Chapter 1951

I am this kid's Protector of the Way; protecting him is quite normal.

Huh???

Huang Lao said lightly, also pointing at Ye Zhangqing beside him, as if it were only natural.

Upon hearing this, Ji Le Gong Er Zu, the Palace Master, and that Young Palace Master—all three were dumbfounded.

Each of them stared blankly at Huang Lao, then at Ye Zhangqing, and finally at Zhang Xiaohuai.

Especially the Ji Le Gong Palace Master, who stared at Zhang Xiaohuai with a ghost‑seen expression.

Although he didn't speak, the meaning in his eyes was already self-evident.

How did this guy manage that?

Huang Lao hasn't been in the Cooking King Immortal City for just a year or two; he has been living in seclusion for many years.

But when has anyone ever seen Huang Lao serve as anyone's Protector of the Way, or even bother to intervene when something major happens in the Cooking King Immortal City?

Unless the Cooking King Immortal City actively asks for help, Huang Lao will not act.

But just now, Huang Lao said he is this kid's Protector of the Way—just who the hell is this kid?

Not only Ji Le Gong Er Zu and the three, but many others present were also stunned in place.

Most people don't know Huang Lao, their level isn't enough, but some do know his identity.

Upon hearing this, aside from shock, these people had only one thought: the Immortal Realm might be about to change.

More precisely, it's the younger generation of the Immortal Realm that's about to change, and a true dragon has burst forth with great force.

No wonder this kid has such battle prowess; at the same realm, defeating the Ji Le Gong Young Palace Master is like chopping vegetables, without the slightest hesitation.

So this kid's Protector of the Way is Huang Lao—no wonder. Put another way, anyone Huang Lao values couldn't be an ordinary person; at least they'd have to be a top‑tier Yāoniè.

It seems the Immortal Realm now has another contender among those few; there will be good drama to watch in the future.

Most onlookers were just there for the spectacle, but Ji Le Gong Er Zu and the three were different.

Especially, after the pressure on his body dissipated, Ye Zhangqing glanced lightly at the Ji Le Gong Young Palace Master and spoke softly.

"Senior, may I kill him?"

Hearing this, Huang Lao grinned; he didn't dislike Ye Zhangqing's choice—he actually liked it quite a bit.

He had just nearly had his throat slit; if he didn't even let out a fart, that would be lacking in spirit, and he wouldn't like that.

Without hesitation, Huang Lao replied with a smile.

"Just kill him; no need to overthink."

As the words fell, the Ji Le Gong Young Palace Master instantly felt a pressure envelop him.

He also felt the same sensation Ye Zhangqing had felt earlier—he couldn't move a finger.

"Huang Lao, wait................"

Seeing this, Ji Le Gong Er Zu still wanted to speak, but the next second he too was directly suppressed by Huang Lao and slammed down from the sky.

When the dust settled, Ji Le Gong Er Zu appeared before everyone, dirty and disheveled.

At this moment, he no longer bore the invincible, lofty aura he had just shown; before Huang Lao, he was nothing but meekly subdued.

Watching Ye Zhangqing stride toward the Young Palace Master, Ji Le Gong Er Zu was anxious but could do nothing.

Just now he used his status to suppress others; now the tides have turned and it's Huang Lao's turn to suppress with authority.

This retribution came too fast, leaving him unable to adapt for a while, not knowing what to do.

As for the Ji Le Gong Palace Master, it's the same—he too is immobilized by Huang Lao's pressure, with no spirit left.

Ji Le Gong's old, middle‑aged, and young—all three were suppressed by Huang Lao; at this moment Ye Zhangqing also arrived before the Young Palace Master.

Facing Ye Zhangqing before him, the Young Palace Master's eyes were full of terror.

With their roles reversed, he completely lacked Ye Zhangqing's earlier calm composure.

Ye Zhangqing, meanwhile, gave a light smile and said.

"What you said is right—background is part of strength, but unfortunately yours isn't as strong as mine."

Having spoken, he didn't wait for the Young Palace Master's reaction; raising his hand, the golden kitchen knife sliced his neck, sending a head flying and blood spurting like a pillar.

The sword's blade aura, the power of law, and Línglì surged into his body, annihilating his soul as well.

Under Huang Lao's suppression, the Young Palace Master had no chance to fight back and was simply beheaded.

As the headless corpse fell, Ye Zhangqing's expression didn't change; he turned and walked away without even a glance.

Watching his own Young Palace Master be slain right there in front of everyone, even though Huang Lao had already lifted the pressure from the two.

Yet Ji Le Gong Er Zu still dared not make any rash move.

He could only give Ye Zhangqing a complex look.

In that gaze lay killing intent, anger, doubt, and curiosity—all kinds of emotions intertwined.

Who would have thought that this kid, who came out of nowhere, could make Huang Lao his Protector of the Way and earn Huang Lao's favor?

All one can say is that this was a total miscalculation; what made Ji Le Gong Er Zu even more unforeseen—and infuriated—was what followed as Zhang Xiaohuai spoke.

Zhang Xiaohuai then announced Ye Zhangqing's identity, telling everyone present that Ye Zhangqing was the Fourth Young City Lord of the Cooking King Immortal City.

As soon as those words were spoken, everyone present was deeply shaken.

It wasn't because Ye Zhangqing was the Cooking King Immortal City's Young City Lord, nor because of the battle prowess he had shown.

After all, no matter how strong his strength, he still needs time to grow.

Potential alone isn't enough to shock the major powers of the Immortal Realm; what truly shocked them was Huang Lao.

Before, no one knew Ye Zhangqing was the Cooking King Immortal City's Young City Lord, but now Zhang Xiaohuai announced it on the spot.

What does that mean? Ye Zhangqing is the Cooking King Immortal City's Young City Lord, and Huang Lao is his Protector of the Way.

So what is Huang Lao's current relationship with the Cooking King Immortal City?

If Huang Lao were to officially join the Cooking King Immortal City, it would certainly be a major event capable of changing many situations.

Let's not talk about anything else; just speaking of Pill King Immortal City, Weapon King Immortal City, and these few major immortal cities—what should we do?

You should know, among these major immortal cities, there is no one of Huang Lao's stature presiding over them.

Before, they had always been suppressing Cooking King Immortal City, and that was also because Huang Lao was not from Cooking King Immortal City.

Cooking King Immortal City wanted to invite Huang Lao to take action, but the price would be enormous, and it's a one-time-use kind of deal.

Therefore, unless they are truly driven to desperation, with no way to retreat, having reached a dead end, Cooking King Immortal City would absolutely not take this step.

They would rather suffer a slight loss, let Pill King Immortal City and Weapon King Immortal City, these major immortal cities, gain some advantage, than lightly invite Huang Lao to act.

Because even if calculated this way, the price Cooking King Immortal City would pay would be somewhat smaller.

Everyone knows the principle of choosing the lesser of two harms.

But if Huang Lao were to formally join Cooking King Immortal City, then this problem would cease to exist entirely, and other forces could no longer use their previous methods to deal with Cooking King Immortal City, because they are now on the same side.