Chapter 2724: Inheritance of the City Lord Position

"Where's the City Lord?" Lu Ye asked Lian. It was strange; he hadn't seen Yuan Xi since his return. In the past, she would have appeared immediately and praised Lu Ye, who had already advanced to Dao Integration, saying, "You truly live up to your title as my Grand Commander of the City!"

Lian avoided Lu Ye's gaze and sighed softly.

Lu Ye's expression suddenly darkened. "What happened?"

He had thought Yuan Xi must have gone to the Hehe Realm, but seeing Lian's expression, it was clear things weren't as he'd imagined.

"She's returned to Scarlet Flame City," Lian said, knowing the matter couldn't be hidden, so she confessed directly.

Lu Ye raised an eyebrow, and a heavy weight lifted from his heart. From Lian's earlier expression, he had feared something had happened to Yuan Xi, but if she had merely returned to Scarlet Flame City, then it was no big deal.

He had already vaguely understood the relationship between Yuan Xi and the individual from Scarlet Flame City.

"When will she return?" Lu Ye asked again.

Lian shook her head. "She's not coming back."

"What do you mean?" Lu Ye frowned involuntarily.

Lian began, "Do you still remember when Longevity ambushed us in the snowy plains years ago?"

"Of course."

"Longevity acted that way under Ni Chilian's orders. Yuan Xi had, in a sense, run away from home back then. Due to some disagreements with Ni Chilian, she left Scarlet Flame City, intending to build her own Dao Integration city. She told me she once boasted to you that Yuan Xi City would one day stand at the pinnacle of the Inner Realm, trampling the Ten Great Cities underfoot."

How could Lu Ye forget those words?

At the time, Yuan Xi's words had filled him with passion, and he had firmly decided to throw himself into working alongside her.

However, his understanding was shallow back then. Now he knew that let alone trampling the Ten Great Cities underfoot, an ordinary Dao Integration City reaching the Cosmos-tier was basically its limit, with little hope of further advancement. This wasn't merely a matter of accumulating Dao Integration Orbs; the Dao Integration Orbs of the Ten Great Dao Integration Cities possessed a unique essence, which was why they could be among the Ten Great.

"She wants to apologize to you. What she once said, she can no longer fulfill."

Lu Ye frowned. "Did Ni Chilian force her back?" That seemed unlikely. When he met Ni Chilian years ago, he could tell she wasn't an overbearing person; in fact, Yuan Xi seemed more assertive in her presence.

"Not really," Lian shook her head. "In the snowy plains back then, after Longevity's ambush failed, Ni Chilian was forced to appear. If she had wanted to, she could have forcibly taken Yuan Xi away, but she didn't, because Yuan Xi made an agreement with her."

"What agreement?"

"She would return when our city advanced to the Cosmos-tier. That's why Ni Chilian temporarily ceased her efforts; otherwise, she would have certainly forced her way into our city that day."

Lu Ye recalled carefully. Indeed, Yuan Xi had stayed with Ni Chilian that day, whispering something to her. Ni Chilian had been coaxed into smiling brightly, nodding repeatedly, before retreating with Longevity.

From Yuan Xi's perspective at the time, an agreement was an agreement: as long as their city never advanced to the Cosmos-tier, she would remain there indefinitely.

Lu Ye suddenly understood!

No wonder Yuan Xi hadn't immediately advanced their city after he had destroyed Black Blood City and sent the fragments of its Dao Integration Orb back during the Starfield Chessboard battle. So, she had had this concern.

However, later, circumstances forced their city to advance, which then allowed Lian and the others to benefit from the Dao Integration Orb's amplification and play a role in that major battle.

The reason she agreed with Ni Chilian that their city would advance to the Cosmos-tier was because both Yuan Xi and Ni Chilian knew that the city's ultimate limit was the Cosmos-tier.

"Grand Commander, you don't need to worry," Lian said, looking at Lu Ye. "Yuan Xi won't be mistreated upon returning to Scarlet Flame City. Ni Chilian is actually very good to her. She asked me to tell you that she thanks you for your companionship and contributions over the years. She will come back to visit you all in the future, and if you have free time, you can also take this item to Scarlet Flame City to visit her."

Saying this, Lian handed something over.

Lu Ye took it, finding it to be a dark, iron-like token. This should be the token for entering Scarlet Flame City; with it, one could pass through the Hehe Realm to enter Scarlet Flame City.

"I'm not worried," Lu Ye nodded. Ni Chilian clearly valued Yuan Xi greatly; there was nothing for him to worry about. He merely felt a twinge of displeasure remembering how their city was forced to advance to the Cosmos-tier, thereby causing Yuan Xi to fulfill her agreement with Ni Chilian.

Yuan Xi was arguably the first cultivator he had met since arriving in the Inner Realm. Upon their first meeting, he had even thought she was a bit eccentric. Who would have thought they would end up working together for many years, with Yuan Xi assisting him greatly in various ways?

Over these years, Yuan Xi City had grown, and Lu Ye had also grown stronger. However, if he hadn't aligned himself with Yuan Xi, his progress wouldn't have been so smooth in any other Dao Integration City.

As he pondered, Lu Ye unconsciously twirled the iron token in his hand. A silent atmosphere filled the great hall.

He suddenly looked up at Lian. "You just said 'you all'... what do you mean, Pavilion Master?"

Lian gave a wry smile. "I'm leaving too. Jinrui Pavilion can't be left unattended indefinitely; San Niang can't manage it alone."

Lu Ye realized.

Lian was Yuan Xi's close friend. She owned properties like Jinrui Pavilion in the Hehe Realm and was quite wealthy, so she didn't need to struggle for anything like ordinary Dao Integrators. She had only emerged from seclusion years ago because Yuan Xi had tirelessly pestered her into it.

Now that Yuan Xi had returned to Scarlet Flame City, it was natural that Lian wouldn't stay either.

The reason she hadn't left until now was that she was waiting for Lu Ye to return so she could tell him in person.

"That's true," Lu Ye nodded slightly. "Then I wish you prosperous business in the future, Pavilion Master."

Lian pursed her lips and smiled. "Then you'll have to come and support my business often in the future."

You Die, standing nearby, immediately puffed out her cheeks.

"If you ever encounter difficulties in the future, you can find me at Jinrui Pavilion. I will never refuse to help within my capabilities," Lian slowly rose. "Also, before Yuan Xi left, she said that this city is now yours. However, a Cosmos-tier city is different from an ordinary Dao Integration City, so don't assume the position of City Lord until you have a strong enough foundation. It would be an immense burden for you."

Lu Ye nodded. "I understand that."

There are so many Dao Integration Cities in the Inner Realm, and what restricts their quality improvement isn't just the accumulation of Dao Integration Orbs, but also the City Lord's own foundation.

Especially for Cosmos-tier cities, an insufficient foundation simply can't support them, as the amplification from a Cosmos-tier Dao Integration Orb is immense.

"Our city is Cosmos-tier. Although we have the secret technique left by Shen that can conceal its whereabouts, it's ultimately not entirely secure," Lian suggested. "I recommend you seek allegiance with one of the Ten Great Cities. Our city's situation is unique: its rank is high, but its overall combat power isn't strong. If it has the protection of one of the Ten Great, it will be safer in the future."

As for which of the Ten Great Cities Lu Ye would choose, that was beyond her interference. This city, after Yuan Xi's departure, nominally belonged to Lu Ye.

"I will consider it carefully," Lu Ye nodded, rising to his feet as well. "I'll see you off, Pavilion Master."

A short while later, in the Central Great Hall, with Lu Ye at the forefront, everyone watched as Lian's figure disappeared from view.

Lu Ye had never imagined that his return to the city would unfold this way. Yuan Xi had kept her agreement and returned to Scarlet Flame City, and Lian had left with her. Two of the most powerful Dao Integration combatants were gone. The city's overall strength already didn't match its high rank, and now the disparity was even greater.

Turning around, Lu Ye looked at the silent crowd behind him and said, "There's no need to be so somber. Everyone, go about your duties. I will refine the Dao Integration Orb and assume the City Lord's position."

You Die gasped in surprise. "Now?"

Huan Qing and Fan Wu also looked at him with astonishment, only Fu Wei raised an eyebrow.

Others didn't know the extent of Lu Ye's current strength, but Fu Wei vaguely sensed it—a wondrous connection between destinies.

Lu Ye nodded.

You Die said worriedly, "But Brother Ye, you've only just advanced to Dao Integration. Isn't this inappropriate? Should we wait a bit longer? Anyway, I can control the city for now, so movement isn't an issue."

"Since I intend to do this, I naturally have confidence; there's no need to worry," Lu Ye waved his hand. If he were truly assuming the position of City Lord of a Cosmos-tier city right after advancing to Dao Integration, he wouldn't be qualified. At that time, Lu Ye couldn't even suppress his own Dao intent. However, Lu Ye had gained immensely from his trip to the Dragon Pool, so assuming the City Lord position was not a problem.

In fact, if he wished, he could even begin the matter of secondary resonance now.

But this matter was not urgent after all.

After everyone had dispersed, Lu Ye stepped forward and sat cross-legged before the Dao Integration Orb.

Compared to the Dao Integration Orbs of the Ten Great Cities, their city's Dao Integration Orb was undoubtedly much inferior. However, it had fully integrated the Dao Integration Orb of Black Blood City, meaning it had virtually reached its peak at the Cosmos-tier level.

That was why it could provide amplification to so many Deputy City Lords.

Raising his hand and placing it over the Dao Integration Orb, Lu Ye could clearly perceive several imprints within it.

These were the imprints left by the various Dao Integrators in the city. Yuan Xi's was not among them; she had already dispelled her own imprint when she left the city.

This was to facilitate Lu Ye's assumption of the City Lord's position.

The remaining imprints belonged to You Die and Huan Qing. Now there was an additional one from Fu Wei, and Lian's imprint was still present, though very low in the sequence.

This meant that if Lian were ever near Yuan Xi City again, she could receive a power amplification of at least twenty to thirty percent.

"Refining the Dao Integration Orb" simply meant imprinting one's own mark onto it.

This task was not difficult for Lu Ye.

However, since it was a Cosmos-tier Dao Integration Orb before him, it would take a bit of time.

Lu Ye activated his own power, channeling it into the Dao Integration Orb, leaving imprints of his spiritual and vital energy within it.

Just two days later, the Dao Integration Orb suddenly brightened, and a circle of light rippled outwards.

Lu Ye couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

He felt a close connection between himself and the Dao Integration Orb before him, which meant that he had truly become the Lord of Yuan Xi City!

He sighed inwardly. This city could be said to have been built by him and Yuan Xi together from scratch. With Yuan Xi's continuous protection, he had never imagined that he would one day become its master.

Yet, such a fated encounter had occurred today.

However, relatively speaking, he preferred being its Grand Commander rather than the Lord of the City.