Chapter 700: City Lord's Gift

Tuoba Qi was clad in a python robe, his bearing dignified.

Upon seeing them, he smiled, rose, and greeted them.

Ye Liuyun hurriedly greeted the City Lord, and then everyone sat down.

"Within our Yi Cheng, you are the second person to achieve fifty consecutive victories!" Tuoba Qi praised Ye Liuyun.

"Can't compare to the City Lord. The City Lord is the first!" Ye Liuyun said modestly.

"Hahaha!" Tuoba Qi laughed loudly: "Let's stop flattering each other. Tell me, what do you need that I can help with?"

Tuoba Qi's enthusiasm relaxed Ye Liuyun and the others considerably.

Seeing Tuoba Qi get straight to the point, Ye Liuyun didn't hold back and said, "I intend to go to Zhongyang Dalu and wish to borrow the Teleportation Array. The farther it can send me, the better!"

"Most travelers passing Yi Cheng are headed to Zhongyang Dalu. But why do you need the Teleportation Array? Each activation consumes a huge amount of energy!"

Although Tuoba Qi was asking Ye Liuyun, he was not particularly surprised by the request.

After all, many people come to him seeking to borrow the Teleportation Array.

"Nether Curse!" Ye Liuyun said simply.

He thought that someone like Tuoba Qi wouldn't be too afraid of such a thing.

Tuoba Qi was taken aback by the words, his complexion changing instantly.

"Did you fall victim to that?"

Ye Liuyun nodded.

"That does make things more troublesome! Do you feel they're getting close?" Tuoba Qi considered carefully.

"Yes. They'll arrive here in about five or six days," Ye Liuyun said without concealment.

He had sensed the Nether Curse flicker three times: once as a Nether ghost in Qingxiao Domain, once before a Nether Ghost Ship entered the Fog Sea, and once from the ghost cultivator standing before him.

Based on the strength of those three instances, he roughly calculated the timing.

Tuoba Qi paused, then asked, "Even if I teleport you away, they'll catch up! How about you stay for now, and I can help you fend off a wave?"

"I appreciate the City Lord's goodwill!"

Ye Liuyun hadn't expected the City Lord to offer protection. Though he didn't understand the motive, he felt obliged to express gratitude outwardly.

"As long as we can create distance, I'll have time to grow stronger. Then I'll have my own way to deal with them," Ye Liuyun said confidently.

Tuoba Qi nodded and continued the conversation with Ye Liuyun.

"Do you know why I offered to protect you?" he asked, worried Ye Liuyun might distrust him, so he thought it best to state it plainly. Otherwise, future assistance might breed suspicion.

"City Lord, please speak!" Ye Liuyun replied, eager to know.

"It's because of your Guardian God Seal!" Tuoba Qi said with a smile.

"My Guardian God Seal?" Ye Liuyun's mind flickered, but he said nothing more. The secret of the Ten Thousand Gods Command was something he could never reveal.

Tuoba Qi nodded and continued, "If you reach Zhongyang Dalu and have a chance to enter the palace of the Daxia Chao, you'll encounter a statue.

That statue is revered by all Martial Cultivators of the Daxia Chao and is called the Martial God by the Daxia Chao. Legend says it is a deity‑level being. Your Guardian God Seal is akin to that statue.

Therefore I think you must have some connection with that deity‑level figure."

Tuoba Qi said this, paused, and watched Ye Liuyun's reaction.

"Such a thing exists? So, does that mean my Guardian God Seal truly corresponds to a real strong figure?"

Ye Liuyun found it odd that Zhongyang Dalu also housed a statue of that senior great power.

He knew that the strong one truly existed; otherwise, how could he have been given the technique and the Ten Thousand Gods Command? He just couldn't show it.

"Seems you don't know either!" Tuoba Qi said with some regret, though he didn't mind much.

"Perhaps when you reach that level, you'll learn the truth. All I know about the statue are legends, possibly inaccurate, so I won't mislead you."

Then Tuoba Qi returned to the main topic.

"Regardless, you achieved fifty consecutive victories, so I should have granted your request. I now allow you to use the Teleportation Array."

As he said, he produced an energy crystal sphere and handed it to Ye Liuyun.

"I've admired that statue since childhood. Since you have a connection, I'll help you. This energy crystal sphere is yours, as a token of friendship."

Ye Liuyun quickly stood and thanked Tuoba Qi, "This gift is truly precious! I am grateful that the City Lord values me; I will keep this kindness in my heart!"

Ye Liuyun also didn't hold back.

He now desperately needs such energy. Raising his realm to counter the pursuit from the Nether Hell is urgent.

But he also knew that City Lord Tuoba's overture wasn't because of him, but because he was touched by that senior great one's aura.

He felt he must speak of gratitude; otherwise the City Lord might think he relies on that statue and looks down on others.

City Lord Tuoba nodded, then asked Ye Liuyun, "When do you plan to depart?"

Ye Liuyun calculated, "In five days. My original ship was destroyed. I've commissioned two new ships, which still need some time."

Tuoba Qi replied cheerfully, "Your schedule is tight! I'll have the Teleportation Array ready. If your timing changes, inform me anytime!"

"Thank you, City Lord!" Ye Liuyun hadn't expected borrowing the Teleportation Array to be resolved so smoothly.

"Is there any other information you wish to know? I can tell you everything," Tuoba Qi was being very considerate toward Ye Liuyun.

After expressing thanks, Ye Liuyun asked Tuoba Qi about conditions beyond the domain and about Zhongyang Dalu.

Tuoba Qi gave him a general overview.

Later, Ye Liuyun inquired about powerful Sects and techniques for cultivating duplicates.

Tuoba Qi shared everything he knew with Ye Liuyun.

During the chat, Tuoba Qi suddenly said, "I think you could join a powerful Sect! It would help you fend off a wave of pursuers and let you learn some techniques. It wouldn't take much time."

Tuoba Qi's suggestion stirred Ye Liuyun's interest.

Tuoba Qi continued, "I have an old friend in the Lingxiao Sect who can recommend you. Moreover, Five Sun Domain is the farthest distance the Yi Cheng can teleport to. You can hide there from the first wave, learn some techniques, then continue your journey without delay."

"Would that delay me significantly?" Ye Liuyun asked anxiously.