Chapter 1640: Besieged on All Sides

Withdrawing from the state of selflessness, a complex expression appeared in Ye Yuan's eyes.

"Senior, it seems... this is the only path left!" Ye Yuan sighed and said to Wuchen.

Now, Ye Yuan could enter the state of selflessness at any time.

Yet, under the state of selflessness, Ye Yuan had deduced many times but still could not create the fourth layer of the technique.

Over these three hundred years, Ye Yuan had tried no fewer than tens of thousands of methods, but none of them worked.

Wuchen nodded and said, "There's no other way! Over the years, you've tried countless times to open up an inner world, but it just won't work. Could it be that the fourth layer of the technique truly doesn't require opening an inner world?"

Wuchen had naturally witnessed Ye Yuan's mental journey over these years.

But the final result left Wuchen very puzzled.

Over the years, Ye Yuan had been trying to find a way to open up an inner world, but no matter what, it didn't work.

His divine sea seemed to be sealed, unable to open a gap no matter what.

Having long become unperturbed by repeated failures, Ye Yuan said, "I have a feeling that I might have been going in the wrong direction all these years. But if I don't open an inner world, I'm very confused about how to proceed."

Wuchen said, "I can't imagine how one can break through to the Divine Lord realm without opening an inner world. The power of the Divine Lord realm lies in the power of the world. Without an inner world, where would the power of the world come from? Even if you break through to the Divine Lord realm, how would you fight against experts of the same level?"

Ye Yuan nodded and said, "This has also been a problem troubling me. I'm afraid the key to the breakthrough lies here!"

Wuchen sighed and said, "Now, we can only go to Mount Tongtian. But Mount Tongtian is no paradise; with your strength, it will still be somewhat difficult to go there."

Ye Yuan laughed and said, "Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets his mind to it. No matter how hard this hurdle is, I will get through it!"

…

As soon as Ye Yuan entered the great hall, the atmosphere inside immediately became strange.

Originally, Ye Yuan was a rising star in the Tianying Imperial City, radiant and dazzling, and no one dared to take him lightly.

But now, the halo of genius had faded, and people's perception of Ye Yuan was quietly changing.

In this world where the strong are revered, the weak are only eliminated.

A fallen genius was not worthy of their attention, even if he had rendered outstanding service to the Tianying Imperial City.

Over the years, Ye Yuan had used elixirs to cultivate countless experts for the Tianying Imperial City.

Even Divine Lord realm experts had increased by nearly a hundred in these three hundred years!

And this number was several times what it would have been under normal circumstances.

Over the years, Ye Yuan had left behind over a hundred new pill formulas for the Alchemy Tower, benefiting countless generations.

Ning Siyu, Lu Yi, and others, under Ye Yuan's tutelage, had made rapid progress in the Dao of alchemy.

Ye Yuan had reformed the spatial laws of the Martial Tower, making it possible to comprehend spatial laws, which also brought long-lasting blessings.

Three hundred years might not be long for a Divine Dao expert, but Ye Yuan's contributions to the Tianying Imperial City were beyond the reach of these elders.

But it was all useless!

If he couldn't break through to the Divine Lord realm, Ye Yuan, as a three-star Divine Alchemist, meant far less to the Sky Eagle Imperial City.

At the head of the hall, an old man sat at the top, appearing somewhat ethereal and indistinct.

Heavenly God realm experts rarely showed themselves. Having lived in Sky Eagle Imperial City for over four hundred years, Ye Yuan was seeing a Heavenly God expert here for the first time.

And at this moment, he truly felt the power of a Heavenly God realm martial artist!

Three hundred years ago, the Heavenly God expert Ye Yuan encountered at Demon Summoning Ridge had his cultivation suppressed, and the pressure he brought was far less than this.

Even when they later returned to the surface, they were severely injured, with less than a tenth of their strength remaining.

This Heavenly God realm expert was named He Chong, the Supreme Elder of Sky Eagle Imperial City.

"Greetings, Supreme Elder!" Ye Yuan clasped his fists toward He Chong.

He Chong nodded slightly and said, "Take a seat."

Leng Yu and Xuan Yu looked at Ye Yuan with complex expressions, a nameless melancholy in their hearts.

The current situation was no longer something they could control.

Not only were the members of Ruoxu's faction stirring up trouble, but even the elders on their own side were now questioning Ye Yuan's position as an elder.

After all, a genius who couldn't break through to the Divine Lord realm was nothing!

Once all the elders were seated, He Chong said slowly, "Ruoxu, you will preside over today's council of elders."

Ruoxu was delighted to hear this and said, "Yes, Supreme Elder!"

There was a hint of excitement in Ruoxu's voice.

Back in the day, he had lost all face at Ye Yuan's hands, and he still hadn't recovered from it.

After so many years, he had finally found an opportunity to trample on Ye Yuan—how could he not be excited?

As for Ling Zikun's matter, it was merely a trivial affair.

Now that many years had passed, he naturally wouldn't dwell on it.

Ruoxu swept his gaze across the room and said, "I'm sure everyone knows why I've gathered you here today. At present, many in the city have complaints about one of our elders, believing that his strength is insufficient for the position. Initially, only a few people were discussing this, but as time went on, this elder's strength made no progress, and more and more people began to gossip. Helpless, I had no choice but to convene this council meeting. Let's hear your opinions first."

As he spoke, Ruoxu exchanged glances with a few of his confidants, who immediately understood.

One elder spoke up, "There's no denying that this elder once amazed us! However, he also misled us, creating an illusion that he would surely soar to great heights, perhaps even lead our Heavenly Eagle Imperial City to a higher level. But looking at it now, it's all a facade! Having someone who can't even break through to the Divine Lord realm serve as an elder—this is nothing short of a disgrace to the imperial city!"

As soon as he finished, another elder chimed in, "How ironic! My disciple took only thirty years to break through from the Great Perfection of Guixu to the First Heaven of Divine Lord. This elder has spent a full three hundred years and can't even break through to Half-Step Divine Lord. How can such a mediocrity hold the position of elder?"

Xuanyu frowned and said in a deep voice, "Bao Wenhao, have you no shame in saying that? Don't forget how your disciple broke through to the Divine Lord realm!"

Huang Wenhao didn't dare to contradict Xuanyu, but he said, "Grand Elder, that's not fair. Ye Yuan did refine the Haori Qiandao Pill for my disciple, but his talent is evident. Even without taking the pill, he would have broken through in at most fifty years. Unlike some people, who can't break through even after three hundred years!"

Xuanyu was momentarily speechless, somewhat choked.

Huang Wenhao's words left him with no rebuttal.

Leng Yu swept his gaze across the room and said coldly, "You ungrateful wretches! How many of you haven't benefited from Ye Yuan over the years? Yet now you're kicking him when he's down, and you don't hold back at all!"