Chapter 2137: Night Radiance City

Qi Ling'er nodded, saying, "Yes, it can perform spatial teleportation, similar to the instantaneous movement of an emperor-level expert, covering millions of miles in an instant, unbound by space or region. However, this thing is only for city lords and nobles to ride; ordinary people cannot use it."

"Only city lords can use it?"

Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

If that were the case, the limitations would be too great, and it was no wonder many people were unaware.

"Yes! Actually, it's not a privilege but a protection for those being teleported! The God Realm is the foremost of all realms, with stable space. Even a titled divine king would find it difficult to break through. Because of this, activating a teleportation array inevitably causes a massive spatial storm. If one's strength is insufficient, they can easily be ground to ashes!"

Seeing his confusion, Qi Ling'er explained, "Becoming a city lord and possessing the city lord token means containing the collective willpower of the city's people. Even if the storm is dangerous, it cannot harm you."

"Willpower?"

Qi Ling'er said, "The people within the city obey the city lord's rules, which equates to unconditional faith in him. If something happens to him, the entire city would fall into chaos, and the people would suffer. This is all willpower! When added to the city lord token, it naturally grants it strong defensive capabilities! Why did the newly ascended Heavenly Sovereign Emperor insist on gaining the recognition of the other nine emperors? It's also for this reason. The recognition of the nine emperors means that all life under their jurisdiction also recognizes him. In this way, he can gather more willpower..."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

It seemed that in the God Realm, willpower was extremely important.

The Heavenly Sovereign Emperor, in his view, should be Master Kong. Based on his understanding of this teacher of all ages—learned and indifferent to fame and fortune—yet now he was challenging the nine emperors for the title of emperor. He had been puzzled before, but now it seemed the main reason might lie here.

Gaining recognition, the so-called 'legitimacy,' was necessary to earn trust and obtain willpower.

"So, if I want to go to the imperial city or travel anywhere in the God Realm without obstacles, I must obtain the status of city lord?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

"Yes!"

Qi Ling'er smiled slightly.

"That's simple. I'll go with Xiao Jia and kill Wu Fangqing... then you'll be the city lord!" Sun Qiang said.

On the way back, he had gotten to know Zhang Jia and knew this guy's strength.

Even though Wu Fangqing possessed a low-grade divine artifact, it wouldn't be easy to defeat him.

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

The other party hadn't done anything wrong; killing for the position of city lord was not something he should do.

"Actually, you don't need to kill anyone. The God Realm may seem stable, but there are conflicts everywhere. Many cities have no city lord!" Qi Ling'er said. "Not to mention others, I myself am a city lord. Although the territory I govern is far inferior to Night Darkness City, my city lord token is sufficient for teleportation!"

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

Not having to seize it was naturally best.

It seemed that although the God Realm had rules, many people found loopholes.

As long as he could use the teleportation array to save time, becoming a city lord was fine.

Along the way, he had become a family head, a hall master, and a sect master; adding a city lord identity was nothing.

He couldn't help asking, "Is there a city nearby without a city lord that I can compete for?"

"Night Radiance City, a day's journey from here, currently has no city lord. People have been competing for it for half a year, but no one has been able to win everyone's approval or succeed!"

Qi Ling'er was well-informed and smiled. "However, this city is even larger than Night Darkness City. Although it's one city, it governs three commanderies. The highest cultivator has reached the mid-grade celestial god level. Even such a strong person hasn't succeeded, so it's quite difficult!"

"Three commanderies? Do those commandery lords have tokens for teleportation?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"I mentioned this based on your situation, young master Zhang. This city naturally has them!" Qi Ling'er nodded.

She knew that the purpose of this young man in seeking the city lord position was for the teleportation array, and if he used it, he would likely bring the three people beside him. That's why she mentioned Night Radiance City.

Otherwise, she would have recommended a small city; there was no need to mention one stronger than Night Darkness City.

"That's good. If there's nothing else, let's set off now..." Zhang Xuan said.

"Please wait a moment, young master Zhang. I'll go prepare now and we'll depart in two hours!" Qi Ling'er nodded.

Zhang Xuan said no more and waited quietly.

Qi Ling'er worked quickly. What she said would take two hours, she returned to the courtyard in an hour and a half, bringing several huge flying divine beasts.

Everyone stepped onto the beasts' backs and flew straight toward the Night Radiance City she had mentioned.

"He's left?"

Hearing that Zhang Xuan had already left, Wu Fangqing's face was full of disappointment. He had thought that such a figure appearing in Night Darkness City would give him a chance to curry favor and perhaps break through to a higher cultivation level. He hadn't expected him to leave so soon.

"City Lord Wu, this is what Young Master Zhang asked me to deliver as a gift and repayment for your help!" Ying Fei approached.

Wu Fangqing took the jade talisman from him suspiciously, tapped it lightly, and a surge of divine power flowed in. After a moment, his eyes suddenly widened: "This... this..."

The jade talisman recorded all the errors and loopholes in his cultivation, along with correction methods. If he cultivated according to this, he would surely resolve all hidden dangers in his cultivation and might even break through to the mid-grade celestial god level!

"How did he know?"

He was full of disbelief.

At most, he had known the other party for only a day, and he had never said anything... How could the other party see the flaws and loopholes in his cultivation technique at a glance, many of which he himself had overlooked, and identify the crux?

"People with the bloodline of an emperor... truly extraordinary!"

After an unknown amount of time, he finally sighed.

Unable to figure it out, he could only attribute it to the emperor's bloodline; otherwise, he couldn't explain such an ability...

Zhang Xuan left without leaving a trace or causing much stir.

After all, he had kept a low profile since arriving at Night Darkness City, and not many people knew of him.

...

After flying for a day, they indeed saw a huge city appear before them.

It was three or four times larger than Night Darkness City, with countless towering buildings standing tall, and even more people, beyond count.

Landing from the flying divine beasts, the group entered the city. Zhang Xuan saw the crowded flow of people, like locusts crossing, and couldn't help shaking his head.

"The God Realm has undergone changes, spiritual energy has dissipated, and there are fewer places to live outside the city. Almost everyone has moved into the city, so it's very crowded here. Being able to buy a house of thirty or forty square meters here is considered wealthy and can make countless girls throw themselves at you..."

Seeing his thoughts, Qi Ling'er explained.

Zhang Xuan nodded.

This situation was similar to the imperial capital or the demon capital in his previous life. Everyone wanted to squeeze in; not to mention a house, even a household registration could make countless girls rush forward.

With the God Realm undergoing changes, to live safely and even cultivate, one had to enter the cities, so naturally they were overcrowded.

"Where do we go to compete for the city lord?"

Ignoring the sea of people, Zhang Xuan asked.

"The reason Night Radiance City hasn't determined a city lord candidate is not a lack of experts, but... a stalemate, unable to decide!"

Qi Ling'er said. "There are three people in the stalemate: Lin Xie, a scion from a family skilled in saber techniques; Wu Yang, a rogue cultivator skilled in sword techniques; and a woman named Ming Laixiang! The first two are at the mid-grade celestial god level with extraordinary combat power. The last one, like Wu Fangqing, is only a low-grade celestial god. However, don't underestimate her low level; she is said to be the most fearsome of the three!"

"Ming Laixiang..." Zhang Xuan nodded.

Being able to compete for a city lord and keep such a large city undecided for so long naturally meant she was not to be underestimated.

"To become a city lord, it's actually not that complicated. Challenge the three individually, defeat them, and make them sincerely acknowledge you. Then the city lord position is yours!"

Qi Ling'er said. "So... Young Master Zhang, which one should we challenge first?"

In the past, when the Nether Soul Heaven selected a city lord, the Nether Soul Hall had to appoint in advance, and with various procedures, it couldn't be done in less than a few months.

But now, with spiritual energy dissipating and everyone in the God Realm feeling endangered, the situation was completely different.

A city lord must have absolute strength to protect everyone's safety. Therefore, as long as one could subdue the masses, they were qualified to be city lord and gain the recognition of the Nether Soul Heaven.

Pausing, Zhang Xuan said, "Where can I find mid-grade divine origin pills? Let's find the pills first, then challenge them!"

"Mid-grade divine origin pills?"

Unexpectedly, this young man wanted such things. Qi Ling'er was taken aback, thought for a moment, and said, "The trading houses should have them, but they're basically priceless. Oh, I know a place that definitely has them, and in large quantities. However, the person there isn't easy to deal with. I'm afraid it won't be easy to buy..."

"Oh?" Zhang Xuan looked at her. "Tell me about it!"

"It's a rogue cultivator in Night Radiance City, about sixty years old. His cultivation isn't high, only a high-grade celestial god, but he's skilled in alchemy. The pills he refines are always for his own use and never sold. He's obsessed with chess and finds someone to play with every day. His chess skills are very high. He once declared that anyone who could beat him in a game of chess would receive a mid-grade divine origin pill. Unfortunately... no one has succeeded in all these years!"

Qi Ling'er said.

Zhang Xuan frowned. "If his cultivation isn't high, hasn't anyone tried to rob him?"

A high-grade celestial god possessing mid-grade divine origin pills was strange enough, and he even told others about it. Wasn't he afraid of being robbed?

In other cities with city lords and rules, no one would dare to offend, but here the city lord hadn't been established, right?

"His cultivation isn't high, but his younger brother is very powerful, said to be a divine king in the imperial city. He has a life-saving jade talisman left by his brother. Previously, two low-grade celestial gods came to cause trouble and were all killed by the emitted aura... Over time, no one dared to come anymore!"

Qi Ling'er explained.