Chapter 2144: Turmoil in the Library

"Tian Fei, Zhao Meng, you go too far..." Unexpectedly, the number one genius of his own clan was brutally beaten by the clan leader of similar strength. Lin Clan Leader could no longer hold back.

Bang bang bang!

After a few slaps, he too sat on the ground dumbfounded, completely stunned.

Before, as the head of the number one clan, though not a match for Lin Xie, he could easily defeat the likes of Tian Fei and Zhao Meng. When did they become so formidable?

These people seemed able to foresee his moves; no matter what martial art he used, it was vulnerable before them, easily shattered!

"Single out all the disciples of the Lin clan!"

Just as he was wondering what was happening, Tian Fei snorted.

Then a lame youth stepped out from behind him.

Lin Clan Leader recognized him—a notorious waste of the Tian clan. After an injury, he had become despondent and had the weakest cultivation among his peers.

The lame youth quickly approached the Lin clan disciples. With one sword, he swept through them all. In less than ten minutes, he had single-handedly taken on dozens of Lin disciples of the same age!

"..." Lin Clan Leader was going mad.

When had this waste become so powerful?

What had happened to the Tian clan...

Half an hour later, all the experts of the Lin clan had been singled out by peers of the same age, none victorious, all ending in crushing defeat.

"Quickly investigate how they suddenly became so strong..."

The three major clans had often clashed openly and covertly. Normally, the Lin clan ranked first, invincible. When had they been so easily crushed, without any resistance?

"Yes..." The steward hurried out but returned shortly, his face bruised and swollen.

"What happened? Are they still blocking the gate?" Lin Clan Leader gritted his teeth.

Was it worth the two clans blocking the gate just because he said a few bad words about the city lord?

"No, I encountered some beggars on the road. I could have easily crushed them, but suddenly they all became experts and beat me up..." The steward was on the verge of tears.

"Beggars?" Lin Clan Leader trembled.

Could even beggars bully the prestigious Lin clan?

"I heard they all attended the city lord's lecture and became so strong. Both cultivation and combat power skyrocketed..." The steward said.

"Attended the city lord's lecture? Is there a recording of the lecture?" Lin Xie quickly looked over.

"I spent a fortune and finally found a copy..."

The steward nodded, took out a recording jade crystal, and handed it over.

Pouring divine power into it, he saw a young man sitting on a stone stele, his voice ringing clearly.

After listening for a while, Lin Xie and Lin Clan Leader both collapsed limply to the ground.

Only then did they understand why the Tian and Zhao clans had suddenly become so powerful, far beyond their match—all because they had attended the new city lord's lecture!

"A recording can only capture sound; it's no longer very effective for improving cultivation... Our Lin clan has lost the best opportunity. From now on, we will be removed from the three major clans and reduced to a second-rate force..."

With bitter faces, Lin Clan Leader and Lin Xie finally realized.

Although the recording jade crystal could record images, its effect was far inferior to attending in person. They had missed the best chance, and the clan's decline was inevitable.

"If only I had known it would be so powerful, I would have listened to Ming Laixiang..."

Tears streamed down Lin Xie's face.

No wonder Ming Laixiang was so formidable, obediently convinced and helping him become city lord. This ability was simply too heaven-defying!

If he had humbled himself and attended the lecture back then, he would probably still be the second strongest in Ye Hui. But unfortunately, there were no ifs. He had exhausted the power of the eight elders yet couldn't even defeat Tian Fei and the others...

Destined, he, Lin Xie, and even the entire Lin clan, would become the biggest joke in Ye Hui City!

...

"This is the core of the Nether Soul Heaven—the Nether Soul Imperial City!"

Unaware of what had happened in Ye Hui City, unaware that the strongest clan had declined because of it, Qi Ling'er said to the group, who all looked dazed.

Zhang Xuan looked around.

They were standing in a huge circular teleportation array. The array had just finished operating, and intense spatial fluctuations still permeated the air.

Last night, he had lectured for two hours. Countless lower-grade deities broke through to middle-grade, and middle-grade to upper-grade. The number of breakthroughs in Ye Hui City in one night exceeded the total of the past thirty years.

At one point, a vacuum of spiritual energy appeared above the city.

Most importantly, whether humans, divine beasts, or sentient weapons, all who attended the lecture were greatly inspired and advanced further in cultivation.

For a time, the entire Ye Hui City was utterly convinced by the new city lord.

Of course, for Zhang Xuan, this was nothing new.

Leaving the teleportation array, he looked at the imperial city before him. It was many times larger than Ye Hui City, with more people, yet not so crowded.

The city was clean and tidy, with various buildings laid out very reasonably. All kinds of divine beasts flew in the sky, and floating mountains hung above, shrouded in mist, making one momentarily unsure of their location.

"In the imperial city, those who live on the floating divine mountains are all from major clans and powers. The controllers are at least upper-grade deities!"

Seeing his expression, Qi Ling'er explained.

"Upper-grade deities... No wonder it's the imperial city, truly terrifying!"

Zhang Jia muttered to himself.

Previously, with his upper-grade deity strength, he could throw his weight around in Ye Ming City and even ignore the city lord. But here, there were too many experts.

Without even looking carefully, he had spotted at least five divine beasts stronger than him.

His once proud heart immediately shrank, and he dared not say more.

It was like a millionaire suddenly arriving on Wall Street. He thought he was rich, but seeing these people, he realized he wasn't even a speck of dust.

"What's there to fear? With Brother Qiang here, I'll conquer the Nether Soul Imperial City for you!" Sun Qiang smiled, full of confidence.

Zhang Xuan's eyebrows twitched.

With such weak talent, what the hell are you so confident about!

Zhang Jia didn't speak. He pushed Sun Qiang's hand off his shoulder and looked obsequiously at the little yellow chicken nearby: "Boss, what can I do for you?"

The little yellow chicken said expressionlessly: "I want to die... How about you die first and show me?"

"..."

Zhang Xuan covered his forehead.

What kind of bunch are these...

"Let's find a place to stay first. Do you have any lodging here?"

No longer paying attention to these oddballs, Zhang Xuan looked at Qi Ling'er.

If he were alone, staying or not didn't matter, but his parents had been traveling all the way and needed a place to rest.

Although the teleportation array was fast, their strength was far from sufficient, and forced use still caused some harm to the body.

"I used to live in the clan, but I left the imperial city after coming of age..." Qi Ling'er said awkwardly.

"Then let's find a place anywhere."

Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

On the way, he learned that her clan was among the top even in the imperial city. As an outsider, he certainly couldn't stay there, and such places had many rules, causing trouble. It was better to stay outside and gather information more easily.

Because there were many outsiders in the imperial city, lodging was easy to find. In less than an hour, they found a satisfactory courtyard, though the price was many times higher than in Ye Ming City.

But for Zhang Xuan now, it was nothing.

"Here are fifty beauty pills. Try to sell them and also help me inquire about matters concerning the Spirit God." He took out several bottles of divine essence pills and handed them over.

On the way, he had used the money from previous sales to buy more lower-grade divine essence pills.

For him, it was just a matter of a single true qi, requiring little cost.

"Okay!" Qi Ling'er turned and walked out of the courtyard.

"You go and inquire about the layout of the Nether Soul Imperial City and the various powers. Also, look into Lu Chong. If you can't find him, ask about where the genius brought by the Nether Soul Demon Lord went..." After a moment's thought, Zhang Xuan transmitted his voice to Sun Qiang.

Lu Chong had broken through on the divine mountain and was taken away by the Nether Soul Demon Lord of the Nether Soul Heaven. He should be in this Nether Soul Imperial City.

As for exactly where, he really didn't know.

"Yes!" Sun Qiang nodded and withdrew.

After the two left and he had settled his parents, Zhang Xuan took out the pendant from his bosom, his expression pensive.

Where exactly was Luo Ruoxi?

And what identity did she hold in the Divine Realm... He knew nothing!

However, from the bits and pieces of their time together, he could tell that her status must be high, otherwise she wouldn't have been so cautious.

"Perhaps... I can start with this drop of blood!"

Looking at the crimson liquid inside the pendant, Zhang Xuan's mind stirred.

The pendant was given by Luo Ruoxi. The blood sealed inside might be hers, or even if not, it was certainly connected to her.

Other methods couldn't probe her identity, but this thing might!

If used well, the blood could reveal many things, even her specific location!

"Let's try!"

Previously, his strength was too weak to approach it. Now, with his physical body, soul, and divine power all at the peak of upper-grade deity, he should be able to touch it.

After setting up formations around him, he pointed a finger, and the pendant immediately floated in the air.

With a thought, a stream of consciousness stretched straight toward it.

The outer shell of the pendant was made of some unknown crystal, extremely hard. His current strength couldn't break it, but his consciousness could penetrate it.

Soon, contact was made.

The blood lay quietly inside the pendant, seemingly devoid of energy, yet like a heavy rock, immovable.

Full of doubt, his consciousness extended into it.

Boom!

The moment he made contact, his body trembled. A familiar aura surged through him again, and the ancient, vast words that had echoed at his rebirth exploded once more in his mind.

"Heaven and earth are ruthless, treating all things as straw dogs..."

"The sun and moon wax and wane, heaven and earth are flawed..."

"The myriad laws of the universe, the Way of Heaven has order..."

"When the Great Way prevails, the world is for all..."

Boom!

Hearing this voice, the library in his mind shook violently. Zhang Xuan felt his vision blur, turning pitch black.

Bang!

He fell from the bed to the floor and immediately passed out.