Chapter 2606: The Sacred Mountain

"Hmm? Why is that?" Ye Yuan asked curiously.

It was just delivering a challenge letter; how could it not go as planned?

He Yunxiang smiled bitterly and said, "My lord, during the three years you were in seclusion, six of the other nine city lords have ascended to the second layer. Now, among the original ten city lords on this first layer, only three remain."

Ye Yuan was taken aback and said, "They didn't ascend for so many years, but why now... Huh? Could it be because of me?"

He Yunxiang nodded and said, "Who else but you? Your battle with Zhangsun Xingyu was too astonishing; it quickly spread throughout the ten cities. The city lords of Qingliang and Bixia chose to ascend within three months. The other six city lords also ascended one after another within two years."

No one was a fool, especially these peak powerhouses of the first layer.

Ye Yuan had made an example of Zhangsun Xingyu, and he would inevitably come to challenge them next.

That battle was too earth-shattering; they didn't want to become Ye Yuan's whetstone.

In such a peak battle, a single misstep could lead to death and annihilation.

Although these city lords were exceptionally talented and unafraid of a deathmatch, they also knew how to avoid danger.

No one, knowing they would surely die, would still choose to fight to the death.

That would be like an old man eating arsenic—tired of living!

So, they chose to ascend.

If you can't win, you can still run!

Of course, you could also ascend.

But once on the second layer, you'd face countless opponents, so naturally they wouldn't bother with us few.

In truth, these supremes didn't ascend solely because they wanted to rule the roost.

They were accumulating strength; with enough power, ascending would allow them to live more comfortably and go further in the next layer.

Ye Yuan twitched his mouth and said, "Aren't there still three city lords? Since they haven't ascended, we can't waste them. Go deliver the challenge letters."

He Yunxiang smiled bitterly again and said, "That won't work either! The city lords of Fuguang, Anyun, and Lanling came to Huayang City half a year ago to pledge their allegiance to you! Besides them, the new city lords of the other six cities are also all in the city."

Ye Yuan couldn't help rolling his eyes. These bastards really didn't give him any chance!

One doesn't strike a smiling face!

Given Ye Yuan's nature, since the other party had voluntarily backed down, he really couldn't bring himself to make a move.

But Ye Yuan also understood that the Exile Land was a place of stark reality.

If you are strong, you can suppress everything!

Helpless, he waved his hand and said, "In that case, bring them here."

...

"Lin Tong, Lord of Fuguang, pays respects to Lord Ye Yuan!"

"Wei Xiang, Lord of Anyun, pays respects to Lord Ye Yuan!"

"Xu Weiqing, Lord of Lanling, pays respects to Lord Ye Yuan!"

...

Led by the three city lords of Fuguang, the nine city lords all came forward to pay their respects.

This also marked Ye Yuan's complete subjugation of the first layer of the Exile Land!

Ye Yuan's gaze swept over the crowd, and he noticed that Lin Tong and the other two exuded extremely strong auras, even surpassing Zhangsun Xingyu.

He couldn't help but be surprised and said, "I originally thought you three were the weakest among the nine city lords, but now it seems... that's not the case!"

Lin Tong stepped forward, bowed, and said, "What you say is true, my lord! We three ranked among the top three of the original ten city lords, while Zhangsun Xingyu ranked fourth!"

This ranking was known only to the ten city lords themselves.

Now that Lin Tong had publicly revealed it, it still surprised everyone.

Ye Yuan was intrigued and asked, "In that case, why didn't you ascend but instead came to submit to me?"

Lin Tong said respectfully, "You have comprehended the embodiment of the Great Dao and have now broken through to the Minor Extreme Heaven's Great Perfection. We are naturally no match for you. But to ascend like this would leave us unwilling."

Ye Yuan said, "You also want to comprehend the embodiment of the Great Dao?"

Lin Tong did not evade and nodded, "Indeed! The reason we original ten city lords held annual discussions on the Dao was to break through our shackles and comprehend the embodiment of the Great Dao! With your talent, my lord, you must know that the firmer the foundation, the greater the potential. So, unless absolutely necessary, we do not wish to ascend. Not unless we are certain our talent has been exhausted!"

Ye Yuan naturally agreed with this view.

That Lin Tong and the other two chose to submit despite the humiliation rather than ascend precisely proved their unwavering martial heart.

However, Lin Tong's words made Ye Yuan think of another possibility.

In the Exile Land, city lords changed quickly.

There were always people like Lin Tong and the others who wanted to solidify their realm at the Minor Extreme Heaven and comprehend the laws of the Great Dao.

Could it be that over so many years, no one had comprehended the embodiment of the Great Dao?

That seemed unlikely!

Ye Yuan did not doubt his own high talent, but he also did not think others were all worthless.

Especially in a place like the Exile Land, where pressure could force people to rise.

With this thought, Ye Yuan asked hopefully, "Then on this first layer, are there any powerhouses who have comprehended the embodiment of the Great Dao?"

Lin Tong said, "Naturally, there are! In fact, quite a few!"

Ye Yuan was delighted and thought to himself, Just as I suspected!

"Oh? Where? Tell me!" Ye Yuan said.

Lin Tong said, "In the far north, there is a snow mountain called Xianyun Mountain, which is the sacred land of the first layer of the Exile Land! Only those who have comprehended the embodiment of the Great Dao are permitted to set foot on this mountain!"

Ye Yuan's eyes flickered, and he said, "So, you stayed behind to enter Xianyun Mountain?"

Lin Tong nodded slightly and replied, "You are perceptive, my lord. That is exactly the case!"

The other six city lords were all astonished, learning that such a place existed on the first layer!

And this was what the city lords tirelessly sought—such a supreme realm!

Ridiculous; they were all just frogs at the bottom of a well!

Ye Yuan was overjoyed and said, "Then what are we waiting for? Lead the way!"

Lin Tong and the other two were stunned and said, "My lord, we have not comprehended the embodiment of the Great Dao and cannot enter the sacred mountain. Violators will be killed without mercy!"

Ye Yuan curled his lips and said, "I say you can go, so you can go! What sacred mountain? It's just a bunch of Minor Extreme Heaven cultivators! If they know what's good for them, fine; if not, I'll wipe out the entire mountain! Let's see if that broken mountain still dares to call itself a sacred mountain!"

Ye Yuan detested this kind of pretentious trickery—a bunch of Minor Extreme Heaven cultivators putting on airs of superiority.

Who were they trying to fool!

He, Ye Yuan, had nearly overturned the entire Wuding Heavenly Sect; dealing with a bunch of Minor Extreme Heaven cultivators would be a piece of cake!

No one on this first layer could put on airs in front of him!

Lin Tong and the other two were dumbfounded.

This guy was so arrogant!

How had he survived until now?

After all, some of those who had comprehended the embodiment of the Great Dao on Xianyun Mountain had been there for thousands of years, with unfathomable strength.

This guy actually completely disregarded Xianyun Mountain!