Chapter Eighty-Six: The City Without a Master

Lin Lei smiled and said, “At first I thought only my son could go, but I never expected to have young experts like Yan Chen and Ye Zihan accompanying him now. With you along, I feel much more at ease.”

He truly had something to discuss with Yan Chen and the others, and it was also a matter of great importance to the Beast Domain.

Within the Beast Domain lay a nameless region known as Nameless Mound: a colossal city without an owner. Most importantly, no city lord had ever claimed it. If some fortunate young man were to obtain its inheritance, the impact would be enormous, for Nameless Mound had been without a master for a very long time. In truth, no one even knew who its former lord had been. In any case, it was simply Nameless Mound.

The century-spanning contest for Nameless Mound was about to begin. When that time came, not only would powerful figures from the Beast Domain send out their young prodigies to compete, but even major sects from the human world and the Demon Prison would join the struggle for control. Whoever obtained that control would gain authority over Nameless Mound.

“I wonder what matter the city lord is speaking of? If the few of us brothers can be of help, we will not decline. Just say the word.”

Ye Zihan was now certain of his guess. The lord of Black Tortoise City truly had some favor to ask of them, though he wanted to see exactly what it was that required the trouble of all of them. He still did not know what the matter was.

Lin Lei smiled and said, “Have you heard of Nameless Mound in the Beast Domain? The centennial contest for Nameless Mound is about to begin. By then, the one who wins control over it will become the new master of that colossal city. I wonder whether you are interested?”

At last Lin Lei voiced the thoughts he had been holding in his heart. He truly wanted Ye Zihan and the others to take part in the contest for Nameless Mound. If they won, he would simply give them a substantial reward in money; then he would secure control of Nameless Mound himself. By then, he would become one of the great overlords of the Beast Domain.

The Beast Domain had eleven regions. Aside from Nameless Mound, which remained uncontrolled, the other ten areas already had established rulers. And Lin Lei, the lord of Black Tortoise City within Black Tortoise Marsh, was naturally one of them. His authority over Black Tortoise City had also been won by defeating the former city lord. In general, no ordinary person could become the lord of Black Tortoise City, for it was a position seized through force.

“Nameless Mound? Isn’t that what they call Nameless City? It seems it still has no city lord, otherwise it would already have been renamed. ‘Nameless’ means a city without a name. Whoever becomes the master of Nameless Mound can rename it however he likes.”

Yan Chen suddenly understood. He had indeed learned about that colossal city before. If he said he did not know of it, that would be a lie, for this was not his first time in Black Tortoise Marsh, and he had a basic understanding of the Beast Domain.

When Ye Zihan heard Yan Chen say this, his eyes lit up at once. This was indeed an astonishing matter. His Heaven-Defying Pavilion still had no place to settle down. Was this not equivalent to being handed a whole Nameless City? He could use it as the headquarters of Heaven-Defying Pavilion. Then the pavilion would center itself on Nameless City and look down upon the entire Illusory God Continent.

Heaven-Defying Pavilion had already been established, and Chen Yiyan had joined as well. At that point, he would make Chen Yiyan the city lord of Nameless City. He believed no one would object, for Chen Yiyan was originally from Black Flame Continent and also a native of the Beast Domain. Still, once a force like Heaven-Defying Pavilion emerged, it would surely attract the challenges of many cultivators.

Ye Zihan was not as optimistic as one might imagine. On the contrary, he was already prepared for a great battle. There was certain to be a war between Heaven-Defying Pavilion and Illusory God Hall, so he ardently wished for Heaven-Defying Pavilion’s rapid growth.

Chen Yiyan, upon hearing this news, showed no surprise at all, for this had also been one of the reasons he had come to Black Tortoise City. At present he had nothing to fear either. There were not many people of his generation who could defeat him. Even the young city lord Lin Dong before him might not necessarily be his match. Chen Yiyan had complete confidence in his own strength.

“I never expected Young Master Yan Chen to know of Nameless Mound as well. Indeed, that is the one. The centennial contest is about to begin, and when it does, forces great and small from across the Illusory God Continent will come to compete for it. That is why we hope the three of you can represent our Black Tortoise Marsh and take part. Naturally, if you do, Black Tortoise City will reward you richly.”

At last Lin Lei laid out his purpose. What he wanted was control over Nameless Mound. However, if a city lord like him were to compete for it, he would certainly be obstructed by the other sects of the Beast Domain. That was why he wanted to use Ye Zihan and the others as a shield.

Ye Zihan smiled and said, “I am sorry, City Lord Lin Lei, but I still need to represent our Heaven-Defying Pavilion in the contest for Nameless Mound. As for your representative from Black Tortoise City, do you not have the young city lord? I think the young city lord is the best choice.”

Ye Zihan showed no trace of fear toward Lin Lei. He stood neither humble nor overbearing. That was the hardness born of having no desire.

“You—hmph!”

Clearly, Ye Zihan and the others’ words had gone beyond Lin Lei’s expectations. His face darkened as he looked at Ye Zihan and continued, “Can your Heaven-Defying Pavilion protect Nameless Mound? If Black Tortoise Marsh were to obtain it, we could guarantee its safety. But can you do the same?”

Lin Lei did not doubt Ye Zihan and Yan Chen’s strength. Given their current abilities, they really did stand a good chance of winning the contest for Nameless Mound, and his talented son would certainly lose.

Chen Yiyan smiled and said, “I’d like to see who dares to set their sights on my brothers. Who will be the final victor is still unknown.”

Chen Yiyan feared neither heaven nor earth, and he certainly would not care about City Lord Lin Lei before him. He was a rebellious youth who knew no restraint. Even so, he was loyal to a fault. If something happened to Ye Zihan, he would never stand by as if it were no concern of his; that was not his way.

“Haha, good, very good. I admire hot-blooded young men like you. But since that is your stance, then our Black Tortoise Marsh has nothing more to say. Stay here in Black Tortoise City for now. As for whether you wish to compete for control of Nameless Mound afterward, that will be your own affair and has nothing to do with Black Tortoise Marsh.”

Lin Lei had no choice but to accept reality. Relying on his son alone, he would certainly be unable to obtain Nameless Mound. And now several young powerhouses even stronger than his son had appeared, so he had no option but to withdraw from the contest. At most he would stand aside and watch, for he did not want to put his son in danger.

Yan Chen had not expected Chen Yiyan and Ye Zihan to be so resolute, nor had he expected the lord of Black Tortoise City to be so straightforward. He smiled and said, “When does the contest for Nameless Mound begin? We should make some preparations as well.”

Yan Chen had nothing to worry about either. Among their peers, few had reached their level, so their chances of victory were extremely high.

“The day after tomorrow is the date of Nameless Mound’s centennial contest. I hope you will not disappoint me. Though our Dong’er cannot possibly win the contest, if the two of you do, we will still be very pleased, for you are friends of our Black Tortoise Marsh after all.”

By now Lin Lei had seen things clearly. Sending his son to compete with peers for the control of Nameless City was indeed no easy matter, especially now that Ye Zihan and Chen Yiyan had both reached the Five Elements Realm. They were absolutely formidable opponents for his son, so he no longer intended to send his son out to take the risk.

Even if Ye Zihan and Chen Yiyan lost, his own son would still be unable to defeat the others, for their strength was in no way inferior to Lin Dong’s. If Ye Zihan and Chen Yiyan were to be eliminated, Black Tortoise Marsh would still end up losing more than winning. So it was simpler to withdraw from the contest altogether.

Lin Lei had made up his mind. He already possessed Black Tortoise City within Black Tortoise Marsh, and that should be enough. Besides, Black Tortoise City could still be passed down to his son, so he remained very calm now and had lost the drive to compete for Nameless Mound.

Yan Chen nodded and said, “Since that is the case, we will spend the night here in Black Tortoise City. Tomorrow we can go and take a look at Nameless Mound. I would like to see how many young powerhouses are gathering there to compete.”

Yan Chen had a basic understanding of Nameless Mound, so he had no reason to worry, especially now that Lin Lei of Black Tortoise City had already decided to give up the struggle for it.

If the forces of Black Tortoise Marsh were to compete for Nameless Mound, the other ten regions of the Beast Domain would certainly intervene, because they would never permit any single faction to grow too powerful. In particular, Black Tortoise Marsh was already formidable enough to place enormous pressure on the other powers.

Lin Dong looked at his father, but in the end had nothing to say. “Father, may I accompany Yan Chen and Ye Zihan to see Nameless Mound tomorrow? I want to go and look.”

Lin Dong was still a child at heart. He was the sort of young master raised in a greenhouse, and compared with Ye Zihan, he was worlds apart.

Lin Lei looked at Ye Zihan, then said to Lin Dong, “Dong’er, if you want to go and see it, then go. But do not go trying to fight people to the death. I believe no one will harm you without reason.”

Lin Lei still did not feel entirely at ease about Lin Dong. His cultivation was only at the Five Elements Realm. If an assassin from the Heavenly End Realm were to strike, Lin Dong would still be in great danger.

Lin Dong looked at Lin Lei gratefully and said, “Thank you for your permission, Father. I will not stir up trouble outside the Beast Domain, so please rest assured.”

What he said was true. At present, Lin Dong could already be considered a genius among his peers, but in front of Chen Yiyan and Ye Zihan, he had become far more modest.

The once-arrogant Lin Dong now had no choice but to humble himself before Chen Yiyan and Ye Zihan. Moreover, Ye Zihan and Chen Yiyan had even slain several assassins of the Five Elements Realm. That was a deeply shocking feat, one Lin Dong himself could never accomplish.

“City Lord Lin Lei, you can rest assured. With the few of us watching over him, nothing will happen. Besides, he is your son. Who in the Beast Domain would dare act rashly?”

Yan Chen had no choice but to smooth things over. If Lin Dong accompanied them to Nameless Mound, then the forces that dared provoke them would surely be fewer, for there were not many in the Beast Domain who would dare oppose Black Tortoise Marsh.