C633 Facing the Face

In Spider City, two locations were bustling with activity.

The first was the space teleportation array constructed by the Spirit Void Sect, which practitioners frequently used to access the Absence Relic. Rumors of the Relic's rejuvenated Spirit Qi had attracted not only Big Devils in hiding but also Demonic Beasts from the Desolate Swamp. Consequently, the seven lower sects, along with powers like the Blood God Cult, the Red Devil Sect, and the Fiend Sect, had all sent their young disciples to the Relic for training.

The second hotspot was the local branch of the Babel Chamber of Commerce. Cultivators from various sects, alongside the scions and elders of imperial dynasties, flocked there to procure suitable spiritual materials and pills. They also utilized the Chamber to sell off any Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that no longer served them.

"Wow!" Yu Yuan and Qin Yun, standing before the bustling pavilions, couldn't contain their amazement at the throngs of cultivators, transformed big demons, and Demonic Beasts.

Spider City had flourished even more over the past half-month, with the Chamber's branch being particularly impressive. Yu Yuan felt as though he was back in the Crack Archipelago, on the island owned by the Babel Chamber of Commerce.

"Spider City has certainly become more vibrant recently," Qin Yun remarked with a light-hearted smile. "I might be taking some pleasure in others' misfortunes, but ever since the upheaval on the Profound Sky Continent began—with the Divine Might Empire clashing with the Kingdom of Driliwyr, and the Devil Moon Empire battling the Rainier Empire—Spider City has become a magnet for people from all corners."

He was well aware that Spider City was Yu Zhu's private domain and understood the relationship between Yu Yuan and Yu Zhu intimately. The city's prosperity was undoubtedly good news for both Yu Zhu and Yu Yuan.

"So it's war that's driving this," Yu Yuan mused, nodding thoughtfully. The return of the evil statue to the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area had altered the continent's destiny, sparking fierce conflicts between empires.

Cultivators were the bedrock of these wars, relying on an array of artifacts and pellets to bolster their martial prowess.

Cultivators from the nearby four great empires, desperate to survive the brutal war, would bring out their most treasured possessions to trade at the Babel Chamber of Commerce for pellets and artifacts that could quickly enhance their strength.

This drew a flood of cultivators to Spider City.

"Yu Yuan..."

A group emerged from the pavilion showcasing artifacts, led by Su Xiangtian, who cast a complex glance at Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan, taken aback, acknowledged Su Xiangtian with a nod from a distance of over ten meters, a silent greeting.

Not long before, the independent cultivator Liang Jingyin had fallen to the Raven Lord, and in a fit of fury, the Raven Lord had also casually slain Su Che of the Su family.

Su Che was the one Su Xiangtian had brought to Spider City and entrusted to Liang Jingyin, hoping to bolster the Su family's power through him.

But now...

With a touch of bitterness in his heart, Su Xiangtian stood there, showing no desire to engage with Yu Yuan.

On the other hand, the strapping man who had exited alongside him boomed with enthusiasm, "Haha, Xiangtian, is that Yu Yuan?"

Su Xiangtian gave him a brief glance and a slight nod.

"Come on! Let's go say hello!"

The burly man, clad in a black robe trimmed with gold, his broad shoulders tapering to a slender waist, didn't hesitate to grab Su Xiangtian and head straight for Yu Yuan.

A number of cultivators resembling attendants and guests hurried to keep up with Su Xiangtian.

"Enemies often cross paths," Qin Yun remarked softly.

At those words, Yu Yuan instantly recognized the burly man's unique status and asked, "Who is he?"

"Gao Zhengxing!" Qin Yun revealed.

"It's him!"

Yu Yuan's expression turned serious, curious to see what the newly appointed City Lord of Darkmoon intended by coming over.

Soon enough, Gao Zhengxing, dragging Su Xiangtian along with the entourage, approached Yu Yuan and Qin Yun.

"Sect Master Qin, my congratulations," Gao Zhengxing said, settling into place.

After greeting Qin Yun, who had advanced to the Soul Wandering Stage, Gao Zhengxing turned his attention to Yu Yuan with evident interest. "I am the head of the Gao family, taking over from Yuan Lianyao to preside over Darkmoon City. Yu Yuan, isn't it? I had the pleasure of meeting your grandfather recently; we hit it off right away."

Before arriving in Darkmoon City, I'd heard quite a bit about you, Yu Yuan. How would you like to join the City Lord's Mansion as my chief guard?"

Gao Zhengxing beamed with a smile, lavishing praise before extending an unexpected offer.

Yu Yuan gave him a piercing look, shook his head, and spoke with a hint of sarcasm, "City Lord Gao, you've barely reached the Yin God Stage. Now that you're the City Lord of Darkmoon, you expect me to attend to you? Why don't you ask Qin Yun what he calls me?"

"Young Master!" Qin Yun declared with utmost respect.

"Did you catch that?" Yu Yuan flashed a grin. "He's at the Soul Wandering Stage and he calls me 'Young Master.' What makes you think you have the stature or the audacity to request that I become your chief guard?"

His words triggered laughter among the onlookers.

The loudest laughter came from Gao Qin of the Babel Chamber of Commerce. Leaning casually against the wall, sword in hand, he stood in the shadows and sneered, "How amusing, truly amusing."

"That's Yu Yuan? The Yu Yuan of Darkmoon City?"

"Who else could it be? I've heard Chi Nandou, after his return to the sect, speak of this young man's exceptional abilities in the depths of the Ember Waters. Even Chi Nandou holds him in high regard."

"Our own returnee from the Filthy Spirit Sect speaks very highly of Yu Yuan as well!"

"He's the one who evaded Lim Zhuyun, possessed by the Devaputra, in the Crack Archipelago! And it seems even the Starry Behemoth couldn't take him down."

"Moreover, they say he's the one who freed a host of demonic beasts!"

"That Gao Zhengxing... I've never even heard of him! And he has the gall to ask Yu Yuan to be his guard? At his age, only in the early stages of the Yin God Stage, is he overestimating himself?"

"…"

People from the Silver Moon Sect, Taiyuan Sect, Cloud Water Sect, and Ancient Desolate Sect gathered around.

Cultivators from the Fiend Sect and Filthy Spirit Sect, drawn by the name "Yu Yuan," joined the crowd to observe.

They openly discussed Gao Zhengxing without any regard for his feelings.

In their eyes, Gao Zhengxing, a newly minted City Lord with little renown, was merely a minor character not worth their attention.

On the contrary, Yu Yuan, who had recently ascended to the Penetrating Stage, had become widely renowned, with everyone knowing his name!

"Yu Yuan, have you forgotten that your Yu family is still within Darkmoon City, under my jurisdiction?" Gao Zhengxing felt as if each clamor was a slap to his face, stinging his pride.

He hadn't anticipated the young Yu scion to garner such fame and recognition.

"You're merely the City Lord of Darkmoon, not the emperor of the Devil Moon Empire," Yu Yuan retorted with a sneer. "What's the matter? Intending to use your position to target my family? Haven't you already done what you deemed necessary? Didn't you orchestrate the Gao family's takeover of our mines?"

"I followed the rules!" barked Gao Zhengxing.

"The war is drawing near, and my unit will soon join the fight. I'm here in Spider City to make some purchases," Su Xiangtian interjected, giving Yu Yuan a slight nod. "My business is settled; I'll take my leave now."

"Understood," Yu Yuan acknowledged with a nod.

Gao Zhengxing opened his mouth to speak, but Gao Qin of the Babel Chamber of Commerce cut in loudly, "Yu Yuan, don't waste your breath on him. The Chamber's executive has requested your presence!"

The words choked in Gao Zhengxing's throat, his frustration nearly boiling over.

He had just arrived with Su Xiangtian to question Gao Qin, who had been dismissive and aloof. Yet, as soon as Yu Yuan appeared, Gao Qin's demeanor shifted to one of obsequiousness, even mentioning Zhu Peining's invitation.

In that moment, it dawned on him that his authority as the City Lord of Darkmoon held no sway in Spider City. He was a nonentity here.

How had Yu Yuan managed to earn such respect from these people?

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