Chapter 1686 Xuanyuan Resigns

Ning Zhiyuan's eyes went wide!

Was this really the same Zheng Qi who had been gravely wounded and on the verge of death?

Zheng Qi had been stuck at the threshold of the ninth level of the Divine Lord realm for who knows how many years.

One had to know that the meaning of half-step Divine God was completely different from the ninth level of the Divine Lord realm.

Half-step Divine God meant that at any moment, one might step into the true Divine God realm.

Although the probability was not high, what if one had a sudden epiphany one day?

Most of the Divine God realm experts in the imperial city had actually broken through in such a muddled manner.

Those who truly broke through relying on their own talent were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

It wasn't that there were no breakthroughs from the ninth level of the Divine Lord realm to the Divine God realm, but they were far too few!

So few as to be negligible!

The vast majority of martial artists stepped across from the threshold of half-step Divine God.

With a single pill from Ye Yuan, he had broken through a bottleneck that had not been breached for tens of thousands of years?

Such means were simply too incredible!

Looking at the spirited Zheng Qi, Ye Yuan also said happily, "Haha, the confident and vigorous Brother Zheng has finally returned!"

Zheng Qi laughed heartily, "This is all thanks to you! I never imagined your pill could have such miraculous effects! Those ungrateful bastards must be kicking themselves now, right? If you ask me, ignore them all from now on! If anyone wants a pill, they can buy it with divine essence stones—three hundred billion per pill, not a single coin less! Hey, Ning Zhiyuan, you're here too?"

Zheng Qi had been so excited that he only saw Ye Yuan, and now he suddenly noticed Ning Zhiyuan standing awkwardly to the side, somewhat surprised.

Ning Zhiyuan looked extremely embarrassed but still forced a smile and said, "Congratulations, Brother Zheng, on your recovery and further advancement in strength!"

Zheng Qi rolled his eyes and said with a half-smile, "Ning Zhiyuan, your nose is sharp enough! Ye Yuan just got back, and you've already come looking for him! Your Ning family's actions back then were hardly honorable!"

Ning Zhiyuan had long prepared to throw his old face to the wind. He sighed and said, "Yes, I was blind and should not have kicked a man when he was down at the elders' meeting back then. I have come this time to sincerely apologize to Elder Ye!"

Zheng Qi sneered, "Anyone can add flowers to embroidery. Is there really such a good thing in this world? Do you think Ye Yuan is lacking an apology from you now?"

Ning Zhiyuan had the look of a dead pig unafraid of scalding water, but his attitude was very humble. He said, "I know it's too late to say anything now. I was blind, and I have no one to blame but myself. Fortunately, Tianping is loyal and righteous, keeping it from the entire Ning family and accompanying Elder Ye through life-and-death trials, which can be considered a slight compensation for the mistakes I made."

Hearing Ning Zhiyuan's words, Ye Yuan inwardly cursed the old fox.

But the old man could endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens, which was quite a feat for him.

Out of consideration for Ning Tianping's face, he wouldn't really do anything to the Ning family.

So he said indifferently, "Enough, it's all in the past. No need to mention it again. Elder Ning, please take your leave!"

Hearing this, Ning Zhiyuan's face lit up with joy. He cupped his hands and said, "Elder Ye is truly magnanimous! Then, I'll take my leave first. In the future, if there's anything the Ning family can help with, Elder Ye, please don't hesitate to ask. By the way, the Ning family has also collected many rare fourth-grade spiritual herbs over the years. I wonder if they might catch Elder Ye's eye. Please accept them!"

Ye Yuan nodded and said indifferently, "Leave them."

...

Half a month passed, and the news of Ye Yuan's return finally spread like wildfire.

However, most people still held a dismissive attitude toward it.

Ruoxu gathered a group of elders together, and everyone wore expressions of contempt upon hearing the news.

"This kid, he actually has the nerve to show his face again! I reckon he couldn't make it outside, right?"

"Heh heh, a waste who can't even break through to the Divine Lord realm—what can he do back here? Better to die out there!"

"I figure he's too ashamed to face anyone, so he's blocked the news. But doesn't he know there's a saying: 'No wall is airtight'?"

"Hahaha..."

...

The crowd burst into laughter. In their eyes, Ye Yuan hiding away as soon as he returned meant he definitely hadn't broken through and felt too ashamed to show his face.

Indeed, Ye Yuan had even taken the Haori Qiankun Pill back then, but it had no effect at all.

In everyone's view, that was synonymous with being a waste.

Ruoxu chuckled, "You can't say that! Ye Yuan's mastery of third-grade divine pills is still unmatched. In this Tianying Imperial City, he still has a place. Consider it... making use of waste!"

"Hahaha..." The crowd laughed again.

Ruoxu felt immensely gratified upon hearing this news.

Over the years, though he had been demoted to Second Elder, his influence in the Council of Elders had not diminished in the slightest.

One could say that Xuanyu, as Grand Elder, was merely a figurehead, effectively sidelined.

Xuanyu disliked conflict and didn't want to get involved in such matters.

Thus, Ruoxu grew even more unscrupulous.

As for the Martial Tower, Leng Yu's iron-fisted approach made it hard for Ruoxu to get a foothold there.

However, the forces on Danta's side were already sufficient.

After all, Wuta still had to rely on Danta; which Wuta elder would dare not show respect to a Danta elder?

Just then, a subordinate suddenly reported that Supreme Elder He Chong was personally convening an emergency council of elders to discuss a major matter.

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed—the timing was too coincidental, wasn't it?

"Second Elder, could this council... be related to Ye Yuan? Otherwise, it wouldn't be such a coincidence, right?" an elder reminded.

"Hey! Don't scare yourselves! Back then, Ye Yuan was almost driven out of the imperial city. If he really had broken through and returned, why would he be so low-key? He would have come to slap our faces long ago! I think he's just too ashamed to show his face! The Supreme Elder convening the council must be for something else. Perhaps Zhining Imperial City is causing trouble again," another elder said.

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.

"Speaking of this makes me furious! If it weren't for Ye Yuan and Zheng Qi, we wouldn't be so passive now! And that Ye Yuan, he just ran off with the Primordial Magnetic Divine Mountain!" the previous elder said with displeasure.

Ruoxu said, "Alright, stop speculating wildly. We'll know when we see the Supreme Elder."

...

In the great hall, He Chong sat at the head, still wearing an inscrutable expression.

As the council began, He Chong spoke calmly, "I've gathered you all today to discuss a major matter. Xuanyu, you may speak for yourself."

Everyone was puzzled and looked at Xuanyu in surprise, wondering what was going on.

Xuanyu nodded and said slowly, "Everyone, you all know my temperament. Serving as Grand Elder is really a bit beyond my capacity. Therefore, I have requested the City Lord and the Supreme Elder to resign from the position of Grand Elder."

At these words, everyone was stunned, and their gazes turned to Ruoxu!

Was Xuanyu... admitting defeat?