Chapter 867: The Challenge

In a hidden place within the city, three men were guarding a little girl.

One of them, clad in light armor, was tall and imposing, clearly the leader of the trio.

"Sir, this little girl is unruly. Let us teach her a lesson!"

One of the martial artists spoke, and with a "smack," slapped the little girl across the face. The girl winced in pain and dared not struggle further, but her stubborn gaze was unmistakable.

The little girl they spoke of was none other than the missing Yan Ling.

At this moment, Yan Ling was tied to a chair, struggling incessantly, glaring at the three with resentment and fury.

The last time she was tied up, she had been too young to truly understand.

But the suffering of these past years had made life worse than death for her.

This had also made Yan Ling far more mature than her peers.

Thus, being kidnapped by these people filled her with utter disgust.

The middle-aged man in light armor looked at Yan Ling, his eyes filled with doubt, and murmured, "Back then, I clearly severed her meridians with the Meridian-Severing Divine Palm. I never expected that years later, she would have fully recovered. Incredible!"

The other two changed expression and said, "Impossible, sir? Your Meridian-Severing Divine Palm is immensely powerful. Not to mention a little girl, even a battle-hardened martial artist couldn't withstand it! How could this girl have recovered? Sir... could you have mistaken her?"

The man waved his hand and said, "I might mistake this girl, but I wouldn't mistake her parents. I know every prominent merchant who runs goods in Yunsha City like the back of my hand. Yan Jun is among the best. That deal back then nearly drained all his savings, yet I never expected that years later, he would have amassed considerable wealth again."

"Heh, so what? Aren't they just pigs you raise, sir, to be slaughtered when fattened? With this girl in hand, are you afraid Yan Jun won't obediently comply?" said one martial artist.

"Ha, indeed! Thanks to these fat pigs, I have achieved my current strength! Now, I am only one step away from the Formless Realm!" said the middle-aged man in light armor.

"Congratulations, sir! Best wishes, sir! You are already a master on the Earthly Fiend Ranking. Once you enter the Formless Realm, your prospects are boundless!"

"When that time comes, you will naturally receive your rewards!"

Hearing this, the two were overjoyed. This middle-aged man in light armor was actually a master on the Earthly Fiend Ranking!

One of the subordinates bowed and asked, "Sir, how should we handle this girl?"

The middle-aged man in light armor smiled cruelly and said, "The Meridian-Severing Divine Palm didn't kill her last time. I don't believe it will fail this time either! This time, I will sever all her meridians and see how she survives!"

"Bang, bang, bang..."

"Sir, I have urgent news to report!"

Just then, a frantic knocking came from outside the door.

The middle-aged man in light armor frowned and said, "Enter!"

A subordinate pushed the door open and rushed nervously before the middle-aged man, saying, "Sir, something terrible has happened. Someone... someone wants to challenge you!"

The middle-aged man in light armor raised an eyebrow and laughed loudly, "Challenge me? Hahaha... It's been many years since anyone dared to seek death like this! Doesn't he know that the city lord of Yunsha City is a powerhouse ranked 463rd on the Earthly Fiend Ranking?"

"Well... the challenger is just a young man at the second level of Heavenly Enlightenment." The subordinate hesitated for a moment.

"What? A second-level Heavenly Enlightenment dares to challenge our Lord Xie Ying? Is he tired of living?"

"Haha, how ridiculous! Although Yunsha City is small, Lord Xie Ying's reputation is well-known far and wide! This kid must have lost his mind. Even with a little inquiry, he wouldn't do something so stupid!"

The two subordinates laughed as if they had heard a hilarious joke, unable to close their mouths.

Even Xie Ying himself smiled faintly and said to the three subordinates, "Keep a close watch on her. I'll go chop off that brat's head first!"

"Yes, sir!" The three responded in unison.

The rule of the Chaotic Demon Sea was that anyone could challenge the city lord. If they had the strength to kill the city lord, they could take his place!

Moreover, once a challenge was issued, the city lord had to accept it, and the fight would continue until one side was killed!

In theory, under such a rule, city lords should change frequently.

But in reality, Xie Ying, the city lord of Yunsha City, had held his position for over a decade.

When he first became city lord, many were dissatisfied and challenged him. But without exception, he killed them all.

Gradually, fewer and fewer people dared to challenge him.

As time passed, Xie Ying's strength grew, until eventually, he became a master on the Earthly Fiend Ranking.

Since then, no one had dared to challenge him.

Today was truly unprecedented—the first time in years!

After Xie Ying left, none of the three subordinates noticed a small lotus sprouting from the corner of the wall.

...

Ye Yuan sat quietly in front of the city lord's mansion, eyes closed in meditation, calmly waiting for Xie Ying's arrival.

The one challenging Xie Ying was none other than Ye Yuan.

Contrary to Lin Shuang's expectations, Ye Yuan did not immediately rescue Yan Ling but instead went straight to the city lord's mansion and, in front of everyone, issued a challenge to Xie Ying.

"What is Master Ye up to? He's just an alchemist. How... how can he challenge Lord Xie?"

"Lord Xie is a master on the Earthly Fiend Ranking. Challenging him with his strength is nothing but suicide!"

"Didn't he say he was going to help Boss Yan find his daughter? How did he end up here challenging the city lord?"

The Green Sea Mercenary Group and Yan Jun and his wife were all watching. Members of the Green Sea Mercenary Group were pointing and whispering, clearly baffled by Ye Yuan's actions.

Lin Shuang tightly gripped her husband's hand, her face full of anxiety, and said, "Husband, Master Ye must have guessed something and wants to avenge Ling'er. But... but..."

Yan Jun's expression was grim. Although he had never met Xie Ying, who else could have kidnapped Yan Ling from Yunsha City without a trace?

City Lord Xie Ying was obviously the prime suspect.

But even knowing this, he was helpless. A master ranked 463rd on the Earthly Fiend Ranking was far beyond his ability to deal with, not to mention the many experts in the city lord's mansion.

Yan Jun had already resigned himself to fate, offering all his savings to Xie Ying.

What he hadn't expected was that Ye Yuan would step forward and challenge City Lord Xie Ying alone!

Finally, unable to bear it, Yan Jun approached Ye Yuan and advised, "Master Ye, I know you mean well, but Xie Ying is a veteran master on the Earthly Fiend Ranking, with unfathomable strength. A challenge to the city lord means a fight to the death! If you do this for Ling'er, my wife and I will be haunted by guilt for the rest of our lives!"