Chapter 77

Black Rock City's City Lord's Mansion was less of a residence and more of a fully functional military fortress. It was located at the highest point in the center of the city, built entirely of polished, dark black giant rocks, with thick walls and distinct edges, engraved with dense defensive runes, faintly flowing with spiritual light, exuding a murderous and indestructible aura.

On the towering watchtower, sentries in heavy armor had eyes like hawks, vigilantly scanning the entire city and the vast mountain range in the distance. The mansion gate was wide enough for several horses to ride side-by-side, and eight guards with fierce auras, at least at the late Foundation Establishment stage, stood on both sides, their armor bright, holding long halberds, motionless like statues.

The guiding guard stopped in front of the mansion gate, showed his token to the guards, and talked in a low voice for a few sentences. The guard captain's sharp eyes swept over Lin Xuan, sensing that deep, hidden, yet heart-palpitating aura, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he saluted solemnly and waved his hand to let him pass.

Stepping into the mansion gate, the interior scene was completely different from the ruggedness outside. Although it was still practical, lacking the delicacy of the imperial capital's gardens, it had more of the unique grandeur and order of the border fortress. The courtyard was spacious, paved with bluestone slabs, clean and tidy. Occasionally, patrol squads in armor and holding weapons walked by in unison, their footsteps clanging, with strict discipline. The air was filled with a faint mixture of metal, leather, and a sandalwood scent that cleared the mind and calmed the spirit.

The guard led Lin Xuan through several courtyards to a relatively quiet stone hall. A plaque hung above the hall door, inscribed with the two characters "Zhen Yue," the brushwork powerful, exuding a steady aura of suppressing mountains and rivers.

"Senior, the City Lord is waiting inside the hall, please enter by yourself." The guard stopped outside the hall door and said respectfully.

Lin Xuan nodded slightly, pushed open the heavy stone door, and stepped inside.

The space inside the hall was spacious, the furnishings simple and heavy. On the walls on both sides hung huge border maps and tapestries tanned from demon beast leather. In the center was a bronze brazier burning with dark red charcoal, dispelling the chill unique to the border city. Deep inside, behind a huge black rock desk, sat a figure.

This person looked to be about forty or fifty years old, with a resolute face, skin the bronze color of someone who had been exposed to wind and sand for years, a short, neat beard on his chin, and a pair of tiger eyes that flashed with essence when opened and closed, naturally imposing without anger. He was not wearing official robes, but a dark-colored tight-fitting outfit, covered with a simple leather armor, and a sheathless, wide-bladed heavy sword hung at his waist, the sword body dark, faintly showing blood light, clearly a fierce weapon that had drunk its fill of blood.

The spiritual power fluctuation emanating from his body had actually reached the peak of the early Soul Formation stage, and his aura was condensed and heavy, carrying an iron-blooded murderous aura forged from fighting in mountains of corpses and seas of blood, far from what ordinary sect cultivators could compare to.

This person was none other than the City Lord of Black Rock City, the fierce general guarding the western border of the Imperial Dynasty—Yue Qingtian.

The moment Lin Xuan stepped into the hall, Yue Qingtian's gaze, sharp as a knife, fell on him, as if he wanted to see through him from inside to outside. However, he soon discovered that his spiritual sense probed like a clay ox entering the sea, unable to sense the slightest depth of the other party's spiritual power, only able to perceive a kind of abyss-like stillness and vastness.

Yue Qingtian felt awe in his heart, but his face showed nothing, standing up and cupping his hands, his voice like a bell: "Daoist, your arrival is an honor. Yue failed to welcome you from afar, I hope you will forgive me."

Lin Xuan returned the salute, neither humble nor arrogant: "City Lord, you are too polite. I am Lin Xuan, a rogue cultivator, passing through this precious land, and I am honored to be invited by the City Lord."

"Daoist Lin, please sit." Yue Qingtian signaled Lin Xuan to sit in the guest seat, and he also sat down again, his gaze still lingering on Lin Xuan, carrying scrutiny and curiosity. "Daoist, you don't need to be humble. Being able to scare off the Zhao Clan's guest elder in a gesture, making him not dare to act rashly, how can you be an ordinary rogue cultivator? I am a rough person and don't like to beat around the bush. This invitation is truly because I have something to ask, and also have an opportunity to tell you."

Lin Xuan's expression remained unchanged, and he said lightly: "City Lord, please speak."

Yue Qingtian tapped his fingers lightly on the table, getting straight to the point: "The first matter concerns the stability of the city. I already know about the conflict between you and the Zhao Clan's young master. Zhao Kun is a wastrel and brought it upon himself; your punishment is reasonable. However, the Zhao Clan has been entrenched here for many years, with deep-rooted power, especially behind them... it involves quite a bit. You need to be careful of subsequent trouble."

He paused, observing Lin Xuan's reaction, and seeing that the other party was still calm, he continued: "Of course, in my Black Rock City, there are laws. As long as you don't take the initiative to cause trouble, I can ensure your safety. This is also the duty of my Imperial Dynasty in guarding the border."

These words were both a reminder and a show of goodwill, and also vaguely pointed out the authority of the Imperial Dynasty.

Lin Xuan nodded slightly: "Thank you for the reminder, City Lord, I understand."

"The second matter," Yue Qingtian leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharper, "is to ask, have you just come out of the 'Tianyuan Mystical Realm' not long ago?"

The air in the hall seemed to freeze slightly.

Lin Xuan raised his eyes, looked at Yue Qingtian, and countless thoughts turned in his heart instantly. How did the other party guess? Was it because of the strength he showed? Or did the City Lord's Mansion have a special information channel?

He didn't admit it directly, nor did he deny it, and asked back: "City Lord, why do you say that?"

Yue Qingtian laughed, his voice shaking the roof tiles: "Daoist, you don't need to worry. First, most of the cultivators who came out of the Mystical Realm recently returned directly to the imperial capital or their respective sects, but it is inevitable that some people, like you, ended up at the border for various reasons. Second, your aura is deep and restrained, and I can't see through it at all. This kind of cultivation base and control is definitely not someone unknown, and among the younger generation recently, those who can have this strength are mostly related to the trip to the Mystical Realm. Third..."

He pointed to his eyes, "I have guarded the border for a hundred years, dealing with countless people, demons, and monsters, and I consider myself to have some eye for people. On you, there is a kind of... 'fresh' aura that is slightly different from this world, which is a sign that you haven't fully integrated with the laws of the outside world in a short time after experiencing violent spatial fluctuations. And this kind of sign usually appears after staying in the Mystical Realm for a long time or performing ultra-long-distance spatial teleportation."

Lin Xuan praised inwardly, this Yue Qingtian is indeed not simple, observing meticulously, his experience seasoned. He pondered for a moment, since the other party had already guessed seven or eight points, deliberately concealing it would make him look guilty, so he said: "City Lord, your eyes are like torches. I did indeed just escape from the Mystical Realm not long ago."

A flash of essence flashed in Yue Qingtian's eyes, and he pursued: "Then, in that Mystical Realm, is the matter of 'Jin Shisan' shaking the Spirit Transformation demon lord true?"

Finally asked the core.

Lin Xuan's expression was calm, but his heart moved. It seemed that the name "Jin Shisan" had indeed spread, and even this border City Lord was so concerned.

"Although the rumors are exaggerated, they are roughly true." Lin Xuan chose a vague but close-to-fact statement, "That demon lord did indeed break the seal, its strength terrifying, and fortunately, with the will of the Mystical Realm and the combined efforts of everyone, it was temporarily forced back. As for 'Jin Shisan'... he is mysterious, and I have never seen his true face, only feeling that earth-shattering collision from afar."

He cleverly removed himself, describing it from the perspective of a "survivor."

Yue Qingtian stared closely at Lin Xuan, seemingly wanting to find flaws on his face, but Lin Xuan's expression was natural, his eyes deep as an ancient well, without any waves. After a long while, Yue Qingtian slowly leaned back in his chair and said in a deep voice: "So that's how it is... The secret report from the imperial capital was not false. The birth of a Spirit Transformation demon lord is a precursor to a catastrophe that will sweep through the realm!"

His tone was heavy, carrying a trace of worry, and then he looked at Lin Xuan again: "You were able to escape safely from such a dangerous place, you must have extraordinary abilities. I wonder what your plans are next?"

"No clear goal yet, perhaps I will travel for a while, looking for opportunities to improve my cultivation base to cope with the possible changes in the future." Lin Xuan replied.

"Good!" Yue Qingtian slapped the table, "Since that's the case, I do have an opportunity here that might coincide with your goal!"

"Oh?" Lin Xuan showed an interested expression.

"Do you know why Black Rock City is so mixed with dragons and snakes recently, and even the Youming Sect's hidden stakes have become active?" Yue Qingtian lowered his voice a bit.

Lin Xuan's heart moved, his face calm: "Please clarify, City Lord."

"Besides searching for the whereabouts of that demon lord and 'Jin Shisan', a more important reason is that the 'Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain' has had unusual movements recently!" Yue Qingtian's eyes were burning, "The Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain is a place of ancient relics deeper than the vast mountain range, incomparably dangerous, but also full of opportunities. According to ancient records and recent observations, the 'miasma' on the periphery of the Ancient Domain has signs of periodic weakening, and it is expected that in the near future, a short 'safety window' will appear!"

"Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain..." Lin Xuan recalled the classics he had read. It was a forbidden land shrouded in poisonous miasma, fierce beasts, and bizarre restrictions. It was said that it buried the ruins of ancient sects, and there might even be inheritances left by existences beyond the Spirit Transformation stage, but since ancient times, those who entered had ten deaths and no life. Only in specific periods, when the peripheral miasma weakened, could some top powerhouses or those with extremely good luck penetrate the periphery to obtain opportunities.

"What does the City Lord mean?"

"The Imperial Dynasty and several top sects have decided to organize an elite team to take advantage of this window period to enter the periphery of the Ancient Domain to investigate. One is to draw a more accurate map, the second is to look for clues or relics related to the ancient 'War of Cutting Heaven' that may exist, and the third is... to monitor whether there are abnormal spatial fluctuations or traces of demonic energy, to prevent that Ruins Abyss demonic awareness from sneaking into it to recover its strength." Yue Qingtian explained, "This team needs people who are powerful, bold and careful, and have a relatively simple background. I see that your strength is unfathomable, and you are a rogue cultivator, which is exactly one of the most suitable candidates."

"Inviting me to join?" Lin Xuan raised his eyebrows slightly. This was indeed an opportunity. The Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain was full of crises, but the opportunities were equally huge, and perhaps he could find clues about the Chaos Dao, and even the Primordial Dao Ancestor. Moreover, investigating the whereabouts of the demon lord was also consistent with his own goals.

"Not bad." Yue Qingtian nodded, "The team is led by a Deputy Commander of the Imperial Dynasty's Demon Suppression Division, and the members include the Imperial Family, the Ye family, the Tianji Academy, and rogue cultivator experts like you. The rewards are generous, besides Imperial Dynasty contribution points and high-rank spirit stones and elixirs, if there are any discoveries in the Ancient Domain, they will be distributed according to contribution, and there will be an opportunity to read some ancient classics from the Imperial Dynasty's secret collection."

Reading ancient classics! This point was extremely attractive to Lin Xuan!

"What is the risk?" Lin Xuan asked the key question.

"Nine deaths and one life." Yue Qingtian did not mince words, "Even if the miasma weakens, the Ancient Domain itself is still full of unknown dangers. Transformed great demons, ancient restrictions, bizarre poisonous things, and even possible spatial cracks... and, the forces are mixed, and people's hearts are unpredictable. But as the saying goes, risk and opportunity coexist."

Lin Xuan was silent for a moment, quickly weighing it in his mind. Joining the official team had advantages and disadvantages. The advantage was information sharing, resource support, and relative formality; the disadvantage was that actions were restricted, identity might be easier to expose, and teammates needed to be guarded against.

But right now, this seemed to be one of the best ways to deeply understand the core secrets of this world, obtain resources, and track the demon lord.

"When will the team set off? Where will they gather?" Lin Xuan finally asked.

A smile appeared on Yue Qingtian's face: "Did you agree? Good! Refreshing! The team is expected to gather at the 'Broken Blade Canyon' three thousand miles southwest of Black Rock City in ten days. This is the token and the specific map."

He took out a dark iron token engraved with a flame griffin pattern and a jade slip, and pushed them in front of Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan took them, his spiritual sense sweeping over the jade slip, which contained the location of Broken Blade Canyon and some known information about the periphery of the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain.

"Since that's the case, I will agree. See you at Broken Blade Canyon in ten days."

"Good! I wish you success!" Yue Qingtian laughed, "You can stay in the city with peace of mind these few days, I have already ordered that no one will disturb you. If you need any supplies, you can also go to the 'Military Supplies Division' in the east of the city to redeem them with this token, the price is favorable."

"Thank you, City Lord." Lin Xuan stood up and cupped his hands to say goodbye.

Leaving the City Lord's Mansion, Lin Xuan walked on the bustling street, his thoughts surging. The trip to the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain would undoubtedly be a new challenge. He needed to use these ten days to make full preparations.

First, he needed to buy some special talismans and magic tools to deal with poisonous miasma and break restrictions.

Second, elixirs must be sufficient, especially top-grade spirit elixirs for healing, recovering Qi, and detoxifying.

Finally, and most importantly, he needed to further familiarize himself with and improve his own strength, especially the newly mastered "Star Youming Light" and the various wonders of the Chaos Dao Seed.

His gaze swept over the shops on both sides of the street, and finally walked toward a comprehensive commercial firm that looked the largest and had the best reputation—"Ten Thousand Treasures Tower."

Just as he stepped into the gate of Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, in a secret residence in the city, Zhao Kun, who had had a conflict with Lin Xuan before, was crying to a gloomy-faced old man.

"Third Grandfather! You must make the decision for me! That kid clearly didn't put our Zhao Clan in his eyes! Uncle Zhong actually..."

The old man called Third Grandfather, wearing a dark purple robe, with a withered face and gloomy eyes, had an aura that was actually late Soul Formation! He listened to Zhao Kun's adding fuel to the fire, his fingers lightly twisting a string of black bone beads on his wrist, and said coldly: "Enough! Uncle Zhong did the right thing; that person could scare him off without making a move, his strength is definitely not simple. In this sensitive period, it is not appropriate to cause extra trouble."

"But..."

"No buts!" The old man interrupted him, a cold light flashing in his eyes, "However, daring to touch my Zhao Clan's people, it can't just end like this. Since that old fox Yue Qingtian came forward to protect him, we can't move him on the surface. But... the trip to the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain is full of crises, and it's normal for a rogue cultivator of unknown origin to die."

Zhao Kun heard this, first stunned, then a look of ecstasy and resentment appeared on his face: "Third Grandfather, you mean..."

"For this Ancient Domain investigation, my Zhao Clan also has a quota. I will arrange for people to 'take care of' him inside." The old man smiled coldly, "As long as he dares to go, let him stay in that Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain forever!"

Undercurrents, in the corners where the sun could not reach, became more and more surging. Lin Xuan's trip to the Southern Wilderness, behind the opportunity, was already full of murderous intent.