Chapter 126: The Venerable Celestial Elder

After leaving the Abyssal Realm, Ye Zihan and his companions hurried toward the Nameless City. No sooner had they entered the city than Ye Zihan—before they could even head to the observation platform to report to the ten City Lords—sensitively perceived that they were being watched.

Suddenly, several formidable experts surged from the crowded street with aggressive momentum. The onlookers scrambled to flee, clearing a path, as the group quickly closed in to surround Ye Zihan and his companions.

"His Excellency the Heavenly Venerate summons you!" the leader, a man with a stubbled face, declared with an unquestionable tone, his sharp gaze sweeping over them.

"The Heavenly Venerate?" Ye Zihan frowned, a cloud of suspicion gathering in his mind. The men surrounding him were at least at the Six-Star realm, and the one speaking was a Seven-Star expert. With his current strength, he was no match for them.

"The Heavenly Venerate is the leader of the Nameless City's guardians," Chen Yiyan, who was more familiar with the area, whispered to explain his confusion. "It is said that his strength is unfathomable, and even the ten City Lords hold him in great awe."

Ye Zihan felt slightly relieved, but then a greater doubt arose. Why would the Heavenly Venerate summon them the moment they emerged? He was not naive enough to believe the man would immediately support his bid to become the City Lord.

"May I ask what the Heavenly Venerate wishes to see us for?" Ye Zihan asked, suppressing his inner apprehension.

"You will know once you get there." The bearded man’s face remained cold. Giving them no chance to refuse, he ordered his subordinates, "Take them."

Faced with guards far stronger than themselves—including a Seven-Star powerhouse—Ye Zihan and his companions had no room to resist. Moreover, they were still suffering from the aftermath of their recent battle and were in no condition to fight, so they had no choice but to comply.

In the central hall of the Nameless City, the elderly man known as the Heavenly Venerate sat enthroned, his face frost-covered, his gaze like a blade directed toward the entrance. Moments later, Ye Zihan and his group were brought in.

"Your Excellency, the four have been brought," the bearded leader said, stepping into the hall with extreme caution, not daring to look the elder in the eye, and reporting with utmost reverence.

"Hmph," the elder glanced at him, then turned his gaze to the four. "Are you the four who emerged from the trial in the Abyssal Realm?"

Ye Zihan, Yan Chen, and Chen Yiyan exchanged glances, unsure of the situation. They had come to the Nameless City to compete for the position of City Lord, but they had not expected the guardian of the city to be such a formidable figure. The leader who brought them was already a Seven-Star expert, yet he was obsequious and subservient before this elder. It was clear that this man was at least an Eight-Trigram realm powerhouse.

Nine-Palace realm experts were typically recluses who focused on breaking through to the Ten-Direction realm. Once one reached the Ten-Direction realm, they were considered peerless. Thinking that the Heavenly Venerate was at least an Eight-Trigram master, Ye Zihan felt a crushing pressure. He knew that in the world of Five-Element cultivation, the gap in power widened drastically at higher levels. While he could handle a Seven-Star expert at his peak, he was no match for an Eight-Trigram master.

Furthermore, Ye Zihan was no fool. After his battle with the Heavenly Demon in the Abyssal Realm, he had become suspicious as to why the Nameless City had lacked a ruler for so long. Over the centuries, many geniuses had participated in the trials, yet the city remained without a lord. Now, witnessing the Heavenly Venerate’s power, his suspicions deepened.

"Could it be that only someone with my heaven-defying talent can become the City Lord?" he mused with a touch of narcissism, though he quickly dismissed the thought. He noted that given the elder's power and influence, he was easily a match for—or even superior to—City Lord Lin Lei of Xuanwu City. If he wanted to rule, no one would dare object. Yet, he chose not to.

"That’s right, we are the ones who completed the trial in the Abyssal Realm. According to the rules, do we now possess the final qualification to compete for the position of City Lord?" Ye Zihan asked, acting as the group's representative.

"Indeed," the elder replied, his aura suddenly surging with overwhelming intensity, pinning the four in place. "But first, you must answer me. What exactly did you encounter in the Abyssal Realm? Speak truthfully, or you shall forfeit your qualification—and your lives!"

The elder’s killing intent brought immense pressure. Ye Zihan, fearing that the secret of the Heavenly Demon—and his own Chaotic Body and the Phantom God Art—might be exposed, remained calm. He could not afford to reveal his secrets until he was stronger.

"Speak!" the elder commanded, his voice shaking the hall.

"Senior, your... your presence is too powerful. I cannot speak," Ye Zihan stammered, feigning weakness to buy time.

"Hmph," the elder snorted, retracting his aura slightly. "Tell me of your experiences in the Abyssal Realm. I will judge whether you are truly qualified for the next round. Your performance there will be the foundation of whether or not we choose to support you."