Chapter 2562: There Is a Guest

In Lingfeng City, Zhao Lingfeng presided over a gathering of Harmonization Realm cultivators, drinking and chatting happily. Lu Ye was among them, attended by two beautiful female Fusion Realm cultivators.

After the last great battle, Zhao Lingfeng had invited Lu Ye to be his guest here, but Lu Ye had not accepted. Of course, he had no desire to be a guest, feeling his time would be better spent cultivating diligently to gain more Dao power. However, Zhao Lingfeng's frequent invitations suggested he wished to foster a good relationship. Considering that Lingfeng City now depended on their city, and Zhao Lingfeng, as its City Lord, was extending personal invitations, Lu Ye felt it would be impolite to refuse repeatedly. Thus, he eventually came.

He knew full well that Zhao Lingfeng was not trying to curry favor with him, but with Yuan Xi. However, Yuan Xi was a woman, and Zhao Lingfeng couldn't see through her, making it awkward to approach her directly. Therefore, he resorted to a secondary approach, focusing his efforts on Lu Ye instead. The two female Fusion Realm cultivators serving him were undoubtedly handpicked: one pure and innocent, the other charming and seductive, each possessing a distinct allure. The unintended consequences of the previous battle had evidently led the Harmonization Realm cultivators in Lingfeng City to misunderstand something. However, Lu Ye merely chatted casually with the Harmonization Realm cultivators, drinking whenever wine was offered. He never once looked at the two women throughout the entire time, which left them somewhat disappointed.

"The day before yesterday, I visited the Harmony Realm and heard quite an interesting story," Wu Mi said with a chuckle from across Lu Ye, raising his wine cup. His injuries had healed significantly after this period of recuperation.

"Oh? Senior Brother Wu, what extraordinary tale did you hear? Do tell us," a Harmonization Realm cultivator named Long Heng interjected, eager to encourage him. This Long Heng was the Heavenly-tier Pavilion Master who had previously leaked information. After that great battle, he avenged his blood feud and, having nowhere else to go, accepted Zhao Lingfeng's invitation and joined Lingfeng City. Currently, within Lingfeng City, apart from City Lord Zhao Lingfeng, he possessed the greatest strength.

Wu Mi smiled slightly. "Have any of you heard of the Nameless Wanderer?"

Lu Ye, who had not been paying much attention, showed a subtle change in expression upon hearing Wu Mi mention the Nameless Wanderer. Some shook their heads, while others nodded. "Indeed, I've heard something. It's said that this person won two death matches in the Battle Arena, triumphing over stronger opponents in both, which gained them some renown."

"There are many instances of weaker combatants defeating stronger ones in the Battle Arena," someone remarked. "What's so special about this Nameless Wanderer that they gained fame with just two death matches?"

The Harmonization Realm cultivator who had spoken earlier explained, "Ordinary victories of the weak over the strong are nothing remarkable, but their two death matches were quite extraordinary. It's said that in the first match, they, a sixth-level Fusion Realm cultivator, fought against a ninth-level one, and in the second, they, a seventh-level cultivator, faced a peak Fusion Realm opponent. Both times, they emerged victorious in a brutal fashion!"

The inquiring Harmonization Realm cultivator raised an eyebrow. "A sixth-level killing a ninth-level, a seventh-level defeating a peak—that's indeed rare. No wonder such a low-level Fusion Realm cultivator caught Senior Brother's attention." Previously, in the Battle Arena, when a weaker combatant defeated a stronger one, the cultivation gap was usually at most a minor level. However, the Nameless Wanderer's disparity with their opponents was clearly significant, yet they managed to survive.

"This Nameless Wanderer certainly has some skill," a voice mused. "By that logic, if they reach the eighth level of Fusion Realm, wouldn't they be able to kill Harmonization Realm cultivators? Hahaha!"

Wu Mi smiled knowingly at his companion who had just spoken. "Junior Brother Liu, you hit the nail on the head. That's precisely the extraordinary event I wanted to talk about."

At his words, the entire gathering fell silent. Junior Brother Liu was even more dumbfounded. "Senior Brother Wu, you're not suggesting that the Nameless Wanderer is actually going to fight a death match against a Harmonization Realm cultivator, are you?"

Wu Mi nodded. "The news coming from the Battle Arena is certainly not false. This death match should commence in a few days."

"What a joke! A Fusion Realm cultivator fighting a Harmonization Realm one? This Nameless Wanderer truly doesn't know their place. Do they really think Harmonization Realm cultivators are so easily handled?"

"How could the Battle Arena arrange such a death match? Wouldn't that just be giving away Dao Fish for free? Anyone could simply bet on the Harmonization Realm cultivator and be guaranteed to win, right?"

"Senior Brother Wu, when exactly is this death match? If we have some free time, let's go watch the spectacle together!"

The group of Harmonization Realm cultivators immediately became excited. They all knew the Battle Arena was a place where one could get rich overnight, but few managed to seize such opportunities. This was undoubtedly one such chance. Although many would likely bet on the Harmonization Realm cultivator, meaning they might not win many Dao Fish, it was a guaranteed profit. Who wouldn't want free Dao Fish?

"What's all this excitement about?" Zhao Lingfeng suddenly interjected with a low growl. "What about Fusion Realm, and what about Harmonization Realm? Didn't all of you start as Fusion Realm cultivators? And it's not like you haven't seen a Fusion Realm cultivator defeat a Harmonization Realm one before."

The Harmonization Realm cultivators froze, then realized he was right. They had indeed witnessed such feats, many times. They immediately understood that they had spoken incorrectly. This banquet was specifically for Lu Ye, yet they had just adopted an attitude of looking down on Fusion Realm cultivators. No wonder Zhao Lingfeng had reprimanded them.

Lu Ye set down his wine cup and smiled slightly. "City Lord Zhao, please don't worry about it. A Fusion Realm cultivator is, after all, a Fusion Realm cultivator. Everyone here knows why I was able to kill a Harmonization Realm cultivator; that wasn't my true ability."

Zhao Lingfeng slowly shook his head. "I've sensed Fellow Daoist's strength; I naturally know you are no ordinary Fusion Realm cultivator." While it was true that he had been caught off guard when Lu Ye suddenly attacked and wounded him with a single saber strike that day, could any other Fusion Realm cultivator truly have injured him? Moreover, before that, Lu Ye had single-handedly wounded so many Fusion Realm cultivators from their city. This was far beyond the capability of an average Fusion Realm cultivator. Furthermore, in a battlefield like the one before, a Fusion Realm cultivator being able to kill a Harmonization Realm cultivator was itself a testament to skill. Ordinary Fusion Realm cultivators wouldn't even qualify to approach such a battlefield. No wonder Yuan Xi valued this weapon cultivator so highly, even bestowing upon him the title of Grand Commander of the City Guard.

Lu Ye immediately raised his wine cup. "City Lord Zhao, if you say that, it means you're still concerned about that day's events. Let me drink this cup as an apology to the City Lord."

Zhao Lingfeng quickly said, "Fellow Daoist, you overstate it. I absolutely had no such intention. Although our two factions had some minor friction before, as the saying goes, 'from a fight, friendship grows.' I hope Fellow Daoist doesn't hold it against me." He also raised his wine cup and clinked it against Lu Ye's from afar.

The conversation was diverted, but soon returned to the Nameless Wanderer. Wu Mi had evidently made a point of gathering information while previously in the Harmony Realm, and now he spoke voluminously on the topic. Lu Ye listened quietly, knowing that Gong Mao must have put considerable effort into this. To publicize this death match within a mere month, especially with the current chaos in the Snow Plains, was no small feat. However, as Lu Ye had told him before, as long as the gimmick was big enough, it would naturally attract the attention of cultivators from the Inner Realm. A Fusion Realm cultivator battling a Harmonization Realm one was the biggest draw. The current situation proved this: the Harmonization Realm cultivators in Lingfeng City were all highly interested in this death match and wanted to get involved. If Lingfeng City reacted this way, how could other Harmonization Realm cities in the Inner Realm not be tempted upon hearing this news? News spread quite rapidly within the Inner Realm, largely thanks to cultivators being able to enter the Harmony Realm via their Harmonization Beads. It could be said that the biggest commotion in the entire Inner Realm currently was, first and foremost, the chaos in the Snow Plains, followed closely by this death match in the Battle Arena, which had already captured the attention of countless individuals.

While they were chatting, Zhao Lingfeng suddenly changed expression, took out a sound talisman, checked it, and stood up, saying, "It's time for action!"

The Harmonization Realm cultivators, who had been chatting, instantly fell silent. Lu Ye reacted. "My City Lord sent a message?"

"That's right."

Lu Ye quickly stood up. "Then I shall take my leave first, City Lord Zhao. Thank you for your hospitality."

Zhao Lingfeng smiled faintly. "Fellow Daoist, please feel free to visit often whenever you have time. Our two factions are now allied, like two swords combined, so there's no need to be formal."

Lu Ye nodded, exited the hall, and soared directly towards Yuan Xi City. Returning to his city and meeting Yuan Xi, he learned that their target this time was the same as before: an isolated, dormant Desolate-tier city. A short while later, his city and Lingfeng City departed from their dormant position, where they had been for nearly a month, one following the other.

In Governor City, Jing Lei wore a worried expression. He was lucky this time, as a new target allowed him to satisfy Yuan Xi. But what about next time? And the time after that? Yuan Xi had sent word, explicitly stating she needed at least one new mission every month. Where would he find so many missions? To appease Yuan Xi, he had even abandoned a Harmonization Realm city he had originally planned to cultivate, causing considerable resentment from its City Lord. Jing Lei couldn't understand why he had been so unlucky as to get entangled with someone like Yuan Xi. Now he couldn't get rid of her. Adding to his frustration, this whole situation was his own doing, and reporting it to Thin Bamboo would be useless; Thin Bamboo would just tell him to handle it himself. He now only regretted that the military supervisor he had dispatched had been so utterly short-sighted. If that fellow were still alive, he would personally deal with him and make him suffer every torture imaginable.

As he was consumed by his worries, his peripheral vision suddenly caught Thin Bamboo, who had been sitting high above, slowly rising. "My Lord?" Jing Lei looked at him, puzzled. Thin Bamboo, however, gazed in a certain direction, his eyes seemingly able to penetrate the void. He took a step forward, and his voice carried, "All Vice City Lords, follow me out of the city to greet a guest!"

Jing Lei's heart skipped a beat. Their city was a Cosmic-tier Harmonization Realm city, and Thin Bamboo was its City Lord. Who could possibly be arriving that would warrant Thin Bamboo personally going out to greet them, and even bringing along all the Vice City Lords? Not daring to delay, Jing Lei quickly followed Thin Bamboo with the other Vice City Lords.

After leaving the Harmonization Realm city and waiting for a while, they saw a golden light rapidly approaching from the distance, moving at a speed that left Jing Lei astounded. While speed wasn't directly correlated with strength, anyone capable of moving at such a velocity was certainly not weak. The golden light receded, revealing the figure of a handsome and elegant young man.

A smile even appeared on Thin Bamboo's usually rigid face. "What brings you here?"

The young man also smiled, his demeanor as refreshing as a spring breeze. "I was passing by with nothing much to do, and knowing Brother Thin Bamboo was here, I thought I'd drop in. What, am I not welcome?"

Thin Bamboo chuckled. "Brother Changming, for you to think of me, that is my honor. How could you not be welcome? Look, the moment I sensed your aura, I brought people out to greet you."

Jing Lei had initially been confused about the visitor's identity, but upon hearing the name "Changming," he suddenly understood. He had indeed heard of this renowned individual before, though he had never met him. It was rumored that this person was once the City Lord of a peak Cosmic-tier Harmonization Realm city, but for some reasons, he had abandoned his city. At the time, this had caused a massive sensation in the Inner Realm, as for someone of his status, a peak Cosmic-tier Harmonization Realm city was not something one simply abandoned.