon seized the opportunity and spat black flames at the golden divine dragon. Trailing a long tail, the flames struck it.

"Hiss, roar..." The burning pain all over its body tormented the golden divine dragon! Light burst forth, but even that could not completely dispel the burning black flames. The dragon writhed, trying to shake them off, but the flames clung like maggots to bone.

Unable to control its body, the golden divine dragon plunged toward the ground! It rolled over and over, crushing countless trees, sending rocks flying and filling the air with dust and smoke!

The purple divine dragon and the Wu Kingdom's envoy remained high in the air!

"A good chance!" The Grand Dragon-Trapping Formation flashed and wound toward the golden divine dragon! Chains of black light, seemingly solid, bound its golden body fast. The golden divine dragon twisted, its face contorted in pain.

"Roar..."

The golden divine dragon had no strength left to struggle. Its body dimmed completely.

In the imperial capital of the Qian Kingdom, the Qian Emperor was bent over his desk reviewing memorials! He was full of righteousness and majesty. Simply sitting there, he unintentionally radiated an indescribable, daunting power that left others afraid to raise their heads and meet his gaze.

Suddenly, the Qian Emperor slapped the desk and rose, light flowing around him! His swordlike brows drew together over half-closed, starry eyes. He was sensing the lost power of the true dragon. It was Sunset City!

The civil and military attendants and guards immediately fell to their knees, unable to stop trembling! Since the Qian Emperor had ascended the throne, they had never seen him so angry.

"Summon all the civil and military officials."

The chief eunuch accepted the order and slowly withdrew from the hall!