Chapter 285: Immortal Origin City Lord

**Winds Rise Across the Nine Provinces**

Practicing cultivation, setting up formations, and reading – Lu Ye didn't know how others spent their days in Xian Yuan City, but his own life was quite fulfilling. This made him consider simply returning to the Crimson Blood Sect for secluded cultivation. However, given his current cultivation at the Eighth Stage, staying in the outer circle for an extended period wasn't ideal. Besides, he still had many scores to settle with sects from Golden Light Peak.

Currently, he could only operate within the inner circle; once his cultivation advanced and he reached the core circle, it would be difficult to find those sects for revenge. For instance, on Golden Light Peak, he fought forty-three consecutive battles, and many of those sects were from the outer circle. It wouldn't be appropriate for him to go to the outer circle now to seek revenge against them; that would only cause chaos. Li Baxian once said that outer circle matters are handled by outer circle people, and inner circle matters by inner circle people. Each circle has its unwritten customs; these aren't formal rules, but they must be observed by cultivators from both factions. Any violation would lead to severe consequences.

Even in Xian Yuan City, his spiritual aperture activation speed was not slow, maintaining a frequency of opening one aperture every three days. He was now close to 160 activated apertures. It seemed he would need to prepare a Heaven-tier cultivation technique for himself in advance when visiting the Divine Concealment Palace later, just in case.

One day, feeling bored, Lu Ye took out a Vigor Fruit core from his storage bag, intending to enter the Mirage Realm to stretch his muscles and bones. Spending all day cultivating and reading was quite tedious. Since he couldn't leave Xian Yuan City for now, he had to find something else to do. Moreover, although he had previously confirmed that the Mirage Realm he entered via the Vigor Fruit core was somehow connected to Xian Yuan City, he had never figured out the exact nature of that connection. The only certainty was that both had constantly rolling mists and shadowy figures emerging from them. As for anything else, it remained unknown for now.

Just as he took out the Vigor Fruit core from his storage bag, a pair of eyes suddenly opened somewhere in Xian Yuan City. A thoughtful expression appeared in them, and then the owner of the eyes vanished in a flash.

In his room, Lu Ye frowned slightly. He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but just as he was about to channel spiritual energy into the Vigor Fruit core in his hand, he suddenly felt as if someone was watching him. He looked around, but there was nothing unusual. Upon closer inspection, the feeling vanished again. Holding the Vigor Fruit core, Lu Ye's spiritual energy surged.

A soft sound was heard, and Lu Ye's hairs stood on end. As he looked up, a figure had appeared before him at some unknown point. It was a man who appeared to be in his late thirties or early forties, dressed in a magnificent purple robe. His physique was imposing, and his demeanor noble. One hand had grasped Lu Ye's arm, and he looked at Lu Ye with a hint of helplessness. Their eyes met. Lu Ye tried to pull his arm free but couldn't. The man hadn't used much force, yet he had completely restrained Lu Ye. This person was strong, incredibly strong! Stronger than the red-robed woman!

Who was this person? Where did he come from? What did he want to do? A flurry of questions erupted in Lu Ye's mind. He didn't sense any ill will from the man, but then again, such a powerful being probably wouldn't harbor malice towards him, just as he wouldn't harbor malice towards an ant on the roadside. Though his thoughts raced, it didn't stop him from instinctively drawing the Immovable Mountain Blade from his waist with his left hand and slashing it towards the newcomer.

*Clang!* The long blade halted in mid-air. The man had simply raised two fingers and clamped down on the blade. Lu Ye looked at his Immovable Mountain Blade, his eyelid twitching.

Hearing the commotion, Amber and Ju Jia, who were eating outside, rushed in together. Immediately, Amber roared, and spirits manifested one by one, while Ju Jia strode forward, his blood surging. "Stop!" Lu Ye commanded in a low voice. Ju Jia ignored him, came to the man's side, and threw a punch. The man was completely unaffected, but Ju Jia tumbled backward and flew out. What was even more astonishing was that the spectral spirits released by Amber didn't attack the man; they just stood there blankly. Only Amber itself pounced, and Yi Yi cast a spell. In mid-air, Amber reverted to its true form, its maw clamping down on the man's head... and got stuck. Yi Yi's spell also had no effect; no matter what method she used, she couldn't harm the man in the slightest. The man, still holding Lu Ye's arm and pinching the Immovable Mountain Blade, looked even more helpless.

A moment later, Lu Ye sheathed his blade. Yi Yi and the returning Ju Jia stood cautiously by his sides. Two zhang away, the purple-robed man stood firm. Amber, with its bloody maw, was still clamped onto his head, hanging from him. Around them were a group of blank-faced spectral spirits. "Amber!" Lu Ye called out. Only then did Amber open its mouth and release the man.

The purple-robed man adjusted his clothes, sighed softly, and walked to a seat, saying, "Young friend, don't be nervous. I bear you no ill will." Lu Ye remained silent. Indeed, there was no ill will; if there were, not a single person in the room would survive. Glancing at the spectral spirits nearby, Lu Ye spoke, "City Lord, to what do we owe this visit?" Yi Yi was slightly startled, looking at Lu Ye with surprise.

The purple-robed man was also a bit surprised. He shifted to a more comfortable posture and smiled, "How did you determine that I am the City Lord, young friend?"

"I've met a red-robed woman on a swing; she was the strongest person I'd seen in Xian Yuan City. However, compared to the City Lord, there's still a significant gap. I presume there's no one stronger than her in the city, except for the City Lord."

"Just based on that?"

"And them," Lu Ye said, looking at the spectral spirits standing nearby. "Amber must have commanded them, but they didn't attack, which indicates their instincts prevent them from opposing the City Lord."

The purple-robed man nodded slightly, "Let's assume you're correct." This was an acknowledgment of his identity.

"As for my purpose here," the City Lord extended two fingers, pinching the Vigor Fruit core he had taken from Lu Ye, and said sternly, "Young friend, this item must not be used in Xian Yuan City. Not only here, but it also must not be activated in any Boundless Mirage Realm."

"Why?"

"Let's just say it would lead to some very undesirable consequences."

"Such as?"

"Some things are better left unknown to you," the City Lord smiled, clearly not intending to explain further to Lu Ye. As he spoke, he tossed the Vigor Fruit core back. Lu Ye took it, a thoughtful look in his eyes, but he couldn't make sense of it. However, since the City Lord had personally come to tell him this, he certainly wouldn't be so foolish as to rashly try to activate the Vigor Fruit core; that would only provoke the other party.

"Do you have any tea?" the City Lord asked again.

"No."

"What a pity," the City Lord said, rising and walking over to Lu Ye. He lightly cleared his throat with a clenched fist and began, "I also have another matter to clarify with you, young friend."

"Please speak, City Lord."

The City Lord turned his gaze to the spectral spirits nearby. "You cannot take them out."

"Will that also lead to very undesirable consequences?"

"Not exactly, but if you take them out, they will die."

Lu Ye looked thoughtful. The information implied by those words was significant, but he couldn't quite grasp its implications for the moment. Seeing Lu Ye's expression, the City Lord was a bit speechless. If possible, he wouldn't have revealed himself. He had already planned to use certain methods to intercept and keep the transformed spectral spirits within Xian Yuan City when Lu Ye was expelled from it. At that time, Lu Ye likely wouldn't have known what happened, most probably misunderstanding that spiritual entities from Xian Yuan City couldn't be taken out. The matter could have simply ended there.

However, what the City Lord hadn't expected was that Lu Ye would take out that item, forcing him to appear and explain the consequences to Lu Ye. Since he had already revealed himself, his covert methods were less feasible; he had to proceed openly.

"Is this the City Lord's command?" To be honest, the spectral spirits transformed by Amber were a significant aid. If he could take them out, they would be of great help to him in the short term, though their assistance would certainly diminish over time, as their strength was limited.

"This is a request," the City Lord said solemnly.

Lu Ye understood. "These spiritual entities belong to Amber; whether they leave or not is up to Amber. City Lord, why don't you discuss it with it?"

The City Lord stared at Lu Ye. Lu Ye felt immense pressure. Although their interaction was brief, the City Lord didn't seem like someone who would bully the weak. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said so much just now. As the saying goes, "A gentleman can be outmaneuvered by propriety." So Lu Ye felt he could seize the opportunity to do something. Since it was a request, it implied room for negotiation. The only fear was if the other party directly overturned the table; then he would have no choice but to concede.

"State your terms," the City Lord said with a huff.

"The Soul Cleansing Pool!"

The City Lord had an "I knew it" expression; he had guessed Lu Ye would propose this condition. "How about I give you a spirit treasure instead?" the City Lord offered.

Yi Yi quietly took out the Nine Worlds Map from the side.

The City Lord upped his offer: "Two? Three?"

Lu Ye shook his head, "External objects are, in the end, merely external objects."

Hearing this, the City Lord nodded in agreement, "You're not wrong, I suppose. Very well, I'll grant your request."

Lu Ye rejoiced inwardly, but showed no trace of it on his face. He extended his hand and drew a circle, "We all need to go."

The City Lord laughed in exasperation, "Do you want to add more people? I see there are many others outside."

"That won't be necessary. One shouldn't be too greedy."

"It's been a long time since I felt like hitting someone. You'd best mind your words."

Lu Ye immediately clamped his mouth shut. If he were beaten, he wouldn't even be able to fight back.

The City Lord glared at him again, then waved his hand, slashing at the many spectral spirits in the air. There was a faint sound of something being severed. Amber's body trembled, and the blank-faced, vacant-eyed spectral spirits seemed to come back to life, their eyes instantly regaining their luster. Immediately afterward, the numerous spiritual entities bowed to the City Lord and quickly dispersed.

"Let's go," the City Lord said. Lu Ye felt a force envelop him, and his vision instantly shifted as if stars were turning.