176: debate

Cloud City, a city built on a colossal floating mountain, hung directly in the center of the 'Endless Chasm'—a bottomless, massive rift.

Around it, countless smaller floating rocks orbited like stars around the moon, connected by thick, tough vines and suspension bridges, forming a three-dimensional, intricately arranged world above the clouds.

Together, they formed a crucial passage connecting both sides of the 'Endless Chasm'.

And what sustained this miracle was the enormous floating crystal—the 'cloud heart'—deep within the main city's leyline core.

When everything connected, General Yan Lie recalled a specific item at the end of the inventory list for the Lin family's 'stolen' goods he had reviewed at the City Lord's Mansion: Dissolution Stone.

It was an extremely rare mineral.

Inert to most forms of energy, it reacted violently only with miraculous objects like the 'cloud heart' that sustained vast floating domains.

Although the quantity recorded on the list was small, judging by common sense, that lost amount, even if thrown entirely into the 'cloud heart', would likely only make a sound and cause no significant stir.

But now, this term was linked to the Dark Star Empire.

What kind of existence was the Dark Star Empire?

One of the three major overlords of the Tianyu Realm, its secret techniques were unpredictable and mysterious.

The Crimson Flame Dynasty might think that small amount of Dissolution Stone couldn't cause a stir, but who could guarantee that the Dark Star Empire didn't have a way to amplify its power a hundred, or even a thousand, times?

What if... what if they really succeeded...?

General Yan Lie dared not think further; he felt his breathing become difficult.

This was no longer a simple enemy infiltration and material plunder; this concerned the survival of millions of lives in the entire Cloud City.

"City Lord Su... City Lord Su!"

General Yan Lie turned to Su Jin, his voice trembling.

He clasped his fists and bowed, almost burying his head in his chest.

"This matter is of immense importance, far beyond what my Crimson Scale Guard can handle."

"I implore City Lord Su, to accompany me to the City Lord's Mansion to report this matter!"

Su Jin looked at him.

A moment later, he twirled the bare bamboo skewer between his fingers and casually tossed it into the nearby waste disposal chute.

"Lead the way."

These three words instantly calmed General Yan Lie's wildly beating heart.

Without delay, he immediately led the way.

The group passed through the intricate streets and arrived in front of the City Lord's Mansion.

The guards of the mansion clearly recognized General Yan Lie, but seeing Su Jin and his entourage behind him, they still stepped forward to question them.

General Yan Lie simply whispered, "Urgent military intelligence."

The guards immediately let them pass.

Inside the City Lord's Mansion's council hall, an elder with white hair and beard, dressed in a cloud-patterned robe, sat in the main seat, his brows slightly furrowed as he looked at General Yan Lie and Su Jin's group.

"Commander Yan, what brings you here in such a hurry?"

Beside him, several officials from the City Lord's Mansion also cast scrutinizing glances.

General Yan Lie cupped his fists and briefly recounted what had just happened, especially highlighting Lin Feng's death and his suspicion of the Lin family's 'self-theft'.

"Nonsense! General Yan Lie, how dare you!"

A slightly corpulent official slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

"The Lin family is a pillar of Cloud City, having guarded the Chasm for the Dynasty for generations with great merit. How can you slander them so brazenly!"

Another official chimed in.

"Exactly. Based solely on someone else's speculation, you dare to frame the largest family in Cloud City, Commander Yan? Can you bear this responsibility?"

Several officials echoed their sentiments, and for a time, the entire hall was filled with accusations against General Yan Lie.

"Enough."

The Old City Lord in the main seat finally spoke.

He raised a hand, silencing the crowd.

He looked at General Yan Lie, then turned his gaze to Su Jin, who stood silently beside him.

Although he didn't recognize Su Jin, he could sense that General Yan Lie's attitude towards this young man was one of genuine reverence.

This person was certainly no ordinary individual.

"Commander Yan, who is this?"

"This is City Lord Su Jin of Infinite City," General Yan Lie introduced.

"Su Jin!"

As the two words left his mouth, a collective gasp echoed through the council hall.

This name had recently resounded throughout the entire Southern Border defense line.

Was this the one from the legends, with three heads and six arms, capable of killing a legendary expert with a single finger?

When everyone looked at Su Jin again, their expressions had completely changed.

The initial skepticism had transformed into awe and curiosity.

The Old City Lord, having weathered many storms, also felt a chill in his heart.

He immediately stood up and bowed to Su Jin.

"So it is City Lord Su who honors us with his presence. This old man has failed to welcome you properly."

"The matter reported by Commander Yan is of great importance, but since City Lord Su is present, this matter... must not be taken lightly."

He immediately issued an order.

"Someone! Go quickly to the Lin Mansion and 'invite' the Lin family head, Lin Xiao, to discuss this matter."

However, not long after the order was given, the person sent stumbled back, his face devoid of color, his voice choked with sobs.

"City Lord! This is bad! The Lin family... the Lin family mansion is empty! All direct lineage members have disappeared!"

At these words, the entire council hall fell into a deathly silence.

The official who had so vehemently refuted General Yan Lie earlier now looked ashen, slumping back into his chair.

Facts speak louder than words.

The Old City Lord swayed, steadying himself by leaning on the table.

His lips trembled, and it took him a long moment to utter a few words: "How could this be... how dare they..."

Their entire family fleeing—what else could it be but absconding in fear of punishment?

"Immediately seal off the entire city! Thoroughly check all entrances and exits!"

The Old City Lord commanded sharply, but everyone could hear the powerlessness in his voice.

The council hall immediately descended into chaos.

"Seal off? How do we seal it off?"

The fat official who had previously defended the Lin family now had not a trace of color in his face.

"Cloud City has hundreds of levels, with alleyways like spiderwebs and countless secret exits. Finding them would be like searching for a needle in a haystack."

"We still have to search! Are we just going to let them collude with the Dark Star Empire and destroy the cloud heart?"

General Yan Lie's eyes were red with anxiety.

"Yes, and the people from the Dark Star Empire."

Another official anxiously chimed in.

"They've been lurking for so long, and now that the Lin family has disappeared, they must be about to make their move."

"Where are they? How many are there? We know nothing!"

Inside the council hall, everyone was frantic, some at a loss for what to do.

Just as the commotion reached its peak, Su Jin's voice rang out.

"No need for such trouble."

All eyes converged on him.

Su Jin said unhurriedly, "I have already sent people to follow those few rats from the Dark Star Empire. I believe news will come soon."

General Yan Lie was startled, then his eyes burst with light of pleasant surprise.

He then remembered that Su Jin was a legendary expert.

Those few Dark Star Empire assassins had nowhere to hide before him.

How could they escape so easily?

A glimmer of hope also lit up in the Old City Lord's cloudy eyes. He stood up and bowed solemnly to Su Jin.

"City Lord Su's noble actions are deeply appreciated by all of Cloud City."

Su Jin calmly accepted the bow.

"City Lord Wang, you need to dispatch your men now to strengthen the guards at all nodes of the cloud heart."

"The Dark Star Empire's people, if they act, their scale of operations will certainly be significant."

"I understand!"

The Old City Lord straightened his back.

His previous despondency vanished, and his fighting spirit rekindled in his eyes. He immediately turned and began to relay orders.